Supplementary Directive on Operations on the Southern Front[1]

(June 24, 1946)

Chen, Shu, and inform Liu, Deng, Bo[2]:

In order to concentrate operations on key points: (1) The occupation of the Longhai Railway between Kai-Xu[3] and the occupation of all cities in eastern Henan and northern Huai shall be entirely the responsibility of Liu, Deng, and Bo. (2) Chen and Shu shall devote full effort to occupying the railway line between Xu-Beng[4] and to maneuvering the enemy forces out of Xu to annihilate them. (3) Use local corps in central Jiangsu to draw in and pin down the enemy on the Tong-Yang[5] line; Su and Tan[6] shall lead the main force to occupy the railway line between Beng-Pu[7], annihilate the enemy in the Third and Fourth Sub-districts[8], and coordinate with operations on the northern front. (4) Mobilize the masses, give consideration to both public and private interests, and thoroughly destroy the Longhai Railway and the Jinpu Railway[9]. (5) It is imperative to instigate miscellaneous troops and puppet troops to stage uprisings. (6) The above constitutes the first phase; crossing the Huai River southward constitutes the second phase. (7) The main force of Zheng and Li[10] shall draw in the enemy in western Henan and Hubei, while a portion shall draw in the enemy in place. (8) The preparation period shall be half a month, to be extended as appropriate when necessary. (9) Do not obstruct the enemy from reinforcing Qing-Ji[11] and other places with additional troops; the more troops they send northward, the better. (10) We await your assessment of the advantages and disadvantages.

Military Commission

Ji Jing

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[1] This is a telegram drafted by Mao Zedong for the Military Commission of the CPC Central Committee, addressed to Chen Yi, Commander of the New Fourth Army and concurrently Commander of the Shandong Military Region, and Shu Tong, Director of the Political Department.

[2] Liu, Deng, Bo refers to Liu Bocheng, Deng Xiaoping, and Bo Yibo, who at the time served respectively as Commander, Political Commissar, and First Deputy Political Commissar of the Shanxi-Hebei-Shandong-Henan Military Region.

[3] Kai-Xu refers to Kaifeng in Henan and Xuzhou in Jiangsu.

[4] Xu-Beng refers to Xuzhou in Jiangsu and Bengbu in Anhui.

[5] Tong-Yang refers to Nantong and Yangzhou in Jiangsu.

[6] Su, Tan refers to Su Yu and Tan Zhenlin, who at the time served respectively as Commander and Political Commissar of the Central China Field Army.

[7] Beng-Pu refers to Bengbu in Anhui and Pukou in Jiangsu.

[8] Refers to the Third and Fourth Military Sub-districts of the Huainan Military Region under the Central China Military Region.

[9] Jinpu Railway refers to the railway from Tianjin to Pukou, i.e., a section of the present-day Beijing-Shanghai line.

[10] Zheng, Li refers to Zheng Weisan and Li Xiannian, who at the time served respectively as Political Commissar and Commander of the Central Plains Military Region.

[11] Qing-Ji refers to Qingdao and Jinan in Shandong.