Su-Chen Unit Should Prevent Qiu Corps from Moving North to Relieve Jinan[1]

(July 16, 1948)

Su, Chen, Tang, Zhang, and inform Xu, Tan[2]:

(1) Xu and Tan have been ordered, after annihilating the 84th Division, to immediately seize the Jinan airfield with their main force and rapidly complete preparations for attacking Jinan. It is estimated that the 84th Division may be finished off within a day or two, and the Jinan airfield may be seized within a few days. If the enemy in Jinan is not strong and our army can complete preparations for storming the city within a short period (for example, about ten days), then there is a possibility of swiftly capturing Jinan.

(2) When we attack Jinan, it is judged that the Qiu Corps[3] may take the route via Yuncheng and Juye[4] to advance eastward and move north to provide relief, while the Huang Corps[5] will try to return to Xuzhou. (3) Under such circumstances, after you occupy the Shangqiu-Xuzhou section[6] on the 16th and 17th, you should observe the situation. If the Qiu Corps advances eastward via Yuncheng and Juye to move north for relief, you should return to the area south of Yuncheng and Juye, placing yourselves between the Qiu and Huang Corps, isolating the two corps so that the Qiu Corps will not dare to rashly advance to relieve Jinan, thereby ensuring the success of the attack on Jinan. If the Qiu Corps lingers around Dingtao and Cao County[7], then you should control

[1] This is a telegram drafted by Mao Zedong for the Military Commission of the CPC Central Committee, addressed to Su Yu, acting commander and acting political commissar of the East China Field Army; Chen Shiju, chief of staff; Tang Liang, director of the political department; and Zhang Zhen, deputy chief of staff.

[2] Xu and Tan refer to Xu Shiyou and Tan Zhenlin, then respectively commander and political commissar of the Shandong Corps of the East China Field Army.

[3] Qiu Corps refers to the Reorganized 5th Army of the Kuomintang army, with army commander Qiu Qingquan.

[4] Yuncheng and Juye refer to Yuncheng and Juye in Shandong.

[5] Huang Corps refers to the 7th Corps of the Kuomintang army, with corps commander Huang Baitao.

[6] The Shangqiu-Xuzhou section refers to the railway from Shangqiu to Xuzhou, i.e., a section of the Longhai Line.

[7] Dingtao and Cao County refer to Dingtao and Cao County in Shandong.

the area between Shangqiu and Xuzhou without moving, and wait to see the situation clearly before moving again; if the Qiu Corps turns back to the Longhai Line to move east and relieve Xuzhou, then you may rest south of the railway, or you may also return north of the railway to rest. It is hoped that you will handle this as you see fit.

Military Commission
16th, 23:00–01:00 hours