Telegram to Liu Bocheng, Chen Yi, and Deng Xiaoping

(February 9, 1949)

The army of Lin Biao and Luo Ronghuan has decided to rest and reorganize in the Beiping-Tianjin area until the end of March. During this period, it is necessary to reorganize and assimilate the 200,000 troops of Fu Zuoyi’s army, repair the Tianjin–Jinan section of the Tianjin-Pukou Railway and the Yancheng–Zhumadian section of the Beiping-Hankou Railway, and capture Taiyuan. In early April, when you commence the river-crossing operation, Lin and Luo will first transport by rail two to three armies totalling about 120,000 to 180,000 men directly to Xinyang, seize the Xinyang–Xiaogan line, and threaten Hankou, so that the enemy in the Wuhan area will not dare to move recklessly. The main force of Lin and Luo will also march south on foot at that time.

[1] This is the main content of a telegram drafted by Mao Zedong for the Central Military Commission of the Communist Party of China addressed to Liu Bocheng, Chen Yi, Deng Xiaoping, Su Yu, and Tan Zhenlin, and copied to Lin Biao and Luo Ronghuan.