How did the Long March help expand Communist influence in Gansu?

The Long March was instrumental in expanding Chinese Communist Party influence in Gansu by facilitating the relocation of the Chinese Red Army from southeastern China to the northwest.12

Following the withdrawal to Shaanxi, the communists established a regional presence that allowed them to project power into neighboring areas. This strategic shift led to the formation of a communist-controlled Shaanxi-Gansu-Ningxia border government in the late 1930s. By securing this base area, the communists were able to operate beyond the direct control of the Nationalist Party, which had previously controlled the province through local warlords. This foothold provided the foundation for the party to grow in strength, eventually leading to the defeat of local forces and the capture of Lanzhou in 1949.12