Concerning the Disposition for Attacking Zeng Wanzhong[1]

(November 12, 1936)

Peng:

A. Wang Jun[2] is already dead. Of the three brigades under Zeng Wanzhong’s[3] command, Ma’s Brigade[4] has gone as far as Ning’an Fort; Shen’s Brigade[5] today (the 12th) set out from Guanbude’er and is advancing toward the Dingjiatang highway; Li’s Brigade[6] set out from Sanbula and is advancing toward Majiatang. If our army’s disposition is well arranged, there is a possibility of striking them.

B. After striking Zeng’s enemy forces and resting for a suitable period, it seems advisable to have the First Front Army move out first, advancing via Maojujing or to its southwest, with the Thirty-first Army and the Fourth Army following, and the Second Front Army moving out last, so as to avoid congestion and exposure. What do you think? Please decide in light of the actual situation. However, the Second Front Army should at present immediately deploy a part of its forces on the advance route of Wang Yizhe’s[7] Right Column to delay and obstruct the enemy’s advance and to cover the First and Fourth Front Armies.

Mao

21:00, the 12th

[1] This is a telegram from Mao Zedong to Peng Dehuai, Commander-in-Chief and Political Commissar of the Red Army’s Front Enemy Headquarters and Commander of the First Front Army.
[2] Wang Jun, formerly Deputy Commander-in-Chief of the First Route and Commander of the First Column of the Kuomintang Army’s Northwest “Bandit Suppression” General Headquarters, and Commander of the Third Army, died in an airplane crash on November 9, 1936.
[3] Zeng Wanzhong, formerly Commander of the Seventh Division of the Third Army of the Kuomintang Army’s Northwest “Bandit Suppression” General Headquarters, succeeded Wang Jun as Commander of the First Column and Commander of the Third Army.
[4] Ma’s Brigade refers to the Thirty-fourth Brigade of the Twelfth Division of the First Column of the First Route of the Kuomintang Army’s Northwest “Bandit Suppression” General Headquarters, with Brigade Commander Ma Kun.
[5] Shen’s Brigade refers to the Twenty-first Brigade of the Seventh Division of the First Column of the First Route of the Kuomintang Army’s Northwest “Bandit Suppression” General Headquarters, with Brigade Commander Shen Yuanzhen.
[6] Li’s Brigade refers to the Nineteenth Brigade of the Seventh Division of the First Column of the First Route of the Kuomintang Army’s Northwest “Bandit Suppression” General Headquarters, with Brigade Commander Li Shilong.
[7] Wang Yizhe, then Commander of the Sixth Column (Sixty-seventh Army) of the Second Route of the Kuomintang Army’s Northwest “Bandit Suppression” General Headquarters.