Lay Siege Without Annihilating to Lure Enemy Reinforcements
(December 3, 1950)
Peng, Deng, Pak, Song, Tao, Qin, and inform Gao, He [1]:
Our Ninth Corps has fought for several days
and scored a great victory. Not only has the 1st Marine Division
and several other reinforcement units been basically annihilated in the Hagaru-ri area,
but over one regiment of the U.S. 7th Division has been completely wiped out in the Sinhung-ni area. The only enemy reinforcements likely to arrive in the next few days
are two Syngman Rhee divisions and over one regiment of the U.S. 7th Division. If our forces can annihilate these reinforcing units one by one,
it will bring about a major change in the Korean war situation. Therefore,
(1) Ask Song to consider quickly moving the 26th Army
south to carry out the task of striking enemy reinforcements. (2) With regard to the enemy in the Yudam-ni area, while annihilating part of them,
temporarily preserve a large part,
laying siege without annihilating them, allowing them to call for help day and night, thus
luring enemy reinforcements to come so that we will have a target to strike. If the enemy in the Yudam-ni area are annihilated by us too early,
the reinforcing enemy will certainly not come; they will concentrate in the Hamhung area
to block our southward advance, which would be detrimental to our next operation. Whether the above suggestions are feasible, please ask Song to make an overall decision in light of the situation on the ground.
[1]
Peng
refers to Peng Dehuai, then Commander and Political Commissar of the Chinese People's Volunteers.
Deng and Pak refer to Deng Hua and Pak Il-u, then both Deputy Commanders and Deputy Political Commissars of the Chinese People's Volunteers.
Song, Tao, and Qin refer to Song Shilun, Tao Yong, and Qin Jian, then respectively Commander and Political Commissar, Deputy Commander, and Chief of Staff of the 9th Corps of the Chinese People's Volunteers.
[2]
Gao and He refer to Gao Gang and He Jinnian, then respectively Commander and Political Commissar and Deputy Commander and Chief of Staff of the Northeast Military Region.
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[3]
Hagaru-ri is located in the southern part of Changjin County, South Hamgyong Province.
Yudam-ni is located in the western part of Changjin County, South Hamgyong Province.

Lay Siege Without Annihilating to Lure Enemy Reinforcements
Your decision is requested.
Mao Zedong
0100 hours, December 3
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