All Columns Encircling Du Yuming, Qiu
Qingquan, and Li Mi’s Forces Should Only
Defend and Not Attack
(December 14, 1948, 11:00 A.M.)
To Su [Yu]:1
We suggest that all your columns currently encircling and attacking Du
[Yuming], Qiu [Qingquan], and Li [Mi]2 should rest for several days in their present positions and postures. They should only carry out defense; they should not
attack. Wait until Huang Wei’s3 forces have been wiped out and then assemble a
larger force and launch another attack.
The Military Commission
Our source for this text is Mao Zedong junshi wenji, Vol. 5, p. 401, where it is reproduced from Mao’s handwritten manuscript preserved in the Central Archives.
1.  Mao Zedong drafted this telegram on behalf of the Central Military Commission.
Su Yu was acting commander and acting political commissar of the East China Field Army.
2.  Du Yuming was deputy commander-in-chief of the Guomindang army’s Xuzhou
“Bandit Suppression” Headquarters. Qiu Qingquan and Li Mi were the commanders of the
Guomindang army’s Second and Thirteenth army groups, respectively.
3.  Huang Wei was commander of the Guomindang army’s Twelfth Army Group.
DOI:  10.4324/9781315719436-213