Marshal Zhang Xueliang is a controversial historical figure in modern China, with some praising him as a “patriotic hero” and others calling him a “national sinner”. So, what kind of person is Zhang Xueliang? What major events did he do in his life that changed the course of history?
One of Zhang Xueliang’s Three Great Achievements: Changing the Banner in Northeast China and Promoting Unification
In 1928, after the tragic death of Grand Marshal Zhang Zuolin in the Huanggutun Incident, Major Marshal Zhang Xueliang ascended to the throne of the New Northeast King, commanding 300000 elite soldiers of the Fengtian army and occupying the vast land of Northeast China. At that time, the Northern Expedition army was unstoppable, and the interior of the Pass was basically unified. The Northeast lived alone outside the Pass, making it easy to defend but difficult to attack.
The Japanese Kwantung Army and the Nanjing Nationalist Government both threw olive branches at Zhang Xueliang, and the fate of Northeast China lay in the memory of the Rear Marshal. The conditions offered by Japan are extremely favorable – to support Zhang Xueliang as the emperor of Northeast China (a true emperor, not metaphorically). But Zhang Xueliang sternly rejected Japan’s attempts to win over and decided to cooperate with the Nationalist government.
On December 29, 1928, Zhang Xueliang sent a telegram to the whole country, announcing that he would obey the national government and replace the Five-Colored Flag with the Blue Sky and White Sun Flag, known as the Northeast Flag Change. Zhang Xueliang’s move ensured that the three northeastern provinces remained within the Chinese version of the map, promoting formal national unity.
Zhang Xueliang’s Three Great Achievements: Central Plains War, Dispatching Troops for Mediation
In 1930, Chiang Kai shek engaged in a massive new warlord melee with Yan Xishan, Feng Yuxiang, Li Zongren, and others in Guannei, known as the Central Plains War in history. After several months of melee, the strength of all parties was equal, and the war reached an impasse, while Zhang Xueliang was stationed in the northeast, watching the tiger fight from the mountain.
On September 18, 1930, Zhang Xueliang issued a clever telegram, declaring his support for the central government, calling for peace, and sending troops to mediate in North China. At this point, the Central Plains War was quelled, reducing the casualties of the Chinese people during the civil war.
One of Zhang Xueliang’s Three Great Achievements: Xi’an Incident and Military Advice Against Japan
In 1936, in the face of the expanding ambitions of Japanese aggressors, Zhang Xueliang, who was burdened with national hatred, actively advocated for resistance against Japan. However, Chiang Kai shek’s established national policy was “to pacify the interior before going abroad.” Therefore, on December 12th, Zhang Xueliang and Yang Hucheng launched the famous Xi’an Incident, admonishing Chiang Kai shek and demanding an end to the civil war and united resistance against Japan. In the end, the Xi’an Incident was peacefully resolved, military advice was successful, and the cooperative anti Japanese war began. But Zhang Xueliang paid the painful price of being imprisoned for 54 years.
The Xi’an Incident is Zhang Xueliang’s most important historical contribution, and it is mainly because of this that our party’s senior leaders regard him as a national hero.
Zhang Xueliang’s three major faults: being impulsive and capable of killing by mistake
The two most outstanding young army officers under Zhang Zuolin were Guo Songling and Yang Yuting. But Guo Songling was executed by Zhang Zuolin due to his uprising and rebellion, leaving only one capable general named “Little Zhuge”, Yang Yuting. But shortly after Zhang Zuolin’s death (January 10, 1929), Zhang Xueliang, due to Yang Yuting’s excessive arrogance and domineering behavior, unexpectedly acted on impulse and designed to kill him. The death of Yang Yuting was a huge loss to Northeast China and China, because if Yang Yuting were present, the Japanese aggressors would never have easily captured Northeast China. In his later years, Zhang Xueliang also admitted that he regretted killing Yang Yuting, which was a major mistake he made.
Zhang Xueliang’s three major mistakes: the September 18th Incident, not resisting and losing Northeast China
Not resisting the loss of Northeast China is undoubtedly the most criticized aspect of Zhang Xueliang. On the night of September 18, 1931, Japan launched the shocking September 18 Incident both domestically and internationally, initiating shameless acts of aggression against China. However, as the commander in chief of Northeast China, Zhang Xueliang mistakenly issued a non resistance order, causing the entire territory of Northeast China to fall in a short period of time, and China was thus plunged into the 14 years of resistance.
Zhang Xueliang’s Three Major Overfalls: the Fall of Rehe and the Passive War of Resistance
In February 1933, the Japanese army launched an attack on Rehe. As the commander of the north, Zhang Xueliang was trapped in a drug addiction and unintentional war. He only went to the front line once in the entire defense battle, and had an unshirkable responsibility for the fall of Rehe.
There is a Chinese saying that ‘merits and demerits are left to be judged by future generations’. As a historical figure, one should accept the judgment of future generations. As future generations, we should also objectively and dialectically evaluate historical figures and events. So, what do you think of Zhang Xueliang’s merits and demerits?