It is advisable to first wipe out one part of the armies under Qiu Qingquan and Li Mi[1]

(November 19, 1948)

Liu, Chen, Deng, Su, Chen, Zhang, and inform Tan and Wang[2]:

We have just received the telegram from Su, Chen, and Zhang of the 18th at 21:00 hours[3], and we know that the entire Huaye army is being used on the northern front to strike Huang, Qiu,

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[1] This telegram was drafted by Mao Zedong for the Military Commission of the CPC Central Committee and addressed to Commander Liu Bocheng, First Deputy Commander Chen Yi, and Political Commissar Deng Xiaoping of the Central Plains Field Army, and Acting Commander and Acting Political Commissar Su Yu, Chief of Staff Chen Shiju, and Deputy Chief of Staff Zhang Zhen of the East China Field Army.

[2] Tan and Wang refer to Tan Zhenlin and Wang Jian’an, who were then respectively Political Commissar and Deputy Commander of the Shandong Corps of the East China Field Army.

[3] This refers to the telegram sent by Su Yu, Chen Shiju, and Zhang Zhen at 21:00 hours on November 18, 1948, to Tan Zhenlin, Wang Jian’an, and Li Yingxi, with a copy to Liu Bocheng, Chen Yi, Deng Xiaoping, and the Military Commission of the CPC Central Committee. The telegram stated: At present, the eastward advance of Qiu’s and Li’s corps has reached our intended annihilation zone west of Daxujia. We “are determined to counterattack this enemy tonight, and will use the 1st, 2nd, 3rd, Lu, 12th, and 11th Columns to cut off the retreat route of the 5th and 8th Armies at Yuanshan, so as to coordinate with the 7th, 10th, and Su 11th Columns on the front to annihilate them.” “At present, the 6th Corps (under Li Tingnian, commanding the 54th and 29th Armies) and the 8th Corps under Liu Ruming seem to have concentrated near Guzhen,” “while Lingbi is still garrisoned by the stubborn 238th Division and about ten thousand local recalcitrant troops.” “To facilitate our annihilation of the reinforcing enemy forces one by one, we should shift our forces at the appropriate time. Please deploy the general assault on Nianzhuang with thoroughness and caution, aiming to completely annihilate this enemy by the morning of the 21st. As of now, the 63rd, 44th, and 100th Armies of Huang’s corps have been completely annihilated, and half of each of the 25th and 64th Armies has been annihilated. Moreover, the enemy is in great disorder. If this can be completed on schedule, you should withdraw three columns to await orders, concealing them for anti-reinforcement operations.” “We suggest that before Huang’s corps is completely annihilated, the Central Plains Field Army use one part of its forces to be responsible for blocking Li (Yannian) and Liu from advancing northward. At present, the 9th Column of the Central Plains Field Army is positioned along the line from Renqiao to Gongpingji. We suggest it extend eastward to Tuoheji, and then, through offensive defense, press close to Liu and Li, to buy time to first annihilate the enemy at Nianzhuang, and thereafter shift one part southward to coordinate with the Central Plains Field Army in annihilating Liu and Li, or Huang Wei.”

and Li[1]. At present, it is not possible to divide our forces to assist the Central Plains Field Army in striking the enemy on the southern front. The operations should be carried out immediately according to the deployment of Su, Chen, and Zhang. Liu, Chen, and Deng are requested to deal appropriately with the enemy on the southern front. However, Su, Chen, and Zhang are requested to take care not to strike too many of the armies under Qiu and Li; it is advisable to first wipe out one part.

The Military Commission

19th, 17:00 hours

[1] Huang, Qiu, and Li refer to Huang Baitao, Qiu Qingquan, and Li Mi, who were then respectively commanders of the Kuomintang’s 7th Corps, 2nd Corps, and 13th Corps.