Editing Long March (section)

===The Zunyi Conference===
{{main|Zunyi Conference}}
The Communists' Zunyi Conference lasted from January 15–17, 1935, and resulted in a reshuffling of the [[Politburo of the Chinese Communist Party|Party politburo]]. Zhou intended the conference to draw lessons from the Red Army's past failures, and to develop strategies for the future. Much of the discussion revolved around whether the defeats of the Red Army were due to unavoidable circumstances, or inadequacies of leadership.  Bo Gu, the first speaker, attributed the Red Army's losses to "objective" causes, particularly the enemy's overwhelming numerical superiority, and poor coordination of Communist forces.  Braun's interpreter, [[Wu Xiuquan]], later recalled that Bo's arguments did not impress his audience, and that Bo came across as someone attempting to avoid responsibility.{{sfn|Barnouin|Yu|2006|p=59}}

Zhou Enlai was the next to speak. Zhou blamed the Red Army's failures on poor decisions at the leadership level, and blamed himself as one of the three people most responsible.  Zhou's willingness to accept responsibility was well received. [[Zhang Wentian]], basing many of his conclusions on recent discussions with Mao, attacked Bo and Braun directly, criticizing them for numerous strategic and tactical errors.{{sfn|Barnouin|Yu|2006|p=60}}

After Zhang, Mao gave a speech in which he analyzed the poor tactics and strategies of the two leaders. With Zhou's explicit backing, Mao won over the meeting. Seventeen of the meeting's twenty participants (the exceptions being Bo, Braun, and [[Kai Feng (politician)|He Kequan]]) argued in his favor.{{sfn|Barnouin|Yu|2006|p=60}}

Of the three leaders who had controlled the Party before the Zunyi Conference, only Zhou Enlai's political career survived. Zhou was held partially responsible for the Red Army's defeat, but was retained at the top level of Party leadership because of his differences with Bo and Braun at Ningdu, his successful tactics in defeating Chiang's fourth Encirclement Campaign, and his resolute support of Mao.{{sfn|Barnouin|Yu|2006|p=60}} Although the failed leadership of Bo Gu and Otto Braun was denounced, Mao was not able to win the support of a sufficient number of Party leaders to gain outright power at the conference.<ref name="Kampen1" />

A major shift in the Party's leadership occurred two months later, in March 1935. Mao was passed over for the position of [[General Secretary of the Chinese Communist Party|General Secretary]] by [[Zhang Wentian]], but gained enough influence to be elected one of three members of Military Affairs Commission. The other two members were Zhou Enlai, who retained his position as Director of the commission, and [[Wang Jiaxiang]], whose support Mao had enlisted earlier.<ref name="Kampen1">{{cite book | last = Kampen | first = Thomas | year = 2000 | title = Mao Zedong, Zhou Enlai and the Evolution of the Chinese Communist Leadership | publisher = Nordic Institute of Asian Studies | pages = 67–68  | isbn = 87-87062-76-3}}</ref>  Within this group, Zhou was empowered to make the final decisions on military matters, while Mao was Zhou's assistant.  Wang was in charge of Party affairs.{{sfn|Barnouin|Yu|2006|p=60}}