Concerning the Problem of Attacking Xinzhou, Wutai, and Dingxiang[1]

(July 17, 1946)

Comrades He and Li, and for the information of Comrades Nie and Liu:

We have received your telegram of the 16th.[2] There are 7,000 enemy troops in Xinzhou, and it may be difficult to take the city quickly. It seems more advantageous to first capture Wutai and Dingxiang, clear out the enemy strongpoints in the vicinity of Xinzhou, mobilize the masses, cut off the enemy’s supply lines to Xinzhou, and then proceed to seize the city. If Yan Xishan sends reinforcements, it would also be advantageous to first strike the reinforcements and then take the city. The above is for your reference only. If Zhou, He, and Liao,[3] based on the actual situation, decide to take Xinzhou first, then act according to their decision. There is also the possibility that the enemy in that city may flee.

Military Commission of the Central Committee

Jiaxu[4]

[1] This telegram was drafted by Mao Zedong for the Military Commission of the CPC Central Committee and addressed to He Long, commander of the Shanxi-Suiyuan Military Region, and Li Jingquan, its political commissar.

[2] Refers to the telegram sent by He Long and Li Jingquan to the Military Commission of the CPC Central Committee on July 16, 1946. The telegram stated: Our forces are currently pursuing the enemy toward Xinzhou. There are two options regarding where to attack first: (1) Follow up the victory by first attacking and capturing Xinzhou, and then proceed to seize Dingxiang and Wutai; (2) Use a portion of the forces to quickly capture Dingxiang and Wutai, while concentrating the main force in the area between Xinkou and Xinzhou to clear out the enemy’s outer strongpoints around Xinzhou and prepare to strike reinforcements. These two options have been communicated to Zhou, He, and Liao for their consideration. The forces under Zhou, He, and Liao consist of three brigades totaling 15,000 men. Currently, there are 7,000 enemy troops in Xinzhou, and 1,000 each in Dingxiang and Wutai. If Yan Xishan sends reinforcements, we can destroy part of them in field operations, employing the tactic of defeating them one by one. At present, it would be best to strive to capture Xinzhou first and then deal with the reinforcements.

[3] Zhou, He, and Liao refer to Zhou Shidi, He Bingyan, and Liao Hansheng, who at the time served respectively as commander and political commissar, deputy commander, and deputy political commissar and director of the Political Department of the Northern Shanxi Field Army.

[4] Jiaxu is one of the designations in the traditional Chinese Heavenly Stems and Earthly Branches system, used here to indicate the date of the telegram.