Troops in the Central Plains Military Region
Should Attempt a Transfer within the Rules
of the Agreement
 (April 30, 1946)
To Zheng [Weisan], Li [Xiannian], and Wang [Zhen]:1
	 1.	 As long as the diehard army does not split up, the best policy should be to
attempt a transfer [of troops] within the rules as originally planned.
	 2.	 If the diehard army were to split up and launch a large-scale attack to force
you to break out of its encirclement, it is hoped that you would secretly plan
in advance and notify us by telegram regarding your intended direction, west
or east, the relative pros and cons of each, and the prospects for the future.
	 3.	 The demobilization of 20,000 men must be completed in the first half of
May.
	 4.	 Wang Zhen should not come to Yan’an.
The Central Committee
April 30
Our source for this text is Mao Zedong junshi wenji, Vol. 3, p. 189, where it is reproduced from Mao Zedong’s handwritten manuscript preserved in the Central Archives.

--- Notes

1.  The Guomindang planned to annihilate the Communist forces in the Central Plains
Military Region and open up the road to advance into East China, North China, and Northeast China. Mao Zedong drafted this telegram on behalf of the Central Committee of the
Chinese Communist Party. Zheng Weisan was acting secretary of the Central Plains Bureau
and political commissar of the Central Plains Military Region. Li Xiannian was commander and Wang Zhen was deputy commander and chief-of-staff of the Central Plains
Military Region.
DOI:  10.4324/9781315719511-126