I don't know much about Chinese history, but I like this 
. Update as soon as possible please .
. Update as soon as possible please .Chiang Kai-Shek goes to Germany: An Axis China Timeline
- Thread starter CCA
- Start date
Paul MacQ
Donor
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.
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.
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
Next Update: The Second Northern Expedition
Feedback and comments welcome as always (in fact solicited!)
Ok now you have picked a favourite What If aircraft in the D.1/Feng Ru V
To get improved performance actualy recomend looking at The Hispano Suiza range of engines
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hispano-Suiza_8Be
Moderaltly more powerful and the 8B is rather common and built in several nations and spares can be found all over the world
First World War. A total of 49,800 engines were built by Hispano-Suiza and French manufacturers. And by 1924 France was moving away from this to V12's so would be available for reconditioning and Tools might be avalable to production on limited scale.
Also unlike Germany of China has access to large Bauxite deposits for aluminium. Also a possible money earner for China. Hugo Junkers when making the D.1 was very pro the idea of using as much of the lighter aluminium as possible in aircraft construction
Companies that produced the 8B under license outside of France, Great-Britain (Wolseley as the Adder in Birmingham), Italy (Nagliati in Florence and Itala/SCAT in Turin) and Russia
8B Weight 236 Kg Dry and 220hp
The BMW and Mercedes selections are over 300kg and betwen 180 hp and 200 hp
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BMW_IIIa
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mercedes_D.III
Would also give Feng Ru a foot in the door of Hispano Suiza and maybe a Chinese office for the reconditioning of there Engines in the far east. could be a lead into closer relations. With some Germans having access to developments.
BTW a great read so far, well done
FDW - Thanks!, Truth be told I'm not sure where this TL will end up either
Nivek - Thanks, I wouldn't be so sure that the Second Northern Expedition will be as easy as OTL. For one, someone in the Beiyang government has managed to rally the warlords to his flag. His regime is sort of like the role that the KMT had OTL with him directly controlling a number of provinces but his authority not being able to extend outside his power base with bickering warlords paying lip-service to him. Sun Yat-Sen isn't going to die immediately, he's still got a bit of life left in him and although he isn't in great health, being happy extends his life somewhat. Let's just say that he lives to see (a part) of his dream fulfilled.
Dan Reilly The Great - Perhaps it's the other way around with German-built Battleships crewed by Chinese. China doesn't have the shipbuilding capacity to construct anything beyond light cruisers and even that is doubtful.
OKH_1946 - Thanks, I'll try integrating them, but I find that if I get into prose mode I can't write factual TL's which is a big problem with integration. Maybe I could do two separate updates, one from a narrative and one from a TL perspective. Actually I may do that
Nivek - Thanks, I've got something in mind for Alexander von Falkhenhausen, he succeeds Von Lunderdorff when he finally dies.
Sergio Van Lukenstein - The Spanish Civil War goes on schedule OTL. You may be surprised with who China backs in the war. Major spolier: Soviet-Chinese troops will end up fighting German and Italian troops in the trenches of Ebro...
Wyragen-TXRG4P - Most warlords are either killed on the spot or are given 'People's Tribunal" style trials. In fact this is the fate of most 'enemies of the people' ranging from corrupt landowners to greedy businessmen to unscrupolous gangsters. Thanks for this post. You've reminded me that I haven't actually talked about the major divergence for the warlords yet.
Paul MacQ - Thank you for that, your posts always alert me to more possibilities and technical information - always very useful and informative.
Onkel Willie - Thanks. I was going to do an update tonight, but Wyragen's reply reminded/inspired me to do a post about the opposition that the Second Northern Expedition face. Instead of an update going up today, one will go up either tonight or tommorow morning. Nevertheless, I think it's a small price to pay for a more fleshed-out TL. I hope you agree .
Next Update: A Tale of Three Republics
Sneak preview:
Three Republics
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Jump to: navigation, search
For the video game developed by Parapox Interactive, see Three Republics (video game)
The Three Republics period is a period in the history of China, part of an era of disunity called the Warlord Period following immediately the loss of de facto and de jure power of the Qing Dynasty emperors. In a strict academic sense it refers to the period between the foundation of the Second Republic in 1923 and the proclamation of the Third Republic in 1929 by the Kuomintang in 1929. However, many Chinese historians and laymen extend the starting point of this period back to the social uprising and upheaval following Sun-Yat Sen's Proclamation of the First Republic in 1912.
Nivek - Thanks, I wouldn't be so sure that the Second Northern Expedition will be as easy as OTL. For one, someone in the Beiyang government has managed to rally the warlords to his flag. His regime is sort of like the role that the KMT had OTL with him directly controlling a number of provinces but his authority not being able to extend outside his power base with bickering warlords paying lip-service to him. Sun Yat-Sen isn't going to die immediately, he's still got a bit of life left in him and although he isn't in great health, being happy extends his life somewhat. Let's just say that he lives to see (a part) of his dream fulfilled.
Dan Reilly The Great - Perhaps it's the other way around with German-built Battleships crewed by Chinese. China doesn't have the shipbuilding capacity to construct anything beyond light cruisers and even that is doubtful.
OKH_1946 - Thanks, I'll try integrating them, but I find that if I get into prose mode I can't write factual TL's which is a big problem with integration. Maybe I could do two separate updates, one from a narrative and one from a TL perspective. Actually I may do that
Nivek - Thanks, I've got something in mind for Alexander von Falkhenhausen, he succeeds Von Lunderdorff when he finally dies.
Sergio Van Lukenstein - The Spanish Civil War goes on schedule OTL. You may be surprised with who China backs in the war. Major spolier: Soviet-Chinese troops will end up fighting German and Italian troops in the trenches of Ebro...
Wyragen-TXRG4P - Most warlords are either killed on the spot or are given 'People's Tribunal" style trials. In fact this is the fate of most 'enemies of the people' ranging from corrupt landowners to greedy businessmen to unscrupolous gangsters. Thanks for this post. You've reminded me that I haven't actually talked about the major divergence for the warlords yet.
Paul MacQ - Thank you for that, your posts always alert me to more possibilities and technical information - always very useful and informative.
Onkel Willie - Thanks
. I was going to do an update tonight, but Wyragen's reply reminded/inspired me to do a post about the opposition that the Second Northern Expedition face. Instead of an update going up today, one will go up either tonight or tommorow morning. Nevertheless, I think it's a small price to pay for a more fleshed-out TL. I hope you agree .Next Update: A Tale of Three Republics
Sneak preview:
Three Republics
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Jump to: navigation, search
For the video game developed by Parapox Interactive, see Three Republics (video game)
The Three Republics period is a period in the history of China, part of an era of disunity called the Warlord Period following immediately the loss of de facto and de jure power of the Qing Dynasty emperors. In a strict academic sense it refers to the period between the foundation of the Second Republic in 1923 and the proclamation of the Third Republic in 1929 by the Kuomintang in 1929. However, many Chinese historians and laymen extend the starting point of this period back to the social uprising and upheaval following Sun-Yat Sen's Proclamation of the First Republic in 1912.
FDW - Thanks!, Truth be told I'm not sure where this TL will end up either
Nivek - Thanks, I wouldn't be so sure that the Second Northern Expedition will be as easy as OTL. For one, someone in the Beiyang government has managed to rally the warlords to his flag. His regime is sort of like the role that the KMT had OTL with him directly controlling a number of provinces but his authority not being able to extend outside his power base with bickering warlords paying lip-service to him. Sun Yat-Sen isn't going to die immediately, he's still got a bit of life left in him and although he isn't in great health, being happy extends his life somewhat. Let's just say that he lives to see (a part) of his dream fulfilled.
Dan Reilly The Great - Perhaps it's the other way around with German-built Battleships crewed by Chinese. China doesn't have the shipbuilding capacity to construct anything beyond light cruisers and even that is doubtful.
OKH_1946 - Thanks, I'll try integrating them, but I find that if I get into prose mode I can't write factual TL's which is a big problem with integration. Maybe I could do two separate updates, one from a narrative and one from a TL perspective. Actually I may do that
Nivek - Thanks, I've got something in mind for Alexander von Falkhenhausen, he succeeds Von Lunderdorff when he finally dies.
Sergio Van Lukenstein - The Spanish Civil War goes on schedule OTL. You may be surprised with who China backs in the war. Major spolier: Soviet-Chinese troops will end up fighting German and Italian troops in the trenches of Ebro...
Wyragen-TXRG4P - Most warlords are either killed on the spot or are given 'People's Tribunal" style trials. In fact this is the fate of most 'enemies of the people' ranging from corrupt landowners to greedy businessmen to unscrupolous gangsters. Thanks for this post. You've reminded me that I haven't actually talked about the major divergence for the warlords yet.
Paul MacQ - Thank you for that, your posts always alert me to more possibilities and technical information - always very useful and informative.
Onkel Willie - Thanks
Next Update: A Tale of Three Republics
Sneak preview:
Three Republics
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Jump to: navigation, search
For the video game developed by Parapox Interactive, see Three Republics (video game)
The Three Republics period is a period in the history of China, part of an era of disunity called the Warlord Period following immediately the loss of de facto and de jure power of the Qing Dynasty emperors. In a strict academic sense it refers to the period between the foundation of the Second Republic in 1923 and the proclamation of the Third Republic in 1929 by the Kuomintang in 1929. However, many Chinese historians and laymen extend the starting point of this period back to the social uprising and upheaval following Sun-Yat Sen's Proclamation of the First Republic in 1912.
Well, take your time to make very excellent update(with the board council every post look the better more and more), and very interesting allegory for your TL the early 20th Century(1900-1930) to the three Kingdoms era(an extremly difficult to understand and a very mithological one), in fact a perfect allegory to this TL China(mainly by the POD)
After Reading the Shocking Spoiler to Sergio Van Lukenstein : Wait WHAT???......
MEGA SPOILER COMMENT: That is Possible,what are you scheming about?? in that case that will be see like a Stab In the Back for the Germans(worse than the OTL one), the Soviets(no any Kind of Russia goverment) is/was always a Nominal Enemy to Both Germany and China(the Struggle in Central Europe and the ethernal ambition of Russia of dominate China who was even a Soviet Dessire(Stalin originally think who Mao will be the perfect Puppet), maybe that will be a butterflies thanks that Kuomitang China will be (i think) 'Nominally' a Democracy Thanks to the Sun Influence(and Chiang never was a power hungry, only a person want the best for his country), BUT having a China Cooperate with Germany since Post WWI and later Help the Soviets in the Considerate 'Foundation Event' of the Axis(that lead to the Steel Pact between Hitler and Mussolini) and Hitler is Infamous with his Aptitude agains the traitor, the only think will change of mind Hitler if is the Chinesse are crucial to defeat critically the Soviet Union in Barbarossa(with two massive front, the SU is Dead)
The pausability of that spoiler is the same level than a 'Pausable Sealion', in fact a taboo in a lot of sense
well, and what the Japanesse are doing now??? recover of the Earthquake but.. we will have a Skrimish against the Kwatung Army???
well, keep the TL is improving every day and your learn to make a very good project(even this will tie to the level of Hendryk 'Superpower Empire' one).
Att
Nivek Beldo
P.S. What will be the future of the Soong sisters, Specially because they have a lot of weight in the History of China.
Well, I guess that is a major spoiler, but it actually raises more questions than it answers. I eagerly await to see how that comes to pass and what the result of it is. Thanks!
A Tale of Three Chinas - Tale One: The Broken Beiyang Republic
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)
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)
Last edited:
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
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
Well a new update(I'm become the Official Fan of this TL and always wait for a Answer/Update), and an Interesting one(the background of the China, i think now is even more messier than OTL Beiyang Goverment but that was the China post Qing Dinasty, in fact the Actual Communist China restaurate the former prestige of China, but that is another history)
Now we will have the offensives of the 2nd Northern Expedition???, you said that know the Beiyang in This TL have a little more of 'central' power with the warlord to defend for the attack of the Kuomitang, but the result is clear: what can do a totally Disorganized with several internal faction and Medieval and Obsolette Weapons and Doctrine against a Professional, extremly organized, very well trained and with 'modern'(Post WWI German) Doctrine.... but we have to see the result(i think is will be easy, but no a Steamroller ala Poland but something fight like France)
and Again i'm cheking the Wiki... the Japanesse Attack in the expedition is almost a must(is no butterflied), and know will respond both side against the Kwatung Army(or maybe a semi-exhausted Kuomitang against that)??, because with the semi-sucess was the reason of what the japanesse start to presure China to try to crackdown her(with the puppet of Manchuko they did a good hit), and again the Northern Area is when the most resource are(but that is the Frontier with the soviets too), and after the success of the Norther Expedition, what will be the International Answer?(in fact thar sucess start the Chinesse Lobby in USA and the Interes of the Americans in China)
Again about the Mega Spolier thinking: Checking a old history book, again the joint German-Italian intervention in the SCW against the republican backed by the Allies-Soviets was the event who make the Rome-Berlin Axis(and the Rome-Berlin-Nanjing Axis in TTL) and the Stalin Paranoia and the antagonist with Hitler. If you have any nation cooperate with republicans(and read internationally... both the Allies and Soviets), automatically become a 'Black List' target of the Axis, a least you have a super explanation of how you can have both the Chinesse help the republican and later being a Integral part of the Axis, have to change the backing side in the SCW(or maybe prefer a Allied or Comintern China???)
Sorry for the little 'narrow-minded' but your proposal is almost to the level of a 'Pausable Sealion' and we know that is a Taboo here
Well, like the update if you can keep the rtyhm of update and the sytle is TL have a very good future(but that still is in planing, isn't it?), and congratulate for this TL and their advance, keep there.
Att
Nivek Beldo
P.S. when Hitler Become Fuhrer, he will make an Official State Visit to China, and viceversa???
Thank you very much.
About the mega spolier: It's not as ASB as you think it is. In fact the reason why it comes to be that way will be tied to the politics of the international response to the Second Northern Expedition. And no, it doesn't put a serious dent in Sino-German relations, Chiang and Hitler share a bond far far deeper than the winds of international politics can blow away. This TL will end in a victory with the Axis or a downfall type scenario with "Festung Nanking" and "Festung Berlin" resisting till the bitter end.
Hitler and Chaing make state visits to each other. Chiang is invited to Germany first and he learns some... very useful things there...
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.........
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).
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.
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.
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???
The Empire is Dead. Long Live the Empire? The "Republic" of Manchuria and Mengjiang
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)
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)
Hendryk
Banned
While Yan Xishan was the most competent of the warlords, it's true Zhang Zuolin didn't come far behind, though that was mostly because he knew how to put local talent to good use; and what he lacked in personal competence he made up with in colorfulness. Strange to think that he had started out as a common robber, though a cynic might argue that warlordism is simply robbery on a bigger scale.
Indeed. Although you could argue that Chiang Kai-shek is actually the most competent of the Warlords seeing as he did manage to rule China.
It's interesting that the Warlord Period perhaps was the most socially mobile time of Chinese history. If you had a gun, you could pretty much get to the top with a combination of luck, guile, brains or just by being there at the right time!
That's exactly it. Bear in mind also that this is V1 of a timeline and the final versions should have better map. My mapmaker is busy with exams and all...
OKH_1946
- Kinda. Except it's three republics *badum tish*
Well, this is the Calm before the Storm, now we gonna see how will change this Northern Expedition(the OTL was a one very skrimished but mainly with medieval Equipment, but in this TTL i think a least both faction will have some early WW1 equipment, isn't it?) and the Internacional Impact(again crucial for china future but mainly favorable specially because an United China will atract more International inversion(but mainly more german cooperation, more easy for china thanks to the Background of Chiang in Germany) and most Important.... Domestic Impact(for a year that was the Honeymoon between all faction in china before Mao and their 'frusted opium addict.... i Said Communist' faction start with their mess until the marco polo incident and the Japanesse start their movement in their conquest of 'All the chinas')
What will be the fate of Tibet???(for me the 'Independent Tibet' was always a humbug of the british to have a natural barrier against China) , maybe Chiang will learn for this 'Ideological Ally' Mussolini and sign a Lateran Treaty like with the reing Lama and avoid a Political Claiming in the Future(someone who any rival can widely exploit) or still we'll have the political quaqmire who is Tibet now(and the same question go for Formosa, the Japanesse we'll going to return in exchange to something... like keep any foreing territory keep(like Soviet teritory).
Again is very early to make conclusion but keep like you're making the TL, with a lot of work and study this one will be to the level of clasic like.... Hitler Mediteranian strategy, Superpower Empire and another ones.
Att
Nivek Beldo
P.S. How many Military Celebrities Know Chiang during this Stancy in Germany(besides the Bavarian Royalty and Ludenrdorff and maybe Hidenburg) like the Falkeyhausen, the Red baron?? or some similar??
What will be the fate of Tibet???(for me the 'Independent Tibet' was always a humbug of the british to have a natural barrier against China) , maybe Chiang will learn for this 'Ideological Ally' Mussolini and sign a Lateran Treaty like with the reing Lama and avoid a Political Claiming in the Future(someone who any rival can widely exploit) or still we'll have the political quaqmire who is Tibet now(and the same question go for Formosa, the Japanesse we'll going to return in exchange to something... like keep any foreing territory keep(like Soviet teritory).
Again is very early to make conclusion but keep like you're making the TL, with a lot of work and study this one will be to the level of clasic like.... Hitler Mediteranian strategy, Superpower Empire and another ones.
Att
Nivek Beldo
P.S. How many Military Celebrities Know Chiang during this Stancy in Germany(besides the Bavarian Royalty and Ludenrdorff and maybe Hidenburg) like the Falkeyhausen, the Red baron?? or some similar??
Very enjoyable reading . I do hope that the KMT - Weimar Germany cooperation (and the much closer KMT-NSDAP alliance-to-be) won't tempt you to conjure any chimaeric super weapons . Painstaking attention to realism and detail make this a truly excellent thread so far .
The Northern Expedition - Phase One
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
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