Seizing the Counties in Southwestern Shanxi Is Not for Occupying Territory but for Destroying the Enemy’s Effective Strength[1]

(March 28, 1947)

Chen, Xie, and Wang, with information to be relayed to Peng and Xi, Liu and Deng, Teng, Bo, and Wang, and He and Li[2]:

You must have received our telegram of yesterday.[3] Chen and Xie are to lead the main force of four brigades westward in the next few days and order the Twelfth Brigade (the Twenty-third Brigade) to follow behind, using surprise attacks to seize Quwo, Xinjiang, Hejin, and Jishan. At the same time, Wang is to lead the Twenty-second Brigade and local army units to seize Yicheng and Jiangxian. After that, the entire army is to seize, one by one as opportunity permits, Xiangning, Jixian, Puxian, Fencheng, Xiangling, Wanquan, Ronghe, Yishi, Linjin,[4] Wenxi, and all other places in the triangular area that can be taken. The main purpose of seizing the above places

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

[2] Peng and Xi: Peng Dehuai and Xi Zhongxun, then commander and political commissar, and deputy political commissar, respectively, of the Northwest Field Army. Liu and Deng: Liu Bocheng and Deng Xiaoping, then commander and political commissar, respectively, of the Shanxi-Hebei-Shandong-Henan Field Army. Teng, Bo, and Wang: Teng Daiyuan, Bo Yibo, and Wang Hongkun, then first deputy commander, first deputy political commissar, and second deputy commander, respectively, of the Shanxi-Hebei-Shandong-Henan Military Region. He and Li: He Long and Li Jingquan, then commander and political commissar, respectively, of the Shanxi-Suiyuan Military Region.

[3] This refers to the telegram sent by the Military Commission of the CPC Central Committee to Chen Geng and Xie Fuzhi on March 27, 1947, which said: “Your plan to attack Xinjiang, Hejin, and Jishan with your main force and Yicheng and Jiangxian with local army units beginning on the 25th is very good. We hope you will carry it out quickly.”

[4] Wanquan and Ronghe were former counties which were merged into Wanrong County, Shanxi Province, in 1954. Yishi and Linjin were former counties which were merged into Linyi County, Shanxi Province, in 1954.

is not to occupy territory but to destroy the enemy’s effective strength. Therefore, after the above places are taken, they should be handed over to local army units and working personnel for administration, and preparations should be made to give up some places that cannot be consolidated when necessary, holding only those that can be consolidated, while the main force should be prepared for use elsewhere. The task of seizing the above places is to be fulfilled, we hope, within April, and preparations are to be made for carrying out new tasks in May. Your entire army is under the unified command of Chen and Xie.

The Military Commission

Yin Jian

[Source: Manuscript of Mao Zedong’s telegram for the Military Commission of the CPC Central Committee]