Strive to Win Over Cheng Qian and Settle the Hunan Question by Peaceful Means[1]

(July 4, 1949)

Comrades Lin [Biao] and Deng [Zihui], and Comrades Wang [Shoudao] and Xiao [Jinguang]:

(1) We have read Comrades Wang and Xiao’s telegram of the 30th and Cheng Qian’s memorandum.[2] Please attend to this matter, Comrades Lin and Deng. We think that Cheng Qian’s attitude is good and we should do our utmost to win him over so that the Hunan question can be settled by peaceful means.

(2) In principle, Cheng Qian’s three demands for a military group, a joint organization and the retention, reorganization and education of his troops and cadres can all be granted, and a military group should be set up immediately to discuss and decide on the concrete measures. Our army will soon be on the move, so this matter must be handled quickly.

(3) In order to take over Hunan Province properly and to ensure supplies for our army, please consider, Comrades Lin and Deng, whether it would be advisable to retain for the time being all of Cheng Qian’s present military and political posts, in addition to setting up a joint organization, and to issue orders in his name so as to facilitate the takeover of the whole province and the procurement of provisions. The joint organization is to handle matters like army reorganization and will be composed of representatives from both sides, in which Cheng Qian himself may not participate. It seems better to let him keep his posts and take charge of the civil and military affairs in the areas our army has not yet reached, so as to prevent a state of anarchy. Please consider whether this is feasible and wire us your views.

(4) If Cheng Qian issues a statement opposing the United States, Chiang Kai-shek and the Guangxi clique, it seems that we should treat him as having come over with his troops, so that he can play a role in influencing the southern provinces. We may also consider giving him a high-sounding title, such as Pacification Commissioner of the South, and after the southern provinces are pacified, he can come and work in the central government. Cheng Qian is a veteran follower of Dr. Sun Yat-sen and held a very high position in the Kuomintang. In recent years his administration of Hunan has shown him to be progressive. It will be greatly to our advantage if he sincerely sides with us. Please consider this point too.

(5) Has Li Minghao[3] arrived?

The Military Commission of the Central Committee

July 4

Letter to Cheng Qian

(July 4, 1949)

Dear Mr. Songyun,

I have read your memorandum. I am extremely gratified that you have decided to adopt the policy of opposing Chiang Kai-shek and the Guangxi clique and of settling the Hunan question by peaceful means. Your proposals for a military group, a joint organization and the retention, reorganization and education of your troops are all feasible. We have sent Comrade Li Minghao to Hankou to see General Lin Biao. Please send representatives to Hankou to meet General Lin and discuss and decide on the military group, the joint organization and the military arrangements. To accomplish our task quickly and strike at the Guangxi clique, it is advisable for you to send your representatives as soon as possible. Should you come under pressure from the Guangxi clique, you may act as you see fit. So long as you are determined to stand on the side of the people and oppose the United States, Chiang Kai-shek and the Guangxi clique, we can understand your taking any expedient measures. Many matters await attention, and we will have to rely on you a great deal. I have instructed General Lin Biao to make proper liaison with you.

Mao Zedong

July 4

[1] This telegram was drafted by Mao Zedong for the Military Commission of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China and addressed to Lin Biao, commander of the Fourth Field Army and concurrently of the Central China Military Command, and Deng Zihui, its Second Political Commissar.

[2] A reference to the memorandum submitted by Cheng Qian, Chairman of the Kuomintang Hunan Provincial Government and concurrently Director of the Kuomintang Changsha Pacification Office, to the Hunan Provincial Working Committee of the CPC for transmission to the Central Committee of the CPC and Mao Zedong in June 1949. In the memorandum, he expressed his readiness to oppose Chiang Kai-shek, the Guangxi clique and the sham peace and to seek local peace for Hunan on the basis of the eight terms in twenty-four clauses for peace negotiations published by the Central Committee of the CPC. The Hunan Provincial Working Committee sent a representative to deliver the memorandum to Wuhan, where Wang Shoudao and Xiao Jinguang forwarded it to the Central Committee of the CPC and Mao Zedong.

[3] Li Minghao, a democratic personage, went to the Liberated Areas in 1948 and was then serving as a corps commander in the North China Military and Political University. He, Cheng Qian and Chen Mingren were all from Liling, Hunan Province. During the First Great Revolution, he was dean of studies at the Army Military Academy, of which Cheng Qian was concurrently president, and Chen Mingren was once a student of both Cheng Qian and Li Minghao. Because of these connections, the Military Commission of the Central Committee of the CPC and the Fourth Field Army sent him as a representative of the People’s Liberation Army to negotiate with Cheng and Chen and persuade them to come over to the people’s side.