Chiang Kai-Shek goes to Germany: An Axis China Timeline

[CCA]

Hi All,

I've just read Jonathan Fenby's book "Generalissimo Chiang Kai-Shek and the China He Lost" and it says that Chiang was considering going to Germany in 1912 to 'further his training'

What would have happened if he had?

(This is my first timeline)

The German Period: The Years of Blood and Iron 1912-1918

1912:
Chiang Kai-Shek shoots a rival of Chen Qimei dead. Fearing retaliation he decides to flee to Germany and tries to enlist in the prestigious Prussian Military Academy. ( This is the POD, IOTL he flees to Japan) Lacking the qualifications and support from a higher source needed, he is turned down.

He eventually drifts to Vienna, being degraded into employment as an 'exotic' fortune teller. His social circle consists of down-and-out-of-luckers like himself. In Vienna he first meets Adolf Hitler, the two become fast friends. He learns much of his German from Hitler and this social cricle.

He eventually bluffs his way into a place in the Die bayerische Kriegsakademie (The Bavarian War Academy) barely passing the entrance exam near the end of the year.

1913:
Chiang Kai-Shek finds the Bavarian War Academy tough going. His command of German, while vastly improving is initially quite basic. However he persists, barely passing the various tests and examinations. Chiang however is quite frustrated at this and yearns to learn 'in the field.'

Chiang rents a cramped little room in Munich with his friend Adolf Hitler who has moved to Munich to 'live in a real German city.'

1914:
At the outbreak of the First World War, Chiang Kai-Shek makes a decision to learn the trade 'in the field' and asks permission from the Academy to enlist in the Bavarian Army. The War Academy receives countless of those petitions and approves them all, most with the starting rank of "Feldwebel" or Sergeant. However due to Chiang's mediocre performance and basic command of German his starting rank is merely that of a "Gefrieter" or Lance Corporal.

Chiang's close friend Adolf Hitler also petitions to join the Bavarian Army.
The two men are overjoyed to find that they have been assigned to the same Regiment - the 16th Bavarian Reserve Regiment or Regiment List. However the joy quickly turns to elation as the two realize that they have been assigned to a different company. The two bid their farewells saying "see you in the Trenches."

The two take part in the Battle of Ypres, the companies they have been assigned in suffer horrific casualties. Chiang's original company of 250 has been reduced to 39, Hitler's company has been reduced to 45. The two do indeed meet again when their companies are merged after the Battle.

Their consolidated unit is posted near Messines where the two save each others life on two separate occasions. Chiang proves to be very courageous and an uncanny knack of predicting when and where an artillery shell is about to land, he pushes his friend out of the way in one instance.

Chiang's valour is noted and he is chosen to lead a trench raid where his friend, Adolf volunteers. Chiang successfully leads the raid but is shot in the leg as he is the last to leave the raid and is left on No Man's Land. After realizing this, Hitler dashes forward and retrieves his friend. In doing so he catches the attention of several officers who note that 'he would make a good runner,' Hitler is reassigned to Regimental headquarters and spends the rest of the war as a Runner. He is later awarded the Iron Cross, 2nd Class.

Chiang recuperates for the rest of 1914 recuperating in a military hospital. He is lucky that the shot does not damage any major organs and he makes a full recovery.

1915:

Chiang returns to front-line duty. He fast acquires a reputation for courage and efficiency, leading many successful trench raids. In recognition of this, he is awarded the Iron Cross, 2nd Class. The first non-German to be given the award in a combat capacity.

Hitler also aquires a reputation for bravery under fire and his ability to get accross messages despite being under heavy fire. He is promoted to the rank of Gefrieter.

1916:

Chiang fights in the Battle of the Somme. His courage under fire and resolve inspires the soldiers around him being called "Chiang the Fearless." He successfully knocks out a tank by throwing a grenade in the barrell. For this he is promoted to the rank of "Unteroffizier" or Corporal. Ludwig III catches wind of his exploit and writes him a letter of commendation praising him for his 'invaluable service' and 'courage in the field of battle.' Chiang is also featured in the Army newspaper.

Hitler is wounded in the early stages of the Battle of the Somme and reads about his good friend's exploits. He writes Chiang a letter sending him his hearty congratulations. His injuries force him to spend the rest of the Year in hopsital. When Chiang manages to secure leave he visits Hitler.

1917:

Chiang's notoriety grows in the Ypres Salient, he leads several more trench raids. In one action a group of 6 men to take 32 New Zealanders prisoner. In recognition of this, as well as Ludwig III's letter and the attrition rate among NCOs, Chiang is promoted to "Feldwebel" or Sergeant. Chiang is quickly becoming a good leader and an exellent practitioner of infantry tactics, inspiring his men through example. He is hit by shrapnel in the opening stages of the Battle of Paschendale and recuperates in a military hospital.

When he hears of China's declaration of War against Germany in August, he writes a letter back home to a major newspaper condemming the "Ruling clique" as a "pack of fools and jackals" berating them for being on the "wrong, losing side of the war." This causes quite a stir and attracts the attention of Ludendorf who after reading Chiang's exploits visits him in person and describes as a "model soldier - learned, brave and resolute." Ludendorf admits he is quite surprised given that Chiang is not German. He also receives a visit from his friend Hitler.

Chiang is further elated when he discovers that he has been promoted to Sekondelieutenant (2nd Lieutenant.) His joy quickly turns to mixed feeling when he realizes that he will be transfered out of Regiment List and has been handpicked by Ludendorf to lead one of the spearhead platoons in the coming Spring Offensive.

Hitler continues to give distinguished service as a runner. He is awarded the Iron Cross, First Class by the end of the year after leading back a 'lost platoon' of German troops from No Man's Land.

1918:

Chiang and his platoon are one of the leading echelons in the Somme Offensive. He commands his platoon with valour and efficiency leading them all the way to Albert. Chiang is wounded once again, this time by an Entete strafing attack but not before he manages to bring down one allied aircraft.

Chiang has moderate injuries with bullets passing through his sides and arms - he is told by the Doctor that it will take until December 1918 for him to fully recover.

Chiang is visited by Lundendorf again in October 1918, plummeting German morale means that everything must be done to bolster morale. Chiang is promoted to Hauptmann (captain) and sent back in a propaganda capacity to his original List Regiment in the Ypres sector. Chiang spends most of his time in Regimental Headquarters filling out various bits and pieces of paperwork and talking to his friend Adolf.

Adolf continues to give distinguished service as a runner. At Chiang's recommendation he is promoted to Unteroffizer. He is gassed and temporarily blinder near Wervicq on the 13th of October. When he returns on November 1 he is made Chiang's adjutant and promoted to Feldwebel.

November:

Both men react bitterly at the news of the Armistice. Both believe that Germany has been 'stabbed in the back' by civilian elements

December:

Both men part ways. Chiang Kai-Shek returns to China, a decorated and battle hardend veteran with a bright future to look forward too. Men who have had combat experience are valuable in a country rife with conflict and warlordism. Chiang tries to convince Adolf to go with him, but Adolf refuses saying that he must stay to "save his country." On the surface, this seems delusional, Hitler is returning to a country with many men like him - weary, combat hardened veterans with no other skill other than killing. Chiang and Adolf promise to stay in touch.


Any comments and feedback welcome (please)

Next Update: The Warlord Decade 1919-1929

 

[CCA]

Thanks again to everyone for their kind feedback and comments. This update was supposed to come yesterday but I had to babysit

The Centre Cannot Hold: China during the Warlord Period 1919-1929

1919 - the Year of Revolution:

January:

Chiang's arrival in China is noticed by many different warlords and factions, he is invited by many to join them. However, Chiang still has loyatly to Sun Yat-Sen and joins him in Shanghai. Sun Yat-Sen is elated and grants Chiang the title of "Extraordinary Generalissimo of all Kuomintang Military Forces."

When Chiang asks how many men Sun Yat-sen has, he replies "None - but that will be your first task."

When Chiang asks how much territory Sun Yat-sen controls, Sun replies " None - but that will be our first task"

When Chiang asks how much arms Sun Yat-sen has, Sun replies "None, but I can give you the money to buy them with."

Enraged, Chiang asks Sun "What do you actually have?" Sun replies " A vision."

Chiang has second thoughts about his decision but decides to stay with Sun Yat-sen. He realizes that all the other warlords have no vision for China and that Sun's movement - despite lacking an army, a base of support and arms is the only force capable of re-uniting China.

February:

Chiang begins to prepare and train an army - due to the collapse of state authority there are plenty of men with guns who will flock to any standard for money and plenty of men desperate to put food on their bellies. By the end of the month he has 10,000 men under the Kuomintang banner. However he has several problems with this new "Revolutionary Army."

The first is lack of arms - only 20% of the force at his disposal has anything vaguely resembling modern weapons. And those that do posses weapons have them in a variety - Mauser rifles, Lee-Enfields and Lebels are all scattered. This makes logistics and resupply a near impossible task. His force is also crucially lacking in machine-guns only possessing one crappy french made Chauchat light machine gun.

The second is lack of discipline - many of the men who have joined are former bandits, former warlord troops or outright mercenaries who will switch sides at the next best opportunity.

The last is the state of many of these soldiers. Many are suffering from malnutrition and are a host to a range of disease. Chiang is dismayed to see that some of the troops that have flocked to the KMT banner are children as young as 13 - he sends them home.

March:

Chiang begins a regime of training and begins to buy more weapons for his troops.

April:

Chiang tell Sun Yat-Sen that they need a base of operations. Shanghai is under the de-facto control of gangsters and the de-jure control of the Beijing Government. His ill-armed 10,000 men could not take Shanghai.

May:

On May 4, student protests break out all over major universities as word leaks out that the Beijing government has failed to win control of the Shangdon Peninsula. What becomes soon known as the 'May Fourth Movement' gains momentum as merchants, workers and businessmen go on strike in Beijing, Shanghai and other major population centres.

Sun Yat-Sen sees and opportunity, he goes out on the crowds and addresses them telling them that the country has been betrayed by a pack of "cowardly warlords more interested in lining their pockets than in the fate of China" and informs them of the 'Revolutionary Army.'

An influx of idealistic students, workers and merchants flood the ranks and coffers of the Revolutionary Army which takes cotrol of Shanghai. Heady with his first success, Sun orders Chiang to lead what has been renamed as the 'National Revolutionary Army' to march to Beijing to "restore the Republic." Sun hopes that by taking the capital, he will force the provincial governors and warlords to acknowledge him as president. Chiang pleads that this 'ill-trained rabble could not take a village." His concerns are dismissed and he is instructed to prepare the National Revolutionary Army to set out for Beijing starting June 1. Chiang frantically spends the rest of the month trying to organize something vaguely resembling a coherent fighting force.

June:

The National Revolutionary Army sets out for Beijing along the "Grand Canal" route with Sun Yat-Sen and Chiang Kai-Shek at it's head. Chiang easily routes the small armies that the Beiyan government sends against him. Nanjing falls when a General strike consisting of students, workers and merchants paralyze the cities defence.

July:

The National Revolutionary Army continue to make for Beijing and secures Kiangsu province for the Nationalist cause. What is becoming known as the 'Northern Expedition' is facing success beyong it's wildest dreams as towns, cities and troops defect to the KMT banner.

With the rapid fall of Nanjing and the loss of Kiangsu, the Beiyang government realizes the seriousness of the situation and the various cliques and factions unite and form a combined army. However they disagree over the question of who should head it and the dispute is resolved by having no overall command.

August:

The National Revolutionary Army crosses into Hopeh province, at this point the National Revolutionary Army has swelled to 200,000 troops. Sun Yat-Sen splits the two armies in half. He takes command of the troops that will march to Beijing using the Grand Canal as a route and gives the other half to Chiang Kai-Shek who will march to Beijing using the coast, securing the Shangdon Peninsula and Tsingdao on the way.

Unbeknownst to the two - the Beiyang Government has made an agreement with Japan to stop the National Revolutionary Army. Japanese marines halt Chiang's forces in front of Tsingdao - barely.

Sun Yat-Sen's forces are comprehensively routed by the combined warlord army just north of Tsinan and Sun flees south to Nanjing. It seems that the Northern Expedition has failed. Chiang orders the remnants of his forces back to Kiangsu province.

September:

Dealt heavy blows by combined twin defeats the National Revolutionary Army ceases to exist as a coherent fighting force. Warlord troops retake Kiangsu province along with Nanjing and Shanghai - Chiang vows vengeance promising 'I Shall Return.'

The remnants of the National Revolutionary Army - some 10,000 strong march to Guangdong province where Sun Yat-Sen has been invited by Chen Jiongming to set up a government.

October:

Sun Yat-Sen, Chiang Kai-Shek and the remnants of the National Revolutionary Army arrive in Guangdon, welcomed by Chen Jiongming. After a warm welcome, relations between Chiang and Chen deteriorate as the two clash over who has the authority over military forces.

November:

Chiang continues to train and buy arms for the National Revolutionary Army. This leads him into conflict with Chen Jiongming, Ye Ju and other commanders of the Guangdong province military.

December:

Tensions continue to mount as Chiang stubornly refuses to back down from his programme of maintaing the separate existence of the National Revolutionary Army. Sun Yat-Sen receives pressure from Chen Jiongming to dismiss the 'Zhenjiang Upstart' referring to Chiang. Sun refuses to intervene in the situation and the stalemate continues.

Any feedback and comments welcome (please)

Next Update - hopefully up today if I don't have to babysit:

1920: Frustrations and Tensions

PS: MAPMAKERS wanted - please contact me if you're interested in taking part in this Timeline. Or feel free to make a map, whatever

 

[CCA]

Apologies for the lack of updates - I went on Holiday to Hamilton last weekend. Thanks to everyone for their kind comments and feedback.

I'd have to agree with PaulQ here - any help that China gets goes a long way. Even if the Germans successfully manage to set up one aircraft plant - that is still one more than OTL (where none was set up) Plus the POD is quite far back - allowing more leeway for Axis China to industrialize and rearm.

I wouldn't be so optimistic ( or is it pessimistic) to say that an Axis China timeline ends with China being invaded!

Here it is

1920: Frustrations and Tensions

January:

Chiang is ambushed as he rides during a military exercise with his troops. Although he manages to escape this initial attempt on his life, Chen Jiongming's troops fire on him as he attempts to make his way back. He flees towards the North - a wanted man in the South.

The attacks on Chiang are attributed as "bandit-attacks" and he is presumed dead. Under severe pressure - Sun Yat-Sen agrees to make Chen Jiongming 'Extraordinary General of the Kuomintang' but refuses to name him commander of the National Revolutionary Army - assuming command of Chiang's 10,000 strong army.

February - April:

Chiang makes decides to pay a visit to his family before taking refuge in Shanghai. He travels anonymously - discarding anything which might distinguish him from the many other soldiers wandering around.

Sun continues to train the NRA and purchase arms.

May:

Chiang arrives in Shanghai after spending a few weeks in his home village. He arrives in time to see May Fourth Protests by students and labour unions which are violently suppressed by Beiyang Government troops who do not wish to see a repeat of last year's incidents.

In Guangzhou - a general strike called by the KMT Left shouts slogans such as " We Know The Truth" " Down with Warlordism" and " Free Chiang" this is brutally repressed and one of the ringleaders - Wang Jingwei flees to Shanghai.

June - December:

Chiang and Wang plot revenge in Shanghai while Sun and Chen continue their power struggles in Guangzhou. Their powers are at a balance - Chen commands the support of much of the provinces' warlords who fear an erosion of their power and industrialists who fear the KMT for their 'revolutionism' and 'leftist tendencies.'

While in Shanghai - Chiang begins to court Soong May-ling the daughter of Charlie Soong. Although May-ling is several years the junior of Chiang, May-ling falls in love with Chiang and the two begin an illicit love affair.

1921 - The Return of the General and the Unionist

January - April:

Chiang and Wang continue to plot and prepare. Contact is established with Sun who is made aware that Chiang is still alive. Plans are hatched for May 4 - A general strike will paralyze Chen Jiongming's command while NRA troops arrest and detain the major warlords. Chen Jiongming is to be executed after his surrender is recorded.

However - premature Skirmishes begin to break out between NRA troops and Warlords troops around Guangdong. Tension builds up as there is the air is thick with expectation.

May:

Guangdon explodes - many provincial centres are up in arms. The National Revolutionary Army easily brushes aside much of the 'warlord rabble.' Chiang and Wang ride back triumphantly into Guangzhou greeted by cheering trade unionists carrying red banners and NRA troops who welcome back their General.

Demonstrations break out all across China - they are savagely repressed, in some cases with the help of Japanese and other foreign troops. Noteworthy incidents such as the "Tsingdao Massacre" where Japanese marines fire onto a crowd of striking unionists. Reports of casualties vary wildly with some as low as 30 and some as high as 3000 civilian casualties. Nontheless events like these continue to discredit the Beiyang government - which is increasingly becoming seen as the tool of foreigners.

June:

The Nationalists fully assert their control over Guangdong province with the remaining pockets of resistance crushed. Warlords are given 2 choices - die or unconditionally surrender. Most decide to surrender rather than fight a hopeless resistance. Warlords are treated according to how well they behaved - if a warlord was known to be corrupt or a close associate of the Chen Jiongming regime they would be executed immediately. If a warlord was known to hold progressive views or were enemies of Chen they would be coopted. However, Chen Jiongming manages to escape to the neighbouring Guangxi province

The Warlord troops however are folded into the National Revolutionary Army which swells from a puny 10,000 to nearly over 200,000 troops. Many of these troops have no rifles, uniforms or any organization. Sun and Chiang realize that the task of Army reorganization is bigger than both can handle and make preparations to start a military academy. Both men also draw up plans for army reorganization and modernization such as the construction of a centralized arsenal in Guangzhou to facilitate the standardization of equipment. Even more ambitious are the plans to create a National Revolutionary Air Force and a National Revolutionary Navy.

July - December:

The dreaming and planning of Chiang and Sun are bought to an abrupt end by reports that Chen Jiongming, along with the Guanxi province warlords were preparing a military expedition to Guangdong. Chiang decides to prioritize training and equipment for the National Revolutionary Navy for the short-term with the original National Revolutionary Army core of 10,000 serving as a 'model' for the rest of the expanded army. In practice the original National Revolutionary Army is taken apart and broken into brigades which is attached to the new divisions.

While this does ensure that every division is at least marginally effective - it effectively dilutes a once "elite" force. A 'western expedition' is planned for January to test out the new National Revolutionary Army

Next Update: 1922 - The Western Expedition

Feedback and comments welcome as always (in fact solicited even!)

 

[CCA]

Thanks to everyone for their feedback and comments. The development of the Chinse Army Air Corps is definitely a fascinating one that will merit it's own special update.

1922 - The Western Expedition

January - May:

Chiang launches the "Western Expedition." The goal is to utterly destroy Chen Jiongming's forces and bring the Guangxi province into the control of the KMT. Chiang sets out with 50,000 National Revolutionary Army troops - the troops selected are those with the highest training, best equipment and well-motivated. Facing against him are 100,000 troops of mostly inferior quality.

Chiang's plan is to advance quickly along the Xi River and then thrust south towards Nanning - relying on the warlord's lack of cohesion and coordination to take the city and then defeat with the rest one by one.

This scheme succeeds briliantly, Nanning falls in late February with minimal casualties as many warlord troops prefer to either surrender or run to the hills to become bandits rather than die facing a better organized and equiped foe. Organized resistance is finished by early March and

Ever elusive - Chen Jiongming takes refuge in Yunnan province - a lawless area controlled by rival gangs of bandits, warlords and smugglers. It is a focal point for smuggling contraband such as opium. It's relative isolation is the result of the mountainous terrain and the poor infrastructure. Chiang wants to prepare his troops for a campaign to 'restore law and order' and curb 'warlordism and banditry.

In Guangzhou - Sun continues to purchase arms and train the remaining troops. He sends a small delegation led by Wang Jingwei to cultivate a relationship with the Soviet Union. This small delegation is present at the 10th Congress of the Russian Communist Party. This gesture is reciprocated by the arrival of a few advisors. However they are limited in number as the Russian Civil War is still unfinished.

May:

While preparing his troops for the "Western Bandit Extermination Campaign" Chiang takes a break from the front and speaks at several May Fourth demonstrations. At a speech in Guangzhou to dockside workers he lays out his belief that the "Warlords are a disease of the heart" and that China will never be "healthy" until the "endemic warlordism and banditry are cut out."

July - December:

Chiang launches the "Western Bandit Extermination Campaign" because of the general lawlessness of the Yunnan province the operationn is more akin to a policing operation than a military one. The only organized resistance comes from Chen Jiongming's exhausted troops in Kunming. Chen Jiongming's body is found amongst the ruins of the city.

The harsh terrain is the main obstacle preventing the full "pacification" of Yunnan province until late December. Even afterwards the Kuomintang cannot fully control all areas. Despite this, the revenues from placing a 'special levy' on the importation of Opium will be a major source of income.

Feedback and comments welcomed (please?)

Tommorow's Update: 1923 - The Year of Consolidation

 

[CCA]

1923 - The Year of Consolidation

After having successfully pacified Yunnan and Guanxi province in the preceeding year - the Kuomintang found itself in control of 3 provinces in the South. This year would be marked as the year of consolidation as the Kuomintang secured their rule. This year was marked by a burst of frentic activity and achievement by the Kuomintang such as the establishment of the Whampoa Military Academy, the "Re-proclamation" of the Republic of China and the establishment of a centralized Arsenal system for the National Revolutionary Army. All these steps served to bolster the strenght of the Kuomintang and

The Establishment of the Whampoa Military Academy

Chiang returns to Guangdong and establishes the Whampoa Military Academy. Officers currently serving in the National Revolutionary Army are encouraged to enroll for 'refersher courses.'

The basic curriculum is an intensive 6 month course designed primarily to teach basic infantry tactics and leadership with emphasis being placed on front-line leadership. Cadets who have successfully completed the course are given the starting rank of 2nd Lieutenant. Promising graduates of the basic curriculum are encouraged to take part in the 'advanced' classes which teach logistics and other specialized courses (artillery, aviation, signalling, etc.) This training takes an additional 1 year of training and graduates start out with the rank of "Captain." The most promising are taken to 'expert' level courses with an additional 2 years of schooling graduating with the rank of Colonel. Compulsory 'political' education classes are also present at every level.

The Academy is staffed by an odd combination of native Chinese veterans from the various NRA expeditions, Soviet advisors, expatriate German troops and White Russian emigres. By the end of the year there are a number of prominent instructors such as Erich Von Ludendorf (encouraged to go to China after participating in the failed Beer Hall Putsch started by Chiang's friend Hitler) and Vasily Blucher ("Galen")

The Academy is significant in that it symbolizes Chiang's desire to have a professionally trained army. Militarily it Politically the Academy was split into political lines with the "Right" gravitating towards Ludendorf and Chiang and the "Left" gravitating towards Galen and the other soviet advisers.

The 'Re-proclamation' of the Republic of China

On the 4th anniversary of May Fourth, President Sun Yat-Sen asserts the legitemacy of his government and calls for diplomatic recognition for the 'genuine, popular and legitimate' Chinese Government based in Guangzhou. He denounces the Beiyang governments as a pack of 'rabid warlords' and asserts the Kuomintang's control over "all of China."

With this proclamation Sun issues a series 'guiding documents' where he outlines his desire that China be govered according to the 'Three Principles of the People'

The First Principle of Mínzú
The principle of 'Minzu' means "Government of the (Chinese) People." In this principle Sun lays out his belief that China must develop a form of 'civic nationalism' to unite China rather than 'ethnic-nationalism.' Sun also makes vague references to 'guarding China's sovereignty' - however he takes care not to openly antagonize the western powers.

The Second Principle of Minquan
Translates as 'Government by the People." Sun lays out is belief that the people should have 'rights' to 'representation,' through an elected National Assembly.

The Third Principle of Minsheng
Translated as the 'People's Welfare'. Sun believed that Chinese people deserved a basic (high) standard of living through government attempts at improving social welfare. Under this principle a land reform programme would be initiated and schools and hospitals funded.

Although the foreign reception was mostly muted with only the Soviet Union, Germany and Italy recognizing Sun Yat-Sen's governent by the end of the year, the implications for the future of China is enormous. The Kuomintang are now seen as the leading force by Chinese people to unite the country.

Continued Military Reforms

The year 1923 saw a further acceleration of the military reforms. Besides the foundation of The Whampoa Military Academy, a field hospital system was designed and an arsenal established in Guangzhou.

Equipment standardization is proceeding smoothly with the Guangzhou Arsenal purchasing and manufacturing modified local copies of the German Gewher 88. The Chinese model is known as "Type 88" or even sometimes the "Guangzhou 88." This model is modified to have an integral cover to prevent dust and grime from entering the exit point at the bottom of the barel and an integral bayonet receiver. Although there are initial defects with the early Guangzhou 88's falling apart after one shot - the arrival of Ludendorf and other military experts fixes the design flaws. This modified version becomes famous for it's ruggedness and reliability becoming adopted as the standard service rifle of the National Revolutionary Army and was still in active service as late as 1970.

The Guangzhou arsenal also starts producing a standard light machine gun a modified version of the french Chauchat known as the Type 1 Light Machine Gun or the "Guanzhou Light Machine Gun." The modified version corrects the glaring flaws of the original french version with covers for it's magazine and a 50 round magazine firing the 7.92 x 57mm Chinese Standard Ammunition. Despite this the weapon still suffers from excessive recoil and grime and dust continue to affect the weapon. However the light machine gun has the advantage of being easily manufactured which results in it's adoption as the standard light machine gun for the National Revolutionary Army.

The standardization of a light-machine gun and a service rifle was a significant achievement for the Guangzhou Arsenal - one that would take a full year to complete.

Next Update 1924 - Continued Reforms

 

[CCA]

Thanks to everyone for their kind comments and feedback.

I think the Chauchat is realistically the best option for the Nationalist Republic of China to manufacture. Yes it's a nasty gun that barely works but it's just about the right level of manufacturing capability for an arsenal that just started. Keep in mind that Chiang has about 200,000 - 400,000 troops to outfit - getting any sort of light machine gun is an achievement. It's a nasty gun yes - but it's better than having no light machine gun.

We also have to realize that the main factor affecting the performance of KMT troops is not equipment (although that does help) but training, morale and logistics. OTL's Nationalist troops were poorly fed and poorly-led with divisions frequently disintegrating after being defeat. ITTL Chiang's experience in the Western Front as a german grunt leads him to make reforms that makes life for Nationalist soldiers at least bareable (if barely)

1924 - Steam. Wind. Iron - The 2nd Year of Consolidation

1924 was another year of consolidation and achievement for the Kuomintang government in South China. In the public sphere land reform programme was attempted, infrastructure constructed, a system of tax reform implemented and a National Assembly elected. To cap it all off KMT diplomats managed to achieve recognition for Sun's regime from an unlikely source. In the military field a Nationalist Navy founded and a National Revolutionary Army Air Force were established.

Public Sphere Reforms

A comprehensive programme of reform was spearheaded by T.V Soong, the ambitious and talented Minister of Finance who followed in his father's footsteps. The late 'Charlie' Soong who had passed away the previous year. An ambitious programme of rent reductions, KMT backed guarantees of tenure security and the formation of village cooperatives revolutionized the country side. Complementing this ambitious package was an education reform programme and a reform of the tax system. The former would secure middle and rural backing for the already broad based Kuomintang, the latter would exploit the backing by turning it into hard dollars.

This would take the form of a land tax levied on villages with the responsibility of collection falling on the local KMT cadres (who also provided the base for the tenure security and education programme - in this way the villagers could see that they were getting 'value for money.' In that their taxes were actively contributing to their well-being.) In the cities - a land tax was considered impractical so an income tax and import duties were levied. Complemeting this package was a small fixed sales tax (5%)

Major infrastructure projects were also initiated with the emphasis placed of constructing and expanding the mineral infrastructure in Yunnan and an adequate transport to export them.

The commulative effects of these reforms was to ensure that the Kuomintang government had a firm foundation and finally had a secure income stream. Combined with significant donations from the Overseas Chinese Community the government's books reached a near-balance in 1924 despite the major expenditures.

The Italian government under new management by one Bennito Mussolini also recognized the Guangzhou government as the rightful government of China.

The foundation of the Nationalist Navy

The year 1924 also saw the foundation of the Nationalist Navy. The 'navy' consisted of purchased merchant steam ships hastilly outfitted with a field gun. The largest and most well-armed ship in the Nationalist Navy was the 'Guangjia' composite cruiser built during Qing times. It was a 1300 ton cruiser with four 5 inch Krupp breechloaders and one 6 inch breech loader.
A naval curriculum was added at the Whampoa military academy in true Whampoa fashion it was taught by a combination of professional German instructors, maverick white russian emigres and proselytizing Soviet advisors.

The foundation of the National Revolutionary Army Air Force

The leading pioneer of the National Revolutionary Army Air Force was undoubtedly "Feng Ru" known as the 'Father of Chinese Aviation.' Miraculously escaping from a plane crash he suffered in 1912 - Feng Ru quickly recovered offering his service to Sun Yat-Sen. For many years he had been attempting to secure funding from the Nationalist Government but had been thwarted because of other priorities. In 1924 he was authorized to lead an official expedetion to Europe to purchase aircraft and licenses for the Air Force. He would return in 1925 after taking a year to visit and speak to Italian, German, French, English and even Soviet aircraft manufacturers.

Next update: 1925 The third year of Consolidation

 

[CCA]

Thanks to everyone for their kind feedback and comments!

1925: China Takes Flight - The Third Year of Consolidation

1925 was an auspicious year for the Kuomintang Government in South China. It was the year in which the "Official Investigative and Purchasing Commission" led by Feng Ru finally returned to China bringing with them trains, planes and factories. Feng Ru although only being tasked to to make a few purchases of aircraft and if possible - cheap licenses to obsolete planes - had bought with him a seed with which a viable military-industrial complex could be constructed.

Feng Ru's travelled to Europe through the Soviet Union and the Trans-Siberian line where he was given an enthusiastic reception by a fellow friendly 'revolutionary' government and treated as an ambassador of a friendly nation. However Feng Ru realized that the Soviet Union could not be of much help the Voenno-Vozdushnye Sily (Soviet Military Air Forces) while having a greater industrial base than China also lacked much in the way of qualified experts and experience. Feng Ru however was able to secure a Soviet promise of help in the form of advisors with experience industry and agricultural reform.

From the Soviet Union Feng Ru took a cruise ship to Germany. Feng Ru received an even more enthusiastic reception from the German government. The reasons for this enthusiastic reception were many among them were Chiang's status as a minor celebrity due to being a feature in a hit film directed by Hans Behrendt. Although the film Die unglaublichen Abenteuer von Chiang (The Amazing Adventures of Chiang) was heavilly imbellished and in some cases astoundingly inaccurate (Chiang was portrayed as a 6-foot half German, half-Chinese soldier with blue eyes) it was still highly popular and was a popular film among conservative circles this opened many doors for Feng Ru and he managed to secure substantial German help.

The first was in the area of aviation, although Germany had no air force it still had lots of trained engineers, industrialists and aviators with huge experience in the aviation industry. Although a portion of these had gone to the Soviet Union following the Treaty of Rapallo - China was thought to be a more attractive prospect. China was not ideologically hostile and Sino-German spheres of influence were quite different. China was also in the midst of warlordism and conflict meaning that any aircraft designed could be subjected to combat conditions. To this end a German Air Mission consisting of engineers, industrialists and pilots under the leadership of Gunther Pluschow was sent to China to aid the KMT government in the development of an air force. (Although ostensibly their official purpose was to aid in the development of crop dusters and other civil aviation infrastructure.)

The second was in the area of naval forces. Germany was facing a range of naval restrictions by the Treaty of Versailles including the submarine. It was believed that China could act as a 'testing ground' for new submarine types. It was also seen as a way for the existing naval expertise not to be lost. To this end a Naval Advisory Commission consisting of naval instructors, shipbuilders and engineers under the leadership of Wilhelm Canaris (who had served in the German East Asia Squadron) was dispatched.

The third was in the area of industy. Sino-German agreements were signed to help in the construction of railways and a cadre industrial advisors were sent to 'advice' in the construction of Chinese industry both civil and military.

The fourth was in the army. Although as substantial German aid had already been delivered in the previous years in the form of German advisors and German industrial advisors to the Guangzhou Arsenal there was frankly little room for improvement. Krupp promised to send more artillery advisors to help in the development of native Chinese artillery.

From Germany, Feng Ru proceeded to Italy where he was also warmly received. He successfully negotiated a small "Italian advisory commission" consisting of Italian industrialists, aviators, naval instructors and other military advisors.

After Italy Feng Ru spend the rest of his time in Europe in France and England. Although the various aircraft manufacturers wanted to do business and were eager to do so, the fact that Sun Yat Sen's government in southern China was not the 'official' government meant that French and English could be of little help. Feng Ru however did manage to purchase a plethora of obsolete World War I fighter planes such as the Nieuport 17. Feng ended up purchasing over 300 of other obsolete planes of various types.

1925 was the year that these various advisors and material purchased from various countries began to arrive in substantial numbers. 1925 was the year that the seed for an organized and vast Chinese military-industrial complex was sown. 1925 as Feng Ru was found of saying would be the year that "China takes flight"

Comments and feedback welcome as always (please?)

 

[CCA]

Onkel Willie - Thanks! I wouldn't think there would be too many butterflies, Hitler still launches his Beer Hall Putsch and Germany still remains pretty much the same. However due to the increased number and prominence of Sino-German cooperation there is beginning to emerge a 'geostrategical' school of thought emerging in military and other conservative circles about the need to build up China to 'encircle' the Soviet Union. This is going to have massive ramifications further down the line.

Paul MacQ - Thanks for following Paul, yep I did a bit of research before finding that gem. I was originally planning to have Admiral von Graf Spee but he kinda died so I had to use Canaris.

I don't think Canaris will be needing to advice the Chinese on intelligence matters. If there was one thing that the KMT OTL got right it was on intelligence under Dai Li the "Himmler of the East."

Nivek - Thanks Nivek, the two men are indeed very close and the two have kept up regular correspondence. Chiang got Feng Ru to visit Hitler to give an engraved Chinese sword as a gift.

Sun isn't dead yet. Which is good because when he does things will get a bit interesting...

That's thinking ahead on the plight of the Jews, let's just say that things go a bit differently ITTL...

Domoviye - Thanks, yeah it's a bit stretched to make a movie about Chiang but eh, I can always retcon it for v2 or handwave it to say that the movie director/actor served with Chiang.

Jay - I'll try, but my mapmaker is in the middle of exams at the moment. He (I presume its a he) has promised to make maps as soon as he is finished. V2 of this TL will definitely have maps.

Hendryk - Thanks Hendryk, it is a pity indeed. I'm using the same system as Jonathan Fenby is, using mostly Pinyin but using Wade-Giles when they are better recognized with the name. I can standardize it in V2 if you like.

OKH_1946 - See PaulMcQ's response. Although in theory they *could* start building battleships it would be too expensive in terms of money, steel and the opportunity costs. ITTL most divisions have only 4 light field guns for artillery, having artillery for land forces is a greater priority than building a navy which at this point is only being utilized for tarrif collection and flag flying exercises.

And now without further ado I present:

Chinese Military Modernization in the Early 20's - The Evolution of the National Revolutionary Army

The evolution of the National Revolutionary Army from a motley collection of bandits, students and drifters without much in the way of equipment, discipline and cohesion to a well oiled-machine capable of conquering China is a vast topic with a vast number of academic literature.

This humble author has opted to give a broad overview rather than cover every single minutia of the National Revolutionary Army. It is probably not essential that the casual reader know the evolution of NRA contraceptives. For a complete look at the National Revolutionary Army covering every single possible area I refer readers to the "Chinese National Revolutionary Army 1918-2008" published by Osprey.

The primary architect of this transformation was Chiang Kai-Shek, a revolutionary who studied in Germany just before the outbreak of the Great War and ended the war as a decorated Hauptmann and a German war hero. Chiang's service in the trenches of the Western Front seems to have made an indelible mark on Chiang and this is reflected in the military doctrine that the National Revolutionary followed. Chiang's experience in the trench also led him to pursue several reforms that improved the previously horrendous field conditions of the average Chinese soldier.

To improve the nation, improve the army, to improve the arm, improve the food.
- On War, Chiang Kai-Shek

Chiang's first step upon assuming command of the National Revolutionary Army in 1919 was to improve the living conditions of his men. A system of rudimentary field kitchens and rudimentary field hospitals was established. Although primitive, this step was an important one in ensuring that the fighting quality of National Revolutionary Army troops remained a step above many warlord troops. The fact that Chiang was showing so much concern for his troops also endeared the "Ningbo Napoleon" to many of the common troops. Chiang's insistence that "officers must eat the same food as their men" was also welcomed. In some units the officers decided to supplement the rations of their own men by paying for them.

Give a man a gun and he fight for a day. Train a man how to use a gun and he can fight for a lifetime.
- On War, Chiang Kai-Shek

The second step was to institute regular training exercises. The foundation of the Whampoa Academy provided the KMT regime with professional army core that could train other units. The National Revolutionary Army was reorganized with a 'regular' division (normally consisting of 10,000 men) being constructed around an 'elite' battalion (normally consisting of 1000 men) which could train the 'regular' units up. The National Revolutionary Army would also have elite divisions called "Assault Troopers" that would consist of elite soldiers fighting with the best equipment and superior training.

One must not never a knife to a gun fight.
- On War, Chiang Kai-Shek

The third, and final step to improve the quality of the equipment by ensuring a level of equipment standardization. By 1925 every single soldier in the National Revolutionary Army had a standard set of equipment. If he was in the regular divisions he would have a Type 1 Guangzhou rifle, a pack of rations for 3 days, a canteen, 2 sets of uniform and a Guangzhou gas mask. The standardization of equipment also made the organization of a coherent supply system possible - another way in which the National Revolutionary Army was superior to warlord armies.

One must not regard the Army as a mere military force to be hurled like a blunt rock... the Army is an extension of the Popular Will and must be treated with care and respect.
- On War, Chiang Kai-Shek

The overall effects of these reforms was twofold but led to the same conclusion: they raised the combat effectiveness of the National Revolutionary Army. Morale was high, unlike Warlord troops the National Revolutionary Army did not have to resort to brutal press gangs to field an army. There was an organized system of conscription, the regular wages and prestige that the Army enjoyed also meant that conscription was treated as an honour and a duty rather than an onerous burden. This was reinforced by Kuomintang officials who threw 'heroic service parties' for villagers who had been conscripted where the families received a small monetary gift "From the Generalissimo." With their basic livelihood taken care of (albeit in a spartan way) the soldiers of the National Revolutionary Army had the intellectual and emotional energy to invest themselves in the "Cause for National Liberation." Morale was sky-high with the fed, well-equiped, well-paid (for the standards of China) troops of the National Revolutionary Army in constrast with the shabby troops of many of the warlord armies who were frequently only a step above banditry.

The National Revolutionary Army at the onset of the Second Northern Expedition

Not all National Revolutionary Army divisions were created equal. Chiang's German military training combined with German advice meant that the National Revolutionary Army was divided into two tiers of quality.

An "Assault Trooper" with german made equipment poses for a photo.

The 'elite' troops of the National Revolutionary Army were the "Assault Divisions." These elite divisions were highly trained, highly motivated, well-led and well-equiped. They were equiped with the German made "Broomhandle" Mauser C96 a German machine-pistol fitted with a stock. With a cartridge of 20 and capable of firing in semi-automatic and automatic it gave the Assault Divisions a superior rate of fire. Each squad was also equipped with the excellent Czech made ZB vz 26 light machine gun. They also wore German-made Stalhelm helmets, German-made uniforms and German-made gas masks and had German advisors present. Their training and equipment wrote Ludendorff "are equal to the best of our men." Indeed, they were deliberately modelled after the 100,000 strong Reichswehr of the Weimar Republic. However their numbers were substantially few only consisting of 10 divisions with 6,000 men each (a total of 60,000 men) (see organization table for the complete detail.

Organization of a typical National Revolutionary Army "Assault Division 26" (Combat strenght 6,000 with rear area soldiers 7,000)


Division headquarters troops (1,000 Soldiers):

• 1 Artillery battalion:
  • 3 Artillery companies (12 x 75 light artillery guns in batteries of 4)
  • 1 Anti-aircraft gun company (4 x 20mm anti-aircraft guns)
• 1 Military Engineer Battalion<LI sizset="3" sizcache="0">1 Signal battalion
  • 2 wired communications companies
  • 1 Wireless correspondence platoon
• 1 Transport Battalion
• 1 Special duty Battalion (Special Operations Battalion)
• 1 medical team (usually is a Division hospital)
• 1 Command Team
• 1 Field kitchen company

2 Infantry Brigades (2 x 3,000 soldiers

• 2 Infantry Regiments (2 x 1,500 troops):
• 1 Regimental Headquarters Company (100 men) consisting of
• 6 x 83mm medium mortar company
• 1 communications platoon
• 2 heavy weapon squad with 2 MG 08 Heavy Machine gun
• 1 Command team
• 3 Infantry Battalions (3 x 500 soldiers):
• 1 Command Team (2 x 83mm medium mortar, 2 x MG 08 Heavy Machine Gun)
• 5 infantry companies of (5 x 100 soldiers):
• 1 command team (25 soldiers) (3 x 45 mm light mortar, 1 x MG08 Heavy Machine Gun
• 3 Infantry Platoons (3 x 25 soldiers)
• 1 command team (5 soldiers) (1 x 45 mm light mortar)
• 2 Squads (2 x 10 soldiers) (1 x CZ vs 26 light machine gune, 9 x C96 broomhandle machine pistol.)

Overall, the firepower contained within a single Assault Division was immense. Assault Division troops were also given significant mobility in the form of bicycles and motorcycles. Entry into the "Assault Divisions" was strict, one needed to pass a strict physical course to enter one and one needed to have passed with "Excellent Distinction" (90/100) in the Whampoa Military Academy to serve. Pay was double that of the Regular Divisions, the food however, remained the same.

"Regular" troops conduct early morning drills.

The second tier of the National Revolutionary army were so-called 'regular' troops. These troops were the bread and butter of the National Revolutionary Army consisting of 600,000 troops organized into 60 divisions when the Northern Expedition was launched. They were equiped with Chinese made equipment with the Guangzhou Type 1 Rifle , the Guangzhou Type 1 Light Machine Gun, the Guangzhou gas mask and the Guangzhou Type 1 Light mortar. Their uniform was slightly less flashier than the Assault Troops with a cloth cap instead of a Stalhelm helmet. The Regular Army was bigger than an Assault Division but had less firepower.

Organization of a typical National Revolutionary Army "Regular Division 26" (Combat strenght 10,000 with rear area soldiers 11,000)


Division Headquarters and other rear area troops (1,000 soldiers)

• 1 Artillery company (6 x 75mm field gun)
• 1 Military Engineer Battalion<LI sizset="3" sizcache="0">1 Signal battalion
  • 2 wired communications companies
  • 1 Wireless correspondence platoon
• 1 Transport Battalion
• 1 Special duty Battalion (Special Operations Battalion)
• 1 medical team (usually is a Division hospital)
• 1 Command Team
• 1 field kitchen company
• 1 Military Police Company

3 Infantry Brigades (3 x 3,000 soldiers

• 3 Infantry Regiments (3 x 1,000 troops):
• 1 Regimental Headquarters Company (100 men) consisting of
• 3 x 83mm medium mortar company
• 1 communications platoon
• 2 heavy weapon squad with 2 Guangzhou Heavy Machine Guns
• 1 Command team
• 2 Infantry Battalions (2 x 500 soldiers):
• 1 Command Team (2 x 83mm medium mortar, 1 Guangzhou Heavy Machine Gun)
• 5 infantry companies of (5 x 100 soldiers):
• 1 command team (25 soldiers) (3 x 45 mm light mortar,)
• 3 Infantry Platoons (3 x 25 soldiers)
• 1 command team (5 soldiers) (1 x Guangzhou Type 1 Light Machine Gun)
• 2 Squads (2 x 10 soldiers) (10 x Guangzhou Type 1 Rifle)

1 Assault Regiment (1 x 1000 soldiers)

• 1 Regimental headquarters company
• 2 x 75mm light field gun
• 4 x 83 mm light mortar company
• 4 x 37 mm infantry gun
• 2 Assault Batallions (2 x 500 soldiers)
• 1 Command Team ( 4 x 45mm light mortar,)
• 2 Assault Companies (2 x 250 soldiers)
• 1 Heavy Assault Platoon (50 soldiers):
• 5 Heavy Assault Squads (5 x 10 soldiers) (3 x CZ vs 26 light machine gun, 7 C96 machine pistols)
• 4 Assault Platoons (4 x 50 soldiers)
• 5 Assault Squads (5 x 10 soldiers) (1 x CZ vz 26 light machine gun, 9 x C96 Machine Pistols)

Overall, although the Regular Divisions had less firepower and less mobility (only the Assault Regiment were equipped with bicycles) they were still a formidable and well-equiped fighting force although they were short of artillery pieces.

I hope everyone enjoys the update! Feedback and comments always welcome

Next Update: The National Revolutionary Army in Operation - Field Tactics and Strategy.

 

[CCA]

Thanks to everyone for all their feedback and comments

The National Revolutionary Army in Operation - Tactics and Strategy

The National Revolutionary Army was heavilly influenced by German Army operational doctrines and strategies - perhaps unsurpsrising given that the two primary military thinkers of the NRA, Lundendorff and Chiang, had fought for Germany during the Great War. This German influence carried strongly in the adoptation of "Hutier" or "Infilitration Tactics."

Under this principle the National Revolutionary Army developed a standard procedure to deal with expected warlord resistance.

1. A short but violent artillery bombardment consisting mostly of high explosives would distrupt enemy lines.
2. A creeping barrage of poison gas and smoke shells would soon follow, disrupting enemy channels of communication/reinforcement and severely demoralizing enemy troops.
3. If the operation was being conducted at a strategic level involving Assault Divisions, these Assault divisions would be the first to rush forward, penetrating through weak points in the enemy line and rushing towards the rear areas. If Assault Divisions were not present, then the Assault Regiment integral in every 'regular' divison would take their place.
4. In the last stage of the assault, regular infantry would pour through the penetrations made by the Assault Troops and 'roll up' the enemy lines by attacking from the flanks.
5. Throughout the assault, air support provided by the Revolutionary Army Air Force would circle overhead, stafing any enemy formations that maintained cohesion and providing close air support. Air assets would also be present in the enemy rear area preventing reinforcement of the front and disrupting overall cohesion.

Although these "Assault Tactics" borrowed heavily from World War I German Army doctrine it is notable that these procedures elaborated a role for air power in the battlefield. This was no mere coincidence, the centralization of officer training of all branches of the Kuomintang miltiary in the Whampoa Military Academy had produced a high level of coordination between the Army, the Air Force and the Navy.

Overally, the theory behind much of the National Revolutionary Army doctrine before the 2nd Northern Expedition was sound. However, it remained to be seen whether these would be as effective in practise.

Next Update: The Air Force and the Navy

Comments and feedbacks welcome as always and solicited

 

[CCA]

Thanks to everyone for their feedback and comments. I'm not sure what he future of "Hanjian will be" but I do know that it won't be the Communist Party. In fact that Communist Party will be very different from what we know.

Clawing Eagle and Crouching Sealion:
Chinese Military Modernization from 1912-1926

The Air Force: The Clawing Eagle (1912-1926)

Feng Ru's demonstrative flight... which promptly crashed and caught on fire 10 seconds after take off causing substantial injuries to the pilot.

The beginnning of Chinese military aviation was not an auspicious or orderly affair. The first 'military demonstration' of the 'vast potential of military aircraft' in 1912 led to the near-death of one of the leading pioneers of Chinese aviation: "Feng Ru." The incapacitation of Feng Ru between 1912 and 1922 led to essentially a halt on all attempts to improve Chinese aviation. This period makes it abundantly clear that no other figure in China had either the drive, the skills or the will needed to get Chinese aviation 'off the ground.' Upon his recovery in 1922, Feng Ru found that although aviation had moved by leaps and bounds since his accident, Chinese aviation had in fact moved backwards as the aircraft Feng Ru had purchased and the machinery were sold off, stolen, or crumbled due to lack of maintenance.

Feng Ru was greatly stymied by lack of support among the top echelons of the Kuomintang. They were 'busy' and even when they weren't he was told that 'planes are too expensive...outright impractical, unreliable with no real military use.' The shadow of Feng Ru's failure in 1912 hung heavily on him. Frustrated Feng Ru persisted, the arrival of the German Military Mission vindicated his views as the Germans praised the merit of air power. Feng Ru also found an ally on Chiang Kai-Shek who had personally experienced the terror of an air raid. Still, Feng Ru was told that the 'Army must take preceedence.'

Undaunted by his failure to secure government support, Feng Ru persisted. Finally, after receiving 398 letters in 3 months about the merits of air power Chiang Kai-Shek finally relented. He gave Feng Ru a small amount of funds in 1923 and gave Feng Ru the position of "Air General" - in effect making Feng Ru China's first aviation minister. Despite limited resources, Feng Ru set on his task with gusto and zeal. By 1924 he had managed to find, by fair means or foul about 50 airplanes of various types and established a small workshop in Nanning. An aviation course was added to the curriculum in the Whampoa Military academy.

A mugshot of Feng Ru, taken for his passport.

Feng Ru's big break came in 1924 when he was selected to lead a purchasing commision to Europe. He came back with such a bounty of goods that Feng Ru was formally promoted to "Aviation Minister" and a "Ministry of Aviation" established. The arrival of a German Air Mission headed by Gunther Pluschow also was a bright prospect, as was the numerous air craft he had purchased.

1925 was a busy year for Feng Ru as he set about the task of organizing an Air Force. A dilema was posed whether to have an "independent air force" or a "support air force." It was unanimously decided by all to have a "Support Air Force." Although the Chinese Air Services would have separate ranks and a seperate chain of command from the regular army, air squadrons would be integrated within the divisional command structure. It would be attached, along with it's support components to the divisional headquarters. The purpose of the Air Services would be to act as the "eyes and ears" of the Chinese Army and also as "it's claws and teeth." Feng Ru and Chiang agreed that the Air Services would be "like an eagle."

The German "Taube" (dove) which the "Feng Ru IV" was designed from. The Feng Ru IV had a slighly more powerful engine which allowed 1 Guangzho light machine gun to be placed.

Feng Ru's small workshop was transformed into a factory, where Feng Ru once made 1 plane a month, now there were 10 planes. The "Feng Ru V" design bore a remarkable similarity to a late German design the "Junkers D.1." It was remarkably modern, remarkably fast, and remarkably rugged - a far cry from the "Feng Ru IV" which resembled an early German air design the "Taube". There was simply no way that Feng Ru could have designed or manufactured the "Feng Ru V" without significant German assistance.

Schematics of the German Air Force "Junkers D1." Without significant German assistance, there was simply no way that the Chinese Air Services could field or manufacture such an advanced air craft. The Feng Ru V was pretty much an exact copy with the exception of a lighter machine gun the Guangzho light machine gun (modified.) This made it somewhat faster and more agile in combat, but not by much.

At the dawn of the 2nd Northern Expedition, the Chinese Air Services had grown into a force 500 air planes divided into 70 squadrons with 7 air craft to a squadron. Each squadron was attached to a division and led by an Air Captain.

Inventory of Chinese Air Planes:

100 x Feng Ru V (modified Junkers D.I)
50 x Feng Ru IV (modified Taubes)
200 x Nieuport 17*
50 x Sopwith Pups*
50 x Capriconi Ca.3 bomber
50 x miscellaneous planes of various types.

* - Indicates modified to use the modified Guangzhou light machine gun


Crouching Sealion: Chinese Navy from 1912-1926
Unlike the area of aviation, there was no one in the Chinese Navy with enough drive, inspiration or whatever it is that separates pioneers and dreamers from merely competent men. As a result, the Chinese Navy from 1912 - 1924 was a flottilla of decayed and obsolete ships from the Qing Era.

Wilhelm Canaris, the head of the German Naval Mission

All this would change with the arrival of the German Naval Mission headed by Wilhelm Canaris in early 1925. Canaris pursued a programme of swift modernization and training with a Naval curriculum being added to the Whampoa military academy. Canaris's vision for the Chinese Navy was for a significant brown water navy with a balanced component of cruisers, battleships, destroyers and other aircraft. However Canaris was a realist, he knew that China was not (at least yet) capable of constructing, let alone maintaining such a fleet. Submarines were a more realistic focus for the limited industrial base of South China. The Chinese Navy would use the "tactics and strategy of the weak against the strong" it would focus on mines and torpedoes - a low-cost strategy that could nevertheless pose a significant challenge to any navy. Of particular concern was any possible British "intervention" being staged from Hong Kong. China quickly needed a low-cost solution to her problems.

A Chinese "V-Ship" in action.

The solution was found in the duō yòng tú chuán or vielseitige Schiffe. More commonly known as "V-Ships." The Vielseitige Schiffe could be made from a fishing trawler, in fact it was essentially a fishing trawler with the fishing equipment removed to make way for a deck mounted torpedo launcher, a deck mounted minelayer and a 76mm field gun. (Hence the term "versatile ship." Best of all, the V-Ships could be constructed on the cheap and with existing Chinese manufacturing capability.

Still, for the sake of pride China still wanted a few big ships, if only for appearances sake. A loophole was quickly found in the Treaty of Versailles. Germany may have been forbidden to construct bigger battleships, but if she could build China up to eventually build bigger ships for Germany, then it could dodge the words of the Treaty of Versailles. German aid extended to the construction of a modern shipyard in Guangzhou.

For now, the dreams of Chinese battleships remained a fantasty. By the beginning of the Second Northern Expediction China possessed:

1 x Light Cruiser ( The Guangjia "Composite Cruiser" from Qing Era times)
25 x V-Ships
50 x Other ships of various types (supply vessels, minelayers, small patrol craft etc.)

Next Update: The Second Northern Expedition

Feedback and comments welcome as always (in fact solicited!)

 

[CCA]

Thanks for the kind comments and feedback. The Soong sisters will have a MAJOR role to play in this TL...In fact not only the Soong sisters but the Soong dynasty in general...

A Tale of Three Republics: China from 1919 - 1926

Tale One: The Broken Beiyang Republic

China was a divided nation. The symptoms of this division were many, at the lower level bandits and marauders infested the land, petty warlords demanded taxation. At the upper levels of government, there were 3 factions all claiming to be the legitemate "Republic of China"

Time magazine correctly predicts the election of Yan Xishan as President following the defeat of Cao Kun

The Beiyang Republic
The period in the aftermath of the first Northern Expedition was a chaotic one. The Kuomintang's rapid march to Beiping had destroyed many warlords - minor and major which caused a vacuum in the aftermath of their retreat south. The period between 1919-1923 is the result of this vacuum with full-scale warfare erupting between many warlords for control of Beijing. Warlords that succeeded in taking Beijing would then proclaim themselves "President" with the help of bought legislators. China saw 31 "Presidents" declared in a 4 year period - an indication of the instability of the Beiyang Republic. The last President who purchased the legislature, Cao Kun did it brazenly, literally promising $5000 to any parliamentarian who would make him president. Cao Kun, the head of the Zhili faction of Warlords should then have been in a strong position to consolidate. However history revolves around accidents and Cao Kun was found dead in his bedchamber with a shocked mistress on the night of his comfirmation as President (October 12.) As a result chaos and infighting broke out again. At this point one man had had enough.

The warlord of Shanxi, a man with a rule which was positively enlightened (by Warlord standards) that he was given the title "Model Governor." Shanxi had modern schools and hospitals, it had a functioning railway system with public transport. Most importantly, Yan Xishan's province was home to China's most modern arsenals, Yan's army - a well disciplined and professional fighting force easily swept aside the Zhili remnants and found himself in control of Beijing. After 4 years of continous warfare, everyone was exhausted. Yan was elected as President in December 4 1923 and promised to 'usher in a new era of stability and peace.'

The Beiyang Flag, the colours symbolize the unity of the major ethnic groups.

The regional governors, with the exception of Manchuria and the Kuomintang controlled South, all acknowledged Yan Xishan as the rightful president of China and flew the Beiyang flag. The Beiyang Republic also was the internationally recognized Chinese government with the governments of the United Kingdom, America, France, the League of Nations and many other nations recognizing Xishan's regime. Japan aided the Beiyang Republic until Yan Xishan, in an effort to bolster his popularity demanded the withdrawal of Japanese troops from Shandong province (where they had spread out from just owning Qingdao and the peninsula.)

However, in practice, not much at all had changed. Yan Xishan's government was unable to exert itself outside of Shanxi, Henan, Hebei and Shaanxi. Although Beijing issued edicts, orders and drew up plans for modernization the fact that it's effective writ did not run beyond four provinces made such actions futile. Warlords still continued to amass power, albeit under a single flag and still continued to fight wars with each other. Customs revenue and taxes that should've funded reconstructions efforts were appropriate by provincial governors and warlords for their own purposes.

Du Yuesheng, known as "Big-Eared Du" was also known as the "Gangster Governor" of Jiangsu province. He controlled, through his massive criminal Empire two of China's biggest and most prosperous cities (Shanghai and Nanking.) His rule of the province was marked by brazen corruption, massive graft and many moral transgressions.

The Dogmeat (Left) and Christian (Right) Generals

Zhang Zongchan, known as the "Dogmeat General" held sway over much of China with his troops being in an uneasy alliance with the "Christian General" Feng Yuxiang. The two controlled much of China with Hubei, Anhui, Zhejiang, Fujian, Jianxi, Hunan and Guizhou. Although in theory they controlled the area their powerbase was effectively fractious and feuding petty warlords who fougth each other. Their alliance was also tenous as best with the rivalries emerging to the surface periodically and culminating in open warfare. Life under the two generals were marked by unrelenting brutality as press-gangs swept the rural countryside looking for more bodies to impress in the armies of death. Merchants, gentry, everyone was squeezed to fuel conflict. Corvee labourers were impressed to build a 'thousand li' of trench lines. Both generals agreed that the "Ideological contamination" from the Kuomintang had to be contained.

The crops rot
The villages burn
The young die
China weeps
Bandits hold sway
Soldiers plunder
Like locusts
China weeps
- Anonymous

The rest of China was controlled by petty warlords, smugglers, and other men cruel, talented and opportunistic enough to rise to the top. In a land where the gun held sway only men with these qualities could rise to the top. In a land where "all power grows from the barrel of a gun" there could be no other way. Yan Xishan's regime, although initially popular for standing up to the Japanese increasingly lost legitimacy as the endemic brutality and corruption of the warlord's damaged Yan Xishan. After all, did these warlords not fly the Beiyang flag? Did they not justify their ruthlessness and brutality in the name of the President? The Beiyang Republic had lost all legitemacy in the eyes of many people. It was in these fertile conditions that the Second Northern Expedition was launched, the people were looking, not for a hero, or ideologies, or grand visions, they were merely looking for stability and order.

The Beiyang Republic is perhaps analogous to the "Sengoku" period of Japanese history, a weak centre which mutually hostile warring factions paid lip service but otherwise little heed to. A time of social disorder and upheaval.

Next Update:
Tale Two: The Empire is Dead, Long Live the Empire?

(Comments and feedback welcome as always - In fact solicited)

 

[CCA]

Thanks to everyone for their feedback and comments

Ummmm....(remember His own personal studies in Geopolitics and Diplomacy), in fact you are right, the SCW was a more complex event who the 'official'(western) history said, and any kind of Alligment more depent of the Sudesteland Crisian and 'Danzing or war' crisis, but remember something forgotten in the war.... for a lot of people in America ,mostly commies or Isolationist Intellectuals, they considered the first phase of the WWII(Before PH) like a Imperialist-Revenged Game Between Defeated Germany and Betrayed Italy. Was the Japanesse Imperialist and PH who make the war a 'crusade' against the facism thank to the propaganda.... and TTL China doesn't have the Navy to do a PH, and that can lead to some interesting actions.........

Who says China won't have the navy It might have the Navy (or at least a small, if inexperienced Carrier fleet - but there's absolutely no point for China to attack the United States. In fact many Chinese including Chiang's future wife and influential figure Soong Meiling hold USA in very high regard.

Again the 2nd Nothern Expedition will be the lead event to this Alternate China(both domestic and foreign), I can't wait to see it.

Again the Japanesse is the Wild Card of Asia, their Action will be can lead to: a Semi-wank Axis(aka Nazi) Victory in WWII, A Hard battle and almost phyrric Victory of the Axis, a Total defeat(like OTL) of the Axis(and maybe China remplacing Japan like the Target for the A-bomb???) or a Negociated Defeated of the Axis(but Germany and China will be punished ala Versallies OTL and that can lead more butteflies).

You're definitely right about Japan being the Wild Card of Asia. The key to the Axis' victory or defeat essentially lie in their hands (along with the USA.) Spoiler/red herring: But it's interesting the assumption that Japan will play. Perhaps KJapan can negotiate a 'honourable peace.' Without anyone bneing 'defeated.

That depend of the Action of Both Kwatung Army and later the IJA and the Military Junta of Japan, because a victorious Japan can lead to a similar OTL situation(with Japan being the Britain of Asia) or some different, but a defeated Japan(kicked out of China and even worse..... being kicked out of Korea and the KMT place a Ally Goverment in Korea Against the Japanesse(a Indepent and Axis Korea seem interesting) and the butterflies of the Dissident for the defeat can lead to a lot of possibilites to Japan.

Japan's reaction to the Northern Expedition will be... interesting (to say the least) As will the reaction of USA, France and Britain.

Hey, Hồ Chí Minh will have a very interesting role in TTL if you can use the proper butterflies, like use him to place a Indepent(Axis Satellite) Indochina Post Fall of France and that will be cause a lot of butterflies.

Somethin who I like for TTL is that the butterflies are massives, and can lead to a lot of mental excersises to search for the Proper Butterfiles to make the TL pausable and not a ASB or wank.

well keep there, if you need advice don't forget to ask via post or PM, we're going always to help.

Thanks - Ho chi Minh will play a reading role. He might even be a viewpoint character in the narrative I'm writing.

Att
Nivek Beldo

P.S. what will be the things that Chiang will learn in his visit to germany(and viceversa)???... maybe about the new 'radicalism' of this old friend, or the necessity of Panzer for the war???

Chiang will learn... a lot of things. He'll learn a lot of modern propaganda techniques that will allow the KMT to become more centralizing and dare I say it "Totalitarian"


The Empire is Dead. Long Live the Empire? The "Republic" of Manchuria and Mengjiang

The Northern "Republic" of China was ruled by Zhang Zuolin - an ambitious warlord who desired to increase his power and influence, using any means neccessary. A brutal pragmatist, Zhang dealt with the Kuomintang, the Japanese, The Soviet Union, Communists, Trotskyists, Germany, Italy, France, Great Britain, the League of Nations, bandits, warlords, smugglers and anyone else who might be conceivably of use.

Zhang Zuolin the ruler of Manchuria. President of China and "Protector" of Mongolia.

Although Zhang had been in control of Manchuria since the First World War, he had been initially uninterested in the events of the rest of China, preferring to consolidate his rule in Manchuria. What had formerly been one of China's most backward and poor provinces was turned into, by 1926 one of the most industrialized regions. Zhang consolidated his power in the region, steadily building his Army and building links with international powers.

It was in 1924 that Zhang finally began to look beyond his borders. Yan Xishan's Presidency was greeted with distaste by the various warlords in Inner Mongolia who ressented Yan's efforts at centralizing. Yan wanted to expand the lands controlled by the central government to Inner Mongolia (which was divided and weakly held by feuding warlords. After weeks of intensive negotiation, the warlords in Manchuoko asked for Zhang's protection in return for autonomy. Zhang agreed taking on the title "Protector of Mongolia." A group of legislators from Beijing, dissatisfied with Yan's failure to properly grease their palms came to Zhang and elected him as the "President of China."

Zhang caught another break when Japan, annoyed by Yan's attempts to expel them from their extra-concession land in Shangdong reacted angrily by withdrawing recognition from Yan's government in favour of Zhang. However, Zhang wanted to be more than President, he harbored dynastic ambitions. In Zhang's mind, the key to the restoration of China to it's rightful place in the world was for a new righteous dynasty which had obviously gained the 'mandate of heaven.' To many observers in China it was clear who he was referring to.

Zhang's military forces was not to be triffled with. Manchuria had an Air force and a powerful army- trained and backed by Japanese advisors. It's navy included 1 ex-Imperial German marine battleship and several other large ships.
Zhang would be the deciding factor over the future of China - which way would he go?

Next Update: The Northern Expedition (First Phase)

(Feedback and comments always appreciated - actually solicited)

 

[CCA]

Thanks to everyone for their comments and feedback. I originally had a much longer update written up, but it was too detailed and didn't flow very well at all. I'll have the long version (complete with the OOB for the various army groups and very detailed accounts of operations) up in the 2nd version of this TL. For now I hope this satisfies I'm trying to finish the draft of this TL as quickly as possible so I can start polishing for V2. Thanks for sticking with me so far

@ Nivek

The fate of Tibet will pretty much the same ITL as OTL. The KMT is pretty leftist and will likely remain so, forcibly implementing land reform on 'backward feudal' provinces...

Chiang doesn't really know a lot of military celebrities in his stay in China. He's only personally met Hindenburg and the King of Bavaria along with a few minor figures. He doesn't meet the Red Baron or Goering or Guderian or Manstein *cough Blair cough.* Although Guderian does have an 'advisory position as a Brigader General in a "Heavy Reconnaisance Brigade" during the Northern Expedition
The Northern Expedition - Phase One

Drafting the moblization orders and his speech.

Ming Sun was awed. He was in front of a large crowd as the President of China, Premier of the Executive Yuan and Prime Minister read out one of the world's largest mobilization orders in what would be one of the world's biggest military campaign outside of a world war. "To complete the Revolution, we must overthrow the warlords and wipe out reactionary power so that we may fully implement the three principles brining peace and justice to all." Sun went on in that fashion for another half an hour talking and expounding on his three principles. Ming Sun suddenly was bored and his mind wandered onto other topics. Would the newly recruited Kuomintang Militias fare as well as the regular army? They had been "A necessary evil" in what they were now calling the "Northern Liberation Expedition" which was expected to face nearly ten million warlord and 'bandit soldiers.'

After what seemed like an eternity, Sun finally yielded the floor to the Commanding Officer of Army Group North and overall commander of the Northern Liberation Expediction, Field Marshal Chiang Kai-Shek. Chiang stood, in command with his silence and with his ramrod- straight back. Eying the soldiers for a few seconds he merely said "Our destiny awaits." and flashed an enigmatic smile. Cheers erupted. Ming Sun shouted till he was hoarse.

The Second Northern Expedition or the Northern Liberation Expedition is one of the most studied field campaigns of military history - and perhaps for good reason. The defeat of various warlord armies totalling 10,000,000 by a well-led, highly-motivated army numbering about 1,000,000 is an oft-cited example of the maxim "quality trumps over quantity."

Phase One of the Northern Expedition was launched on January 26 1926, the New Year's Day on the Chinese Calendar. Three army groups would set off from the Kuomintang's south base to unite the country. They could not have come at a better time.

Yan Xishan's central government was distracted by border skirmishes with the Manchurian Army and by clashes with the Japanese on the Shangdong Peninsula. The Dogmeat and Christian Generals were having one of their spats, although it hadn't erupted into open warfare, this feud would prevent the two of them from talking, a major impediment to effective coordination.

Army Group West, led by Li Zongren would secure the West from "Imperial design" a veiled reference to Zhang Zuolin's overwhelming ambition and the tendency of petty warlords to ally themselves to him.

Army Group Center, led by Bai Chonxi would secure the center of China and prevent Yan from reinforcing the all-important Eastern front.

A rare photo of the Heavy Reconnaisance Brigade in action

Army Group North, personally commanded by Field Marhsal Chiang Kai-Shek would have the most important task, they would sweep along the coastal provinces and secure Nanjing and Shanghai. Army Group North was the most lavishly equiped expedition with 8 out of the 10 "Assault Divisions" spearheading the attack. It possessed cutting edge equipment and was a breeding ground for many innovative tactics and weaponry with the antics of the "Heavy Recoinassance Brigade" being especially noteworthy for their foreshadowing of Blitzrieg tactics nearly 2 decades before their use in Poland.

They smashed the opposition. The National Revolutionary Army of the Northern Expedition vintage was a oiled machine of death facing what would be charitably described as "rabble." Illiterate masses of starved, beaten and often chained and tied together warlord "soldiers" with jamming, malfunctioning, obsolete and ancient weapons were hurled at soldiers with armored cars, artillery, airplanes and poison gas with predictable results. On the first week of the Northern Expedition there were over a million desertions from the Warlords to the Kuomintang.

The National Revolutionary Army had prepared well for this eventuality, each division had a "Special Operations" battalion which specialized in propaganda and in "intelligence operations" A shadowy figure called Dai Li headed this web of propagandists, spies, informants and other practioners of the dark arts of espionage. This would be a forerunner of the dreaded "Intelligence and Census Burea" which he would later command. The Special Operations battalions would demoralize with a combination of misdirection, well-timed rumours and sabotage. They were so efficient that in the Battle of Nanchang they caused the Dogmeat General's personal army to rout en masse, the stampeding soldiers managed to overrun his outpost, causing much fury.

The military situation of the warlords were not helped by a teeming rural insurrection fueled by Kuomintang activists. It was joked that in China, only two things were common for every village. It was that one man in the village would be working for the Special Operations Bureau and another would be working for the Kuomintang. Supply lines were frequently cut, communications cut and all around havoc was caused by his rural uprising.

By May 4, the anniversary of the May Fourth Movement - the National Revolutionary Army had swept Central China clean of the warlords and stood outside the gates of Nanjing. It was in Nanjing where the future of the movement was to be decided...

Next Update: The Northern Expedition: A Deal With The Devil

 

[CCA]

Thanks to everyone for their kind words of feedback and comment! They make the TL seem like a thankful task - I mean I'd do it regardless but the fact that people are reading this makes me more motivated than I might otherwise be.

A deal with the devil

A brave man is a man who dares to look the Devil in the face and tell him he is a Devil.
- Chiang Kai-Shek, On War

Despite appearances, the fate of the Chinese Revolution hung in the balance on May 4 1926 for reasons political, economic and international. Although the National Revolutionary Army had swept all before it in the lightning speed advance towards Beijing with it's groundbreaking use of aircraft, artillery and poison gas it had taken casualties, although they were light in relative terms (100,000 troops lost compared to the 10,000,000 troops they defeated!) the loss of a highly trained, well-equiped soldier was keenly felt.

Another problem was that of overextension. In defeating the 10,000,000 troops, the Kuomintang gained another problem. Although a majority (6,000,000) of these troops were press-ganged farmers, villagers and other who had something to return to. There was still the rather pressing question of what to do with around 4,000,000 armed men of dubious quality and equally dubious loyalty. There could be no question of bringing them to the front, they would be quickly vanquished by the 'silver bullet,' there could be also no question of using these troops as an 'police force' when many of them had brutalized the people they were supposed to be policing. They could also not be told to disband and return home - the only thing they knew how to do was fight and it was likely that they would turn quickly to banditry. The Special Operations Bureau and Kuomintang activists all reported signs that the 4,000,000 men were growing agitated and quite possibly 'mutinous.' This mean that out of an army of about 5 million men, only 1/5th were reliable enough to be militarily useful and out of that 1 million about a quarter were away fighting in the west or otherwise occupied. Chiang did not want his precious National Revolutionary Army chewed up in house to house, block to block fighting which the well-trained, well-disciplined and well-paid (immunity to silver bullets) gangster troops would engage in. Du Yuesheng's troops were famed for being crack snipers.

Financially, the Kuomintang Government was starting to creak at the edges, T.V Soong's substantial silver reserves were being eaten away by the massive expenses of war and if it was not resolved soon there would be massive economic upheaval leading to loss of popular support.

Internationally, the situation was delicate. The Manchurian Zhang Zuoling was finally starting to wake up to the full threat that the Kuomintang posed and had gone from the brink of war with Yan Xishan to a tacit agreement that the "Kuomintang and the Communists had to be dealt with first." Being bogged down in street-to-street fighting would allow Zhang and Yan to rush troops.

The "International Community" especially in Britain was beginning to be wary of what was perceived to be "bolshevism" in the Kuomintang. Anit-Kuoumintang propaganda, pushed aggressively by Zhang, Yan and the Japanese was working it's wonders. There were even talks of an intervention force to "quell the bolshevist insurrection." Winston Churchhill, who would later become Prime Minister expressed the Tory establishment's views about the 'Chinese Situation" clearly when he thundered: "Having allowed the Russian people to be subjected under the cruel yoke of Communism, will we allow the Chinese to suffer the same fate? Will we wait before these godless communists begin massacering our citizens and other god-fearing people before we act?" The Kuomintang's close links with Europe's two most pariah nations - Germany and the Soviet Union was not endearing it to many western nations. There were even talks of an "international" intervention force to help the "legitemate government of China" put down the "bolshevist insurrection" - in return of course, for more concessions. Japan was the most leading advocate of such a force, for reasons that can only be guessed at.

It was all in the balance. Although the Norther Expedition had been widely successful so far, it had perhaps become a victim of it's own success - however these very successes were influential in bringing together the very powerful forces that were now arrayed before it. Time was of the essense here, if the Kuomintang could take Nanjing, Shanghai and defeat Yan Xishan before the year ended it would have established itself before any outside 'intervention' could take place. If it did not - it would be crushed, as ruthlessly and as totally as the Boxers, the Taipings and other rebellions had been. A few weeks fighting in Jiangsu would make all the difference between victory and defeat.

That was what Du Yuesheng could offer - time. Not only could he deliver Shanghai and Nanjing on a platter but he could also assuage international fears about the Kuomintang. Du Yuesheng and his network of triads and his well oiled patronage system had many influential contacts with western interests and he could 'assure' them that the Kuomintang were a fine lot. But what did Du Yuesheng have to gain from such arrangement?

In a nutshell, it was survival. Although delaying the Kuomintang would utlimately destroy it - Du Yuesheng, and the tidy little criminal empire he had built for himself would be taken down with it. Nanjing and Shanghai were home to large trade unions, sympathethic with Kuomintang aims. Wang Jingwei had even boasted that he had a "fifth column" ready to take Shanghai at a moments notice. Although using these as weapons would destroy the Kuomintang by making them look like bolsheviks and ensuring an international intervention - it would also destroy the triads who would be 'purged' from the cities. Therefore Du Yuesheng was concillatory in the initial negotiations, offering Nanjing as a 'gift' to the new regime to be used as a capital and offering safe transit, transport to the National Revolutionary troops. He would also be willing to flay the Kuomintang bannerm, give the regime a cut from his massive criminal Empire and lobby for them internationally - if they left him alone. From a purely realpolitik perspetive the two had much to gain from each other

It was however a difficult choice for Sun to make. He understood that time was of the essense and the the deal offered the best chance of uniting China. However the price would cost the regime it's soul. So far the Kuomintang had been scrupulous in dealing with 'bulles, corrupt lackeys, criminals, bandits, warlords and others of reactionary ilk' giving them justice before 'People's tribunals' which usually ended for the offenders with a 7.92 or a 9mm round in the head.. Allowing Du Yuesheng to go unmolested would send a signal that the Kuomintang was a 'business as usual' government and could lead to further concessions. Wang Jingwei and the Kuomintang Left (Red) faction he was the de facto head of all wanted to trigger the popular uprising and deal with Du Yuesheng with this method. In this he found an unusual ally with Chiang Kai-shek and the Kuomintang Centre (White) faction. Chiang shared Wang's personal distaste for Du Yuesheng. Both men agreed that they could crush Du and still unite China. Only the Kuomintang Blue faction agreed with the deal. Despite having only tepid support from one faction, the deal still went ahead. Kuomintang troops would cross across Jiangsu province pouring into Yan Xishan's province catching him unawares. Sun Yat-sen however was broken by this effort. He suffered chronically from bouts of ill health and fainting after this deal, some said that Du poisoned him, others that Sun had sold his sould to the devil and his health was the price to pay.

The deal with the devil yielded results. What the devil delivered, the devil promised. Yan's elite "Beiyang Army" was caught off guard and out of defensive positions. The rest of the year was devoted to clean up operations as Yan and his army were chased over the border to Manchuria where Yan was promoted to "Prime Minister" after acknowledging Zhang Zuolin's presidency. By January 1 1927 the Kuomintang flag flew from Beijing, to Xining to Haikou. The First phase of the Northern Expedition was complete. China was now mostly unified. The Second Phase was about to begin.

Next Update: The Second Phase of the Northern Expedition.

Major Spoiler: The Real Next Update: Arrested Development - the failure of the Second Phase of the Northern Expedition.

Feedback and comment greatfully received (and solicited)

Virtual cookies to anyone who correctly predicts the reason for the spoiler.

 

[CCA]

Nivek - Thanks

1. I'll have to find that out too (oddly enough I don't know!)

2. You'll find out on this update just what they take...

3. Oh no, my friend, he isn't dead yet. Although he probably wishes he was! (it'll be clear when you read this update.)

4. I wish you were close but... I suppose I did lead people on to thinking that possibly...

Wyragen-TXRG4P

- Maybe

LeoXiao

- Thanks it was... Till now anyway!

Paul MacQ

- Thanks Paul. China gets even more broken up in this update. Any comments on the Fiat 3000?

Arrested Development: The Failure of the Second Northern Expedition.

The Year 1927 began optimistically for the Kuomintang. Their troops had swept all before it, essentially completely destroying the previous Beiyang Government. Their foes seemed to be scattered, reeling in confusion and on the verge of capitulation. China seemed to be on the verge of a national revival. When Manchuria was finally retaken, then China could begin it's long-delayed voyage into modernization.

A Fiat 3000 with a Chinese crewmember and a foreign 'advisor' (possibly Italian)

Preparations began in earnest for the incursion into Manchuria, arnaments were prepared and a brand new experimental division the "Swift Assault Division" formed from the remnants of the Heavy Reconnaisance brigade and given trucks and armoured cars would form the basis of a speedy thrust through the plains of Manchuria. They would be like an armoured 'fist' or a 'spearhead' crashing on an enemy line, allowing regular troops to pour through to envelope the enemy in detail around the flanks. The Fiat 3000 tanks which had served the Heavy Reconnaisance Brigade so well would be used again.

Such innovative tactics were needed. Zhang Zuolin's Manchurian Army were not inferior warlord rabble that would collapse at the first sight of combat. They were hardened, professional soldiers who were trained and hardened by fighting bandits, warlords and occasionally each other. They were lavishly equipped and trained by Japanese advisors and were a formidable obstacle to the reunification of China. The two forces skirmished near the outskirts of Beijing, but there was no significant action.

Both sides were waiting. Chiang wanted to wait until next year to fully prepare his army. Zhang was franticallly training more men and raising appeals abroad for an 'intervention.' Something was going to give, but it would be at an unexpected direction.

Somebody set us up the bomb!
- Chiang Kai-shek

On the 7th anniversary of the May Fourth movement an attempted assasination took place. Sun Yat-sen and his inner circle - consisting of Chiang Kai-Shek, Wang Jingwei and T.V Soong were at a balcony in Nanking. Sun Yat-sen was giving a speech to a large crowd of people about the need to "cleanse the land of warlordism and banditry." He stated his belief that the "warlords were a disease of the heart, the foreigners a disease of the skin." Suddenly a bomb exploded in the lectern that Sun was speaking from. Shards flew all over the balcony and into the crowd.



Miraculously, there were no deaths. The heavy oak construction had deflected most of the blast force and the shrapnel. A later investigation revealed that the paid assasin had short-changed his employers by using less explosive than necessary and pocketing the surplus cash. However fragments still bit into Sun Yat-sen, weakening his already fragile health. News travelled fast, hysterical rumours flew that it was a 'foreign conspiracy' led to mass rioting. All over China, the government seemed to be losing control - and in a sense it was - Wang, Chiang and Soong were the leading figures of the regime. The lack of contact with them led to a short, but violent power vacuum.

An artistic depiction of the "disorder"

In the "Disorder" which lasted for only two days many foreigners were killed. Armed mobs wandered around the streets of Shanghai killing foreigners and besieging the international settlements. This scene was repeated all over China except where there was significant National Revolutionary presence or Kuomintang organization. However the most significant outbreak of violence was at Shanghai with over 231 foreigners being killed or wounded. The rest of the country had a mere 119.

Although Sun was successful at reasserting conrtrol by May 6 the damage had been more than done. The international reaction was immediate and violent. France immediately occupied Hainan, the English sent in troops to reinforce Shanghai and prepared an expedition to Nanking. Japan began moving troops to Shangdong Peninsula. The Spanish prepared an expeditionary force after the brutal burning of a Catholic mission. Sun forestalled the intervention by issuing an apology and inviting all the 'offended parties' to Beijing for a conference scheduled for August 1.

The "Humiliation Treaty" of Beijing
By the time of the conference on August 1 1927, passions had somewhat cooled. Nevertheless, the foreign powers still demanded on extracting their pound of flesh. France was awarded a 1000 year lease on Hainan island. The British were paid a large lump sum of silver and made China renounce all claims to Hong Kong and demanded a "permanent lease" on Shantou, the League of Nations granted the Spanish a "mandate" over Beijing and the "Heibei Strip" a demilitarized zone between Manchuria and China centered around Beijing. This 'mandate' gave the Spanish the right to collect all tarrifs and revenue from the area to pay for a "Spanish Peacekeeping force" Japan forced China to recognize the independence of Manchuria and to renounce all claims. On top of this, China was also forced to grant large ammounts of money to each party as "indemneties" and to pay for the damages caused. Sun signed through gritted teeth.

The Kuomintang limped along for the rest of the year in a state of shock and confusion. Sun's reputation had taken a beating from the "Treaty of Beijing" which was attacked all over China as a "humiliation treaty." Sun's spirit had taken an even larger beating with Sun breaking down in frequent bouts of depression. Sun's body, already fragile was deteriorating even more rapidly with the attempted assasination attempt. Still, Sun was still President, Premier and Prime Minister, not even in Sun's weakened state did the "Triumverate" consisting of Wang (representing the leftist groups) Chiang (representing the military forces and 'moderates') and T.V Soong (representing the bourgeiose, industrialists and landowners) dared to act.

There was no no questions of Northern Expeditions. President Zhang Zoulin was declared "Emperor of Manchuria and Mengouko" on December 1 1927. China was limping along. The question on everyone's lips were: "When would Sun die and who would suceed him?"

Next Update: Whodunnit? Who wanted Sun dead and why?

 

[CCA]

Dan Reilly The Great - A surrender will be carried out alright but it won't be in a Chinese rail car. That's so 1918. No, the surrender will be carried out in a(n) *spoiler Airship

Paul MacQ - The USSR's reaction is hostile denouncing the "Western Imperialism" as "greedy and grasping" and attack the Japanese and Manchurians as "Yellow running dogs of oppressor capitalism." In fact Stalin is so concerned that he sends one of his best Generals, a certain Leon Trotsky (not that he doesn't have his own reasons!) There will of course be a section on lessons that the Air Force learned from the KMT expedition but the time for that is still later.

Nivek - Thanks Nivek. America is quite friendly towards the KMT and the Chinese regime due to their extensive contacts. The Americans are especially friendly towards T.V Soong and the other Soong's seeing T.V as the next president of China... Time will tell whether they would be correct

You'll find out in this update whether or not you're right about the Europeans Or will you?

Don't be too sure that the "Left" will be purged. There's a reason why they call the partnership between Chiang, Wang and Soong the *spoiler* "Holy Trinity."

Thanks again for your kind feedback and comments.

Brancaleone - Yep - and that's precisely what happens...

Dan Reilly The Great - I wouldn't be so sure about that - a more assertive, some would say "belligerent" China might kick off an earlier rearnament - if not for the French and the British then for the Kiwi's and Aussies. The Anti-Chinese phobia IOTL was bad and real enough with a weak and essentially broken China - imagine how bad it'll be with a unified, assertive and strong China.

Thanks to everyone for their comments and feedback! Much appreciated!




Whodunnit? An explosion mystery tour

To say that the attempted assasination attempt against Sun Yat-sen and the top circle of the Kuomintang was a significant attempt is a violent understatement. It was perhaps, the defining event of the Northern Expedition - what had been a walkover to a coronation party became an uphill struggle against powerful foreign forces. What was an all but invetiable triumph suddenly shattered into broken dreams and painful memories.

And to think that - in theory the assasination had failed. None of the intended targets were actually killed. Nevertheless, the Kuomintang was significantly wounded - even crippled by the event. The paralysis of the Kuomintang post the "Nanking Affair" (as the assasination attempt would be referred to) was symbolized by an increasingly frail and senile Sun Yat-Sen.

But who was behind the assasination? To this day, who was behind the actual assasination is still one of the world's leading mysteries. Much ink has been spilled in countless reports commissioned by one party or the other to exonerate their faction or alternatively blame others. Essentially the problem with determining the origin of the assasination lies in the fact that a lot of parties had a lot to gain, and had gained from the assasination leading to a myriad of possible suspects.

Suspect 1: Emperor Zhang Zoulin, Protector of Manchuria and Mongolia


The first, and most obvious were the Manchurians. Zhang Zhoulin and Yan Xishan both had reasons to conduct an assasination attempt on the KMT. They had the contacts within China to make it happen and the fact that the assasination was botched suggests that it was not conducted by a professional foreign intelligence agency. In the Treaty of Beijing the Manchurians had gained recognition, a demilitarized zone between the two powers and Yan Xishan even managed to have his personal possessions returned. The Manchurians had gained - although perhaps not immensely but they had reason enough to assasinate the KMT leadership even without material gain.

Suspect Two: Du Yuesheng or "Big Eared Du"

The second suspect was Du Yuesheng "Big Eared Du." Du had conveniently been absent from what was a major speech and his men took several leading figures of the regime who were in Shanghai for their own "safekeeping." - including the Ailing and Meiling Soong, H.H Kung and a host of other figures. Uniformed groups wearing the KMT uniform (where there were no KMT troops in Shanghai as part of the Agreement) also aroused suspicion. Du had a lot to gain from a power vacuum caused by the assasination of the top level of the KMT, perhaps even taking control himself. Nevertheless, despite the assasination failing, Du had gained significantly. The demilitarization of Shanghai which forbade China to station troops meant that his authority in Shanghai could not be challenged by the KMT government. Sun's increasing decline into senility had also caused a vacuum in which the KMT government was all but paralyzed - leaving Du's gangster men to fill the void.

Suspect Three: The Japanese

The third suspect were the Japanese. They had gained from the peace deal, securing the demilitarization of key borders and securing indemneties that was all out of proportion to the damage done by the mobs. The assasination had also signficantly weakened China - and a weakened China was one of the tenets of Japanese foreign policy.

The fourth suspect were the Western Powers themselves. However, there is little to substantiate this view. Although the KMT was being seen as an increasing threat - there was no concrete policy laid out in the foreign offices of France and Britain and their greediness in the Treaty of Beijing was opportunistic rather than planned.

Suspect Five: Chen Duxiu - The General Secretary of the Chinese Communist Party

The fifth and final suspect were the Chinese Communists under the leadership of Chen Duxiu. This is however, highly unlikely as they were as taken aback as the rest of China was and failed to seize the moment in any meaningful way. Furthermore, Chen Duxiu was a hardline orthodox communist who obeyed the line from Moscow without question. The line from Moscow was that Chen and the Communists would follow and prop up the KMT without question while massively infilitrating it from within. But there would be no splits and absolutely no assasination attempts. In fact the Chinese Communist Party were the first to rally around the KMT banner when it was discovered that Sun had lived.

Regardless of who had prepared and backed the assasination attempt and the fact that it had actually failed, the effects were catastrophic for China and the Kuomintang. There is a reason why the final, post-Nanking incident years of Sun Yat-sen's life are called the "lost years" or the "black years."

Next Update: 1928 - From bad to worse.

Feedback and comments always welcome (in fact actively solicited!)

 

[CCA]

LeoXiao - I know! But facial hair aside, he was nowhere near ruthless enough.

Paul MacQ - Lol I like that description, shifty but unlikely!

Alratan - Exactly, we might see the British-Japanese alliance go a lot more smoothly ITTL with massive reprecussions for Japanese domestic politics...

Hashasheen - Spain didn't exactly get invited. A bunch of Spanish citizens got killed in cold blood leading to foreign intervention. The money that Spain will make from the taxes and tolls from the area will more than pay for the cost of any expeditionary force. What about logistics? There's plenty of armed muscle wandering around - at low -cost in China. All Spain needs is a token force to 'supervise' said armed bands.

Nivek - Let's just say that China will get back what it lost and then some more when the Spanish Civil War rolls around. All those lovely gold reserves in Madrid do need to go somewhere for 'safekeeping' right?

About Wang: Those are very valid points, but remember that the two men work together in Shanghai for nearly a year when Chiang was in hiding. This leads to a somewhat more personal relationship between the two. If you want an analogue to our TL the partnership between then is like Tony Blair and Gordon Brown. There's deep distrust sure, but there's also deep respect and at the end of the day neither will stab each other in the back because they need each other too much. (Or will they)

Hang on to your horses - will there even be Barbarrossa in TL? A world 'progressive' alliance - at least in name- is certainly possible against Franco-British Imperialism (tm)

Thanks Nivek, I don't think this TL will be that good. This is nothing compared to Faelin's The Revolution is Not Yet Over or Hendryk's Superpower Empire TL. But I do appreciate the sentiment



Hendryk - You're very right Hendryk. I'll probably retcon it to 150 years. And Zhang proclaims himself as Emperor of China, Manchuria and Mengouko but the first one is a pretty empty claim, but I'll retcon it in V2 to make it clear.

_____________________________________________________________

From Bad To Worse - The Kuomintang in 1928

1928 was not a good year for the Kuomintang. It began bleakly with a panicked T.V Soong announcing to the Central Committee that the country's silver reserves had all been depleted by the Treaty of Beijing and they were down to 5% of the previous year's level. If merchants were to discover that the strenght of the currency had been badly eroded - hyperinflation was soon to follow with it's dire consequences. Furthermore, a drained treasury would stall many of the regime's social, military and economic reforms which all needed money to function.

An example of the varous currencies floating around in China

T.V Soong however, had a clever plan. He would stabilize the economy by issuing a new currency that would replace the various regional currencies that were in use. But before he announced the change, the regime would slowly buy foreign currency, gold and silver with these regional currencies which would provide a solid underpinning for the New Yuan. The reaction from Sun was unexpected and somewhat insane. Ranting madly, he threw his chair at Soong accusing him of "positioning himself as a leadership challenge." With the mad fury that only insanity can grant he threw the meeting table at Soong and stormed out of the room furiously.

Such episodes were becoming increasingly common as the year went by. Chiang's proposals for military reform was greeted by icy stares and accusations of treachery and 'military coupist tendencies and caesarism.' Wang's proposals for land and social reform was met with outright contempt with Sun screeching that Wang was "dog and puppet of the communists." Sun had seemingly completely lost the plot and there was nothing that the Triumverate could do about it. Any move would arouse suspicions of disloyalty to an already unstable mind. And so they waited while China stagnated. The Emperor had no clothes, but the princes and nobles were all loath to speak lest they poison their own succession.

Things could not seem to get worse. But they did. Diplomatic pressure was bought to bear on Weimar Germany to end it's cooperation and aid to the Chinese Republic. Faced with the stick of Franco-British trade sanctions and the carrot of reduced reparations, Germany agreed. It would remove it's official support for the Chinese Missions. Where there was once tens of thousands of German advisors, experts and engineers there were only a few hundred by the years end. Von Lundendorf was recalled to Germany. Chinese ship orders to German Naval yards were cancelled. Out of those few hundred the most significant figure was Wilhelm Canaris who became head of the now unofficial mission.

Without German advisors, the military modernization screeched to a grindingly slow pace. China had 5,000,000 soldiers under arms and only 500 German advisors to train and advise. Although the "Whampoa Generation" were starting to make their presence felt, China still needed foreign expertise, especially in the construction and practice with modern equipment like artillery and aircraft. China was seemingly without friends in the world and led by an increasingly ill, both mentally and physically leader.

Every Cloud Has A Silver Lining - The Red Napoleon

The Soviet Union's reaction to the Treaty of Beijing pleased the Chinese Republic - winning it many friends. Germany's withdrawal of it's Technical and Military mission left a large hole which only the Soviet Union was prepared to fulfill. Although the Soviet advisors had been mostly sidelined at almost every turn by their German counterparts, the departure of so many Germans meant that Soviet influence could only increase.

http://images.google.co.nz/url?sour...a1.jpg&usg=AFQjCNFpqnnWxoDjFKmz1xr0HTHKW2mEHg

Leon Trotsky to members of the Soviet Advisory Force: "We are going to China!"

A sign that the Soviet Union was taking China very seriously was the departure of the former Head of the Red Army and the "Red Napoleon" Leon Trotsky for China from Alma Ata in January 31, 1928. Leon Trotsky had found himself at the sharp end of a losing power struggle against Stalin. Stalin decided to remove a potential for a "Trotskyist" comeback by gathering all the senior "Trotskyists" and other possible opponents and sending them to China as part of increased Soviet aid. Sending Trotsky to China made sense for Stalin on a number of levels. Diplomatically, sending such a senior figure would be a sign that the Soviet Union took China seriously. Militarily, Trotsky was an accomplished general and his presence would be welcomed. Politically, the move strengtened Stalin by removing Trotsky from the country. It also strengtened the hand of the Chinese Communist Party who could draw prestige from such a senior figure.

The road to China would be long and ardous. It is perhaps telling of Stalin's intentions that while the rest of the advisory team (consisting of technical experts and agricultural scientists) flew or took the ship to China, Trotsky and all those associated with him had to take the long winding road of the Silk route where there was a strong possibility that they would get killed by wandering warlord troops, bandits and other desperates. But still, Trotsky had to take the gamble for it was his only chance of survival.

Another power that China had friendly relations with was the United States of America. Whereas most European goods were boycotted by the Chinese in the aftermath of the Treaty of Beijing, American goods were not. This led to an increase of commercial relations between the two countries. American recognition of the Kuomintang regime was also a significantly improved factor in the warming of relations between the two countries. Trade links continued to grow between the two nations.

Although overall, 1928 was an extremely bad year for the Kuomintang. It's authority became increasingly shaky as a result of being run by a crazy, paranoid, senile and weak old man. It's foreign policy lay in tatters. However, in hindsight perhaps things weren't so bad. The increased ties with the Soviet Union and the United States of America would prove to be a great blessing in more ways than one.

Next Update : Three weddings and a funeral.

Feedback and comments always welcome/actively solicited.

 

[CCA]

The Vulture - Thanks Vulture, cheers to you and your excellent TL - I would like to do a crossover piece one day - with your permission of course The theathre of Mu could be an interesting battleground for World War II...

Domoviye - Thank you very much , much appreciated

Fenrir_Angerboda - No they aren't but you know what they say, when things hit rock bottom the only way to go is up...

Paul MacQ - You're absolutely right - The Chinese will be a fusion of German and Russian doctrine, equipment, political thought. Not only the good ideas but also the bad...

Nivek - He dies pretty soon Like right in this update soon. You're right about the Chinese things - the fact that the Axis has a democracy fighting on their side for the "liberation of oppressed colonial peoples' will confuse the hell out of the Pro-allied/pro-entete lobby ITTL. Rather than being a clear cut case of bad vs evil IOTL, the 2nd World War will be a case of grey vs grey where both sides have sufficient 'right' on their side...

Dan Reilly The Great - The second world War ITTL will make the World War IOTL look simple by comparison!

Brancaleone - Exactly! It's funny what a difference sending someone to Germany makes doesn't it? Of course a certain Lev Bronstein might still end up with a pickaxe on his head - except maybe the location will be in Nanking!

Three Weddings and a Funeral - The Beginning of the Nanking Decade

The death of one man is a tragedy, the death of a million? A mere statistic.
- Sun Yat-sen, Diary entry January 1 1929

1929 would usher the beginning of the "Nanking Decade" - an unparalleled time of peace, prosperity and modernization in Chinese historyl New railways would be built, new companies founded, the military modernized and everything seemed to be hurtling toward at lighting speeed towards a brand new age of progress. What was to be a decade of power and progress however, began with a death. Some would call it a tragedy, some could call it a mircale but on January 24 1929 - the founder of the Kuomintang, President, Prime Minister and Premier of China Sun Yat-sen lay dead in his bed.

An autopsy revealed that it had been a quick and relatively painless death with Sun having a massive stroke in his sleep and dying. Whether he had been a saint or a sinner one fact held sway - Sun had left a big influence on the make up of China. He had taken the Kuomintang from a dusty cramped hideout in a shady part of Shanghai to masters and rulers of China. Although he had somewhat (some would say drastically) declined during his later years, the fact that he had unified China would leave him in the annals of history - in hindsight.

Chen Jieru - one of Sun's many concubines. Chen was given as a 'token of goodwill' by Du Yuesheng and is suspected of controlling Sun.

For the moment, when Sun died there was a palpable sigh of relief across the KMT leadership. Sun had become increasingly paranoid and mistrustful of the "triumverate" Sun's diaries and other circumstantial evidence point to Sun's growing collaboration with the Gangster Governor Du Yuesheng. Some had even said that Du was drugging Sun and controlling him through one of Sun's concubines a certan Chen Jieru. However, Chinese historiography is generally fond of the trope of a strong woman being a manipulative and greedy hag so we must take these accusations with a certain grain of salt.

One of the many "spontaneous grief processions" greeting the news of Sun's death on the streets of Nanking.

Despite the private joy of many KMT leaders, they still had to maintain an appropriate level of decorum and show a respect to China's first president. The great leader who had united the nation. Although he was a flawed man - Sun still had achieved extraordinary things and the KMT would not have gotten as far without him. "Grief processions" were organized nationwide, all around China. Some of the mournings were real, others faked. However it was said that no one in China was mourning harder about Sun's death than Du Yuesheng. On February 1 1929, Sun Yat-sen was finally laid to rest - his image tarnished, but his legacy intact.

Du Yuesheng had been filling the void that Sun's madness had left. His agents were at every possible echelon of government, party and military admininstrations. In the west he was viewed as a friendly sympathethic figure. A French report compiled by the head of the French concession in Shanghai (Fessender) described Du as a "remarkable individual who we can trust to crush the bolsheviks" He had been immensley accumulating power and prestige at the expense of Wang, Chiang and Soong. Perhaps in a few years had Sun continued to live he might have eclipsed even the three of them.

But this was not to be. The "Triumverate" consisting of Chiang, Wang and Soongg moved quickly after Sun's death establishing themselves as the pre-eminent figures. They quickly called for a "Party Congress" to decide "the future leadership of our leading movement." However, in reality the three men had already decided the makeup of the future of the party.

In a restaurant in the Italian concession in Tianjin, the three men met on February 14 to decide the future of the nation. It was in the restaurant called "Granita" that the fate of China - and of the world would be decided by three men. It was in Granita that the destinies of 500 million would be decided over sweet Italian desert food.

The First Wedding: The Granita Pact

The three men met in complete secrecy, with their own bodyguards not even being bought with them for protection. They met in an obscure restaurant where no one would suspect. Afterall, Tianjin paled in importance to Nanking, Guangzhou and Shanghai - who would suspect a plot there? The three emerged 12 hours later after a long and wearisome discussion covering a wide range of topics. Whatever the three agreed however, it would not be and could not be to the centralization of power at the hands of one man. Sun Yat-sen had shown them how dangerous such an approach could be and the three men were democrats, by experience if not by conviction.

President Chiang Kai-shek poses for a photo

Chiang Kai-shek emerged as the President of China. They agreed that only Chiang had the moral authority (not to mention the guns!) to lead China through a turbulent era. The 'foreign devils' were not to be trusted and China needed to be awake militarily, the "eastern dwarves" posed an even greater threat being only a few miles away. Furthermore, Chiang was acceptable to both Soong and Wang and was seen as a 'politically safe' choice by a wide faction of people including communists, reactionaries, progressives and liberals. The President of China needed to be someone who could - and would lead a broad coalition of figures. In exchange for the Presidency Chiang agreed to take a 'hands-off' approach to domestic policy - leaving Wang and Soong to debate it. Chiang also agreed to make 'limited use' of his veto powers (the President could veto any bill passed regardless of a majority) To ensure that this would follow the constitution was rewritten so that the Legislative Yuan (the Chinese Parilament) could force a reelection of the President with a simple majority. Despite having had to make several concessions - Chiang still emerged as a very powerful man. He was still Commander-in-Chief of ther Armed Forces, he could suspend the constitution and parliament in 'times of national crisis or emergencies' and his role as the head of a broad coalition and not a faction granted him significant moral authority over Wang and Soong. Chiang could rule by both the pen and the sword.

Wang Jingwei midspeech - his significant powers of oratory and charisma made him a very powerful politician.

Wang Jingwei emerged from the meeting with two very powerful positions. Chiang and Soong both agreed to back Wang for the post of Party President and as Prime Minsiter (which he was entitled to anyway as the leader of the biggest party in the Yuan.) Chiang also agreed to significantly divest domestic issues to the Yuan. This gave Wang immense potential for power, he could even become more powerful than the president if he played his cards right. However he had to dilute some of this power - he made a deal with T.V Soong - Soong would give Wang free hand with domestic and social policy and give him money that the programmes needed if Wang gave Soong a free hand on economic affairs. Wang agreed.

T.V Soong - the Premier of China.

T.V Soong was the third member of this "Triumverate" in a sense he was the weakest of both men in the sense that he was the only player to not possess an army. He was also the strongest in the sense that he possessed a solid understanding of economic issues. T.V Soong was also fabolously wealthy and well-connected being the darling and patron of China's emerging and increasingly important merchant classes. From the meeting he solidified his position as the steward of the economy. T.V Soong was named Premier (the equivalent of Chancellor) and was given responsibility for the efficient functioning of the state bureacracy. T.V Soong's power was in numbers and wealth and his new appointments solidified his strenghts.

The Second Wedding: Chiang and the Soongs

The happy couple on their wedding day

T.V Soong also had another weapon up his sleeve, one of his sisters, Soong Meiling was being courted by Chiang. After Sun's death what had been a mildly irritating fliration now became an urgent matter of political alliance. Clan politics had been used to solidify alliances since the dawn of Chinese history and it would be used again now.

The two were married on March 21. Although it was a political marriage the two were genuinely in love. This is when Du Yuesheng is said to have made the greatest mistake of his political career. After getting (secretly) married at a church, the two made their way to the Chinese wedding ceremony going in separate limousines. Chiang arrived there and waited for Meiling. After an agitated two hours, Du Yuesheng arrived uninvited driving Meiling to the ceremony. He said that Meiling had been found 'motoring through the streets withour protection.' For her own 'safety' she had been taken to a 'safe villa' perhaps if he'd heard of the wedding he would've bought her 'sooner.' Du left shaking his head after saying that he found Chiang's conduct 'deplorable' and he should 'take better care of your lovely wife.' Such visits were not uncommon for Du to prominent politicians to remind them of his power. At the time it is likely that Du did not know of the Granita deal and thought it unlikely that Chiang would suceed Sun. It didn't matter to Chiang - he had been humiliated and emasculated at his own wedding cermony. Du would meet a grisly end at the hand of Chiang's government many years later where he would end up *SPOILER: HANGING FROM A MEATHOOK SPOILER*

The Third Wedding: The Kuomintang and China
The "Kuomintang Extraordinary Party Congress" was called for May 4 - one of the anniversaries of the movement. It took place in Nanking with tens of thousands of delegates and many more visitors. The Granita Pact held and the Triumverate took the positions that they had agreed to many weeks before. However despite this, Du's faction had put in a reasonable performance - it was estimated that 35-45% of the KMT followed Du's instructions or were in some way sympathetic to his goals. The party and China would need a cleanup one day. Elections were called for and won on a significant margin the concept of a 'tutelage' period thoroughly discredited by Sun's long decline, the Presidential Election would take place in 1932 and an election for the Legislative Yuan would take place in 1933.

Next Update:
1930 The Red Protector

Thanks to everyone for their kind feedback/comments.

Feedback and comments are always appreciated/solicited.

 

[CCA]

Paul MacQ - Thanks heaps. It does seem like a paradox but stable government *is* possible for China. Well relatively stable anyway, but when things go unstable shit will really hit the fan. You have to remember that the KMT and many in China take the "political power grows out of the barrel of the gun" very seriously. This is a state where postal workers and the census bureau carry submachine guns and the Postal Service has tanks. You can only imagine what a breakdown in civil society will produce....

Hendryk - Thanks for all your help so far Hendryk!

Nivek - Hehe thanks, it's currently holidays in New Zealand and I'm trying to update this TL every weekday if possible.

- Your reaction to Hindenburg's death is pretty much the same reaction of everyone who knew what was going on. But for the average peasant the death of Sun is like the death of the Great Leader.

- You'll get your Japanese blood soon, but not yet. The civilians are still in control of Japan and they still can keep a grip on the Kwangtung Army

- Aha! But Trotsky isn't actually the Red Protector! I fooled lots of people though so I don't blame you

- Yep this TL does have lots of views - I think it's because it contains two of the most popular alternate history words "China" and "Axis" in the title.

tallwingedgoat: - Thanks for those links - will be very useful for me in the future. It certainly *is* possible for both China and Japan to be both in the Axis but to do that you need to reverse Japan's foreign policy since the 1850's which was the domination of China.

Wyragen-TXRG4P: - Thanks - there's a small bit about the Wall Street Crash on this update.

OKH_1946 -

1. I sure hope so, I've got a few vague ideas which I'll float around to The Vulture very soon.

2. hehe - Zombie Clauswitz tearing the shit out of Chiang? Maybe in a "Zombie Axis China TL"

3. Nope I can't believe I got you too!


1930 - The Red Protector

Although some historians view 1929 as the beginning of the "Nanjing Decade" it was more of a preparation year for what would be known as the "Year of Lightning." One study done by Burkhart et all estimates that the sheer number of initiatives, reforms and programmes launched in 1930 exceeds the total number of legislation passed during the 'Nanjing Decade.' It would be folly then to attempt to even catalogue the sheer volume - we should instead concentrate on the important programmes.

Mao Zedong - The energetic and fresh new General Secretary of the Chinese Communist Party.

The main driver of these reforms - unsurprisingly enough was Wang Jingwei. Alhough many of these initiatives were proposed by the KMT left, Chiang as president - had the power to block, ammend or otherwise water down these legislation. In fact, he often went much further, strengtening and often radicalizing legislation. For example when Wang's land reform scheme was proposed it only included 'suggestions' for rent reductions and had a voluntary 'credit cooperation' scheme where local villagers could participate in. Landlords often stayed as the key figures in the village. The reason for the mildness of these schemes is disputes, some say that Wang was positioning himself as a 'moderate' and trying to win the support of the broader KMT. Some said that Wang thought that there was no point in even proposing radical reform since Chiang was bound to shoot it then. Wang and the Executive Yuan (which governed the country in the absense of a Legislative Yuan and cabinet structures) were then taken very much aback when Chiang demanded more 'radical reforms.' Chiang wanted the creation of 'village councils' which would be the center of political and economic life, introducing democracy at a localized level and allowing villages to have credit. Chiang also proposed linking the compulsory village cooperatives to a "National Agriculture Fund" in a "National Bank" which would give the KMT regime much needed credit. The programme could be kick started by a one time "Landlord registration fee" - which would effectively confiscate half of all landlords assets and place it into the hands of the village cooperatives. Rent reductions would then be 'suggested' with a further threat of 'registration' if the rents were not reduced at an appropriate level. These examples are only a few of the reforms proposed but they showed how radicalized - even 'bolshevist' Chiang's ideas were.

It was believed that many of these ideas had not - in fact come from Chiang but the new and very young General Secretary of the Chinese Communist Party Mao Zedong. Chiang and Mao had come from very similar backgrounds - both had been born into poor peasant families and had risen their way to top positions. Although Chiang was not a Marxist and had no time for dogmatic Marxism, Mao had impressed Chiang with his intellectual independence from Moscow and his insistence that China had to develop it's own 'independent' method of communist thought - free from Moscow. Mao emphasized the importance of the rural peasantry which comprised over 80% (if not more) of China's total population and argued that the peasants were the key to any successful revolution. For any revolution to succeed they had to be mobilized. Chiang did not agree with Mao's conclusions - the creation of a proletarian state, but he did grasp the concept that the political mobilization of peasants was key to any successful regime. So an unlikely alliance was developed. Chiang would not only take and implement Mao's policies he would also ensure that the Chinese Communist Party was not assimilated into the KMT-left headed by Wang. This move, more than any other would ensure Chiang's dominance of the 'broad coalition' - by preventing anyone else from amassing similar coalitions - he would maintain his monopoly on power.

The Red Napoleon aka Leon Trotsky/Lev Bronstein

Chiang's cooperation with leftists did not end with native born communists. His cooperation and ultimately friendship with a man history would ultimately know as the "Red Napoleon" would have profouned consequences - not only for the development of the National Revolutionary Army but for the future of the world. However when Trotsky finally arrived in China after an entire long year travelling across bandit and warlord infested lands where half his party had been wiped out he was desperately sick (having contracted smallpox, yellow fever, dengue and malaria at various points during his trip) and it seemed unlikely that he would live. Trotsky would spend all of 1929 recovering before he was well enough to even speak to Chiang.

When he was finally well enough to finally speak to the President of China - Trotsky firmly impressed Chiang with his knowledge of China and his precise grasp of Chinese politics. Trotsky could also relate to Chiang as an equal - something that the Germans could never do (given that Chiang was the subbordinate of Ludendorf and he was still treated as such by the old man.) Trotsky's ideas were radically different from that of the Germans, instead of creating a small, professional army which was highly mobile, apolitical and versed in 'modern offensive warfare' Trotsky wanted to create a massive, highly politically indoctrinated 'popular army.' Trotsky viewed the Army as an "instrument of power" - which Chiang also agreed. Trotsky favoured the creation of an "Army-in-being" which would use it's advantage of interior communication lines to pose a threat to an enemy everywhere. The "Army-in-being" by it's very existence would force an enemy to overextend their forces, allowing the much larger army to strike the weakest point or to 'attack along the line, overcoming the overstretched enemy.' A 'Popular Army' would also make use of China's most important asset: people. Chiang was reportedly so pleased with Trotsky and his ideas that he gave Trotsky a gift of a ancient Chiense sword on his birthday - a sure sign of telling Chiang's trust (in total, only 4 people would ever received this gift from Chiang - Adolf Hitler, Wang Jingwei, T.V Soong and Leon Trotsky.) Chiang put Trotsky in charge of 'reorganization of the National Revolutionary Army as you see fit' on one caveat - he would leave the Assault Divisions alone.

Mao Du - one of the leading intellectuals of the "New Literature Movement." His name meant "contradiction" and in a sense he represented the internatal contradictions, not only of himself but of the wider Chinese Society.

Chiang's patronage of left-wing figures did not end there. Chiang and his wife Soong Meiling would become great patrons of China's emerging "New Literature" intellectual movement which was connected to the "May Fourth" movement. The "New Literatue Movement" were a group of intellectuals, writers and artists, who were leading the "Chinese Renaissance." Originally based in Shanghai - they were hounded out of the city by Du Yuesheng's increasing paranoia and many relocated to Nanking where they were patronized by Chiang and other leading figures. The leading figure of the "New Literature Movement" was Mao Dun the editor of Xiaoshuo Xinchao (Fiction New Waves) - the weekly newsletter of the movement. Nanking would eventually become the thriving intellectual capital of China becoming the birthplace of "Chinese Futurism."

Chiang's patronage of the above left-wing figures and many many more won Chiang the epithet "The Red Protector." Overseas, this was seen as evidence that China was "Bolshevist" leading to increased calls for an "intervention." However, the western powers were in no mood for an intervention. Although a sharp plunge in the New York Stock Market in 1929 had led to concerns of a possible recession, Chinese silver was used by many Western Powers to purchase shares leading to a return in market value for many of these stocks. However - the consumers who had mostly lost all their savings in the October 1929 crash did not have access to these silver. Consumption fell as a result. 1930 would see the beginning of what would be termed the "Great Depression" - but the effects were beginning to be felt. Ramsay MacDonald's Labour government - elected under a wafer-thin majority in 1929 was in no mood for what he dismissed as 'foreign adventures.' Chiang stood defiantly in 1930 as the "Red Protector" of not only the left but of China itself.

Next Update:
1931 - The Eastern Expedition

Thanks to everyone for their feedback and comments.

Further feedback and comments always welcomed/encouraged.

 

[CCA]

1931: The Eastern Expedition Redux or the Invasion that wasn't

The 13th Dalai Lama


The Chinese reassertion of sovereignty in Tibet, Sinkiang and the various autonomous provinces in the east would serve as a model by which a peacefulZhōngguó tǒngyī (or reunification) would proceed in years to come. Chinese diplomatic finesse, Soviet support and the threat a brutal military intervention by the rapidly expanding National Revolutionary Army (which had swelled to a paper strength of 10 million soldiers (!) by mid-1931) would prove sufficient to cow the 13th Dalai Lama, the autonomist governor of Sinkiang Jin Shuren and the various bandits and warlords that populated the region. Chiang's preferred method of negotiation was simple - he invited the Dalai Lama and Jin Shuren to Nanking for a "Conference."

Seemingly endless lines of Chinese soldiers paraded past the two men.
When the two men arrived they were subjected to a confusing barrage of psychological messages. They were attended to see the "military might of new China," they saw a parade of 'never-ending soldiers' march past their balcony. The specially arranged one million soldiers tramped past the balcony in an orderly procession and the two men stood in the sweltering Nanking heat for nearly 6 hours. They were then taken to see the preparations of a "Special Assault Group" undertaking special mountain training.

The Fiat 3000 was used to great effect when dealing with foreign dignatories.

The two men were then taken to a tank part where they saw what seemed to be endless rows of Fiat 3000's. (In fact many of these tanks were cardboard models and they were not suitable in any way for the heavilly rugged terrain) Their day ended with a demonstration of 'precise techniques of modern night bombing' where a specially prepared squadron completely leveled a concrete bunker while the two men and Chiang watched through binoculars. At the end of the night Chiang posed the question: "Do you really think you can stand against the might of China?" and offered them relatively lenient terms. The two men could continue their status as relatively independent 'autonomous provinces' - in return they would submit to Nanking and fly the Chinese flag. The two provinces would be autonomous in domestic policy and would be left alone as long as they obeyed the instructions of Nanking. Completely cowed, tired, demoralized, dehydrated and hungry (the two men had been kept without food or water and not permitted toilet breaks) they relented. Jin Shuren's plane would 'accidentally crash' on his way back to Sinkiang and a more pliant governor - Sheng Shicai - would be installed. The Dalai Lama was allowed to return to Lhasa safely with a heavy 'advisory team' who would pull the strings. The Dalai Lama might pretend otherwise - but he had effectively become a mere puppet and had even less power than a typical provincial governor. Another section on the long winding road to reunification had been crossed and it had been accomplished cheaply.

A beaming Chiang pleased with himself.

Chiang was the major winner in these negotiations. He had gained land without having expended any political, economic or military resources - his steely statesmanship and foreign enemies distracted by economic and political crisis was unable to respond. China's main threat - Japan had seen a failed military coup early in the year and the civilian administration was lurching from crisis to crisis.Trotsky was also a winner, his theory of an "Army-in-being" had scored China it's military coup and his genius at raising and outfitting a 10 million strong army had won him plaudits both at home and in the Soviet Union. The Soviet Union had also gained significantly, with Chinese gratitude at Soviet support for recovering Sinkiang seemingly securing China as a member of the "Soviet Sphere" China seemed to be prospering while the west was languishing. The Chinese had also had learned a new response in the diplomatic game - previously her entire diplomatic game was limited to a simple response: concessions, concessions and concessions. Now that China finally had the strength to resist would it? Had the wheels of history finally turned?

Thanks to everyone for their feedback and comments (I'll respond to them when I get home - I'm actually updating this during a lull in a LAN party.)

Feedback and comments always appreciated