Letter, Mao Zedong to Zhou Enlai and Huang Kecheng

Part One

Premier Zhou and Comrade Huang Kecheng:

[I] have received [the documents] you sent to me, including two intelligence reports on Jinmen’s situation and the order of our military. In addition to carrying out [the operations] in accordance with the lines set up by the order, it is also necessary to fire some scattered shells day and night around the clock, especially at night, shelling especially the area within the three-mile radius of Liaoluowan.  The sporadic shelling (200 to 300 shells a day) will make the enemy panic[ky] and restless day and night.  It seems to me that [doing this] is a big, or at least moderate, advantage [to us].  What is your opinion about it?  On the days of heavy shelling we will not fire scattered shells.  On the days of light shelling we will use this method.  For the sake of shelling Liaoluowan at night, [we] should accurately calibrate battery emplacements during daytime, which will make the shelling at night more accurate.  Please seek opinions from [the people at] the front, to see if this method is workable or not.

As far as the Warsaw talks are concerned, in the next three to four days, or one week, [we] should not lay all of our cards on the table, but should test [the Americans].  It seems that it is unlikely for the other side to lay all of their cards out, and that they will also test us.  What is your opinion, Zhou [Enlai], Peng [Dehuai], Zhang [Wentian], and Qiao [Guanhua]?

Congratulations for the success from the very start.