To Chen Geng, Xie Fuzhi, Han Jun[1]

(September 18, 1947)

Direct Qin Jiwei’s main force (two brigades) to move eastward from Yiyang, seize Lintu when the opportunity arises, then proceed southeast from Lintu. Use one brigade to seize Jiaxian, Xiangcheng, Baofeng, and Yexian when the opportunity arises, threaten Xuchang, and draw the Reorganized 3rd Division and the 124th Brigade to come to the rescue in that direction. This brigade shall remain in the aforementioned counties and maneuver against the enemy reinforcements. Use the other brigade to seize the county towns of Lushan and Nanzhao when the opportunity arises, then swiftly move to the border area of the six counties of Lushi, Songxian, Yiyang, Lushan, Nanzhao, and Neixiang—that is, the Funiu Mountain region, extending two hundred li in length and breadth—to carry out rural work, suppress local militias and bandits, mobilize the masses, establish guerrilla units, and create the rear area for this column. It is imperative to make the cadres of this column understand that their rear area is not Xin’an or Mianchi, but the Funiu Mountains. Devoting full effort to establishing a base area in the Funiu Mountains is of the utmost importance.

[1] This is the main content of a telegram drafted by Mao Zedong for the Military Commission of the CPC Central Committee to Chen Geng, Xie Fuzhi, and Han Jun.