Telegram to Lin Biao, Zihui, Hunan Provincial Party Committee, and also to Liu and Deng:
(October 31, 1949)
Lin Biao, Zihui, Hunan Provincial Party Committee, and also to Liu and Deng:
(1) My talks with Cheng Qian and Cheng Xingling went very well. I have asked Cheng Xingling to convey many of my remarks to you. Please pay close attention to strengthening our relations with Cheng Qian, Cheng Xingling, Li Mingchao, Tang Xing, and other progressive elements, striving to bring them even closer to our cause.
[1]
Lin Biao,
at that time First Secretary of the Central China Bureau of the CPC.
[2]
Zihui refers to Deng Zihui, who was then Third Secretary of the Central China Bureau of the CPC.
[3]
Liu refers to Liu Bocheng,
then Second Secretary of the Southwest Bureau of the CPC. Deng refers to Deng Xiaoping,
who was First Secretary of the Southwest Bureau at the time.
[4]
Cheng Qian, a former Nationalist government military commander,
led a revolt in Changsha together with Chen Mingren in August 1949;
he served as a member of the Central People’s Government and Director of the Hunan People’s Military and Political Committee. Cheng Xingling, a cousin of Cheng Qian, had previously been an advisor to the Taiwan Administrative Office of the Nationalist government,
and from December 1948 to August 1949 participated in the preparations for the Changsha uprising led by Cheng Qian and Chen Mingren;
he held the positions of Counselor in the State Council of the Central People’s Government and Advisor to the Hunan People’s Military and Political Committee.
[5]
Li Mingchao, a former Nationalist government military officer,
went to the North China Liberated Area in 1948, took part in the peaceful liberation of Beiping, and contributed to the August 1949 uprising led by Cheng Qian and Chen Mingren;
he served as Secretary-General of the Hunan People’s Military and Political Committee. Tang Xing, formerly Deputy Director of the Changsha Pacification Office of the Nationalist government, also played a role in the August 1949 uprising alongside Cheng Qian and Chen Mingren, acting as the chief negotiator on Cheng Qian’s side;
he was a member of the Hunan People’s Military and Political Committee at the time.

Based on the Common Program, we should strike against reactionaries and reorganize Chen Mingren’s forces
to facilitate the development of the mass movement. (2) How has Chen Mingren behaved since returning to Hunan? To what extent has the reorganization of his corps progressed? Have Cheng Qian and his delegation already arrived in Hankou? (3) The provincial committees of Hunan and Hubei are requested to each submit a report to the Central Committee on united front work and mass movement activities. (4) Central China must prepare to establish a military-political committee centered on our Party as a united front body,
to serve as the highest authority during the transitional period for administering military, political, economic, and cultural affairs across six provinces.[2]
It is proposed that Lin Biao be appointed chairman, with Deng Zihui and Cheng Qian serving as vice chairmen, and that the committee include prominent figures both within and outside the Party from all six provinces. Since Lin Biao has now gone to Hengyang to direct operations, Zihui should consider whether it is necessary to convene Wang Shoudao (or Jin Ming), Chen Zhengren, Zhang Li, and Li Xiannian[3] to discuss and draw up a list of approximately forty individuals, excluding those from Guangdong and Guangxi, which could then be telegraphed to the Central Committee for consideration; alternatively, a telegram could be sent to the party committees of Hunan, Jiangxi, and Henan requesting them to submit lists from their respective provinces, combined with Hubei’s list, and forwarded to us (the lists for Guangdong and Guangxi would be drafted by the Central Committee). This list is expected to be transmitted within two weeks, but no information is to be leaked externally. (5) Regarding the establishment of the Central China Military-Political Committee[4] and inviting Cheng Qian to serve as vice chairman, we have already discussed these matters with Cheng Qian and Cheng Xingling. Cheng Qian has expressed his willingness to assume the post of vice chairman under Lin Biao’s leadership.
Mao Zedong
October 31st
[1]
Chen Mingren, a former Nationalist government military commander,
led a revolt in Changsha together with Cheng Qian in August 1949. He served as Deputy Commander of the Hunan Military Region of the Chinese People’s Liberation Army.
[2] Refers to the six provinces of Henan, Hubei, Hunan, Jiangxi, Guangdong, and Guangxi.
[3]
Wang Shoudao was then First Deputy Secretary of the Hunan Provincial Committee of the CPC. Jin Ming was Second Deputy Secretary of the same committee. Chen Zhengren was Secretary of the Jiangxi Provincial Committee of the CPC. Zhang Li was Secretary of the Henan Provincial Committee of the CPC. Li Xiannian was Secretary of the Hubei Provincial Committee of the CPC.
[4]
In December 1949, when the military-political committee was formally established, it was named the Central-South Military-Political Committee.