Conditions in the Various Soviet Areas in Shaanxi, Gansu, and Ningxia (September 4, 1936)

The Shaanxi-Gansu-Ningxia Soviet Area covers a vast territory, extending over 1,200 li from east to west and 600 li from north to south. At present, nine cities—Yanchi, Dingbian, Jingbian, Anding, Ansai, Yanchuan, Bao’an, Huanxian, and Yuwang—are in our hands. The terrain across the various counties is predominantly mountainous, with deep ravines, sparse forests, scarce water, loose soil, a small population, and inconvenient transportation. It is unsuited for large-scale troop movements. The area is generally poor in resources and cannot sustain a large army over an extended period. The Shenmu Special District extends over 200 li from east to west and about 300 li from north to south, where guerrilla warfare is developing considerably. The Guanzhong Soviet Area borders Xi’an at a distance of 90 li to the south, and the rural areas of ten counties, including Zhongbu, Sanyuan, and Qingyang, have been linked into a contiguous whole, though the county seats are not in our possession. The Southern Shaanxi Soviet Area has expanded to over twenty counties, with a force of approximately 2,000 men.[1]

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