The Fourth Column’s Twelfth Brigade Should Establish a Base Area in Southern Shaanxi[1]

(September 26, 1947)

Chen and Xie:

Your telegram of the 25th at 20:00 hours[2] noted. (1) We have only received information that the 83rd Brigade has arrived in Luonan; the situation in Shang County is unclear. You are to order Liu and Li[3] to conduct their own reconnaissance and handle matters flexibly. We have only stipulated that the general direction for this unit is to establish a base area in southern Shaanxi, encompassing Luonan, Lantian, Shang County, Longjuzhai, Shangnan, Shanyang, Zuoshui, Zhen’an, Ningshan, and other places. When encountering large enemy forces, evade them; when encountering small enemy forces or local militia, annihilate them. Mobilize the masses, establish political power, and build people’s armed forces. (2) The main force advancing eastward should employ lightning maneuvers to outflank the area east of Xin’an, cut off the retreat route of the 64th Brigade, and then attack the city. At the same time, deploy a strong force to set up an ambush east of Xin’an, prepared to strike enemy reinforcements.

Military Commission

26th, 21:00 hours

[1] This is a telegram drafted by Mao Zedong for the Central Military Commission of the Communist Party of China, addressed to Chen Geng, secretary of the Front Committee of the Chen-Xie Group of the Shanxi-Hebei-Shandong-Henan Field Army, and deputy secretary Xie Fuzhi.
[2] Refers to the telegram sent by Chen Geng and Xie Fuzhi on September 25, 1947, at 20:00 hours, inquiring with the Central Military Commission about the situation in Luonan and Shang County.
[3] Liu and Li refer to Liu Jinxuan and Li Yao, who were then respectively the brigade commander and political commissar of the Twelfth Brigade, Fourth Column, Chen-Xie Group of the Shanxi-Hebei-Shandong-Henan Field Army.