Reorganize Zhang Zhen’s Troops as an Insurrectionary Force[1]

(May 25, 1949)

The Central China Bureau, with a copy to Xiao and Chen:[2]

(1) Your telegram of May 22 and that of Lin and Xiao[3] of May 23 have been received. (2) Zhang Zhen’s troops[4] should be treated in the same way as an insurrectionary force, as in the cases of Zeng Zesheng and Wu Huawen.[5] (3) If places like Jinkou[6] and Jiayu are suitable at present, the troops may be reorganized and trained on the spot pending reorganization. If there is a shortage of grain in the Jinkou-Jiayu area, please consider whether they can be ordered to move to the Jianghan Military Area to obtain grain supplies and to facilitate winning them over and reorganizing them. (4) Zhang Zhen has been in contact with us for quite a long time. His troops were formed from the Henan provincial security forces, and it is not clear whether they include some local armed forces from Hubei. The concentration of such troops and their reorganization under our command is

[1] This is a telegram drafted by Mao Zedong for the Military Commission of the CPC Central Committee to be sent to the Central China Bureau of the CPC Central Committee.

[2] Xiao and Chen: Xiao Jinguang and Chen Bojun, who were then respectively commander and concurrently political commissar and first deputy commander of the 12th Army of the Fourth Field Army.

[3] Lin and Xiao: Lin Biao and Xiao Ke, who were then respectively commander of the Fourth Field Army and concurrently commander of the Central China Military Area, and first chief of staff.

[4] Zhang Zhen’s troops refers to the 19th Army of the former Kuomintang army, with Zhang Zhen as army commander. This army revolted and came over to our side on May 15, 1949, at Heshengqiao and Jinkou south of Wuchang, Hubei Province.

[5] Zeng Zesheng, former deputy commander of the 1st Army of the Kuomintang army and concurrently commander of the 60th Corps, revolted and came over with his troops in Changchun in October 1948. In January 1949 the corps was reorganized as the 50th Army of the PLA, with Zeng Zesheng as army commander. Wu Huawen, former commander of the Reorganized 96th Corps of the Kuomintang army, revolted and came over with his troops in Jinan in September 1948. In October 1948 the corps was reorganized as the 35th Army of the PLA, with Wu Huawen as army commander.

[6] Jinkou, a town in the western part of Wuchang County, Hubei Province.