Which principle from the PLA offense emphasizes dispersing immediately after the task is complete?

• A. Overwhelming combat power at key times/places
• B. Disperse immediately after task is complete
• C. Concentrated forces are vulnerable — guarded by security and counterrecon
• D. Attack in depth

Answer: (B)

The main idea here is post-task dispersal to reduce exposure and preserve combat power for what comes next. In PLA offense thinking, once a task is finished, moving quickly to dispersed positions makes the force harder for the enemy to hit with a single strike, decreases the risk of destruction from counterattacks, and keeps options open for immediate follow-on action. Dispersal also preserves the ability to reassemble or shift to new objectives without having to rebuild from a single vulnerable mass. The other principles focus on concentrating forces for decisive strikes, protecting a mass with security and counterrecon, or attacking in depth—matters of shaping operations and effort distribution across the battlefield, not the post-mission disposition. So dispersing immediately after completing the task best embodies the idea of maintaining survivability and ongoing momentum.