To Peng Dehuai and Others[1]

(October 28, 1936)

A. The enemy Hu, seeing that we avoid a decisive battle, holds us in extreme contempt and is advancing sharply toward Dalachi; Wang and Mao[2] are advancing toward Jingyuan.

B. The main forces of our three front armies should, in accordance with your deployment of the 27th, immediately concentrate on favorable positions and, within a few days, resolutely strike and annihilate one to two brigades of the enemy Hu’s vanguard, while using small units to block and resist Wang and Mao at Jingyuan.

C. The 9th and 30th Armies should quickly return to the west bank of the river and sweep forward toward Zhongwei and Dingyuanying.

D. This is the most opportune moment to destroy the enemy and develop the situation; please, brothers, speedily plan for this.

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

[2] Wang and Mao refer to Wang Jun and Mao Bingwen.