Inscription on the Request for Instructions from the East China Military Region Regarding the Construction of the Shuiji–Jian’ou Highway (January 30, 1951)
Zhou [1]: Please consult with Chen and Bo [3] on this matter [2] and reply. It is reported that four requests for instructions have been made without receiving a reply.
Mao Zedong
January 30
Published based on the manuscript.

Notes
[1] Zhou refers to Zhou Enlai.
[2] Refers to the telegram of January 28, 1951, from Commander Chen Yi, Deputy Director of the Political Department Tang Liang, Chief of Staff Zhang Zhen, and Deputy Chief of Staff Zhou Junming of the East China Military Region of the Chinese People’s Liberation Army to the Military Commission, with copies to the East China Bureau and the East China Ministry of Communications, stating that the construction of the new Shuiji–Jian’ou highway in Fujian should not be halted. The telegram stated: The construction of the new Shuiji–Jian’ou highway is of extreme military importance. Given the current need to strengthen combat readiness along the coasts of Fujian and Guangdong and to transport large quantities of materials southward, the urgency of building this road is all the more pressing. If construction is halted immediately in accordance with the directive from the East China Ministry of Communications, as relayed from the Central Ministry of Communications, the resulting losses would be minor, but the inability to ensure strategic transportation into Fujian in the future would be a matter of grave consequence. We have made four requests for instructions but have yet to receive a reply.
[3] Chen refers to Chen Yun, then Vice Premier of the Government Administration Council and Director of the Financial and Economic Committee. Bo refers to Bo Yibo, then Deputy Director of the Financial and Economic Committee of the Government Administration Council.