Reply to the East China Military Region[1]

(February 27, 1949)

Your handling of the Chongqing is appropriate. Whenever possible, we must strive to win over Deng Zhaoxiang and Lu Rongyi[2] politically to our side, so as to facilitate the complete surrender of the entire Kuomintang navy.

[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 the East China Military Region regarding the uprising of the Kuomintang navy cruiser Chongqing.

[2] Deng Zhaoxiang and Lu Rongyi were then serving as the captain and first officer of the cruiser Chongqing. On February 25, they led the entire crew in an uprising at Wusongkou, Shanghai, breaking away from the Kuomintang government.