Reply to Chen Yi, Deng Xiaoping, and Others[1]

(November 6, 1948)

We approve your policy of first dealing with Liu Ruming within three to five days. The main forces of Liu Ruming’s two armies have both moved to the Yongcheng area. If you decide to strike Liu Ruming, you should advance directly to the vicinity of Yongcheng and dispatch units to block possible reinforcements from the enemy at Dangshan and Huangkou.

[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 Deng Xiaoping, with copies to Su Yu, Chen Shiju, and Zhang Zhen.