Regarding the Deployment of Heavy Troops at Tongguan, Fengxiang, Pingliang, and Other Issues: A Telegram to Zhang Xueliang (December 13, 1936)

Brother Li Yi: Your telegram of the yin hour on the 12th has been received. The chief culprit has been arrested, and the whole nation rejoices. The present tasks, as regards the national aspect, have already been set forth in the telegram to Hannian, which was conveyed to you yesterday; please forward it to Shanghai. As regards the Northwest, they are briefly stated below for your consideration and decision. (A) Deploy heavy troops at Tongguan, Fengxiang, and Pingliang, with Tongguan being especially important, and firmly resist Fan Songfu. (B) Call upon the people of Xi’an and the Northwest to rise up and support this righteous undertaking, and do likewise with regard to the whole nation. We hold that only by basing the entire action on the masses of the people can the Xi’an Uprising develop its victory with certainty. (C) It is advisable to immediately arrest or expel the fascist elements within the troops, carry out extensive and deep political mobilization throughout the entire army, proclaim to all officers and soldiers the crimes of Chiang’s selling out the country and cruelly harming the people, and politically unite the whole army; this is one of the most urgent tasks. (D) When the forces of Hu, Zeng, Guan, and others press southward, the Red Army will resolutely coordinate with your forces from their flank and rear to wipe them out. Please inform us by telegram at any time regarding the disposition of forces. In addition, we have already made arrangements on the international front; details will be communicated later. Enlai plans to come to Xi’an to consult with you on the subsequent major plans. We propose sending an airplane to Yan’an to fetch him, and request that Brother Yang Hucheng telegraph the garrison at Yan’an to provide secret protection. Please reply with your views. Please order[1] Refers to Hu Zongnan, Zeng Wanzhong, and Guan Linzheng.

Maintain constant radio contact.

Di Donglai
Respectfully submitted at noon on the 13th.