Formal attack on the enemy at Tianjin, Beiping, and Zhangjiakou around January next year[1]

(December 17, 1948)

Lin, Luo:

(1) The columns behind you are arriving successively, and the deployment for Jin-Tang[2] can probably be completed around the end of the month. Apart from striving to attack and annihilate the enemy in the Tanggu area and the enemy at Xinbao’an[3] by the end of this month or early next month, the formal attack on the three enemies at Jin-Ping-Zhang[4] must wait until the troops have undergone a period of rest and consolidation before it can begin, approximately in mid-January or late January next year. Exceptions will be made if there are special changes, such as the enemy forces surrendering. After Pingjin is captured, the entire army must rest and consolidate for two to three months, then advance toward the Yangtze River basin, approximately in May or June next year. (2) The two armies of Liu-Deng and Chen-Su[5] can probably annihilate Du Yuming’s[6] forces within about twenty days. They must also rest and consolidate for two months, then launch the Jiang-Huai

[1] This is a telegram drafted by Mao Zedong for the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China, addressed to Lin Biao, Commander of the Northeast Field Army, and Luo Ronghuan, its Political Commissar.

[2] Jin-Tang refers to Tianjin and Tanggu.

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

[4] Jin-Ping-Zhang refers to Tianjin, Beiping, and Zhangjiakou in Hebei.

[5] The two armies of Liu-Deng and Chen-Su refer to the Central Plains Field Army and the East China Field Army. The Central Plains Field Army was commanded by Liu Bocheng and its Political Commissar was Deng Xiaoping; the East China Field Army was commanded by Chen Yi, who also served as its Political Commissar, with Su Yu as Acting Commander and Acting Political Commissar.

[6] Du Yuming, then Deputy Commander-in-Chief of the Kuomintang Army’s Xuzhou “Bandit Suppression” General Headquarters and concurrently Director of the Forward Command.

Campaign, annihilate the various enemies between the Yangtze and Huai Rivers, and then cross the Yangtze to advance southward, also approximately in May or June next year. (3) We plan to invite Comrades Liu Bocheng, Chen Yi, Rao Shushi, and Bo Yibo[1] to come to the Central Committee at the end of this month to discuss the basic policy issues for the entire operational plan next year (the directions each army will undertake and the various preparatory tasks). The meeting will last about three days. (4) Whether Comrade Luo Ronghuan can temporarily leave his work to come to the Central Committee to participate in this discussion—the round trip and meeting will probably require a delay of about two weeks—please consider and telegraph your reply, so that a decision can be made.

Central Committee

Xuchen

[1] Rao Shushi and Bo Yibo, then respectively Political Commissar of the East China Military Region and Political Commissar of the North China Military Region.