Deployment for Attacking Li Tiejun’s Troops[1]

(September 23, 1947)

Chen, Xie, Han, and inform Xu, Teng, Bo (forward to Xinting), Liu, Deng, Chen, Su, Peng[2]:

Since ten and a half brigades of the enemy have already arrived or will arrive within a few days on the Xi’an-Tongguan line,[3] success there is difficult to achieve; the Han River basin has no regular enemy troops and can be left to be occupied a month later; Li Tiejun’s six brigades[5] in the Zhengzhou-Luoyang[4] sector are relatively weak. Therefore, the deployment is changed as follows: (1) Before the 26th, send a part of the 38th Army to Wendi, to approach Tongguan in a feint maneuver to confuse the enemy. (2) Liu’s Brigade,[6] attached with a part of the 38th Army, except for leaving a small force to control Lushi and suppress bandits, shall immediately advance westward, seize opportunities to attack and occupy Luonan, Shangxian, Shangnan, Shanyang, and other counties, eliminate reactionaries, mobilize the masses, and assist the guerrilla forces in southern Shaanxi. (3) The main force of the 38th Army shall be positioned in the three counties of Shaanxian, Lingbao, and Wenxiang[1] to suppress bandits. (4) You shall lead the main force of four brigades, in coordination with Xiang’s Brigade of Qin’s Column,[2] to begin concealed eastward movement on the 26th, suddenly encircle the 64th Brigade and the division headquarters of Wu Tinglin[3] (possibly at Cijian), seize the opportunity to annihilate them, and recover Xin’an. (5) During the operation against the 64th Brigade, the main force of Qin’s Column may continue to rest and regroup. (6) After annihilating the 64th Brigade, coordinate with Qin’s Column to attack and destroy Li Tiejun’s main force, and seize opportunities to attack and occupy more than ten counties south of Zhengzhou and Luoyang and west of the Pinghan Railway.[4] (7) Prepare to spend one month to accomplish the above tasks, then leave Qin’s Column in the aforementioned area, and move the 4th Column toward the Han River basin.

The Military Commission

23:00, 23rd

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[1] This was a telegram drafted by Mao Zedong for the Military Commission of the CPC Central Committee, addressed 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, member of the Standing Committee.

[2] Xu, Teng, Bo refer to Xu Xiangqian, Teng Daiyuan, and Bo Yibo, who were then respectively the First Deputy Commander, Second Deputy Commander, and First Deputy Political Commissar of the Shanxi-Hebei-Shandong-Henan Military Region. Xinting refers to Wang Xinting, then Commander and Political Commissar of the 8th Column of the Shanxi-Hebei-Shandong-Henan Military Region. Liu, Deng refer to Liu Bocheng and Deng Xiaoping, then respectively Commander and Political Commissar of the Shanxi-Hebei-Shandong-Henan Field Army. Chen, Su refer to Chen Yi and Su Yu, then respectively Commander and Political Commissar, and Deputy Commander of the East China Field Army. Peng refers to Peng Dehuai, then Commander and Political Commissar of the Northwest Field Army.

[3] The Xi’an-Tongguan line refers to the railway from Xi’an to Tongguan, a section of the Longhai Railway.

[4] Zheng-Luo refers to Zhengzhou and Luoyang in Henan Province.

[5] Li Tiejun’s troops refer to the 5th Corps of the Zhengzhou Command, Army General Headquarters, Kuomintang Army, with Corps Commander Li Tiejun.

[6] Liu’s Brigade refers to the 12th Brigade of the 4th Column, Chen-Xie Group, Shanxi-Hebei-Shandong-Henan Field Army, with Brigade Commander Liu Jinxuan.

[1] Shaan-Ling refers to Shaanxian and Lingbao in Henan Province. Wen refers to Wenxiang, an old county name, merged into Lingbao County, Henan in 1954.

[2] Xiang’s Brigade of Qin’s Column refers to the 26th Brigade of the 9th Column (Column Commander Qin Jiwei), Chen-Xie Group, Shanxi-Hebei-Shandong-Henan Field Army, with Brigade Commander Xiang Shouzhi.

[3] Wu Tinglin’s Division refers to the Reorganized 15th Division of the Kuomintang Army, with Division Commander Wu Tinglin.

[4] Pinghan refers to the Pinghan Railway, the railway from Beiping (now Beijing) to Hankou, a section of today’s Beijing-Guangzhou Railway.