While Red armies swept unchecked toward Canton, news came of a jolt to Communist hopes in China's far Northwest. Last month 120,000 Reds under General Peng Teh-huai had chased an old Nationalist adversary, moody General Hu Tsung-nan, from the stronghold of Sian (see map). The way to rich Szechuan province and its famed capital Chungking seemed open. Instead, Communist Peng's men, thrusting on from Sian, rushed into a trap; it was the Chinese Red army's first defeat since the start of their all-out offensive.
The trap was sprung by hard-riding horsemen of Ma Pufang,...
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