drawn up separately and promulgated by the Central Soviet Government.
Central Committee
Telegram to Zhu [De], Zhang [Guotao], and
Ren [Bishi] on the Second and
Fourth Front Armies' Rapid Advance
to Southern Gansu
(July 22, 1936)
Comrades Zhu [De], Zhang [Guotao], and Ren [Bishi]:
1. At present in the Shaanxi-Gansu-Ningxia [Base Area] we are under
attack by a total force of more than 150 regiments under Tang Enbo, Yang
Hucheng, Gao Guizi, Gao Shuangcheng, Zhang Xueliang, He Zhuguo, Yu
Xuezhong, and Ma Hongkui, all of them under pressure from Chiang Kaishek's
orders. All of Mao Bingwen's forces and part of Ma Bufang's have also been
lured by us to the vicinity of northern Gansu, and they are attempting to rout us
first and then block your northward advance.
2. We are now mobilizing the entire Red Army forces and the people of the
soviet areas to smash the enemy's attack and greet your northward advance.
3. It would be advantageous for the second and fourth Front Armies to
advance rapidly toward southern Gansu. When you have advanced to a suitable
place in southern Gansu, then the First Front Army will be ordered to cooperate
with you in a north-south pincer attack to wipe out the forces of He Zhuguo,
Mao Bingwen, and the others. This will accomplish a complete joining of the
three Front Armies, and open up a glorious situation in the Northwest.
4. Communications with the radio station of the International have been
established as of the sixth. It is hoped that Elder Brother Guotao will report by
telegram the situation and opinions of the Fourth Front Army, so that they may
transmitted to the International.
[Lin] Yuying
[Zhou] Enlai
Luo Fu [Zhang Wentian]
Bo Gu
[Mao] Zedong
[Peng] Dehuai

--- Notes

Our source for this telegram is the 1986 annual compendium of Wenxian he yanjiu, p. 103.