Combat Operations at Jinan Should Be Prepared

to Defeat the Enemy Under the Most Difficult Circumstances[1]

(August 26, 1948)

Su, Tan, Chen, Tang:

In the campaign to attack Jinan and strike the enemy’s reinforcements, three possible scenarios must be estimated in advance: (1) capturing Jinan while the reinforcing enemy is still far away; (2) capturing Jinan when the reinforcing enemy is already near; (3) failing to capture Jinan when the reinforcing enemy is already near. You should first strive for the first scenario; next, strive for the second; and further, you should have measures to deal with the third. In the third scenario, you must adapt your operational plan to the circumstances, shifting from making the assault on the city the main task to making the strike against the reinforcements the main task, and then attacking the city after defeating the reinforcing enemy. Taking this into account, after you divide the entire army area into the city-attacking group and the reinforcement-blocking and reinforcement-striking group, both groups should set aside the necessary reserve forces. In particular, the reinforcement-blocking and reinforcement-striking group should set aside a strong reserve force, so that in the third scenario you will have sufficient strength in hand to annihilate the reinforcing enemy. To achieve this objective, you should emphasize the construction of multiple lines of solid blocking positions, so that on the one hand you can economize on blocking forces and prevent a large amount of your own strength from being expended and exhausted in the blocking operations, and on the other hand cause the enemy to suffer heavy attrition in front of our blocking positions. The use and stockpiling of ammunition and the collection of grain and fodder must all correspond to the above requirements; that is, attention must be paid to ensuring that when the third scenario (the most difficult circumstances) arises, you will have the means to defeat the enemy not only in terms of troop strength but also in terms of ammunition and grain and fodder. Only when you have prepared all this in advance

[1] This is a telegram drafted by Mao Zedong for the Military Commission of the CPC Central Committee to be sent 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.

can victory be assured.

Military Commission

3:00 a.m., 26th

On September 16, 1948, in accordance with the instructions of the Central Committee and Mao Zedong, the East China Field Army launched the Jinan Campaign, raising the curtain on the great decisive battles. The picture shows Mao Zedong’s directive telegram on the Jinan Campaign and the PLA breaking through the city walls of Jinan.