To Ensure Safety in Directing Operations at the Jinzhou Front[1]

(October 6, 1948)

Lin, Luo, Liu:

Your telegram of the 4th at 9:00 hours[2] received. (1) It is very good that you are going to the vicinity of Jinzhou to take command. However, you should not be too close to the city; it will be adequate if you are at a relatively distant location from which you can contact the various city-attacking corps by telephone, and you must ensure safety. Set up a separate direct command post for the assault on the city, entrust suitable personnel, and have them, acting on your intentions, approach the city walls to direct operations (but also not too close). (2) The entire ruling apparatus of the Kuomintang is in panic, all battlefields are in a passive position, and morale is generally declining. Hope you encourage all officers and soldiers of the entire army to fight the enemy bravely and strive for a great victory.

Military Commission

6th, 2:00 hours

[1] This is a telegram drafted by Mao Zedong for the Central Military Commission of the Communist Party of China, addressed to Lin Biao, commander of the Northeast Field Army, Luo Ronghuan, political commissar, and Liu Yalou, chief of staff.
[2] Refers to the telegram sent by Lin Biao, Luo Ronghuan, and Liu Yalou at 9:00 hours on October 4, 1948, to the Central Military Commission of the Communist Party of China and the Northeast Bureau of the CPC Central Committee. The telegram stated: "We arrived at Fuxin this morning and plan to set out tonight to continue advancing to the vicinity of Jinzhou to take command. The follow-up units I am commanding for the attack on Jinzhou are currently advancing toward Jinzhou and are expected to all arrive in about five days."