Isolate and Then Annihilate the Forces of Fu
Zuoyi in Jining
 (October 24, 1945)
To Nie [Rongzhen] and He [Long]:1
If the main force of Fu’s Army2 stubbornly defends Jining and you cannot
capture it for the time being, we hope you will concentrate your main forces on
destroying the enemy forces at Shibaitai, Zhuozishan, Sandaoying, Qixiaying,
and Baita,3 and on occupying the 200 li or so of the railway between Jining and
Guisui.4 Mobilize the masses to establish political power, collect grain, isolate
Fu’s forces in Jining, and then annihilate them. Please consider this method and
telegraph us as to whether it is feasible. If Jining can be captured and Fu’s main
force can be annihilated, there is no need to change the deployment.
The Military Commission
Our source for this text is Mao Zedong junshi wenji, Vol. 3, pp. 75–76, where it is repro1.  Mao Zedong drafted this telegram on behalf of the Central Military Commission.
Nie Rongzhen was commander of the Shanxi-Chahar-Hebei Military Region. He Long was
commander of the Shanxi-Suiyuan Military Region.
2.  Fu Zuoyi was commander of the Guomindang’s Twelfth War Zone.
3.  These are all villages located along the Beiping-Suiyuan line between Jining and
Guisui. Shibaitai, Sandaoying, and Qixiaying are all in Zhuozi county. Zhuozishan is the
name of the village that is now the county seat of Zhuozi county. Baita is located near
modern Hohhot.
4.  Modern Hohhot.
DOI:  10.4324/9781315719511-53

duced from Mao’s handwritten manuscript preserved in the Central Archives.