It Is Appropriate for the Second Division
to Be Stationed in the Xiaohecheng Area
(October 2, 1936, 2:00 P.M.)
Peng [Dehuai]:
Hu Zongnan is still in the Longxian area. Our Second Front Army will move
north of the Wei River in one week. According to Li Fuchun's report, the masses
in Ningxia are very good, Ma's troops are in a panic, most enclosures and
fortresses except for a small number of strongholds can be taken without a fight,
and it is possible that we can seize the ferry boats. If this is the case it would be
appropriate for the Second Division to be promptly stationed in the Xiaohecheng
area, so that once the decision to attack Ning[xia] earlier is made, it will be
convenient to move the Second Division, and it will not be too exhausted. Please
offer your opinion about an early attack on Ning[xia].
Mao

Our source for this telegram is Mao Zedong junshi wenji, Vol. 1, pp. 607-8, where it is
reproduced from a copy in the Central Archives.