Policy for Operations in the New Liberated Areas[1]

(October 4, 1947)

To Liu and Deng, and inform Chen and Su:

For the purposes of (1) dispersing the main enemy forces so that the enemy’s main strength is exhausted by being rushed about; (2) annihilating small enemy forces so that we gain numerous opportunities to wipe out one or two brigades or one or two regiments of the enemy’s regular forces, and extensively wipe out the local militia and the bao-jia system; (3) arousing the masses and establishing base areas; (4) resolving the problem of supplies, primarily winter clothing at present, please consider detaching three brigades from the nine brigades you have concentrated in your hands to cross the railway and advance westward, seizing opportunities to attack and occupy the counties of Xiaogan, Yunmeng, Yingcheng, Anlu, Jingshan, Tianmen, Zhongxiang, and Sui-Zao[2]. With the six brigades you keep concentrated in your hands, you will still have the capability to annihilate two brigades of weak enemy forces or one brigade of strong enemy forces in each battle. For the present, move southwest, seizing opportunities to attack and occupy Macheng, Huang’an[3], Huangpi, Lishan[4], Guangshui, Huayuan, and other places, and seize opportunities to control a section of the railway. Thereafter, you may maneuver eastward or northeastward. The Tongbai Mountain area will be left for the Zhao and Wang Columns[5] to manage. Of the ten brigades under Chen and Xie[6],

[1] This is a telegram drafted by Mao Zedong for the Military Commission of the CPC Central Committee to Liu Bocheng, Commander, and Deng Xiaoping, Political Commissar, of the Shanxi-Hebei-Shandong-Henan Field Army, with information sent to Chen Yi, Commander and Political Commissar, and Su Yu, Deputy Commander, of the East China Field Army.

[2] Sui-Zao refers to Sui County and Zaoyang in Hubei Province.

[3] Huang’an, former county name, is present-day Hong’an, Hubei.

[4] Lishan, former county name, is present-day Dawu, Hubei.

[5] The Zhao and Wang Columns refer to the 12th Column and the 10th Column of the Shanxi-Hebei-Shandong-Henan Field Army, whose commanders were Zhao Jimei and Wang Hongkun respectively.

[6] Chen and Xie refer to Chen Geng and Xie Fuzhi, who were then respectively Secretary and Deputy Secretary of the Front Committee of the Chen-Xie Group of the Shanxi-Hebei-Shandong-Henan Field Army.

Policy for Operations in the New Liberated Areas

five brigades are dispersed across more than ten counties in western Henan and southern Shaanxi to attack the local militia, bandits, the bao-jia system, and regular army units of regimental or battalion strength, while five brigades are concentrated to fight medium-scale battles; this has proved highly effective. Under present circumstances, it is advisable for Chen and Su to disperse their forces by column or by brigade to annihilate the enemy, and after a period, to concentrate six or seven brigades for mobile operations back and forth, fighting medium-scale battles. Such methods can deal the enemy a death blow.

Military Commission
14:00, 4th

Liu-Deng (1) disperse large enemy groups, wear down the enemy’s main strength; (2) annihilate small enemy forces, so that we gain numerous opportunities to wipe out one or two brigades or one or two regiments of the enemy’s regular forces; ① extensively establish annihilation zones, people’s (4) establish base areas; (5) resolve material difficulties, primarily winter clothing at present; gentlemen, we wish you

of the nine brigades in your hands, detach three brigades to cross westward, seizing opportunities to attack and occupy the enemy in Yingcheng, Anling, Jingshan, Tianmen, Zhongxiang; with the six brigades you keep concentrated in your hands, you will still have the capability to annihilate two brigades of weak enemy forces or one brigade of strong enemy forces in each battle. For the present, move southwest, seizing opportunities to attack and occupy Macheng, Huang’an, ② Huangpi, Sishan, Kangshui, Huayuan, and other places, then control a section of the railway; thereafter, you may maneuver eastward or northeastward. The Tongbai Mountain area will be left for the Zhao and Wang Columns to manage.

Of the ten brigades under Chen and Xie, five brigades are dispersed across more than ten counties in western Henan and southern Shaanxi ① to attack local militia, bandits, the bao-jia system, and regular army units of regimental or battalion strength, while five brigades are concentrated to fight medium-scale battles; this has proved highly effective. Under present circumstances, it is advisable for Chen and Su to disperse their forces by column or by brigade for a period of activity, and after a period, to concentrate six or seven brigades for medium-scale battles. Such methods can deal the enemy a death blow. Manuscript of "Policy for Operations in the New Liberated Areas" drafted by Mao Zedong for the Military Commission of the CPC Central Committee.