Preparations to Increase Troop Strength for Encirclement of Zhangjiakou[1]

(December 16, 1948)

Lin, Luo, Liu; Cheng, Huang; Yang, Luo, Geng; Yang, Li[2]:

(1) According to a telegram from Yang and Li at 12:30 on the 15th (this telegram has been forwarded to Lin, Luo, and Liu), it is assessed that the enemy forces at Zhangjiakou number over 50,000. When Yang, Luo, and Geng commence their attack to annihilate the 35th Army, or once the 35th Army has been annihilated, there is an extremely high probability that this enemy force will break out and flee. It is deemed necessary to add a portion of troop strength before attacking the 35th Army. (2) Under no circumstances should we permit the enemy force of over 50,000 at Zhangjiakou to escape. A portion of troop strength should be added before Yang, Luo, and Geng attack and annihilate the 35th Army. After the 35th Army is annihilated and the Yang-Luo-Geng Army moves to Zhangjiakou, this added troop strength can then be redeployed. (3) The current question is how much troop strength should be added. At present, the Northeast 4th Column is in the Nankou–Badaling[3] area, and the 11th Column has reached the Wanping[4] area. If adding one division or two divisions is sufficient to guarantee that the enemy at Zhangjiakou does not flee, then they can be transferred from the 4th Column. However, judging from the telegram of Yang and Li, it seems that merely adding

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one or two divisions may still not guarantee that the enemy will not flee, and that adding an entire column is necessary for full assurance. If the entire 4th Column is to be sent to Zhangjiakou, then the 11th Column must be moved back to Nankou and Badaling to secure the Nankou–Badaling positions. (4) Please answer the following questions: (a) Approximately how many days will Yang, Luo, and Geng need to attack the 35th Army? (b) Nankou and Badaling are said to be extremely strategic and difficult to access. Is it true that if one division holds them firmly, there is no danger of them being breached by the enemy? (c) If Yang, Luo, and Geng can annihilate the 35th Army within two or three days, and one division can hold the Nankou area, then we may consider sending the main force of three divisions of the 4th Column to Zhangjiakou. Otherwise, the 11th Column must return to Nankou and Badaling to take over the tasks of the 4th Column, after which the entire 4th Column will be sent to Zhangjiakou, or the 11th Column will be sent to Zhangjiakou. Request Cheng and Huang, and Yang, Luo, and Geng each to telegraph what they know about the situation at Nankou and Badaling. (5) Request Lin, Luo, and Liu to consider the overall situation.

Military Commission

0800 hours, 16th

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[1] This is a telegram drafted by Mao Zedong for the Military Commission of the CPC Central Committee, addressed to Lin Biao, Commander of the Northeast Field Army; Luo Ronghuan, Political Commissar; and Liu Yalou, Chief of Staff; and others.


[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 2nd Army Group of the Northeast Field Army. 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 Army Group of the North China Military Region. 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 3rd Army Group of the North China Military Region.


[3] Nankou, a town located in the western part of Changping County, Beijing. Badaling, a pass on the Great Wall located in the southern part of Yanqing County, Beijing.


[4] Wanping, an old county name, merged into Beijing in 1952.