To Nie Rongzhen, Xiao Ke, Luo Ruiqing, and Others[1]

(April 15, 1947)

(1) The first phase of operations has been victorious, with over ten thousand enemy troops wiped out and several cities captured—this is most gratifying. All officers and soldiers of the entire army should be commended and rewarded by order. (2) Fu Zuoyi no longer poses a major threat to northwestern Shanxi; Yang’s column[2] need not be redeployed. (3) After you have thoroughly completed the combat tasks on the Zhengding–Taiyuan line, it is highly necessary to rest and regroup for a number of days before annihilating another portion of the Third Army. If possible, completely wipe out the Third Army. As long as the enemy’s effective strength can be destroyed, the time frame may be extended.

[1] This is the main content of a telegram drafted by Mao Zedong for the Military Commission of the CPC Central Committee, addressed to Nie Rongzhen, Xiao Ke, and Luo Ruiqing, with copies to Zhu De and Liu Shaoqi.
[2] “Yang’s column” refers to the Second Column of the Shanxi-Chahar-Hebei Military Region, commanded by Yang Dezhi.