It Seems Advantageous for Liu-Deng’s Columns to Lie in Wait for Opportunities to Annihilate the Enemy[1]

(August 28, 1948)

Su, Tan, Chen, Tang:

Regarding the coordination of Liu-Deng’s columns with your operations in September, they have proposed several plans: First, dispatch a portion of the forces to Xiangfan to annihilate the defending enemy and draw Zhang Zhen[3] to its relief, while our main force intercepts and annihilates a part of his troops. However, if Yang Gancai[4] relies on the 7th Division, 48th Division, and 28th Division to relieve Xiangfan, Zhang Zhen might be drawn out. Our main force would then engage the Guangxi clique, allowing Zhang Zhen’s group to freely respond to both the north and south, which would be disadvantageous to us. Second, feign an attack on Nanyang[5] to attract Zhang Zhen’s reinforcements and annihilate a part of his forces in motion, or strike Sun Yuanliang’s[6] troops when Sun moves toward Yuxian and Xiangcheng[7] (if that occurs) while Zhang Zhen reinforces Nanyang. Third, when Sun Yuanliang’s troops move east to reinforce Jinan and Xuzhou[8] under pressure, dispatch a portion of our forces to Wusheng Pass[9] to draw Zhang Zhen’s attention southward, while our main force attacks and annihilates the enemy at Zhengzhou. Fourth, when Jinan and Xuzhou are under pressure and Zhang Zhen moves north

[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; Tan Zhenlin, deputy political commissar; Chen Shiju, chief of staff; and Tang Liang, director of the Political Department.

[2] Liu-Deng refers to Liu Bocheng and Deng Xiaoping, who were then commander and political commissar of the Central Plains Field Army, respectively.

[3] Zhang Zhen was then deputy commander-in-chief of the Kuomintang’s Central China “Bandit Suppression” General Headquarters and concurrently commander of the 5th Pacification Zone.

[4] Yang Gancai was then deputy commander of the Kuomintang’s 14th Corps and concurrently commander of the Reorganized 20th Division.

[5] Wan is the ancient name for Nanyang, Henan.

[6] Sun Yuanliang was then commander of the Kuomintang’s 16th Corps.

[7] Yuxiang refers to Yuxian and Xiangcheng in Henan.

[8] Ji-Xu refers to Jinan in Shandong and Xuzhou in Jiangsu.

[9] Wusheng Pass is a strategic pass located in the southern part of Xinyang County, Henan, serving as a vital communication hub between Henan and Hubei.

to reinforce, and it becomes necessary to contain him, we should adopt offensive measures and cut off and annihilate a part of his forces along the central section of the Beiping-Hankou Railway.[1] In summary, our Liu-Deng and Chen-Xie[2] forces should undertake the task of containing Zhang Zhen, Yang Gancai, and Sun Yuanliang’s three forces and seek to annihilate a part of them, with Zhang Zhen’s group naturally being the primary target. The above opinions are only preliminary studies, provided for the Military Commission’s reference when deciding on new operations. We believe that, considering the actual conditions of Liu-Deng’s columns and their tasks of dealing with Zhang Zhen and Sun Yuanliang’s forces, it seems more advantageous to keep the troops in place and wait until you launch a major offensive, Jinan and Xuzhou come under pressure, and Zhang Zhen and Sun Yuanliang are forced to move, then launch attacks in motion, annihilating one part of the enemy, then a second, and then a third, thereby maintaining the initiative. If we act simultaneously with you and fail to win in one strike, it would instead be disadvantageous. What are your views? Please inform us.

Military Commission

Jianshen[3]

[1] Ping-Han refers to the Beiping-Hankou Railway, now a section of the Beijing-Guangzhou Railway.

[2] Chen-Xie refers to Chen Geng and Xie Fuzhi, who were then commander and political commissar of the 4th Column of the Central Plains Field Army, respectively.

[3] Jianshen refers to the 28th day of the month in the traditional Chinese calendar.