Specific Deployment for Containing the Two Army Corps of Qiu Qingquan and Li Mi, and for Isolating and Annihilating Huang Baitao’s Army Corps[1]

(October 26, 1948)

Su and Tan, and inform Chen and Deng[2] as well as Liu, Deng, and Li[3]:

(1) Both divisions of the 100th Army have reached Xin’an Township[4] and been placed under the 7th Army Corps. Huang Baitao[5] now has eight divisions in hand. Li Mi’s[6] five divisions have been assembled at Yunhe[7] Station and the Lijiaji area west of the Canal. Huang and Li, with a total of thirteen divisions, are linked together. Your original plan to use two columns to annihilate the two divisions at Yunhe Station and control the frontage of the Canal to block the enemy will probably prove difficult. It seems you can only insert two columns at the junction of the Huang and Li groups, that is, between Xin’an Township and Yunhe Station, to sever the link between Li and Huang, while using one to two columns to move south from Tai’erzhuang[8] to contain Li from the north.
Additionally, use one to two columns to attack and annihilate the enemy in the area of Hanzhuang, Jiawang, and Liuquan[1], compelling Qiu’s Army Corps[2] to divert one to two armies to defend due north. Then use one column and the Guangzong Column to attack towards Fengxian and Dangshan, forcing a part of Qiu Qingquan’s forces to remain in that direction. Use local corps to pin down Sun Yuanliang[3]. Furthermore, use one to two columns of Wei and Ji[4] to attack from Suining and Suqian[5] towards the southeast of Xuzhou. Only in this way can we ensure the containment of Qiu and Li, facilitating the main force’s isolation and annihilation of Huang’s Army Corps. Regarding the necessity of using crack units, not second-rate units, for the main assault direction, we have already telegraphed earlier. This will require several days to readjust the deployment. To ensure victory, it is better to delay the initiation of battle by a few days rather than act hastily.

(2) Because our 6th Column and other units are currently encircling and annihilating Yang Gancai’s[6] forces near Laohekou[7], Bai Chongxi[8] has ordered Huang Wei’s[9] main force to move south of Nanyang. If our forces under Chen and Deng do not march via Kaifeng and Shangqiu, but instead directly attack Xuzhou and Bengbu[10] via Mengcheng, their objective will not be exposed for about a week, and Huang Wei will not immediately move east. By the time Chen and Deng strike at Xuzhou-Bengbu, even if Huang Wei moves east, it will be too late. The appearance of Chen and Deng’s eleven brigades in Liu Zhi’s empty rear area will inevitably compel him to use the entirety of Sun Yuanliang’s forces and a part of Qiu Qingquan’s forces to deal with Chen and Deng. This can ensure that Qiu’s and Sun’s two army corps dare not move east of the Canal to reinforce.

[1] Hanzhuang, a township name, located in the southeast of Weishan County, Shandong Province. Jiawang, a township name, located in the northeast of Xuzhou City, Jiangsu Province. Liuquan, a village name, located in the north of Tongshan County, Jiangsu Province.
[2] Qiu’s Army Corps refers to the 2nd Army Corps of the Kuomintang Army, commanded by Qiu Qingquan.
[3] Sun Yuanliang, then Commander of the 16th Army Corps of the Kuomintang Army.
[4] Wei and Ji refer to Wei Guoqing and Ji Luo (Ji Pengfei), who were then respectively Commander and Deputy Political Commissar of the Subei Army Corps of the East China Field Army.
[5] Suining and Suqian, referring to Suining and Suqian in Jiangsu Province.
[6] Yang Gancai’s forces refer to the 20th Army of the 14th Army Corps of the Kuomintang Army, with Army Commander Yang Gancai.
[7] Laohekou, an old township name, now Laohekou City, Hubei Province.
[8] Bai Chongxi, then Commander-in-Chief of the “Bandit Suppression” General Headquarters of Central China of the Kuomintang Army.
[9] Huang Wei, then Commander of the 12th Army Corps of the Kuomintang Army.
[10] Xuzhou-Bengbu, referring to Xuzhou in Jiangsu Province and Bengbu in Anhui Province.

Although there are thirteen divisions of Li and Huang’s two forces on the Xuzhou-Haizhou line[1], you can still confidently achieve the objective of containing Li and striking Huang.

(3) After the Sui-Qi Campaign, many in Liu Zhi’s system are dissatisfied with Qiu Qingquan. It seems Huang Baitao is particularly dissatisfied with Qiu Qingquan, hence the desire to have Li Mi move closer to Huang’s forces, and the transfer of the 100th Army from Qiu’s command to Huang’s command. This point is also worth noting.

The Military Commission

3:00 a.m., 26th

[1] The Xuzhou-Haizhou line refers to the railway from Xuzhou to Haizhou (now part of Lianyungang City, Jiangsu Province), i.e., a section of the Longhai Railway.

--- Notes

[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, and Tan Zhenlin, Deputy Political Commissar.
[2] Chen and Deng refer to Chen Yi and Deng Xiaoping, who were then respectively First Deputy Commander and Political Commissar of the Central Plains Field Army.
[3] Liu, Deng, and Li refer to Liu Bocheng, Deng Zihui, and Li Da, who were then respectively Commander, Deputy Political Commissar, and Chief of Staff of the Central Plains Field Army.
[4] Xin’an Township, now the county seat of Xinyi County, Jiangsu Province.
[5] Huang Baitao, then Commander of the 7th Army Corps of the Kuomintang Army.
[6] Li Mi, then Commander of the 13th Army Corps of the Kuomintang Army.
[7] Yunhe, a township name, now the county seat of Pi County, Jiangsu Province.
[8] Tai’erzhuang, a township name, located in the southern part of present-day Zaozhuang City, Shandong Province.