Mianning: The Sworn Brotherhood That Helped the Long March

In late May 1935, the Central Red Army reached Mianning County in southwestern Sichuan. To escape the pursuing enemy forces and continue north, they first had to cross the rugged homeland of the Yi people, a minority group long oppressed by the Nationalist government and deeply hostile to outsiders. The only safe route was a hidden trail through Yi territory—but the Red Army needed the Yi's trust to make it through.