Operational Deployment of Yang Chengwu’s Main Force of Three Columns[1]

(November 24, 1948)

Yang, Li, and Li, and inform Yang, Luo, and Geng[2], the North China Bureau, Huang and Cheng, Lin, Luo, and Liu[3]:

(1) Chengwu, leading the main force of three columns, shall set out from the present location tomorrow, the 25th, and reach the vicinity of Zhangjiakou within six days (the faster the better). Thereafter, use two columns to encircle the enemy at Zhoujiahe[4] and Huai’an southwest of Zhangjiakou (the 210th Division and the 11th Cavalry Brigade), and insert one column between Zhangjiakou and Xuanhua to sever the connection between the enemy forces at these two locations (each of Zhangjiakou and Xuanhua has one enemy division), so that the enemy at Zhoujiahe, Huailai, and Zhangjiakou cannot escape. If the enemy at Zhoujiahe and Huailai rapidly withdraws into Zhangjiakou, or if the enemy at Zhangjiakou rapidly contracts eastward, you should promptly move east to encircle Zhangjiakou, Xuanhua (one division), or Xiahuayuan[5] (one division). In short, the principle is to seize a batch of the enemy and prevent them from fleeing eastward. After seizing and encircling them, do not attack; wait for the main force of the Northeast to enter the Pass (keep this secret) and encircle and annihilate the enemy before taking action to attack as the opportunity arises. (2) The Beiyue
Group[1] shall rapidly move to the vicinity of Datong to monitor the enemy there, preventing them from fleeing eastward or westward. (3) Jingquan, leading Yao Zhe’s[2] Eighth Column, shall remain in Suiyuan[3]. (4) For matters such as provisions, request Nie and Bo[4] to make preparations.

Central Military Commission

22:00, the 24th

[1] The Beiyue Group refers to the Beiyue Military District, with Wang Ping as commander and Zhao Zhensheng as political commissar.

[2] Yao Zhe was then commander of the Sui-Meng Military District and concurrently commander of the Eighth Column.

[3] Suiyuan, name of an old province, encompassing the central region of present-day Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, abolished in 1954.

[4] Nie and Bo refer to Nie Rongzhen and Bo Yibo, who were respectively commander and political commissar of the North China Military Region at the time.

--- Notes

[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, and Geng refer 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] Huang and Cheng refer to Huang Zhiyong and Cheng Zihua, who were respectively chief of staff and commander of the Second Corps of the Northeast Field Army at the time. Lin, Luo, and Liu refer to Lin Biao, Luo Ronghuan, and Liu Yalou, who were respectively commander, political commissar, and chief of staff of the Northeast Field Army at the time.

[4] Zhoujiahe, a town name, located southwest of Zhangjiakou, Hebei Province.

[5] Xiahuayuan, a town name, present-day Xiahuayuan District, Zhangjiakou, Hebei Province.