The report from Ye Ting and Xiao Yao [Rao Shushi] on the 9th reads, "Today, on
the 9th, we were advancing northward and again encircled. We are gathering all
our forces to fight a fierce battle with the enemy and to try to break through the
encirclement in groups and then move to the north. Early this morning Xiang
[Ying] and Yuan [Guoping] led a section of the army and left without informing
anyone, and it is unclear where they went. We are resolved to stay to the end for the
sake of the safety of the entire army," and so on. We have told Ye Ting and Rao
Shushi to take command of the entire Party organization and the entire army in
resolutely carrying out the task of moving north, and you are hereby informed of
this matter.

Our source for this text is *Mao Zedong ji. Bujuan*, Vol. 6, p. 255, where it is reproduced
from *Wannan shibian*.