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

We agree to your arrangement that the various units of the Beiping garrison forces shall move to and be stationed in the areas between the Beiping–Hankou and Tianjin–Pukou railway lines, as well as in the Sanhe and Xianghe regions. However, our troops should redeploy and assume an encircling and controlling posture over the enemy’s positions. Furthermore, a general order must be issued to the commanders of all our units, so that they clearly understand the strategic intent.

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