Telegram to Liu Bocheng [1] et al. Regarding the Occupation of Chongqing (November 28, 1949) To Liu, Deng, Zhang, and Li [2], with notification to He and Li [3], as well as Lin, Tan, and Xiao [4]: We have received your telegram from Ganxiu. What concerns me is that, since it will not be until December 10 that our three armies on the western front can capture Luzhou, if the Eleventh and Twelfth Armies advance toward Chongqing too early, the enemy may not dare to hold the city and instead flee upstream or to Chengdu. However, if you believe that after Luo Guangwen [ ] is annihilated, Chongqing will have only a small garrison left and the enemy will inevitably try to escape soon, then it would be more advantageous to seize Chongqing quickly. In that case, your plan to take Chongqing at an earlier date would be appropriate. On the other hand, if the enemy in Chongqing shows no intention of fleeing, it might be better for the Eleventh and Twelfth Armies, after destroying Luo Guangwen’s forces, to cross the river above Chongqing and occupy the northern bank first, and then decide on a plan to attack the city based on the situation. Please make your decision according to how events unfold. Mao Zedong, 8:00 p.m., November 28th.

Printed from the manuscript. Notes [1] Liu Bocheng was at that time Commander of the Second Field Army of the Chinese People’s Liberation Army.

[ ] 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.

[3] He refers to He Long, Commander of the Northwest Military Region of the PLA, who was appointed Commander of the Southwest Military Region in October 1949 but had not yet taken up his post. Li refers to Li Jingquan, Deputy Director of the Provisional Military and Administrative Committee of Northwestern Sichuan.

[4] Lin refers to Lin Biao, Commander of the Fourth Field Army; Tan refers to Tan Zheng, Deputy Political Commissar and Director of the Political Department of the Fourth Field Army; Xiao refers to Xiao Ke, First Chief of Staff of the Fourth Field Army. [ ] Luo Guangwen was the commander of the Nationalist government’s Fifteenth Corps.