To Peng Dehuai and Others[1]

(August 12, 1947)

(1) Our attack on Yulin has failed to capture it. The enemy Zhong Song’s[2] unit can enter Yulin by tomorrow, the 13th, and Liu Kan’s five brigades can reach the area east of Qilin Town. (2) Our army shall rest and reorganize between Yulin and Mizhi, awaiting opportunities, cutting off the two enemy units of Liu and Zhong, and drawing in this enemy force, so as to facilitate the operations of Chen and Xie. Chen and Xie are set to cross the river on the 20th of the eighth lunar month. (3) To prevent Liu and Dong from advancing and occupying Suide, all our rear organs between the Wuding River and the Yellow River must be swiftly moved to the east of the Yellow River. It is hoped that He and Xi will immediately deploy the relocation.

[1] This is the main content of a telegram drafted by Mao Zedong for the Central Military Commission of the Communist Party of China, addressed to Peng Dehuai, He Long, and Xi Zhongxun.

[2] Zhong Song, then serving as the commander of the Reorganized 36th Division of the Kuomintang army.