Their situation improved Cause_to_make_progress in 1949 after the Chinese Communist People 's Liberation Army of Mao Zedong defeated Conquering the Nationalist army led Causation by Chiang Kai-shek .

The Communists , under the eventual command Control of Mao Zedong and Zhou Enlai , escaped Escaping in a circling Self_motion retreat Escaping to the west and north , which reportedly traversed Motion_directional over 9,000 kilometers ( 5600 miles ) over 370 days .

The Long March began Process_start the ascent to power of Mao Zedong , whose leadership during the retreat Escaping gained Getting him the support Supporting of the members of the party .

China 's Chairman Mao Zedong ordered Arranging the Chinese People 's Volunteer Army to cross Motion_directional the 38th Parallel in an effort to pressure Convincing the UN forces Hostile_encounter to withdraw Escaping from South Korea .

Much of the aid provided Supply to survivors was in `` spiritual '' form , including Mao Zedong badges and condolence letters .

Between 27 November and 13 December , 30,000 United Nations Command Request troops ( later nicknamed Name_conferral `` The Chosin Few '' ) under the field command Control of Major General Oliver P. Smith were encircled and attacked Attack by about 120,000 Chinese troops under the command Control of Song Shilun , who had been ordered Request by Mao Zedong to destroy Destroying the UN forces .