He Long
In August 1934, accompanying Red Sixth Army commanders Xiao Ke and Wang Zhen, Ren organized a successful Westward march to retreat from the increasing unsuccessful defense in the Hunan-Jiangxi Soviet. Ren met with the Red Third Army on 24 October 1934 in Yinjiang Tujia and Miao Autonomous County, Guizhou and formed the Red Second Army Group under the command of He Long. Even though this army group managed to retain control over parts of Hunan and Hubei, Chiang Kai-shek's National Revolutionary Army adopted a multi-pronged conventional assault which forced the retreat of Communist forces. By November, Ren, He Long and Guan Xiangying were able to break out of the military blockade established by Chiang's army in Sangzhi, Hunan through a joint command of the Second and Sixth armies and proceeded on with the Long March.