Chapter 14 Issues that must be paid attention to in cross-sea operations[1]

(December 18, 1949) Comrade Lin Biao[2] (central transfer): At 14 o'clock on the 10th, telegram [3] was informed. (1) Congratulations on your great victory in annihilating Bai Chongxi [4]. (2) I agree with your deployment, that is, Chen Geng [5] will enter Yunnan after a short rest, and all armies will rest for 20 days when they enter Guangxi. [6]. (3) Combat across the sea is completely different from all previous combat experience of our army, that is, we must pay attention to the tide and wind direction, must concentrate all the troops capable of carrying at least one army (40,000 to 50,000 people) at a time, and carry food for more than three days. Land ahead of the enemy, establish a solid beachhead, then attack alone without relying on backup.Because the tide needs to be 12 hours after the first time to carry the ship to return to the second time, and the enemy can use the navy and air force to cut off our transportation, so we should not choose the time to carry one army across the sea and land, and be able to attack alone and establish a base. Obtaining food means that there is a danger of losing support and suffering heavy losses.After occupying Xiamen, the Sanye Yefei[7] corps, without knowing the above situation, attacked the 30,000 enemy on Kinmen Island with three and a half regiments of 9,000 men. They were besieged by the enemy with no aid or food, and the entire army was wiped out.You must study this lesson.The enemy of Hainan Island may be weaker than the enemy of Kinmen, but the enemy should not be underestimated.Please inform Deng, Lai[8], the 40th Army and the 43rd Army to pay attention, and I hope you will investigate all the experience of crossing the sea with Su Yu[9], so as not to repeat the same mistakes in Jinmen.

(4) The Hunan Provincial Government can be reorganized after the establishment of the Central South Military and Political Committee.But Cheng Qian[10], in addition to serving as the vice chairman of Zhongnan, the Hunan Military and Political Committee should still exist. Even if there is no specific work, leaving a signboard is also useful.When I was in Beijing at this point, I had already talked to him face to face, please pay attention. (5) Comrade Deng Zihui[11] has been entrusted to convey to you about the relationship and proportion of urban and rural areas, public and private, industrial and commercial, labor and capital, etc. If you have any opinions, please let me know.As for the army's participation in production, please make overall arrangements after returning to Hankou.

(6) The focus of work in the six central and southern provinces has shifted from the military to economics and land reform. I hope you will establish the Central South Military and Political Committee in January next year to concentrate on leading the economic work of the entire region and actively prepare for the conditions for land reform. Mao Zedong far away on december 18 Printed from manuscript. -------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------ note [1] From this article to "Refuting Acheson's Shameless Rumors" on January 20, 1950, Mao Zedong wrote them during his visit to the Soviet Union.

[2] Lin Biao, at that time served as the first secretary of the Central South Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, the commander of the Fourth Field Army of the Chinese People's Liberation Army, and the commander of the Central China Military Region. [3] Refers to Lin Biao's telegram to Mao Zedong on December 10, 1949 concerning the situation of the Guangxi campaign and the actions of the troops. [4] Refers to the Guangxi campaign launched by the main force of the Fourth Field Army and a part of the Second Field Army in early November 1949.This battle annihilated more than 173,000 people from the Bai Chongxi Group who fled to Guangxi (only 20,000 fled to Vietnam), and liberated the entire territory of Guangxi.Bai Chongxi, was appointed in April 1949 as the chief of the Central China Military and Political Office of the Kuomintang government.

[5] Refers to the Fourth Corps of the Chinese People's Liberation Army where Chen Geng was the commander and political commissar. [6] Qiongya, namely Hainan Island. [7] Ye Fei, then commander of the Tenth Corps of the Chinese People's Liberation Army. [8] Deng, referring to Deng Hua (1910-1980), a native of Chenxian County, Hunan Province (now part of Chenzhou City), who was then the commander of the 15th Corps of the Chinese People's Liberation Army.Lai, referring to Lai Chuanzhu (1910-1965), a native of Ganxian County, Jiangxi Province, was a political commissar of the 15th Corps of the Chinese People's Liberation Army at that time.

[9] Su Yu, then Deputy Commander of the Third Field Army of the Chinese People's Liberation Army and Deputy Commander of the East China Military Region. [10] Cheng Qian (1882-1968), a native of Liling, Hunan.The former veteran and senior general of the Kuomintang led an uprising in Changsha in August 1949 with Chen Mingren.At that time, he was a member of the Central People's Government Committee and director of the Hunan Military and Political Commission. [11] Deng Zihui, at that time served as the third secretary of the Central South Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, the second political commissar of the Fourth Field Army of the Chinese People's Liberation Army, and the second political commissar of the Central China Military Region.