The main force of the Fourth Field Army should complete preparations for departure before April 1[1]

(March 17, 1949)

Lin, Luo, Liu:

(1) The Huaye and Zhongye armies have decided to cross the Yangtze River on April 10 and launch an attack against the 60 divisions of the Kuomintang forces along the line from Hukou, Wuhu, Nanjing, Zhenjiang to Shanghai and the areas south of it.

(2) The task of the Dongye[2] to attack the Kuomintang forces in Wuhan and the three provinces of Hunan, Hubei, and Jiangxi has been confirmed. Your two armies also set out earlier on the day of chouyou. Your main force should complete preparations for departure before April 1, and the entire army should finish setting out within the half-month period from April 1 to April 15, striving to reach the line of Nanyang, Xinyang, and Gushi and the areas south of it by May 31, completing the task of force deployment. Please follow this time standard, formulate the preparations for the entire army's departure and the departure plan, and report to us. (3) Regarding the preparation and supply of fodder and provisions along the marching route, you should immediately consult and confirm with the North China Bureau and the Central Plains Bureau to avoid delays.

Military Commission

March 17

Lin, Luo, Liu: (1) The Yangye and Zhongye Western Armies have decided to cross the Yangtze River on April 10 and launch an attack against the 60 divisions of the Kuomintang forces along the line from Hukou, Yanhu, Nandong, Zhenjiang to Shanghai and the areas south of it. (2) The task of the Dongye to attack the Kuomintang forces in Wuhan and the three provinces of Hunan, Hubei, and Jiangxi has been confirmed. Your two armies also had the main force set out for battle earlier on April 1. They should complete preparations for battle before April 1. Upon reaching the line of Nanyang, Xinyang, and Weishi and the areas south of it, complete the task of force and equipment deployment. According to this time standard, formulate the preparations for the entire army's battle and the battle plan and report to us, required by March 17. (3) Regarding the preparation and supply of fodder and provisions along the marching route, you should immediately consult and confirm with the North China Bureau and the Central Plains Bureau to avoid delays. Manuscript of "The Main Force of the Fourth Field Army Should Complete Preparations for Departure Before April 1" drafted by Mao Zedong for the Military Commission of the CPC Central Committee.

--- Notes

[1] This is a telegram drafted by Mao Zedong for the Military Commission of the CPC Central Committee to Lin Biao, commander of the Fourth Field Army, Luo Ronghuan, political commissar, and Liu Yalou, chief of staff.
[2] Dongye refers to the Northeast Field Army, which was renamed the Fourth Field Army on March 11, 1949.