Letter to Peng Dehuai [l] Regarding the Engineer Regiment Issue
(April 3, 1954)

Comrade Peng Dehuai:

Vietnam must establish four additional artillery regiments and two engineer regiments, to be organized, equipped, and trained within six months. Please assess whether this is feasible. If there is a shortage of artillery pieces, they should be drawn from China’s existing artillery units, even if it means temporarily rendering some of our own artillery units combat-ineffective until replacements can be provided later. The instructors and advisors for these four artillery regiments and two engineer regiments should all be selected from artillery units that fought in Korea, with officers at divisional and corps levels included. The best location for training would be in Vietnam; failing that, Guangxi would also be acceptable. Six months is a very tight timeframe. If you agree, please instruct the General Staff, in coordination with the Artillery Command (2), to draw up a plan swiftly. At the same time, consult with the Vietnamese side to secure their approval. All efforts must be concentrated on this task. The two artillery divisions are not to be formed by recruiting new troops; instead, they should be reorganized from regular infantry divisions or independent regiments/battalions. Once these two artillery divisions are completed, together with the previously established artillery division, and with five additional infantry divisions brought into alignment—making a total of eight infantry and artillery divisions—we will be in a position to launch attacks against Hanoi and Saigon. Furthermore, preparations must begin immediately to ensure an adequate supply of ammunition for the three artillery divisions and engineering equipment for the engineer units. Anti-aircraft artillery should also be increased accordingly. Dien Bien Phu must be resolutely captured; if maneuvering proceeds smoothly and we have sufficient confidence, the general offensive should be launched ahead of schedule. To replenish personnel losses at Dien Bien Phu, at least five thousand to eight thousand new recruits should be mobilized without delay, trained for three months, and promptly dispatched to fill the gaps.
[l]
Peng Dehuai was then Vice Chairman of the People’s Revolutionary Military Commission.
[2]
The Artillery Command refers to the Artillery Command of the Chinese People’s Liberation Army.

If no insurmountable obstacles arise, Lang Son and Viet Trung should be attacked within one and a half to two months. The campaigns against Hanoi should be conducted no later than early spring of next year. Even if the Geneva Conference succeeds, the aforementioned artillery buildup remains unchanged. Please consider these matters as appropriate.
Mao Zedong
April 3, 1954