The Northeast Bureau Should Give Full Support to the Construction of the Military Industry to Aid the Nationwide War Effort

(November 13, 1947)

Lin[1], and inform Zhu and Liu[2], and the Northeast Bureau:

Your telegrams of the 8th and 9th[3] have been noted. (1) The new disposition is very good. (2) Following the victory at Qingfengdian, Shijiazhuang has also been captured. After a short period of rest and consolidation, the Yang-Yang[4] forces can proceed to operations in the Beiping-Tianjin-Baoding[5] triangle area. The Jin-Cha-Ji Field Army and its rear-area work have recently changed their work style and gotten on the right track. In the winter and spring seasons, they can coordinate operations with you. (3) On the southern front, the five armies of Chen-Su, Liu-Deng, Chen-Xie, Xu-Tan, and Peng-Zhang[6] have all completely seized the initiative, and all difficulties can be overcome. The enemy has been completely plunged into a passive position, exhausted and driven frantic. (4) It is hoped that the Northeast Bureau will exert full effort to strengthen the construction of the military industry, with the objective of supporting the nationwide war effort.

Mao Zedong

Wuyuan

[1] Lin refers to Lin Biao, then serving as Commander and Political Commissar of the Northeast Democratic United Army.
[2] Zhu and Liu refer to Zhu De and Liu Shaoqi.
[3] The telegram of the 8th refers to the telegram sent by Lin Biao to Mao Zedong, Zhu De, and Liu Shaoqi on November 8, 1947. The telegram stated: In the past 50 days of operations (from September 14 to November 3), a total of over 68,000 enemy troops were annihilated (including nearly 50,000 captured). The feint offensive at Jilin is about to conclude; because the defending enemy numbered nearly 20,000, the terrain was strategically difficult and dangerous, and the fortifications were strong, no forceful assault was made throughout. The telegram of the 9th refers to the telegram sent by Lin Biao on November 9, 1947, regarding the operational disposition for the winter offensive to the commanders of the various corps of the Northeast Democratic United Army and reported to the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China. The telegram stated: Three columns and the headquarters artillery will advance to the Kangping-Faku area to coordinate with the Seventh Column, preparing to annihilate the enemy in the Faku, Kangping, Zhangwu, and other areas by the method of destroying them one by one, and seeking to annihilate reinforcement units. This winter and next spring, the Third and Fourth Columns are tasked with seeking opportunities for battle on the line from Kaiyuan to Yingkou; the First and Second Columns must prepare for a westward advance. Whenever any corps encounters a favorable opportunity, it should independently and autonomously annihilate the enemy; if coordination from other units is needed, it should report to the higher level to seek such coordination.
[4] Yang-Yang refers to Yang Dezhi and Yang Chengwu, then serving respectively as Commander and Second Political Commissar of the Jin-Cha-Ji Field Army.
[5] Beiping-Tianjin-Baoding refers to Beiping (present-day Beijing), Tianjin, and Baoding in Hebei Province.
[6] Chen-Su refers to Chen Yi and Su Yu, then serving respectively as Commander and Political Commissar, and Deputy Commander of the East China Field Army. Liu-Deng refers to Liu Bocheng and Deng Xiaoping, then serving respectively as Commander and Political Commissar of the Shanxi-Hebei-Shandong-Henan Field Army. Chen-Xie refers to Chen Geng and Xie Fuzhi, then serving respectively as Secretary and Deputy Secretary of the Front Committee of the Chen-Xie Group of the Shanxi-Hebei-Shandong-Henan Field Army. Xu-Tan refers to Xu Shiyou and Tan Zhenlin, then serving respectively as Commander and Political Commissar of the Eastern Corps of the East China Field Army. Peng-Zhang refers to Peng Dehuai and Zhang Zongxun, then serving respectively as Commander and Political Commissar, and Deputy Commander of the Northwest Field Army.