Agreeing to the Opinion of Yang Chengwu’s Troops Attacking Guisui[1]

(October 25, 1948)

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

(1) Agree to the opinion of Yang, Li, Li in their telegram of the 24th at 24:00 hours to begin attacking Guisui[2] on Xuhai. (2) Yang, Luo, Geng shall immediately order the 3rd Column to move to the Xinghe and Jining area, with the main force positioned at Jining to firmly defend and block the enemy, and a portion positioned at Xinghe to obstruct the advancing enemy reinforcements. This column must arrive in the Xinghe and Jining area before Xuji. (3) Yang, Luo, Geng shall lead the 4th Column and other units to cross the railway[3] and move south, preparing to follow behind the 3rd Column and advance to the Xinghe and Jining area to undertake the task of blocking reinforcements. Whether a portion should be left north or south of the railway to carry out sabotage on the Ping-Zhang section[4], request Yang, Luo, Geng to plan and report by telegram. (4) The supply of grain, ammunition, and other necessities required by Yang, Luo, Geng shall be the responsibility of Nie, Bo, Teng[5]. (5) Where are the two artillery companies of the military region at present, and whether they can arrive at Guisui before Xuhai, request Nie, Bo, Teng to report immediately.

The Military Commission

25th, 19:00 hours

[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 3rd Corps of the North China Military Region, Li Jingquan, political commissar, and Li Tianhuan, deputy political commissar and director of the Political Department.

[2] Guisui, former city name, now Hohhot, Inner Mongolia.

[3] Refers to the railway from Beiping (now Beijing) to Baotou in Suiyuan (now part of the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region), i.e., the present-day Beijing-Baotou Line.

[4] Ping-Zhang section, refers to the railway from Beiping (now Beijing) to Zhangjiakou, i.e., a section of the present-day Beijing-Baotou Line.

[5] Nie, Bo, Teng refers to Nie Rongzhen, Bo Yibo, and Teng Daiyuan, who at the time served respectively as commander, political commissar, and second deputy commander of the North China Military Region.