Concentrate As Many Troops As Possible on the Main Direction of Operations[1]

(August 9, 1946)

Liu, Deng, and inform Bo, Wang[2]:

(1) After it has been confirmed that the enemy’s main force in northern Henan is concentrating on the Xin-Bian[3] line and indeed has no intention of attacking Jiaozuo, Handan, or Puyang, our containing forces in those three areas should be reduced (of course, a small part should be left in each to keep the local enemy under surveillance), and as many troops as possible should be concentrated on the main direction of operations. (2) After Pi Dingjun’s brigade[4] has rejoined the main force and rested for a few days, it should immediately be employed in the direction of the New Yellow River. When we advance toward the Dabie Mountains in the future, this brigade can play a major role.

Military Commission
Weijia

[1] This is a telegram drafted by Mao Zedong for the Military Commission of the CPC Central Committee to Liu Bocheng, commander, and Deng Xiaoping, political commissar, of the Shanxi-Hebei-Shandong-Henan Field Army.
[2] Bo and Wang refer to Bo Yibo and Wang Hongkun, who were then respectively first deputy political commissar and second deputy commander of the Shanxi-Hebei-Shandong-Henan Military Region.
[3] Xin-Bian refers to Xinxiang and Kaifeng in Henan Province.
[4] Pi Dingjun’s brigade refers to the 1st Brigade of the 1st Column of the Central Plains Military Region, whose commander was Pi Dingjun. After breaking through the encirclement in the Central Plains, this brigade entered the Jiangsu-Anhui Liberated Area on July 20, 1946, and was incorporated into the sequence of the Central China Field Army.