Expand Achievements Boldly and Strike Weak Enemy Strongholds[1]

(April 9, 1947)

Chen, Xie, Wang, Han, and inform Peng, Xi[2]:

(1) The 85th Brigade (Wen Jingyuan[4]) of the Reorganized 10th Division (Luo Guangwen[3]) has arrived in Yuncheng. Apart from ordering local guerrilla units to keep them under surveillance, your main force should pay them no heed. Boldly expand your achievements, capture Hejin, Ronghe, Wanquan, Yishi, Linjin[5], and other towns as quickly as possible, strike weak enemy strongholds, and destroy the enemy’s effective strength—this is imperative. (2) Peng and Xi report that the main force of Hu[6]’s army is retreating toward Yan’an, exhausted and famished.

The Military Commission

16:00, 9th

[1] To coordinate with operations on the northern Shaanxi battlefield, the 4th Column of the Shanxi-Hebei-Shandong-Henan Field Army and the Taiyue Military District forces launched the Southern Shanxi Offensive on April 4, 1947. This telegram was drafted by Mao Zedong for the Central 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, Political Commissar; Han Jun, Deputy Commander; and Wang Xinting, Commander of the Taiyue Military District.

[2] Peng and Xi refer to Peng Dehuai and Xi Zhongxun, who were then serving respectively as Commander and Political Commissar, and Deputy Political Commissar of the Northwest Field Army.

[3] Luo Guangwen was then Commander of the Kuomintang’s Reorganized 10th Division.

[4] Wen Jingyuan was then Brigade Commander of the 85th Brigade, Reorganized 10th Division, Kuomintang army.

[5] Ronghe and Wanquan were both former county names. In 1954, the two counties were merged to form Wanrong County, Shanxi Province. Yishi and Linjin were both former county names. In 1954, the two counties were merged to form Linyi County, Shanxi Province.

[6] Hu refers to Hu Zongnan, then Commander of the Kuomintang’s 1st War Zone.