(1) Chiang Kai-shek stated: “The units under Zhu and Ye have still not complied with orders to move. We should bring them to heel by combining the forces of the Party, the government, and the military; however, we must prevent these forces from fleeing into the Dabie Mountains or western Henan, which could jeopardize the overall situation. Therefore, we should avoid difficult engagements and seek easier ones, bypass their strongpoints and strike at their weaknesses, and destroy them when the opportunity arises.”  (2) He Yingqin said: “The New Fourth Army in southern Jiangsu has defied orders and refused to move north. I have already instructed General Gu to dispatch troops to completely annihilate it. The operation resulted in over ten thousand deaths and more than one thousand prisoners. The army’s commander, Ye Ting, was wounded, while the deputy commander, Xiang Ying, was killed in action. To guard against retaliatory actions by other rebel forces in Shaanxi and Shanxi, strict vigilance must be maintained.”  (3) Chiang had already ordered all war zones to launch a counteroffensive. Li Zongren had appointed Tang Enbo as commander-in-chief of the Northern Huai River Area, Li Pinxian as commander-in-chief of the Southern Huai River Area, Wang Zhonglian as commander-in-chief of the Central Hubei Area, and Feng Zhizhen as commander-in-chief of the Western Xiangyang Area. The offensive was to begin immediately and be completed by November 1st.