Chapter 289 7. Chiang Kai-shek's measures to rescue Huang Botao's corps

The Huang Botao Corps is one of the main mobile corps of the Kuomintang Army.After the corps fell into a heavy siege, Chiang Kai-shek sent an urgent telegram to Huang Botao to "stand firm and wait for help." On the morning of November 10, he called an emergency meeting at his official residence in Nanjing, and decided to concentrate his troops and send reinforcements from Xuzhou to the east, in order to fight a decisive battle with the People's Liberation Army near Nianzhuangwei.On the same day, a "Telegram of the Supervisory Supervisor of Xuhui Defense Command" was issued, ordering Xuzhou to "suppress the general" and implement it immediately. The main content of "Supervision" is as follows:

1. Based on the principle of fighting on internal lines, concentrate all efforts to first seek and annihilate the Communist Army west of the Canal and east of Xuzhou.In order to achieve a decisive victory, it is advisable to use every possible means to delay and prevent the 3rd, 8th, and 13th columns of the Communist Army from crossing the southern section of Jinpu to participate in the battle of its main force (at that time, the East China Field Army was actually west of Xuzhou). The 3rd Column, the Guangdong-Guangzhou Column, and the two independent brigades of the Hebei-Shandong-Henan Military Region, Qiu Qingquan falsely reported that they were the 3rd, 8th, and 13th Columns of Huaye, and Chiang Kai-shek made a judgment based on this that Xuxi had several main forces of the East China Field Army.).

2. The 63rd Army of Huang Botao's Corps should stand firm at its original position (Yaowan) and wait for reinforcements. The rest of the armies should not retreat any further, especially should cooperate with Qiu Corps to attack the Communist Army west of the canal and east of Xuzhou. 3. The Qiu Qingquan Corps should transfer its main force to the east of Xuzhou and cooperate with the Huang Corps to fight. 4. Li Mi's corps should draw out one army to participate in the attack. 5. The Xuzhou garrison should stand firmly and support the attacks of the communist army from all sides, forming a strong support point on the battlefield to facilitate the decisive battle.

6. Sun Yuanliang's corps should immediately advance to the Jiagou and Fuliji areas, block the eastward movement of the 3rd, 8th, and 13th columns of the Communist Army, and maintain traffic. 7. Liu Ruming's troops assembled in Guzhen and Suxian to maintain the railway traffic, and wiped out the communist army on both sides of the railway. On November 10, Chiang Kai-shek wrote again to warn Huang Botao: "This battle is really the key to the success or failure of our revolution and the country's survival. I hope that you will strictly supervise your troops, earnestly teach them, unite as one, unite and fight hard, and stand by for help. It is the most important thing." He also telegraphed Huang Wei: "The battle of Xuzhou has already begun, and the situation is extremely urgent. The Huang (Wei) Corps should advance quickly and arrive at Fuyang and Taihe areas before the 13th." Telegram again on the 13th Huang Botao "motivated the officers and soldiers, mustered the spirit of the last five minutes, and stood by for help." On the 14th, the 9th Appeasement Zone Headquarters (which was withdrawn to Bengbu on the 12th) was changed to the 6th Corps. Li Yannian served as the commander of the Corps, commanding the 96th, 99th, 39th, and 54th Corps (the 2nd Corps will be sent from Huludao Withdrew south to Bengbu) and immediately went north to Xuzhou.At the same time, Liu Zhi and Du Yuming were ordered to reduce the garrison troops in Xuzhou as much as possible, concentrate their forces to advance eastward, pinch the Communist army, and win the final victory.