How was China's military organized during the period of the "Beiyang government"? This is not an old yellow calendar that can be explained in a simple sentence. From 1912 to 1924, that is, from the first year of the Republic of China to the thirteenth year of the Republic of China, in just a dozen years, the establishment of the mainland army underwent tremendous changes, from "divisions" to "mixed brigades" and then to the setting of "armies". Who are the people and events that are driving these changes?
In 1912, the Qing Dynasty fell and the Republic was established, and this year is known as the first year of the Republic of China. In this year, the old six towns of the Qing Dynasty were reorganized into a new army establishment unit - "division". And the Beiyang government, as the ruler of this period, began a series of military reforms.
The first to appear was the "First Division". The original first town of the Qing Dynasty, in the first year of the Republic of China, was reorganized into the first division, the division commander He Zonglian, this gentleman also served as the deputy capital of Chahar Province. In the third year of the Republic of China, Cai Chengxun was promoted from the commander of the first brigade to the division commander, which can be described as a high power. But what really made the first division make a big move was in the 11th year of the Republic of China, when Cai Chengxun had already jumped ship to become the overseer of Jiangxi and stationed in Jiangxi with the first division. Later, this unit also participated in the battle against the Northern Expeditionary Army along with Sun Chuanfang's five-province coalition army, and was unfortunately defeated in the end.
Let's take a look at the "Second Division", the story of this unit is also quite tortuous. Their initial division commander was Wang Zhanyuan, who led the troops to show their strength in this part of Hubei from the first year of the Republic of China. Especially in the fifth year of the Republic of China, Wang Jinjing became the division commander, this brother not only held military power, but also served as the commander of Wuyue in Hubei, and the power was monopolistic. Later, after twists and turns, this army was also led by Sun Chuanfang and finally belonged to the Northern Expeditionary Army.
And when it comes to the "Third Division", this is a legendary unit. Division commander Cao Kun, a famous man in history, led the troops to the south and north, from the upper reaches of the Yangtze River to Yueyang, Hunan, and then to Baoding, Zhili, which can be described as a hero. Cao Kun also had a famous subordinate, Wu Peifu, who later also became a division commander, and his military talents and political skills were very legendary.
The story of the Fourth Division is also extraordinary, their division commander Chen Guangyuan was removed from his post due to the Guangshui Mutiny, and was later replaced by Yang Shande. Yang Shande, a historical figure, was once sent to lead the troops into Shanghai, and also served as the military envoy of Songhu. This unit later joined Sun Chuanfang's Five Provinces Coalition Army and participated in the drastic historical changes.
The changes of each division are a legend, and each adjustment of the establishment profoundly reflects the political situation of that era and the change of power of the warlords. It is not only a contest of force, but also a contest of wisdom and strategy. And in this series of military reforms, we can see that the impact of the personal ability and political sensitivity of military leaders on the military is enormous.
In the process of changing from a division to a mixed brigade and then to an army, not only is the name and organizational structure changing, but more importantly, the command system and combat effectiveness are changing. For example, the establishment of "mixed brigades" is actually to enhance the mobility and flexibility of the troops to cope with a more complex and changeable battlefield environment. The establishment of the "army" marks a higher-level command structure and a larger military unit, which reflects the Beiyang government's increased need to control the domestic situation.
However, this series of changes has also brought about instability within the military. The power struggle between the divisions, and even within the divisions, greatly affected the cohesion and combat effectiveness of the troops. Sometimes, warlords compete for more power and resources, leading to civil wars that plunge countries into deeper chaos.
What does this history teach us today? Is it just a dusty past for us to reminisce? Or will it teach us some profound lessons about power, responsibility, and the future of the nation?
。 Every warlord who shines briefly on the stage of history is eventually drowned by the long river of history. But their choices, their actions, have influenced the course of history in different ways. From their stories, we can see that the strength of a country is not only based on the toughness of the army, but also on the need for a stable political environment and reasonable policy support.
Each change was not arbitrary, but deeply rooted in the political, economic, and social context of the era. These changes, whether motivated by strategic necessity or by individual warlords' power plays, have profoundly shaped the trajectory of China's history. What we can do today is to draw wisdom from these lessons of history, so as to enlighten us to avoid repeating the mistakes of the past and to safeguard the long-term peace and stability of our country.