Operational Plan for the Chen-Xie Group[1]

(September 15, 1947)

Chen, Xie, Han, and for the information of Peng[2] and Liu-Deng[3]:

(1) Liu-Deng telegraph that Luo Guangwen’s[4] two brigades of the Reorganized 10th Division will be transferred from Xinyang to Zhengzhou. It is assessed that because the New 1st Brigade, the 64th Brigade, and other units have been wiped out, this division is being redeployed to reinforce the Luoyang sector. Under such circumstances, Qin’s Column[5] should still act according to the previous telegram, leaving one brigade east of Xin’an to monitor the enemy at Luoyang, while Qin leads two brigades to maneuver southeast of Luoyang, seizing opportunities to attack and capture the cities of Linru, Jiaxian, Xiangcheng, Yexian, Baofeng, Lushan, Fangcheng, and Nanzhao, threatening the Ping-Han Railway,[6] and compelling the 3rd Division, 10th Division, and other units to move to the rescue of the various counties southeast of Luoyang. (2) The two regiments of Xu Wenyao’s[7] 27th Brigade are now contracting from Longjuzhai, Sanyao Si, and Zhuyangzhen toward Luonan and Lulingguan. The Cavalry 2nd Brigade has newly arrived at Xi’an (this brigade had one regiment wiped out by us near Huanxian, and its remnants were transferred to Xi’an for reorganization), and it is possible

* [1] This is a telegram drafted by Mao Zedong for the Military Commission of the CPC Central Committee to Chen Geng, Secretary of the Front Committee of the Chen-Xie Group of the Shanxi-Hebei-Shandong-Henan Field Army; Xie Fuzhi, Deputy Secretary; and Han Jun, Standing Committee Member.
* [2] Peng refers to Peng Dehuai, then Deputy Commander-in-Chief of the Chinese People’s Liberation Army and Commander and concurrently Political Commissar of the Northwest Field Army.
* [3] Liu-Deng refers to Liu Bocheng and Deng Xiaoping, then respectively Commander and Political Commissar of the Shanxi-Hebei-Shandong-Henan Field Army.
* [4] Luo Guangwen, then Commander of the Reorganized 10th Division of the Kuomintang Army.
* [5] Qin’s Column refers to the 9th Column of the Chen-Xie Group of the Shanxi-Hebei-Shandong-Henan Field Army, with Column Commander Qin Jiwei.
* [6] Ping-Han Railway refers to the railway from Beiping (present-day Beijing) to Hankou, i.e., a section of the present-day Beijing-Guangzhou line.
* [7] Xu Wenyao, then Brigade Commander of the 27th Brigade of the Reorganized 30th Division of the Kuomintang Army.

Operational Plan for the Chen-Xie Group

that it will be deployed to defend east of Xi’an. In addition, the New 9th Brigade and the Provisional 2nd Brigade in the Sanyuan and Chunhua areas are still in their original positions guarding against our Wang Shitai Column,[1] but it is possible that one brigade may be drawn away to deploy east of Xi’an. The seven or eight cities in the Weinan, Huayin, Shangxian, and Luonan[2] area have wide defenses and thin troop strength, which is advantageous for us to strike a blow at this enemy, reduce the western threat to the establishment of our base area in western Henan, and create favorable conditions for your subsequent sortie toward the Tongbai Mountain direction. Therefore, you should order the 12th Brigade at Lushi, after mopping up the local landlord armed forces near Lushi, to advance south rapidly, seizing opportunities to attack and capture the three points of Zijingguan, Shangnan, and Longjuzhai, then turn to the northwest, seizing opportunities to attack and capture Shangzhou and Shanyang, threatening the flank of Xi’an, and drawing the attention of the enemy at Xi’an to that sector. After completing your operations at Shanzhou,[3] whether successful or not, rest for several days, and leave one division of the 38th Army in the Shaanxian-Lingbao-Wenxiang[4] area. You personally lead the entire 4th Column and one division of the 38th Army, carrying several days’ rations, choosing your own route between Shangzhou and Tongguan (bypassing strong fortified points), to enter the area south of Weinan and Huayin and north of Shangxian and Luonan, then seizing opportunities to attack and capture the cities of Lintong, Weinan, Huayin, Huaxian, Tongguan, Lantian, and Luonan. It would be highly advantageous if you can enter the above-mentioned area in the last ten days of this month and commence operations. At that time, the forces under our Deputy Commander Peng[5] and the two brigades of Wang Shitai should be able to pin down the main force of Hu’s[6] army and may possibly advance toward the Luochuan area to coordinate with your operations.

The Military Commission
2400 hours, 15th

* [1] Wang Shitai Column refers to the 4th Column of the Northwest Field Army, with Column Commander Wang Shitai.
* [2] Wei, Hua, Shang, Luo refer to Weinan, Huayin, Shangxian, and Luonan in Shaanxi.
* [3] Shanzhou, an old prefectural name, i.e., Shaanxian, Henan.
* [4] Shaan-Ling refers to Shaanxian and Lingbao in Henan. Wen refers to Wenxiang, an old county name, merged into Lingbao County, Henan in 1954.
* [5] Deputy Commander Peng refers to Peng Dehuai.
* [6] Hu refers to Hu Zongnan, then Director of the Xi’an Pacification Bureau of the Kuomintang Army.