Zhang Xueliang’s execution of Yang Yuting was mainly due to Yang Yucai’s arrogance, lack of scruples, and underestimation of Zhang Xueliang’s murderous intentions.
After the “Huanggutun” incident in 1928, Zhang Zuolin was bombed to death. At the age of only 27, Zhang Xueliang became the highest military and political officer in Northeast China. However, he faced many of his father’s subordinates at that time. At that time, the Northeast Army system claimed to have three major factions, namely the Old Faction, Non commissioned Officer Faction, and Student Faction, with Yang Yuting being a prominent figure of the Non commissioned Officer Faction studying in Japan.
Yang Yuting, a graduate of the Eighth Infantry Department of the Japanese Army Non commissioned Officer School, has served as the Chief of Staff of the Fengtian Army, the Training Director of the Northeast Army, the General Office of the Three Provinces Arsenal, the Commander of the Fengtian Army’s Third and Fourth Corps, the Jiangsu Military Affairs Supervision Office, the Chief of Staff of the Anguo Army, a member of the Northeast Political Affairs Committee, and a member of the National Government. He is quite strategic. In Northeast China, it is known as a “brain trust” and “Little Zhuge”.
Yang Yuting assisted Zhang Zuolin in establishing the Northeast Navy, making the army a self-contained system and enhancing its strength. Establishing a land tax system, excavating a large amount of uncultivated wasteland from warlords and landlords for farmers to cultivate, develop production, and enhance the economic strength of Northeast China. Build a war readiness road, and at that time, the rights of the South Manchurian Railway in Northeast China belonged to Japan. Build a war readiness road, and transportation was not subject to Japan’s coercion. Once a war broke out, the road could be used to communicate with the Japanese army. Supervised the Fengtian (Shenyang) Arsenal, equipped the army with self-made weapons and ammunition, and enhanced its defense capabilities. Deeply trusted by Zhang Zuolin.
With the assistance of Yang Yuting, the military, political, and economic strength of Northeast China under Zhang Zuolin’s rule greatly increased. Especially when the Japanese asked Zhang Zuolin to implement “mixed living” in Northeast China, Yang Yuting believed that this was a replica of Article 16 of Yuan Shikai’s traitorous policy and strongly opposed it. As a result, the Japanese also believed that Yang was a major obstacle to their occupation of Northeast China, leading to the idea of “the sages of neighboring countries, the enemies of enemy countries” to eliminate the danger.
Although Yang Yuting is a smart person, he lacks political wisdom, and he also underestimated Zhang Xueliang’s temper.
After the death of King Zhang Zuolin of Northeast China, Yang regarded himself as a veteran of Northeast China and often disciplined young Zhang Xueliang as an elder. It was on major issues in Northeast China that Yang Chang dominated the political situation as a veteran, causing embarrassment to Zhang Xueliang.
Yang opposed Zhang Xueliang’s attempt to change the Northeast flag and refused to take a collective photo at the Northeast flag changing ceremony. Zhang Xueliang proposed to appoint him as a member of the Northeast Security Committee, but Yang Jian refused to resign and colluded with the Governor of Heilongjiang Province, Chang Yinhuai. For Zhang Xueliang, he pretended to be a protector and often boasted about the story of Zhou Gongfu becoming king. In persuading Zhang Xueliang to quit drugs and criticizing him for not paying attention to political affairs, he did not show any mercy to Zhang Xueliang. He even often referred to Zhang Xueliang as an Ah Dou after his predecessors, and later gradually began to control Zhang Xueliang.
The Japanese also took the opportunity to break up the relationship between Zhang and Yang, and gave Zhang Xueliang a copy of “Japanese Biography”, comparing Zhang Xueliang to Hideyoshi Toyotomi and Yang to Tokugawa who was about to usurp the throne.
For Zhang Xueliang, the second generation of officials who held great power at a young age, even if he held the military and political power in Northeast China, it was difficult for Yang Yuting, who was only over ten years old, to always consider himself as an elder. During the so-called period of “doubt over the country”, if he did not “establish his authority”, it would be difficult to lead Zhang Zuolin’s group of old brothers.
Therefore, Yang Yuting disregarded history and sought the path of death, underestimating Zhang Xueliang’s murderous intentions.
On the evening of January 10, 1929, Yang and Chang forced Zhang Xueliang to establish the Northeast Railway Supervision Office, requiring him to sign the note appointing Chang Yinhuai as the supervisor. This move became the last straw to overwhelm the camel, prompting Zhang Xueliang to make a painful determination to solve the Yang Yuting problem.
It is said that Zhang divined three times with a silver dollar before killing Yang, all of which showed that Yang was bound to die. Zhang Sui ordered the guards to execute Yang and Chang in the “Tiger Hall”. Yang Yuting died at the age of 44.
It is rumored that Yang Yuting also believes in ghosts and gods. Prior to the Tiger Hall incident, he even practiced the shaman language: “Chaotic and disorderly, fly away.” The sorcerer believed that the shaman language was ominous and asked him to be more careful.
He didn’t expect the playboy “Xiao Liuzi” in his eyes to have the determination to kill him, and he died unexpectedly within a few days after the fuchi ceremony. Indeed, it was “fried (disorderly) without (Wu Junsheng) Zhang Zuolin, Yang Yuting (Yang Yuting) Chang (Chang Yinhuai) and gone”.