the unit was originally established as the 38th corps under the fourth field army in early 1949. the 38th can trace its lineage back to the late 1920s through its evolution from the 343rd brigade. in 1949 the 38th corps was composed of the 112th, 113th, and 114th divisions. under lin biao in mid-june 1949, the 38th took part in the campaign to take southern china and encircled yichang, hubei and seized the city.