Huang Kecheng and Liang Xingchu’s Two Units Should Take the Shortcut to Jinzhou[1]

(November 11, 1945)

Kecheng, forward immediately to Liang Xingchu, and inform Li, Sha, Lin, Peng[2]:

(1) Your telegram of jia-wei[3] noted. Do not take the Xifengkou–Pingquan route; it is too long and there are no trains. You should take the shortcut via Lengkou[4] and Jielingkou[5] to Jinzhou, which is only 800 li. (2) The battle at Shanhaiguan has been going on for a week. The diehard troops have strong firepower but low morale. On the night of yu, one regiment of our Yang Guofu Division[6] launched a sortie, capturing 50 soldiers, one artillery piece, one heavy machine gun, and 18 light machine guns. The diehard troops fear charges most; they collapse as soon as we charge. Li Yunchang and Sha Ke have been ordered to direct Yang’s Division to hold Shanhaiguan and cover Kecheng’s entire force in reaching Jinzhou as quickly as possible. However, after Liang’s Division passes Jielingkou, it is expected to be ready at any time to receive orders to move to Suizhong (east of Shanhaiguan) and coordinate with Yang Guofu in holding the Shanhaiguan–Suizhong–Xingcheng–Jinzhou line. If this line can be held for one to two months, it will be extremely advantageous to the overall situation. (3) On the route from eastern Hebei via Lengkou and Jielingkou to

[1] This is a telegram drafted by Mao Zedong for the Military Commission of the CPC Central Committee to Huang Kecheng, division commander and concurrently political commissar of the 3rd Division of the New Fourth Army, to be forwarded to Liang Xingchu, division commander of the 1st Division of the Shandong Military Region.

[2] Li refers to Li Yunchang, then deputy commander of the Northeast People’s Autonomous Army and deputy commander of the Hebei-Rehe-Liaoning Military Region. Sha refers to Sha Ke, then chief of staff of the Central Hebei Military Region. Lin and Peng refer to Lin Biao and Peng Zhen, then respectively commander and first political commissar of the Northeast People’s Autonomous Army.

[3] Refers to Huang Kecheng’s telegram of 9 November 1945, wei hour, to the Military Commission of the CPC Central Committee. The telegram stated: Liang Xingchu’s Division will advance toward Xifengkou and Pingquan on the 11th, with the brigades of the 3rd Division of the New Fourth Army following. Request the Northeast Bureau to prepare grain and fodder along the route from Pingquan to Yixian. After reaching Pingquan, whether trains can be used, please telegraph a reply.

[4] Lengkou, a pass located in the northern part of Qian’an County, Hebei.

[5] Jielingkou, a pass located in the northern part of Funing County, Hebei.

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

Jinzhou, you must rely entirely on yourselves to arrange grain and fodder; the Northeast Bureau cannot attend to this. You should immediately organize advance personnel to go several days ahead to arrange provisions. Do not hope to take trains; make all preparations for hardship. (4) Report your marching situation daily by telegram.

Military Commission

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