Comrade Dehuai\(^1\):

I am still convalescing and am not very clear about the war situation in Korea. Please brief me on your estimate of the enemy situation and our side’s intentions. Regarding the mission of the Thirteenth Army Corps, in the new campaign, apart from deploying a portion of its forces at Wonsan and Hamhung to guard against enemy landings, the main force (which should be replenished with new recruits) seems appropriately positioned near the battlefield, tasked with annihilating any enemy paratroopers that may be dropped, assisting the various army corps in combat, and only after the campaign concludes should this army corps enter formal rest and reorganization. Is this arrangement appropriate? Also, has the Korean People’s Army been replenished?

Mao Zedong
April 9

[1]
Dehuai, i.e., Peng Dehuai, then serving as Commander and Political Commissar of the Chinese People’s Volunteers.