I. The enemy, with five divisions and one brigade, approximately 80,000 men, is advancing to attack Yan'an. After three days of fierce attacks, they have broken through our first line of positions. Due to our army's resolute and heroic resistance, their casualties are very heavy, their difficulties have increased, and they are quite fatigued; this will become even more severe in the future.

II. All army groups of our border region have the resolute task of defending Yan'an. It is necessary to resist for another ten days to two weeks, from the 16th to the 29th, in the area south of the Sanshilipu-Songshuling line, in the Ganquan, Nanniwang, and Jinpenwan regions, in order to gain the coordination of exterior lines to smash the Hu army's attempt to attack Yan'an. To complete the aforementioned task, the defensive duties of each army group are divided as follows: 1. The 1st Independent Brigade, the 8th Brigade, and the 7th Guard Regiment shall be the right-wing army group, under the command of comrades Zhang Zongxun and Liao Hansheng, to organize defensive battles and resolutely resist in the areas of Daozuopu, Ganquan, Da-Xiao Laoshan, Qingquangou, and Shanmiaomiao. 2. The Training Brigade and the 1st Column, Wang Zhen's unit, shall be the left-wing army group, under the command of comrades Wang Zhen and Luo Yuanfa. Before Wang Zhen's arrival, comrade Luo Yuanfa shall command the Training Brigade to organize defensive battles in the areas of Nanniwang, Jinpenwan, Linzhen, and Songshuling. The aforementioned areas must be held for at least seven days. 3. The New 4th Brigade shall be the central army group, with a force of no less than four battalions, to organize defensive battles in the areas of Miao'erliang, Chengzigou (not included), and Sanshilipu, and to resolutely resist the enemy advancing toward Yan'an from Nanniwang. The brigade's artillery should reinforce the Miao'erliang positions. The remainder shall be the reserve, positioned in Yan'an, and shall also guard against enemy paratroopers to control the airfield. The commanders of this brigade will also continue to serve as the Yan'an garrison.

III. All defending army groups should utilize the terrain to organize short bursts of fire, use large quantities of hand grenades and landmines to inflict casualties on the enemy. Control the reserves, flexibly counterattack, and conduct night raids to annihilate small enemy units.

IV. After fatiguing and attriting the enemy in defensive battles, we can then concentrate five or more brigades to fight a war of maneuver, annihilate the enemy piece by piece, and thoroughly smash the enemy's offensive. This order is from the Chairman of the Central Revolutionary Military Commission, Mao Zedong.