On the Dispositions for Advancing into the Northwest and Northern Sichuan

(June 27, 1949)

Comrade Dehuai: [1]

Your telegram of the 26th [2] received. (1) If the two enemy forces from Qinghai and Ningxia [3] make only a minor withdrawal to the area of Qianxian, Yongshou, Binxian, Changning, Nanfang, and Tongrun, [4] rather than a major withdrawal toward Binxian, Changwu, Jingchuan, and Pingliang, [5] then the plan to strike the two Ma forces [6] first and Hu and Wang [7] afterward is correct. However, striking the two Ma forces will be comparatively more arduous than striking Hu and Wang, and thorough preparations must be made to ensure victory in the first engagement, for the outcome will influence the overall situation. Hence, we must concentrate three corps on the two Ma forces in the first battle. Wang Zhen’s corps, which was originally scheduled to break through from the area southwest of Binxian, should be moved northward to join the other two corps and be committed to the main engagement. (2) If the two Ma forces make a major withdrawal toward Binxian, Changwu, Jingchuan, and Pingliang, and hold that line, then the plan to concentrate the main force on Hu and Wang and to strike at them should be adopted. In such a case, the two corps may concentrate on attacking Hu and Wang, while one corps detains the two Ma forces. (3) Unless Hu and Wang’s main force is annihilated, you cannot advance into Sichuan. If you plan to annihilate Hu and Wang’s main force in the Binxian and Changwu area, you must use three corps to fight Hu and Wang, and only one corps to detain the two Ma forces. Otherwise, you may suffer defeat. (4) We are of the opinion that the first plan is the more favorable one, because the area of Qianxian and other places is relatively more advantageous for us, while the area of Binxian and Changwu is relatively less so. However, the two Ma forces may make a major withdrawal, and we must be prepared to switch to the second plan in the course of the campaign. (5) Please decide for yourself whether to launch the campaign on July 8 or on a later date. (6) In addition, we have instructed the Nineteenth Corps to advance westward only after the main force of the First Field Army has moved westward. (7) After the present campaign is over, the First Field Army will rest for a short period, then advance into Sichuan or take another course of action according to the circumstances. Please plan for this.

[1] Dehuai, i.e., Peng Dehuai, then commander and political commissar of the First Field Army.

[2] Refers to Peng Dehuai’s telegram to Mao Zedong dated June 26, 1949. The telegram stated that the Nineteenth Corps could complete its assembly near Sanyuan by July 4 and planned to launch an offensive against the enemy on July 8. It proposed using the Eighteenth Corps to pin down Wang Zhiqi’s forces, while the Nineteenth Corps and the First and Second Corps first encircled and annihilated the main forces of Ma Jiyuan and Ma Dunjing. Then, one corps would pursue toward Pingliang as circumstances permitted, and three corps would attack Hu Zongnan and Wang Zhiqi’s bandit forces. If the Ma bandits continued to withdraw westward to defend the Pingliang-Changwu line, it was proposed to position the Nineteenth Corps in Qianxian, Liquan, and Yongshou to monitor the Ma bandits, while concentrating the First, Second, and Eighteenth Corps to encircle and annihilate Hu Zongnan’s bandit forces and Wang Zhiqi’s troops, capture Baoji and Longnan, and prepare for the liberation of Hanzhong. If Hu Zongnan’s main force was annihilated, they would then pursue the victory to Hanzhong and Guangyuan.

[3] Refers to Ma Jiyuan of Qinghai and Ma Dunjing of Ningxia, then respectively commander of the Kuomintang Longdong Corps and commander of the 82nd Army, and commander of the Ningxia Corps.

[4] Qianxian, Yongshou, and Binxian refer to Qianxian, Yongshou, and Binxian in Shaanxi Province. Changning is a town in central Yongshou County, Shaanxi. Nanfang is a town in northwestern Liquan County, Shaanxi. Tongrun is a town in northern Chunhua County, Shaanxi.

[5] Changwu, Jingchuan, and Pingliang refer to Changwu in Shaanxi and Jingchuan and Pingliang in Gansu.

[6] The two Ma forces refer to Ma Jiyuan and Ma Dunjing.

[7] Hu refers to Hu Zongnan, then director of the Kuomintang Xi’an Pacification Office. Wang refers to Wang Zhiqi, then commander of the 119th Army under the Kuomintang Northwest Military Administration Office.