Telegram in Reply to Lin Biao and Luo Ronghuan
(January 20, 1949)

[1]
According to the report by Mo Wenhua, the ten representatives who came out of Beiping for negotiations are a step arranged by Fu Zuoyi to prepare for a peaceful settlement with us. Such negotiations by representatives coming out of the city are beneficial for us in winning the hearts of the people of Beiping, disintegrating the enemy from within, and prompting Fu Zuoyi to come out of the city for reorganization. If these representatives come again and request to see you or to see Ye, they should be properly escorted and entertained, and you should receive them, but be vigilant against possible sabotage activities by them.

[1] This is the main content of the telegram drafted by Mao Zedong for the Central Military Commission of the CPC in reply to Lin Biao and Luo Ronghuan.

[2] In a report on January 19, Lin Biao and Luo Ronghuan forwarded to the Central Military Commission the report from Mo Wenhua, Political Commissar of the Fourth Column, which stated: “I met with the representatives who came out of Beiping for negotiations. They were led by He Siyuan. In the conversation they expressed the hope that a way out would be given to Fu Zuoyi and that the pressure should not be too tight. The negotiations between representatives of both sides should be for a peaceful settlement so as to prevent damage to Beiping. They also requested to see Chief of Staff Ye. I conveyed the instructions of the headquarters to the ten representatives from Beiping. At the time everyone considered them satisfactory—straightforward and very generous, especially the terms that Fu’s troops would withdraw outside the city to await reorganization and that the safety of his person and the property of officers and their families would be guaranteed. After the conversation, all the representatives were escorted back to Beiping.”

[3] Ye refers to Ye Jianying.