National Revolutionary Army

Given the title Defense Commander of Canton, which essentially made him head of the army, now called the National Revolutionary Army, he also served on the new National Military Council, headed by Wang Ching-wei.

The Last Empress Hannah Pakula 2009

In July the National Revolutionary Army began marching north from Guangzhou, invading one province after another, capturing cities and recruiting soldiers from the defeated or defecting troops of provincial warlords.

PEARL BUCK IN CHINA Hilary Spurling 2010

In July the National Revolutionary Army began marching north from Guangzhou, invading one province after another, capturing cities and recruiting soldiers from the defeated or defecting troops of provincial warlords.

PEARL BUCK IN CHINA Hilary Spurling 2010

But these were minor problems when compared with the need for reducing the size of the National Revolutionary Army, which currently numbered more than 2 million men and cost the nation around $300 million* a year.

The Last Empress Hannah Pakula 2009

Four days after his resignation, the North-China Herald reported that the morale of the National Revolutionary Army had collapsed, and local papers were reporting that the Nanking government was “at a standstill.”

The Last Empress Hannah Pakula 2009

As the leader of the eminently successful National Revolutionary Army and longtime associate of Dr. Sun, Chiang expected and received support from the Great Powers and their Shanghai bankers, as well as anti-Communists and less radical revolutionaries.

The Last Empress Hannah Pakula 2009

During their negotiations, Chiang had offered Chang the title of deputy commander in chief of the National Revolutionary Army, which the Young Marshal accepted, raising the Nationalist flag over his headquarters in Mukden.

The Last Empress Hannah Pakula 2009

Draconian though these measures were, they were an attempt by Chiang to set the National Revolutionary Army apart in the minds of the people from the armies of the warlords.

The Last Empress Hannah Pakula 2009

As might be surmised from this rather tentative statement, the prospect of conquering the triple-city enclave of Wuhan Wuchang, Hankow, and Hanyang, the next major landmark on he road to Peking, was causing the general of the National Revolutionary Army some trepidation.

The Last Empress Hannah Pakula 2009

While Chiang was settling these problems and before he was free to join his soldiers, the National Revolutionary Army made its way north through the (friendly) southern half of the province of Hunan to the (unfriendly) northern half.

The Last Empress Hannah Pakula 2009