Operational Deployment for Liu-Deng and Other Units[1]

(March 1, 1948)

Liu, Deng; Su, Liu, Chen, Tang, Chen, Xie[2]; and for the information of the Central Working Committee, the Handan Bureau, Xiangqian, Peng, Zhang, Zhao[3]:

All telegrams received and noted. Deployment is as follows:

(1) Liu-Deng shall immediately organize the 1st, 2nd, 10th, and 11th Columns into one group. During the months of Yin and Mao (March–April), they shall conduct mobile operations in the area west of the Jinpu Railway,[4] east of the Pinghan Railway,[5] north of the Huai River, and south of the Yellow River, including rest periods. During the months of Chen and Si (May–June), they shall either continue operating in coordination with Su-Liu in this area or shift to mobile operations west of the Pinghan Railway, depending on the situation. Su-Liu shall immediately order the 10th and 11th Columns to fully accept the command of Liu-Deng.

(2) Chen-Tang, concurrently commanding the main force of Chen-Xie, shall during the months of Yin and Mao conduct operations along the Zhengzhou-Tongguan section of the Longhai Railway,[6] including rest periods. Within the next few days, they shall commence the first phase: operations against the Zhengzhou-Luoyang

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

[2] Su and Liu refer to Su Yu and Liu Xiansheng, then respectively Deputy Commander and Deputy Chief of Staff of the East China Field Army. Chen and Tang refer to Chen Shiju and Tang Liang, then respectively Chief of Staff and Director of the Political Department of the East China Field Army. Chen and Xie refer to Chen Geng and Xie Fuzhi, then respectively Secretary and Deputy Secretary of the Front Committee of the Chen-Xie Group of the Shanxi-Hebei-Shandong-Henan Field Army.

[3] Xiangqian refers to Xu Xiangqian, then First Deputy Commander of the Shanxi-Hebei-Shandong-Henan 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.

[4] Jinpu refers to the Jinpu Railway, the line from Tianjin to Pukou, now a section of the Beijing-Shanghai Railway.

[5] Pinghan refers to the Pinghan Railway, the line from Beiping (now Beijing) to Hankou, now a section of the Beijing-Guangzhou Railway.

[6] The Zhengzhou-Tongguan line refers to the railway from Zhengzhou to Tongguan, a section of the Longhai Railway.

section,[1] seizing the opportunity to attack and capture Luoyang. The second phase: operations against the Luoyang-Tongguan section,[2] striving to annihilate the greater part of Pei Changhui’s Army Group[3] (of the original seven brigades, two have already moved west to Heyang and Tongguan, one remains unmoved in Shangluo,[4] leaving approximately four brigades along the line from Wenxiang[5] to Luoyang) and a portion of Sun Yuanliang’s Army Group,[6] in coordination with Peng-Zhang’s operations north of the Wei River. Peng-Zhang are currently besieging Yichuan, drawing out the 90th and 27th Divisions for reinforcement and destroying them one by one; combat is now underway.

(3) The forces under Su-Liu shall decide their movements based on the situation of the 5th Army, either operating on both banks of the river or moving entirely to the north bank, with the overall objective of safely resting and consolidating for two full months.

(4) As for Liu-Deng, apart from the 30,000 troops remaining in the Dabie Mountains, it is best for the time being that the main forces of their 3rd and 6th Columns stay in the Dabie Mountains for a period to pin down the 10th Division, 20th Division, and other units; thereafter, they may move north or west depending on the situation.

(5) The forces under Xiangqian shall rest, consolidate, and train in the Fushan-Yicheng area,[7] preparing to attack Linfen. Yan Xishan[8] has concentrated seven brigades in the Pingyao-Jiexiu area,[9] showing signs of moving south to provide reinforcement. As for the forces under Xu-Tan,[10] apart from leaving the 13th Column in the Jiaodong area, the main forces of the 7th and 9th Columns, in coordination with the Bohai local corps, shall commence operations against the western section of the Jiaoji Railway in early Yin (March). Wei Guoqing[11] shall lead the 2nd Column south from Zhucheng to northern Jiangsu in late Chou (February), joining with the 11th and 12th Columns there to form the Northern Jiangsu Army Group, thereby strengthening operations in northern Jiangsu. In the Northeast, the winter campaign has already wiped out nine enemy regular brigades (including one brigade that revolted). Preparations are now underway to attack Siping; after its capture, the forces will rest and consolidate, then launch the spring campaign. Our troop strength in the Northeast has been greatly

Operational Deployment for Liu-Deng and Other Units

reinforced. The Shanxi-Chahar-Hebei Military Region will soon complete its rest and consolidation and then initiate new operations. Acknowledge receipt and inform all concerned.

Military Commission
Yin Dong (March 1)

Manuscript of the telegram drafted by Mao Zedong for the Military Commission of the CPC Central Committee, addressed to Liu Bocheng, Deng Xiaoping, and others.