All railway bureaus in a state of disorder should be placed under military administration to restore normal order as quickly as possible. Railway bureaus that are already well-organized should also dispatch military representatives to study and draw on their successful practices for wider application. In addition, motor transport, shipping, and port loading and unloading operations must likewise be brought under control. It is insufficient to focus solely on industry while neglecting transportation. Please give this matter your careful consideration.

(Excerpted from Premier Zhou Enlai’s remarks during his meeting on March 21, 1967, with members of the core leadership group of the Revolutionary Committees of the Ministries of Railways, Communications, and Post and Telecommunications, representatives of revolutionary organizations and revolutionary masses, and members of various ministries and commissions.)