Mao Zedong
Zhou Enlai
Peng Dehuai
Set Up a Rear Logistics Department
for the Field Army, and Establish
a Small Rear [Base]
(June 1, 1936, 12:00 noon)
To Peng [Dehuai], and to be transmitted to Yang [Zhicheng]; also for the information of Xiao [Jingguang], Li [Fuchun], Zuo [Quan] and Nie [Rongzhen], and
Xu [Haidong] and Cheng [Zihua]:
1. In order to carry out successfully rear logistical work of the Field Army, it
has been decided to organize a rear logistics department for the Field Army, with
Yang Zhicheng serving concurrently as its head to exercise unified command
over the Field Army's military depots, supplies, and various medical units (no
separate units will be established).
2. It has been decided to establish a small rear [base] near Wuqizhen, and
select appropriate places in which to set up small-scale factories for munitions,
bedding and clothing, and shoes and socks, with Ye Jizhuang¹ in charge. After
this has been organized it is to move toward Wuqizhen, and be managed by the
rear logistics department (altogether thirty cave dwellings are needed, which are
to be arranged by Jingguang and Zhicheng). The date and time for departure will
be indicated in a separate telegram.
3. It is hoped that a large quantity of cowhide can be gathered in the area
around Dingbian, Anbian, and Jingbian for the purpose of making shoes.
Mao [Zedong] Zhou [Enlai]

--- Notes

1. Ye Jizhuang was head of the supplies department of the Northwest Revolutionary
Military Commission.

2. Here Mao quotes two lines from the Book of Poetry (Legge, Vol. IV, p. 253),
which he had used in 1915 to evoke his own search for friends at that time. See Volume I,
pp. 83-84.
Our source for this order is Mao Zedong junshi wenji, Vol. 1, pp. 539-40, where it is
reproduced from a copy in the Central Archives.