Strive to Capture Baotou by the End of the Month[1]

(October 14, 1948)

Yang, Li, Li, and inform Yang, Luo, Geng[2] and the North China Bureau:

(1) Your telegram of the 13th at 16:00 hours[3] received. The plan and dispositions are both good; proceed accordingly. (2) Regardless of whether the main force of Fu[4]’s army moves west to provide reinforcement, you should strive to capture Baotou by the end of the month. Only then can you secure a favorable position; otherwise, even if the points between Sui and Bao[5] are occupied, they will still remain unstable.

Military Commission

Hanyin

[1] This is a telegram drafted by Mao Zedong for the Central Military Commission of the Communist Party of China, addressed to Yang Chengwu, commander of the Third Corps of the North China Military Region, Li Jingquan, political commissar, and Li Tianhuan, deputy political commissar and director of the Political Department.

[2] Yang, Luo, Geng refers to Yang Dezhi, Luo Ruiqing, and Geng Biao, who were respectively commander, political commissar, and chief of staff of the Second Corps of the North China Military Region at the time.

[3] Refers to the telegram sent by Yang Chengwu, Li Jingquan, and Li Tianhuan to the Central Military Commission of the Communist Party of China on October 13, 1948, at 16:00 hours. The telegram stated: In compliance with the Military Commission’s telegraphic instructions, a meeting of the Front Committee was held yesterday, deciding first to clear the Sui-Bao section (including Togtoh) and Taolin, Wuchuan, and Ulan Hua north of Sui, and to capture Bikeqi, Chasuqi, Taosihao, Salqin, Dengkou, and Tangxian areas, while requisitioning large quantities of grain. After our forces occupy the above-mentioned areas, if Fu Zuoyi’s main force still does not move west to provide reinforcement, we will then use five brigades (from the 2nd and 6th Columns) and two cavalry regiments to capture Baotou, with the 1st Column remaining near Guisui. After the 8th Column captures Wuchuan, it will act according to circumstances.

[4] Fu refers to Fu Zuoyi, who was then commander-in-chief of the Kuomintang army’s North China “Bandit Suppression” General Headquarters.

[5] Sui and Bao refer to Guisui (present-day Hohhot, Inner Mongolia) and Baotou.