Agree to Liu, Chen, and Deng’s Plan to Attack and Destroy a Part of Hu Lian’s Forces[1]

(July 20, 1948)

Liu, Chen, and Deng:

Your telegram of the 19th at shen hour[2] received. It is good that you strive to attack and destroy a part of Hu Lian’s[3] forces. However, the units under Su, Chen, Tang, and Zhang[4] are extremely fatigued and have not been resupplied with ammunition; it is unknown whether the 1st and 3rd Columns can be transferred westward to participate in the battle. If there are difficulties, then you must prepare to fight independently.

Central Military Commission

20th, wu hour

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[1] This telegram was drafted by Mao Zedong for the Central Military Commission of the CPC Central Committee and addressed to Liu Bocheng, Commander of the Central Plains Field Army; Chen Yi, First Deputy Commander; and Deng Xiaoping, Political Commissar.

[2] Refers to the telegram sent by Liu Bocheng, Chen Yi, and Deng Xiaoping on July 19, 1948, at shen hour (3:00–5:00 p.m.) to the Central Military Commission of the CPC Central Committee, with copies to Su Yu, Chen Shiju, and Tang Liang. The telegram stated: A. On July 18, Bai Chongxi ordered Hu Lian to command the 18th Army, the 10th Division, and the 85th Division to advance on Wuyang, Ye County, and Lushan. Hu Lian’s movements may be intended to cover Hu Zongnan’s eastward advance. Given our army’s current disposition, it would be advantageous to concentrate all our forces, plus the 1st and 3rd Columns of the East China Field Army, to first destroy one or two divisions of Hu Lian’s corps. Operations against Hu Zongnan are very difficult; we plan to deal with Hu Zongnan after engaging Hu Lian, depending on the situation. B. Request the Central Military Commission to inform us in a timely manner of the situation regarding Hu bandit’s eastward reinforcement. Request Su, Chen, and Zhang to order the 1st and 3rd Columns in the Sui-Qi area to first move to the Tongxu area for rest and reorganization and to prepare for timely westward movement to participate in this campaign.

[3] Hu Lian: then Commander of the Reorganized 18th Army of the Kuomintang forces.

[4] Su, Chen, Tang, and Zhang: refers to Su Yu, Chen Shiju, Tang Liang, and Zhang Zhen, who at the time respectively served 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.