The Decision by Liu and Deng to Advance South Is Completely Correct[1]

(August 10, 1947)

Liu, Deng, Chen, Su:

(1) Liu and Deng’s telegram of the 7th[2] and Chen and Su’s telegram of the 8th[3] have both been noted. (2) Under the circumstances in which the enemy’s main force is pressing eastward toward Yuncheng and westward toward Juancheng, it is no longer suitable for us to conduct operations in the Yuncheng-Juye[4] area, and it is also too late to withdraw northward. Only by advancing south can we facilitate mobile operations. The decision by Liu and Deng to advance south is completely correct. (3) The enemy has judged this time that we would withdraw northward and has completely failed to anticipate our southward advance. Moreover, the two columns under Song Shilun and Wang Bingzhang[5] are confusing and delaying the enemy. Apart from the Gui

[1] This telegram was drafted by Mao Zedong for the Military Commission of the CPC Central Committee and addressed to Liu Bocheng, Commander of the Shanxi-Hebei-Shandong-Henan Field Army, and Deng Xiaoping, its Political Commissar; and to Chen Yi, Commander and Political Commissar of the East China Field Army, and Su Yu, its Deputy Commander.

[2] This refers to the telegram sent by Liu Bocheng and Deng Xiaoping to the Military Commission of the CPC Central Committee and others on August 7, 1947. The telegram stated that the main forces under Qiu Qingquan and Ou Zhen had crossed west of the Grand Canal the previous day, and that Luo Guangwen’s corps had occupied Zhengjiaying northeast of Linpu Market on the same day, with Yuncheng as their objective, which they were expected to reach the following day. It further stated that they had already ordered the two columns under Song Shilun and Wang Bingzhang to maintain minor contact with the enemy to confuse them. Their two main forces had already shifted southward, and the two columns under Song and Wang would also move at the appropriate time to the enemy’s flank and rear or to the outer lines. They would then proceed southward following this posture. Chen Shiju and Tang Liang would first operate on both sides of the Longhai Railway, then move south of the Longhai Railway in the second step, and finally shift to the inner lines of southwestern Shandong in the third step.

[3] This refers to the telegram sent by Chen Yi and Su Yu to the Military Commission of the CPC Central Committee on August 8, 1947. The telegram stated that the main force of the enemy’s 5th Army had advanced to the area northeast of Caijialin and was engaged in combat with the 10th Column of the East China Field Army. It suggested that the forces under Liu Bocheng and Deng Xiaoping assist the aforementioned units in fighting one battle before departing.

[4] Yun-Ju refers to Yuncheng and Juye in Shandong Province.

[5] The two columns under Song Shilun and Wang Bingzhang refer to the 10th Column of the East China Field Army and the 11th Column of the Shanxi-Hebei-Shandong-Henan Field Army, whose column commanders were Song Shilun and Wang Bingzhang, respectively.

The Decision by Liu and Deng to Advance South Is Completely Correct

xi forces reaching Shangqiu, and the two brigades under Pan Wenhua[1] being located outside the Ping-Han Railway[2], the area is completely empty and extremely favorable for mobile operations. (4) After Chen Shiju, Tang Liang, Ye Fei, and Tao Yong[3] arrive in the Henan-Anhui-Jiangsu area, they should, in accordance with Liu and Deng’s telegram of the 7th, operate in that area for a period to cover Liu and Deng’s southward advance, and thereafter operate in the areas north and south of the Longhai Railway. After Chen Yi and Su Yu lead the 6th Column and the army headquarters to the northern bank of the Yellow River, if Qiu Qingquan, Ou Zhen, and Luo Guangwen[4] have already advanced south, they should seize the opportunity to cross the river and link up with Song Shilun and Wang Bingzhang to operate in southwestern Shandong.

Military Commission

Weihui

[1] Pan Wenhua was then serving as the Commander of the Reorganized 56th Division of the Kuomintang Army.

[2] Ping-Han refers to the Ping-Han Railway, the railway line from Beiping (present-day Beijing) to Hankou, now a section of the Beijing-Guangzhou Railway.

[3] Chen and Tang refer to Chen Shiju and Tang Liang, who were then serving respectively as Chief of Staff and Director of the Political Department of the East China Field Army. Ye and Tao refer to Ye Fei and Tao Yong, who were then serving respectively as Commander of the 1st Column and Commander of the 4th Column of the East China Field Army.

[4] Qiu refers to Qiu Qingquan, then serving as Commander of the Reorganized 5th Division (formerly the 5th Army) of the Kuomintang Army. Ou refers to Ou Zhen, then serving as Commander of the 3rd Corps of the Xuzhou Command of the Kuomintang Army General Headquarters. Luo Guangwen was then serving as Commander of the Reorganized 10th Division of the Kuomintang Army.