Reply to Lin Biao
(January 1, 1949)

With the enemy forces at Xinbao’an and Zhangjiakou having been wiped out, the position of Fu Zuoyi and his immediate subordinates in Beiping has changed. Only now can we truly talk about drawing Fu Zuoyi to our side and making Fu’s troops serve our purposes. Therefore, you should diligently carry out the work regarding Fu Zuoyi. You should, through the Beiping Municipal Party Committee, directly convey the following points to Fu Zuoyi: (A) For the time being, do not issue any public circular telegram. Once such a telegram is issued, he will lose his legal standing, and both he and his subordinates may come under pressure from the Chiang Kai-shek clique and might even be liquidated. (B) Fu has opposed the Communists for a very long time, and we have no choice but to list him as a war criminal along with Liu Zhi, Bai Chongxi, Yan Xishan, Hu Zongnan, and others. Once we make this announcement, Fu’s standing with Chiang Kai-shek and the Chiang army will immediately be strengthened. Fu can take advantage of this to make a show of asserting that the only course is to fight resolutely to the end and that there is no other way out. In reality, however, he can reach an agreement with us to coordinate from within and without, thereby liberating Beiping peacefully or liberating Beiping after only minimal fighting. If Fu renders this great service, we will have grounds to pardon him for his war crimes and to preserve his subordinates. (C) Chairman Mao has received the telegram Fu sent to him. Chairman Mao believes that the attitude Fu expressed in that telegram is not realistic. He should proceed according to the methods outlined in points (A) and (B) above, for only these will conform to reality and be acceptable to our side. (D) We hope that Fu will secretly come out of the city for negotiations, sending a representative of standing who can assume responsibility, accompanied by Mr. Cui and Mr. Zhang Dongsun. (E) Regarding Fu’s

[1] These are the main points of a reply telegram to Lin Biao drafted by Mao Zedong for the Military Commission of the CPC Central Committee concerning the negotiations with Fu Zuoyi.
[2] Mr. Cui refers to Cui Zaizhi, who at the time served as the Director and Editor-in-Chief of Beiping’s Pingming Daily.