Telegram to the East China Bureau and Others[1]

(November 24, 1948)

We approve the policy and attitude you have adopted toward Sun Liangcheng.[2] Because Sun Liangcheng voluntarily laid down his arms without fighting after being encircled, he is different from other captured officers; therefore, the treatment of Sun and his cadres should be somewhat better. They may be assembled and sent to a military academy for study (except for reactionary elements). Sun himself should be accorded courteous treatment; do not let him go, and have him earnestly assist us in carrying out work to instigate defection among Liu Ruming, Liu Ruzhen, Cao Fulin,[3] and the various division commanders of Liu’s forces. All officers of the 107th Army who are suitable for such work should be trained and dispatched to work within Liu’s forces. Work directed at Liu’s forces is extremely important.

[1] This is the main content of a telegram drafted by Mao Zedong for the Military Commission of the CPC Central Committee, addressed to the East China Bureau and for the information of the Central China Work Committee, Liu Bocheng, Chen Yi, Deng Xiaoping, Su Yu, Chen Shiju, and Zhang Zhen.

[2] Sun Liangcheng, formerly Deputy Commander of the Kuomintang’s 1st Pacification Zone and concurrently Commander of the 107th Army, surrendered to the Northern Jiangsu Corps of the East China Field Army in Suining on November 13.

[3] Liu Ruming, Cao Fulin, and Liu Ruzhen were then respectively serving as Commander of the Kuomintang’s 8th Army Corps, Commander of the 55th Army of that Corps, and Commander of the 68th Army.