The Xu-Tan Corps Threatens Xuzhou to Coordinate with Su Yu’s Forces in Combat[1]

(June 27, 1948)

Xu and Tan, and Su, Chen, Tang, and Zhang[2]; the East China Bureau; the Central Plains Bureau:

Based on the Wei-Shen telegram from Su, Chen, Tang, and Zhang[3], the 83rd Division is still accompanying Qiu’s Corps[4] in attacking Bian[5] and has not moved toward Teng County. Qiu’s and Ou’s[6] two corps still have a total of eleven brigades at full strength. The 47th Army has reached Zhongmou, and the 68th Division is advancing toward Kaifeng. Considering these circumstances and the actions of the Xu-Tan Corps, we believe that since Yanzhou can no longer be attacked, the future course of action is not to strike at Hancang[7] but to alter the disposition in which the three columns are deployed separately in three locations, and instead concentrate

[1] This is a telegram drafted by Mao Zedong for the Military Commission of the CPC Central Committee to Xu Shiyou, commander of the Shandong Corps of the East China Field Army, and Tan Zhenlin, its political commissar.

[2] Su, Chen, Tang, and Zhang refer to Su Yu, Chen Shiju, Tang Liang, and Zhang Zhen, who at the time were serving respectively as acting commander and acting political commissar, chief of staff, director of the Political Department, and deputy chief of staff of the East China Field Army.

[3] This refers to the telegram sent at the Wei hour (1–3 p.m.) on June 26, 1948, by Su Yu, Chen Shiju, Tang Liang, and Zhang Zhen to the Military Commission of the CPC Central Committee. The telegram stated: “As of the 25th, Qiu Qingquan’s 5th Army, 70th Division, and 83rd Division are still being blocked by us west of Lanfeng. We have decided to abandon Kaifeng on the night of the 25th, intending to wait for Qiu Qingquan’s Corps to enter Kaifeng, then use part of our forces to sever its connection with Ou Shounian’s Corps, while using our main force to annihilate Ou’s Corps in the Qi County area. If Ou’s Corps continues to delay its advance, we will leap northward and seek to annihilate part or most of Ou’s Corps in the Minquan, Lanfeng, Qi County, and Sui County area.”

[4] Qiu’s Corps refers to the Reorganized 5th Army of the Kuomintang army, commanded by Qiu Qingquan.

[5] Bian refers to Kaifeng, Henan.

[6] Qiu refers to Qiu Qingquan. Ou refers to Ou Shounian, who was then deputy commander of the 6th Pacification Zone of the Kuomintang army and commanded a corps composed of the Reorganized 75th Division, the 72nd Division, and the newly formed 21st Brigade.

[7] Hancang is a village located in Licheng District, Jinan, Shandong.

the three columns. The arrangement is to cede places such as Tai’an, Dawenkou, and Zou County to the enemy, allowing the enemy to reopen the Xuzhou-Jinan railway[1]. Xu and Tan will lead the three columns, as proposed in Su and Zhang’s earlier telegram, to attack Lincheng, Hanzhuang, Zaozhuang, Yixian[2], Tai’erzhuang, and the areas to their south, thereby threatening Xuzhou. This will be more advantageous for coordinating with Su Yu’s forces in combat. What is your opinion on this proposal? We await your considered telegraphic reply.

The Military Commission
Gan-Shen

[1] The Xuzhou-Jinan railway refers to the railway from Xuzhou to Jinan, now a section of the Beijing-Shanghai line.

[2] Lincheng refers to present-day Xuecheng, Zaozhuang, Shandong. Hanzhuang is a town located in the southeast of Weishan County, Shandong. Zaozhuang refers to present-day Zaozhuang City, Shandong. Yixian is an old county name, now Yicheng, Zaozhuang City, Shandong.