Pay Attention to Blocking and Attacking Huang Baitao’s Corps[1]

(November 10, 1948)

Chen, Deng, Su, Tan:

(1) The 13th Corps has completely withdrawn and assembled in the narrow area between the Yin River and Xuzhou, defending Xuzhou from the north. Qiu’s Corps[2] is still in the Huangkou[3] area. Liu Zhi[4] mistakenly believes that the Huaye has six columns moving south from Jin, Yu[5], and Chengwu, and therefore has ordered Qiu’s Corps to assume defensive duties on the western front. Consequently, our 10th Column should advance from Jiawang[6] to the southwest[7] of Xuzhou, assume defensive duties against the 13th Corps near Xuzhou, and, when necessary, may be used to move south and participate in blocking and attacking Huang’s Corps[8]. (2) After the mutiny within Feng Zhi’an’s unit, Liu Zhi, in order to strengthen Xuzhou’s defensive forces, also transferred the 99th Army from Bengbu by rail to reinforce Xuzhou’s defenses, while transferring Liu Ruming’s[9] unit, which was considered not entirely reliable, to defend Bengbu. (3) Liu Zhi has also urgently redeployed Sun Yuanliang’s[10] two armies from Meng-cheng back to Su County for garrison, with a deadline to arrive today (the 10th), but it is estimated that they may not all arrive until tomorrow (the 11th). If Chen and Deng’s various columns can reach Su County today or tomorrow, they will be in a perfect position to strike Sun Yuanliang and block Huang Baitao’s escape route. It is estimated that Huang’s Corps will retreat in disarray along the line of Wuhe, Lingbi, and Su County. Pay attention to this.

Military Commission

21:00, 10th

--- Notes

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

[2] Qiu’s Corps refers to the 2nd Corps of the Kuomintang Army, with Corps Commander Qiu Qingquan.

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

[4] Liu Zhi, then Commander-in-Chief of the Kuomintang Army’s Xuzhou “Bandit Suppression” General Headquarters.

[5] Jin, Yu, refers to Jinxiang and Yutai in Shandong.

[6] Jiawang, a town located northeast of Xuzhou City, Jiangsu Province.

[7] “Southwest” should probably be “southeast.”

[8] Huang’s Corps refers to the 7th Corps of the Kuomintang Army, with Corps Commander Huang Baitao.

[9] Liu Ruming, then Commander of the 4th Pacification Zone of the Kuomintang Army.

[10] Sun Yuanliang, then Commander of the 16th Corps of the Kuomintang Army.