Directive Telegram on the Deployment of the Yang-Li Units[1]

(December 6, 1948)

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

(1) Yang and Li’s telegram of the 4th at 22:00 hours was received by us only at 03:00 hours on the 6th.

(2) We have repeatedly sent you telegraphic orders that you must firmly cut off and isolate the two points of Zhang and Xuan[3], so that the enemy forces at these two points cannot join together. If the 1st Column is insufficient, a part of the 2nd Column should be added. Why have you turned a deaf ear to this? Instead of truly severing the Zhang-Xuan link and isolating the enemy forces at Zhang and Xuan, you have proposed to deploy the 1st Column to control the areas on both banks of the Yang River flanking Zhang and Xuan, thereby allowing the enemy at Xuanhua to possibly join up with Zhangjiakou and making future attacks on Zhangjiakou more difficult. Instead of adding a part of the 2nd Column to the 1st Column to secure the already occupied positions in the Shalingzi and Balizhuang[4] area, you have proposed to immediately move the 2nd Column to the northwest of Zhangjiakou.

(3) You must understand that as long as the four enemy divisions at Xuanhua (the 271st

[1] This is a telegram drafted by Mao Zedong for the Military Commission of the CPC Central Committee, addressed to Yang Chengwu, Commander of the 3rd Corps of the North China Military Region, and Li Tianhuan, its Deputy Political Commissar and Director of the Political Department.

[2] Yang, Luo, Geng refer to Yang Dezhi, Luo Ruiqing, and Geng Biao, who were respectively Commander, Political Commissar, and Chief of Staff of the 2nd Corps of the North China Military Region at the time. Cheng and Huang refer to Cheng Zihua and Huang Zhiyong, who were respectively Commander and Chief of Staff of the 2nd Corps of the Northeast Field Army at the time. Lin, Luo, 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.

[3] Zhang and Xuan refer to Zhangjiakou and Xuanhua in Hebei Province.

[4] Shalingzi is a town located northwest of Xuanhua County, Hebei Province. Balizhuang is a town located south of Zhangjiakou Municipality, Hebei Province.

Division of the 101st Army, the 250th and 258th Divisions of the 104th Army, and the 310th Division of the 105th Army) cannot join up at Zhangjiakou, the enemy at Zhangjiakou will not flee westward. If you allow the enemy at Xuanhua to join up at Zhangjiakou (as far as we know, Zhangjiakou has five infantry divisions and three cavalry divisions), then not only will Zhangjiakou concentrate nine enemy infantry divisions and three cavalry brigades, making them difficult to annihilate later, but there will also be the constant danger of them massing together and breaking out westward. Just by observing the enemy’s efforts in recent days to restore the Zhang-Xuan link, one can see the disadvantage to the enemy of being isolated at two points, and this isolation is extremely advantageous to us. For we can first annihilate the four divisions at Xuanhua, and then annihilate the five infantry divisions and three cavalry brigades at Zhangjiakou.

(4) Therefore, you must resolutely carry out our repeated telegraphic orders. The 1st Column must secure the positions in the Shalingzi and Balizhuang area. If necessary, add a part or the whole of the 2nd Column. Wait until Yang, Luo, and Geng arrive before making any adjustments to the disposition (which must first receive our approval). No violation or delay is permitted. Report promptly on the implementation.

Military Commission

03:30 hours, 6th