The Chen-Xie Column Should Quickly Concentrate Near Pu County to Prepare for Continuous Operations[1]

(December 19, 1946)

Chen, Xie; Wang, Peng, Luo[2]; and inform Liu, Deng; Teng, Bo, Wang[3]:

(1) Regarding the enemy forces currently attacking Lüliang, it has now been ascertained that two brigades of the 1st Division and two brigades of the 90th Division, led by Dong Zhao[4], are advancing along the Daning-Linfen highway. Their objective appears to be to attack Yan’an after occupying Daning. The 78th Brigade of the 1st Division is garrisoning Yichuan. The 47th Brigade, originally stationed in Yichuan, has moved to Ji County, seemingly to assist in the attack on Daning. Apart from the 67th Brigade of the 30th Division garrisoning Tumen, the remainder of the division has not moved from the area north and south of Linfen. (2) This operation is significant not only for the defense of Lüliang but also for the defense of Yan’an. You should quickly concentrate your forces in the area near Pu County to prepare for continuous operations, with the objective of annihilating two enemy brigades. (3) Teng, Bo, and Wang should order Wang Xinting’s[5] unit to attack Fuyi[6] and actively conduct operations along the Tongpu Railway to

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

[2] Wang, Peng, and Luo refer to Wang Zhen, Peng Shaohui, and Luo Guibo, who were respectively commander and political commissar, deputy commander, and deputy political commissar of the 2nd Column of the Shanxi-Suiyuan Field Army at the time.

[3] Liu and Deng refer to Liu Bocheng and Deng Xiaoping, who were respectively commander and political commissar of the Shanxi-Hebei-Shandong-Henan Field Army at the time. Teng, Bo, and Wang refer to Teng Daiyuan, Bo Yibo, and Wang Hongkun, who were respectively first deputy commander, first deputy political commissar, and second deputy commander of the Shanxi-Hebei-Shandong-Henan Military Region at the time.

[4] Dong Zhao was then commander of the Reorganized 1st Army of the Nationalist Army.

[5] Wang Xinting was then commander of the Taiyue Military Region.

[6] Fuyi refers to Fushan and Yicheng in Shanxi.

The Chen-Xie Column Should Quickly Concentrate Near Pu County to Prepare for Continuous Operations

coordinate with Lüliang.

The Military Commission

20:00 hours, the 19th

In December 1946, to smash the attacks of the Nationalist army, Yan’an held a mobilization rally for the defense of the Shaanxi-Gansu-Ningxia Border Region. The picture shows Mao Zedong attending the rally accompanied by Zhang Zongxun.