To Chen Yi and Others[1]

(June 12, 1946)

After our occupation of Zaozhuang, Tai’an, and De County, our prestige has been greatly boosted. The Americans fear we will attack Qingdao, and the Kuomintang fear we will attack Jinan. At this moment, if we guarantee not to attack Qingdao and Jinan on the condition that the other side does not attack the Fifth Division and does not increase its troops, the Americans and Chiang Kai-shek can then set their minds at ease.

[1] This is the main content of a telegram drafted by Mao Zedong for the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China to Chen Yi, with copies to Zhou Enlai and Ye Jianying.