Telegram to Teng Daiyuan, Deng Xiaoping, and Others[1]

(April 22, 1944)

In the Japanese army’s campaign to break through the Pinghan Railway, part of their forces have already crossed the river at Zhongmu, and their main force appears to be assembling in the Bo’ai, Mengxian, and Jiyuan areas, preparing to invade south of the Yellow River. Our army should take advantage of the emptiness in the enemy’s rear while the Japanese forces are invading southward to develop local work in northern Henan, so as to make it possible to open up a base for work in western Henan when the opportunity arises in the future.

[1] This is the main content of a telegram from Mao Zedong to Teng Daiyuan and Deng Xiaoping, to be relayed to Yang Dezhi, Su Zhenhua, and Huang Jing.