Resolutely Engage in Combat to Control the Eastern, Western, and Northern Manchuria[1]

(November 2, 1945)

Peng Zhen:

(1) Have you established contact with Luo Ronghuan’s[2] radio station, the Zhuanghe radio station, and the Chengde radio station? If not, you must do so immediately to facilitate troop movements. (2) Luo Ronghuan has arrived in Jiao County and is currently moving north. According to a telegram on the 30th, the second phase of Shandong’s deployment will transfer 40,000 troops, including 32,000 from the First, Second, and Third Divisions and 8,000 from other units. (3) The fate of Shenyang depends on whether the U.S. military assists the Chiang Kai-shek forces in their offensive. If they do not, relying on your current forces and those arriving soon, you will be fully capable of defeating the isolated advancing Chiang Kai-shek forces. If they do assist, you must still resolutely engage in combat, buy time, and control the Eastern, Western, and Northern Manchuria.[3] (4) The gunfire at Huludao[4] has already drawn reactions in Chongqing. Wang Shijie[5] has requested the Soviet side to order the Chinese Communist Party to withdraw. The Soviet side responded that this is China’s own affair and they will not interfere. Given this, if we resolutely resist at places such as Huludao, Yingkou, and Andong,[6] it may cause the Chiang Kai-shek side to have concerns and concentrate its forces within the Pass first.

Mao

Xu Dong

[1] This is a telegram from Mao Zedong to Peng Zhen, Secretary of the Northeast Bureau of the Central Committee of the Chinese Communist Party and First Political Commissar of the Northeast People’s Autonomous Army.
[2] Luo Ronghuan was then serving as Second Political Commissar of the Northeast People’s Autonomous Army.
[3] Eastern Manchuria refers to the areas east of the Shenyang-Changchun section of the Chinese Eastern Railway, including Jilin, Xi’an (present-day Dongliao), Antu, Yanji, and Dunhua. Western Manchuria refers to the areas west of the Shenyang-Harbin section of the Chinese Eastern Railway, including Tao’an, Kailu, Fuxin, Zhengjiatun (present-day Shuangliao), and Fuyu. Northern Manchuria refers to the areas including Harbin, Mudanjiang, Bei’an, Jiamusi, and Qiqihar.
[4] This refers to the incident on October 30, 1945, when a unit of the Kuomintang army, escorted by U.S. warships, attempted to land at Huludao but was repelled by the Northeast People’s Autonomous Army.
[5] Wang Shijie was then serving as Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Kuomintang government.
[6] Andong, a former city name, is present-day Dandong in Liaoning Province.