Telegram to Lin Biao [2] and Others on the Plan for Annihilating the Troops of Bai Chongxi [1]
(November 24, 1949)

Comrade Lin Biao, and also for Chen Geng [3]:

According to intelligence from the Fourth Field Army on the 22nd, Bai Chongxi has decided to order his troops, a total of sixteen divisions, to attack from the line of Bobai, Yulin, Beiliu, Rongxian, and Cenxi toward the line of Lianjiang, Huaxian, Maoming, and Xinyi, starting from the 23rd. This is a good opportunity to annihilate this enemy. For this purpose, please pay attention to the following:

(1) Of the four armies led by Chen Geng, apart from one army that will still, according to Chen Geng's previous plan, outflank the enemy's left rear from the line of Luoding and Rongxian, the main force should probably not enter Guangxi territory, but should deploy defenses on the line of Lianjiang, Huaxian, Maoming, and Xinyi, placing the main emphasis on the left wing, that is, the Lianjiang and Huaxian area, to await the enemy's attack and annihilate them. At the same time, use a part of the force to deal with the coordinated attack of Yu Hanmou [4].

(2) Our army in the Guilin area should swiftly advance southward in several columns to attack the enemy's flank and rear, placing the main emphasis on the left wing, that is, the line of Binzhou, Guixian, and Yulin, but it is unknown whether there is enough time.

(3) Since the main force of the Bai bandits has been confirmed to be fleeing toward the Leizhou Peninsula, our Cheng Zihua [5] Army Group should advance on a broad front in several columns, in the first step toward the line of Baise and Nanning, and in the second step toward the line of Longzhou and Nanning, in order to annihilate all fleeing enemies on the Longzhou-Haiphong national border.

(4) As to whether the above is feasible, please decide according to the situation.

Mao Zedong
16:00, November 24

Published according to the manuscript.

Notes
[1] Bai Chongxi was appointed in April 1949 as the Chief of the Central China Military and Political Affairs Administration of the Kuomintang government.
[2] Lin Biao was at that time the Commander of the Fourth Field Army of the Chinese People's Liberation Army and the Commander of the Central China Military Region.
[3] Chen Geng was at that time the Commander and concurrently Political Commissar of the Fourth Army Group of the Chinese People's Liberation Army.
[4] Yu Hanmou was appointed in August 1949 as the Chief of the South China Military and Political Affairs Administration of the Kuomintang government.
[5] Cheng Zihua was at that time the Commander of the Thirteenth Army Group of the Chinese People's Liberation Army.