Annihilate Sun Yuanliang’s Troops and Control the Xuzhou-Bengbu Section[1]

(November 10, 1948)

Chen and Deng:

Your telegram of 16:00 on the 9th received. (1) Feng Zhi’an’s army has revolted.[2] Because the situation of Feng’s troops on the afternoon of the 8th was unclear, Liu Zhi[3] at 01:00 on the 9th ordered both the Huang and Li Corps[4] to withdraw to Xuzhou and hold it firmly. The Qiu Corps[5] remains in the Huangkou[6] area; it has no mission to reinforce the Huang and Li Corps eastward, nor any intention of retreating southward. Liu Zhi has also ordered Sun Yuanliang[7] to rush back to Suxian. The enemy’s disposition is to hold Xuzhou, Huangkou, and Suxian firmly. (2) You should concentrate your entire strength (including the 3rd and Guang Columns) to attack and capture Suxian, annihilate Sun

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

[2] This refers to the revolt, during the first stage of the Huaihai Campaign, of He Jifeng and Zhang Kexia (both underground CPC members), Deputy Commanders of the Kuomintang’s 3rd Pacification Zone, who on November 8, 1948, led one army headquarters, three divisions, and one regiment, totaling over 20,000 men, in a revolt in the Jiawang and Tai’erzhuang areas northeast of Xuzhou. Feng Zhi’an, Commander of the 3rd Pacification Zone, was in Xuzhou at the time and did not take part in the revolt.

[3] Liu Zhi was then Commander-in-Chief of the Kuomintang’s Bandit Suppression General Headquarters in Xuzhou.

[4] The Huang and Li Corps refers to the Kuomintang’s 7th and 13th Corps, commanded by Huang Baitao and Li Mi respectively.

[5] The Qiu Corps refers to the Kuomintang’s 2nd Corps, commanded by Qiu Qingquan.

[6] Huangkou, a town northwest of Xiao County, Anhui Province.

[7] Sun Yuanliang was then Commander of the Kuomintang’s 16th Corps.

Yuanliang, and control the Xuzhou-Bengbu section,[1] cutting off the enemy’s retreat route. The sooner the better. This is of the utmost importance and our most urgent hope. Pay no attention to Liu Ruming’s[2] troops.

The Military Commission
03:00, 10th

[1] The Xuzhou-Bengbu section refers to the railway from Xuzhou to Bengbu, now a section of the Beijing-Shanghai line.

[2] Liu Ruming was then Commander of the Kuomintang’s 4th Pacification Zone.