As we all know, Outer Mongolia was once a part of our country, and in 1911, due to the inability of the Qing Dynasty to return to heaven, Outer Mongolia took the opportunity to break away. For more than 30 years, the relations between the two sides were inseparable, and finally under the coercion and inducement of the Soviet Union, the old Chiang Kai-shek officially recognized the status of Outer Mongolia in 1945.
The reason for the exodus of Outer Mongolia was that China's national strength at that time was too weak, and coupled with the war, it was too time to take care of it. In fact, in 1919, Outer Mongolia was briefly retaken, which can be regarded as the last return to the light, and it was Xu Shuzheng who created this feat.
Photo: Xu Shuzheng
Xu Shuzheng (徐树铮), a native of present-day Xiao County, Anhui, was an important general of the Anhui warlords during the Beiyang period. Xu Shuzheng has been influenced by his family since childhood, smart and clever, and it is said that he was able to write poetry at the age of 7 and was known as a "little prodigy". Xu Shuzheng was 13 years old in the examination, and at the age of 17, he made up for his life with the first place in the first class of the annual examination, which can be described as a teenager.
However, the defeat in the Sino-Japanese War made Xu Shuzheng suddenly realize that he could not save China by relying on the pen, so he ignored the opposition of his family and abandoned Wen Andwu. In 1901, Xu Shuzheng ran to Shandong to join Yuan Shikai, and by chance, he became acquainted with Yuan Shikai's subordinate Duan Qirui, and the two of them talked happily at first sight. Duan Qirui took Xu Shuzheng under his command, and for the next 20 years, Xu Shuzheng became the most important military general around Duan Qirui.
Xu Shuzheng is not a nerd, he can write and fight, during the Beiyang period, the success or failure of the Anhui warlords is closely related to Xu Shuzheng. As we all know, Duan Qirui has the reputation of "three republics", but in fact, the person behind the advice is Xu Shuzheng. In the melee between the Anhui warlords and various warlords, the helmsman behind them is also Xu Shuzheng.
Xu Shuzheng had many points in his life that were controversial, such as his advocacy of the Anhui warlords to unify the country by force, and finally became the target of public criticism. But he also has many well-known contributions to history, such as the Northwest Chip. During the Beiyang period, warlords were fighting each other, and most of the eyes of the people focused on the interior, and Xu Shuzheng was one of the first generals to put forward the strategic proposition of protecting Outer Mongolia.
Photo: Xu Shuzheng (middle)
In 1918, Xu Shuzheng recruited new soldiers in Anhui and Henan, formed 3 divisions and 4 brigades of border defense troops, he personally led the 3rd Brigade of the Border Defense Army into Outer Mongolia (including Tangnu and other places), after the large army was stationed, Outer Mongolia (including Tangnu and other places) nearly 2 million square kilometers of land returned to China. Xu Shuzheng was by no means a short-sighted general, and after he regained Outer Mongolia, he immediately strengthened the promotion of Chinese education, promoted vegetable cultivation in the interior, established various industries such as banks, and vowed to integrate Outer Mongolia into the civilization system of the Central Plains.
Pictured: Xu Shuzheng (center) with the princes and ministers of Outer Mongolia
However, this policy did not last long. In 1920, Xu Shuzheng was dismissed from his post as a border envoy in the northwest, and after the outbreak of the Zhiwan War in 1921, the Anhui warlords were defeated and Xu Shuzheng was forced to step down. Soon, The Soviets invaded Outer Mongolia, and some people in Outer Mongolia who did not want to leave asked the Beiyang government for help. However, at this time, the direct warlords and the warlords of the Feng clan had no interest in Foreign Mongolia at all, and outer Mongolia and the local garrison were isolated and helpless, and were once again controlled by Soviet Russia.
This was the last time that the Central Plains "returned to the light" of Outer Mongolia, and Outer Mongolia was separated from the extended family until 1945, when old Jiang officially recognized its status, and Outer Mongolia could not come back.
After Xu Shuzheng lost his military power, although he tried to climb the mountain several times, he was unable to return to heaven, and later sent an envoy to western countries in the name of investigation. At 2:00 a.m. on December 30, 1925, Xu Shuzheng left Beijing for Tianjin by train, and when the train passed through Langfang, he was intercepted by soldiers sent by Feng Yuxiang, and Xu Shuzheng, who was sleeping in pajamas in the middle of the night, was tied up and shot.
Photo: Xu Shuzheng's tomb
When Duan Qirui heard that Xu Shuzheng had been killed, he cried bitterly and shouted, "Cut off my humerus!" With the death of Xu Shuzheng and the resignation of Duan Qirui, the Anhui warlords officially withdrew from the stage of history.