Military Deployments after the Withdrawal
from Siping
(May 19, 1946)
To the Northeast Bureau and Lin [Biao]:1
	 1.	 Once the withdrawal from Siping is accomplished, our troops can be freely
deployed. The larger the area occupied by the diehards, the longer the supply
line and the more difficulties they will have.
	 2.	 Because we were unable to destroy the section of the railway between
Shenyang and Siping before the enemy advanced northward, we suffered a
big loss. Now all forces should be mobilized to work day and night without
ceasing to thoroughly destroy the section of the railway between Changchun
and Siping. Not only should the tracks be removed and the bridges, water
towers, and railway stations blown up, but large areas of railbeds should be
dug up so the diehards cannot easily repair and restore them. By no means
should there be any slackening of effort on this matter.
	 3.	 Begin immediately to build munitions factories in stable areas in the rear
so we can manufacture weapons and munitions ourselves in preparation for
protracted warfare.
	 4.	 The garrison forces in Changchun should immediately begin making arrangements to defend the city and to hold fast for a month without relying on help
from the main forces, while our main forces will take action on the enemy’s
two flanks and in the far rear.
	 5.	 The large number of captured rifles should be used to replenish the arms of
the main forces and the local army units, but also to arm large numbers of
peasants and to organize militias and self-defense corps.
	 6.	 Pay particular attention to mass work in the ten or so counties on either side
of the Chang[chun]-Har[bin] railway.
The Central Committee
Our source for this text is Mao Zedong junshi wenji, Vol. 3, pp. 226–27, where it is
reproduced from Mao’s handwritten manuscript preserved in the Central Archives.

--- Notes

1.  Mao Zedong drafted this telegram on behalf of the Central Committee of the Chinese Communist Party. Lin Biao was commander-in-chief of the Northeast Democratic
Allied Army.
DOI:  10.4324/9781315719511-149