Reply to Peng Dehuai’s Telegram[1]
(September 4, 1949)

In advancing into Qing[hai] and Ning[xia], take solving problems in a manner suited to the situation and not overly fatiguing the troops as the principle; a little earlier or a little later is both acceptable. Strive with all efforts for the complete disarming of the Ma army in Ningxia; next best is to strive for the disarming of the greater part and the reorganization of one part. In short, the fewer troops reorganized, the better. Please consider making use of Ma Hongbin[2] and sending people to do some work with Ma Hongbin, striving for a situation in which the greater part peacefully disarms and one part is reorganized. Ningxia has few people and a narrow territory; the Ma clique’s military, political, and party personnel may number 200,000, plus the 100,000 men of the 19th Corps, so the grain problem will certainly be extremely serious. Please make preparations in advance.

[1]
[2]

--- Notes

On September 2, Mao Zedong drafted a telegram on behalf of the Military Commission of the CPC Central Committee to Peng Dehuai and Zhang Zongxun, inquiring whether it was possible to occupy Qinghai and Ningxia before September 15. On the 3rd, Peng and Zhang replied by telegram, stating that it was possible to occupy Xining on the 15th and the provincial capital of Ningxia by the end of September. This is the main content of Mao Zedong’s telegram replying to Peng Dehuai and informing He Long and Xi Zhongxun.


Ma Hongbin was then serving as Deputy Director of the Kuomintang’s Northwest Military and Political Affairs Office.