Prevent the Enemy in Tianjin from Breaking Out to the South[1]

(December 25, 1948)

Lin, Luo, Liu:

To prevent the enemy in Tianjin from breaking out to the south when or after the enemy in Tanggu is annihilated, please position one column between Tianjin and Jinghai. Whether this is possible, please advise.

Central Military Commission

25th, 2:00 hours

[1] This telegram was drafted by Mao Zedong for the Central Military Commission of the CPC Central Committee and addressed to Lin Biao, commander of the Northeast Field Army, Luo Ronghuan, its political commissar, and Liu Yalou, its chief of staff.