Liu, Deng, and Li [1], with copies to Su, Chen Xie, Xu, Teng, and Bo [2], the East China Bureau, and Deng Zihui [3], as well as the Central Work Committee: We have received your noon telegram [4] and the separate reports from Xiaoping and Liu–Deng providing a general overview.


(1) The Chen–Su [5] and Chen–Xie forces will undergo rest and reorganization this month, commencing new operations in the coming month. Over the next three months—Chou, Yin, and Mao [6]—including several brief pauses between engagements, you should be able to conduct three to four major campaigns, annihilating substantial enemy forces, thereby providing significant support to your comrades.


(2) Within these three months, it would be advantageous for you to adopt a strategy of dispersed persistence, maximizing rest periods while engaging in minor skirmishes. Once 30,000 fresh recruits arrive to reinforce your units, then undertaking medium-scale operations will prove more effective. After three months, coordinated north–south actions may enable the transition to large-scale annihilation battles.


(3) During this three-month period, the operational principle for the Chen–Su and Chen–Xie forces is to lure the enemy into medium-sized annihilation battles. Their maneuvering zones encompass the Zhengzhou–Luoyang–Tongguan sector, the Nanyang–Xiangfan area, the Xinyang–Guangshui region, and the Huaiyang–Kaifeng direction. The overarching aim is to destroy as many enemy troops as possible, primarily in support of your own efforts, secondarily in coordination with Peng and Zhang [7] and with Xu, Teng, and Bo, and finally in conjunction with the forces in Central and Northern Jiangsu.


(4) Xu, Teng, and Bo are requested, in addition to training new recruits and preparing them for dispatch to the front lines, to ensure an adequate supply of artillery shells, hand grenades, and explosives to all units on the southern front.


The Peng–Zhang forces will begin their southward advance north of the Jian River before the Chou Qi [9] date. Following consultations with the Central Committee from Qing (Wu) Peng He Chen [8], Chen will depart at the end of the month to return eastward, conveying the Central Committee’s directives via the Central Work Committee, Wutai, Bohai, and Handan, and is expected to reach his unit around the beginning of the Yin month.


(6) After completing their rest and reorganization, Xu and Tan [10] will lead the Seventh and Ninth Columns to deploy along the Jiaozhou–Jinan Railway toward Northern Jiangsu. Henceforth, Northern and Central Jiangsu may develop into a crucial theater of operations, posing a serious threat to the Beijing–Shanghai corridor. The Central Committee has decided to reinstate the Central China Sub-Bureau [11], with Chen Yi as Secretary and Deng Zihui as Deputy Secretary. This sub-bureau will come under the leadership of the East China Bureau and exercise jurisdiction over the present-day regions of Henan, Anhui, and Jiangsu, as well as Northern and Central Jiangsu and the Huainan area east of Lake Chao. Both the Seventh and Ninth Columns, together with all other Central China forces, will be placed under the command of Chen and Su.


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


Notes: [1] Liu–Deng refers to Liu Bocheng and Deng Xiaoping, who at the time served respectively as Commander and Political Commissar of the Jin–Hebei–Lu–Yu Field Army. Li denotes Li Xiannian (1909–1992), a native of Huang’an, Hubei (now Hong’an), who held the post of Deputy Commander of the same field army. [2] Su stands for Su Yu, then Deputy Commander of the East China Field Army. Chen–Xie refers to Chen Geng and Xie Fuzhi, who served as Secretary and Deputy Secretary, respectively, of the Chen–Xie Group within the Jin–Hebei–Lu–Yu Field Army. Xu, Teng, and Bo represent Xu Xiangqian, Teng Daiyuan, and Bo Yibo, who held the positions of First Deputy Commander, Second Deputy Commander, and First Deputy Political Commissar, respectively, of the Jin–Hebei–Lu–Yu Military Region. [3] Deng Zihui (1896–1972), from Longyan, Fujian, was at the time Deputy Secretary of the East China Bureau of the CPC Central Committee. [4] Refers to the telegraph sent by Liu Bocheng and Deng Xiaoping to the CPC Central Military Commission at noon on January 25, 1948. In the telegram, they stated that they had originally planned to exploit Su Yu and Chen–Xie’s anticipated early February offensive and the enemy’s slight redeployment to strike at the enemy’s weak points and break the stalemate; accordingly, their forces had already assembled and were undergoing rest and reorganization. However, upon detecting our concentration, the enemy deployed five full-strength divisions to engage us, thus temporarily relieving none of our pressure. Under the weight of several powerful enemy divisions and unable to launch an attack, we are compelled once again to disperse our forces. [5] Chen refers to Chen Yi, then Commander and Political Commissar of the East China Field Army. Su denotes Su Yu. [6] Chou, Yin, and Mao correspond to February, March, and April, respectively. [7] Peng–Zhang designates Peng Dehuai and Zhang Zongsun, who at the time served as Commander and Political Commissar, and Deputy Commander, respectively, of the Northwest Field Army. [8] Peng signifies Peng Dehuai. He refers to He Long, who was then Commander of the Shaanxi–Gansu–Ningxia–Shanxi Joint Defense Force and Commander of the Shanxi–Suiyuan Military Region. Chen stands for Chen Yi. [9] Chou Qi corresponds to February 8. [10] Xu represents Xu Shiyou (1906–1985), from Xin County, Henan, who at the time held the post of Commander of the Eastern Corps of the East China Field Army. Tan denotes Tan Zhenlin (1902–1983), from You County, Hunan, who served as Political Commissar of the same corps. [11] Due to changing circumstances, the CPC Central Committee’s decision to restore the Central China Sub-Bureau was never implemented.