nationalist force under his command, and the general objective was to mass troops with absolute numerical and technical superiority to concentrate on the communists in the border areas of Henan and Hubei provinces, eliminating the enemy forces after separating them into smaller pockets by attacking them from southern and eastern Henan. The communist force at/near Xinyang, Jingfu (经扶), Huangchuan (潢川) regions, especially those at Xuanhua Hotel (Xuanhua Dian, 宣化店) and Pobo (泼陂) River regions would be the most desirable target. Order of battle The nationalists mobilized roughly 300,000 troops for the planned elimination of the communists and the subsequent occupation of their base. The communists planned to leave over half of their 60,000 strong force in the region to fight the guerrilla war after the other half had withdrawn. Encirclement force: nationalist order of battle Commander-in-chief of Zhengzhou Headquarters: Liu Zhi 刘峙 Commander-in-chief of Wuhan Headquarters: Cheng Qian 程潜 The 11th Army The 48th Army The 1st Division The 3rd Division The 11th Division The 15th Division The 41st Division The 47th Division The 48th Division The 66th Division The 72nd Division The 75th Division The 90th Division The 169th Brigade Local Security Brigades and Regiments Breakout force: communist order of battle The communists called their base the Central Plains Military Region with a total force of 60,000, including two columns and three military districts totaling six division-strength brigades: Central Plains Military Region prior to the breakout: Commander-in-chief: Li Xiannian Deputy commander-in-chief: Wang Zhen and Wan Shusheng (王树声) Political commissar: Zheng Weisan (郑位三) Deputy political commissar: (王首道) Chief-of-staff: Wang Zhen Deputy Chief-of-staff: Zhu Zaoguan (朱早观) Chief of the Political Directorate: Wan Shoudao (王首道) Deputy Chief of the Political Directorate: Liu Xing (刘型) First Column: Commander-in-chief: Wang Shusheng (王树声) Political commissar: Dai Jiying (戴季英) Second Column: Commander-in-chief: Wen Jianwu(文建武) Political Commissar: (任质斌) Jianghan (江汉) Military District: Commander-in-chief: Luo Houfu (罗厚福) Political Commissar: Wen Minsheng (文敏生) Eastern Hubei Military District: Commander-in-chief: Zhang Tixue (张体学) Political Commissar: Nie Hongjun (聂鸿钧) Henan Military District: Commander-in-chief and Political Commissar: Huang Lin (黄 霖) While the negotiation with the nationalists for the legal withdraw continued, preparation was also made for the inevitable, and the communist force was restructured into three groups for the breakout: Right Route Force: 15,000 troops under the command of Li Xiannian, consisted of: The headquarters staff of the original communist base The 13th Brigade of the 2nd Column The 45th Regiment of