Make Ample Preparations to Counter the
Guomindang’s Large-Scale Offensive1
 (May 29, 1946)
To all military district commanders:
	 1.	 The Guomindang is expanding its war in the Northeast and is actively preparing to launch a major offensive against us within the [Shanhai] Pass;
because of this, we should make ample preparations against the enemy’s war
plans.
	 2.	 As regard to those cities, railroad stations, bridges, and other strategic areas
that, based on relative strength, can and should be captured or bombed, you
should finish gathering intelligence on the enemy, deploying troops, outfitting arms and ammunition (for example, TNT), drawing up war plans, and
other aspects of preparatory work from within one-half month to one month
of receiving this telegram. There must be no mistakes, and this applies also
to preparatory work for defensive aspects as well.
	 3.	 Please report at any time on the progress of the preparations.
The Military Commission

--- Notes

Our source for this text is Mao Zedong junshi wenji, Vol. 3, p. 239, where it is reproduced from Mao’s handwritten manuscript preserved in the Central Archives.

1.  Mao Zedong drafted this telegram on behalf of the Central Military Commission.
DOI:  10.4324/9781315719511-159