Strive to Capture Jining and Wenshang Within Three or Four Days

(July 14, 1948)

To Xu and Tan, with information to the East China Bureau, and to Su, Chen, Tang, and Zhang:

1. Since two-thirds of Yanzhou has already been captured, it is hoped that the 9th Column will be immediately deployed to the Jining-Wenshang sector. Strive to capture Jining and Wenshang within three or four days. At the same time, dispatch units to hold key points along the canal to prevent Qiu and Huang’s relief forces from crossing eastward. Qiu and Huang have already reached Dingtao today and may advance rapidly eastward. Pay close attention to this.

2. After the three points of Yanzhou, Jining, and Wenshang are captured, the entire army should immediately rest and regroup. For the time being, set the rest period at fifteen days, and extend it if circumstances permit. Immediately incorporate large numbers of captured soldiers into the units; do not wait for replenishments of peasants who have turned over [in the land reform].

3. The Central Committee has ordered the North China Bureau to transfer the Taixi Sub-district to East China. It is hoped that the East China Bureau will promptly take it over and pay attention to guiding the work in that area, so as to facilitate the subsequent capture of Jinan.

Military Commission
Hanzi

[1] This is a telegram drafted by Mao Zedong for the Military Commission of the CPC Central Committee, addressed 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 respectively the 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] Qiu and Huang refer to Qiu Qingquan and Huang Baitao, who at the time were respectively the commander of the Reorganized 5th Army and the commander of the 7th Corps of the Kuomintang army.