The Zhangzhou defenders are the remainder of the 146th Brigade and the 145th Brigade of the 49th Division of the Kuomintang Army. Its main force was deployed in Tianbao and Nanjing (today's Jingcheng) on ??the outskirts of Zhangzhou, relying on the mountains around Yangmeiling, Twelve Ridge, Fengshuang Ridge, and Baolin to hold on. Another force was placed in the urban area of ??Zhangzhou. The Red Army's Eastern Route Army was determined to first annihilate the enemies on the outskirts of Zhangzhou, and then take advantage of the victory to seize Zhangzhou.