sentences:  In order to reinforce the nationalists in Northeast China, Chiang Kai-shek redeployed the nationalist Reorganized 54th Division from Qingdao to Jinzhou, and attempted to send reinforcement from Northern China as well.To prevent nationalist forces in Northern China from reinforcing Northeast China, the communists decided to launch a campaign in northern China to tie down the local nationalist forces.Nationalist order of battle
  
  Communist order of battle
  
  On May 12, 1948, the 11th Column of the communist Northeastern Military District ambushed two nationalist regiments returning to Chengde from Flat Spring (Ping Quan, 平泉) at regions of Three Ditches (三沟) and Six Ditches (六沟), badly mauling the nationalist units.