Operational Deployment of the 15th Army Corps and the 28th Army[1]

(April 12, 1936)

Xu and Cheng; Liu and Song:

In order to draw Sun Chu’s[2] main force toward Zhongyang and thereby facilitate subsequent operations of the 28th Army toward Liuyu[3] and Shilou; and in order to draw Yang Xiao’ou[4] toward Wuchengzhen[5] and thereby facilitate Xu’s and Cheng’s operations in the intermediate area between Zhongyang, Guanshang, and Duijiuyu[6], the deployment is as follows:

A. Tomorrow, the 15th Army Corps shall move to the intermediate area between Zhongyang, Lishi, and Wuchengzhen (Sucun, Taoyuanshang, Shidaishang, Chanfangshang). Detachments shall be sent to Wangyingzhuang and Yijucun to conduct guerrilla operations, destroy telephone lines, and block motor traffic. To the west, guerrilla operations shall be directed toward the city of Zhongyang to threaten Sun Chu, with plainclothes scouts dispatched separately. Reconnaissance of enemy conditions shall be conducted southward to Zhongyang and southeastward to Xiangjiata, Gunnincheng, and Shizhuangcun.

[1] This is a telegram from Mao Zedong and Peng Dehuai, commander of the First Front Army of the Red Army, to Xu Haidong, commander of the 15th Army Corps of the First Front Army, and Cheng Zihua, its political commissar, and to Liu Zhidan, commander of the 28th Army, and Song Renqiong, its political commissar.

[2] Sun Chu was then commander of the 4th Column of the Taiyuan Pacification Headquarters of the Kuomintang army and concurrently commander of the 101st Division.

[3] Liuyu, a town, is located in the southern part of present-day Liulin County, Shanxi Province.

[4] Yang Xiao’ou was then commander of the 2nd Column of the Taiyuan Pacification Headquarters of the Kuomintang army and concurrently commander of the 66th Division.

[5] Wuchengzhen is located southeast of Lishi County, Shanxi Province.

[6] Guanshang, a village, is located in the southern part of Zhongyang County, Shanxi Province. Duijiuyu, now called Duizhen, is located in the western part of Xiaoyi County, Shanxi Province.

B. Tomorrow, the main force of the 28th Army shall move to Jinluozhen and Zhujiadian.[1] Detachments shall be sent northward toward Lishi and southward toward Zhongyang, approaching the city outskirts to conduct guerrilla operations. Preparations shall be made to move on the 14th to Xiazaocun and Fengjiapo west of Zhongyang, and to feign an attack on Zhongyang from the west.

C. The prisoners captured by the 15th Army Corps shall be subjected to extensive propaganda, given ample travel expenses, and released separately toward Zhongyang, Lishi, and Fenyang.

D. The 15th Army Corps and the 28th Army shall prepare to work in the aforementioned areas for two or three days, vigorously expand the Red Army, distribute as much property and goods as possible to the residents, and put up numerous anti-Japanese slogans to influence the White Army.

Peng and Mao

16:00 hours, the 12th

[1] Jinluozhen is located northwest of Zhongyang County, Shanxi Province. Zhujiadian, a village, is located in the northern part of Zhongyang County, Shanxi Province.