Action Plan for the Main Force of the Chen-Xie Group and Others[1]

(March 11, 1947)

Liu, Deng, Zhang, Li, and also Chen, Xie, Wang, Han[2]:

Your Hui-Shen telegram[3] received. Yan’an is prepared to let the enemy temporarily occupy it, but the over 3,000 troops of the Fifth Division led by Chen Xianrui and Han Dongshan[4] are in danger of being annihilated by the enemy. Therefore, a force must be dispatched to rescue them under any circumstances. At present, there are three action plans for the main force of five brigades under the command of Chen, Xie, and Wang: (1) Move out along the Tong-Luo Line[5] as proposed in the Yu-Wu telegram. (2) Dispatch one brigade along the Tong-Luo Line to receive and escort the Fifth Division northward, while the main force of four brigades participates in operations along the Ping-Han and Dao-Qing Lines[6]. After victory, either immediately coordinate with one to two columns dispatched by Liu and Deng to move out along the Tong-Luo Line, or coordinate with one to two columns dispatched by Liu and Deng to first occupy the Tong-Pu Line, and then occupy the Tong-

[1] This is a telegram drafted by Mao Zedong for the Military Commission of the CPC Central Committee to Liu Bocheng, Commander of the Shanxi-Hebei-Shandong-Henan Field Army; Deng Xiaoping, Political Commissar; Zhang Jichun, Deputy Political Commissar; and Li Da, Chief of Staff.

[2] Chen and Xie refer to Chen Geng and Xie Fuzhi, who were then respectively Commander and Political Commissar of the Fourth Column of the Shanxi-Hebei-Shandong-Henan Field Army. Wang refers to Wang Xinting, then Commander of the Taiyue Military District. Han refers to Han Jun, then Deputy Commander of the Fourth Column of the Shanxi-Hebei-Shandong-Henan Field Army.

[3] Refers to the telegram sent at 15:00 on March 10, 1947, by Liu Bocheng, Deng Xiaoping, Zhang Jichun, and Li Da to the Military Commission of the CPC Central Committee, with copies to Teng Daiyuan, Bo Yibo, and Wang Hongkun. The telegram stated: Fully agree that the Chen-Xie Group should first join the interior-line operations along the Dao-Qing and Ping-Han Lines. After completing the mission, we can detach one column to accompany Chen-Xie southward.

[4] In mid-March 1947, the Henan-Hubei-Shaanxi Military District concentrated forces from various sub-districts to form the Second Field Column, with Chen Xianrui, Deputy Commander of the Military District, and Han Dongshan, Commander of the Fourth Sub-district, serving respectively as Column Commander and Political Commissar.

[5] The Tong-Luo Line refers to the railway from Tongguan to Luoyang, i.e., a section of the Longhai Line.

[6] Ping-Han refers to the Ping-Han Railway, the railway from Beiping (present-day Beijing) to Hankou, now a section of the Beijing-Guangzhou Line. The Dao-Qing Line refers to the railway from Daokou Town in Hua County to Qinghua Town in Bo’ai County, Henan Province.

Luo Line (i.e., placing the occupation of the Tong-Luo Line as the final move). (3) Use one brigade to cross the river to receive and escort the Fifth Division, while the main force of four brigades immediately occupies the Tong-Pu Line. As to which of the above three plans is most advantageous, further analysis is requested and a telegraphic report is expected. Chen, Xie, Wang, and Han may also express their opinions. Regardless of which plan is adopted, the Fifth Division must be received and escorted northward. Whether dispatching one brigade can accomplish this mission must also be considered.

Military Commission

Yin-Zhen-Wu