Telegraph from the Central Military Commission Regarding the Subordination of He Long and Li Jingquan’s Troops[1] to the Command of Liu Bocheng and Deng Xiaoping[3] (November 27, 1949)

Liu and Deng, He and Li:  (1) In order to ensure coordinated action in annihilating all enemy forces in Sichuan and Kangding, the Central Military Commission has decided that He and Li’s forces (the 18th Corps and others) shall come under the command of Liu, Deng, Zhang, and Li[3]. We will not exercise direct command over He and Li, so as to avoid any divergence.  (2) Any telegrams sent by He and Li to Liu and Deng are to be copied to us as well.  (3) Please carry out the above instructions without fail.  The Central Military Commission November 27 Based on Mao Zedong’s handwritten draft.

Notes [ ]  He Long was at the time Commander of the Northwest Military Region of the People’s Liberation Army; in October 1949 he was appointed Commander of the Southwest Military Region of the PLA, though he had not yet assumed this post.  Li Jingquan was at the time Deputy Director of the Provisional Military and Political Committee for Northwestern Sichuan.  [ ]  Liu Bocheng was at the time Commander of the Second Field Army of the People’s Liberation Army.  Deng Xiaoping was at the time Political Commissar of the Second Field Army.  [ ]  “Liu” refers to Liu Bocheng.  “Deng” refers to Deng Xiaoping.  “Zhang” refers to Zhang Jichun, who was at the time Deputy Political Commissar and Director of the Political Department of the Second Field Army.  “Li” refers to Li Da, who was at the time Chief of Staff of the Second Field Army.