Strictly Prevent Nationalist Forces from Crossing the Yellow River to Occupy the Suide Area
(April 1, 1940)
[1]
Reliable intelligence indicates that three divisions of Li Wen’s 90th Army of the Nationalist Central Army have concentrated in Daning. It is estimated that this force may secretly cross the Yellow River to occupy the Suide Garrison Area, aiming to sever communications between the Shaan-Gan-Ning Border Region and North China and to launch an attack on the Border Region. Therefore, please He Long and Guan Xiangying coordinate our army’s river-defense arrangements so that under no circumstances is the 90th Army allowed to cross the Yellow River. This is a matter of life and death for the entire Eighth Route Army. Wang Zhen’s brigade should strengthen its positions on the western bank of the Yellow River, while Xiao Jingguang is responsible for consolidating the river defenses along the Liulin–Yanchuan section. Two to three regiments of our main forces should be assembled near Qikou under the command of He Long and Guan Xiangying, standing by to move at a moment’s notice. As for whether some units of the 120th Division currently east of the Pinghan Railway should be transferred to the west side, please make a prompt decision and report back by telegraph.

[1] This is the main content of a telegram sent by Mao Zedong and Wang Jiaxiang to Zhu De, Peng Dehuai, He Long, Guan Xiangying, with a copy to Wang Zhen, regarding strict precautions to prevent Nationalist forces from crossing the Yellow River to occupy the Suide area.