After receiving this telegraph from Chen Yi (communist), Su Yu and political commissar Tan Zhenlin (谭震林) made one last attempt to avert the Chen’s decision by telegraphing back on the same day, claiming that the situation for the communist in Huaibei was not optimistic and both Huaiyin and Huai'an were threatened, so taking Hai’an (海安) should not be a priority, and their troops should be give up the mission and turn northward to defend Huaiyin and Huai'an.
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Otherwise, the communists would attack westward into the region of Suining (雎宁) and Xiuqian (宿迁), so that the communist standing in Southern Shandong, Shuyang (沭阳), Huaiyin and Huai'an would remain favorable, and Su Yu still should direct his force to take Hai’an (海安).
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Su Yu and his political commissar Tan Zhenlin (谭震林) were concerned about the next move their comrades would make, and from September 5 thru September 7, 1946, they had sent four telegraphs to Chen Yi (communist), strongly recommending that his communist force from Shandong should remain in Huaiyin and Shuyang (沭阳) regions so that the communists could concentrate their forces to ensure victories.