The Chen-Su Unit Should Quickly Cross the River and Advance South to Open Up the Situation[1]

(August 28, 1947)

Chen and Su:

Your telegram of Youyou[2] received. Rao Li and Xu Tan[3] all advocate that the Eastern Army Corps operate on exterior lines. To have them turn back to the Jiaodong area would be very forced, and once on interior lines there is indeed the danger of being blockaded by the enemy and unable to break out. It is better to remain on exterior lines where there is greater mobility. At present, the central link is this: You should lead the 6th Column, the 10th Column, and the Artillery Column to rapidly cross the river southward and join forces with Chen Tang and Ye Tao,[4] and within September and October open up the vast situation south of the Yellow River, north of the Huai River, east of the Ping-

[1] This is a telegram drafted by Mao Zedong for the Military Commission of the CPC Central Committee to Chen Yi, Commander and Political Commissar of the East China Field Army, and Su Yu, Deputy Commander. On August 30, Mao Zedong further pointed out in a telegram to Chen Yi and Su Yu: “At present, the units of Ou Zhen, Zhang Gan, Luo Guangwen, Zhang Zhen, Wang Jingjiu, and Xia Wei are all pressing very hard on Liu Deng. There are signs that Liu Deng may be unable to gain a foothold in the Dabie Mountains. It is imperative that you strictly order Chen Tang to actively annihilate the enemy. You must cross the river immediately and devote your full strength to coordinating with Liu Deng.”

[2] This refers to the telegram sent by Chen Yi and Su Yu to the Military Commission of the CPC Central Committee and to Liu Bocheng, Deng Xiaoping, and others at 19:00 hours on August 26, 1947. The telegram stated: The enemy is mobilizing five divisions, under the command of Fan Hanjie, with the intention of attacking Jiaodong. The East China Field Army plans to concentrate four columns and two additional divisions of the Eastern Army Corps in Jiaodong to conduct mobile warfare when the enemy advances, in order to halt the enemy’s offensive against Jiaodong. The Western Army Corps plans to operate with full force in southwestern Shandong and along the Longhai Line to coordinate with operations on the Jiaoji Line.

[3] Rao Li refers to Rao Shushi and Li Yu, who were then respectively Political Commissar and Deputy Political Commissar of the East China Military Region. Xu Tan refers to Xu Shiyou and Tan Zhenlin, who were then respectively Commander and Political Commissar of the Eastern Army Corps of the East China Field Army.

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

Han,[1] and west of the Grand Canal, annihilating the enemy in large numbers (fighting only battles of which you are certain), and establish supply centers in Bohai and southern Hebei. Then the enemy that has invaded Jiaodong will inevitably find it difficult to hold out for long. Otherwise, both ends will collapse, and it will also be difficult for Liu Deng[2] to gain a foothold in the south, which would be detrimental to the overall situation. Where are you now, and on what day can you cross the river and advance south? We are extremely concerned.

Military Commission

Jianshen

[1] 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 line.

[2] Liu Deng refers to Liu Bocheng and Deng Xiaoping, who were then respectively Commander and Political Commissar of the Shanxi-Hebei-Shandong-Henan Field Army.