Telegram Regarding the Reorganization and Reinforcement of Chen Mingren’s Unit for Lin Biao [2] (November 4, 1949) To Comrade Lin Biao, with copy to Zi Hui [3]: Received your telegram of November 2. Your proposed approach to Chen Mingren’s unit [4] is correct.
The soldiers of the 62nd Division who are currently held as prisoners of war could be transferred to reinforce Chen’s forces if they have not yet been dispersed.
Mao Zedong, November 4, published from the manuscript.
Notes [1] Chen Mingren was a former Nationalist army general who, along with Cheng Qian, led a revolt in Changsha in August 1949.
At that time, he served as Deputy Commander of the Hunan Military Region and Commander of the 21st Corps of the PLA. [2] Lin Biao was then Commander of the Fourth Field Army and Commander of the Central China Military Region. [3] Zi Hui refers to Deng Zikui, who at the time held the dual positions of Second Political Commissar of the Fourth Field Army and Second Political Commissar of the Central China Military Region. [4] In a November 2, 1949, telegram to Mao Zedong and Deng Zikui, Lin Biao outlined his strategy for dealing with Chen Mingren’s unit: “Intensify political and organizational reeducation, teach revolutionary principles, promote progressive elements, correct erroneous thinking, conduct phased training sessions for lagging cadres, with political reeducation taking priority.”
The telegram also mentioned plans to detach two or three independent divisions from Northeast China, or even an entire corps, after the conclusion of the Guangxi Campaign, in order to merge or intermix them with Chen Mingren’s forces.
Furthermore, it noted Chen Mingren’s request to have the captured soldiers of the Nationalist government’s 62nd Division incorporated into his own unit. £± 9