Telegram to Zhou Enlai[1]

(July 21, 1936)

The Red 78th Division and the Red 81st Division are to be transferred to Yuwang, and the Red 28th Army is to be transferred to Dingbian and Yanchi. At present, the defensive strength along the line from Anbian to Jingbian is very weak, and it is felt that the line from Wuqi Town to Bao’an is quite threatened. Request Zhou Enlai to order the Red 30th Army to speedily proceed to Xin Castle. Xiao and Lai[2] are to telegraph a report on the deployment situation north of Wuqi Town.

[1] This is the main content of a telegram from Mao Zedong to Zhou Enlai and Xiao Jinguang, with Peng Dehuai also to be informed.

[2] Xiao and Lai, namely Xiao Jinguang and Lai Chuanzhu, who were then respectively serving as Minister and Political Commissar of the Military Department of the Shaanxi-Gansu-Ningxia Province.