Reply Telegram to Chen Mingren
(August 13, 1949)

To His Excellency Chairman Chen Mingren of the Hunan Provincial Government in Changsha:

We have duly received your telegram of the 12th. The uprising in Hunan has been warmly welcomed far and wide. We commend Mr. Song Yun and Your Excellency for your able leadership, which has rendered great service. The transitional provincial administrative body under Your Excellency’s chairmanship is most necessary; it should continue to exercise its powers to maintain order and facilitate mobilization. We further urge Your Excellency to consolidate your forces and press on with renewed vigor. As for us, we shall, together with all CCP personnel, engage in candid cooperation with Mr. Song Yun and Your Excellency, so as to advance the revolutionary cause.  With regard to the establishment of the People’s Provincial Government, it would be more appropriate to proceed only after further military developments have taken place, following consultation with Mr. Song Yun and Your Excellency. Should Your Excellency have any views on this matter, we would be grateful for your guidance at any time.

Mao Zedong
Zhu De
Zhu Yuan

The manuscript of a reply telegram from Mao Zedong and Zhu De to Chen Mingren.