Agree to the Participation of the Yang-Luo-Geng Corps in Combat and the Military Dispositions[1]

(December 30, 1948)

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

Your telegram of the 30th hour of the 28th[3] noted. (1) Agree to all three of your columns participating in full in the Beiping-Tianjin campaign. (2) Agree to your dispositions regarding Datong, northern Chahar, and Zhangjiakou.

Military Commission

2:00, 30th

[1] This is a telegram drafted by Mao Zedong for the Military Commission of the CPC Central Committee, addressed to Yang Dezhi, commander of the Second Corps of the North China Military Region, Political Commissar Luo Ruiqing, and Chief of Staff Geng Biao.

[2] Lin, Luo, Liu refer to Lin Biao, Luo Ronghuan, and Liu Yalou, who at the time were respectively commander, political commissar, and chief of staff of the Northeast Field Army.

[3] At 22:30 on December 28, 1948, Yang Dezhi, Luo Ruiqing, and Geng Biao sent a telegram to the Military Commission and to Lin Biao, Luo Ronghuan, and Liu Yalou. The text of the telegram is as follows: "The Military Commission's telegram of the 20th hour of the 28th is noted. At present, the enemy at Datong numbers only over 12,000, and the situation for the enemy at Guisui is growing increasingly tense, making the possibility of their eastward incursion unlikely. Based on the above circumstances, with the two units of Yao Zhe (over 8,000 men) and Wang Ping (over 3,000 men), totaling over 10,000 men, undertaking the task of intercepting the enemy at Datong; with the two Mongolian cavalry divisions, the 11th and 16th, plus three Chahar cavalry regiments, operating in the eastern Suiyuan and northern Chahar areas to mop up scattered enemy forces; and with the three independent regiments of Zhan's unit rushing to Zhangjiakou, the area can be ensured without worry. Our corps can move east in full to participate in the Beiping-Tianjin campaign. Is this appropriate? Please instruct promptly. And regarding our assembly position, please instruct promptly by Lin, Luo, Liu."