Chen Rao Zhang Li, Su Tan [2]: In order to completely smash Chen Cheng’s offensive into southern Shandong, please pay attention to the following points:  (1) Concentrate an absolute superiority of forces. Your decision to redeploy Wang Jian’an, Xu Shiyou, and Song Shilun [3] southward is entirely correct.


(2) Give the troops a rest. Take advantage of the eve of the enemy’s large-scale offensive to allow the entire army to recuperate; every extra day of rest is beneficial, for rest itself is victory.


(3) Lure the enemy deeper. If the enemy does not move, we do not attack; if they do not advance to positions favorable to us and unfavorable to them, we still do not engage. We must maintain the initiative at all times.


(4) Attack the weaker units first, then the stronger ones. Among the twenty-two brigades that may launch an offensive, about eight have relatively strong combat power, while approximately fourteen are weaker.
If we can first annihilate these fourteen weaker brigades, the enemy’s current offensive will be effectively broken. After that, we can calmly deal with the eight stronger brigades.


(5) Do not destroy more than four brigades in any single engagement; three would be ideal. This ensures a swift victory and leaves us with substantial reserves that can be immediately committed to a second operation.
In other words, divide all available forces into two corps, alternating between combat and rest, with the aim of conducting seven or eight major battles in quick succession over a period of one and a half to two months, thereby utterly crushing the enemy’s offensive.


The above points are offered as recommendations. As to how best to implement them, please make your decision based on the actual situation.


Printed from Mao Zedong’s manuscript by the Military Commission on Choujiang.


Notes [1] Chen Cheng (1898–1965), native of Qingtian County, Zhejiang Province. At the time, he served as Chief of the General Staff of the Nationalist Army.  [2] “Chen Rao Zhang Li” refers to Chen Yi, Rao Shushi, Zhang Yunyi, and Li Yu, who at the time held the posts of Commander, Political Commissar, Deputy Commander, and Deputy Political Commissar, respectively, of the East China Military Region. “Su Tan” denotes Su Yu and Tan Zhenlin, who were, respectively, Deputy Commander and Deputy Political Commissar of the East China Field Army.  [3] Wang Jian’an (1907–1980), a native of Huang’an County, Hubei Province (now Hong’an), was at the time Commander of the Eighth Column of the East China Field Army. Xu Shiyou (1905–1985), from Xin County, Henan Province, served as Commander of the Ninth Column of the East China Field Army. Song Shilun was Commander of the Tenth Column of the East China Field Army at that time.