Combat Missions of the 2nd and 8th Columns[1]

(December 29, 1947)

Xu, Teng, and Bo:

Your telegram of the 29th, chen hour[2] noted. The capture of Linfen will be extremely advantageous in all respects (especially in support of the Northwest War). The 2nd Column may remain in southern Shanxi for a period of operations. However, we are not yet certain about the defensive fortifications of Linfen and the possibility of enemy reinforcements from Shanzhou[3] and Yichuan. We hope you will investigate, consider, and report by telegram. Also, have you decided whether to deploy Xu Zirong’s unit[4] in northern Henan? After the 8th Column captures Linfen, can it refrain from going to northern Henan and instead coordinate with the 2nd Column to attack Weibei, so as to facilitate the main force of northern Shaanxi in attacking Longnan? We hope you will telegraph your reply on all these matters.

Central Military Commission

Yanhai

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[1] This is a telegram drafted by Mao Zedong for the Central Military Commission of the CPC Central Committee, addressed to Xu Xiangqian, First Deputy Commander of the Shanxi-Hebei-Shandong-Henan Military Region; Teng Daiyuan, Second Deputy Commander; and Bo Yibo, First Deputy Political Commissar.

[2] Refers to the telegram sent by Xu Xiangqian, Teng Daiyuan, and Bo Yibo to the Central Military Commission of the CPC Central Committee at the chen hour on December 29, 1947. The telegram stated: The 2nd and 8th Columns plan to assemble for rest and reorganization for 20 days to one month. Future operational plans: A. The 2nd and 8th Columns, together with the Independent 3rd Brigade and five local regiments, attack Linfen; B. If the 2nd Column must return west, the 8th Column will move to northern Henan, concentrating four independent brigades and one independent division from the Taihang and southern Hebei areas, totaling eight brigades, to attack strongholds such as Anyang, Xinxiang, and Jiaozuo.

[3] Shanzhou, an old prefecture name, refers to present-day Shan County, Henan Province.

[4] Xu Zirong’s unit was originally the Independent Division of the 1st Column of the East China Field Army, with Xu Zirong serving as Division Political Commissar. In December 1947, it was reassigned to the Shanxi-Hebei-Shandong-Henan Military Region.