Yang Chengwu’s Forces Should Surround the Enemy at Zhangjiakou with Full Strength[1]

(December 8, 1948)

Yang and Li:

(1) Since the 35th Army has already fled eastward, the enemy at Zhangjiakou may attempt to escape toward Suiyuan.[2]

(2) Your sole mission is to surround the enemy at Zhangyuan[3] with full strength using three columns (eight brigades), and you must ensure that this enemy does not escape. (3) If your encirclement is ineffective and your dispositions are inadequate, allowing the enemy to escape, you shall bear grave responsibility. (4) Report the disposition situation immediately.

Military Commission

8th, 09:00 hours

[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, deputy political commissar and concurrently director of the Political Department.
[2] Suiyuan, a former province encompassing the central part of today’s Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, abolished in 1954.
[3] Zhangyuan, i.e., Zhangjiakou in Hebei Province.