It is advisable for the main force of Liu Bocheng’s division and Xu Haidong’s brigade to undertake operations along the Zhengding–Taiyuan Railway[1]

(March 14, 1938)

Zhu and Peng:

Based on Chiang’s views as conveyed by Zhou and Ye[2] and the assessment that changes in Henan and along the Longhai Railway will soon occur, it is more appropriate for Xu’s brigade[3] and the main force of Liu’s division[4] to be positioned south of the Zhengding–Taiyuan Railway[5] and undertake tasks along that line, as this will facilitate future northward turns and westward shifts. If they penetrate deep into the border area of Shanxi-Hebei-Henan, it is feared that going back and forth will be futile and of no benefit to the overall situation. According to Chiang’s intention, Wei Lihuang[6] is to go to the area east of the Datong–Puzhou Railway to command operations along that railway, the Beiping–Hankou Railway,[7] and on the southern front, while it seems not yet finally decided that Zhu and Peng will take charge of the northern front. While this remains undecided, the disposition of Liu’s division and Xu’s brigade should be made with caution; in particular, Xu’s brigade must be positioned at a suitable location where it can carry out its current tasks while also being able to shift position as opportunities arise.

Mao

24:00, March 14

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[1] This is a telegram from Mao Zedong to Zhu De and Peng Dehuai.

[2] Zhou and Ye refer to Zhou Enlai and Ye Jianying, then a member of the Yangtze River Bureau of the CPC Central Committee.

[3] Xu’s brigade refers to the 344th Brigade of the 115th Division of the Eighth Route Army, whose brigade commander was Xu Haidong.

[4] Liu’s division refers to the 129th Division of the Eighth Route Army, whose division commander was Liu Bocheng.

[5] The Zhengding–Taiyuan Railway refers to the railway from Zhengding to Taiyuan, now the Shijiazhuang–Taiyuan line.

[6] Wei Lihuang then served as Deputy Commander of the Nationalist Second War Zone, concurrently Commander-in-Chief of the Southern Route Forward Forces, and Commander-in-Chief of the 14th Group Army.

[7] The Beiping–Hankou Railway refers to the railway from Beiping (now Beijing) to Hankou, now a section of the Beijing–Guangzhou line.