Request Additional Defense Areas from the Nanjing Side[1]

(February 14, 1937)

Zhou:

A. Immediately dispatch an aircraft to fetch Bocheng[2].

B. Seize the opportunity presented by the northward redeployment of the Fifteenth Army Corps and the permission to add defense areas to request Jinji[3], Lingwu, Zhongning, Yuwang[4], Qingjian, Yichuan—six counties—as well as the Anbian region (including Ningtiaoliang and the area north of Jingbian) and Wayaobao[5]. In addition, the lower reaches of the Wuding River on both banks all the way to the Yellow River, including the original Soviet areas in the Hekou, Chuankou, Mahuiping, and Zaolinping regions, currently garrisoned by Li Xianzhou’s[6] troops, must be vacated.

C. Ningxia and the entirety of northern Shaanxi should also be mentioned, but these can be discussed further in the future.

D. Chiang[7] has designated all counties west of Liangzhou[8], including Ganzhou Prefecture, Suzhou Prefecture[9], and Anxi Prefecture[10].

[1] This is a telegram from Mao Zedong to Zhou Enlai.
[2] Bocheng, i.e., Liu Bocheng, then serving as Chief of the General Staff of the Red Army.
[3] Jinji, an old county name, abolished in 1960, its jurisdiction incorporated into the cities of Wuzhong and Qingtongxia in Ningxia.
[4] Yuwang, an old county name, present-day Tongxin County in Ningxia.
[5] Wayaobao, a town name, now the county seat of Zichang County, Shaanxi.
[6] Li Xianzhou, then serving as commander of the 21st Division of the Kuomintang Army.
[7] Chiang, refers to Chiang Kai-shek.
[8] Liangzhou, an old prefectural name, i.e., Wuwei in Gansu.
[9] Ganzhou Prefecture and Suzhou Prefecture, both old prefectural names, i.e., Zhangye and Jiuquan in Gansu.
[10] Anxi Prefecture, an old prefectural name, i.e., Anxi in Gansu.

E. The Western Route Army, when spring warms, shall use a portion of its forces to occupy Anxi Prefecture, receive goods and supplies, with its main force in the two prefectures of Gansu, but Ma’s[1] troops must withdraw from that area.

F. The above, please consider and devise methods.

Mao

14th, 2:00

[1] Ma, refers to Ma Bufang, then serving as commander of the Newly Organized 2nd Army of the Kuomintang Army.