Link Up Southern Shaanxi and Northwestern Hubei to Create a Base Area[1]

(August 28, 1946)

Li, Ren, Wen:

(1) It is hoped that a small detachment with a radio set and batteries will be sent to locate Zhou Zhijian[2]; after he is found, Zhou’s unit should take the area north of the Han River as its base area, disperse for guerrilla operations, and after gaining a firm foothold, consider sending units across the river to develop on the southern bank.

(2) Establish a sub-district in Zhashui and Zhen’an, and after gaining a firm foothold, vigorously develop westward. (3) Our forces in the Yunxi area should, after a period, develop southward directly to the Han River, and thereafter send units across the river as opportunities arise.

(4) Wang and Liu[3] as well as Luo and Wen[4] should each send a part of their forces to develop in Jun County[5], Yun County, Baihe, Xunyang, and Pingli, establishing sub-districts. (5) In sum, link up southern Shaanxi and northwestern Hubei, occupy a vast area, and create a base area.

Central Military Commission

[1] This is a telegram drafted by Mao Zedong for the Central Military Commission of the CPC Central Committee, addressed to Li Xiannian, commander of the Central Plains Military Region, Ren Zhibin, political commissar of the Second Column, and Wen Jianwu, commander of the Second Column.
[2] Zhou Zhijian was then deputy commander of the Second Column of the Central Plains Military Region. He had lost contact with higher authorities while leading two battalions of the column’s 39th Regiment.
[3] Wang and Liu refer to Wang Shusheng and Liu Zijiu, then respectively commander and deputy political commissar of the First Column of the Central Plains Military Region.
[4] Luo and Wen refer to Luo Houfu and Wen Minsheng, then respectively commander and political commissar of the Jianghan Military Region.
[5] Jun County is present-day Danjiangkou, Hubei.