Comrade Shu Shi [1] and, for information, Comrade Zi Hui [2]: Your telegram of May 9 has been received.

(1) Liu Ruilong and Tan Qilong [3] may arrive at the Central Committee on May 20.

(2) Chen Pixian [4] need not come, but please ask Comrade Chen Pixian to send a detailed report with specific content to the Central Committee by telegram on the following three issues: the deviations in grain requisition in southern Jiangsu and the situation regarding their correction; how the problems of food grain, seeds, fertilizers, etc., during spring ploughing have been resolved, and the current state of spring ploughing in southern Jiangsu; and the disaster situation and relief efforts in southern Jiangsu. This is to facilitate a reply to Huang Yanpei [5] (Huang Yanpei’s report on the situation in southern Jiangsu and his written opinion setting forth remedial measures has been sent to your office and presumably received; please copy and forward it to Chen Pixian for study).

If the materials are insufficient and require investigation and research, they may be prepared and sent before June 10. Pay special attention to investigating the conditions in the three counties of Chuansha, Nanhui, and Fengxian. According to Huang Yanpei, these three counties have 200,000 disaster victims; not only has grain requisition not been reduced or exempted, but heavy requisition is to be imposed, resulting in the peasants of the three counties having no seeds, applying no fertilizers, suffering from insufficient food grain, and experiencing a great decline in physical strength, making it difficult for them to go down to the fields to work, etc. Whether this is true or not, personnel should be dispatched for a detailed investigation. In accordance with the spirit of seeking truth from facts, affirm what is true, deny what is false; confirm what is right, reject what is wrong. Investigate each point clearly, provide analysis, and report.

(3) You need not prepare your April report.

Mao Zedong
May 12
Published based on the manuscript.

Notes

--- Notes

[1] Shu Shi, i.e., Rao Shushi, then First Secretary of the East China Bureau of the CPC Central Committee.
[2] Zi Hui, i.e., Deng Zihui, then Third Secretary of the Central-South Bureau of the CPC Central Committee.
[3] Liu Ruilong (1910–1988), a native of Nantong County (now Tongzhou City), Jiangsu Province, then Secretary of the Rural Work Committee of the East China Bureau of the CPC Central Committee. Tan Qilong, born in 1914, a native of Yongxin, Jiangxi Province, then Deputy Secretary of the CPC Zhejiang Provincial Committee.
[4] Chen Pixian (1916–1995), a native of Shanghang, Fujian Province, then Secretary of the CPC Southern Jiangsu District Committee.
[5] Huang Yanpei (1878–1965).