Block and Delay the Westward Advance
of Hu Zongnan's Forces

(September 17, 1936, 12:00 noon)

Peng [Dehuai]:

All of Hu Zongnan's forces have reached Xi'an and are now being moved
westward very rapidly one after the other. Several successive telegrams have
been sent to Zhu and Zhang ordering them to attack and occupy Jieshipu quickly
with their main forces. In order to coordinate the attacks on Hu Zongnan, it
seems necessary to dispatch certain units of the First Army Group to move to the
southern and southwestern part of Guyuan. In addition, within one or two days
the First Division under Nie [Rongzhen] should concentrate and take action,
support the others by coordinated action north of the major road between Jing-ning and Longde, and make a flanking attack towards the road to block and
delay the westward advance of the enemy under Hu. This will also be conducive
to the northward deployment of the Fourth Front Army along the Jieshipu route.
What do you think? Awaiting your reply.

Mao [Zedong]

We have translated this telegram from Mao Zedong junshi wenji, Vol. 1, pp. 587–88,
where it is reproduced from a copy in the Central Archives.