Annihilate the Main Force of the 88th Division and Open Up the Southeastern Battlefield[1]

(January 4, 1947)

Liu, Deng, and inform Chen, Su[2]:

The Zi Dong telegram[3] received. The disposition is very good, and we hope you will resolutely carry it out. Wang Zhonglian and Wang Jingjiu[4] are both advancing northward, which is advantageous for you to annihilate the 88th Division. If you can concentrate your forces and use outflanking tactics to annihilate the main force of the 88th Division, first, you can deal a heavy blow to Xue Yue[5] and assist Chen and Su; second, you can open up

[1] This is a telegram drafted by Mao Zedong for the Military Commission of the CPC Central Committee to Liu Bocheng, Commander, and Deng Xiaoping, Political Commissar of the Shanxi-Hebei-Shandong-Henan Field Army.

[2] Chen refers to Chen Yi, then Commander and Political Commissar of the Shandong Field Army. Su refers to Su Yu, then Commander of the Central China Field Army.

[3] Refers to the telegram of January 2, 1947, from Liu Bocheng and Deng Xiaoping to the Military Commission of the CPC Central Committee and Chen Yi, Su Yu, Zhang Yunyi, Li Yu, and others. The telegram stated: On the 1st, we captured the three cities of Liaocheng, Juye, and Jiaxiang. Another part of our forces annihilated the greater part of the 63rd Regiment of the 21st Brigade of the enemy’s Reorganized 88th Division on the outskirts of Jinxiang. The main force of the 62nd Brigade of the enemy’s Reorganized 88th Division is rushing to reinforce Jinxiang. Gu Zhutong has ordered Zhang Lanfeng to lead 3 regiments to Dingtao, and Cao Fulin to lead 2 regiments to Heze, under the command of Liu Ruzhen, possibly advancing eastward. We are preparing to assemble 30,000 men to annihilate the 62nd Brigade and seek battle with this enemy. Wang Zhonglian’s 85th Division and 32nd Division have already occupied Daming. Today or tomorrow, the 5th Army will occupy Guancheng and Nanle. Our Taihang troops began extending operations to the Ping-Han Railway last night. If fought well, they may be able to shift Wang Zhonglian and Wang Jingjiu. The overall objective is to shift Wang Jingjiu, assemble 5 columns, and seek an opportunity to annihilate this enemy.

[4] Wang Zhonglian was then Commander-in-Chief of the 31st Army Group of the Kuomintang Army. Wang Jingjiu was then Commander of the Reorganized 27th Army of the Kuomintang Army.

[5] Xue Yue was then Director of the Xuzhou Pacification Headquarters of the Kuomintang Army.

Annihilate the Main Force of the 88th Division and Open Up the Southeastern Battlefield

the southeastern battlefield for yourselves. After the 88th Division is annihilated, if Liu Ruzhen[1] advances eastward, then annihilate Liu Ruzhen. If Liu does not advance, you should follow up the victory by capturing the cities of Jinxiang, Yutai, Chengwu, and Shanxian, so as to facilitate subsequent operations. Because in the coming months you will all be operating in this area, you should make plans for opening up the southeastern battlefield and conducting long-term operations there, especially after the Yellow River returns to its old course (naturally, the area north of the Yellow River will still be a mobile region). At present, neither Gu[2] nor Xue knows exactly where your main force is. After you annihilate the 62nd Brigade and occupy Jinxiang, Yutai, Chengwu, and Shanxian counties, the situation will be exposed. At that time, Liu Ruzhen will not advance eastward alone, and Wang Jingjiu will inevitably turn south and then east.

Military Commission

Zi Zhi

[1] Liu Ruzhen was then Commander of the Reorganized 68th Division of the Kuomintang Army.

[2] Gu refers to Gu Zhutong, then Commander-in-Chief of the Army General Headquarters of the Kuomintang Army.