After Huang Baitao is finished off, the main force of the East China Field Army should move quickly to the Suxian area[1]

(November 13, 1948)

Liu, Chen, Deng, and Su, Chen, Zhang:

(1) It is very good that Liu, Chen, and Deng have already seized Sun Yuanliang[2] and are attacking and annihilating him. This point affects the overall situation, because Huang Wei[3] will arrive at Taifu[4] on the 14th. If you can finish off Sun Yuanliang within a few days and control the Xuzhou-Bengbu Railway[5], then there will be ample time to deal with Huang Wei. (2) Please ask Su, Chen, and Zhang to consider whether the Wei-Guoqing and Ji-Luopeng Corps[6] can be moved westward to Suxian at an early date to join forces with the various columns of the Central Plains Field Army, so that a few days later the various columns of the Central Plains Field Army can move westward to Yongcheng to deal with Huang Wei. (3) Where are the 2nd and 6th Columns of the Central Plains Field Army now? Can they quickly rush to the vicinity of Taifu to pin down Huang Wei? Awaiting your report. (4) After Huang Baitao is finished off, it is essential that the main force of the East China Field Army move quickly to the Suxian area.

The Military Commission

13th, 3:00 hours

[1] This is a telegram drafted by Mao Zedong for the Military Commission of the CPC Central Committee, addressed to Liu Bocheng, Commander of the Central Plains Field Army; Chen Yi, First Deputy Commander; Deng Xiaoping, Political Commissar; and 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] Sun Yuanliang, then Commander of the 16th Corps of the Kuomintang Army.

[3] Huang Wei, then Commander of the 12th Corps of the Kuomintang Army.

[4] Taifu refers to Taihe and Fuyang in Anhui Province.

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

[6] The Wei-Guoqing and Ji-Luopeng Corps refers to the Subei Corps of the East China Field Army, with Wei Guoqing as Corps Commander and Ji Luo (Ji Pengfei) as Deputy Political Commissar.