Capture Pingyao, Jiexiu, Lingshi, and Huo County to Consolidate Xiaoyi[1]

(January 18, 1947)

Chen and Xie, Wang and Peng, and inform He and Li[2]:

(1) We are very pleased to learn of the capture of Xiaoyi. (2) If the enemy forces in Pingyao and Jiexiu attack you, you may annihilate them in field operations and then capture Pingyao and Jiexiu. If the enemy forces in Pingyao and Jiexiu do not move, you should immediately attack Jiexiu to draw out reinforcements from Pingyao, Lingshi, and Huo County[3] and annihilate them, then capture Pingyao, Lingshi, and Huo County one by one. In this way, Xiaoyi can be consolidated. If you attack Fenyang instead of Pingyao, Jiexiu, Lingshi, and Huo County, Xiaoyi will certainly be lost. You should attack Fenyang only after a major victory at Pingyao, Jiexiu, Lingshi, and Huo County.

Central Military Commission

Ziqiao

[1] This is a telegram drafted by Mao Zedong for the Central Military Commission of the Communist Party of China, addressed to Chen Geng, commander of the 4th Column of the Shanxi-Hebei-Shandong-Henan Field Army, and Xie Fuzhi, its political commissar, as well as Wang Zhen, commander of the 2nd Column of the Shanxi-Suiyuan Field Army, and Peng Shaohui, its deputy commander.

[2] He and Li refer to He Long and Li Jingquan, who were then serving respectively as commander and political commissar of the Shanxi-Suiyuan Military Region.

[3] Ling and Huo refer to Lingshi and Huo County in Shanxi Province.