Telegram on the Volunteer Army’s Deployment: To Be Carried Out but Not Publicized (October 19, 1950) To Deng and Tan [1], with copy to Rao and Chen [2], Liu, Deng, and He [3], and Xi and Ma [4]: Your telegram of October 13 has been received.

(1) In order to defend China and assist Korea, the Volunteer Army has decided to set out today. It will first establish a firm foothold in certain parts of northern Korea that have not yet been lost, seize opportunities to conduct mobile warfare, and support the Korean people in their continued struggle. For the next few months, we shall act without publicity; no public announcement of this matter is to be made in the newspapers. Only senior Party leaders are to be informed, so that appropriate preparations can be made in the course of work assignments. All Central Bureaus are requested to take note of this point.

(2) The 48th Army may be assembled again in March of next year. Should special circumstances require earlier mobilization, you will be notified accordingly.

Mao Zedong, October 19. Printed from the manuscript. Abbreviated and included in Selected Military Works of Mao Zedong (internal edition).

Notes  [1] Deng refers to Deng Zihui, then Third Secretary of the Central South Bureau of the CPC and Second Political Commissar of the Central South Military Region of the People’s Liberation Army. Tan refers to Tan Zheng, then an Executive Committee Member of the Central South Bureau of the CPC and Third Political Commissar of the Central South Military Region of the PLA.

[2] Rao refers to Rao Shushi, then First Secretary of the East China Bureau of the CPC. Chen refers to Chen Yi, then Second Secretary of the East China Bureau of the CPC.

[3] Liu refers to Liu Bocheng, then Second Secretary of the Southwest Bureau of the CPC. Deng refers to Deng Xiaoping, then First Secretary of the Southwest Bureau of the CPC. He refers to He Long, then Third Secretary of the Southwest Bureau of the CPC.

[4] Xi refers to Xi Zhongxun, then First Secretary of the Northwest Bureau of the CPC. Ma refers to Ma Mingfang, then Third Secretary of the Northwest Bureau of the CPC.