On Countering Large-Scale Attacks in the
Northeast by Chiang Kaishek and the United
States
 (April 5, 1946, noon)
To the Northeast Bureau and Lin [Biao]:1
	 1.	 The United States and Chiang have decided to attack us on a massive scale
with fifteen armies (seven have arrived and the other eight are yet to be transferred). Their aim is to occupy all points and lines in the Northeast and then
to negotiate with us.
	 2.	 Our policy is to use the armistice teams2 to strive for a cessation of hostilities,
but without being misled by the armistice teams. We must at the same time
have a comprehensive and long-term plan for dealing with attacks by the
fifteen armies.
The Central Committee
Our source for this text is Mao Zedong junshi wenji, Vol. 3, p. 158, where it is reproduced from Mao’s handwritten manuscript preserved in the Central Archives.

--- Notes

1.  Mao Zedong drafted this telegram on behalf of the Central Committee. Lin Biao was
commander-in-chief of the Northeast Democratic Allied Army.

2.  Referring to the armistice teams sent around the country by the Beiping Office for
Military Mediation, which was in charge of mediating the military conflict between the
Guomindang and the Communists.
DOI:  10.4324/9781315719511-105