What is history: it is the echo of the past to the future, the reflection of the future on the past. - Hugo
Friends who know history know that the Northern Expeditionary Army under chiang kai-shek commanded had a total of 8 corps, namely, he Yingqin as the commander of the First Army, Zhu Peide as the commander of the Third Army, Li Jishen as the commander of the Fourth Army, Li Fulin as the commander of the Fifth Army, and Li Zongren as the commander of the Seventh Army.
The remaining Second Army, the Sixth Army, the Eighth Army, and the commanders of these three corps were all generals from the Xiang Army. So, let's take a look at it together today, who are these three?
The Second Army was headed by the Xiang calligrapher Tan Yanmin, who was a celebrity in Hunan, his father was a high official at the end of the Qing Dynasty, who had served as the Governor of Fujian and Zhejiang, the Governor of Liangguang, etc., and also led the army to suppress the uprising of Mr. Zhongshan, was a loyal fan of the Qing court, and was also an opposition to the movement against the law. However, his son Tan Yanmin supported Mr. Zhongshan's revolutionary cause, paid for it, and joined the Chinese Kuomintang himself.
Moreover, Mr. Zhongshan also used Tan Yanmin very much, making him the secretary of the Grand Marshal's Office, the minister of the interior and other positions, it is said that at that time, Mr. Zhongshan intended to match him with Song Meiling, but Tan Yanmin was unwilling, saying that he loved his wife very much and would not find a second woman in this life, so he cheapened Chiang Kai-shek. Whether this rumor is true or not, with Tan Yanmin's status and identity at that time, he could also support him by marrying a few more wives, but he did not, and only loved his wife (Fang Rongqing) all his life.
In July 1926, Chiang Kai-shek appointed the commander-in-chief of the Northern Expedition and led the National Revolutionary Army to swear to serve in the Northern Expedition, at that time, the Xiang Army led by Tan Yanmin was incorporated into the Second Army of the Northern Expeditionary Army, and he served as its commander.
Cheng Qian, the elder of the National Army
The Sixth Army was headed by Cheng Qian, the elder of the Nationalist Army, and friends who understand history should know that Cheng Qian's status and seniority in the Nationalist Army are not worse than Chiang Kai-shek's, and even surpass old Chiang Kai-shek. He was a talent in the late Qing Dynasty, a member of the League, and a graduate of the Japanese Army Non-Commissioned Officer School. Moreover, Mr. Nakayama was also very heavy and made him the chief of the army in the presidential office.
Moreover, when preparing to build the Whampoa Military Academy, Mr. Zhongshan originally let Cheng Qian serve as the principal, not Chiang Kai-shek, but Chiang Kai-shek, who only wanted to be the principal, did not do it, and ran to Shanghai to find connections, and finally, let him serve as the principal of the Whampoa Military Academy as he wished. Although he was only the commander of the Sixth Army during the Northern Expedition, his position in the Nationalist Army was always at the top.
Tang Shengzhi
The Eighth Army was held by Tang Shengzhi, a big man of the Xiang Army, who was a real great warlord of the Xiang Army, and before the Northern Expedition, Tang Shengzhi was a warlord in Hunan, with people, guns, and status. However, he would judge the hour and size up the situation, and seeing that the revolutionary army in the south was huge and was a potential stock, he sent a telegram to the whole country to express his willingness to submit to Mr. Zhongshan's National Revolutionary Army. In this way, the Xiang Army he led was incorporated into the Eighth Army of the Northern Expeditionary Army, and Tang Shengzhi served as its commander. Moreover, the Eighth Army was the one with the most meritorious service in the Northern Expedition of the above three corps, and it was also the one with the strongest combat effectiveness.