Agree to First Destroy the Main Force of the Temporary 4th Army[1]

(April 10, 1948)

Yang, Luo, Yang, Geng, and inform Nie, Xiao, Zhao[2], and the Central Working Committee:

It is correct for your main force to first destroy the main force of the Temporary 4th Army near Tianzhen, and if possible, then annihilate the enemy at Huai’an. After accomplishing these tasks, either advance to attack the eastern section of the Ping-Sui[3] line, or proceed to Suiyuan[4] to coordinate with the two columns there in annihilating the 35th Army, open up the situation in Suiyuan, and then lead the main force back to strike the eastern section of the Ping-Sui line—whichever is deemed appropriate according to the circumstances.

Military Commission

10th, 12:00 hours

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[1] This is a telegram drafted by Mao Zedong for the Central Military Commission of the Communist Party of China, addressed to Yang Dezhi (commander), Luo Ruiqing (first political commissar), Yang Chengwu (second political commissar), and Geng Biao (chief of staff) of the Shanxi-Chahar-Hebei Field Army.

[2] Nie, Xiao, Zhao: refers to Nie Rongzhen, Xiao Ke, and Zhao Erlu, who at the time served respectively as commander and political commissar, deputy commander, and chief of staff of the Shanxi-Chahar-Hebei Military Region.

[3] Ping-Sui: refers to the Ping-Sui Railway, the line from Beiping (present-day Beijing) to Baotou in Suiyuan (present-day Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region), now the Beijing-Baotou line.

[4] Suiyuan: a former province covering the central part of present-day Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, abolished in 1954.