Suspend the Attack on Yulin City and Concentrate Forces to Strike Zhong Song’s Unit[1]

(August 11, 1947)

Peng:

Your telegram of zhen mao[2] received. Yulin cannot be taken by hasty assault, and it remains possible that Zhong Song[3] will rapidly send reinforcements. It seems advisable to resolve to suspend the attack on the city for the time being, assemble the troops, and prepare to strike Zhong Song on the night of the 12th or on the 13th. Although Hu Zongnan[4], fearing our ambush, has ordered Zhong Song to halt his advance, Zhong Song today still appears to be on the move, and this possibility still exists, namely that Hu Zongnan, seeing that Zhong Song is making a detour northwest of Hengshan and advancing toward Baijiajian and Guchengjian sixty li southwest of Yulin, may catch us off guard and still order Zhong Song to advance. Therefore, you should prepare to attack Zhong Song immediately on the very night he reaches Baijiajian and Guchengjian, taking advantage of his lack of a firm foothold. If you do not attack that night, Zhong Song may establish a foothold there and form a pincer posture with Yulin and Shiwan (Liu Kan[5]), forcing us to withdraw from Yulin. When striking Zhong Song, it is advisable to concentrate seven brigades. It is hoped that the deployment will be completed tonight, the terrain reconnoitered tomorrow morning, and a part of the force sent first to occupy Baijiajian and Guchengjian at the appropriate time. In addition, it is advisable for our troops at Hengshan to strike Zhong Song’s rear after he has passed northwest of Hengshan. If Zhong Song

[1] This is a telegram drafted by Mao Zedong for the Military Commission of the CPC Central Committee to Peng Dehuai, commander and political commissar of the Northwest Field Army.

[2] Refers to the telegram sent by Peng Dehuai to the Military Commission of the CPC Central Committee at 5:00 a.m. on August 11, 1947. The telegram stated: The Second Column of the Northwest Field Army attacked Yulin, but due to the destruction of the tunnels, the explosion failed, and the attack was halted. It was decided that if the troops of Liu Kan and Dong Zhao remain hesitant and do not advance, the attack on the city will continue tonight; if the reinforcements arrive, then besiege the city and strike the reinforcements.

[3] Zhong Song, then commander of the 36th Division of the Reorganized 29th Army of the Kuomintang forces.

[4] Hu Zongnan, then director of the Xi’an Pacification Office of the Kuomintang forces.

[5] Liu Kan, then commander of the Reorganized 29th Army of the Kuomintang forces.

changes his plan and attacks Hengshan, then continue to resist him at Hengshan. The above is for your consideration and action.

Military Commission

zhen wu