Strike Ding Delong First, Then Zhou Xiangchu and Kong Lingxun[1]

(November 19, 1936)

Comrade Peng:

Our army should first strike the Ding Division[2] on the enemy’s right flank. As for Zhou and Kong,[3] it seems advisable to let them advance northward for several tens of li, then resolutely block and contain them, so that after our army has wiped out the Ding Division, we can strike at the flank and rear of Zhou and Kong. In addition, the main force of the Second Front Army should follow up as a reserve, while one of its units resolutely blocks and contains Wang’s army.[4] What do you think? Please decide in light of the situation.

Mao

The 19th

[1] This is a telegram from Mao Zedong to Peng Dehuai, who was then commander-in-chief and political commissar of the Red Army’s front-line forces and commander of the First Front Army.

[2] The Ding Division refers to the 78th Division of the 2nd Column, 1st Route, of the Kuomintang’s Northwestern “Bandit Suppression” General Headquarters, whose division commander was Ding Delong.

[3] Zhou and Kong refer to Zhou Xiangchu and Kong Lingxun, who were then respectively division commanders of the 43rd Division and the 97th Division of the 2nd Column, 1st Route, of the Kuomintang’s Northwestern “Bandit Suppression” General Headquarters.

[4] Wang’s army refers to a portion of the Northeastern Army commanded by Wang Yizhe, commander of the 6th Column, 1st Route, of the Kuomintang’s Northwestern “Bandit Suppression” General Headquarters.