Simultaneous Military and Political Offensives[1]

(December 21, 1948)

Lin, Luo, Liu:

The timing of the attack on Tanggu shall be determined by whether our forces can shell Tanggu Harbor from Dagukou[2] or the vicinity of Tanggu and completely blockade Tanggu. If a complete blockade cannot be achieved, and the enemy there still risks escaping by sea (according to foreign news agency reports, the Kuomintang has a number of warships near Tanggu), then our forces should spare no fatigue and strive to annihilate the enemy in Tanggu in the shortest possible time. If Tanggu Harbor can be completely blockaded by artillery fire, leaving the enemy no way to flee, then the attack can be deployed at leisure without haste, and Tanggu can be taken roughly by the end of this month or early next month. According to intelligence obtained over the past few days, the enemy has eight divisions in Tanggu and only five divisions in Tianjin. Hou Jingru[3] is also in Tanggu. Hou Jingru was very pessimistic after withdrawing from Huludao, and his own 92nd Army has been transferred to Beiping. Therefore, you may try the method of sending a letter urging him to surrender; this may at least cause him to waver to some degree. If you can completely blockade Tanggu with artillery fire, making him feel cornered and with no way out, this method may prove even more effective. In addition, you may also draft an open letter urging surrender and send it to the Central Committee for review, to be broadcast orally and distributed as leaflets on the front lines. Henceforth, whenever a city is attacked, the method of openly urging surrender may be adopted, that is, military offensives and political

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

[2] Dagukou is located in the eastern part of Tianjin.

[3] Hou Jingru was then Commander of the 17th Corps of the Kuomintang Army and concurrently Commander of the Jin-Tang Garrison.

offensives shall be carried out simultaneously.

Central Military Commission

2400 hours, December 21