Swiftly Launch an Attack on Luoyang and the Luo-Zheng Line[1]

(March 7, 1948)

Chen and Tang, Chen and Xie, and inform Liu and Deng[2], the Handan Bureau, Su and Liu[3], and the Central Working Committee:

(1) Our Peng, Zhang, and Zhao army[4] is advancing toward Chengcheng, Baishui, Luochuan, Zhongbu[5], Yijun, and Tongguan[6]; Xiangqian’s[7] army is currently attacking Linfen. (2) The enemy’s 1st Division, 30th Division, and 36th Division will all shrink back into Shaanxi territory. It is estimated that one part will defend Tongguan, while the bulk will return to the Xi’an area. (3) Leading the 3rd, 4th, and 8th Columns, you should, with the objective of capturing Luoyang and preparing to annihilate Sun Yuanliang’s[8] relief troops, swiftly launch an attack on

[1] This is a telegram drafted by Mao Zedong for the Military Commission of the CPC Central Committee, addressed to Chen Shiju, Chief of Staff of the East China Field Army, and Tang Liang, Director of its Political Department, as well as Chen Geng, Secretary of the Front Committee of the Chen-Xie Group of the Shanxi-Hebei-Shandong-Henan Field Army, and Xie Fuzhi, Deputy Secretary. Following the instructions of the Central Military Commission, the Chen-Tang and Chen-Xie armies completed the encirclement of Luoyang on March 9, 1948, captured the city on the 14th, annihilated over 20,000 defending enemy troops, and captured Qiu Xingxiang, Lieutenant General and Commander of the 206th Division, alive. Due to the reinforcement of the reorganized 18th and 47th Armies from Zhengzhou, the People’s Liberation Army withdrew from Luoyang on the 17th.

[2] Liu and Deng refer to Liu Bocheng and Deng Xiaoping, who were then respectively Commander and Political Commissar of the Shanxi-Hebei-Shandong-Henan Field Army.

[3] Su and Liu refer to Su Yu and Liu Xiansheng, who were then respectively Deputy Commander and Deputy Chief of Staff of the East China Field Army.

[4] The Peng, Zhang, and Zhao army refers to the Northwest Field Army, with Peng Dehuai as Commander and Political Commissar, and Zhang Zongxun and Zhao Shoushan as Deputy Commanders.

[5] Zhongbu, an old county name, now Huangling in Shaanxi.

[6] Tongguan, an old county name, now Tongchuan in Shaanxi.

[7] Xiangqian, namely Xu Xiangqian, then First Deputy Commander of the Shanxi-Hebei-Shandong-Henan Military Region.

[8] Sun Yuanliang, then Commander of the reorganized 47th Army of the Kuomintang army.

Luoyang and the Luo-Zheng line[1], hoping to accomplish this task within about two weeks. (4) The second step is to prepare to advance eastward into Shaanxi, coordinating with Peng, Zhang, and Zhao to annihilate Hu’s[2] army. (5) The Handan Bureau is requested to rapidly procure a two-month supply of grain for 100,000 men to supply the 3rd, 4th, and 8th Columns.

Military Commission

0700 hours, 7th

[1] The Luo-Zheng line refers to the railway from Luoyang to Zhengzhou, a section of the Longhai Railway.

[2] Hu refers to Hu Zongnan, then Director of the Xi’an Pacification Headquarters of the Kuomintang army.