Agree to Transfer the Two Yang Army Corps to Participate in the Beiping-Tianjin Joint Battle[1]

(December 28, 1948)

Lin, and inform Yang, Luo, Geng, Yang, Li[2]:

Since the enemy in Beiping, Tianjin, and Tanggu[3] all have the possibility of breaking out and fleeing, we agree to Lin’s proposal that the entire Yang-Li force and the main force of the Yang-Luo-Geng force be transferred to Beiping and Tianjin to participate in the joint battle. Request Lin to immediately stipulate their movements by order.

The Military Commission

28th, 20:00 hours

[1] This is a telegram drafted by Mao Zedong for the Military Commission of the CPC Central Committee to Lin Biao, commander of the Northeast Field Army.

[2] Yang, Luo, Geng refers to Yang Dezhi, Luo Ruiqing, and Geng Biao, who were respectively commander, political commissar, and chief of staff of the Second Army Corps of the North China Military Region at the time. Yang, Li refers to Yang Chengwu and Li Tianhuan, who were respectively commander and deputy political commissar concurrently director of the political department of the Third Army Corps of the North China Military Region at the time.

[3] Ping, Jin, Tang refers to Beiping, Tianjin, and Tanggu.