The Sixth Column Should Strengthen Its Blocking Action to Prevent Li Yannian from Advancing Northward[1]

(December 4, 1948)

Liu, Chen, Deng, Su, Chen, Zhang[2]:

(1) Li Yannian[3] is currently employing seven divisions (including units of the 54th Army) north of the Huai River, with a portion already reaching Caolaoji[4]. It is desired that the Sixth Column be ordered to strengthen its blocking action and must ensure that this enemy does not advance too far northward, thereby hindering our resolution of Huang Wei[5]. (2) Liu, Chen, and Deng have already deployed the Thirteenth Column to assault Huang Wei; this column cannot be redeployed for the time being. (3) Once Huang Wei is resolved, the Sixth Column, the Thirteenth Column, and the entire strength of the Central Plains Field Army can all be used to strike Qiu, Li, and Sun[6].

The Military Commission

22:00, the 4th

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

[2] Su, Chen, 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.

[3] Li Yannian was then Commander of the Kuomintang’s Sixth Army Corps.

[4] Caolaoji, a town name, located in the southern part of Guzhen County, Anhui Province.

[5] Huang Wei was then Commander of the Kuomintang’s Twelfth Army Corps.

[6] Qiu, Li, Sun refer to Qiu Qingquan, Li Mi, and Sun Yuanliang, who were then respectively Commanders of the Kuomintang’s Second, Thirteenth, and Sixteenth Army Corps.