Tasks for the Liu-Deng Army in the Coming Year[1]

(December 4, 1947)

Liu, Deng:

(1) Before August of next year, your entire army (excluding Chen-Xie) is to fight north of the Yangtze River, accomplish the task of establishing base areas in the Dabie Mountains, the Tongbai Mountains, and the Jiang-Han region, and link them up with the Chen-Xie and Chen-Su areas into a single contiguous zone. After August of next year, for the purpose of further dispersing the enemy’s forces and facilitating their annihilation, and depending on the degree to which the tasks north of the Yangtze River have been completed by that time, a decision shall be made to send either the main force or a part of it across the river to establish a base area in the Hunan-Hubei-Jiangxi border region. (2) In preparation for carrying out the above plan, consider beginning now to dispatch a small number of local working personnel or a small guerrilla detachment to cross southward, so as to gain a foothold. Please ascertain whether among Zhang Tixue’s former unit[2] there are still persons familiar with conditions in southern Hubei who are qualified to be sent to assume this responsibility (Zhang Tixue himself is not to go for the time being). By the summer of next year, prepare to send a larger guerrilla detachment to cross southward. All the above are to serve as advance forces. Such personnel and units must undergo training before being dispatched.

Central Military Commission

Haizhi

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

[2] Zhang Tixue’s former unit refers to the 2nd Independent Brigade of Eastern Hubei under the Central Plains Military Region, whose Political Commissar was Zhang Tixue.

Beginning in July 1947, the People’s Liberation Army launched the great strategic counteroffensive. The picture shows the Liu-Deng Army crossing the Yellow River by night and thrusting into the Dabie Mountains.

Sketch Map of the Three Route Armies’ Thrust into the Central Plains

July–December 1947

Sketch Map of the Three Route Armies’ Thrust into the Central Plains.