The Fourth Column Advances Eastward to Coordinate with the Qin Column in Attacking and Destroying Li Tiejun’s Forces[1]

(September 23, 1947)

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

Your telegram of He-Wu has been received. Since the enemy along the Xi’an-Tongguan line[4] can concentrate ten to eleven brigades within one week, making success difficult, and since there are no regular enemy troops in the Han River basin, that area can be left for occupation at a later step. Li Tiejun’s[5] six brigades are relatively weak; it is decided that the main force of the Fourth Column shall advance eastward, coordinate with the Qin Column[6] to attack and destroy Li’s forces, and, as opportunities arise, capture and occupy the counties south of Zhengzhou and Luoyang[7] and west of the Beiping-Hankou Railway[8]. If Luo Guangwen’s[9] unit is deployed against Chen and Su, this task can probably be accomplished in about one month. At that time, if Hu Zongnan’s[10] forces advance into Shanxian, Lingbao, Wenxiang, and Lushi[11],

[1] This is a telegram drafted by Mao Zedong for the Military Commission of the CPC Central Committee, addressed to Liu Bocheng, Commander, and Deng Xiaoping, Political Commissar, of the Shanxi-Hebei-Shandong-Henan Field Army.

[2] Chen and Su refer to Chen Yi and Su Yu, then respectively Commander and Political Commissar, and Deputy Commander, of the East China Field Army. Chen and Xie refer to Chen Geng and Xie Fuzhi, then respectively Secretary and Deputy Secretary of the Front Committee of the Chen-Xie Group of the Shanxi-Hebei-Shandong-Henan Field Army.

[3] Peng refers to Peng Dehuai, then Commander and Political Commissar of the Northwest Field Army.

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

[5] Li Tiejun, then Commander of the 5th Corps of the Zhengzhou Command of the Kuomintang Army General Headquarters.

[6] The Qin Column refers to the 9th Column of the Chen-Xie Group of the Shanxi-Hebei-Shandong-Henan Field Army, with Qin Jiwei as Column Commander.

[7] Zhengzhou and Luoyang refer to the cities in Henan Province.

[8] The Beiping-Hankou Railway, i.e., the railway from Beiping (now Beijing) to Hankou, a section of today’s Beijing-Guangzhou Railway.

[9] Luo Guangwen, then Commander of the Reorganized 10th Division of the Kuomintang Army.

[10] Hu Zongnan, then Director of the Xi’an Pacification Office of the Kuomintang Army.

[11] Shanxian, Lingbao, and Lushi refer to counties in Henan Province. Wenxiang refers to an old county name, merged into Lingbao County, Henan, in 1954.

then strike westward at Hu’s forces and subsequently move toward the Han River basin; otherwise, move directly toward the Han River basin. For you to dispatch two columns and one brigade westward one month from now to establish the two military regions of Tongbai and Xiang-Han, the timing will be just right. However, regarding your winter clothing (each person to be issued only one cotton-padded coat, and one lined pair of trousers when severe cold sets in), you must make up your minds to immediately start making them on your own. The method is to assign the task to merchants and households possessing cotton cloth and cotton, having them produce the clothing on your behalf, with promissory notes issued at market prices. Wang Hongkun[1] shall deliver the funds (the more he brings, the better) to settle the accounts, paying every cent in full. In this way, not only will the army’s reputation not be damaged, but it will be enhanced, and the same can be done the following year. However, the reasons must be explained to the merchants and civilians, the process must be carried out in an orderly manner, and a sufficient number of capable cadres must be assigned to the task to avoid harassment and extortion. This method can also be emulated by Chen-Su and Chen-Xie to solve part of their winter clothing needs while awaiting rear-area supplies. As for Liu and Deng, they must absolutely not rely on the rear to deliver winter clothing over long distances.

Military Commission
23rd, 21:00 hours

[1] Wang Hongkun, then Commander of the 10th Column of the Shanxi-Hebei-Shandong-Henan Field Army.