Truly Surround the Thirty-Fifth Army and Do Everything to Prevent the Enemy from Breaking Out[1]

(December 11, 1948)

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

(1) The entire force of Cheng and Huang has moved south to pursue and annihilate the 104th Army; the line from Huailai to Kangzhuang[3] is undefended.

(2) Order the Zhan-Niu-Su[4] unit to quickly advance and occupy the Huailai-Kangzhuang line, with one part pressing toward Badaling, and to establish blocking positions along the way to prevent the 94th Army from advancing westward. (3) The main force of your three columns should rapidly complete multiple layers of blocking positions against the Thirty-Fifth Army, truly surround this enemy force, and detach one part to construct eastward blocking positions at Shacheng and Tumu, to guard against any westward advance by the 94th Army. (4) At present, do everything to prevent the enemy from breaking out. Only after approximately ten days can we attack and annihilate this enemy. It is permissible for you to make preparatory arrangements for the attack, but do not carry out the attack.

Military Commission

11th, 10:00 hours

[1] This is a telegram drafted by Mao Zedong for the Military Commission of the CPC Central Committee, addressed to Yang Dezhi, commander of the Second Corps of the North China Military Region, Luo Ruiqing, political commissar, and Geng Biao, chief of staff.
[2] Cheng and Huang refer to Cheng Zihua and Huang Zhiyong, who at the time served respectively as commander and chief of staff of the Second Corps of the Northeast Field Army.
[3] Kangzhuang, a town located in the southern part of Yanqing County, Beijing.
[4] Zhan, Niu, Su refer to Zhan Danan, Niu Shucai, and Su Qisheng, who at the time served respectively as commander, political commissar, and deputy political commissar concurrently director of the political department of the Ji-Re-Cha Military District.