The Plan for the 4th Column, 11th Column, and Various Independent Divisions to Advance to the Zunhua-Jizhou Area Remains Unchanged (1)

(November 4, 1948)

Lin, Luo, Liu, and inform the Northeast Bureau, Cheng, Huang [2]:

(1) Your telegram of the 3rd [3] received. Swiftly, thoroughly, and completely annihilating all enemies and recovering Shenyang is most gratifying. Convey commendation to the entire army as ordered.

(2) The southward-advancing units of Fu [4]’s army have already withdrawn north, but the plan for the 4th Column, 11th Column, and various independent divisions to advance to the Zunhua-Jizhou [5] area remains unchanged. After Cheng and Huang lead the various units to their destinations, dispatch several detachments to harass and raid along the Pinggu [6], Pingjin, and Jintang lines. The main force shall select locations for consolidation and training, and after the main force of the Northeast enters the Pass, a unified offensive against Fu’s army will be launched. However, if Fu’s army dispatches troops westward for reinforcement when our Yang Chengwu [7] attacks Guisui [8], then consolidation and training should be temporarily halted, and movements should be made toward Beiping and other places to pin down the westward-reinforcing strength of Fu’s army and assist Yang Chengwu in succeeding. This is because the forces under Yang, Luo, Geng [1] have already returned to the Pinghan Line [2] and must rest and regroup, and Fu’s army on the Pingzhang Line [3] is no longer under threat.

(3) When operations against Pingjin are conducted, the grain supply in the eastern Hebei area will certainly be insufficient to meet the needs of the large army. After the capture of Pingjin, both the army and civilians will require large amounts of grain. The Northeast must provide some assistance. It is hoped that planning for this will begin at an early date.

Military Commission

0400 hours, 4th

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

[2] The Pinghan Line refers to the railway from Beiping (present-day Beijing) to Hankou, i.e., a section of the present-day Beijing-Guangzhou Line.

[3] The Pingzhang Line refers to the railway from Beiping (present-day Beijing) to Zhangjiakou, i.e., a section of the present-day Beijing-Baotou Line.