Reply Telegram and Comments on Tan Zheng's[1] Telegram
(January 1, 1952)

Comrade Tan Zheng:
This document[3] and the telegram of the 30th at 15:00 hours[4] have both been read and noted. This document is very good. You have by and large resolved the contradiction between reorganization and the Three Antis, and you have thus gained the initiative. However, there are two points that are inappropriate, which I have annotated within the text; please consider making corrections. In addition, please pay attention to the following:
(1) Strictly urge and diligently guide the various military regions by telephone and telegram, ensuring that there are gains every day. (2) Personally take firm hold of the directly subordinate departments, holding meetings every three days and issuing reports every five days, following the methods of the Southwest, to achieve results, gain experience, and circulate reports to all places. I look forward to your reports of victory.

Mao Zedong
January 1, 2:00 hours

II
This is very correct. — Mao's annotation[1]

III
This provision[2] is inappropriate. Ordinary personnel in organs, from the headquarters and political departments down to the company headquarters, also include embezzlers. They could use this provision as a pretext to only oppose waste and not oppose embezzlement. It must be ensured that all organs, troops, and schools oppose both waste and embezzlement, and wherever there are instances of embezzlement, they must be thoroughly cleaned up. — Mao's annotation

[1] This annotation was written after the following passage in Item 5 of the Three Antis Directive of the Central-South Military Region Party Committee: "In departments where the phenomenon of embezzlement and waste is serious or where the possibility is relatively large, emphasis should be placed on examining embezzlement and waste, and education should be conducted accordingly. For example, in all logistics departments, general affairs departments of all organs, and other departments responsible for procurement, contracting, ordering, storage, and distribution, as well as departments that control various operational funds."
[2] Refers to the following passage in Item 5 of the Three Antis Directive of the Central-South Military Region Party Committee: "In departments where embezzlement may be relatively minor but extravagance and waste may be relatively major, the main focus should be on opposing extravagance and waste. For example, in general administrative departments of organs, and among ordinary organ personnel and company personnel, the main task is to conduct education on economizing and cherishing state property, universally initiate economization, and create a mass economization movement."

IV
Such a stipulation[1] is inappropriate. Military regions at all levels and units undergoing reorganization could use this provision as a pretext to focus on reorganization and neglect the Three Antis. The regulations of East China should be followed:
(1) In January, focus primarily on the Three Antis, combined with reorganization; in February and March, focus primarily on reorganization, combined with the Three Antis.
(2) Divide the work among leading cadres: assign one person to be solely in charge of the Three Antis, assisted by others; assign one person to be solely in charge of reorganization; assign one person to attend to other work; and when the Three Antis reach a high tide, concentrate efforts to complete the Three Antis. — Mao's annotation

V
Comrade Lin Biao[2]:
After receiving this telegram from Tan Zheng and another document, the telegram criticizing the Central-South has been withheld from dispatch, because Tan Zheng's thinking has already been reversed. The other document written by Tan is basically correct, with two points that are inappropriate. I have annotated them within the text and will send a special messenger to deliver it to Tan Zheng tonight, along with some instructions on methods. How is your illness? I hope you will take good care and recuperate.

Mao Zedong
January 1, 14:00 hours

[1] Refers to the following passage in Item 9 of the Three Antis Directive of the Central-South Military Region Party Committee: "The time for launching this movement may be determined by the tasks of reorganization and transfer to civilian work. That is, in units where the work of reorganization and transfer to civilian work is busy, in order not to impede reorganization and transfer to civilian work, it should be launched after the arrangements for reorganization and transfer to civilian work are roughly in place, and carried out in combination with reorganization."
[2] Lin Biao, then Vice Chairman of the People's Revolutionary Military Commission and Commander of the Central-South Military Region of the Chinese People's Liberation Army.