Concerning Firmly Defending the Weinan–Lintong–Xi’an Line

Telegram to Zhou Enlai

(19 December 1936)

Zhou:

(A) If we firmly defend the Weinan–Lintong–Xi’an line, the Red Army can arrive within twenty days. Once we smash the eastern enemy in one battle, the western enemy will no longer be a problem.

(B) If the 17th Route Army is used alone on the Weinan–Xi’an line, the 17th Route Army will inevitably become timid. It is proposed that the Northeastern Army and the 17th Route Army concentrate their forces to defend this line.

(C) From Weinan to Xi’an, construct twenty to thirty solid lines and build blockhouses to defend to the death for twenty days.

(D) The enemy has only two divisions, the 28th and the 79th; the 2nd Brigade of the 2nd Division and the 10th Division have not yet arrived. Their strength is very weak.

Mao

23:00, 19th