Reply to Ye Jianying and Chen Geng[1]
(September 12, 1949)

Your telegram of the 8th[2] is noted. The two army groups shall, as the first step, assemble and rest for several days; as the second step, advance abreast to the Qujiang-Wengyuan area and rest for several days; and as the third step, coordinate efforts to capture Guangzhou. Apart from this, everything else is approved.

[1] This is the main content of a telegram drafted by Mao Zedong for the Central Military Commission of the CPC Central Committee in reply to Ye Jianying and Chen Geng.
[2] In their telegram of September 8 to the Central Military Commission of the CPC Central Committee, Ye Jianying and Chen Geng reported on the battle plan for the liberation of Guangdong formulated at the Ganzhou Conference of the South China Sub-Bureau. They proposed, in accordance with the intentions of the Central Military Commission, to first wipe out the enemy forces in the Beijiang and Dongjiang areas, advance to occupy Qujiang (now part of Shaoguan City) and Huiyang, create conditions for a peaceful settlement, and strive for a peaceful resolution. At the same time, they prepared to deal with the enemy forces stubbornly defending Guangzhou. Because the Fourth Army Group and the Fifteenth Army Group were too far apart, in order to achieve simultaneous deployment, advance abreast, and execute a pincer encirclement, they had to first assemble in the designated areas, with assembly to be completed by the end of September.