The Current Direction of Action for Liu-Deng’s Forces[1]

(August 31, 1947)

Liu, Deng:

The telegram of the 30th at 15:00 hours is revised as follows: Under the present circumstances, there are three directions for your action:

(1) Follow the original plan, centering on the Dabie Mountains to seek opportunities to annihilate the enemy and establish base areas; (2) Circle around between the rivers, gradually annihilating the enemy and establishing base areas; (3) When the necessary moment arrives, consider whether crossing the Yangtze River southward is possible and whether it is advantageous.

Central Military Commission

Shi-Wu[2]

[1] This is a telegram drafted by Mao Zedong for the Central Military Commission of the CPC Central Committee, addressed to Commander Liu Bocheng and Political Commissar Deng Xiaoping of the Shanxi-Hebei-Shandong-Henan Field Army. At 15:00 hours on August 30, 1947, the Central Military Commission sent a telegram to Liu Bocheng and Deng Xiaoping, proposing two directions for the action of Liu-Deng’s forces, namely the second and third items in this text.
[2] Shi-Wu refers to the period of the day from 11:00 to 13:00 hours.