Develop the Luliang Area to Defend Yan’an and Consolidate Taiyue[1]

(November 26, 1946)

Chen and Xie, and inform Wang and Luo[2]:

(1) In order to threaten Hu Zongnan’s forces at Fen, Hejin, Yumen, Jixian, and other places, and to delay their northward advance, all units except those necessary for attacking Xixian should rapidly move south to capture Puxian and, when the opportunity arises, seize Xiangning, as well as all weakly defended strongholds held by Yan Xishan’s diehard forces to the south. Dispatch several detachments to approach the diehard strongholds of Hu Zongnan at Jixian (where one brigade of the 90th Division is already stationed), Yumen, Hejin, and Linfen, and launch guerrilla operations—the sooner, the better. (2) According to reports from Wang and Luo, the 24th Brigade obtained 50,000 piculs of grain in Daning, proving that Yan Xishan’s diehard forces have plundered large quantities of grain from the people in the counties of the Luliang area. As long as we break open the strongholds, we will have grain. Issue a general order for all units to pay attention to preserving grain for long-term planning. (3) It is necessary to convince all commanders and fighters not to be averse to the backwardness of the residents and the material difficulties in the Luliang area. Everyone must understand that developing the Luliang area is an important condition for defending Yan’an and consolidating Taiyue. At present, this is a period when Chiang Kai-shek’s army and our army are contending for Luliang. It is hoped that all will strive to achieve victory.

Military Commission

Youhai

[1] This is a telegram drafted by Mao Zedong for the Military Commission of the CPC Central Committee, addressed to Chen Geng, commander of the 4th Column of the Shanxi-Hebei-Shandong-Henan Field Army, and its political commissar Xie Fuzhi.

[2] Wang and Luo refer to Wang Zhen and Luo Guibo, who were then respectively commander and political commissar, and deputy political commissar, of the 2nd Column of the Shanxi-Suiyuan Field Army. In late October 1946, Wang Zhen led the 359th Brigade from Suide, Shaanxi, to Lishi, Shanxi, where it was reorganized together with the Independent 4th Brigade of the Shanxi-Suiyuan Field Army into the 2nd Column.