Peng, Zhang, Zhao:

All telegrams received. Your deployment of abandoning the triangular zone and luring the enemy deep for a counterattack is appropriate. However, please pay full attention to the possibility that the Ma bandits may exploit the separation of our forces along the Jing and Wei rivers, where the center is weak, to break through the middle and advance on Xi’an, thereby preventing our two routes from linking up. If the enemy adopts this tactic, do you have the possibility and determination to hold Xi’an firmly, or would it be better to abandon Xi’an, lure the enemy in, and then annihilate them? Also, if the Ma bandits occupy Xi’an, is it possible for our First and Second Armies to concentrate and wipe out the Hu bandits, first opening up one front? Please report by telegram.

Military Commission
Yisi (June 15)

[1] This is a telegram drafted by Mao Zedong for the Central Military Commission of the CPC Central Committee, addressed to Peng Dehuai, Commander and Political Commissar of the First Field Army, and Deputy Commanders Zhang Zongxun and Zhao Shoushan. On the 11th of the same month, Mao Zedong pointed out in a telegram to Peng Dehuai: "Pay attention to first annihilating one army of the Ningxia Ma, then annihilating another, defeating them one by one; do not take on too many at once."
[2] Ma refers to Ma Jiyuan and Ma Dunjing, who at the time served respectively as Commander of the Longdong Corps of the Kuomintang Army and Commander of the 82nd Army, and Commander of the Ningxia Corps.
[3] Hu refers to Hu Zongnan, who at the time served as Director of the Xi’an Pacification Office of the Kuomintang Army.