Pay Close Attention to Dealing with Huang Wei’s Last-Ditch Struggle[1]

(November 26, 1948)

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

Your two telegrams of 11:00 on the 25th and 5:00 on the 26th[3] have been received. Huang Wei[4] is encircled, and there is hope of annihilating him. This is excellent and most gratifying. But you must pay the utmost attention to dealing with Huang Wei’s last-ditch struggle. In addition to employing the Huaye’s 2nd Column and the Wang-Zhang Column,[1] you should also quickly move the 10th Column into the battlefield to prepare for participation in the final battle, ensuring sufficient forces to annihilate Huang Wei. As for Li Yannian,[2] if Su, Chen, and Zhang have an opportunity to strike and destroy him, it would be best to capture and annihilate a force of about one army of his. In short, it is appropriate to keep a reserve of strength in hand sufficient to cope with unforeseen changes. After Huang Wei is completely dealt with and has rested for several days, please draw two columns from the various Huaye units to cross the Huai River and advance southward, sever the Ning-Beng[3] link, isolate Bengbu, and at the same time intensify work on Liu Ruming[4] to compel him to come over to our side. This is of the utmost importance.

The Military Commission

20:00, November 26

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

[2] Su, Chen, and Zhang refer to Su Yu, Chen Shiju, and Zhang Zhen, who at the time were respectively Acting Commander and Acting Political Commissar, Chief of Staff, and Deputy Chief of Staff of the East China Field Army. Tan and Wang refer to Tan Zhenlin and Wang Jian’an, who at the time were respectively Political Commissar and Deputy Commander of the Shandong Corps of the East China Field Army.

[3] Refers to the telegrams sent by Liu Bocheng, Chen Yi, and Deng Xiaoping to Su Yu, Chen Shiju, Zhang Zhen, and the Central Military Commission of the CPC at 11:00 on November 25 and 5:00 on November 26, 1948. The earlier telegram stated: Last night our 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and 6th Columns attacked from west to east and are now engaged in fierce battle with the enemy along the line of Nanpingji and Lugouji. Huang Wei used the main forces of the 10th Army, 14th Army, and 18th Army to fiercely assault the positions of our 4th and 9th Columns along the line of Zhukou, Banbudian, Dinglou, and Dawangzhuang-Xiaowangzhuang, attempting to open a passage to Suxian. Request Su, Chen, and Zhang to “order all columns to advance southward at double speed, with the main force (including the 6th Column, excluding the Wang-Zhang Column) to control the line of Suxian, Taoyuanji, Qixianji, and Dayingji twenty-five li to its southwest (all points on the line belong to Huaye), with the emphasis placed on the area east of Taoyuanji and Qixianji, and to control Suxian and Shuichipu along the railway line, awaiting opportunities for combat.” The later telegram stated: “Huang Wei’s corps has been completely encircled by us in the area between Nanpingji, Qixianji, Shaoweizi, Shuangduiji, and Lugouji. The enemy attempted to break out between Shaoweizi and Shuangduiji but has been blocked by us. We have ordered all columns to gradually tighten the encirclement to achieve the complete annihilation of this enemy. Request the Military Commission to instruct the New China Broadcasting Station to intensify political efforts to win over and disintegrate the enemy.”

[4] Huang Wei was then Commander of the Kuomintang’s 12th Corps.

[1] The Wang-Zhang Column refers to the 11th Column of the Central Plains Field Army, with Column Commander Wang Bingzhang and Political Commissar Zhang Linzhi. At the time, it was under the command of the East China Field Army.

[2] Li Yannian was then Commander of the Kuomintang’s 6th Corps.

[3] Ning-Beng refers to Nanjing in Jiangsu Province and Bengbu in Anhui Province.

[4] Liu Ruming was then Commander of the Kuomintang’s 8th Corps.