As everyone knows, when Chairman Mao decided to resist US aggression and aid Korea, he was originally scheduled to let Lin Biao take command, but as a result, Lin Biao was ill and unfit to go on the expedition, so he was replaced by General Manager Peng.
In fact, in addition to Lin Biao's physical reasons, he also has a concern, that is, if China sends troops, will it cause the third world war? If the United States sends troops to invade China, can we fight it?
At that time, Chairman Mao gave him a detailed analysis and pointed out three fatal problems of the United States waging war with China, which still seem to be of great strategic significance today.
One day in September 1950, Lin Biao received an order from the central government to come to Beijing from Guangzhou and met Chairman Mao.
Chairman Mao first asked him about his physical condition with concern, suggested that he come to Beijing for treatment, and then talked about the situation in the Korean War.
Chairman Mao's intention is very clear: Although New China has just been established and is in urgent need of peaceful construction, if the Korean Peninsula is occupied by the United States, China will never have a peaceful day, so in order to defend our homeland, we must go to war!
Lin Biao is well aware of Chairman Mao's character, and it is very difficult for him to change the things he has decided, especially in such major matters that have a bearing on the future of the country and the nation, chairman Mao has always been far-sighted and indomitable.
However, Lin Biao still said one of the questions he was most worried about: "If we send troops, will it cause World War III?" Will it lead the flames of war to our country? ”
Chairman Mao had already considered this question long ago, and said to Lin Biao: "This issue has already been discussed by the Politburo, and this war is nothing more than three outcomes: a small blow, a medium strike, and a big hit. ”
Chairman Mao continued to explain to Lin Biao, saying: "A small fight is a small fight on the Korean battlefield, without expanding the scope, and finally a draw, an armistice between the north and the south, and maintaining the situation before the war began.
"The middle fight, that is, the war burned into our territory, there is nothing remarkable, barefoot is not afraid to wear shoes, we have been fighting for so many years, do not care about fighting a few more years, no big deal to build a few years later."
"As for the big fight, it is the third world war."
When Lin Biao heard this, he couldn't help but prick up his ears, which was also what he was most worried about.
Chairman Mao continued: "We are not afraid of a big fight, the Soviet Union will also directly participate in the war, the United States looks fierce, but it is not easy for them to invade China, I see that the United States has three fatal problems, first, the rear is too far away, far away from the ocean, more than ten thousand kilometers, or the ocean, such a long distance, transport is too troublesome, we only need to send a few submarines, destroy their transport ships, they will not be able to resist." ”
Lin Biao reminded: "We don't have a submarine. ”
Chairman Mao laughed and said, "The Soviet Union has." ”
Chairman Mao went on to say: "Second, the front line is too long, China is vast, and it has a very large strategic depth, and if the United States wants to distribute its troops in China, a few million troops are not enough, and we can fight guerrilla warfare with them and break through them individually."
"Third, there is not enough troops, the United States sends millions of troops to China, they still have to keep millions of troops on their own soil, at least ten million troops, which is very difficult for the United States, no one wants their children to cross the ocean and die thousands of miles away, once this contradiction intensifies, the American people will rise up against it."
Finally, Chairman Mao said with full confidence: "We are dealing with the superiority of the United States in weapons by waiting for work and using the superiority of the people's war." At the beginning of the war, the United States, with their superiority in weapons, may want to occupy some of our big cities, so we give them a good hand, we continue to follow our old path, the countryside surrounds the cities, and the final victory must belong to us! Because we are a just war against aggression, we will win the support of the people of the whole country and the people of the whole world! ”
After Lin Biao listened, he couldn't help but nod his head again and again, and was once again impressed by Chairman Mao's far-sightedness.
However, Lin Biao's physical condition was indeed very serious and he was not suitable for leading troops on a campaign, and Chairman Mao was no longer reluctant to let him treat his illness well and entrust the matter of resisting US aggression and aiding Korea to President Peng.
Although Lin Biao was unable to personally go on the expedition, he later made many contributions to the War to Resist US Aggression and Aid Korea, for example, during his treatment in the Soviet Union, he went with Premier Zhou to negotiate with Stalin, won a lot of advanced weapons and equipment for the Chinese Volunteer Army, and played an important role in the War to Resist US Aggression and Aid Korea.
(References: "Mao Zedong and Lin Biao", "High-level Decision-making on The War to Resist US Aggression and Aid Korea", "Anecdotes of the Ten Marshals")