Chiang Kai-shek Has Launched an Attack on Our Central Plains Forces[1]

(June 27, 1946)

To Zhou, with information for Liu, Deng, Bo; Chen, Shu; Deng, Zhang[2]:

Chiang Kai-shek’s so-called startling move within forty-eight hours refers to the plot to annihilate our Central Plains forces. In the middle of the month, Chiang issued orders for their encirclement and total extermination, using language such as “let none escape.” Since last night, attacks have been carried out, and our Central Plains forces have been compelled to rise up in self-defense.[3] Whether this self-defense struggle can avoid severe losses cannot yet be estimated. Please widely expose the Kuomintang’s conspiracy to the outside world.

The Central Committee
Ji Gan

---

[1] This telegram was drafted by Mao Zedong for the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China and addressed to Zhou Enlai.

[2] Liu, Deng, and Bo refer 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. Chen and Shu refer to Chen Yi and Shu Tong, who at the time served respectively as Commander of the New Fourth Army and concurrently Commander of the Shandong Military Region, and Director of the Political Department. Deng and Zhang refer to Deng Zihui and Zhang Dingcheng, who at the time served respectively as Political Commissar and Commander of the Central China Military Region.

[3] On June 26, 1946, the Kuomintang Chiang Kai-shek clique brazenly tore up the cease-fire agreement and launched a massive encirclement and attack on the Central Plains Liberated Area. To preserve strength and seize the initiative, the main force of the Central Plains Military Region broke through the encirclement westward in separate routes on that day.