After Occupying Nantong and Haimen, Attention Should Be Paid to Expanding Political Influence[1]

(August 20, 1946)

Su Yu and Tan Zhenlin, and inform Chen Yi, Zhang Dingcheng, and Deng Zihui[2]:

(1) The troops occupying Nantong and Haimen must not commit the slightest offense against civilians, must not remove any factories, must not confiscate any shops, and must not raise funds, so as to expand political influence. (2) After entering the cities, the following slogans may be posted: Oppose civil war and realize peace, oppose dictatorship and realize democracy, oppose subservience to foreign powers and realize independence, implement all resolutions of the First Political Consultative Conference, convene the Second Political Consultative Conference to resolve all issues, abolish secret service agencies, freedom of speech and assembly, and other local demands. (3) Students and workers who wish to come to the Liberated Areas to work may be recruited in large numbers, but no coercion should be used.

The Central Committee

Weihao[3]

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[1] This was a telegram drafted by Mao Zedong for the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China, addressed to Su Yu, Commander of the Central China Field Army, and Tan Zhenlin, its Political Commissar. After the battle of Libao in mid-August 1946, the Central China Field Army planned to use part of its forces to capture Nantong and Haimen, thereby drawing the Kuomintang troops from Rugao, Hai’an, and other areas southward for reinforcement and then annihilating them. Due to subsequent changes in the situation, this operation was not carried out and was instead changed to attacking Dingnian and Linzi south of Rugao.

[2] Chen Yi was then Commander and Political Commissar of the Shandong Field Army. Zhang Dingcheng and Deng Zihui were then Commander and Political Commissar of the Central China Military Area, respectively.

[3] Weihao, the twentieth day of the eighth month in the traditional Chinese calendar.