The Liu-Deng Corps Should Organize Medium-Scale and Large-Scale Battles of Annihilation[1]

(February 7, 1948)

Liu, Deng:

Where is your command post at present? If it is still in the Dabie Mountains, it would seem advisable to move it to the area between the Huai River, Longhai Railway, Sha River, and Funiu Mountains, to direct your three columns, Chen-Tang’s[2] four columns, and Chen-Xie’s[3] one and a half columns—a total of eight and a half columns—to concentrate between the Huai River, Han River, Longhai Railway, and Jinpu Railway,[4] and to maneuver to fight medium-scale and large-scale battles of annihilation. This is because: (1) Su Yu[5] is preparing to maneuver; (2) you are preparing to dispatch two units to maneuver; (3) drawing the enemy’s main force north of the Huai River and Han River will facilitate Su’s and others’ maneuvering and will benefit the unfettered development of the Dabie Mountains, Jianghan, and other areas; (4) there is a lack of a command center on the northern front; (5) the northern front has a consolidated rear area that can serve as a base of support, which is advantageous for fighting battles of annihilation; (6) only by fighting battles of annihilation can the problems be resolved. We hope you will make an overall plan and reply. In addition, in accordance with the telegram from Chen and Xie on the 4th requesting the establishment of an area Party committee and a military sub-district, since Xiannian[6] cannot go, it would seem appropriate to send Xuefeng[7]

[1] This is a telegram drafted by Mao Zedong for the Military Commission of the CPC Central Committee to Liu Bocheng, commander of the Shanxi-Hebei-Shandong-Henan Field Army, and Deng Xiaoping, its political commissar.

[2] 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.

[3] Chen-Xie refers 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.

[4] Jinpu refers to the Jinpu Railway, the railway from Tianjin to Pukou, now a section of the Beijing-Shanghai line.

[5] Su Yu was then deputy commander of the East China Field Army.

[6] Xiannian, i.e., Li Xiannian, was then deputy commander of the Shanxi-Hebei-Shandong-Henan Field Army.

[7] Xuefeng, i.e., Li Xuefeng, was then third deputy secretary of the Central Plains Bureau of the CPC Central Committee.

to serve concurrently as secretary of the area Party committee and political commissar, with Chen Geng as commander of the military sub-district and concurrently field commander, and Xie Fuzhi as deputy political commissar of the military sub-district and concurrently field political commissar; it would be appropriate not to establish a central sub-bureau for the time being. What do you think? We also await your reply.

Furthermore, regarding your 35,000 new recruits, it would seem advisable to allocate them in two batches to replenish the various columns. The first batch should replenish 20,000 to 25,000, leaving 10,000 to 15,000 to be used several months later, during battles of annihilation, to replenish those units that have suffered relatively heavy losses, because there will be no more new recruits this year.

The Military Commission

Chou Yu