Agree to the Operational Policy Against the Enemy Proposed by Peng Dehuai

(October 26, 1950)

Comrade Dehuai,[1] and inform Gao:[2]

Received your telegram of 25 October at 19:00–21:00 hours.[3] (1) First annihilate several enemy regiments, gradually expand the scale, destroy more enemy forces, stabilize popular morale, and enable our army to gain a firm foothold—this policy is correct. (2) The 7th Regiment of the Puppet 6th Division is indeed still recklessly advancing toward Chosan. Please instruct Gao to order the 50th Army to take precautions, pressing forward from the opposite-bank positions at Ji’an and Changdianhekou[4] toward Chosan to maintain vigilance. However, this enemy unit may establish strongpoints at Chosan before our forces arrive. If the 50th Army is to attack, it should first make thorough preparations and should assess that this portion of the enemy is relatively strong. (3) The command post of the Puppet 1st Division has already reached Unsan; its 12th Regiment has advanced to the vicinity of Onjong-ni.[5] Its 15th Regiment is following up behind the 12th Regiment. Its 11th Regiment is south of Unsan. The location of the 8th Regiment of the Puppet 7th Division, which is attached to this division, is unclear but is estimated to have also reached the Unsan area. Please instruct the 39th Army to take care to divide and annihilate this division. The 39th Army should employ a strong force to cut off the Puppet 1st Division from the American and British forces in the Pakchon area. (4) After our 40th Army has annihilated the 2nd Regiment of the Puppet 6th Division, its 19th Regiment (which is very widely dispersed) may concentrate and advance toward the Onjong direction. Please order the 40th Army to take note. (5) Two regiments of the Puppet 8th Division may reach Huichon today (the 26th); its other regiment (the 10th Regiment) may remain at Tokchon today. Please inform the 38th Army to take note. (6) Our army’s first campaign must be definitely aimed at annihilating the above-mentioned three puppet divisions, to be accomplished through several large and small engagements, and only afterward engage the American and British forces.

Mao Zedong

14:00 hours, 26 October

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[1] Dehuai, i.e., Peng Dehuai, then serving as Commander and Political Commissar of the Chinese People’s Volunteers.
[2] Gao, refers to Gao Gang, then serving as Commander and Political Commissar of the Northeast Military Region.
[3] Refers to Peng Dehuai’s telegram of 25 October 1950 at 19:00 hours to Mao Zedong and Gao Gang. The telegram stated: The enemy has formed a mobile detachment with several tanks and over ten trucks, rampaging everywhere. It would be extremely difficult for us to attempt to encircle and annihilate two or three enemy divisions in a single battle, and it would also be hard to maintain secrecy any longer. Therefore, it has been decided to use armies and divisions to separately annihilate one or two enemy regiments at a time (already begun tonight), seeking to destroy one or two enemy divisions through several engagements in the first campaign, halt the enemy’s reckless rampage, and stabilize popular morale—this is absolutely essential.
[4] Ji’an, former county name, present-day Ji’an, Jilin. Changdianhekou, located in the southern part of Kuandian County, Liaoning.
[5] Onjong-ni, i.e., Onjong, located northeast of Unsan County, North Pyongan Province.