Figure 1.-- The northern warlords laid aside their personal qiarles and infihjting as the Ching led the KMT National Relvolutionary Army north. They orgamized the Aukuochün (Nationl Pacification Army) (1926). Fengtian leader Zhang Zuolin (Chang Tso-lin) led the Army and his son, Zhang Xueliang (ChangHsueh-liang), who he almost executed was given a field command. Here a Fentian spokesmen gives a propaganda speech in Shanghai, a city with a growing Communist movement. The press report read, "Bearung the Reds at their own game: Photo shos a lecture officer of th propoganda bureau of the Ankuochun Army as he talks to crowds in a Shanghi street, telling of the danger of Canonese [southern] rule and influence. Note the characteristic posters on the wall. The northern war lords picture the NRA as a soyjern regional army and not a national Chinese army. The photograph was dated April 7, 1927.

Gen. Chiang Kai-shek, commander of the Whampoa Militry Accademy, emerged as he dominant figure in the KMT. He became the leader of the National Revolutionary Army (NRA). He ovesaw the Canton Coup / Zhongshan Incident (1926). This was a confused incident in Guangzhou (Canton). It amounted to a purge of Chinese Communist Party (CCP) elements of the NRA in Guangzhou. This incident solidified Chiang's power over the NRA and KMT. Chiang managed to end all civilian control over the KMT and restrict the influence of the Communists who with Soviet military advisers were steadily infiltrating the NRA and overcoming right-wing resistance. Chiang managed to limit CCP influence without breaking with the Soviet Union which he needed for his long-planned Northern epedition. Trotsky opposed continued coopertion with the KMT, but Stalin supported it. List of CCP members within the KMT were provided Chiang. With an improved position in Guangzhou, Chiang then launched the Northern Expedition (summer 1926). The first engagements resulted in important victories over the Zhili Cliqu armies of Wu Peifu and Sun Chuanfang in central and eastern China. At this point the Guominjun (KMC) and Shanxi warlord Yan Xishan deciced to join Chiang and the KMT against the Fengtian. The Fengtian or Fengtian Clique (奉系军阀 ) was one of several warlord factions that had split from the Beiyang Govrnment in Beijing. It was named after Fengtian (Liaoning) Province where its support was strogest and a major target of the Japanese. The Fengtian was led by Zhang Zuolin. They had struggled with the Zhili for control of Beijing and the nominal government of China. The result had been the chaotic First Zhili-Fengtian War (1922) and the Second Zhili-Fengtian War (1924). Feng Yuxiang, Hu Jingyi and Sun Yue formed the Guominjun or Nationalist / Nortwest Army (KMC). Feng who had been cooperating with the Zhili Clique occupied Beijing, captured Zhili leader Cao Kun, and expelled deposed Qing Dynasty Emperor Puyi who had been allowed to remain in the Forbidden City after the Republican Revolution. The KMC was a natural ally with the KMT's NRA. The KMC main source of foreign support and arms was the Soviet Union which had vying with the Japanese for influence over the Fengtian Clique. The Soviets were keen on building a relationship with Feng and the KMC as he was seen as more ideologically acceptable of the various norther warlords. Fengtian leader Zhang Zuolin backed by the Japanese provided weapons to anti-KMC Muslim rebels led by Ma Tingrang during the Muslim conflict in Gansu (1927–30). The power of the Fengtian Clique began to disipate as Chiang moved the NRA north. Zhang Zuolin with the Fengtian Army retreated north. His Japanese Kwantung Army sponsors for unknown reasons blew up his train as he heded toward Manchuria (1928). Presumably they thought that the Chinese position in Manchuria would be strengthen. His son, Zhang Xueliang, who for some time did not know about the Japanese involvement, took over the leadership of the Fengtian. Zhang switched sides and pledged loyalty for himself and his army to Chiang and the KMT, but for some time kept his options open with the Japanese. [Boorman] Meanwhile the KMT uneasy alliance with the Communists was shattered. Chiang violently purged the Communists. This was the beginning of the Chinese Civil War. Chiang established a capital in Nanjing (Nanking), but needed control of Beijing (Peking), long seen as China's capital to obtain international recognition. Yan Xishan, now a KMT general, occupied Beijing after the death of Zhang Zuolin. At this point the NRA and KMC merged to fught the Communists. This essentially formally ended the War Lord era, but the influence of the war lords did not end with the Northern Expedition. Chiang had defeated ome, others simply accepted nominal KMT control. They continued to be a problem with China's ability to prosecute the war with Japan and develop a strong national army. Zhang's son, Zhang Xueliang, who had made his peace wih Chiang and the KMT negotiated an arrngement that he would continue to rule Manchuria in the name of the KMT. This arrangement ended when the Japanese, his father's former sponsor, invaded Manchuria (1931).

Anhui Clique

The Anhui Clique (皖系) began the Warlord period as the mpst important military faction in the crumbling Beiyang Government set up by Yuan Shikai. Like the other cliqes, the name was derived from from province where it was centered-- Anhui This meant the home province of the senior commander--Duan Qirui (段祺瑞). Yuan had made him premier and thus the Anhui Clique the most important faction in the Beiyang Government. Other important commnders included Xu Shuzheng (徐樹錚) in Fujian, Jin Yunpeng (靳雲鵬) in Shandong, Duan Zhigui (段芝貴) in Fengtian and Hubei, Fu Liangzuo (傅良佐) in Hunan, and Ni Sichong (倪嗣冲) in (Anhui). At the time Yuan Shikai (袁世凱), Duan Qirui held important civil and military posts in the Beiyang government. Its control of Beijing and the military forces commanded by Yuan has brougght prestige nd internatonl recignition. Duan Qirui and Cao Rulin (曹汝霖) as commanders began to break away sought international support, primarily to obtain arms. China with limited industrial development was dependent on foreign sources for arms. Japan was especially important because the European coutries embroiled in World War I had no desire to get involved. As part of the effort to improve its position. The Anhui-dominated Beiyang Government declared war on Germany and Austria-Hungary. President Li Yuanhong (黎元洪) who opposed the declaration of war, dismissed Premier Duan Qirui (1917). The result was that some 12 military commanders declared their independence and esentilly became war lords supporting Duan Qirui. Then Zhang Xun ( 張勳) on his own initative staged a coup to reinstall Puyi (愛新覺羅溥儀) who had been the boy emperor when the Republic was declared (1917). Duan Qirui with forces loyal to him in Beijing quickly put down the effort to restore the monarchy and maintined control over Beiyang government in the capital. The basically informal position of Duan who several times acted as Premier was formally legalized by the creation of the Anfu Club (安福俱樂部). The members elected a leader, normlly the most powerful warlords among the members. The Anfu Club also gained control of the Parliment. The 1918 parliament was called Anfu Parliament (安福國會). The Anfu Parliament replaced President Feng Guozhang with Xu Shichang (徐世昌) who was not associated with the Zhili Clique like Feng. The showdown came with the Zhili-Anhui War--the first warlord war. The Zhili ngotiated an alliance with the Fengtian Clique (奉系). The Beiyang Government and the Anhui were badly damaged by the May Fourth Movement. The alliance was able to defet Duan Qirui's Anhui armies. The Anhui Clique as a result dissolved. The Zhili gined control of Beijing. Duan Qirui was elected provisional president (1924). Other Anhui generals etablished themselves as provincil warlords until Chiang launched the Northern Expedition (北伐).

National Revolutionary Army

Dr. Sun Yat-Sun, the first President of China, had been forced to resign and then flee to the south. He evetually came to the opinion that the Chinese Republic and the revolution he envsioned would not be accomplished without developing a capable revolutionary armed forces. The Soviet Union began helping Sun rebuild the Nationalist (Kuomintang--KMT) military force (1924). A training academy was opened at Whampoa/Huangpu, a small town near Guangzhou (Cnton). Many of China's military leaders during the Civil War and the war with Japan wold be Whampoa graduates, both Nationalists and Communists. Gen. Chiang Kai-shek, commander of the Whampoa Militry Accademy, emerged as he dominant figure in the KMT. He became the leader of the National Revolutionary Army (NRA). The Kuonmintang formed the NRA in southen China (early 1925). The KMT military wing to defend the Republic and designed to unify the country. The military force which operated on the three principles of the people was guided by Comintern. At the time the KMT was a revolutionary party and cooperting with the Chinee Communist arty (CCP)s and Soviet Union. Most of the officers were trained at the Whampoa Military Training Academy and its first commandant was--Chiang Kai-shek. Other prominent individuals in the NRA were Cheng Cheng and Du Yuming. The NRA at first included ,many Communists. It would be the force used by Chiang to conduct the Northern Expedition. The NRA successfully accomplished its task of uniting China. Small scale warlord activities continud even after the Northern Expedition. Many of the warlord rmies were incorported in the NRA. It would be the nucleus for the Nationalist Army that would fight both the Communists and the Japanese. Soviet military advisers played an important role in the creation of the NRA. Later Chiang would turn to NAZI Germany. NAZI sopport ended with the Japanese invasion and asthe two coutries began to develop c;ose relations ledig to Japan joining the Axis.

Canton Coup / Zhongshan Incident (1926)

Chiang ovesaw the Canton Coup / Zhongshan Incident (1926). This was a confused incident in Guangzhou (Canton). It amounted to a purge of Chinese Communist Party (CCP) elements of the NRA in Guangzhou. This incident solidified Chiang's power over the NRA and KMT. Chiang managed to end all civilian control over the KMT and restrict the influence of the Communists who with Soviet military advisers were steadily infiltrating the NRA and overcoming right-wing resistance. Chiang managed to limit CCP influence without breaking with the Soviet Union which he needed for his long-planned Northern epedition. Trotsky opposed continued coopertion with the KMT, but Stalin supported it. List of CCP members within the KMT were provided Chiang. With an improved position in Guangzhou, Chiang then launched the Northern Expedition (summer 1926).

The Zhili Clique

The Zhili Clique (直(隸)系軍閥) was one of major cliques or factions that split from the Beiyang Government during the Republic of China's warlord era. Former Imperial General Yuan Shikai (袁世凱) died (1916). His prestige personal relations from the Imperial era had kept the Beiyang Government and more importantly the Army together. With his death the different regional commanders began to set up their own war lord states and to wage war with each other to expand their territory. The Zhili Clique got its name for the region whertr they were based--Zhili Province (modern Hebei). The Zhili Clique was organized by officers who belived that they were being unfairly treated by Beiyang Premier Duan Qirui in such actions as appointments and promotions. President Feng Guozhang (馮國璋) in the Beiyang Government lost the power struggle in Beijing with Duan's dominant Anhui Clique, but emerged as the major figure in the Zhili. Duan had expansive ambitions. He managed to secure Japanese loans and moved to conquer all of China and to subdue the defecting other warlords. He also targeted former President Sun Yat-sen (孫中山) in the south who has proclaimed the Protection of the Constitution Movement (護法運動). Lacking strong bonds, they were more willing to abandon or betray one another.They advocated a softer line during the Constitutional Protection War. After Feng's natural death, leadership passed to Cao Kun. Cao was victorious in the Zhili-Anhui War (1920) though the credit belongs to his chief lieutenant, Wu Peifu, the greatest strategist in China at the time. Relations with the Fengtian clique, which gave nominal assistance against Anhui, deteriorated and Wu again brought victory during the First Zhili-Fengtian War (1922). In the next two years, the Zhili clique scored successive victories which led to Cao Kun's ascendency to the presidency via bribery. Cao's ambition brought all of his enemies against him and created dissension within the clique. Zhili may have won the Second Zhili-Fengtian War (1924) and eventually reunite all of China had it not been for Feng Yuxiang's betrayal with the Beijing coup. Cao was imprisoned and leadership passed to Wu who along with Sun Chuanfang managed to hold central China for the next two years. During the Kuomintang's Northern Expedition, they created a desperate alliance with their former Fengtian enemies but were defeated entirely. The Zhili clique was the only warlord faction to be destroyed as a result of the Northern Expedition.They were also strongly anti-Japanese. Western powers were sympathetic but provided no support with the exception of foreign private businesses who appreciated their adoption of an anti-communist and anti-union stance in 1923. Wu Peifu had initially invited the Communists to end the Communications Clique's stranglehold over the railways but found the Communists to be a greater threat and put them down with violence. The first engagements resulted in important victories over the Zhili Cliqu armies of Wu Peifu and Sun Chuanfang in central and eastern China.

Guangdong Clique

Guizhou Clique

Yunnan Clique

Guominjun (KMC)

At this point the Guominjun (KMC) and Shanxi warlord Yan Xishan deciced to join Chiang and the KMT against the Fengtian. Feng Yuxiang, Hu Jingyi and Sun Yue formed the Guominjun or Nationalist / Nortwest Army (KMC). Feng who had been cooperating with the Zhili Clique occupied Beijing, captured Zhili leader Cao Kun, and expelled deposed Qing Dynasty Emperor Puyi who had been allowed to remain in the Forbidden City after the Republican Revolution. The KMC was a natural ally with the KMT's NRA. The KMC main source of foreign support and arms was the Soviet Union which had vying with the Japanese for influence over the Fengtian Clique. The Soviets were keen on building a relationship with Feng and the KMC as he was seen as more ideologically acceptable of the various norther warlords.

Fengtian Clique

The Fengtian or Fengtian Clique (奉系军阀 ) was one of several warlord factions that had split from the Beiyang Govrnment in Beijing. It was named after Fengtian (Liaoning) Province where its support was strogest and a major target of the Japanese. The Fengtian was led by Zhang Zuolin. They had struggled with the Zhili for control of Beijing and the nominal government of China. The result had been the chaotic First Zhili-Fengtian War (1922) and the Second Zhili-Fengtian War (1924). Fengtian leader Zhang Zuolin backed by the Japanese provided weapons to anti-KMC Muslim rebels led by Ma Tingrang during the Muslim conflict in Gansu (1927–30). The power of the Fengtian Clique began to disipate as Chiang moved the NRA north. Zhang Zuolin with the Fengtian Army retreated north. His Japanese Kwantung Army sponsors for unknown reasons blew up his train as he heded toward Manchuria (1928). Presumablt they thought that the Chinese position in Manchuria would be strengthened. His son, Zhang Xueliang, who for some time did not know about the Japanese involvement, took over the leadership of the Fengtian. Zhang switched sides and pledged loyalty for himself and his army to Chiang and the KMT, but for some time kept his options open with the Japanese. [Boorman]

Civil War

Meanwhile the KMT uneasy alliance with the Communists was shattered. Chiang violently purged the Communists. This was the beginning of the Chinese Civil War.

Beijing

Chiang established a capital in Nanjing (Nanking), but needed control of Beijing (Peking), long seen as China's capital to obtain international recognition. Yan Xishan, now a KMT general, occupied Beijing after the death of Zhang Zuolin. At this point the NRA and KMC merged to fught the Communists.

Continuing war Lord Influence

The occupation of Beijing essentially formally ended the War Lord era, but the influence of the war lords did not end with the Northern Expedition. Chiang had defeated ome, others simply accepted nominal KMT control. They continued to be a problem with China's ability to prosecute the war with Japan and develop a strong national army.

Manchuria

Zhang's son, Zhang Xueliang, who had made his peace wih Chiang and the KMT negotiated an arrngement that he would continue to rule Manchuria in the name of the KMT. This arrangement ended when the Japanese, his father's former sponsor, invaded Manchuria (1931).

Sources

Boorman, Howard L. "Chang Hsueh-liang," Biographical Dictionary of Republican China, Volume 1 (Columbia University Press: 1967), 471p. pages

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Created: 12:25 PM 7/26/2016
Last updated: 12:25 PM 7/26/2016