How to Attack the Enemy at Huailai Depends on the Situation[1]

(December 5, 1948)

Cheng and Huang, and inform Lin, Luo, Liu, Yang, Luo, Geng, Yang, and Li[2]:

Your telegram of the 4th at 21:00 hours[3] has been received. The subsequent operational plan must be decided after you arrive in the Huailai area, depending on the enemy situation at that time. What should be decided at present: (1) Yang, Luo, and Geng should rapidly control the section from Xuanhua to Huailai (exclusive), complete east-west blocking fortifications, prevent the enemy at Zhangjiakou-Xuanhua[4] from moving eastward and the enemy at Huailai-Nankou[5] from moving westward, and seize opportunities to annihilate the enemy at points such as Xiahuyuan and Xinbao’an[6]. Thereafter, you may follow your suggestion of using one column to encircle Xuanhua and positioning two columns east of Xuanhua. At that time (not now), in addition to one column of Yang and Li remaining between Zhangjiakou and Xuanhua to sever the connection between the two places, their second column may move from Zhang

[1] This telegram was drafted by Mao Zedong for the Military Commission of the CPC Central Committee and addressed to Cheng Zihua, commander of the Second Corps of the Northeast Field Army, and Huang Zhiyong, its chief of staff.

[2] Lin, Luo, and Liu refer to Lin Biao, Luo Ronghuan, and Liu Yalou, who were then respectively commander, political commissar, and chief of staff of the Northeast Field Army. Yang, Luo, and Geng refer to Yang Dezhi, Luo Ruiqing, and Geng Biao, who were then respectively commander, political commissar, and chief of staff of the Second Corps of the North China Military Region. Yang and Li refer to Yang Chengwu and Li Tianhuan, who were then respectively commander and deputy political commissar concurrently director of the political department of the Third Corps of the North China Military Region.

[3] This refers to the telegram sent by Cheng Zihua and Huang Zhiyong on December 4, 1948, at 21:00 hours to the Military Commission of the CPC Central Committee, Lin Biao, Luo Ronghuan, and Liu Yalou, and for the information of Yang Dezhi and Yang Chengwu, concerning the proposed operational plan for the Zhangjiakou-Xuanhua area.

[4] Zhang-Xuan refers to Zhangjiakou and Xuanhua in Hebei Province.

[5] Nankou is a town located in the western part of Changping County, Beijing.

[6] Xiahuyuan is a town, present-day Xiahuyuan District, Zhangjiakou City, Hebei Province. Xinbao’an is a town located in the western part of Huailai County, Hebei Province.

jiayuan southwest to northwest of Zhangyuan,[1] to join the Sixth Column in preventing the enemy at Zhangyuan from fleeing to the northwest.

(2) You and the Zhan-Su[2] forces may deploy according to your telegram, but how to attack the enemy at Huailai can only be decided based on the situation at that time. If the enemy at Huailai is not numerous, you shall be responsible for annihilating them; if the enemy at Huailai is relatively numerous and requires the coordination of the main force of Yang, Luo, and Geng, further consideration is needed. Since the main force of Fu’s[3] troops (eight infantry divisions and two cavalry divisions) is already concentrated at Zhangjiakou and Xuanhua, it is feared that the full strength of the two Yangs[4] (six columns) will be required to deal with them and prevent a breakout and flight. In that case, you should only encircle the enemy at Huailai and not attack, so as to have sufficient strength to attack Zhangyuan (the timing of the attack will probably need to wait until Lin, Luo, and Liu have completed the interdiction and encirclement of Beiping, Tianjin, and Tangshan[5]) and to deploy forces for repelling reinforcements.

The Military Commission
5th, 07:00 hours

[1] Zhangyuan refers to Zhangjiakou, Hebei Province.
[2] Zhan-Su refers to Zhan Danan and Su Qisheng, who were then respectively commander and deputy political commissar of the Ji-Re-Cha Military District.
[3] Fu refers to Fu Zuoyi, who was then commander-in-chief of the Kuomintang’s “Bandit Suppression” General Headquarters in North China.
[4] The two Yangs refer to Yang Dezhi and Yang Chengwu.
[5] Ping-Jin-Tang refers to Beiping, Tianjin, and Tangshan in Hebei Province.