Deployment to Shatter the Enemy
Forces in the South
(October 25, 1936)
To Zhu [De] and Zhang [Guotao], and Peng [Dehuai], and for transmittal to He
[Long] and Ren [Bishi], and to Xu [Xiangqian] and Chen [Changhao]:
1. In view of the fact that the enemy is pursuing and attacking in the direction
of Dalachi, and the Thirtieth Army has crossed the Yellow River, we think that
in our future campaign the first priority should be to focus our attention on
shattering the enemy forces in the south and to stop the pursuing enemy. We are
between two enemies in the south and the north. The campaign in the north has
the characteristics of positional warfare, and we need two months to prepare for
it. If we do not stop the enemy troops in the south, we will put ourselves in an
unfavorable position in the future. Our second priority should be to focus our
attention on the north.


2. Therefore, the deployment is as follows:


a. Instead of the Ninth Army, use another army to cross the river after the
Thirtieth Army. After the crossing, the two armies should immediately
take the pivotal region of Toulutang, Sanyanjingbao, Dayingpan, and
Datangyi in the bend on the west bank of the Yellow River, and expand in
the direction of Zhongwei, find out about the situation in Dingyuanying
and Zhongwei, and be prepared to use one army to attack and take
Dingyuanying, a place of strategic importance in the second step.


b. Apart from the two armies that have crossed the river, the Fourth Front
Army still has three armies, of which the Ninth Army constitutes the heart.
Apart from the troops sent to Qiying, the Second Front Army still has its
main forces. It is unnecessary to set up too much resistance against the
enemy in the south. If he gradually concentrates in the area to the south
and north of Dalachi in a couple of days, we should strengthen the defenses and clear the fields, lure the enemy in deep, build fortifications on
our own side, encourage the soldiers' morale, and when the enemy advances we should be able to wipe out three or four regiments. This will be
quite enough to stop the enemy in the south.


c. After the two armies of the Fourth Front Army have won control over the
pivotal area on the west bank of the river, the main forces of the First Front
Army will begin to operate, and will take the Jinji-Lingwu area in a sudden
attack. Xu and Chen should assign half or more of the boat-building technical team to build boats as quickly as possible and get ready for the
crossing.


d. After the enemy troops in the south have effectively received a heavy
blow, the Ninth Army will cross the river in Zhongning. By now the entire
war situation will have entered the second step of laying the stress on the
north, and the two armies of the Fourth Front Army and the entire Second
Front Army will defend against the enemy in the south. We look forward
to hearing your opinions.


Mao [Zedong]
Zhou [Enlai]

--- Notes

We have translated this telegram from Mao Zedong junshi wenji, Vol. 1, pp. 634-35,
where it is reproduced from a copy in the Central Archives.