Letter to Zhong Xuekun [1] (December 29, 1959) Comrade Xuekun: Your letter [2] has been received.
Thank you very much.
The “Nine Rivers” refer to nine major rivers spanning Hunan, Hubei, and Jiangxi provinces.
There is no consensus on exactly which nine they are, so there is no need to delve deeply into this matter.
As for the “Three Wu,” Suzhou was historically known as Eastern Wu, Changzhou as Central Wu, and Huzhou as Western Wu.
I am doing quite well; thank you for your concern.
How are your work and studies progressing?
Please devote yourself wholeheartedly to your duties and engage in self-study outside of work—truly immerse yourself in learning genuine skills and knowledge to serve the people.
This is my earnest hope!
Mao Zedong December 29 Based on the manuscript.
Included in the Selected Letters of Mao Zedong.
Notes [1] Zhong Xuekun was a nurse at the Lushan Sanatorium at the time.
During the Lushan Conference, she provided health care services for Mao Zedong. [2] Refers to a letter written by Zhong Xuekun to Mao Zedong in late September 1959, in which she sought guidance from Mao on how to understand certain aspects of the poem “Seven-Character Regulated Verse: Climbing Lushan Mountain,” among other matters.