We Agree with the Policy Adopted by the
Central Plains Bureau Regarding Attacks by
the Diehard Army1
 (May 2, 1946)
To the Central Plains Bureau:
We have taken note of both of your telegrams of the 1st.2 When the diehards
attack, fight a few battles where you are and do not move away rashly so as to
avoid being entrapped by the enemy’s scheme to sow discord and bring difficulties on yourself. If worst comes to the absolute worst, breaking out of the encirclement toward the west would be best and should be carried out forthwith, but all
preparatory work should be done quickly.
The Central Committee
The source of our text is Mao Zedong junshi wenji, Vol. 3, p. 197, where it is reproduced
1.  Mao Zedong drafted this telegram on behalf of the Central Committee of the Chinese Communist Party.
2.  The two telegrams from the Central Plains Bureau stated that the troops were prepared to fight one or two battles in their current place when the enemy attacked and would
only break through the encirclement and move westward as a last resort.
DOI:  10.4324/9781315719511-131

from Mao’s handwritten manuscript preserved in the Central Archives.