Demand That Nanjing Expand
Our Defense Sector
(February 14, 1937, 2:00 A.M.)

Zhou [Enlai]:

1. Send an airplane immediately to pick up [Liu] Bocheng.
2. Take advantage of the opportunity provided by the northward transfer of
the Fifteenth Army Group to increase our defense sector and demand the six xian
of Jinji, Lingwu, Zhongning, Yuwang, Qingjian, and Yichuan, as well as the
Anbian area (including Ningtiaoliang and north of Jingbian) and Wayaobao. In
addition, there were originally soviet areas on both shores of the lower reaches of
the Wuding River all the way to the Yellow River, including the areas around
Hekou, Chuankou, Mahuiping, and Zaolinping, and Li Xianzhou's troops
stationed there now must evacuate the area.
3. Ningxia and the whole of northern Shaanxi should also be mentioned, but
this may be discussed again in future.
4. West of Liangzhou, Chiang designates Ganzhoufu, Suzhoufu, and Anxizhou, including all xian therein.
5. The West Route Army is to occupy Anxizhou with some of its forces to
receive cargo when the spring thaw comes. Its main force will be in the Erzhou
region of Gansu, but Ma [Bufang]'s troops must vacate that area.
6. Please consider how to bring about the above.

Mao

Our source for this text is Mao Zedong junshi wenji, Vol. 1, pp. 793-94, where it is
reproduced from a copy in the Central Archives.