requested emperor Hirohito's sanction for the "strategic operation" against Chinese forces in Rehe. Hoping that it was the last of the army's operations in the area and that it would bring an end to the Manchurian matter, the Emperor approved, while stating explicitly that the army was not to go beyond China's Great Wall.

The Chinese armies gathered to defend Rehe numbered between 100,000 and 150,000 with 40,000 of the Northeastern army under Wan Fulin, 30,000-50,000