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Preface
In modern Chinese history, Fu Zuoyi and Bai Chongxi were both outstanding generals in the Kuomintang army. Both of them were born in Baoding Military Academy and played an important role in the Jin and Gui departments respectively. Fu Zuoyi was hailed as a national hero for his brilliant achievements on the battlefield and his important role in the peaceful liberation of Beijing, while Bai Chongxi was less preserved due to his lack of military exploits and limited political decision-making. What kind of historical truth and character complexity does this reflect?
Bai Chongxi, together with Huang Shaohong and Li Zongren, successfully expelled the warlord Lu Rongting in 1921, established the power of the Gui New Army, and actively participated in the national revolution. In the Gui faction, he and Li Zongren are called "Li Bai" and jointly dominate the faction.
During the Northern Expedition, Bai Chongxi's military talents were widely recognized, and he was appointed chief of the General Staff by Chiang Kai-shek, contributing indelible merits to the success of the Northern Expedition. A military critic once commented on him: "The troops commanded by Bai Chongxi were not his personal subordinates in his early years, but he was able to strategize and deploy them freely, which is enough to prove his extraordinary military command ability."
For Bai Chongxi's talent, Chiang Kai-shek was both in awe and awe. Bai Chongxi's Gui status made Chiang Kai-shek uneasy, because the Gui family had always been a formidable opponent in the political arena. Compared to Li Zongren, Bai Chongxi's ambition is not so obvious, and he does not aspire to the supreme power as Li does.
Bai Chongxi's decision-making and behavior are often driven by complex historical backgrounds and personal traits. As a military leader in the upper echelons of the Kuomintang, his historical assessment was controversial, especially in relation to his role in the Southern Anhui Incident. In that incident, the troops under the command of Bai Chongxi clashed fiercely with the New Fourth Army, causing serious casualties. This period of history has become an indelible stain on his political career.
During the War of Liberation, despite the opportunity to change his position, Bai Chongxi was never able to make up his mind to revolt. He knew that the renegades in history often ended badly, so he feared for his own safety and future after the uprising. He believed that even if he succeeded in breaking away from the Kuomintang, he would find it difficult to gain the trust and respect of the new regime, let alone the degree to which the soldiers in the army might accept him. These concerns eventually led him to stay true and not join the PLA.
In terms of political strategy, Bai Chongxi is more of a political player who goes with the flow, and his position often changes with the change of power. At first, he fully supported Li Zongren, hoping to use the support of the United States to give Li Zongren an advantage in domestic politics.
However, when Li Zongren's power struggle with Chiang Kai-shek failed, Bai Chongxi turned to support Chiang Kai-shek, hoping to maintain his position and interests in the new political structure. This vacillation not only shows his political irritability, but also tarnishes his credibility with his colleagues.
Chiang Kai-shek's attraction to Bai Chongxi was not only the political positions offered, but also the lure of money. Bai Chongxi's thirst for wealth is well known, which also influenced his political decisions. Knowing full well that in the event of an uprising=there would be financial instability and a dramatic change in lifestyle, which was difficult for him to accept, he chose to maintain the status quo and avoid potential risks and uncertainties when assessing the quality of life and security in the future.
Mao Zedong did speak highly of Bai Chongxi in some respects, mentioning him alongside Fu Zuoyi, Zhang Zhi and others. According to 1949 records, when Soviet envoys visited China to discuss the placement of senior Kuomintang generals, Mao Zedong made it clear that Bai Chongxi's negotiations were still ongoing.
Although Mao Zedong offered the opportunity for a peaceful uprising, Bai Chongxi ultimately chose to travel to Taiwan, a decision that was influenced in part by Mao's particular views of him. Mao Zedong had instructed that although Bai Chongxi could be used, his troops must be disbanded, which meant that Bai Chongxi would lose his military power even if he revolted.
This was not a particularly harsh treatment of Bai Chongxi, but based on the harm he inflicted on the Communists during the Southern Anhui Incident, which made it impossible for the Communists to be completely tolerant of him in order to show respect for the victims. Bai Chongxi knew that his behavior in the Southern Anhui Incident had brought indelible flaws to his image. After weighing the conditions of the Communist Party, he foresaw that his position in the Communist Party would be very awkward, and finally decided to continue to support Chiang Kai-shek to the end, a decision that directly affected his fate.
Li Zongren once advised Bai Chongxi not to go to Taiwan with Chiang Kai-shek, predicting that sooner or later Chiang Kai-shek would have murderous intentions against him. Bai Chongxi ignored this and insisted on his choice. However, he soon felt the suspicion and oppression of Chiang Kai-shek.
After arriving in Taiwan, Bai Chongxi tried to comfort himself at first, believing that Chiang Kai-shek's suspicions were temporary. But soon the situation took a turn for the worse, and Chiang Kai-shek began to openly suppress him within the party, even convicting him in public. At a heated meeting, Bai Chongxi publicly refuted Chiang Kai-shek, which intensified Chiang Kai-shek's hostility towards him. With Li Zongren's return to the mainland, Bai Chongxi lost his strategic value in the eyes of Chiang Kai-shek, and his fate appeared even more precarious.
Fu Zuoyi was an outstanding general known as the "God of the Army" in the national army, and his command skills were particularly outstanding on the battlefield, especially his ability to launch attacks on the enemy by surprise and often catch the opponent by surprise. In terms of strategic decision-making, Fu Zuoyi showed extraordinary foresight and wisdom, especially when he chose to cooperate with the Communist Party at critical moments, and made significant contributions to the protection of Beiping's citizens and cultural heritage.
In 1933, when the Japanese army invaded Shanhaiguan at the foot of the Great Wall, Chiang Kai-shek, chairman of the Nationalist Government, still adhered to the policy of first securing the interior and then the outside. At this time, Fu Zuoyi, as the chairman of Suiyuan Province, resolutely issued the "Letter to the People of Suiyuan Province", announcing the beginning of the Great Wall War of Resistance. In the fierce battle at Xifengkou, our broadsword team successfully killed more than 1,000 Japanese soldiers with a huge sacrifice of more than 400 people, showing the heroic determination of the Chinese army.
In 1936, the Japanese Three-Way Army launched another attack on Suiyuan. Despite the lack of support from the Nationalist Government, Fu Zuoyi still led his troops to fight bravely and won an important victory in the Battle of Honggertu, demonstrating his tactical wisdom and determination to resist firmly.
Fu Zuoyi's outstanding performance in the Battle of Bailingmiao made an important breakthrough in military strategy, he successfully defeated more than 5,000 Japanese troops, and dealt a serious blow to the Mongol forces that attempted to split China, effectively safeguarding the unity and territorial integrity of the country.
In 1937, after the outbreak of the Anti-Japanese War, Fu Zuoyi was appointed commander-in-chief of the 7th Group Army. In the following battles, Fu Zuoyi showed outstanding military talent, especially in the Battle of Xinkou, he commanded Dong Qiwu's headquarters to carry out a night attack on the front command post of the Japanese Fifth Division, which effectively weakened the combat effectiveness of the Japanese army.
In 1939, in the face of the Japanese invasion of Changsha, Fu Zuoyi quickly assembled a large army in North China, with the 35th Army as the main force, and effectively reduced the military pressure in Central China by attracting Japanese troops to the north. In the battle of annihilation in Baotou, Fu Zuoyi's troops not only eliminated two enemy legions, but also destroyed four tanks, showing efficient tactical execution capabilities.
After five days and five nights of fierce fighting, they not only captured nearly 300 senior officials such as the Japanese lieutenant general and Shaozuo, but also annihilated two puppet army divisions and captured a large amount of military equipment. Although this battle may seem ordinary in the entire War of Resistance Against Japan, it marked the first strategic victory of the Kuomintang theater to regain the occupied area, and it has important symbolic significance.
When comparing the strength of the two famous armies in history, the Seventh Army and the 35th Army, we can analyze them from multiple dimensions, the most significant of which is their record and equipment status. First, let's look at the results. The Seventh Army of Steel made outstanding military achievements during the Northern Expedition, especially in the Battle of Longtan. When the Beiyang warlord Sun Chuanfang tried to attack Nanjing, he was confronted by the Seventh Army of Steel under the command of Bai Chongxi.
In this battle, the Seventh Army demonstrated excellent combat effectiveness and defeated the Beiyang Army, which attempted to restore. On the other hand, Fu Zuoyi's 35th Army also performed well in the Battle of Wuyuan during the Anti-Japanese War, successfully resisting the Japanese army and demoralizing the enemy.
In terms of equipment, the state of the two armies differed. Due to the historical Jiang-Gui War, the equipment of the Seventh Army of Steel was relatively backward, and most of them still relied on locally produced weapons. During the War of Liberation, the 35th Army received relatively good equipment support, including American-style weapons and a large number of artillery and submachine guns.
From the point of view of comprehensive strength, the 35th Army performed even better during the War of Liberation, especially in the battles of Datong and Zhangjiakou, showing strong combat effectiveness and successfully defeating our North China Field Army. In contrast, although the Seventh Army of Steel won a small victory in the Battle of Qingshuping, the battle lasted for a day and a night when one army besieged one division of our four fields and failed to completely defeat the other side, reflecting the relative decline in its strength.
In terms of performance in a specific environment, the Seventh Army has its unique advantages in mountain combat capabilities, but its ability to fight in the plains is not as good as that of the 35th Army. Therefore, from the point of view of tactical application and terrain adaptability, the 35th Army showed a more comprehensive combat effectiveness.
In evaluating famous generals in history, in addition to their military capabilities, what is more important is their character and grasp of the overall situation. Through the comparison of Fu Zuoyi and Bai Chongxi, we can not only witness their military talents, but also gain insight into their choices at major historical moments.
Fu Zuoyi's historical status, especially in terms of vision, far surpasses Bai Chongxi. Unlike the usual warlord limitations, Fu Zuoyi withdrew from Yan Xishan's influence, showing his sensitivity to the situation and foresight of the future. In 1949, in the face of great changes in the country, Fu Zuoyi chose a peaceful uprising, which not only avoided the senseless war in Beijing, but also protected the lives and cultural heritage of countless civilians, showing that he transcended personal interests and stood on the height of national peace.
In contrast, although Bai Chongxi was also faced with a choice in 1949, his decision to insist on military resistance to the end reflected the narrowness of his vision. In this regard, Bai Chongxi's decision-making reflects his personal ambition and strategic short-sightedness, which contrasts sharply with Fu Zuoyi's open-mindedness and vision. Bai Chongxi's decision ultimately led to a diminished position in history.
Fu Zuoyi's ability to recognize people also shows his leadership talent. He was able to tap into and trust many powerful generals such as Chen Changjie and Dong Qiwu, all of whom later became important figures in China's military and politics. This precise grasp of talent has not only strengthened his leadership team, but also deepened his influence as a leader.
Bai Chongxi's observation and utilization of talents are more limited. Although he relied on Li Zongren and others, he failed to make correct strategic adjustments at critical moments, which limited his historical achievements to a large extent. Bai Chongxi's life and final ending also reflect his personal tragedy and lack of ability to transform at critical moments.
Fu Zuoyi's actions not only made remarkable achievements in military affairs, but also showed extraordinary courage and wisdom in making decisions that conformed to the trend of history. Although Bai Chongxi had an opportunity, he failed to grasp it, and his decision-making was often limited by short-sightedness and personal interests, which caused a significant difference in the historical evaluation of the two. Through such comparisons, we can evaluate the historical status and personal qualities of the two generals more comprehensively.