The Troops Should Solve the Problem of Cotton-Padded Clothes by Themselves[1]

(September 16, 1947)

Liu, Deng:

In preparing winter clothing for your entire army, do not place the emphasis on timely supply from the rear, but rather on self-provisioning. If you can make efforts to collect cotton and cloth and have each person make a thin cotton-padded coat or a cotton-padded vest, they will be able to wear them until December or January, by which time winter clothing from the rear may possibly be sent up to help.

The Military Commission

16th, 12:00 hours

[1] This is a telegram drafted by Mao Zedong for the Central Military Commission of the CPC Central Committee to be sent to Commander Liu Bocheng and Political Commissar Deng Xiaoping of the Shanxi-Hebei-Shandong-Henan Field Army.

Liu, Deng: In preparing winter clothing for your entire army, do not place it on the rear, on timely supply by you, but rather on self-provisioning. If you can make efforts to collect cotton and cloth and have each person make a thin cotton-padded coat or a cotton-padded vest, they will be able to wear them until December, by which time various clothing from the rear may possibly be sent up to help. Military Commission, 16th, 12:00 hours

Manuscript of Mao Zedong’s telegram to Liu Bocheng and Deng Xiaoping.