Operational Deployment for Zhu Rui’s Detachment[1]

(November 18, 1936)

Peng:

Zhu Rui’s[2] detachment, with a radio set attached, shall advance by forced march along a byway west of Yuwangbao into the area between Tongxin City and Yuwangbao City, and seize the opportunity to raid Hu Zongnan’s[3] command post (Wangjiatuanzhuang) or harass the rear of the two divisions under Zhou and Kong[4] as deemed appropriate. However, attention must be paid to Ma Hongbin’s[5] troops.

Mao

Eight o’clock, the 18th

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[1] This is a telegram from Mao Zedong to Peng Dehuai, Commander-in-Chief and Political Commissar of the Red Army’s Frontline Forces and Commander of the First Front Army.

[2] Zhu Rui, then Director of the Political Department of the First Army Corps of the Red Army’s First Front Army. He was temporarily leading the Special Service Regiment of the First Front Army and the Instruction Battalion of the First Army Corps in operations in the area near Yuwangbao, present-day Tongxin County, Ningxia.

[3] Hu Zongnan, then Commander of the Second Column, First Route, and concurrently Commander of the First Division, of the Kuomintang Army’s Northwestern “Bandit Suppression” General Headquarters.

[4] The two divisions under Zhou and Kong refer to the 43rd Division and the 97th Division of the Second Column, First Route, of the Kuomintang Army’s Northwestern “Bandit Suppression” General Headquarters, with Zhou Xiangchu and Kong Lingxun as their respective division commanders.

[5] Ma Hongbin, then Commander of the Fourth Column, First Route, and concurrently Commander of the 35th Division, of the Kuomintang Army’s Northwestern “Bandit Suppression” General Headquarters.