Telegram Concerning the Operational Deployment of the 40th, 39th, and 38th Armies (October 23, 1950) To Peng and Deng [1] and also to Gao [2]:   (1) The enemy is advancing very rapidly.
The puppet 6th Division reached Chaechon on the 22nd, with a small detachment reaching Nyeongbyon, while one regiment of the puppet 1st Division has arrived at Kunuri.
It is estimated that these two units will both reach Nyeongbyon by today, the 23rd, and may push forward several more li tomorrow, the 24th.
Therefore, please promptly order the main force of the 40th Army to assemble in concealment in the Onjin area, deploying a portion to hold Hichon; do not send them toward Unsan or Nyeongbyon to engage the enemy prematurely.
The 39th Army should likewise assemble in the Kusong area and refrain from moving toward Taechon.
The reconnaissance units of these two armies should not advance to Jeongju, Pokchon, or the Nyeongbyon stadium.
They must be careful to avoid contact with the enemy, allowing the enemy to occupy the areas south of the Hichon–Onjin–Kusong line, thereby luring him deeper and creating favorable conditions for annihilation.
The 38th Army should press forward swiftly.   (2) As of the 22nd, the puppet 8th Division was still located at Taping-ri and Bukchang-ri, south of Tokchon, making relatively slow progress.
However, it may reach Tokchon or its vicinity today, the 23rd.

Mao Zedong, 2:00 p.m., October 23   Printed from the manuscript. Included in Selected Military Works of Mao Zedong (Internal Edition).

Notes   [1] Peng refers to Peng Dehuai, who at the time served as Commander and Political Commissar of the Chinese People’s Volunteers.
Deng refers to Deng Hua, who at the time was Commander and Political Commissar of the 13th Corps of the Chinese People’s Volunteers.   [2] Gao refers to Gao Gang, who at the time was Commander and Political Commissar of the Northeast Military Region of the People’s Liberation Army.