(July 26, 1946)

Nie, Liu, Tang, Zeng:

Please order the troops to immediately begin studying the assault on fortified cities. (1) The two columns under Chen and Yang and the Instruction Brigade, in addition to learning city assault tactics during the operations to clear the peripheral cities around Datong, must spend several days near Datong studying and drilling city assault warfare before directly attacking Datong, and only then proceed to assault the city. (2) The two columns under Yang and Guo located at Gubeikou and Yanqing, as well as all local corps in Central Hebei and Hebei-Shanxi, are ordered to begin studying and drilling city assault warfare from this day forward, prepare siege equipment, and await orders to seize the Beiping–Hankou Railway. The period for study and drill is set at two weeks, with a possible extension of one week if circumstances permit. It is expected that all units will complete this within the prescribed time limit without fail.

Military Commission
26th

[1] This is a telegram drafted by Mao Zedong for the Military Commission of the CPC Central Committee, addressed to Nie Rongzhen, commander and political commissar of the Shanxi-Chahar-Hebei Military Region; Liu Lantao, deputy political commissar; Tang Yanjie, chief of staff; and Zeng Yongquan, deputy chief of staff.
[2] The two columns under Chen and Yang refer to the 4th Column and the 3rd Column of the Shanxi-Chahar-Hebei Field Army, whose column commanders were Chen Zhengxiang and Yang Chengwu, respectively.
[3] The two columns under Yang and Guo refer to the 1st Column and the 2nd Column of the Shanxi-Chahar-Hebei Field Army, whose column commanders were Yang Dezhi and Guo Tianmin, respectively.
[4] The Beiping–Hankou Railway refers to the railway from Beiping (present-day Beijing) to Hankou, i.e., a section of today’s Beijing–Guangzhou Railway.