Training Sites for the Assault Troops Should Be Convenient for Striking Fleeing Enemies

(February 18, 1948)

Xiangqian, and inform Li, Zhou, Peng, Zhang, Zhao, Teng, Bo [1]:

Your telegram of the you hour on the 17th [2] noted. (1) Fully agree to first conduct assault tactics training and to attack Linfen after the thaw; as long as Linfen is captured, it will be a great help to Peng and Zhang. (2) However, there are two possibilities for the enemy at Linfen: one is to hold fast and not move, the other is to abandon the city and flee northward. Therefore, the training and consolidation positions of the various units you are leading in preparation for attacking the city should be placed at locations convenient for striking fleeing enemies and also well concealed, and a plan for striking fleeing enemies must be prepared in advance, so as to annihilate any enemy that may flee without missing the opportunity. (3) Li and Zhou should order the Lüliang troops to truly accept the task of coordinated operations assigned by Xiangqian.

Military Commission

Chou Qiao

[1] Xiangqian refers to Xu Xiangqian, then First Deputy Commander of the Shanxi-Hebei-Shandong-Henan Military Region. Li and Zhou refer to Li Jingquan and Zhou Shidi, then respectively Political Commissar and Deputy Commander of the Shanxi-Suiyuan Military Region. Peng refers to Peng Dehuai, then Commander and Political Commissar of the Northwest Field Army. Zhang and Zhao refer to Zhang Zongxun and Zhao Shoushan, then both Deputy Commanders of the Northwest Field Army. Teng and Bo refer to Teng Daiyuan and Bo Yibo, then respectively Second Deputy Commander and First Deputy Political Commissar of the Shanxi-Hebei-Shandong-Henan Military Region.

[2] Refers to the telegram sent by Xu Xiangqian to the Central Military Commission of the CPC Central Committee at the you hour on February 17, 1948. The telegram stated: After capturing Yuncheng and Jiexian, the next step is planned to attack and annihilate the enemy at Linfen. Before the operation begins, assault tactics training will be universally conducted among the troops, including earthwork operations, successive demolitions, destruction of outer moats, tunnel operations, attacking blockhouses and bunker clusters, breaching city walls, scaling walls with ladders, consolidating breaches and expanding to both flanks, deep-penetration combat, and coordinated actions of infantry, artillery, and engineers. It is estimated that training will be completed when the ground thaws, and operations will commence then.