Deployment for the Main Force of the Northwest Field Army to Advance Southward[1]

(September 18, 1947)

Comrade Peng:

(1) It is reported that the enemy, in addition to airlifting the 28th Brigade from Yulin to Xi’an, has also airlifted one brigade from Yan’an to Xi’an. (2) As for our army’s deployment, apart from ordering Wang Zhen’s Column[2] to dispatch two brigades to race ahead day and night to seize the Greater and Lesser Laoshan areas and block the enemy from the front (not from the flank), ensuring that the enemy’s advance in that area is delayed for at least one week, our main force, after five days of rest and reorganization (from the 18th to the 22nd), shall not go to attack Yichuan or Hancheng but shall take a direct route, dividing into two columns: one column proceeding via Jiulongquan and Niuwu Town; the other via Linzhen Town.[3] They shall set out on the 23rd and, in about seven days, the entire army (six brigades) shall directly take Pucheng and Baishui. After arriving, they shall rest for two days and then again divide into two columns: one column shall press directly toward Fuping, Sanyuan, Gaoling, and the northern bank of the Wei River; the other shall advance southeastward, seizing opportunities to attack and capture the four cities of Chengcheng, Dali, Pingmin, and Chaoyi. In this way, we can reach the northern bank of the Wei River around October 2, placing the enemy completely on the defensive and forcing them to divide their forces to attend to both the southern and northern banks of the Wei River, capable only of defense and not of offense, thereby facilitating the fulfillment of the strategic tasks of our armies in both the north and the south. (3) As for resolving the problem of grain supplies during the seven-day march from the present location to Fuping, in addition to rapidly mobilizing and carrying a portion, order all units to resolve to slaughter mules and horses for food. (4) The two counties of Yichuan and Hancheng shall be taken by a portion of the troops that have attacked and captured Chengcheng, Dali, Chaoyi, and Pingmin, which shall turn back and seize them.

The Military Commission

18th, 8:00 hours

[1] This is a telegram drafted by Mao Zedong for the Military Commission of the CPC Central Committee to Peng Dehuai, Commander and Political Commissar of the Northwest Field Army.

[2] Wang Zhen’s Column refers to the Second Column of the Northwest Field Army, with Wang Zhen serving as Column Commander and Political Commissar.

[3] Linzhen Town, now known as Linzhen, is located southeast of Yan’an City, Shaanxi Province.

Mao Zedong’s former residence at Zhangjiayao in Zhuguanzhai, Jia County.

Dawn (Chinese painting)


Chairman Mao Together with the People of Northern Shaanxi (one of the sketch series Dawn Lies Ahead)

On the March During the Shift of Operations (two of the sketch series Dawn Lies Ahead)


Comrades-in-Arms (three of the sketch series Dawn Lies Ahead)

Gazing Eastward from Jiacheng (four of the sketch series Dawn Lies Ahead)