Chapter 48 The Battle of Zhiluo and the Current Situation and Tasks[1]

(November 30, 1935) 1. Battle of Zhiluo (1) The seriousness of this enemy attack: After the two victories at Laoshan and Yulin Bridge[2], the enemy's main force advanced from the west in an attempt to form an east-west blockade of the Hulu River, and then aided Ganquan and Yan'an in the north to form a north-south blockade of the Luo River. The development of the South was restricted, and the existing Soviet areas could not be fully consolidated. (2) Reasons for our victory: 1. The meeting and unity of the two legions[3] (this is fundamental); 2. Grasp the strategic and campaign hubs (Huluhe and Zhiluo Town);

3. Adequate combat preparations; 4. The masses agree with us. These four conditions determine our victory and the enemy's defeat.Without the first condition, such a great victory would not have been possible, and Dong Yingbin's [4] five divisions (four divisions on the west and one division on the east) would not have been able to retreat after their leading 109 divisions had been wiped out, and our army would have been unable to pursue them. One regiment of the 106th Division was wiped out, so that the 108th and 111th Divisions had to retreat to Gansu territory, and the 170th Division, which invaded Yangquan from the east, had to retreat to Fuxian Town.Without the second condition, we could not have won this victory, and let the enemy occupy Huluhe and Zhiluo Town.Without the third condition, the troops would not have rest and training, and their morale and combat effectiveness would not be so high; if the five or six militia groups such as Zhangcunyi and Dongcun were not wiped out and expelled, they would not be able to hide the main force and facilitate fighting; The topographical observation and topographic map surveying and mapping cannot be arranged so properly and beautifully.Without the fourth condition, we would not be able to do so well in shading the main force, transporting wounded soldiers, and supplying food.These four conditions are responsible for this big victory.The general policy of "fighting to the south" and "solving the 'encirclement and suppression' in early winter" decided by the Central Committee and the Military Commission has been fully realized due to the resolute implementation of the leaders and combatants of the front army at all levels.This victorious battle tells us that we must strive for these four conditions for future operations: (1) the two legions are more united; (2) seize the strategic hub to deploy campaigns, and seize the campaign hub to deploy battles; (3) We must strive for full preparations for military training and political work before the war; (4) work hard at the local level and win the masses of the residents to agree with us.These four conditions are indispensable.

(3) The relationship between this victory and the next victory: This victory finally resolved the third "encirclement and suppression campaign", and the enemy could not attack us unless they redeployed and redeployed their troops.This gives us the conditions to prepare to break the new "encirclement and suppression": time and area.Time and area are very important to us, and we must use every hour of time and every square mile area we have obtained to carry out all the basic work between the two "encirclement and suppression campaigns". (4) The impact of this victory:

1. To further unite the three red armies [5] that have just joined together.Up to now, everyone believes that this kind of meeting and unity is very good, necessary, an inviolable force, and the basic condition for defeating the enemy. 2. To enable us to use time to violently expand the Red Army.This is the most important, most important, most important thing right now.Under the influence of the victory, more people became members of the Red Army, and the comrades who led the expansion of the Red Army also worked harder. 3. Consolidated the Soviet area.Everyone in the Soviet area is happy, and the enthusiasm of the masses to support the Red Army and help the war will definitely increase. "The Central Red Army and the 15th Army Corps are really good", this kind of public opinion is boiling.

4. Allow us to violently expand the Soviet area.Luochuan, Central[6], Yijun, Yichuan, Hancheng, and the guerrilla and white areas in Guanzhong and Longdong can all be turned into Soviet areas. Under the influence of victory, the masses in these places will become more active. 5. The Japanese imperialists are attacking North China with artillery fire and annexing the whole country, and the Kuomintang is holding a traitorous congress in Nanjing[7].Our victory tells them that we will not allow you, the Japanese imperialists, to destroy our North China and the whole country. We will not allow you, the evil Kuomintang, to betray the country to the end. Please go away, the traitorous Kuomintang. The savior of the people of the whole country - the Red Army Together with the Soviets, we must join hands with the people and use our guns and blood to overthrow Japanese imperialism, overthrow the traitor Kuomintang, and overthrow the traitor leader Chiang Kai-shek.When the people of the whole country, especially the people of the five north China provinces and the seaside provinces, are under the threat of artillery fire from the Japanese imperialists, and are being forced by the Kuomintang to use bayonets, whips, and deceptive propaganda to become subjugated slaves without assistance, our victory tells them: "My countrymen! Ladies, don’t be afraid, we are here to help you.” When we sent out the good news, do you think they were happy to hear it?

6. Cooperate with the National Red Army and the victory of guerrilla warfare. "Look: we have finally crushed the third 'encirclement and suppression' campaign in the north! The Central Red Army, the 25th Army, and the Shaanxi-Gansu Red Army, which had traveled 25,000 miles, joined forces on the battlefield and captured Master Niu alive.[8] ] What! Go forward bravely!" 7. The Central Committee leads us to establish a vast base area in the Northwest—the base area to lead the revolutionary war against Japan, Chiang Kai-shek and all traitors throughout the country. This victory can be regarded as the groundbreaking ceremony.

8. Japanese imperialism not only wants to destroy China, but also wants to attack Siberia in the Soviet Union and destroy the Mongolian People's Republic.Our victory tells them: "If the Japanese imperialists attack you, we will attack its flanks and rear. We are your brothers, and we are responsible for fighting the front line!" Comrades, the impact of this victory is very great. We must exert these influences and explain to every red soldier that we must communicate to all workers and peasants in the front, rear, Soviet and White areas, and all soldiers and officers of the White Army. Explain clearly so that they understand and sympathize with us.

Second, what is the current situation? (1) In the world: ——Contradiction among the imperialists is going to a big war (East, West). ——The war against imperialism by the proletariat and the people (the demonstration of 400,000 people on July 14 in France, the unprecedented general strike in the United States this year, the democratic revolutions in Spain and Greece, the revolutionary situation in various countries). —The anti-imperialist movement in the colonies (the national war in Abyssinia[9], the surging revolutionary movement in China, the independence movement in the Anglo-American colonies).

——The strength of the Soviet Union (production catches up with and exceeds that of any imperialist country, another four years to complete the five-year plan), the new mission of the Red Army——"Victory is guaranteed, and now it is only a small sacrifice for a big one On the issue of victory, the Red Army must carry out technical and tactical assaults." ——The sudden change and sharp turn of the world situation, a new era of revolution and war all over the world is before us. (2) In China: - Japan's actions (the serious situation of monopolizing China). —The Struggle of Imperialism in China (Britain, America and Japan).

——The struggle within the Kuomintang (the brewing and unfolding of the Jiang faction and the anti-Chiang faction). ——The three main Red Army led by the Shaanxi-Gansu Red Army (ours, the Second and Sixth Army Corps, and the Fourth Front Army). - A revived and developed guerrilla warfare. ——The new upsurge of anti-imperialism (lurking and erupting). ——The sudden and sudden turn of the current situation in China, the situation of a new great revolution is before us. (3) In the Northwest: 1. On the enemy side ——Zhang Xueliang's [10] defeat of the three main forces (Wang Yizhe's army, Dong Yingbin's army, and He Zhuguo's cavalry army).

——Yu Xuezhong and Wan Fulin[11] The two armies wandered. ——The lone army of Liu Duoquan [12]. ——The defensive position of Yang Huchen[13]. ——Yan Xishan [14] is an auxiliary role. - Chiang Kai-shek is in the standby position. So the third "encirclement and suppression" was completely shattered. 2. On our side ——The inviolable strength of the Red Army (Don't think that the team is smaller than before). - The development of guerrilla warfare (strategic importance). ——The enthusiasm of the workers and peasants (expressed and hidden power). - The correct leadership of the party (Central). ——The sympathy of the masses in the white areas. One—the sympathy of the White Army soldiers and lower-level cadres. One - sympathy for minorities. Therefore, we are moving forward with a good position and a broad mass base. (4) Issues concerning the fourth "encirclement and suppression campaign" ——Our development is a great threat to Japanese imperialism. ——Our development is a great threat to the traitorous government of the Kuomintang. ——Our development made Zhang Xueliang unable to step down. ——Our development has made Yang Huchen, Yan Xishan, and Ma Hongkui[15] restless (especially Yan Xishan, who and Zhang Xueliang are our two main enemies at present, and Yan Xishan will definitely attack from Shanxi to Shaanxi during the fourth "encirclement and suppression" Come). 3. What is the new task? (1) From now on, we will use our utmost efforts to gain and accumulate more sufficient forces to meet the enemy's new large-scale attacks and smash them thoroughly, open up our Soviet areas to the five provinces of Shanxi, Shaanxi, Gansu, Sui, and Ningxia, and complete the alliance with the Soviet Union and the Soviet Union. The Mongolian People's Republic is one of the missions.At that time, we will be able to win even greater strength for the Japanese imperialists to attack the Chinese revolution (this is inevitable and not far away) and the Soviet Union, and the various warlords of the Kuomintang to attack the Red Army in the North and the Red Army throughout the country, in an unprecedented and unprecedented manner. Some major blows are aimed at winning great victories for the Soviets in seven or eight provinces in the north and in several provinces in the south, raising the War of Resistance Against Japan to the highest level.This is our general task. (2) Vigorously developing guerrilla warfare ——Let guerrilla warfare develop extensively and vigorously in the five provinces of Shanxi, Shaanxi, Gansu, and Suining. — Double the size of the guerrilla force in four months. - Make the development of guerrilla warfare more planned. (3) The tasks of the First Army are: 1. Continue to eliminate the enemies trapped in the Soviet area, and mobilize the enemies who may come to help and eliminate them, so as to supplement personnel and weapons and consolidate the Soviet area. 2. Vigorously expand ourselves, and strive to double the size in four months (the corps will expand from the residents, the Military Commission of the Central Bureau will expand from the rear, and capture a large number of captured soldiers).I repeat, this is the most important most important task. 3. Train yourself earnestly and improve the combat effectiveness of the front army to a very high level.On the one hand, it focuses on shooting education and tactical education, on the other hand, it focuses on basic political education and literacy education.Our shooting and shooting command still have serious shortcomings, and our battle command is still very inexperienced, and a complete change must be required.The cultural level and political level should be improved a step further. Commanders must be able to read and write, combatants must be able to read three hundred characters, and must understand many common principles on revolutionary issues.Education is first and foremost the education of cadres. Only by improving the military and political level of cadres can the military and political level of combatants be truly improved.Raising the level of old cadres and creating many new cadres are the urgent tasks of the Red Army in the face of a major war. 4. Vigorously expand the Soviet area to create a favorable fighting environment.There are local party and government forces working with us to do this.Red Army commanders and combatants must respect local party and government leading organs, and it is completely wrong to treat local comrades with an attitude of ordering or even cursing. 5. Violently sabotage the enemy army and turn the sabotage work into a mass movement of the Red Army and the population.Changed the policy on the treatment of captive officers. Once they handed over their guns, not only would they not be killed at all, but they would also be given preferential treatment. They would not be tied up (except when necessary), stripped of their clothes, or beaten or scolded. The military officer joined us in the resistance against Japan.As for the captured soldiers, they will be treated very preferentially. No matter how fierce the fighting is on the battlefield, they will be treated as brothers once their guns are surrendered, and retaliation is strictly prohibited.Therefore, destroying the enemy, expanding the Red Army, strengthening the Red Army, redifying the local areas and destroying the enemy army are five specific and serious tasks and tasks for the front army in the coming period, and expanding the Red Army is the central link in this period.The task of destroying the enemy proposed here will not hinder and should not hinder the completion of the rest of the work (especially the expansion of the Red Army), that is, we should not pursue unavoidable battles, and we should not go to distant white areas to seek battles.Although these tasks and tasks proposed are regular tasks and tasks of the Red Army, they have their special content and significance in the current period between two "encirclement and suppression campaigns". 4. We used these to crush the enemy's new offensive, we used these to gain leadership in the national Red Army's guerrilla war and the anti-Japanese and anti-Chiang wars, and we used these to make concrete preparations for direct combat with the Japanese imperialists' aggressive troops ——We are leading the armed forces to prevent Japanese imperialism from attacking North China, annexing the whole country, and attacking the Soviet Union.Our sacred duty calls upon our comrades to carry on their work with extraordinary effort, and great victories are ours if we do so. Printed from mimeographs preserved in the Central Archives. -------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------ note [1] This is the outline of the summary of the Zhiluo Town Campaign and the report on the current situation and tasks made by Mao Zedong at the meeting of cadres above the military camp of the first front of the Red Army held in Dongcun, Fu County, Shaanxi.The Battle of Zhiluo Town was a battle fought by the First Front Army of the Red Army in Zhiluo Town, Fuxian County, Shaanxi Province and its surrounding areas from November 20 to 24, 1935. It wiped out divisions and regiments of the Kuomintang Army. , smashed the Kuomintang army's third "encirclement and suppression" campaign against the Shaanxi-Gansu Revolutionary Base Area. [2] Refers to the two battles in October 1935 when the Fifteenth Army Corps of the Red Army wiped out most of the 110th Division of the Kuomintang Army at Laoshan, Ganquan County, Shaanxi Province, and the four battalions of the 107th Division at Yulin Bridge. victory. [3] The two legions refer to the First Army of the Red Army and the Fifteenth Army of the Red Army at that time. [4] Dong Yingbin (1894-1950), born in Shenyang, Liaoning.At that time, he was the commander of the 57th Army of the Kuomintang Army and the commander of the first division. [5] Refers to the First Red Army who marched from the central revolutionary base to northern Shaanxi, the Red Twenty-Five Army who marched from the Hubei, Henan and Anhui revolutionary bases to northern Shaanxi, and the Shaanxi-Gansu Red Army who persisted in their struggle. [6] Central, the old county name, now Huangling County, Shaanxi. [7] Refers to the Fifth National Congress of the Kuomintang held in Nanjing in November 1935. [8] Commander Niu refers to Niu Yuanfeng, commander of the 109th Division of the 57th Army of the Kuomintang Army, who was killed in the battle of Zhiluo Town. [9] Abyssinia, that is, Ethiopia. [10] Zhang Xueliang, born in 1901, from Haicheng, Liaoning.At that time, he was the deputy commander-in-chief of the Northwest "Suppression General" of the Kuomintang Army. [11] Yu Xuezhong (1890-1964), a native of Penglai, Shandong.At that time, he was the commander-in-chief of the Second Route Army and the commander of the 51st Army of the Kuomintang Army's Northwest "Suppression General".Wan Fulin (1880-1951), a native of Nong'an, Jilin.At that time, he was the commander of the 53rd Army of the Kuomintang Army. [12] Liu Duoquan (1898-1985), a native of Fengcheng, Liaoning.At that time, he was the commander of the 105th Division of the 57th Army of the Kuomintang Army. [13] Yang Huchen, that is, Yang Hucheng (1893-11949), was born in Pucheng, Shaanxi.At that time, he was the commander-in-chief of the 17th Route Army of the Kuomintang Army and the director of the Xi'an Appeasement Office of the Kuomintang government. [14] Yan Xishan (1883-1960), a native of Hebian Village, Wutai, Shanxi (now Dingxiang).At that time, he was the vice chairman of the Military Commission of the Kuomintang government and the director of the Taiyuan Appeasement Office. [15] Ma Hongkui (1892-1970), a native of Linxia, ​​Gansu.At that time, he was the commander of the first defensive area of ​​the Kuomintang army's Northwest "Suppression General". [16] Sui, referring to Suiyuan Province, was abolished in 1954, and the original jurisdiction was placed under the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region.