Concentrate the Maximum Forces to Completely Annihilate the Enemy Directly Ahead[1]

(January 7, 1947)

Chen and Su:

For the purpose of completely annihilating the 77th Division, the 59th Division, and the 51st Division, capturing Pi, Tai, Yi, and Zao,[2] and, as opportunities arise, annihilating the 20th Division and the remnants of the 52nd Division, capturing Lin and Han,[3] and drawing the enemy in northern Jiangsu north of Xuzhou, if you feel that the forces currently at hand are insufficient, please consider transferring a portion of the main force northward from Zhenlin[4] to participate in the battle, so as to concentrate the maximum forces to thoroughly resolve the problem. As for Shuyang, when it cannot be held, prepare to temporarily abandon it.

Central Military Commission

Yushen

[1] This is a telegram drafted by Mao Zedong for the Central Military Commission of the Communist Party of China, addressed to Chen Yi, Commander and concurrently Political Commissar of the Shandong Field Army, and Su Yu, Commander of the Central China Field Army.
[2] Pi refers to Pi County in Jiangsu Province. Tai, Yi, and Zao refer to Tai’erzhuang, Yi County (present-day Yicheng), and Zaozhuang in Shandong Province.
[3] Lin refers to Lincheng, present-day Xuecheng, Zaozhuang City, Shandong Province. Han refers to Hanzhuang, a town located in the southeast of present-day Weishan County, Shandong Province.
[4] Zhenlin, namely Tan Zhenlin, then Political Commissar of the Central China Field Army, was at that time leading the 6th Division, 7th Division, 2nd Column, 9th Column, and 13th Brigade of the Central China Field Army in operations in the Shuyang area of Jiangsu Province.