He Zhuguo
He Zhuguo was a Chinese general from Rong County, Guangxi, who served in the Fengtian Army and later the National Revolutionary Army. He was a member of the Hakka ethnicity. As a commander of a cavalry force under Zhang Xueliang, he escaped assassination by KMT radicals during the Xi'an Incident by the help of Yang Hucheng. In the People's Republic of China, he is celebrated by the Revolutionary Committee of the Kuomintang for his participation in the Second United Front between the KMT and the Chinese Communist Party against Japanese invaders during the Second Sino-Japanese War.
Biography
Early life and education
He Zhuoguo was born in Yangmei Ruin, Nanxiang, Rong County, Guangxi, and lost his father since childhood. Enrolled in private school at 7 years old. At the age of 10, his mother died. Afterwards, he was supported by his second brother He Zhufan and transferred from a private school to primary school. In 1910, 13-year-old He Zhuguo was taken to Guangzhou by his second brother He Zhufan, who was an official in Guangdong, and was admitted to Guangdong Suihuan School. He Zhufan ordered He Zhuguo to apply for the third phase of the Huangpu Army Primary School. After graduation, He Zhuguo entered the sixth phase of Baoding Military Academy in 1916.In April 1917, he was sent to Japan to study in the 12th Cavalry Division of the Imperial Japanese Army Academy. After graduating from the country in the autumn of 1919, he served as the tactical instructor and squad leader of the cavalry section of the Baoding Military Academy.Service with the Beiyang Government
In July 1922, He Zhuguo arrived in Northeast China to join Zhang Zuolin, the Feng Department, and served as military instructor and director of the cavalry section of the Northeast Army Jiangwutang. In 1923, he was promoted to captain of the third team of the Lieutenant Colonel. Since then, he participated in the Fengtian Army and won the trust of Zhang Xueliang. In the spring of 1924, with Feng Yuxiang as the witness, He Zhuguo married Jia Chengjing, the niece of Jia Deyao, the former principal of Baoding Military Academy.In September 1924, the Second Zhili-Fengtian War broke out. Zhang Zuolin organized Fengtian Army into 6 troops. Zhang Xueliang and Guo Songling served as the third and deputy commanders of the 3rd Army, respectively. The 3rd and 1st Army established a joint headquarters to take charge of the front line of Shanhaiguan and Jiumenkou. He Zhuguo served as Chief of Staff of the Combat Section of the Coalition Command. After the victory of Fengtian Army in the Second Zhili-Fengtian War, Fengtian Army established the Jinyu Garrison Command, with Zhang Xueliang as the commander-in-chief, Guo Songling as the deputy commander-in-chief, and He Zhuguo as the commander-in-chief of the colonel. After Fengtian Clique won the Second Zhili-Fengtian War, Zhang Zuolin led the Xuanfu Army south to expand territory.
In the spring of 1925, with the consent of Zhang Zuolin and Zhang Xueliang, He Zhuguo planned to study in the Japanese Army University. Before his departure, he went to Beijing to visit Jiang Dengxuan and Han Linchun, the commander and deputy commander of the Xuanfu Army. Jiang Dengxuan and Han Linchun convinced He Zhuguo to abandon plans to study in Japan, and appointed him the Xuanfu Army combat section chief of staff. The Xuanfu Army advanced all the way to Bengbu, Anhui, But within half a year, the communication lines were intercepted by Sun Chuanfang and Chen Tiaoyuan, and Feng Jun was forced to withdraw to the northeast.
In November 1925, Guo Songling, deputy commander of the Fengyu Jinyu Garrison Command, rebelled against Fengtian. Zhang Xueliang negotiated with Guo Songling but failed to reach an agreement, but was ready to fight against Guo Songling's deputy. At that time, the cavalry of Heilongjiang came to the front to reinforce, and Zhang Xueliang ordered He Zhuguo to serve as a cavalry commander.
During the pacification of Guo Songling, He Zhuguo served with distinction. He was awarded the gold medal of bravery and appointed head of the 45th regiment.
In the spring of 1926, Zhang Zuolin, Wu Peifu, and Yan Xishan besieged the Feng Yuxiang Guominjun. He Zhuguo led the 45th Regiment to defeat the army of Tang Zhidao in Luanhe and attacked Rehe.
In November 1926, the Northern Expeditionary Army defeated Sun Chuanfang's main force. In order to contend with the Northern Expeditionary Army, the warlords in the north supported Zhang Zuolin as the commander-in-chief of the National Pacification Army. In 1927, He Zhuguo entered Henan with Zhang Xueliang's regiment to fight against the Wu Peifu's former deputy commander, Jin Yun'e. He Zhuguo conquered Zhongmu, Zhengzhou, Kaifeng, Luoyang and other places successively, and then acted as the commander of the 45th Brigade. In April of the same year, he was promoted to the commander of the 37th Brigade Major General and Kaifeng Police. In May of the same year, he led the Ministry to participate in the battle of Linying in southern Henan. In June of the same year, the 37th Brigade renamed the Provisional 23rd Division. In October of the same year, He Zhuguo led his ministry to fight against Yan Xishan and conquered Dingzhou. In April 1928, He Zhuguo battled with Feng Yuxiang in Zhangde to defeat Han Lingshan, and He Zhuguo was promoted to lieutenant general.
In 1928, Zhang Zuolin died in the Huanggutun Incident. Zhang Xueliang succeeded the Northeast Security Commander and reorganized Fengjun. He Zhuguo served as the lieutenant general of the 3rd Brigade of the Northeast Army Infantry, stationed in Rehe Lingyuan. In December 1928, Northeast China changed its flag.
Service with the Nationalist Government
In the autumn of 1929, Zhang Xueliang sent He Zhuguo and others to visit Qiucao with the Nanjing National Government delegation. He Zhuguo was also instructed to test the attitude of the Japanese government towards Northeast China. In Japan, when He Zhuguo held talks with the Japanese Chief of Staff, the Secretary of the Army, and officials of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Japanese side made a territorial claim to Northeast China, demands He Zhuguo rejected on the spot.In April 1930, the Central Plains War broke out. Zhang Xueliang called for peace, and sent the Northeast Army to Shanhaiguan for armed mediation. He Zhuguo led the Northeast Army 9th Brigade to Shanhaiguan to carefully observe war developments.
After the September 18th Incident in 1931, Zhang Xueliang, who presided over the Beiping Branch of the National Government Military Commission, again ordered He Zhuguo to station in Shanhaiguan.
At the end of November 1932, Masjiro Ochiai asked He Zhuguo to create an independent buffer zone in Luandong and Rehe, promising to supply all governmental and military expenses. He Zhuguo has never given an affirmative answer.
On December 8, 1932, the Kwantung Army stationed in Jinzhou bombarded Yuguan with armored vehicles. When He Zhuguo came forward to negotiate, Japan asked He Zhuguo to admit that the bombardment was a misunderstanding, asked He Zhuguo to stop anti-Japanese actions, and again proposed the creation of a buffer zone. Otherwise, Japan will send troops to occupy Shanhaiguan, and even Beiping and Tianjin. Zhang Xueliang immediately dispatched troops to reinforce He Zhuguo.
On New Year's Day in 1933, the Japanese Kwantung Army advanced to Yuguan, and opened fire on the Chinese defenders, and Shi Shi'an, the 626 regiment of He Zhuguo, returned fire. From the morning of January 2, 1933, to the afternoon of January 3, the 626 regiment stubbornly resisted the Japanese army. He Zhuguo personally led the defensive battle. Due to the heavy casualties, He Zhuoguo was forced to retreat.
After the retreat from Shanhaiguan He Zhuguo was ordered to defend Beiping and Tianjin. The Japanese turned to Rehe. Because of the weak resistance of Chinese defenders such as Zhang Zuoxiang, Wan Fulin, and Tang Yulin, the Japanese army occupied Rehe. Zhang Xueliang was forced by Chiang Kai-shek to resign as the Northeastern Army commander, but not before reorganizing the Northeast Army. He Zhuguo was reorganized into the 57th Army, governing the Army 109 Division, 115 Division, 120 Division, Cavalry 3rd Division, Artillery 15th Regiment, etc.
In January 1934, Zhang Xueliang was recalled by Chiang Kai-shek and served as deputy commander-in-chief of the Yu-E-Wan anti-communist encirclement campaign. He Zhuguo's 57th Army was transferred to Xiaogan, Songbu, Huang'an, Macheng, and West Anhui in eastern Hubei, and surrounded the 25th Army at Dabie Mountain in Xuhai. Due to the unsuccessful operation, He Zhuguo turned to defense. In July of the same year, He Zhuguo was instructed to leave the army and study in the Lushan Officer Training Corps.
In January 1935, Chiang Kai-shek changed the headquarters of the bandits from Henan, Hubei and Anhui to Wuchang, the chairman of the military committee of the National Government, and Zhang Xueliang served as the director of the camp. Chiang Kai-shek was preparing to transfer the Northeast Army to Guizhou, but He Zhuguo suggested that Zhang Xueliang transfer the Northeast Army west of Luoyang to stabilize the military and prepare for the recovery of the Northeast. He Zhuguo's proposal was adopted by Zhang Xueliang, who agreed with Chiang Kai-shek. Soon, Zhang Xueliang formed the cavalry corps with the seven cavalry divisions of the Northeast Army and the central cavalry dispatched by Chiang Kai-shek, and appointed He Zhuguo as commander.
Xi'an Incident
In the summer of 1935, the Long March of the Central Red Army was about to enter Shaanxi. The National Government established the Northwest Bandit Headquarters in Xi'an, with Zhang Xueliang as deputy commander-in-chief. Zhang Xueliang transferred the Northeast Army to Shaanxi to block the Red Army, and He Zhuguo's cavalry army was also transferred to Shaanxi. Since then, the Northeast Army has suffered heavy losses in many engagements with the Red Army. Zhang Xueliang changed from actively suppressing the CCP to passively dealing with it. In January 1936, the Central Committee of the Chinese Communist Party issued the "Red Army's Letter to All Officers of the Northeast Army for the Willingness to Join the Anti-Japanese Army with the Northeast Army." In August 1936, when the Red Army was passing the He Zhuoguo cavalry defense zone, Peng Dehuai wrote to He Zhuguo, hoping that He Zhuguo would cooperate with the Red Army's actions. After negotiating with Zhu Rui, director of the Political Department of the First Red Army, He Zhuguo took the initiative to make way for the Red Army and enable the three main forces of the Chinese Workers, Peasants and the Red Army to join the division.Before and after the Xi'an Incident in December 1936, He Zhuguo followed Zhang Xueliang closely and supported the Chinese Communist Party's idea of a peaceful settlement of the Xi'an Incident. After Zhang Xueliang sent Chiang Kai-shek to Nanjing and was detained, in January 1937, a senior general of the Northeast Army produced a main and a faction and a main battle group on how to rescue Zhang Xueliang. He Zhuguo and Wang Yizhe were the representatives of the Harmony School. The Harmony School believed that the Xi'an problem should be solved first and then Zhang Xueliang was rescued. On February 2, the young main officer of the Northeastern Army killed Wang Yizhe, and He Zhuguo fled into Yanghucheng Mansion because of news. Since then, in order to stabilize the Northeast Army, He Zhuguo met with CCP leader Zhou Enlai and others many times, and soon stabilized the Northeast Army. Soon, He Zhuguo went to Nanjing on behalf of the Northeast Army, and went to Xikou to meet with Zhang Xueliang to agree on the reorganization of the Northeast Army. Chiang Kai-shek then appointed He Zhuguo as the deputy director of Xi'an Xingying, and then appointed him as deputy director of the Yu Ansu Soviet Military Reorganization Committee to reorganize the Northeast Army who had just entered the Henan Anhui Soviet. After the reorganization was completed, He Zhuguo served as the commander of the 2nd Army of the Central Cavalry and remained in the northwest.