Deployment Concerning the Defense of the Shaanxi-Gansu-Ningxia Border Region[1]

(November 6, 1946)

He and Li, Nie and Liu, Chen and Xie, Bo and Wang, Liu and Deng[2]:

(1) The 1st Army and the 90th Army are currently moving from Linfen to Xi’an, preparing to attack the Border Region. Ma Hongkui[3] has concentrated his main force east of the river, preparing to attack the Sanbian[4] area, after which the two routes will converge to attack Yan’an. (2) Our army has the task of smashing this enemy, defending Yan’an, and developing the Northwest after victory. (3) It is decided to transfer the Yang-Su Column[5] (three brigades), the Chen-Xie Column (three brigades), and the Zhang Zongxun Column[6] (two brigades) to cooperate with the Border Region troops in carrying out this task, with Chen Geng as commander, Zhang Zongxun as deputy commander, and Xi

[1] In November 1946, Chiang Kai-shek ordered Hu Zongnan to detach the reorganized 1st and 90th Divisions, totaling four brigades, stationed in southern Shanxi, to cross the Yellow River westward into Shaanxi, preparing to join the Kuomintang troops already encircling the Shaanxi-Gansu-Ningxia Border Region in attacking Yan’an, the seat of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China and the Central Military Commission. This telegram was drafted by Mao Zedong for the Central Military Commission and addressed to He Long, commander of the Jin-Sui Military Region, and Political Commissar Li Jingquan, among others.

[2] Nie and Liu refer to Nie Rongzhen and Liu Lantao, who at the time were respectively commander and political commissar, and deputy political commissar of the Jin-Cha-Ji Military Region. Chen and Xie refer to Chen Geng and Xie Fuzhi, who at the time were respectively commander and political commissar of the 4th Column of the Jin-Ji-Lu-Yu Field Army. Bo and Wang refer to Bo Yibo and Wang Hongkun, who at the time were respectively first deputy political commissar and second deputy commander of the Jin-Ji-Lu-Yu Military Region. Liu and Deng refer to Liu Bocheng and Deng Xiaoping, who at the time were respectively commander and political commissar of the Jin-Ji-Lu-Yu Field Army.

[3] Ma Hongkui at the time was deputy director of the Northwest Administrative Office of the Nationalist Government Chairman.

[4] Sanbian refers to Dingbian, Anbian, and Jingbian in northwestern Shaanxi.

[5] The Yang-Su Column refers to the 1st Column of the Jin-Cha-Ji Field Army, with column commander Yang Dezhi and political commissar Su Zhenhua.

[6] The Zhang Zongxun Column refers to the 1st Column of the Jin-Sui Field Army, with column commander Zhang Zongxun.

Zhongxun as political commissar, exercising unified command over all units. (4) He and Li are to order the Zhang Column to move rapidly to the Xingxian-Linxian area for rest, reorganization, and replenishment, and await orders to proceed to Yan’an. (5) Nie and Liu are to order the Yang-Su Column to rapidly replenish with new recruits and move to the Xingxian-Linxian area, and await orders to proceed to Yan’an. Sufficient political work should be carried out beforehand to ensure a reduction in desertions. (6) The Chen-Xie Column is to rapidly attack and capture Xi County, Pu County, Daning, Ji County, and Xiangning, control the Madouguan ferry crossing, and open up the road to Yan’an. He and Li are to immediately order Peng and Luo[2] and the Independent 4th Brigade to move south to the Lüliang area to coordinate operations with Chen and Xie, and when Chen and Xie advance westward, to take over and consolidate all counties in the Lüliang area. Peng and Luo are to proceed immediately to Fenxi to discuss all matters with Chen and Xie. (7) After the 1st and 90th Armies return to Shaanxi, the Hu[3] troops remaining in Shanxi will be greatly reduced. Once the Shaanxi-Gansu battlefield is opened, the majority or all of the Hu troops remaining in Shanxi will be transferred to Shaanxi. In the Taiyue area, apart from leaving the 24th Brigade, a new brigade can be formed by upgrading local forces to cope with the situation. Pi and Xu[4] in Central China must at least wait until Su and Tan[5] fight and win another battle before they can be redeployed; moreover, the distance is long and a slow remedy cannot meet an urgent need. Therefore, it is necessary to devise means locally.

Central Military Commission

Xu-yu[6]

[1] Xingxian and Linxian refer to Xing County and Lin County in Shanxi.

[2] Peng and Luo refer to Peng Shaohui and Luo Guibo, who at the time were respectively deputy commander and deputy political commissar of the Lüliang Military Region.

[3] Hu refers to Hu Zongnan, who at the time was commander-in-chief of the Nationalist 1st War Zone.

[4] Pi and Xu refer to Pi Dingjun and Xu Zirong, who at the time were respectively brigade commander and political commissar of the 13th Brigade of the Central China Field Army.

[5] Su and Tan refer to Su Yu and Tan Zhenlin, who at the time were respectively commander and political commissar of the Central China Field Army.

[6] Xu-yu is the date code, corresponding to November 6.