To Nie Rongzhen, Liu Lantao, Xiao Ke, and Luo Ruiqing[1]

(November 2, 1946)

If the 16th Army is to move south, it would be better to strike the 16th Army first and then shift to the Beiping–Hankou Railway; if the 16th Army does not move south, you may shift to operations along the Beiping–Hankou Railway. Your area must annihilate another six to seven enemy divisions (brigades) before the enemy’s offensive can be halted, and this is entirely possible.

[1] This is the main content of a telegram drafted by Mao Zedong for the Military Commission of the CPC Central Committee to Nie Rongzhen, Liu Lantao, Xiao Ke, and Luo Ruiqing.