Telegram to Peng Dehuai and Deng Hua [1] Regarding Approval of the Plan for Annihilating the Enemy, etc. (October 30, 1950)  To Peng and Deng, with copy to Gao [2]:

(1) Congratulations on your victory in wiping out four battalions of the puppet Eighth Division.

(2) Your deployment as of 9:00 a.m. on the 30th is very sound. We now have a clear understanding of the enemy’s numbers, positions, combat effectiveness, and morale, while our own forces have all assembled and are fully deployed, with high morale. By contrast, the enemy remains largely ignorant of our situation—indeed, they only vaguely know that we have between forty thousand and sixty thousand troops. Therefore, your objective of completely annihilating the enemy forces before us—the puppet First and Seventh Divisions, the British 27th Brigade, the U.S. 24th Division, a portion of the U.S. 1st Cavalry Division, and the remnants of the puppet Sixth and Eighth Divisions—is entirely correct. Provided that the entire 38th Army and one division of the 42nd Army can effectively cut off the enemy’s line of retreat across the Ch’ongch’on River, and that the other armies and divisions boldly penetrate into the flanks and rear of the various enemy units to isolate and destroy them piecemeal, victory will surely be achieved.

(3) During the major operation, please pay close attention to employing the 66th Army with concentrated force.

Mao Zedong, 8:00 p.m., October 30th. Printed from the manuscript. Included in Selected Military Works of Mao Zedong (Internal Edition).

Notes  [1] Peng Dehuai was then Commander and Political Commissar of the Chinese People’s Volunteers. Deng Hua was then Deputy Commander and Deputy Political Commissar of the Chinese People’s Volunteers.

[2] Gao refers to Gao Gang, who at that time served as Commander and Political Commissar of the Northeast Military Region of the People’s Liberation Army. ６£³