Telegram in Reply to General Zhang Zhen
(张轸) and the Former Nineteenth Corps of
the Guomindang
(June 16, 1949)
(Xinhua News Agency, Beiping)
Chairman Mao and Chief Commander Zhu sent a telegram in reply to General
Zhang Zhen (张轸) today. The telegram stated:
General Zhang Zhen and all commanders and soldiers of the former Nineteenth
Corps of the Guomindang:
We received your telegram sent on May 23rd. We welcome your revolt on the
Central China front line. We hope that your army unites as one, tries to study the
military and political system of the People’s Liberation Army, improves the relationship between commanders and soldiers and between the army and the people,
and joins the fighting ranks of the People’s Liberation Army. The remnants of
the Guomindang army are sparse now but they intend to resist, and they will be
swiftly annihilated. We appeal to any first-rank leaders, such as yourselves, with
patriotic hearts among the remnants of the Guomindang army who are willing to
lead their subordinates to break away from the reactionary camp; we will welcome all of them. Their past crimes will be forgiven for the sake of their future
actions that benefit the people’s undertakings.
Mao Zedong
Zhu De
The source for this article is Renmin ribao, June 17, 1949, p. 1.
DOI:  10.4324/9781315719436-282