Cheng Zihua to Proceed Immediately to Rehe
to Prepare for Countering the Kuomintang Army’s Attack on Chengde[1]

(October 27, 1945)

Peng, Cheng, and for the information of Lin and Xiao[2]:

Your telegram of the 23rd[3] received. The regiment led by Huang Yongsheng[4] and the regiment led by Deputy Brigade Commander Zhao[5] are both to remain in Rehe[6]. In addition, 400 of the 2,000 cadres led by Huang and Zhang[7] are to be assigned to stay in Rehe. Zhang Xiushan and Zhao

[1] This is a telegram drafted by Mao Zedong for the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China, addressed to Peng Zhen, political commissar of the Northeast Military Region, and Cheng Zihua, its commander.
[2] Lin refers to Lin Biao, formerly commander of the 115th Division of the Eighth Route Army. Xiao refers to Xiao Jinguang, formerly deputy commander of the Shaanxi-Gansu-Ningxia-Shanxi-Suiyuan Joint Defense Forces. At the time, they were en route to the Northeast.
[3] Refers to the telegram sent by Peng Zhen to the Central Committee on October 23, 1945. The telegram stated that cadres including Lin Feng and Zhang Qilong had arrived in the Northeast. It also reported that Huang Yongsheng and Zhang Xiushan would arrive in Chengde on the 24th, that vehicles had been sent from Jinzhou the previous night to transport cadres, and that the troops still had to march on foot.
[4] Huang Yongsheng, then brigade commander of the 2nd Instruction Brigade of the Shaanxi-Gansu-Ningxia-Shanxi-Suiyuan Joint Defense Forces, was leading his unit to escort a cadre regiment from Yan’an to the Northeast.
[5] Zhao refers to Zhao Chengjin, then deputy brigade commander of the 1st Instruction Brigade of the Shaanxi-Gansu-Ningxia-Shanxi-Suiyuan Joint Defense Forces, who was leading his unit to the Northeast.
[6] Rehe, a former province covering what is now northeastern Hebei Province, southwestern Liaoning Province, and southeastern Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region. It was abolished in 1955.
[7] Huang refers to Huang Yongsheng. Zhang refers to Zhang Xiushan, formerly deputy secretary of the Shanxi-Suiyuan Sub-bureau of the CPC Central Committee, who was being transferred to the Northeast at the time.

Cheng Zihua to Proceed Immediately to Rehe to Prepare for Countering the Kuomintang Army’s Attack on Chengde

Yimin[1] are also to remain in Rehe. With the arrival of Liu Qiren’s[2] division as well, the situation in Rehe should improve. Zihua is requested to proceed there immediately to take command and strive, within one to two months, to eliminate the reactionaries, establish political power, mobilize the masses, expand and train the army, and organize it separately into field forces and local forces, so as to build up strength to oppose the Kuomintang army’s attack on Chengde from Beiping. The Central Committee previously sent a telegram ordering Wen Niansheng’s brigade[3] and the 200 cadres led by Wu Jinnan[4] to proceed to Rehe, but no reply has been received. If they have not yet departed, they may not go to Chengde and may instead continue on to Liaoning with the 359th Brigade[5]. Please relay this information.

Central Committee
Yougan

[1] Zhao Yimin, then head of a cadre regiment dispatched from Yan’an to Rehe, soon thereafter became a member of the CPC Central Committee’s Hebei-Rehe-Liaoning Sub-bureau and head of its Propaganda Department.
[2] Liu Qiren, then deputy political commissar of the Bohai Military Region, was leading three regiments of the former Bohai Military Region to the Northeast.
[3] Wen Niansheng’s brigade refers to the 1st Garrison Brigade of the former Shaanxi-Gansu-Ningxia-Shanxi-Suiyuan Joint Defense Forces, whose brigade commander was Wen Niansheng. In June 1945, this unit was reorganized as the 3rd Guerrilla Detachment of the Eighth Route Army, originally intended to advance toward Hunan. Upon reaching Xin’an in Henan, it encountered Japan’s surrender and was then ordered to proceed to the Northeast.
[4] Wu Jinnan, then director of the Political Department of the 359th Brigade of the 120th Division of the Eighth Route Army, was being transferred to the Northeast at the time.
[5] Refers to a portion of the 359th Brigade led by Liu Zhuanlian, chief of staff of the 359th Brigade of the Eighth Route Army. In June 1945, this unit was reorganized as the 2nd Guerrilla Detachment of the Eighth Route Army and, following the main force of the 359th Brigade led by Wang Zhen, advanced toward Hunan. Upon reaching Xin’an in Henan, it encountered Japan’s surrender and was then ordered to proceed to the Northeast.