The East China Field Army Should Draw Out Necessary Forces to Deal with Li Yannian[1]

(November 19, 1948)

Liu, Chen, Deng, and Su, Chen, Zhang,[2] inform Tan, Wang:[3]

Your telegram of 0900 on the 19th[4] received. The basic policy of our telegram of 2400 on the 18th[5] and telegram of 1000 on the 19th[6] is generally consistent with that of Liu, Chen, and Deng. This afternoon we received Su, Chen, and Zhang’s telegram of 1400 on the 18th, stating that the entire East China Field Army would be used to strike Qiu, Li, and Sun[1] on the northern front (we also held this view a few days ago), and that deployment had already been made. Therefore, in our reply this afternoon, we again considered it feasible to proceed according to Su, Chen, and Zhang’s deployment, entrusting full responsibility for dealing with Huang, Liu, and Li[2] on the southern front to Liu, Chen, and Deng. Now, having received Liu, Chen, and Deng’s telegram of 0900 on the 19th, we understand that Liu, Chen, and Deng are using their main force to annihilate Huang Wei, employing one column to deal with Liu Ruming, and are unable to attend to Li Yannian. Under these circumstances, Su, Chen, and Zhang must, in the immediate short term, limit operations against Qiu, Li, and Sun to the scope of annihilating only four or five enemy divisions, so as to draw out necessary forces to deal with Li Yannian. Apart from the forces necessary for resolving the remnants of Huang Baitao’s[3] group, the remaining five columns under Tan and Wang should immediately move westward to undertake the task of annihilating Li Yannian. Only by annihilating or at least blocking Li Yannian can Su, Chen, and Zhang’s flank be free from threat, thereby ensuring the continued annihilation of Qiu, Li, and Sun. We earnestly hope that Su, Chen, and Zhang will handle this matter properly.

The Military Commission
1900 hours, November 19

[1] Qiu, Li, and Sun refer to Qiu Qingquan, Li Mi, and Sun Yuanliang, who were then respectively commanders of the Kuomintang’s 2nd, 13th, and 16th Army Corps.
[2] Huang, Liu, and Li refer to Huang Wei, Liu Ruming, and Li Yannian, who were then respectively commanders of the Kuomintang’s 12th, 8th, and 6th Army Corps.
[3] Huang Baitao was then commander of the Kuomintang’s 7th Army Corps.