That's good. This is a matter of great importance, so we should act impartially and not shy
away from suspicion. I have always believed that when comrades have disagreements or
problems, they should be discussed patiently and with more heart-to-heart talks. We
shouldn't be impatient or procrastinate. If things aren't going smoothly, with the Central
Committee's help, they will eventually be resolved.
Mao Zedong
April 24th
After reading it, Lin, Zhou, and Kang [2] should return it to Comrade Li Desheng for
safekeeping (it may be forwarded to Comrade Xu Shiyou and others for their review).

[1] This first part was written in a report submitted to Mao Zedong on April 23, 1971, by Li
Desheng, alternate member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, member
of the Central Military Commission, and Director of the General Political Department of the
Chinese People's Liberation Army. The report stated, "In accordance with your instructions,
on the morning of April 20, I conveyed to Comrade Xu Shiyou the Chairman's instructions
requesting that he address the Zhoushan issue in Zhejiang and the issue of unity within the
military." He was delighted and expressed his firm commitment to complying with the
Chairman's instructions. He also discussed his previous failure to address these two issues,
primarily to avoid suspicion. Firstly, he feared being accused of being a culprit, and secondly,
of attempting to seize power in East China. Therefore, he was reluctant to intervene and
unwilling to speak further on the subject. He requested further discussions with comrades in
Zhejiang. I have already spoken with Comrades Nan Ping and Xiong Yingtang, and they stated
that they had long expressed this desire. They immediately expressed their hope that
Comrade Xu Shiyou would address these issues in accordance with the Chairman's
instructions. This second part was written in the envelope containing Li Shensheng's report.
Xu Shiyou was then Commander of the Nanjing Military Region of the Chinese People's
Liberation Army and Director of the Jiangxi Provincial Revolutionary Committee. Nan Ping
was then First Secretary of the Zhejiang Provincial Committee of the Communist Party of
China, Director of the Provincial Revolutionary Committee, and Political Commissar of the
Zhejiang Provincial Military Region of the Chinese People's Liberation Army. Xiong Yingtang
was then Secretary of the Zhejiang Provincial Committee of the Communist Party of China,



Deputy Director of the Provincial Revolutionary Committee, and Commander of the Zhejiang
Provincial Military Region of the Chinese People's Liberation Army.
[2] Lin refers to Lin Biao, then Vice Chairman of the CPC Central Committee and Vice
Chairman of the Central Military Commission. Zhou refers to Zhou Enlai. Kang refers to Kang
Sheng, then a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central
Committee and head of the Central Organization and Propaganda Group.