Supply for the Chen-Su Units and the Operations of the Three Columns in Shanxi-Hebei-Shandong-Henan[1]

(August 16, 1947)

To Teng, and inform Chen and Su[2]:

Your telegram of the chen hour of the shan day received. (1) Our main force of six columns and the artillery column in Shandong are all operating in the Hebei-Shandong-Henan and Henan-Anhui-Jiangsu areas. You must render full assistance to resolve the supply problem, that is, dispatch responsible personnel to Liaocheng and Shouzhang[3] to consult with Chen and Su. (2) Wang Xinting’s column[4] remains in the Taiyue area; use a portion of it to attack and capture Yuanqu, in coordination with the operations of Chen and Xie[5] in western Henan. Xiannian[6] shall lead Zhao’s column[7] to Liaocheng, place it under the command of Chen and Su, and advance southward as opportunities arise. Wang Hongkun’s column[8] shall rapidly complete its reorganization and preparations, and by the end of this month or the beginning of next month

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[1] This is a telegram drafted by Mao Zedong for the Military Commission of the CPC Central Committee to Teng Daiyuan, Second Deputy Commander of the Shanxi-Hebei-Shandong-Henan Military Region.
[2] Chen and Su refer to Chen Yi and Su Yu, who were then respectively Commander and Political Commissar, and Deputy Commander of the East China Field Army.
[3] Shouzhang, a former county name, abolished in 1964, with its jurisdiction divided between Yanggu County in Shandong and Fan County in Henan.
[4] Wang Xinting’s column refers to the Eighth Column of the Shanxi-Hebei-Shandong-Henan Military Region, with Wang Xinting as Column Commander.
[5] Chen and Xie refer to Chen Geng and Xie Fuzhi, who were then respectively Secretary and Deputy Secretary of the Front Committee of the Chen-Xie Group of the Shanxi-Hebei-Shandong-Henan Field Army.
[6] Xiannian, i.e., Li Xiannian, then Deputy Commander of the Shanxi-Hebei-Shandong-Henan Field Army.
[7] Zhao’s column refers to the Twelfth Column of the Shanxi-Hebei-Shandong-Henan Field Army, with Zhao Jimei as Column Commander.
[8] Wang Hongkun’s column refers to the Tenth Column of the Shanxi-Hebei-Shandong-Henan Field Army, with Wang Hongkun as Column Commander.

placed under the command of Chen and Su, to join the operations in southwestern Shandong.