Reply Telegram to Cheng Qian
(August 5, 1949)
General Songyun:
Your telegram of wei-jiang has been received and noted. The two provisional organs you proposed—the establishment of the Provisional Military and Administrative Committee of the Kuomintang of China for Hunan Province, under your leadership, and the Headquarters of the Hunan People’s Liberation Army of the Kuomintang of China, under General Chen Mingren, as well as the appointment by the Provisional Military and Administrative Committee of a provisional Provincial Government Chairman and Commander of the Hunan People’s Liberation Army—are all necessary to counter the puppet regime in Guangzhou, maintain order in Hunan, stabilize military morale, facilitate negotiations, and rally all circles. They may be implemented immediately. Delaying the provincial government transfer meeting for a short period so as to avoid provoking military and administrative personnel is also beneficial and harmless. We also hold that the Hunan Provisional Military and Administrative Committee should not be an empty title; it must exercise the necessary functions and powers. With the exception of those localities already taken over by our forces, all other localities should be directed by the Provisional Military and Administrative Committee, so that order may be more easily maintained. In short, in liberating Hunan and the various areas of the southwest, there are many areas in which we must rely on you and your comrades’ valued assistance. As long as something is beneficial to the advance of the People’s Liberation Army and our revolutionary work, every matter may be discussed and arranged. In resolutely breaking away from the puppet regime and joining the people’s revolution, you and General Chen Mingren have raised the banner of righteousness high for all to see, winning the acclaim of all the nation. Gazing southward to the clouds over Hunan, we respectfully extend our congratulations.

Mao Zedong
Zhu De
wei-wei

(August 5, 1949)
We believe the provisional organs proposed by Cheng Qian are necessary and should be approved. The reply telegram from Mao and Zhu to Cheng Qian is to be forwarded immediately by Lin and Deng. Lin and Deng should also send a telegram in accordance with the intent of Mao and Zhu’s reply to encourage Cheng Qian.
[1]
This constitutes the main content of a telegram drafted by Mao Zedong for the Military Commission of the CPC Central Committee, addressed to Lin Biao, Deng Zihui, Xiao Ke, and Zhao Erlu, with notice to Xiao Jinguang and Wang Shoudao.