The Main Force of He Long's Division Should
Gradually Move Southward to Replace Chen
Guang's Brigade of Lin Biao's Division
(March 21, 1938)

Zhu [De] and Peng [Dehuai]:
1. The main force of He [Long]'s division should get prepared to move gradually southward to replace Chen [Guang]'s brigade of Lin [Biao]'s division so that
Chen's brigade may be deployed in a new direction in the future. At present, it is
appropriate to order He's division to send one regiment to the region west of
Fenyang and Xiaoyi immediately to support Chen's brigade in the battle.
2. After the enemy's occupation of Zhenzhou, the situation in Henan and Wuhan
will definitely undergo rapid changes. Chiang [Kaishek] will certainly agree that
Liu [Bocheng]'s division should move to the east of Xingyang, and that Lin [Biao]'s
division should go to western Henan and participate in combat operations to defend
Wuhan. Therefore, it is appropriate for Xu [Haidong]'s brigade and the main force
of Liu's division to concentrate in the region of Jinchen and Changzhi to engage in
combat. The plan to get Xu's brigade to move to Hebei should be given up.
3. It seems that it is impossible for Chen's brigade to move eastward at present.
It is appropriate to decide that it should stay where it is now to engage in combat.
I request you all to consider this.
Mao [Zedong]

--- Notes

Our source for this text is Mao Zedong junshi wenji, Vol. 2, pp. 201-2, where it is reproduced from a copy in the Central Archives.