Comrades Zhu, Zhang, and Ren:

(A) We are immensely gratified to receive the victory telegram reporting the capture of Baozuo.[2]

(B) Wang Jun[3] is currently concentrating his forces in southern Shaanxi and can reach southern Gansu within two weeks to deploy defenses. His disposition: one part will proceed to Tianshui, Qin’an, and Gangu[4] to take over the defense from Mao Bingwen;[5] another part appears likely to move toward the counties of Wen, Wu, Cheng, Kang, Xi, Li, Wu, and Gu.[6] This unit is the Third Army, still commanding the Seventh Division and the Twelfth Division, each with six regiments. Mao Bingwen’s Twenty-fourth Division is shifting from Qin’an, Tianshui, and Gangu to Longxi; the Eighth Division was originally at Dingxi. These two divisions together comprise ten regiments, tasked with defending Lanzhou. Lu Dachang[7] appears to be in Minzhou,[8] and although his unit has six regiments, its combat strength is very weak; his First, Fifth, and Sixth Regiments have already been largely wiped out by us. Wang Yaowu[9] is in Hanzhong, taking over Wang Jun’s defense.

[1] This is a telegram from Mao Zedong, Zhou Enlai, and Peng Dehuai to Zhu De, Zhang Guotao, and Ren Bishi.

[2] Baozuo is divided into Upper Baozuo and Lower Baozuo. Upper Baozuo is present-day Dajie; Lower Baozuo is present-day Baozuo, also known as Ekutang, located in the eastern part of Ruoergai County, Sichuan Province, on the eastern bank of the Baozuo River.

[3] Wang Jun, then Commander of the Kuomintang Third Army.

[4] Tianshui, Qin’an, and Gangu are all counties under Gansu Province.

[5] Mao Bingwen, then Commander of the Kuomintang Thirty-seventh Army of the Northwest “Communist Suppression” General Headquarters.

[6] Wen, Wu, Cheng, Kang, Xi, Li, Wu, and Gu refer to Wen County, Wudu, Cheng County, Kang County, Xihe, Li County, Wushan, and Xigu (present-day Zhouqu), all counties under Gansu Province.

[7] Lu Dachang, then Commander of the Kuomintang Newly Organized Fourteenth Division.

[8] Minzhou, i.e., Min County, Gansu Province.

[9] Wang Yaowu, then Commander of the Kuomintang Fifty-first Division.

(C) After the Fourth Front Army reaches Baozuo and takes a brief rest, it should rapidly advance northward. The Second Front Army should follow up, and after reaching Hadapu,[1] take an extended rest, so as to prevent the enemy from sealing the Minxi line and making the northward sortie difficult. Please consider this.

(D) From Baozuo to Hadapu is five hundred li, with five or six defiles, the main ones being the two river bridges on the twenty-five-li stretch between Wazang Temple and Moyao Temple,[2] and the Lazikou[4] mountain pass sixty li west of Luoda.[3] It is advisable to select an elite force of over two thousand, led by an astute and resolute commander, to advance and open the way. It would be best if, apart from this route, another route is selected further west, leading directly to the vicinity of Minzhou, dividing the force into two columns for the northward advance, which would be more appropriate. North of Lazikou, one leaves the Fan region,[5] the terrain is broad, the population dense, which will facilitate the troops’ rest and reorganization.

Mao, Zhou, Peng

[1] Hadapu, located in the northwestern part of Dangchang County, Gansu Province.

[2] Wazang Temple and Moyao Temple, i.e., present-day Wangzang Temple and Maya Temple, both in Diebu County, Gansu Province.

[3] Luoda, i.e., present-day Luoda, located in the eastern part of Diebu County, Gansu Province, adjacent to Zhouqu and Dangchang counties.

[4] Lazikou, located in the northeastern part of Diebu County, Gansu Province.

[5] Fan region, referring to areas inhabited by minority nationalities.