Luo Ronghuan and Others: Upon Crossing the Sea, Proceed Immediately to Shenyang to Confer on the Grand Plan of Operations[1]

(November 10, 1945)

Luo, Li:

(1) Where are you now? Upon crossing the sea, proceed immediately to Shenyang to confer on the grand plan of operations. You must be as quick as possible. (2) The sea-crossing units must accelerate with the utmost urgency. At present, we are racing for a mere half-month’s time. Apart from the dispositions already made along the line from Shanhaiguan to Shenyang, the various units from Shandong that continue to cross the sea must rapidly concentrate between Yingkou and Shenyang. You shall bear full responsibility for operations on this front. Andong[2], Zhuanghe, and the areas to their north shall also be your responsibility, but large troop strength is not required.

Military Commission

Xu-hui

[1] This is a telegram drafted by Mao Zedong for the Central Military Commission of the Communist Party of China, addressed to Luo Ronghuan, Second Political Commissar of the Northeast People’s Autonomous Army, and Li Zuopeng, former Chief of the Staff Department of the Shandong Military Region. On the same day, in a telegram drafted by Mao Zedong for the Central Military Commission addressed to Chen Yi, Commander of the New Fourth Army and concurrently Commander of the Shandong Military Region, and Li Yu, Deputy Political Commissar of the Shandong Military Region, it was proposed: “Please order the 16,000 men of the 3rd Division of the Shandong Military Region, led by Luo Shunchu, Political Commissar of the Luzhong Military Region, to ‘advance northward at top speed and cross the sea, without a moment’s delay, boosting morale along the way and racing against time.’”

[2] Andong, name of an old city, present-day Dandong, Liaoning.