To Chen Yi, Su Yu, Tan Zhenlin, and Others[1]

(July 9, 1947)

The capture of Tai’an is most gratifying. The Jiang army on the front has recently fallen into a state of paralysis, finding itself in a dilemma, and this state of paralysis may persist for several more days. In addition to awaiting opportunities on the front and ordering Ye and Tao[2] to advance on Lin and Zao,[3] you are requested to order Chen and Tang[4] to move south with their main force, to seize opportunities within the next few days to capture Dawenkou, Sishui, and Qufu, annihilate the remnants of the 72nd Division and a portion of the 20th Division, and then to advance westward with full strength to capture the counties west of the railway and east of the lakes,[5] using Liaocheng as the rear line of communication. For the next few days, there is no need to worry about reinforcements from the 85th Division.

[1] This is the main content of a telegram drafted by Mao Zedong for the Military Commission of the CPC Central Committee, addressed to Chen Yi, Su Yu, and Tan Zhenlin, with copies to Liu Bocheng and Deng Xiaoping.

[2] Ye and Tao refer to Ye Fei and Tao Yong, who at the time served respectively as Commander and concurrently Political Commissar of the 1st Column and Commander of the 4th Column of the East China Field Army.

[3] Lin and Zao refer to Linyi and Zaozhuang.

[4] Chen and Tang refer to Chen Shiju and Tang Liang.

[5] West of the railway and east of the lakes refers to the area west of the Tianjin-Pukou Railway and east of Dongping Lake, Nanyang Lake, and Zhaoyang Lake.