On the Issue of Rear Areas for the Northeast Army and the Seventeenth Route Army

Telegram to Zhou Enlai

(December 20, 1936)

Zhou:

The Northeast Army should take Luochuan as its rear area, and the Seventeenth Route Army should take Hancheng as its rear area. The heavy supplies of both armies should be gradually moved to these two locations, so that in the event that Xi’an has to be abandoned, there will be no haste and mishaps. However, the relocation should be carried out secretly, and only under the resolve to hold Xi’an firmly should this be done.

Mao