Chapter 19 2. Mao Zedong and Kim Il Sung decided to fight and talk

After the Chinese People's Volunteers entered the DPRK, under the condition of an absolute disadvantage in weapons and equipment, they only used infantry as the main body, and with the support of a small amount of artillery, they carried out five consecutive battles and wiped out more than 233,000 enemies (volunteers and people's troops were reduced in combat. More than 189,000 people), quickly fought the "United Nations Army" that implemented the all-round and three-dimensional combat of the land, sea and air forces from the Yalu River back to the 38th parallel and the south area. After repeated contests, the front was stabilized at the 38th parallel north and south In the region, a favorable war situation quickly developed and a major victory was achieved, forcing the "United Nations Army" to change from a strategic offensive to a strategic defensive. The US authorities also had to adjust their Korean War policy.

However, due to the disparity in the quality of weapons and equipment, especially without the support and cooperation of the air force and navy, the volunteers did have many practical difficulties in combat. In addition, the special geographical environment of North Korea also imposed many restrictions on the operations of the volunteers.This is mainly: First, due to the lack of air force and naval support to cooperate in operations, especially the absence of an air force and a serious lack of air defense combat weapons, the volunteer army is severely limited in terms of combat space and combat time.In terms of combat space, the U.S. Air Force controls the entire battlefield and can attack the rear of the Volunteer Army. Its navy can attack the rear coast of the Volunteer Army, the front line and the rear of the Volunteer Army. It must strictly organize air defenses during the day and night, otherwise it will suffer unnecessary losses. .The Volunteers were unable to attack the rear and coast of the US military.In terms of combat time, the U.S. military can fight around the clock, while the Volunteer Army has no freedom of movement during the day, and troop operations and material transportation are mainly carried out at night.The operation of the entire combat machine of the Volunteer Army is severely restricted.

Second, only the infantry fights with a small amount of artillery support, no motorized equipment, no tanks, and a serious lack of anti-tank weapons, so the attack firepower and battlefield mobility are weak.It can thwart the attack of the "United Nations Army", but it is difficult to wipe out the "United Nations Army" heavy army group, it is difficult to deal with cluster tanks, and it can encircle a division or even several divisions in each battle, but it is difficult to achieve a whole division or a whole regiment Annihilation mission (it is easier to annihilate the South Korean army).When the "United Nations Army" broke through and escaped, the volunteers pursued them on foot, but they were no match for the motorization and mechanization of the "United Nations Army", so it was difficult to pursue and annihilate them.Especially during the third and fifth battles, the "United Nations Army" withdrew 30 kilometers a day, which happened to be a day's journey for the volunteers to pursue on foot. After the volunteers approached, they retreated another 30 kilometers. Can not expand the results.During the second battle, the U.S. 10th Army withdrew from the sea, and the Volunteers had no air force and navy, so they could only look at the ocean and sigh.Since the third battle, both sides have formed a coherent front. Although the volunteers can break through the defense line of the "United Nations Army", it is more difficult to achieve a roundabout encirclement in the battle after the breakthrough.In defensive operations, the Volunteers relied on general field fortifications, and it was difficult to resist the fierce firepower of the "United Nations Army" from aircraft, tanks, and artillery attacks, so it was difficult to organize and defend.

Third, almost all the combat materials needed by the Volunteer Army are supplied by domestic organizations, and the material consumption is large. However, the means of transportation and means of transportation are limited, there is no air and sea transportation, and it is mainly transported by trains and cars. Air supremacy, under the bombing and blockade of the U.S. Air Force, roads are often damaged. During the transportation of materials and transport vehicles, due to the bombing and strafing of U.S. aircraft, the loss of materials is serious, and the loss of materials is as high as 30% to 40%. Ammunition can only guarantee key supplies, and food supply can only meet 25% to 30% of the demand in the first three battles, and can only reach about 50% of the demand in the fourth and fifth battles. .The follow-up supply ability in combat is even weaker, and basically only rely on the troops to carry them. They can be carried for a few days and fight for a few days, and generally can only last for 7 to 10 days.The U.S. military called the volunteers a "worship offensive."This transportation and supply situation seriously affected the implementation of the operation, limited the determination of the campaign, the scale of the campaign and the duration of the continuous operation, and forced the Volunteers to give up many favorable opportunities.

Fourth, the Korean Peninsula is small in size, surrounded by the sea on three sides, and long and narrow from north to south.This geographical feature limits the advantage of the Volunteer Army's military strength. If there are too many troops, it cannot be deployed, and if the number of troops is small, it is not enough to achieve combat missions.It cannot conduct large-scale and extensive mobile operations like it can on the domestic battlefield, nor can it open up multiple battlefields.And this geographical feature is conducive to the "United Nations Army" to give full play to its naval and air force advantages and carry out landing attacks.The farther the Volunteer Army advances southward, the more the east and west coasts are exposed, and the task of coastal defense becomes heavier. At the same time, with the extension of the transportation line, the greater the burden on transportation.

In addition, fighting in North Korea is not like fighting in China, which lacks the cooperation of guerrilla warfare behind enemy lines. The "United Nations Army" has no worries, and can concentrate more than 90% of its troops for frontal combat.This increases the pressure on the Volunteers to fight frontally. Due to the disparity between the enemy and our own economic strength and weapons and equipment, the Chinese People's Volunteers' operations in Korea must be arduous and difficult.This point was fully estimated by the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China when it made the decision to send troops.After repeated contests in five consecutive battles, especially the fourth and fifth battles, the repeated saw-saw battlefield situation between the 38th and 37th parallels showed that the strength of the two sides was evenly matched, and the long-term nature of the war had been fully revealed.After the fifth battle, the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China and the Volunteer Army realized more fully that relying on the existing equipment and conditions of the Volunteer Army, it is impossible to quickly annihilate the vital forces of the enemy army in a short period of time and fundamentally solve the Korean issue.

The core problem of the volunteer army's combat difficulties is the backwardness of weapons and equipment.At that time, China's industrial base was backward and there was no decent military industry.Although some arsenals can only manufacture some simple infantry weapons and ammunition, they cannot manufacture cannons, automobiles, let alone airplanes and tanks.In fact, the improvement and strengthening of the volunteer army's weapons and equipment mainly depended on purchases from the Soviet Union.At that time, the Soviet Union was still in the recovery period after World War II, and it was also difficult to quickly provide the weapons and equipment needed by the Volunteers for combat. Moreover, the Soviet Union provided the equipment, and it still needed a certain amount of time for training to master the equipment performance and operating techniques. and the new tactics that follow.Air Force and Navy training in particular takes longer.Therefore, it is impossible to fundamentally improve the weapons and equipment of the Volunteers in a short period of time, so the long-term nature of the war is more fully revealed.

At the same time, China's economic strength is weak, and its financial and material resources to support the war are limited.Originally, after mainland China was basically liberated, the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China with Mao Zedong as the chairman and the Central People's Government of the People's Republic of China, which had just been established less than a year ago, planned to restore the national economy in about three years. However, in June 1950, just As soon as the deployment began, the U.S. authorities imposed this war on the Chinese people, and the Chinese people had to meet the war challenge of the United States.Because of supporting the war, in 1950 China’s military expenditures accounted for 41.1% of the final financial accounts, and the expenses for the recovery of the national economy accounted for only 25.5% of the final financial accounts. Increase.In this way, if the war is fought for a long time, the recovery of the national economy and the long-term construction of the country will be affected.The Korean people have been fighting for a year, and the financial, material and human resources to support the long-term war are even more difficult.

Of course, the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China and the Central People's Government of the People's Republic of China with Mao Zedong as the chairman have extremely high prestige, strong appeal and organizational power. With support, the Korean People's Army and the Volunteer Army are fighting side by side. The difficulties encountered by the Volunteer Army in combat can be overcome, and the final victory of the war will surely be won after a protracted battle. If the United States gives up its attempt to occupy the whole of Korea, stops its aggression, and is willing to use the 38th parallel as the boundary to resolve the Korean issue fairly and reasonably through negotiations, it will be more beneficial to the Chinese and Korean people.It is the consistent position of the Chinese government and people to resolve the North Korean issue peacefully. The purpose of the Volunteer Army's participation in the war is to fight aggression with the North Korean military and civilians, restore peace in North Korea, and safeguard China's security.When the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China decided to form the Chinese People’s Volunteers to enter North Korea to participate in the war, it had considered the 38th parallel as the boundary, and the withdrawal of troops from the war was one of the acceptable outcomes of the war.

However, before the fifth battle, the U.S. authorities insisted on continuing to expand their aggression and never gave up their military goal of occupying the whole of Korea by force, making it impossible to resolve the Korean issue peacefully.After the fifth battle, the battle line has been stabilized at the 38th parallel in the north and south areas. The US authorities were also forced to adjust the Korean War policy due to the defeat of the "United Nations Army" on the battlefield, giving up the goal of military occupation of the whole of Korea, and They expressed their willingness to achieve a truce in North Korea along the 38th parallel through negotiations, indicating that the US authorities accepted the Chinese government's proposal to resolve the North Korean issue in two steps as early as late January.The United States seeks to achieve a truce along the 38th parallel through negotiations. In fact, it is the first step of the two-step process that the Chinese government advocates to resolve the North Korean issue.This shows that it is not only more realistic to resolve the North Korean issue through negotiations at this time, but also has the basis and possibility.

The Central Committee of the Communist Party of China considers starting with the end of the Korean War and ensuring the realization of a ceasefire and truce in North Korea.If the U.S. armistice negotiations are a sham, or if they do not accept our reasonable conditions, then the U.S. deceit will be exposed, the war will continue, and we will still give it serious blows and lessons, and the peace-loving people of the world will will stand more on our side, and the United States will be in a mess.If the war is really over, then we can further propose that the relevant parties hold negotiations for a peaceful settlement of the Far East issue. Of course, this will be a long-term struggle, but the initiative for peace will be more in our hands. After the second phase of the fifth campaign ended, at the end of May, Peng Dehuai entrusted Deng Hua, deputy commander and deputy political commissar of the Volunteer Army, to lead Liu Xiyuan, political commissar of the 38th Army, Wu Xinquan, commander of the 39th Army, Wen Yucheng, commander of the 40th Army, Wu Ruilin, commander of the 42nd Army, and his party returned to Beijing to report the situation on the battlefield and ask for instructions on future policies to the Central Committee. At this time, Zhou Enlai, Premier of the Government Administration Council and Vice Chairman of the Central Military Commission in charge of daily work, due to long-term fatigue, the Political Bureau of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China decided to go to Dalian for a period of recuperation. From late May to early July, Zhou Enlai recuperated in Dalian.During this period, Mao Zedong personally intervened in matters related to the War to Resist US Aggression and Aid Korea. The Soviet government notified China and North Korea of ​​the meeting between George Kennan and Jacob Malik, the permanent representative of the Soviet Union to the United Nations, and the statements made. On June 3, Kim Il Sung came to Beijing. According to the new changes in the US policy towards the Korean War, he and Mao Zedong jointly analyzed the war situation and discussed issues of negotiation and war policy.Mao Zedong and Kim Il-sung studied and decided to implement the policy of fighting while talking, using both political and military struggles. On the one hand, they were preparing to hold negotiations with the United States, striving to achieve an armistice and withdrawal of troops with the 38th parallel as the boundary; Whether you have no illusions, you must make long-term and lasting plans in the military, and use resolute military strikes to smash any offensive by the "United Nations Army" so as to cooperate with the smooth progress of the armistice negotiations.Accordingly, the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China established the guidelines of "full preparation for protracted warfare and striving for peace talks to end the war." According to Nie Rongzhen's recollection, the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China held a meeting to study this issue.He said in his memoirs: "After the fifth battle, the central government held a meeting to study what to do next. At the meeting, most of the comrades suggested that our army should stop near the 38th parallel, fight and talk, and strive to negotiate to solve the problem. I also agreed at the time This is my opinion. I think that the political goal of driving the enemy out of North Korea has been achieved. Stopping at the 38th parallel, that is, restoring the pre-war state, will be acceptable to all parties. If the war continues, we will not be afraid, and it will become more and more serious. Fighting is stronger, but it is not without difficulties. The meeting was chaired by Mao Zedong, and the policy of talking while fighting was finally determined." On June 5, Mao Zedong called Stalin and decided to send Gao Gang to Moscow to inform Stalin of the discussion between Mao Zedong and Kim Il Sung and the opinions of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China, and to listen to Stalin's opinions.Kim Il Sung, who was in Beijing, also hoped to go to Moscow with Gao Gang to discuss these issues with Stalin.With Stalin's consent, Gao Gang and Kim Il Sung took a plane sent by Stalin to Moscow on June 10.Stalin agreed with Mao Zedong and Kim Il-sung's analysis of the situation, as well as the CPC Central Committee's opinions on the guidelines for the war. On June 13, he pointed out in a telegram to Mao Zedong: "With regard to the truce, we believe that it is a good thing to cease the war now." On the same day, Mao Zedong called Gao Gang and Kim Il Sung in Moscow, and proposed: Regarding how to raise the issue of armistice negotiations, it is not appropriate for us to propose it ourselves, because the Chinese People’s Volunteers and the Korean People’s Army should take measures in the past two months. defensive posture.The best way is: first, wait for the other party to propose; second, let the Soviet government propose based on Kennan's talk.Or the two ways can be carried out at the same time. On the one hand, the Soviet government will test it out. On the other hand, if the other party proposes, China and North Korea will agree.In addition, regarding the conditions of the armistice: restore the 38th parallel border; draw a neutral zone from North Korea and South Korea, and never allow the neutral zone to be drawn only from the territory of North Korea, and North and South Korea intersect with each other.As for the issue of China's entry into the United Nations, we do not think it is necessary to raise this issue as a condition, because China can invoke that the United Nations has actually become a tool of aggression, so China does not think that the issue of entry into the United Nations has any special significance.Please exchange views with Stalin on the above issues.Regarding military issues, I have told Comrade Deng Hua to return to the front line and resolutely hold the existing defense line. Preparations will be made in June and July, and a major counterattack will be launched in August.Gao Gang and Kim Il Sung visited Stalin again, and Stalin agreed with Mao Zedong's proposals. After the policy of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China was determined, Mao Zedong entrusted Deng Hua and his party to convey it to the Volunteer Army, and on June 13 he called Peng Dehuai to inform: "Comrade Deng Hua and the other four comrades have been ordered to return to the front on the 15th. It will be reported by Deng." Since then, the War to Resist US Aggression and Aid Korea has entered a new stage.