Agree to Transfer the Main Force of the Wei-Ji Corps to Participate in the Jinan Campaign[1]

(August 24, 1948)

Su, Tan, Chen, Tang:

Your telegram of the 23rd at noon[2] noted. (1) Agree to transfer the main force of the Subei Corps to participate in the campaign to attack Jinan and strike at reinforcements, leaving the 33rd Brigade and 34th Brigade in Subei at your discretion. The time for this corps to move north must not be too early, lest the enemy become alert and concentrate before we do. (2) We hope to be informed of your estimate regarding the degree of the enemy’s tenacity in defending Jinan and the speed of its capture.

Central Military Commission

24th day, 1–3 a.m.

[1] This is a telegram drafted by Mao Zedong for the Central Military Commission of the Communist Party of China, addressed to Su Yu, Acting Commander and Acting Political Commissar of the East China Field Army; Tan Zhenlin, Deputy Political Commissar; Chen Shiju, Chief of Staff; and Tang Liang, Director of the Political Department.

[2] Refers to the telegram sent at noon on August 23, 1948, by Su Yu, Tan Zhenlin, Chen Shiju, and Tang Liang to the Central Military Commission of the Communist Party of China, concerning the transfer of the main force of the Subei Corps to participate in the campaign to attack Jinan. The telegram stated: Jinan has over 70,000 enemy troops, and recently additional units have been airlifted to Jinan; therefore, to attack Jinan, forces must be strengthened to achieve success. It is suggested that the entire Subei Corps (except the 34th Brigade) be transferred to participate in this major campaign. If it is felt that an appropriate force must be left in Subei, then the 33rd Brigade may be left in Subei instead.