Slow Down the Enemy’s Movement and
Cover the Fighting in Qinghuabian
(May 6, 1947)
To Peng [Dehuai] and Xi [Zhongxun]:1
We are quite certain of Dong [Zhao] and Liu [Kan]’s2 movements; yesterday (the 5th) they moved south from Suide to the areas north and south of
Tianzhuangzhen. We estimate that if they move quickly, they may arrive at
Laojundian today and at Wa[yaobao] tomorrow (the 7th). You may dispatch a unit
north of Panlong to slow their movement, covering the fighting in Qinghuabian
and the cleaning up of the battlefield.
The Military Commission
Our source for this text is Mao Zedong junshi wenji, Vol. 4, p. 61, where it is reproduced
from Mao’s handwritten manuscript preserved in the Central Archives.
1.  Mao Zedong drafted this telegram on behalf of the Central Military Commission.
Peng Dehuai was commander and political commissar, and Xi Zhongxun was deputy political commissar, respectively, of the Northwest Field Army.
2.  Dong Zhao and Liu Kan were the commanders of the Guomindang’s Reorganized
First and Twenty-ninth armies, respectively.
DOI:  10.4324/9781315719511-306