Deployment for Striking the Hu Enemy’s Zhou and Kong Divisions[1]

(October 30, 1936)

Peng, He and Ren, Zuo and Nie, Xu and Chen, and Zhu and Zhang:

A. Situation:

(1) Jiang[2] has ordered the Hu[3] enemy to pursue fiercely, as the greater part of our army has crossed westward and not much remains on the east bank.

(2) Hu has ordered the Zhou and Kong[4] divisions to advance rapidly via Hongyangchang toward Dalachi[5]; his army headquarters has withdrawn to Jingning[6]; one division has halted at Pingfengzhen, dispatching only a part as a pursuit force, which arrived at Hongyangchang yesterday.

(3) The Guan[7] division is pursuing toward Jingyuan[8]; Mao[9] and the rest are still behind; it seems they will not all advance northward.

[1] This is a telegram sent by Mao Zedong and Zhou Enlai to Peng Dehuai and others, Commander-in-Chief and Political Commissar of the Front Enemy Headquarters of the Red Army, during the organization of the Hai-Da Campaign.

[2] Jiang refers to Jiang Jieshi.

[3] Hu refers to Hu Zongnan, then Commander of the First Army and Division Commander of the First Division of the Second Column, First Route Army, Northwest “Bandit Suppression” General Headquarters of the Nationalist Army.

[4] Zhou refers to Zhou Xiangchu, then Division Commander of the 43rd Division of the Second Column, First Route Army, Northwest “Bandit Suppression” General Headquarters of the Nationalist Army. Kong refers to Kong Lingxun, then Division Commander of the 97th Division of the Second Column, First Route Army, Northwest “Bandit Suppression” General Headquarters of the Nationalist Army.

[5] Dalachi, a village name, located in the eastern part of Jingyuan County, Gansu Province.

[6] Jingning, a county name, in the eastern part of Gansu Province.

[7] Guan refers to Guan Linzheng, then Commander of the 11th Column, Third Route Army, Northwest “Bandit Suppression” General Headquarters of the Nationalist Army, and Division Commander of the 25th Division.

[8] Jingyuan, a county name, in the eastern part of Baiyin City, Gansu Province.

[9] Mao refers to Mao Bingwen, then Commander of the Third Column (37th Army), First Route Army, Northwest “Bandit Suppression” General Headquarters of the Nationalist Army.

(4) He[1] has ordered the Bai[2] Cavalry Division to pursue on the 30th, following the right flank of Hu’s army as opportunity arises. The main force of this division controls Yangmingbao, with a part at Yanjiayao, preparing to reinforce the Bai Division. The Zhu enemy and our Second and Fourth Front Armies have both passed through[3]; their direction is already clear. It is only unclear whether the First Front Army has crossed the river.

B. Based on the above situation, we have an excellent opportunity to strike the Zhou and Kong divisions. Regarding the Bai Division on the right flank of Zhou and Kong, effective units of the Second Front Army must be used to contain and block it.

C. The 31st Army must follow Peng’s[4] order to attack from west to east.

D. The 32nd Army, with an attached radio station, must maintain daily contact with the Zhou and Kong divisions, ensuring that contact is not lost, and lure them to advance toward Dalachi or Xi’anzhou. He and Ren[5] shall immediately lead the 32nd Army; cipher codes and call signs are to be sent to Peng, and direct communication by telegram is to be established.

E. Dalachi and Xi’anzhou serve as the protective screen for our army’s subsequent Ningxia Campaign; they must absolutely not be lost. Earnest attention is deeply hoped for.

Mao Zhou
30th, 22:00 hours

[1] He refers to He Zhuguo, then Commander of the Cavalry Army, Northwest “Bandit Suppression” General Headquarters of the Nationalist Army.

[2] Bai refers to Bai Fengxiang, then Division Commander of the 6th Cavalry Division, Cavalry Army, Northwest “Bandit Suppression” General Headquarters of the Nationalist Army.

[3] As in the original document, characters appear to be missing.

[4] Peng refers to Peng Dehuai, then Vice Chairman of the Northwest Revolutionary Military Commission and Commander and Political Commissar of the Red First Front Army.

[5] He and Ren refer to He Long and Ren Bishi, then respectively Commander-in-Chief and Political Commissar of the Red Second Front Army.