Concentrate Four Columns to Attack Suxian[1] with Full Force

(November 10, 1948)

Chen and Deng:

Have your main forces reached the vicinity of Suxian and begun the attack on Suxian? You must, regardless of all obstacles, concentrate four columns to attack Suxian with full force, annihilate Sun Yuanliang’s[2] and other units, and sever the Xuzhou-Bengbu railway[3]. The 3rd and Guang Columns of the East China Field Army should also be used to attack the Xuzhou-Suxian section[4]. This is of utmost importance and eagerly awaited.

The Military Commission

Hai Chou[5]

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[1] This is a telegram drafted by Mao Zedong for the Military Commission of the CPC Central Committee to Chen Yi, First Deputy Commander of the Central Plains Field Army, and Deng Xiaoping, Political Commissar of the Central Plains Field Army.
[2] Sun Yuanliang was then Commander of the 16th Corps of the Kuomintang Army.
[3] The Xuzhou-Bengbu railway refers to the railway from Xuzhou to Bengbu, now a section of the Beijing-Shanghai line.
[4] The Xuzhou-Suxian section refers to the railway from Xuzhou to Suxian, now a section of the Beijing-Shanghai line.
[5] Hai Chou—Hai denotes the period of the day from 1 to 3 a.m., and Chou denotes the period from 1 to 3 p.m.