Telegram to Lin Biao [1] Concerning the Operational Direction of the Fourth Corps (October 17, 1949)

Comrade Lin Biao, with copy to Ye Jianying and Chen Geng [2]: The enemy in Guangzhou is likely to flee either due west into Guangxi or southwest toward Hainan Island. It would seem advisable for our Fourth Corps to press its advantage in pursuit, advancing all the way to capture the counties of Gaoyao, Deqing, Fengchuan, Gaoming, Xinxing, Yunfu, Yunnan, and Luoding; if necessary, it should also occupy Wuzhou. Thereafter, the corps should halt to reorganize and stand by for your unified deployment for operations into Guangxi. For the occupation of these counties would, first, enable the annihilation of a portion or even the bulk of the retreating enemy, thereby facilitating the Fifteenth Corps’ assault on Hainan Island, the elimination of the remaining enemy forces, and the pacification of the entire province of Guangdong; and second, it would effectively complete the disposition of our forces for the forthcoming campaign into Guangxi. Whether this course of action is feasible should be decided at your discretion in light of the prevailing circumstances. Mao Zedong October 17

Based on the manuscript. Notes [ ] Lin Biao was then Commander of the Fourth Field Army of the Chinese People’s Liberation Army and Commander of the Central China Military Region. [ ] “Jianying” refers to Ye Jianying, who at that time served as Commander and Political Commissar of the Guangdong Military Region of the Chinese People’s Liberation Army. Chen Geng was then Commander and Political Commissar of the Fourth Corps of the Chinese People’s Liberation Army.