Telegram Regarding Enemy Movements Towards the Yalu River and Our Troops’ Mission (October 25, 1950) To Peng and Deng [1] and also to Gao [2]: (1) According to intelligence received yesterday, on the 24th, the enemy forces driven by the U.S. to recklessly advance toward the Yalu River consist of the following units: (a) The puppet Sixth Division, which has already reached Hichon and Paemok-ri <village>, intending to move toward Chusan; (b) The puppet Eighth Division, currently north of Nyeongwon Deokchon, planning to pass through Hichon and head toward Kanggye; (c) The puppet First Division, now in Nyeongbyeon and Yongsan <village>, likely to advance toward Changsong; (d) The puppet Seventh Division, still between Kangdong and Sunchon, expected to proceed to Hichon as a reserve force; (e) The British Brigade, having crossed Anju, aiming for Sinuiju. (2) In our first engagement, we must be prepared to fight these five enemy units and annihilate at least three of their divisions in order to initially resolve the situation. (3) Four U.S. divisions (the 1st Cavalry, 2nd Infantry, 24th, and 25th) are concentrated around Pyongyang; two U.S. divisions (the 1st Infantry and 7th Infantry) are currently landing at Wonsan; and two puppet divisions are positioned along the Bukcheong–Hamhung–Wonsan line (the Capital Division and the Third Division). (4) South of the 38th Parallel is virtually empty, with only one newly arrived Turkish brigade and three battered puppet divisions present. Consequently, the People’s Army is highly active. According to the puppet Fifth Division on the 21st, there are over 56,000 members of the People’s Army operating across North and South Gyeongsang Provinces alone. Should we secure one or two victories in the north, activities in the south will intensify further. (5) Please instruct the 66th Army to prepare to intercept or

deploy to destroy the British 27th Brigade. (6) Comrade Peng previously reported that enemy forces had landed at Sin’an, but no other sources have confirmed this, suggesting it may be inaccurate. (7) Comrade Gao should arrange for a large number of vessels along the Yalu River to be ready in case the bridges are destroyed. If any bridges are damaged, they should be repaired immediately, and an assessment should be made regarding the feasibility of ferry crossings near Linjiang. Mao Zedong, October 25th, 6:00 a.m., printed from the manuscript. Included in Selected Military Works of Mao Zedong (Internal Edition). Notes [ ] Peng refers to Peng Dehuai, who at the time served as Commander and Political Commissar of the Chinese People’s Volunteer Army. Deng refers to Deng Hua, who held the positions of Deputy Commander and Deputy Political Commissar of the Chinese People’s Volunteer Army. [ ] Gao refers to Gao Gang, who was then Commander and Political Commissar of the Northeast Military Region of the People’s Liberation Army.

Telegram Concerning Enemy Movements to Peng Dehuai and Deng Hua [1] (October 25, 1950) To Peng, Deng, and Gao [2]: New information indicates the following: (1) Two regiments—the Second and Seventh—of the puppet Sixth Division passed through Paemok-ri yesterday and reached Guchang, close to the riverbank. They are expected to arrive at Chusan Town today, thereby threatening our Jianshan and Changdianhekou transportation routes. Immediate action is required. (2) Two regiments of the Eighth Division are estimated to reach Hichon today. (3) The U.S. 24th Division, together with the British 27th Brigade, have already crossed the Chongchon River near Sin’an. Reports suggest that U.S. troops are less combat-effective than the puppet forces; however, it would be advisable to prioritize engagements against the puppet units in the initial battle. (4) The U.S. 25th Division maintains the Pyongyang–Daejeon transportation corridor, while the U.S. 1st Cavalry Division guards the area between Pyongyang and Nampo. Neither of these two divisions appears capable of redeployment. The U.S. 2nd Infantry Division seems to be somewhere between Pyongyang and Daejeon, though its exact location remains unclear. Meanwhile, the main body of the puppet Seventh Division is still east of the river, although one of its regiments, attached to the First Division, has already reached Nyeongbyeon. Mao Zedong, October 25th, 6:00 a.m., printed from the manuscript. Notes [ ] Peng Dehuai served as Commander and Political Commissar of the Chinese People’s Volunteer Army at the time. Deng Hua held the positions of Deputy Commander and Deputy Political Commissar of the Chinese People’s Volunteer Army. [2] Gao refers to Gao Gang, who was then Commander and Political Commissar of the Northeast Military Region of the People’s Liberation Army.