On the Deployment for Consolidating River Defense[1]

(March 2, 1938)

Zhu and Peng, also Lin, Nie, He, Xiao, Guan, Liu, Xu, Deng[2]:

A. The enemy’s intention is to attack northern Shaanxi on one front and Tongguan[3] on the other. At present, the enemy at Jundu and Qikou is launching fierce attacks along two routes, and there is a possibility that the river defense may be breached. Suide and Yan’an are in urgent danger, threatening the return route of the entire army east of the river.

B. At present, the troops in northwestern Shanxi must follow the deployment already decided by He, Xiao, and Guan: use the 6th Garrison Regiment to deal with the enemy attacking Hequ; use one brigade to attack the enemy advancing from Wuzhai toward Linxian; dispatch one brigade by forced night march to the area north of Lishi to strike the rear of the two enemy forces at Qikou and Jundu and obstruct their crossing of the river. These three forces must also vigorously mobilize the masses, consolidate all un-lost crossing points in the northern section of the river defense, and secure the rear route. If the enemy breaches the river defense and attacks Suide, one brigade must cross the river and coordinate with the troops on the western bank to annihilate this enemy force and defend Yan’an.

[1] From late February 1938 onward, the Japanese army repeatedly launched incursions against the river defense of the Shaanxi-Gansu-Ningxia Border Region, attempting to sever the connections between the Border Region and the various anti-Japanese base areas in Shanxi. This is a telegram from Mao Zedong to Zhu De, Peng Dehuai, and others on the issue of consolidating river defense.

[2] Lin refers to Lin Biao, then commander of the 115th Division of the Eighth Route Army. Nie refers to Nie Rongzhen, then commander and political commissar of the Shanxi-Chahar-Hebei Military Region of the Eighth Route Army. He, Xiao, and Guan refer to He Long, Xiao Ke, and Guan Xiangying, then respectively commander, deputy commander, and political commissar of the 120th Division of the Eighth Route Army. Liu, Xu, and Deng refer to Liu Bocheng, Xu Xiangqian, and Deng Xiaoping, then respectively commander, deputy commander, and political commissar of the 129th Division of the Eighth Route Army.

[3] Tongguan is located in the northern part of Tongguan County, Shaanxi Province, at the strategic junction of Shaanxi, Shanxi, and Henan provinces.

C. Xu’s brigade[1] must immediately move westward, return to the organizational structure of the 115th Division, coordinate with Chen’s brigade[2] to annihilate the local enemy, vigorously mobilize the populace in Lishi, Zhongyang, Shilou, Yonghe, Daning, Xixian, Jixian, and the entire Lüliang Mountain range, cooperate with friendly army units, consolidate all large and small crossing points in the middle section of the river defense, and secure the return route of the entire national army in southeastern and southwestern Shanxi. If Tongguan and Xi’an are in danger, before the main force of the national army in Shanxi shifts, prepare to first dispatch one brigade of the 115th Division to cross the river and advance southward to fight in defense of Xi’an.

D. The 129th Division should position itself east of the Tongpu Railway, deploy flanking positions, destroy the railway, obstruct the enemy’s advance toward Tongguan, and coordinate with the operations of Lin’s and He’s divisions. If Tongguan and Xi’an are critically endangered and Chiang[3] has reassigned the main force of the national army in Shanxi to cross the river and assume the task of defending Xi’an, the main force of this division should also prepare to move westward, while leaving one part permanently in southeastern Shanxi to persist in guerrilla warfare. The above policy has been fully approved by the Political Bureau meeting, and resolute execution is expected.

Mao

March 2

[1] Xu’s brigade refers to the 344th Brigade of the 115th Division of the Eighth Route Army, with brigade commander Xu Haidong.

[2] Chen’s brigade refers to the 343rd Brigade of the 115th Division of the Eighth Route Army, with brigade commander Chen Guang.

[3] Chiang refers to Chiang Kai-shek.