[ ] denotes the telegram dated May 24, 1950, sent by Deng Zihui, Tan Zheng, and Tao Zhu to the Military Commission and Comrade Lin Biao. In that telegram they proposed: Chen Mingren’s unit (the 21st Corps) currently numbers just over 24,000 personnel. It is planned to reinforce it with another 22,000, bringing its total strength to approximately 46,700. This would represent an increase of about 10,000 over the unit’s original establishment following its uprising. Zhang Zhen’s unit likewise requires reinforcement; might it be possible to add two to three thousand men, thereby demonstrating equal treatment?

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Military Commission Telegram Approving the Reinforcement of Chen Mingren’s and Zhang Zhen’s Units for Deng Zihui et al. (May 24, 1950) To Deng, Tan, and Tao [3], with copy to Comrade Lin Biao [4]: Your telegram of May 22 [ ] has been received. Your plan to reinforce Chen Mingren’s unit is sound; Zhang Zhen’s unit should also be reinforced, so as to treat both equally. The Military Commission, May 24, printed from Mao Zedong’s manuscript. Notes [1] Chen Mingren was a former Nationalist government army general who, together with Cheng Qian, led his troops in an uprising in Changsha in August 1949. At that time he served as Commander of the PLA’s 21st Corps and Deputy Commander of the Hunan Military Region. Zhang Zhen was a former Nationalist government army general who led his forces in an uprising in Wuchang in May 1949. At that time he was Commander of the PLA’s 51st Army. [2] Deng Zihui was then the Second Political Commissar of the PLA Central-South Military Region. [3] “Tan” refers to Tan Zheng, who at the time was the Third Political Commissar of the PLA Central-South Military Region. “Tao” refers to Tao Zhu, who at the time was Director of the Political Department of the PLA Central-South Military Region. [4] Lin Biao was then Commander of the PLA Fourth Field Army and Commander of the Central-South Military Region.