Chen Su [1], with copy to Liu Deng [2] and Tan [3]: We have received your telegraph of the Hai hour [4].
(1) It is most gratifying to have completely annihilated the 26th Division. All troops are hereby commended.
(2) The next step is to destroy two divisions and four brigades of Feng’s forces. A portion may be disposed of through pursuit, but to eliminate them entirely and recapture the fortress line running through Yishui, Taierzhuang, and Pizhou will likely require more than a week.
(3) Upon completion of the above mission, the entire force in southern Shandong should rest and reorganize for two or three weeks near the Yishui–Taierzhuang–Pizhou line, replenishing ranks with new recruits, restoring strength, and preparing for further operations.
(4) At that time, Xue Yue [7] will undoubtedly withdraw approximately ten brigades from central and northern Jiangsu and transfer several additional brigades from other regions (such as the 64th and 14th Divisions [8]). It is estimated that around fifteen brigades in total could be deployed along the Longhai Railway to attempt to reestablish control over the Taierzhuang–Yishui line, a process that would take roughly three weeks.
(5) After destroying Feng’s forces, capturing Taierzhuang and Yishui, and allowing our troops to recuperate, your task is to annihilate any newly arrived enemy units along or north and south of the Longhai Railway. Engaging on this front will permit the deployment of large formations and the execution of even larger encirclement battles.


At that time, you should concentrate roughly forty regiments, fully prepared to destroy five or six enemy brigades in a single operation.
(6) Therefore, once Yishui, Taierzhuang, and Pizhou have been secured, do not act rashly—do not attack Haizhou, nor target the 74th or 11th Divisions. Instead, allow your troops to rest and consolidate their gains, drawing the 74th and 11th Divisions (and possibly the 4th and 44th Divisions as well) northward into a favorable area within your operational zone, where they can be decisively defeated.
(7) Only by luring the enemy northward and then conducting three or four major annihilation battles comparable to those at Sudong and in southern Shandong [9] can the lost territories in central and northern Jiangsu be recovered. Do not prematurely attempt to retake these areas before the enemy’s main forces have been destroyed. The capture of the Yishui–Taierzhuang line serves solely to create a suitable battlefield.
(8) Following the destruction of Feng’s forces and the occupation of Yishui and Taierzhuang, with the aim of establishing a favorable battlefield, consideration may be given to annihilating the 51st Division, seizing Zaozhuang, and advancing across the Grand Canal to secure control of the Longhai Railway.


The Ninth Column should all proceed to the Huai North region—specifically the counties of Suining, Suyu, Lingbi, and Si County—to resume organizational work.
Pi’s Brigade [11] should move to the Yancheng–Funing area and continue its activities there.
The Second Division [13], the Second Column, and the Seventh Division (a total of twenty regiments) should likewise rest and replenish their ranks, preparing to participate in the next major campaign.
The temporary loss and recapture of Shuyang are of little consequence.


In summary, everything must be directed toward waging large-scale annihilation battles. Please arrange your operations accordingly.
(9) There is only one scenario under which we would abandon the aforementioned plan and adopt a policy of moving south to reclaim lost territory: namely, if Chiang [14] and Xue do not redeploy forces from central and northern Jiangsu northward to the Longhai Railway, nor bring reinforcements from elsewhere to that line. However, such an assessment appears premature at present, and since the Longhai Railway lies exposed before us, deploying troops to defend it remains imperative.


Issued by the Military Commission on the Hai hour, based on Mao Zedong’s handwritten draft.
Notes: [1] Chen Su refers to Chen Yi and Su Yu, who at the time served respectively as Commander and Political Commissar of the Shandong Field Army and as Commander of the Central China Field Army.
[2] Liu Deng refers to Liu Bocheng and Deng Xiaoping, who at the time were Commander and Political Commissar of the Jin-Hebei-Luyu Field Army.
[3] Tan refers to Tan Zhenlin, who at the time was Political Commissar of the Central China Field Army.
[4] Refers to a telegraph sent by Chen Yi and Su Yu to the CPC Central Military Commission and to Liu Bocheng and Deng Xiaoping at the Hai hour on January 4, 1947. The telegram stated: “The 26th Division and its rapid advance unit can be completely annihilated today, with no significant remnants escaping. We have issued orders to press forward, aiming to destroy Feng Zhijun, restore Taierzhuang and Yishui County, and advance toward Jiawang and the eastern section of the Longhai Railway, striving to decisively resolve the enemy situation in southern Shandong and thereby threaten the strategic position of Xuzhou. After dealing with Feng Zhijun, we intend to turn against the reorganized 74th and 11th Divisions, seize Haizhou, and move southward to recover lost territory.”
[5] Feng’s forces refer to the reorganized 59th Division and the reorganized 77th Division, under the command of Feng Zhijun, Deputy Director of the Xuzhou Pacification Office of the Nationalist Army and Commander of the Third Pacification Zone.
[6] Yishui and Taierzhuang refer to Yishui County (now Yicheng District) and Taierzhuang in Shandong Province, both now part of Zaozhuang City. Pizhou refers to Pizhou County in Jiangsu Province.
[7] Xue Yue was at the time Director of the Xuzhou Pacification Office of the Nationalist Army.
[8] Should read the reorganized 10th Division of the Nationalist Army.
[9] Refers to the Sudong Campaign in mid-December 1946 (also known as the Subei Campaign) and the Southern Shandong Campaign in early January 1947. These two engagements together eliminated over 21,000 and 53,000 enemy troops, respectively.
[10] Suining, Suyu, Lingbi, and Si County refer to Suining and Suyu in Jiangsu Province, and Lingbi and Si County in Anhui Province.
[11] Pi refers to Pi Dingjun, who at the time was Brigade Commander of the 13th Brigade of the Central China Field Army.
[12] Yancheng–Funing refers to Yancheng and Funing in Jiangsu Province.
[13] Likely should read the Sixth Division.
[14] Chiang refers to Chiang Kai-shek.