Reply to Su Yu, Zhang Zhen, and Others[1]

(June 17, 1948)

Fully agree with the deployment outlined in the Wu-Wu telegram.[2] This is the correct policy under the present circumstances. When the situation becomes critical, act independently without requesting instructions. Request Liu and Deng to firmly contain the 18th Army and the 47th Army.

[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 Su Yu and Zhang Zhen, with information copied to the Central Plains Bureau and the East China Bureau, regarding the change from seeking to annihilate the 5th Army to attacking and occupying Kaifeng.

[2] Su Yu and Zhang Zhen reported to the Central Military Commission of the Communist Party of China, with information to Liu Bocheng, Deng Xiaoping, Chen Yi, and Deng Zihui, and the East China Bureau, at Wu hour on June 16: In order to compel the enemy to disperse and seek to annihilate one enemy column in the course of movement, Chen Shiju and Tang Liang are to lead the 3rd and 8th Columns to complete the encirclement of Kaifeng tonight and attack and occupy it.