Ace
aoe 10 the source, Peng was a one-time colleague of Mao's in the New Hunan
Mattonary Army, See text Nov. 15, 1949.

oa Yousheng:'
faa very happy to receive your letter of March 14. You are too modest in
thay «oT Please do not be'so modest, [Fit is by the agreement of the masses
YOu have been classified as a poor peasant, that is very good. As for work

loc KAA
and employment, if you can manage in the country, it would be better
stayed there or at least stayed in the country for a time, because I am aff;
that if you ventured out it may be difficult for you to find a suitable position
things indeed are very very difficult, you may bring this letter to Chang,
and look up Mr. Cheng Xingling, Vice-chairman of the Hunan Proving
People's Government, and ask his direction and advice as (o whether g

there are ways in which he may help you. I cannot guarantee that there will
results, since Mr. Cheng and the other comrades do not know you well
know nothing of your past or your recent circumstances, Even | mys
that situation, so it would not be proper for me to suggest any concep

try. When you go, you can report to him about the fact that you had ¢
worked in the Hunan army during the period of the Xinhai (1911) Revolut
and that you were my colleague (you were the squadron second-in-comp

and | was a private), and give him a clear rendition of your past.

In reply and with my respect,
Mao Zedong
March 31
Note

1. See text Nov. 17, 1949, note 2, for an explanation of this usage.