Swiftly Encircle and Divide the Huang Corps[1]

(November 8, 1948)

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

(1) Liu Ruming[3] has moved to Bengbu for garrison duty; the 99th Army has advanced to Suxian to conduct westward mopping-up operations; Sun Yuanliang[4] has led two armies back to Suxian for garrison duty; Qiu Qingquan[5] has dispatched a strong detachment to recapture Yongcheng. The above constitutes the deployment by Liu Zhi[6] on the 6th, which is now being carried out and does not represent a general retreat. The main force of Qiu Qingquan remains in the Huangkou[7]–Fengxian area. (2) Su, Chen, and Zhang should swiftly encircle and divide the Huang Corps[8]; otherwise, this enemy force may shift westward.

The Military Commission

Qi-hai[9]

[1] This is a telegram drafted by Mao Zedong for the Central Military Commission of the Communist Party of China, addressed to the First Deputy Commander of the Central Plains Field Army, Chen Yi, and its Political Commissar, Deng Xiaoping, among others.
[2] Su, Chen, and Zhang refer to Su Yu, Chen Shiju, and Zhang Zhen, who at the time served respectively as Acting Commander and Acting Political Commissar, Chief of Staff, and Deputy Chief of Staff of the East China Field Army.
[3] Liu Ruming was then Commander of the 4th Pacification Zone of the Kuomintang Army.
[4] Sun Yuanliang was then Commander of the 16th Corps of the Kuomintang Army.
[5] Qiu Qingquan was then Commander of the 2nd Corps of the Kuomintang Army.
[6] Liu Zhi was then Commander-in-Chief of the Kuomintang Army’s Xuzhou “Bandit Suppression” General Headquarters.
[7] Huangkou is a town located northwest of Xiao County, Anhui Province.
[8] The Huang Corps refers to the 7th Corps of the Kuomintang Army, whose Corps Commander was Huang Baitao.
[9] Qi-hai: 8th day of the month, between 9–11 p.m.