Chapter 49 The purpose and deployment of troops in the Battle of Jinan

(September 11, 1948) Comrade Shiyou [1], and Su Tan Chen [2], East China Bureau, Central Plains Bureau: Zhendian [3] is known.You have come to the front, I am very relieved.What you said about the focused use of force is correct.This combat deployment was decided in accordance with the instructions of the Military Commission, that is, the purpose and means should be related but distinct.The purpose of this operation is mainly to capture Jinan, and the second is to annihilate some of the reinforcements. However, in terms of means, it is the deployment of troops, but it should not attack Jinan with a majority of troops.If we attack Jinan with a large number of troops and use a small number of troops to attack and aid the enemy, we will not be able to stop the enemy because of the large number of aids, and we will not be able to wipe out part of them.A total of eight columns, one, four, six, seven, eight, eleven, and Weiji [4], were used as reinforcements, and the remaining columns were used to attack the city.This arrangement is prepared to be changed under the following two circumstances, namely: (1) When blocking and attacking reinforcements are unexpectedly smooth (many enemies have been wiped out and the enemy has stopped), but the siege has not yet succeeded, Troops should be drawn from the aid side to participate in the siege. (2) The siege has been assured, but the battle cannot be finally resolved, and when the reinforcements are hindered and difficult to advance, a force can also be drawn from the reinforcements to participate in the siege.However, in another case, we should be prepared to make the opposite of the above-mentioned mobilization, that is, in the first stage of the siege, it has been proved that the battle cannot be resolved in the short term, and the reinforcement enemy has already invaded on a large scale, and the offensive cannot be continued without annihilation and reinforcement. In this case, one to half of the troops from the siege corps (except for the occupation of the airfield and other necessary parts) should be resolutely drawn to join the attack.At this point, you should also make mental preparations in advance.As for the siege deployment, it should be divided into two stages: the first stage concentrates superior forces to capture the airport in the west, and does not use the main force in the east. This point is very important and should be deployed immediately.The second stage is to develop according to the battle situation, and use the main force in the most favorable direction for development. If the east is conducive to development, it should be used in the east.The command of the entire siege is your responsibility.The command of the whole army is undertaken by Su Yu.The entire campaign should be fought in about one month, but we must be prepared to fight for two to three months, be prepared to deal with the most difficult situation, and use this as the main starting point for all deployment and work.Commissar Rao[5] will be able to leave for Shandong from the location of the Central Committee in about three days, and first go to Su and you.

Military Commission Zhenhai Published according to Mao Zedong's manuscript. -------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------ note [1] Shiyou, that is, Xu Shiyou, was the commander of the Shandong Corps of the East China Field Army at that time. [2] Su Tan Chen, referring to Su Yu, Tan Zhenlin, and Chen Shiju, who were acting commander, acting political commissar, deputy political commissar, and chief of staff of the East China Field Army at that time. [3] Refers to Xu Shiyou's telegram to the Central Military Commission of the Communist Party of China on September 11, 1948.The telegram said: Taking Jinan under the current situation is sure, but in terms of deployment, our troops are not concentrated and there is no focus on using them.The forces currently attacking Jinan have been deployed and cannot be changed, but in the second step I will definitely use them intensively.We have the greatest determination and confidence to take down Jinan, as long as we can block the reinforcements.Therefore, please order the aid troops to resolutely block the aid to buy time to solve Jinan.

[4] Wei Ji refers to Wei Guoqing and Ji Luo (namely Ji Pengfei), who were respectively the commander and deputy political commissar of the North Jiangsu Corps of the East China Field Army at that time. [5] Political commissar Rao refers to Rao Shushi, who was then political commissar of the East China Military Region.