To Those in Feng Zhi’an’s Troops Who Resist or Hesitate and Waver,
We Must Resolutely Annihilate Them[1]

(November 6, 1948)

Su, Chen, and Zhang, and Chen and Deng[2]:

With regard to those in Feng Zhi’an’s[3] troops who resist or who hesitate and waver, you should adopt the means of resolute annihilation, so as to swiftly seize the areas of Lincheng, Hanzhuang, Yixian, Tai’erzhuang, Jiawang, and Liuquan[4] and threaten Xuzhou. Only toward those who are determined to rise in revolt should you adopt the method of bypassing and advancing, leaving them to the rear. The same applies to Liu Ruming’s[5] troops.

The Military Commission

Yuyin[6]

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[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; Chen Shiju, chief of staff; and Zhang Zhen, deputy chief of staff.

[2] Chen and Deng refer to Chen Yi and Deng Xiaoping, who were then respectively the first deputy commander and the political commissar of the Central Plains Field Army.

[3] Feng Zhi’an was then commander of the Kuomintang’s Third Pacification Zone.

[4] Lincheng refers to present-day Xuecheng, Zaozhuang City, Shandong Province. Hanzhuang is a town located southeast of Weishan County, Shandong Province. Yixian is an old county name, now Yicheng, Zaozhuang City, Shandong Province. Tai’erzhuang is located in the southern part of present-day Zaozhuang City, Shandong Province. Jiawang is a town located northeast of Xuzhou City, Jiangsu Province. Liuquan is a village located north of Tongshan County, Jiangsu Province.

[5] Liu Ruming was then commander of the Kuomintang’s Fourth Pacification Zone.

[6] Yuyin denotes the time of the telegram: 3–5 a.m., November 6.