Estimation of the Japanese Army’s Operational Plan in North China and the Urgent Need for Combat Readiness Mobilization in the Border Region[1]

(September 27, 1937)

To the commanders of all units in the Shaanxi-Gansu-Ningxia Border Region:

(1) It is estimated that the Japanese bandits’ operational plan in North China takes the occupation of the line connecting Beiping, Tianjin, Nankou, and Zhangjiakou as the first step, and the occupation of the line connecting Cangzhou, Baoding, Dai County, Laiyuan, and Datong as the second step. At present, except for Baoding and Dai County, which have not yet fallen, the rest have all been completed. They are now fiercely advancing toward Baoding and Dai County. The Japanese forces along the Jin-Sui, Ping-Sui, Ping-Han, and Jin-Pu[2] lines amount to approximately seven divisions, totaling about 150,000 men.

(2) The enemy will face increasing difficulties in realizing the third step of their plan. Their rear communication lines will lengthen, their current troops are fatigued, entering mountainous terrain will make supply difficult, heavy artillery and tank vehicles will be unable to exert their full power, and the existing seven divisions will be unable to fulfill their mission without reinforcements. This situation is quite favorable for our army’s future operations.

(3) Our army has already begun entering Shanxi. The authorities[3] are showing relatively greater activism, the masses are more active than before, and the morale of the Shanxi troops has relatively improved. Under the slogans of defending Shanxi and recovering Beiping and Tianjin, we must urgently mobilize the broad masses

[1] This is a telegram from Mao Zedong and Xiao Jinguang, Chief of Staff of the Central Military Commission of the Communist Party of China and concurrently Director of the Rear Area Garrison Headquarters of the Eighth Route Army, to the commanders of all units in the Shaanxi-Gansu-Ningxia Border Region.

[2] Jin-Sui refers to the Jin-Sui Railway, the railway from Taiyuan, Shanxi, via Datong to Baotou in Suiyuan (a former province covering the central part of today’s Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, abolished in 1954). Ping-Sui refers to the Ping-Sui Railway, the railway from Beiping (now Beijing) to Baotou in Suiyuan, now the Beijing-Baotou Line. Ping-Han refers to the Ping-Han Railway, the railway from Beiping (now Beijing) to Hankou, now a section of the Beijing-Guangzhou Line. Jin-Pu refers to the Jin-Pu Railway, the railway from Tianjin to Pukou, now a section of the Beijing-Shanghai Line.

[3] The authorities refer to the Kuomintang authorities in Shanxi Province.

to strive for a protracted war in Shanxi and the whole country.

(4) Under this scheme, the Border Region[1] must immediately mobilize for emergencies, oppose the past notion of peace and tranquility, oppose corruption and waste, oppose a slack working style, thoroughly eliminate bandits and traitors, assist local organizations in training able-bodied men, consolidate the troops, expand training in air defense, anti-gas measures, night operations, and guerrilla tactics, as well as political mobilization, advocate frugality, and carry forward the inherent spirit of hard struggle, so as to fulfill the current urgent tasks.

Mao, Xiao

27th

[1] The Border Region refers to the Shaanxi-Gansu-Ningxia Border Region.