(November 3, 1936)
Peng [Dehuai]:

1. The situation as it stands today:
a. Ding Delong's division¹ is still in Zhongtiangou and Wujiazhuang, and
will advance toward Ganyanchi tomorrow (the 4th).
b. Guan Linzheng and Ma Hongbin are under orders to move toward
Shizuizi.
c. The First Division is gathering around Xinying and Wangjiahe.
d. The two divisions of Liu Handong and Xiong Zhengping² are under orders
to defend communications between Hai[yuan xian] and Zheng[qibao], and
one division is stationed in Tuoliebao.
e. Mao [Bingwen] and Wang [Jun] are still south of Jingyuan.
f. There is no clear information on the ten cavalry divisions.
g. Zhou Xiangchu is moving from Haiyuan towards Guanqiaobao. Kong
Lingxun's division is moving from Xi'anzhou towards Guanqiaobao. The
rear echelon of Kong's division originally belonged to Li [Zhengxian]'s
brigade³ in the First Division, and today it seems to have arrived at
Xi'anzhou and points south of there. These three forces total nine regiments and are relatively isolated.
2. It is a very good deployment to lure the enemy deep into the area east and
west of Guanqiaobao so as to engage all forces in warfare with it, but it is best to
count on the possibility that Zhou's and Kong's two divisions will heighten their
vigilance after reaching Guanqiaobao and wait a day or two for reinforcements
from the First Division or Ding's division. Therefore, I wonder whether or not it

We have translated this telegram from Mao Zedong junshi wenji, Vol. 1, pp. 644-45,
where it is reproduced from a copy in the Central Archives.
1. The reference is to the Seventy-eighth Division of the Second Column of the First
Front Army under the Northwest Bandit-Suppression General Headquarters, commanded
by Ding Delong.
2. Under the Northwest Bandit-Suppression General Headquarters, Liu Handong was
the commander of the 107th Division of the Sixth Column of the Second Route, and
Xiong Zhengping was the commander of the 115th Division of the Seventh Column of the
Second Route.
3. Li Zhengxian commanded the First Brigade of the First Division of the Second
Column of the First Route, under the Northwest Bandit-Suppression General
Headquarters.
would be advantageous to have a portion of our forces guarantee that
Guanqiaobao not be lost tomorrow (the 4th), continue to safeguard that spot the
day after (the 5th), draw an attack on it by Zhou, and then have the whole army
mobilize before dawn on the 5th to attack Zhou and Kong from three different
sides. If Guanqiaobao is not lost, and the topography of the area surrounding it is
advantageous for our operations, then it would be good to attack in that direction
on the 5th. Otherwise, it would be best to let the enemy take a further step in his
attack. Please investigate and make a decision according to the actual circumstances, with the overall goal in mind of fighting in the most appropriate way.

Mao