The contradiction between Zhang Xueliang and Yang Yuting has already begun to appear in the case of Guo Songling. Yang Yuting's achievements, Zhang Zuolin was able to become the most powerful warlord in the country at that time, this has a lot to do with Yang Yuting's maneuvering and buying seven brigades of equipment for him from the Japanese. After Zhang Zuolin's death, Yang Yuting was quite dissatisfied with Zhang Xueliang's succession, and clashed with Zhang Xueliang many times, and was finally secretly executed by Zhang Xueliang. Zhang Xueliang frankly said in his later years that I was never superstitious before killing Yang Yuting, and I had to believe after killing him. Why is that? This article will explore this issue from the following aspects.
Yang Yuting's exploits
Yang Yuting (1886 – January 10, 1929), also known as Lingge, or Lingge, Lingge, or Linge, was a native of Faku County, Fengtian Province (present-day Faku County, Liaoning Province). A student in the Qing Dynasty, he graduated from the eighth artillery section of the Japanese Army Non-commissioned Officer School. After returning to China, he served as a sentry officer (platoon leader) in the 23rd town of Changchun, and gradually rose to prominence.
Yang Yuting gained the trust of Zhang Zuolin, the leader of the Fengjian army, and successively served as the chief of staff of the Fengjun army (commander-in-chief Zhang Zuolin and deputy commander Xu Shuzheng), the director of training of the Northeast Army, the general office of the arsenal of the three eastern provinces, the commander of the third and fourth corps of the Fengjun army, and the military affairs supervisor of Jiangsu. He played an important role in the development and expansion of the Fengji department.
Purchase of weapons and equipment for the Fengji
In 1916, after Yuan Shikai's death, the Beiyang government split into two major factions: direct and Anhui. Zhang Zuolin led the Fengjian to compete with the Zhiwan faction for the sphere of influence in the northeast. In order to enhance his military strength, Zhang Zuolin needed a lot of weapons and equipment. However, at that time, the production capacity of domestic arsenals was limited, and foreign arms dealers did not trust Fengjie and were reluctant to provide loans or credit.
At this time, Yang Yuting gave full play to his contacts studying in Japan, and through close contact and negotiation with the Japanese War Department, Japanese weapons dealers and the Japanese Embassy in China, he purchased a large amount of weapons and equipment from Japan for Feng. According to the "Oral History of Zhang Xueliang":
In early 1917, thanks to Yang Yuting's efforts, he received a batch of weapons and equipment from the Japanese War Department and sold them to his father for ten silver dollars per rifle. This batch of weapons and equipment is enough to equip one division. His father was very happy, praised Yang Yuting very much, and appointed him as the chief of staff. ”
At the beginning of 1918, under Yang Yuting's arrangement, his father purchased a batch of weapons and equipment from the Japanese War Department and sold them to his father at a price of fifteen silver dollars per rifle. This batch of weapons and equipment is enough to equip two divisions. His father was even happier, trusted Yang Yuting more, and appointed him the training director of the Northeast Army. ”
At the beginning of 1919, under the coordination of Yang Yuting, his father purchased a batch of weapons and equipment from the Japanese War Department and sold them to his father for twenty silver dollars per rifle. This batch of weapons and equipment is enough to equip three divisions. His father was very satisfied, took Yang Yuting even more seriously, and appointed him as the general office of the arsenal of the three eastern provinces. ”
At the beginning of 1920, under the impetus of Yang Yuting, his father purchased a batch of weapons and equipment from the Japanese War Department and sold them to his father for twenty-five silver dollars per rifle. This batch of weapons and equipment is enough to equip an army. His father was extremely pleased, and relied more heavily on Yang Yuting, and appointed him the commander of the Third Army of the Fengjun Army. ”
In short, within four years, Yang Yuting purchased seven brigades of weapons and equipment from Japan for Feng, making Fengji one of the most powerful warlords in the country at that time. Zhang Zuolin trusted and used Yang Yuting very much, and regarded him as his wisdom and right-hand man.
He participated in war and politics for Feng
In addition to purchasing weapons and equipment for Feng, Yang Yuting also actively participated in Feng's activities in war and politics. He played an important role in major historical events such as the Zhiwan War, the Zhifeng War, and the National Revolution.
Straight Anhui War
On July 14, 1920, the Zhiwan War broke out. The direct warlord Wu Peifu led the direct army and the Anhui warlord Duan Qirui led the Anhui army to fight fiercely in Henan, Shandong, Hebei and other places. Zhang Zuolin led the Feng's department to watch the situation in the northeast and prepare to send troops to support one side.
At that time, there were two different opinions within the department. One is to advocate supporting the Anhui lineage, and the representative figure is Yang Yuting. He believes that the Anhui family is the legitimate representative of the Beiyang government, and has a good relationship with the Feng, and if he supports the Anhui lineage, he can maintain the unity and legitimacy of the Beiyang government, and can also curb the ambitions and forces of the direct lineage. The other is advocating support for the direct lineage, and the representative figure is Xu Shuzheng. He believed that the direct lineage was a powerful faction of the Beiyang government, and shared the same enemies with the Fengjian - the National Revolutionary Army and Japanese imperialism, and if they supported the direct lineage, they could increase their own strength and influence, and they could also resist the threat of the National Revolutionary Army and Japanese imperialism.
Guo Songling: The mutiny and tragedy of the fierce generals
Guo Songling, also known as Maochen, was born in Shenyang, Liaoning Province, and was a descendant of Guo Ziyi, the king of Fenyang, a famous general of the Tang Dynasty. He was a military general of the Fengjian system during the late Qing and early Min dynasties, and served as an instructor and became close friends with Zhang Xueliang, who was called the "first disciple". He was also a member of the Sun Yat-sen League and fought in the War to Protect France. Later, at the instigation of Feng Yuxiang, he rebelled and tried to defeat Zhang Zuolin, but failed and was captured and shot by Zhang Zuolin. His life is full of legends and tragedies, and he is a figure that cannot be ignored in China's modern history.
Dissatisfied with Zhang Zuolin
In September 1924, when the Second Zhifeng War broke out, Guo Songling was appointed deputy commander of the Third Army and commander of the 6th Mixed Brigade. Guo Songling contributed to the victory of the Fengjie family. Zhang Xueliang and Guo Songling were appointed commanders and deputy commanders of the Jingyu Garrison Headquarters, respectively. However, Yang Yuting, chief of staff of the Zhenwei Army General Headquarters at the time, regarded Guo Songling as his biggest political enemy and tried to squeeze him out, and the antagonism between the two deepened. Moreover, Guo Songling was dissatisfied with Zhang Zuolin's policy of continuing the war.
Mrs. Guo, Han Shuxiu, is a graduate of Yenching University, and is a classmate with Feng Yuxiang's wife Li Dequan, with a very good relationship and a close past. At this time, Feng Yuxiang was already linked to the "Third International", and the Soviet ambassador to China Gallahan in the north and Borodin in the south were secretly returning back. The Soviets supported the Fung "Nationalist Army" and sent Comintern advisers to operate in the Feng Army. All these are new and exciting for Guo. He believed that if he became one with Feng Liancheng again after the fall and received support from the Soviet Union, North China would be decided. Therefore, during the Second Zhifeng War, Guo had long contacted Feng in an attempt to overthrow Zhang Zuolin.
In October 1925, Guo visited Japan to inspect the military. During this time, he learned that Zhang Zuolin, who continued his military expansion, was backed by Japan, and Zhang Zuolin also facilitated the interests of Japan's expansion. For this reason, Guo increasingly felt distrust and disgust for Zhang Zuolin and Japan. In mid-November, Guo returned from a Japanese observation and made a secret covenant with Feng on a seven-point offensive and defensive alliance. Guo was commissioned by Zhang Xueliang to organize the Third Front (consisting of 3 corps) in Tianjin. Guo was appointed commander of the 10th Army.
In November, when Feng's army clashed with the nationalist army led by Feng Yuxiang, Zhang Zuolin ordered Guo Feng's crusade against the nationalist army, but Guo refused. Lin Changmin, brother of Lin Juemin, one of the 72 martyrs of Huanghuagang and one of the formulators of the "Provisional Law of the Republic of China", was the secretary general at the time, and knew of Zhang Zuolin and Yang Yuting's crusade attempt. In 1924, Lin Changmin published an open letter entitled "A Message to the Japanese" criticizing Japan's China policy. Guo attempted to strip Zhang Zuolin of his right to rule and install his "first disciple" Zhang Xueliang. However, Zhang Xueliang agreed with Guo Songling's idea of ending the civil war, but opposed the mutiny.