The East China Field Army Is Responsible for Attacking Li Yannian’s Army Group[1]

(November 20, 1948)

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

According to a telegram from Liu, Chen, and Deng at 17:00 hours on the 19th,[4] the main force of the Central Plains Field Army has decided to attack Huang Wei.[5] You must assume full responsibility for dealing with Li Yannian’s army group,[6] as the Central Plains Field Army is unable to dispatch troops. In addition to the 11th and 13th Columns under Wang and Zhang[7] that you have already sent, you should immediately transfer the main forces of the 4th, 6th, 8th, and 9th Columns (leaving a portion to attack the 64th Army) to handle Li Yannian. The command responsibility for attacking Li Yannian shall be borne by Tan and Wang. It is hoped that Tan and Wang will promptly move their command post to an appropriate location in the area between Dadianji, Chulan, and Shuanggou.[1]

The Military Commission

20:00 hours, November 20

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[1] This is a telegram drafted by Mao Zedong for the Military Commission of the CPC Central Committee, addressed to 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] Tan and Wang refer to Tan Zhenlin and Wang Jian’an, who were respectively the political commissar and deputy commander of the Shandong Corps of the East China Field Army at the time.

[3] Liu, Chen, and Deng refer to Liu Bocheng, Chen Yi, and Deng Xiaoping, who were respectively the commander, first deputy commander, and political commissar of the Central Plains Field Army at the time.

[4] This refers to the telegram sent by Liu Bocheng, Chen Yi, and Deng Xiaoping to the Military Commission of the CPC Central Committee and to Su Yu, Chen Shiju, and Zhang Zhen at 17:00 hours on November 19, 1948. The telegram stated: “Our reasons for deciding to attack Huang Wei first have been detailed in the telegram sent at 9:00 hours on the 19th. We believe that the operations in the Xuzhou-Bengbu area must be planned with a perspective of three to five months and must be divided into three or four campaign stages, with each stage requiring rest and the reorganization and supplementation of captured troops to ensure victory. Therefore, under the current circumstances, especially with Li Yannian and Huang Wei advancing northward, it is best to strive for the rapid annihilation of Huang Botao, after which the main forces can be concentrated east and south of Xuzhou to monitor the three army groups of Qiu Qingquan, Li Mi, and Sun Yuanliang, and to gain about ten to fifteen days of rest. Meanwhile, five or three columns that have not yet been used can be deployed on the southern front to coordinate with us in attacking and destroying Huang Wei and Li Yannian. This step is the most secure.”

[5] Huang Wei was then the commander of the 12th Army Group of the Kuomintang army.

[6] Li Yannian’s army group refers to the 6th Army Group of the Kuomintang army, with Li Yannian as its commander.

[7] Wang and Zhang refer to Wang Bingzhang and Zhang Linzhi, who were respectively the commander and political commissar of the 11th Column of the Central Plains Field Army at the time.

[1] Dadianji and Chulan are the names of towns located respectively southeast and north of Su County, Anhui Province. Shuanggou is a town located northwest of Suining County, Jiangsu Province.