Yang Chengwu’s Troops Must Prepare to Repel Multiple Enemy Attacks[1]

(December 11, 1948)

Yang and Li, with notice to Yang, Luo, and Geng[2]:

Your telegram of the 10th at 22:00 hours[3] received. (1) That you repelled another enemy attack yesterday is most gratifying. (2) You must prepare to deal with and repulse numerous enemy attacks, paying special attention to this during the coming two weeks. (3) After two weeks, Yang, Luo, and Geng will attack and annihilate the 35th Army, and thereafter join forces with you to strike Zhangyuan[4].

Central Military Commission

11th at 17:00–19:00 hours

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[1] This is a telegram drafted by Mao Zedong for the Central Military Commission of the Communist Party of China, 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] 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 2nd Corps of the North China Military Region.

[3] Refers to the telegram sent by Yang Chengwu and Li Tianhuan on December 10, 1948, at 22:00 hours, reporting that the enemy’s New 32nd Division had attacked the positions of our 16th Brigade at Nantianmen and had been repulsed, addressed to the Central Military Commission of the CPC, the North China Military Region, and others.

[4] Zhangyuan refers to Zhangjiakou, Hebei Province.