Hold Qingjian Firmly, Inflict Casualties and Wear Down the Enemy,
and Wait for the Opportunity to Launch a Counterattack[1]

(October 11, 1947)

Peng and Zhang:

We have already wiped out Liao Ang. Of the five brigades and one regiment led by Liu Kan, only one brigade has grain that can last until tomorrow; the rest have already run out of grain as of the day after tomorrow and are entirely dependent on airdrops. Under these circumstances, if the fortifications and blockhouse works around Qingjian city can be utilized and the terrain is strategically defensible, please consider deploying one of the two brigades from the Jiaoxin force to hold the position firmly, while withdrawing the main force to nearby areas for rest. Depending on the situation, hold for as many days as possible (even holding for one or two days is fine). The objective is to exploit our victory and the enemy’s passivity and demoralization, luring the enemy to attack our positions so as to inflict casualties and wear them down. If the enemy attacks our positions for three or four days (with the two Jiaoxin brigades rotating in defense) and we can stand firm without wavering, the enemy will suffer heavy attrition, and our main force will have recovered from fatigue. At that point, we can launch a counterattack outside Qingjian city, with the aim of annihilating one enemy regiment or one brigade. If such a counterattack proves successful, we can then expand the gains and wipe out another part of the enemy. Whether the above intention is feasible, please assess and decide based on the situation.

Central Military Commission

11th, 10:00 hours

[1] This is a telegram drafted by Mao Zedong for the Central Military Commission of the Communist Party of China, addressed to Peng Dehuai, Commander and Political Commissar of the Northwest Field Army, and Zhang Zongxun, Deputy Commander.