The Disposition of Our Forces in the Northeast

(October 24, 1945)

Peng Zhen,[1]

Your telegram of the 8th[2] reporting on the development and distribution of our forces was received on the 22nd and read with great satisfaction. After large numbers of cadres and troops arrive, in addition to continuing to give first priority to the disposition of forces in the old Liaoning Province[3] and Rehe,[4] it is extremely necessary to promptly deploy considerable forces in the major cities of the former Jilin and Heilongjiang provinces, especially Jilin Province first. Attention should also be paid to the Taonan[5] area. The telegram reporting on the situation in Dalian has been received.

Mao Zedong

October 24

[1] Peng Zhen was then Secretary of the Northeast Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and Political Commissar of the Northeast Military District.

[2] This refers to the telegram sent by Peng Zhen and Chen Yun to the Military Commission of the CPC Central Committee on October 8, 1945. The telegram reported on the Kuomintang’s use of puppet police and bandits in the Northeast region to oppose the Communists, as well as the development and distribution of our newly arrived forces in the Northeast.

[3] After Japan’s surrender in August 1945, the Kuomintang government divided the original three northeastern provinces of Liaoning, Jilin, and Heilongjiang into nine provinces: Liaoning, Liaobei, Andong, Jilin, Songjiang, Hejiang, Heilongjiang, Nenjiang, and Xing’an. Here it refers to Liaoning Province as one of the original three northeastern provinces.

[4] Rehe, a former province covering parts of present-day northeastern Hebei Province, southwestern Liaoning Province, and southeastern Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, was abolished in 1955.

[5] Taonan, a former county merged with Baicheng County in 1958 to form Tao’an County in Jilin Province.