Firmly Control the Region around
Nankou and Badaling
(December 13, 1948, 2:00 A.M.)
To Yang [Dezhi], Luo [Ruiqing], and Geng [Biao]; and for the information of
Cheng [Zihua] and Huang [Zhiyong]; and Lin [Biao], Luo [Ronghuan], and Liu
[Yalou]:1
	 1.	 The enemy forces in Nankou2 are fleeing toward Beiping. We have ordered
the main forces under Cheng and Huang to head for the areas southeast of
Beiping and Tong county and to cut off the connections between Beiping
and Tianjin and between Tong county and Tianjin. They will only leave one
division to control Nankou and Badaling.3 You should immediately send
personnel to Nankou to contact that division. Tell them to firmly control
the Nankou-Badaling region and to construct firm blocking positions in
the direction of Beiping. If they encounter an intrusion by the enemy, they
should firmly block it. You should establish radio contact with that unit and
also send them the code book.
	 2.	 Zhan Da’nan’s4 unit should be stationed between Badaling and Huailai and
likewise it should construct multi-level blocking positions. Zhan’s unit will
be under your command.
The Military Commission
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Notes

--- Notes

Our source for this text is Mao Zedong junshi wenji, Vol. 5, pp. 387–88, where it is
reproduced from Mao’s handwritten manuscript preserved in the Central Archives.

1.  Mao Zedong drafted this telegram on behalf of the Central Military Commission.
Yang Dezhi was commander of the Second Corps of the North China Military Region. Luo
Ruiqing was political commissar of the Second Corps of the North China Military Region,
and Geng Biao was chief-of-staff of the Second Corps of the North China Military Region.
Cheng Zihua and Huang Zhiyong were commander and chief-of-staff, respectively, of the
Second Corps of the Northeast Field Army. Lin Biao, Luo Ronghuan, and Liu Yalou were
commander, political commissar, and chief-of-staff, respectively, of the Northeast Field
Army.

2.  Nankou is a town in western Changping county, Beijing.

3.  Badaling is a section of the Great Wall in southern Yanqing county, Beijing.

4.  Zhan Da’nan was commander of the Jin-Re-Cha (Hebei-Rehe-Chahar) Military
Region.
DOI:  10.4324/9781315719436-206