Reply to Lin Biao, Luo Ronghuan, and Nie Rongzhen

(February 5, 1949)

Judging from the overall situation, it is possible that Wuhan, Nanjing, Shanghai, Changsha, Nanchang, Hangzhou, Fuzhou, and Guangzhou may all be resolved in the manner of Beiping. Although there is still the possibility of fighting a few more battles, the likelihood of achieving peaceful resolution one by one in various places is very great, and Taiyuan also has this possibility. Therefore, it is absolutely necessary to win Fu Zuoyi over to our side. If Taiyuan can be peacefully resolved in the same way as Beiping, and if Yan Xishan can make a gesture similar to that of Fu Zuoyi mentioned above, we can also treat him in the same manner as we treat Fu Zuoyi. As long as Li Zongren and Bai Chongxi can stand on the side beneficial to the people’s cause and resolve the issues in Nanjing, Shanghai, Wuhan, and other places according to the Beiping method, we will treat them with the same attitude as we treat Fu Zuoyi.

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