Telegram Regarding the Occupation of Guangzhou and the Encirclement and Annihilation of Bai Chongxi’s Forces
# Date: 1949-10-12
# Source: en:auto-trans
# Translated from: zh/1949/1949-10-12_guan_yu_zhan_ling_guang_zhou_he_wei_jian_bai_chong_xi_bu_de_.txt

Telegram Regarding the Occupation of Guangzhou and the Encirclement and Annihilation of Bai Chongxi’s Forces

(October 12, 1949) To Comrade Lin Biao [2], with copies to Ye, Chen, Fang, Deng, and Lai [3], as well as Liu, Deng, Zhang, and Li [4]:

(1) Your telegram of 11 October at 21:00 contains very sound views. Namely, if the enemy holds Guangzhou, or if our forces have a chance to destroy significant enemy manpower either within Guangzhou itself or beyond its limits, then the Chen and Deng [ ] Corps should continue advancing toward Guangzhou. However, Chen and Deng are requested to first commit sufficient strength directly between Guangzhou and Wuzhou, thereby cutting off that section of the Xijiang River and blocking the enemy’s westward escape route, so as to prevent the Guangzhou garrison from concentrating in Guangxi. Should it be confirmed that the enemy around Guangzhou is fleeing into Guangxi, the Chen Geng Corps should pursue without delay into Guangxi. If, on the other hand, the enemy in the Guangzhou area does not retreat toward Guangxi, then the Chen and Deng Corps shall proceed as originally planned to occupy Guangzhou.

(2) The Seventh Army and the Forty-Eighth Army—four divisions in total—annihilated north of Qiyang, constituted the elite of the Guangxi clique. Although the clique still possesses the Forty-Sixth Army (three divisions), one division of the Forty-Eighth Army, and two divisions of the Fifty-Sixth Army (stationed between Guilin and Quanzhou), none of these units are of elite caliber. Other forces outside the Guangxi clique are even weaker. Therefore, the main body of the Fourth Field Army, advancing along the line from Qiyang to Wugang toward the Guilin–Liuzhou line, already commands ample strength. Nevertheless, the manner of this advance merits careful consideration. Within a few days, Bai Chongxi’s dispositions should become clear. Should Bai concentrate all his available forces to defend the area around Lingling and Quanzhou, you may mass your troops for a southward thrust and attempt to engage and pin down that enemy concentration. Conversely, if, learning from the recent annihilation of his elite formations—an event which, incidentally, was entirely within Bai Chongxi’s expectations—he orders a large-scale withdrawal to the Guilin–Liuzhou line, it would seem inadvisable for our forces to advance en masse; rather, we should divide our forces into two parallel columns—one pushing north of Liuzhou and the other advancing from Guilin—so that the two columns can mutually support each other while retaining the flexibility to concentrate for decisive action at any time, thus preventing the bandit forces from retreating into Guizhou.

(3) The Fifth Corps of the Second Field Army is hereby instructed to hasten its advance into Guizhou, with the Eighteenth Army leading the way to Guiyang. Mao Zedong, 6:00 a.m., 12 October. Printed from the manuscript. Included in the “Selected Military Works of Mao Zedong” (internal edition).

Notes  [1] Bai Chongxi was appointed Chief of the Central China Military and Political Headquarters of the Nationalist Government in April 1949.  [ ] Lin Biao was at the time Commander of the Fourth Field Army of the People’s Liberation Army and Commander of the Central China Military Region.  [3] Ye refers to Ye Jianying, First Secretary of the South China Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and Commander and Political Commissar of the Guangdong Military Region of the PLA. Chen refers to Chen Geng, Commander and Political Commissar of the Fourth Corps of the PLA. Fang refers to Fang Fang, Third Secretary of the South China Bureau of the CPC Central Committee. Deng refers to Deng Hua, Commander of the Fifteenth Corps of the PLA. Lai refers to Lai Chuanzhu, Political Commissar of the Fifteenth Corps.  [4] Liu refers to Liu Bocheng, Commander of the Second Field Army of the PLA. Deng refers to Deng Xiaoping, Political Commissar of the Second Field Army. Zhang refers to Zhang Jichun, Deputy Political Commissar and Director of the Political Department of the Second Field Army. Li refers to Li Da, Chief of Staff of the Second Field Army.  [ ] Chen refers to Chen Geng. Deng refers to Deng Hua.