Fight a Few Large-Scale Battles of Annihilation in Jiaxiang and Other Places[1]

(December 31, 1946)

Liu and Deng:

What is the situation at Liaocheng? Is it possible to capture it? We believe that if Liaocheng can be taken within a few days, it would naturally be advantageous to do so. However, if it proves difficult to take in a short time, it would be advisable to halt the attack and concentrate all forces on the Jiaxiang-Juye-Chengwu-Yutai[2] area, maneuver the Fifth Army and the Seventy-Fifth Division and other units into fighting a few large-scale battles of annihilation, and develop the situation.

The Military Commission

Haishi

[1] This is a telegram drafted by Mao Zedong for the Military Commission of the CPC Central Committee to Liu Bocheng, commander, and Deng Xiaoping, political commissar, of the Shanxi-Hebei-Shandong-Henan Field Army.

[2] Jia, Ju, Cheng, Yu refer to Jiaxiang, Juye, Chengwu, and Yutai in Shandong Province.