Telegram Concerning the Operational Deployment Against the Encircled U.S. 5th and 7th Regiments (December 4, 1950) To Peng, Deng, and Pu [1], and to Song, Tao, and Qin [2]:

(1) The puppet First and Third Divisions, owing to a severe shortage of trains, are withdrawing their main forces on foot; it remains uncertain when they will reach Hamhung. The enemy has ordered that the encircled U.S. 5th and 7th Regiments be airlifted out from Hakdudong by air. It is requested that Song, Tao, and Qin promptly seize and secure the Hakdudong airfield to prevent the enemy from evacuating its troops, and that they annihilate the retreating elements of the 5th and 7th Regiments, while leaving intact the enemy garrison in the Yudam-ri area under siege but not yet destroyed, so as to facilitate a “fishing” operation.

(2) Please have Song, Tao, and Qin report in detail by telegram the current enemy–friendly dispositions along the line from Hwangch’ollyŏng, Kot’usu, Hakdudong, Kŭnsuri, to Yudam-ri, together with plans to prevent an enemy air evacuation and to counter any relief attempts. Thank you.

Mao Zedong, 13:00 hours, December 4. Printed from the manuscript. Included in Selected Military Works of Mao Zedong (internal edition).

Notes   [1] Peng refers to Peng Dehuai, who at the time served as Commander and Political Commissar of the Chinese People’s Volunteers. Deng refers to Deng Hua, and Pu refers to Pak Il-woo, both of whom held the posts of Deputy Commander and Deputy Political Commissar of the Chinese People’s Volunteers at that time.   [2] Song refers to Song Shiyun, who was then Commander and Political Commissar of the Ninth Corps of the Chinese People’s Volunteers. Tao refers to Tao Yong, who served as Deputy Commander of the Ninth Corps. Qin refers to Qin Jian, who was Chief of Staff of the Ninth Corps.