eastward march were ordered to immediately march in the opposite direction to the east of Mengyin. The Communist 1st, 4th, 6th, 8th, 9th and the Specialized Columns (armies) were assigned to attack the 74th Reorganized Division, while the communist 2nd, 3rd, 7th, 10th Columns (armies) and local militias were to prevent nationalist units, including the 5th and 7th Army and 11th, 25th, 48th, 65th and 83rd Reorganized Divisions from reinforcing the 74th Reorganized Division by blocking them in the regions of Xintai, Laiwu, Linyi, Lintai (临泰) and Riverine Sunny regions. 74th Reorganized Division besieged On May 11 the 74th Reorganized Division begun its push northward from Duo Village under the cover of the 25th and 83rd Reorganized Divisions, and by May 13 it succeeded in taking regions including Yang Jia Zhai (杨家寨), Fo Shan Jiao (佛山角) and Ma Mu Chi (马牧池), and planned to take Tanbu on May 14. At dusk on May 13 the high command of the communist East China Field Army ordered the 1st Column and 8th Column to take advantage of the local terrain and penetrate deep behind the enemy lines to sever the links between the 74th Reorganized Division and other nationalist units nearby. On the evening of May 13 the communist 1st Column and 8th Column deployed a portion of their forces in front of the 74th Reorganized Division for blocking actions, while the main forces outflanked the 74th and penetrated into the nationalist line as planned. The 3rd Division of the communist 1st Column succeeded in taking Cao (曹) Village and the highland to the north of the village, threatened Mengyin and formed a defense position to block the nationalist 65th Reorganized Division from reinforcing the 74th Reorganized Division. The main force of the communist 1st Column succeeded in taking strategic positions including Mt. Huangdouding (黄斗顶山), Mt. Yao (尧), Mt. Tianma (天马山), and Mt. Jie Pai (界牌), severing the link between the nationalist 74th and 25th Reorganized Divisions. The nationalist 25th Reorganized Division attempted to break through but was forced to withdraw back to Peach Village to regroup after suffering heavy casualties. The communist 8th Column divided its force into two sections, with one section taking strategic positions including Mt. Heng (横山), Lao Maowo (老猫窝) to the southeast of Menglianggu mountains, while the main force took strategic positions including Mt. Tao Hua (桃花山), Mt. Bizi (鼻子山), and Mt Lei Shi (磊石山), thereby successfully