Prepare to Block and Intercept the Enemy Fleeing South from Beiping and Tianjin[1]

(December 26, 1948)

Zhou, Chen:

Should the enemy in Beiping and Tianjin break out southward, can you use a portion of your forces to hold the positions while rapidly moving your main force eastward to the Shijiazhuang area to block and intercept the fleeing enemy, thereby facilitating the arrival of our Northeast Army to encircle and annihilate them? How many troops can you possibly spare, and how much time would be required to move from the vicinity of Taiyuan to Shijiazhuang? Awaiting your report on both points. At the same time, please proceed with preparations in secret.

The Military Commission

26th, 24:00 hours

[1] This is a telegram drafted by Mao Zedong for the Central Military Commission of the Communist Party of China, addressed to Zhou Shidi, deputy commander and concurrently deputy political commissar of the First Corps of the North China Military Region, and Chen Manyuan, chief of staff.