Analysis of the Movements of the Enemy Reinforcing Jinzhou[1]

(October 12, 1948)

Lin, Luo, Liu:

Your telegram of the 11th at 20:30 hours[2] received. (1) There is full confidence in both blocking the enemy reinforcements from Jinxi and capturing Jinzhou; this is most reassuring. (2) The enemy at Shenyang advancing to occupy Zhangwu, thereby placing themselves in a useless position, indicates that Wei Lihuang[3] intends to use a crafty method to lure us back to relieve them, thereby lifting the siege of Jinzhou. He dares not directly reinforce Jinzhou, avoiding the danger of being annihilated after venturing far out. The enemy defending Jinzhou are all of miscellaneous brands, so even if they are wiped out, he will not feel much pain. If you can capture Jinzhou within a few days, the enemy at Shenyang will inevitably withdraw from Zhangwu back to Xinmin to entrench. However, if the attack on Jinzhou requires a longer time, and Lu Junquan[4] and others urgently call for help, and Chiang Kai-shek sternly orders Wei Lihuang to reinforce, then there is a possibility that this enemy may advance from Zhangwu via Xinlitun[5] and Heishan to Dahushan[6], or turn back from Zhangwu to Xinmin and then via the Raoyang River to Dahushan. But as long as you can capture Jinzhou within about a week, this enemy force absolutely cannot approach Jinzhou. Once Jinzhou is taken, this enemy force will certainly immediately retreat, making it impossible for you to seek out and annihilate it; this possibility seems very great. Whether the enemy at Changchun will withdraw is also questionable; the possibility of them not withdrawing for the time being seems relatively greater. Assuming this is the case, then after you capture Jinzhou, it remains most advantageous to move south and annihilate the enemy forces along the Beining Line[7] one by one. (3) What is the situation regarding the stockpiling of supplies along your line at Xinlitun, Fuxin, and Yixian? Have the necessary measures been taken? Awaiting your report.

Central Military Commission

15:00 hours, 12th

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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 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 to the Central Military Commission at 20:30 hours on October 11, 1948. The telegram stated: (1) Today's battle to capture the outer defensive positions of Jinzhou City has been completed according to plan, with the 8th Column approaching the city outskirts. (2) The enemy reinforcements from Jinxi once broke through our positions at Tashan; after a counterattack, the enemy was repulsed, suffering heavy casualties. We restored our original positions and made some captures. (3) Three enemy armies reinforcing from Shenyang have approached the vicinity of Zhangwu. (4) Enemy forces at Changchun launched small-unit sorties, all of which were repulsed by us. (5) Tomorrow, the attack on the enemy's outer defensive positions at Jinzhou will continue. (6) There is full confidence in both blocking the enemy reinforcements from Jinxi and capturing Jinzhou.

[3] Wei Lihuang, then Commander-in-Chief of the Kuomintang's Northeast "Bandit Suppression" General Headquarters.

[4] Lu Junquan, then Commander of the Kuomintang's 6th Army Corps.

[5] Xinlitun, a town located in the northern part of Heishan County, Liaoning Province.

[6] Dahushan, formerly known as Dahu Shan, located in the southern part of Heishan County, Liaoning Province.

[7] Beining Line, referring to the railway line from Beiping (now Beijing) to Shenyang, Liaoning.