The entire campaign is under the unified command of Chen Yi and Deng Xiaoping[1]

(November 1, 1948)

Chen, Deng, and Su Yu, and for the information of the East China Bureau and the Central Plains Bureau:

(1) The entire campaign is under the unified command of Chen and Deng. (2) Agree with Chen and Deng’s telegram of the 31st at the hour of Hai [2]. Regarding the actions of our forces southwest of Xuzhou, one of the three plans shall be selected according to the situation, with Chen and Deng making the decision on the spot. (3) Wei Lihuang has fled to Huludao. The enemy forces in Shenyang and Yingkou have been encircled by our troops and can be completely resolved within a few days. Fu Zuoyi’s plan to launch a surprise attack on Shijiazhuang has been thwarted.

The Military Commission

1st, 17:30 hours

[1] This is a telegram drafted by Mao Zedong for the Central Military Commission of the CPC Central Committee, addressed to Chen Yi, First Deputy Commander of the Central Plains Field Army, Political Commissar Deng Xiaoping, and Su Yu, Acting Commander and Acting Political Commissar of the East China Field Army.

[2] Refers to the telegram sent by Chen Yi and Deng Xiaoping to the Central Military Commission of the CPC Central Committee and others at the hour of Hai on October 31, 1948. The telegram stated: On the evening of the 8th, we will simultaneously enter combat with the East China Field Army. According to the East China Field Army’s deployment, our operational plans are threefold: First plan: If Qiu’s Corps remains in the Dangshan area and Sun’s Corps remains in the area south of Maji, it would be appropriate for us, as instructed by the Military Commission’s telegram, to dispatch one column directly to Xiaoxian to press toward Xuzhou, and send a strong detachment to the east and west of Huangkou to form a westward defense, positioning it on the right flank of Qiu’s Corps, with the aim of delaying and blocking Qiu’s Corps from reinforcing eastward. Second plan: If Qiu’s Corps contracts along the railway to the Huangkou-Xuzhou line, and Sun’s Corps moves to the Dangshan-Huangkou line, we shall use one part of our forces in coordination with the 3rd and Guang Columns to pin down and attack a portion of Qiu’s enemy forces, while the remainder of our forces annihilate part or the greater part of Sun’s Corps. Third plan: If both Qiu’s and Sun’s Corps contract along the railway to Xuzhou and its vicinity, we can only attack Xuzhou from both the southwest and west, in order to achieve the aim of pinning down Qiu and Sun. Regardless of which plan is adopted, concentrating at Yongcheng is advantageous. We will strive to realize the second plan.

Manuscript of Mao Zedong’s telegram to Chen Yi, Deng Xiaoping, and others.