The Annihilation of the US 1st Marine Division Must Be Meticulously Organized
(November 12, 1950)
Peng, Deng, Piao [I]:
The combat effectiveness of the US 1st Marine Division is said to be the strongest among the US forces. For our army to encircle and annihilate two of its regiments with four divisions seems insufficient; one to two divisions should be held as a reserve force. The 26th Corps of the 9th Army Group should be positioned close to the front line. Combat preparations must be thorough, and the operational command must be meticulously organized. Please continuously guide Song and Tao [2] in fulfilling their task.

Mao Zedong
November 12

[1] Peng refers to Peng Dehuai, then Commander and Political Commissar of the Chinese People’s Volunteers. Deng and Piao refer to Deng Hua and Piao Yiyu, then both serving as Deputy Commanders and Deputy Political Commissars of the Chinese People’s Volunteers.
[2] Song and Tao refer to Song Shilun and Tao Yong, then respectively Commander and Political Commissar, and Deputy Commander of the 9th Army Group of the Chinese People’s Volunteers.