Central Military Commission Directive on the Summer Operational Objectives of the East China Field Army

(May 21, 1948)

Chen and Su, and for the information of the East China Bureau, Xu and Tan, Liu and Deng [1]:

Your telegrams of Qiaoshen and Jisi have been received.

(1) Our 1st, 4th, and 6th Columns may cross southward from the Linpu-Juancheng area around the 25th, first annihilating several enemy units in southwestern Shandong and along the Longhai Railway, thereby creating the conditions for concentrating the full strength of six columns—the 1st, 3rd, 4th, 6th, 8th, and 11th—to annihilate the 5th Army, with the annihilation of the 5th Army as the central objective of the summer operations.

(2) The maximum number of troops you can concentrate is the six columns—the 1st, 3rd, 4th, 6th, 8th, and 11th—totaling 160,000 men. This number is sufficient to undertake the separate annihilation of the 5th Army and other enemy forces in that area, makes the supply problem relatively easy to resolve, and will not affect the troop dispositions of the Shandong Corps or the Liu-Deng Corps. If there is an absolute necessity to draw upon one column from Liu-Deng or a certain column from Xu-Tan to concentrate forces and annihilate the 5th Army, report to us for approval before execution.

(3) Liu and Deng are to assume the task of pinning down the 18th Army so that it cannot move eastward to provide reinforcement.

[1] Chen, Su, Xu, Tan, Liu, Deng refer to Chen Yi, Su Yu, Xu Shiyou, Tan Zhenlin, Liu Bocheng, Deng Xiaoping. At that time, Chen Yi served as Second Secretary of the Central Plains Bureau, First Deputy Commander of the Central Plains Military Region and the Central Plains Field Army, and concurrently Commander of the East China Military Region, and Commander and Political Commissar of the East China Field Army. Liu Bocheng served as Commander of the Central Plains Military Region and the Central Plains Field Army. Deng Xiaoping served as First Secretary of the Central Plains Bureau, and Political Commissar of the Central Plains Military Region and the Central Plains Field Army.

(4) With the exception of the 9th Column, which is to rest and regroup and serve as a reserve force, the main force of Xu and Tan should immediately move out to seize Tai’an and the areas to its north and south, ensuring the pinning down of the enemy forces in Jinan and along the Jinan-Xuzhou line so that they cannot move westward to provide reinforcement.

(5) Chen Yi is not to participate in this operation. He is to proceed as quickly as possible, together with Deng Zihui and a large group of cadres, to western Henan to meet with Liu and Deng and establish the regular work of the Central Plains Military Region and the Central Plains Bureau.

(6) Su Yu is to exercise full command over the operations of the 1st, 3rd, 4th, 6th, 8th, and 11th Columns, and to direct the coordinated operations of Xu and Tan along the Tianjin-Pukou Railway.

Central Military Commission

Chenma