Gradually Expand the Main Forces in Eastern Hebei[1]

(December 14, 1946)

To the District Party Committee, and for the information of the Central Bureau and the Sub-Bureau:

Your telegram of the 10th[2] has been received. Since the main forces in eastern Hebei currently consist of only two brigades and six regiments, it is naturally appropriate to concentrate these numbers for combat operations. In the course of the war, relying on large quantities of captured materiel and prisoners of war, supplemented by mobilization among the people, gradually expand them to three brigades and nine regiments. At the same time, devote great efforts to straightening out village finances to meet the need for increased military expenditures. In addition, each sub-district must have one guard regiment, each county a guerrilla force of 200 to 500, and each district 25 men—all of which are indispensable. Militia not detached from production must be universally organized.

The Central Committee

Haohan

[1] This is a telegram drafted by Mao Zedong for the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China, addressed to the CPC Eastern Hebei District Committee and for the information of the CPC Shanxi-Chahar-Hebei Bureau and the Hebei-Chahar-Rehe-Liaoning Sub-Bureau.

[2] This refers to the telegram sent by the CPC Eastern Hebei District Committee to the Central Committee of the CPC on December 10, 1946. The telegram stated: "At present, eastern Hebei has organized two brigades (on a three-regiment system) and five guard regiments. County guerrilla forces number 300 per county, and district guerrilla forces 25 per district. The two brigades are currently understrength and require an additional 6,000 men to reach full complement. District guerrilla forces are now being established. Village financial waste in eastern Hebei is excessively large, with village expenditures accounting for approximately two-thirds of total financial outlays. We will devote great efforts to straightening out village finances; after this is done, the people's burden can be greatly reduced."