Resolutely Annihilate the Enemy Advancing North in the Shanhaiguan-Jinzhou Area[1]

(November 1, 1945)

To Li Yunchang, and inform Peng Zhen:

(1) Your telegram of the 31st[2] received. Your decision is very correct. You shall, under the command of Peng Zhen and Lin Biao[3], assume the tasks of directing operations, reorganizing and consolidating troops, and transporting cadres in the Shanhaiguan-Jinzhou area, with combat operations as the central task. Resolutely annihilate the enemy advancing north; do not return to eastern Hebei. The field army formed by Zhan Caifang[4] and all troops and local work in the Shanhaiguan-Jinzhou area shall be under your unified command, while you shall accept the command of Peng and Lin. (2) According to Zhan’s telegram, Yang Guofu’s division[5] has already arrived at Shanhaiguan. Liu Qiren’s division from Shandong was previously ordered to go to Gubeikou; it is now ordered to change course and head for Shanhai-

[1] This is a telegram drafted by Mao Zedong for the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China, addressed to Li Yunchang, Second Deputy Commander of the Northeast People’s Autonomous Army, with information to Peng Zhen, First Political Commissar.

[2] Refers to Li Yunchang’s telegram of October 31, 1945, to the Military Commission of the CPC Central Committee. The gist of the telegram: Previously received a Military Commission telegram ordering me to return to eastern Hebei to form a field army. As I also received a telegram from Peng Zhen ordering me to remain in Jinzhou to take charge of negotiating for vehicles, transporting cadres, reorganizing and consolidating troops, and directing combat operations, I have been unable to leave for eastern Hebei for the time being. Currently, over ten thousand American and Chiang Kai-shek troops have landed at Qinhuangdao. Yesterday they clashed with a unit of ours at Shanhaiguan and show signs of advancing toward the Northeast. Liu Zhuanlian’s unit of the 359th Brigade has just arrived at Jinzhou; it is fatigued, lacks weapons, has not yet been reorganized, and is unfamiliar with the terrain and people. Therefore, my return to eastern Hebei is further delayed. I have now requested Zhan Caifang to first begin forming the field army and coordinate in the Shanhaiguan operations. This battle is of great importance; we must do our utmost to repulse and wipe out the diehard enemy troops. Huang Kecheng’s and Yang Guofu’s units must advance eastward by forced marches to reinforce Shanhaiguan and eastern Hebei.

[3] Lin Biao, then Commander-in-Chief of the Northeast People’s Autonomous Army.

[4] Zhan Caifang, then Deputy Commander of the Hebei-Rehe-Liaoning Military Region.

[5] Yang Guofu’s division refers to the 7th Division of the Shandong Military Region, with Yang Guofu as division commander.

guan and Jinzhou (please ask Zhan Caifang to notify them immediately). Huang Kecheng’s 35,000 troops are now in central Hebei and can reach Yutian by the 10th; please order Zhan Caifang to urge them to advance quickly. The 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and 7th Divisions from Shandong have also set out and can arrive by the end of the month.

Central Committee

1st Day