Reply Telegram to Xi Zhongxun [1] Regarding the Central Authorities’ Decision Not to Prosecute Minor and Medium-Sized Corrupt Officials (February 15, 1952) Comrade Zhongxun: Your telegram of February 13 [2] has been received. (1) The central authorities do not intend to hold trials for minor and medium-sized corrupt officials; (2) It is advisable for the Northwest Administrative Region to try a group of corrupt officials in February. Such trials should focus on major cases involving sums exceeding 100 million yuan, and those involving amounts below that threshold should be deferred for the time being. Please also telegraph first the key points concerning sentencing guidelines. Mao Zedong February 15 Published from the manuscript. Notes [1] Xi Zhongxun was at the time the Second Secretary of the Northwest Bureau of the CPC Central Committee. [ ] Refers to Xi Zhongxun’s telegram of February 13, 1952, in which he suggested that the central authorities postpone the public trial of corrupt officials—scheduled for February 16 and to include several serious cases of minor and medium-sized corruption—that had been originally planned, addressed to Mao Zedong.