Prepare to Seize Opportunities to Annihilate the Enemy in Areas Such as Suqian, Xin’an, and Shuyang[1]

(September 10, 1946)

Chen, and inform Su and Tan[2]:

(1) Chen’s telegram has decided to wait for the Jiang army at Suqian to cross the river and advance eastward. Our army is preparing to annihilate the enemy between Suqian, Xin’an[3], and Shuyang, or to advance into the Sui-Si[4] area to annihilate the enemy, with the objective of striking the Central faction and not the Guangxi faction. This plan is very good. After fighting and winning one or two battles, the enemy in the Tai’erzhuang area will inevitably divert forces southward to look after their rear and will not dare to penetrate deep into southern Shandong. At that time, we can transfer Ye’s Column[5] southward to join the main force and continue to develop the situation. (2) However, at present, the Guangxi faction has concentrated four regiments at Yanghe, very close to the two Huai areas. How is our defensive strength in the Siyang area? If the enemy at Yanghe advances toward Siyang, how will you deal with it?

(3) In the large area west of the line between Tai’erzhuang and Suqian occupied by the enemy, are there still activities by our local forces and militia? Do the district and township political authorities still exist? What is the people’s fighting spirit like? (4) Liu and Deng have won a great victory and have already drawn the 11th Division and the 5th Army (Division) toward the Dingtao and Caoxian areas. There is also news that the 88th Division is moving westward, presumably to take over the defense of counties such as Feng, Shan, Yu, and Cheng[6], which were recently occupied by the 11th Division. This

[1] This is a telegram drafted by Mao Zedong for the Military Commission of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China, addressed to Chen Yi, Commander and Political Commissar of the Shandong Field Army.

[2] Su and Tan refer to Su Yu and Tan Zhenlin, who were then respectively Commander and Political Commissar of the Central China Field Army.

[3] Xin’an, namely Xin’an Town, is now the county seat of Xinyi County, Jiangsu Province.

[4] Sui-Si refers to Suining and Siyang in Jiangsu Province.

[5] Ye’s Column refers to the 1st Column of the Shandong Field Army, with Column Commander Ye Fei.

[6] Feng, Shan, Yu, and Cheng refer to Feng County in Jiangsu Province and Shan County, Yutai, and Chengwu in Shandong Province.

In addition, it is estimated that Xue Yue[1] will have to dispatch at least one more division to places such as Dangshan, Xiayi, and Yongcheng to take over the defense duties of the 5th Army. Please reconnoiter whether the 26th Division will be moved from Huainan to the above-mentioned areas.

Military Commission

Shen Hui

[1] Xue Yue was then Director of the Xuzhou Pacification Headquarters of the Nationalist Army.