The Operation to Annihilate the 104th Army Must Be Conducted with Utmost Speed[1]

(December 10, 1948)

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

(1) According to two telegrams from Yang, Luo, and Geng at 14:30 and 21:30 on the 9th: The enemy 35th Army at Xinbao’an[4] launched several fierce eastward breakouts on the 9th, all of which were repulsed by our forces; the enemy 104th Army from Huailai attacked fiercely westward but only occupied one village south of our Shacheng[5]. (2) Request Cheng and Huang, as proposed by Yang, Luo, and Geng, to swiftly commit one army to coordinate with Yang, Luo, and Geng in annihilating the 104th Army (two divisions), while another army cuts off the connections between Huailai and Kangzhuang[6] and between Kangzhuang and Nankou[7], and seizes opportunities to annihilate part of the enemy. (3) The 3rd and 4th Columns of Yang, Luo, and Geng repulsed the enemy attacking from both east and west yesterday (the 9th), securing their positions; a commendation should be issued. The main force of the 8th Column may move to the east of Xinbao’an to join the 3rd and 4th Columns in annihilating the enemy, while leaving a portion on the western side is sufficient. (4) Apart from the 16th Army having reached Huailai and Kangzhuang, and the 94th Army having reached Nan-

[1] This is a telegram drafted by Mao Zedong for the Central Military Commission of the Communist Party of China, addressed to Cheng Zihua, commander of the Second Corps of the Northeast Field Army, and Chief of Staff Huang Zhiyong, among others.

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

[3] Yang and Li refer to Yang Chengwu and Li Tianhuan, who at the time served respectively as commander and deputy political commissar concurrently director of the political department of the Third Corps of the North China Military Region. Lin, Luo, and Liu refer to Lin Biao, Luo Ronghuan, and Liu Yalou, who at the time served respectively as commander, political commissar, and chief of staff of the Northeast Field Army.

[4] Xinbao’an, a town located northwest of Huailai County, Hebei Province.

[5] Shacheng, a town, now the county seat of Huailai County, Hebei Province.

[6] Kangzhuang, a town located in the southern part of Yanqing County, Beijing.

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

kou, which you are already aware of, the 92nd Army has already reached the eastern outskirts of Beiping. Therefore, your operation to annihilate the 104th Army must be conducted with utmost speed. Once this army is annihilated, Cheng and Huang can then use their full strength to block the enemy from the east.

Central Military Commission
03:00, 10th