Telegram to Song Shilun [1] et al. Regarding the Combat Mission of the Ninth Corps (October 31, 1950) To Song and Tao [2], with copy to Chen, Rao, and Zhang [3], as well as to Peng and Deng [4], and to Gao and He [5]:  (1) The entire Ninth Corps is to begin moving on November 1: one corps unit will set out first, followed immediately by the other two, without any interruption.  (2) Upon arrival, the corps will come under the command of the Command Post of the Volunteer Army and will aim to seize opportunities to destroy in detail four enemy divisions—the ROK Capital Division, the ROK Third Division, the U.S. Seventh Infantry Division, and the U.S. First Marine Division. These forces are currently deployed around Chongjin, Hamhung, Wonsan, and areas to the north, and appear to be advancing along separate routes toward Linjiang and Jianshan.  (3) Logistics support is to be organized and managed through a dedicated agency established by the corps itself.

Mao Zedong, 10:00 a.m., October 31 Based on the manuscript. Published here. Included in Selected Military Works of Mao Zedong (internal edition).

Notes  [1] Song Shilun was at the time Commander and Political Commissar of the Ninth Corps of the Chinese People’s Volunteers.  [2] “Tao” refers to Tao Yong, then Deputy Commander of the Ninth Corps of the Chinese People’s Volunteers.  [3] “Chen” refers to Chen Yi, then Commander of the East China Military Region of the People’s Liberation Army; “Rao” to Rao Shushi, then Political Commissar of the same region; and “Zhang” to Zhang Zhen, then Chief of Staff of the East China Military Region.  [4] “Peng” refers to Peng Dehuai, then Commander and Political Commissar of the Chinese People’s Volunteers; “Deng” to Deng Hua, then Deputy Commander and Deputy Political Commissar of the same force.  [5] “Gao” refers to Gao Gang, then Commander and Political Commissar of the Northeast Military Region of the People’s Liberation Army; and “He” to He Jinyuan, then Deputy Commander of the same region.