Reply to Chen Yi, Su Yu, and Others
(August 19, 1947)

Chen, Tang, Ye, and Tao must overcome the sentiment within the troops of wanting to turn back to the interior lines. They should learn from the spirit of Liu and Deng’s heroic struggle on the exterior lines, overcome all difficulties, and resolutely operate in the vast area north of the Huai River and south of the Yellow River. Under no circumstances should they entertain the idea of crossing the Yellow River to return north or crossing the Grand Canal to return east to their old base areas for a prolonged period of rest and reorganization.

[1] This is the main content of a telegram drafted by Mao Zedong for the Central Military Commission of the Communist Party of China in reply to Chen Yi and Su Yu, with copies to Liu Bocheng and Deng Xiaoping.