The Capture of Chongqing Should Be Decided According to Developments in the Situation
(November 28, 1949)

Liu, Deng, Zhang, Li, and inform He, Li,
Lin, Tan, Xiao:

Your telegram of the 27th at you hour has been received. What concerns me is the fear that the enemy in Chongqing may take advantage of the fact that our three armies on the western route still need to wait until December 10 to occupy Luzhou, and that our 11th and 12th Armies are advancing on Chongqing too early, which might alarm the enemy and cause them to abandon their defense prematurely, fleeing upstream or toward Chengdu. However, if you believe that after Luo Guangwen has been annihilated, there will no longer be many troops defending Chongqing, and that it will inevitably be abandoned prematurely, and therefore it would be more advantageous to quickly occupy Chongqing, then your plan to capture Chongqing early is appropriate. If the enemy in Chongqing shows no intention of fleeing, then it may be more suitable for the 11th and 12th Armies, after annihilating Luo Guangwen, to cross the river upstream from Chongqing and occupy a section north of the river, then decide on a plan for attacking the city depending on the situation. Please decide at your discretion according to developments in the situation.

Mao Zedong
November 28, 20:00 hours