Organize the Second Field Army of the Shanxi-Chahar-Hebei Region to Annihilate the Enemy Attacking Chengde[1]

(October 23, 1945)

Nie, Xiao, Luo, Liu, and inform Peng, Cheng, Lin, Xiao[2]:

Regarding the organization of the Second Field Army of the Hebei-Chahar-Shanxi Region: (1) By the first ten days of next month, the diehard side will have concentrated three armies and eight divisions (the 92nd Army’s three divisions airlifted, the 16th Army’s three divisions now in Shijiazhuang, and the 3rd Army’s two divisions) in Beiping. It is judged that, apart from using a portion to protect Beiping and the Beiping-Tianjin line, the main force will attack Chengde and threaten Zhangjiakou. (2) It is decided to rapidly organize the Second Field Army of the Hebei-Chahar-Shanxi Region, drawing at least 30,000 men from the existing crack local corps of Shanxi-Hebei, Central Hebei, and Northern Beiping, to form twelve to fifteen large regiments. They must be concentrated in the Northern Beiping Military District[3] within a limit of two weeks, at most three weeks, to complete combat preparations. Their task is to coordinate with the Rehe[4] and Eastern Hebei forces, resolutely annihilate the diehard army attacking Chengde, consolidate Rehe and Northern Beiping, and serve as the main force in this combat mission. (3) Xiao Ke is to be the commander of the Second Field Army, and Luo Ruiqing the political commissar. It is expected that Xiao and Luo

[1] This is a telegram drafted by Mao Zedong for the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China, addressed to Nie Rongzhen, Commander and Political Commissar of the Shanxi-Chahar-Hebei Military Region; Xiao Ke, Deputy Commander; Luo Ruiqing, Deputy Political Commissar and Director of the Political Department; and Liu Lantao, Deputy Political Commissar.

[2] Peng and Cheng refer to Peng Zhen and Cheng Zihua, who were then respectively Political Commissar and Commander of the Northeast Military Region. Lin refers to Lin Biao, formerly Commander of the 115th Division of the Eighth Route Army, who was then en route to the Northeast. Xiao refers to Xiao Jinguang, formerly Deputy Commander of the Shaanxi-Gansu-Ningxia-Shanxi-Suiyuan Joint Defense Army, who was then en route to the Northeast.

[3] The Northern Beiping Military District should be the Northern Beiping Military Sub-district, which belonged to the Shanxi-Chahar-Hebei Military Region.

[4] Rehe, an old provincial name, covering areas of present-day northeastern Hebei Province, southwestern Liaoning Province, and southeastern Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, abolished in 1955.

Organize the Second Field Army of the Shanxi-Chahar-Hebei Region to Annihilate the Enemy Attacking Chengde

will arrive at the Northern Beiping Military District within one week to arrange everything, and immediately establish radio contact with the Central Committee and Nie and Liu, without any delay. (4) The Lin-Xiao Field Army’s objective is to annihilate the diehard army attacking the Northeast from the Tianjin-Qinhuangdao line. It is to be positioned on the Shenyang-Shanhaiguan line, and this army has the task of coordinating operations with the Xiao-Luo Field Army and the Rehe and Eastern Hebei forces. (5) The formation and operations of the Xiao-Luo Field Army shall not affect the current Suiyuan[1] operations of the Nie-Liu Field Army. Only after Nie and Liu resolutely complete the Suiyuan operational tasks should their main force be rapidly transferred eastward to assist Xiao and Luo. (6) Regarding how to employ Zhao Erlu’s[2] corps, please provide your opinions. (7) The original plan to send 20,000 men from Hebei-Chahar-Shanxi to the Northeast is now changed to incorporating them into the Xiao-Luo Field Army.

Central Committee

Youyang

[1] Suiyuan, an old provincial name, covering areas of present-day central Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, abolished in 1954.

[2] Zhao Erlu, then Commander of the Hebei-Shanxi Military Region.