Countermeasures Against the Enemy’s Separate Advances Toward Weinan and Jingbei[1]

(June 22, 1949)

Comrades Peng, Zhang, and Zhao:

Your telegram of the 22nd has been received. If the Hu and Ma[2] enemy forces, as described in your telegram, advance separately toward Weinan and Jingbei, your operational plan is correct. However, please note the following: (1) It would be difficult to maintain secrecy if Xu’s Army[3] is transferred from Jingbei to Weinan. It seems more appropriate to order Yang’s Army[4] to move to Xi’an for concentration, while leaving Xu’s Army in place to pin down the Ma bandits, or to withdraw to Sanyuan to lure the Ma forces deeper. Moreover, one army is insufficient to pin down the Ma bandits; at least two armies are required. (2) The possibility must be considered that the Hu and Ma bandits may withdraw without fighting. If this occurs, the dispositions must be prepared for timely adjustment. The above points are for your consideration and handling as appropriate.

The Military Commission

22nd Day, Shen Hour

[1] This telegram was drafted by Mao Zedong for the Military Commission of the CPC Central Committee and addressed to Peng Dehuai, commander and political commissar of the First Field Army, and Zhang Zongxun and Zhao Shoushan, deputy commanders of the First Field Army.

[2] Hu refers to Hu Zongnan, then director of the Xi’an Pacification Office of the Kuomintang army. Ma refers to Ma Jiyuan and Ma Dunjing, then respectively commander of the Longdong Corps and commander of the 82nd Army of the Kuomintang army, and commander of the Ningxia Corps.

[3] Xu’s Army refers to the Second Army of the First Field Army, with Xu Guangda as its commander.

[4] Yang’s Army refers to the Nineteenth Army of the First Field Army, with Yang Dezhi as its commander.