Chapter 62 The two Red Armies converge 1935

Journalist: “When heading north, did you have to cross the snowy mountains?”

Mao: “Yes. On May 31, 1935, I crossed Luding Bridge on foot. We were only 300 kilometers away from Zhang Guotao. In between lay the ‘Giant Snowy Mountains,’ where Tibetan people lived scattered. However, during the season in June when we crossed the mountains, there was no accumulated snow, only bone-chilling cold. Before setting off, we drank chili water to fend off the cold. Crossing the 4,000-meter-high mountains, our frail bodies struggled with the thin air of the plateau climate. Many people laid to rest there forever. The stretcher bearers and porters suffered the most. Some would sit down to catch their breath and could never stand up again. I climbed the Snowy Mountains without using a stretcher, relying on a wooden stick for support, and made it through.”

Journalist: “Did you meet up with Zhang Guotao?”

Mao: “Zhang Guotao’s forces were on the other side of the mountains, waiting to welcome the Central Red Army. They had prepared a lot of supplies: salt, tea, shoes, socks, woolen blankets, gloves, and more. The leaders, including myself, received extra food, coarse cloth uniforms, and mules and horses. The horse given to me was carefully chosen, gentle in nature. There was also a doctor who served as my nurse. One week later, on June 25, Zhang Guotao rode for three days, crossing steep cliffs and forests, and arrived at Fubian Village to join us. The two Red Armies finally met there.”

Journalist: “Oh, Zhang Guotao specifically sent you a horse and a doctor to serve as your nurse?”

Mao: “Yes. A few days later, on July 4, 1935, Kong Xiangxi visited Soviet Ambassador Bogomolov. He mentioned that Chiang Kai-shek was eager to reunite with his son. This was Chiang Kai-shek’s message to Stalin: ‘I have allowed your two Red Armies to meet, so please release my son!’ The Soviet ambassador was well-prepared and immediately responded, ‘We do not hinder his return to China, but as far as I know, he himself does not wish to come back.’

Chiang Kai-shek was unable to retrieve his son, but he achieved his goal of unifying the three southwestern provinces. The warlord Wang Jiaxie in Guizhou was forced to resign and left with a large sum of money. Long Yun, the chairman of Yunnan Province, cooperated with Chiang Kai-shek and maintained a good relationship. Sichuan is now under Chiang’s complete control. After the Central Army followed the Red Army into Sichuan, Chiang Kai-shek returned to Chongqing in May and stayed in Sichuan for several months, laying the foundation for a future base to fight against Japan.”

Journalist: “Chiang Kai-shek failed to bring back his son, but he made gains by unifying the southwest. And what about you? Did you achieve significant results?”

Mao: “I also took a significant step forward in history. Before the Long March, I was almost left behind. Within half a year, I became the person in control of the central military power. Although the size of the Central Red Army decreased from over 40,000 to less than 10,000, it doesn’t matter. As long as I am there, as long as the party leadership is there, everything can be rebuilt with the support of Moscow.”