Reply Telegram to the East China Bureau [I]
(July 21, 1949)
Deng Xiaoping has arrived. The Central Committee has held a meeting to discuss his report and has entrusted Comrade Chen Yun to convey it to you in person. The Shanghai problem can be solved only by proceeding from three aspects: the countryside, streamlining, and dispersal. Devote great efforts to rural work in the three provinces of Jiangsu, Zhejiang and Anhui, and win the support of the peasant masses. This is of primary importance; otherwise, the difficult problems of Shanghai and any other cities cannot be thoroughly resolved. Next, streamline troops and simplify administration to save state expenditures. This is also very important, and you can start doing it right now. Next again is dispersal. This requires a feasible plan. Please discuss it with Chen Yun and finally submit a specific plan to the Central Committee for discussion.
[I] This is the main content of the reply telegram to the East China Bureau drafted by Mao Zedong for the CPC Central Committee. At that time, Chen Yun was entrusted by the CPC Central Committee to take charge of organizing the Central Finance and Economy Committee and was preparing to go to Shanghai to arrange the convening of a finance and economy conference for the five major regions: East China, North China, Central China, Northeast, and Northwest.