The defenders of Jinan had become isolated in the summer of 1948, when the communist Eastern China Field Army commanded by Chen Yi captured the railway line south of the city. In charge of the city's defense was general Wang Yaowu, he commanded nine regular brigades, five security brigades, as well as special force units amounting to a total troop strength of about 100,000. General Wang Yaowu tried to escape in civilian clothes but was captured in Shouguang County. Pang Jingtang (), the Kuomintang party chief in Shandong as well as 23 other high-ranking Kuomintang officials were also captured.