Agree to Yang Chengwu’s Main Force Moving Westward[1]

(October 11, 1948)

Yang, Luo, Geng; Yang, Li, Li; and inform the North China Bureau:

Your two telegrams of the 10th at 9:00 hours[2] have been noted. We agree with your joint opinion that the main force of Yang, Li, Li should move westward. The specific disposition shall follow the opinion of Yang, Li, Li: use the Beiyue Group, one brigade of the 8th Column, and one cavalry regiment to control the Xinghe, Taijimiao[3], and Jining areas, and conduct activities eastward to block the enemy advancing westward. Use another brigade of the 8th Column and a portion of the cavalry to advance and occupy Taolin and Wuchuan, annihilating the enemy in northern Sui[4]. The 1st, 2nd, and 6th Columns should immediately and rapidly turn westward to first clear the Sui-Bao section[5] and, when the opportunity arises, attack and capture Baotou. This
action may attract the Temporary 4th Army, the 35th Army, and other units to move westward for reinforcement, thereby benefiting the operations of Yang, Luo, and Geng. After the main force of Yang, Li, Li arrives in the west, it should determine a period to concentrate exclusively on attacking medium-sized and small enemy forces, that is, to use full strength to capture Bikeqi, Chasuqi, Tuoketuo, Taosihao, Salaqi, Baotou, and the areas west and north of this line, broadly occupy territory, and collect grain supplies. Wait until the enemy’s main force moves westward for reinforcement and an opportunity presents itself, then concentrate forces at the opportune moment to annihilate the enemy’s main force. The city of Guisui shall be a target for future attack; ignore it for now. This action will place Fu Zuoyi[1] completely in a passive position (he is already in a passive position now), so as to prevent him from wanting to fight both large and small battles and failing at both. The spirit of Yang, Luo, Geng in calling upon their troops to fight large battles is very good; as long as there is an opportunity to annihilate one enemy division or two divisions at a time, they should not let it slip. However, if such an opportunity does not exist, then annihilating one enemy regiment or two regiments each time is also good. We hope you will all handle matters flexibly according to the situation. Besides commanding their own troops, Yang, Luo, Geng should pay close attention to directing the command of Yang, Li, Li.

Central Military Commission

11th, 2:00 hours

[1] Fu Zuoyi was then serving as Commander-in-Chief of the “Bandit Suppression” General Headquarters in North China of the Kuomintang Army.

--- Notes

[1] This telegram was drafted by Mao Zedong for the Central Military Commission of the CPC Central Committee and addressed to Yang Dezhi (Commander of the 2nd Corps of the North China Military Region), Luo Ruiqing (Political Commissar), Geng Biao (Chief of Staff), and Yang Chengwu (Commander of the 3rd Corps), Li Jingquan (Political Commissar), Li Tianhuan (Deputy Political Commissar and Director of the Political Department).

[2] Refers to the telegrams sent at 9:30 a.m. on October 10, 1948, by Yang Dezhi, Luo Ruiqing, and Geng Biao to the Central Military Commission, and by Yang Chengwu, Li Jingquan, and Li Tianhuan to the Central Military Commission. The former telegram proposed that the main force of the 3rd Corps should move westward, leaving a portion to control the Xinghe, Jining, and Fengzhen areas to delay and obstruct enemy reinforcements as much as possible. If enemy reinforcements did not come, they would then strike Sui and Bao. If enemy reinforcements came, they planned to annihilate them near Guisui. The latter telegram put forward two suggestions for future actions: (1) After the main force is replenished with cotton trousers, it should immediately and rapidly turn westward to threaten Suiyuan, first clearing the enemy along the Sui-Bao section, capturing Bikeqi, Chasuqi, Salaqi County, and Tuoketuo County, and, when the opportunity arises, attacking and capturing Baotou. (2) To coordinate with the current actions of the 2nd Corps, the main force would attack Chaigoubao and Wanquan. It considered the first suggestion preferable.

[3] Taijimiao is located in the northern part of Xinghe County, Inner Mongolia.

[4] Sui refers to Suiyuan, an old province name encompassing the central region of today’s Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, abolished in 1954.

[5] The Sui-Bao section refers to the railway from Guisui (present-day Hohhot, Inner Mongolia) to Baotou, a segment of today’s Beijing-Baotou Line.