For Zhuge Liang's Northern Expeditions in the Three Kingdoms period, see Northern Expeditions.

A portrayal of Chiang Kai-shek commanding the National Revolutionary Army during the Northern Expedition.

The Northern Expedition (Chinese: 北伐; pinyin: běi fá) was a military campaign led by the Kuomintang (KMT) and the Communist Party of China (CPC) from 1926 to 1927. Its main objective was to speed up the Chinese revolution against feudalism and imperialism plaguing China after the Xinhai Revolution and unify China under the Nationalist banner by ending the rule of local warlords. The Northern Expeditions (北伐) were a series of five military campaigns launched by the state of Shu against the northern state of Wei from A.D. 228 to 234. ... Image File history File links Northern_Expedition. ... Image File history File links Northern_Expedition. ... Chiang Kai-shek (October 31, 1887 – April 5, 1975) was a Chinese military and political leader who assumed the leadership of the Kuomintang (KMT) after the 1925 death of Sun Yat-sen. ... The National Revolutionary Army (NRA) (Chinese: 國民革命軍; pinyin: guo2 min2 ge2 ming4 jun1) was the national army of the Republic of China. ... Pinyin is a system of romanization (phonemic notation and transcription to Roman script) for Standard Mandarin, where pin means spell and yin means sound. The most common variant of pinyin in use is called Hanyu Pinyin (Simplified Chinese: , Traditional Chinese: ; pinyin: HànyÇ” PÄ«nyÄ«n), also known as scheme... The Chinese Nationalist Party (Traditional Chinese: 中國國民黨; Simplified Chinese: 中国国民党; Hanyu Pinyin: ; Tongyong Pinyin: ; Wade-Giles: Chung-kuo Kuo-min-tang), commonly known as the Kuomintang (KMT), is a centre-right political party in the Republic of China on Taiwan, and is currently the largest political party in terms of sitting Legislative... The Communist Party of China (CPC) (official name, though almost universally known in English as the Chinese Communist Party (CCP)) (Simplified Chinese: ; Traditional Chinese: ; pinyin: Zhōngguó GòngchÇŽndÇŽng) is the ruling political party of the Peoples Republic of China, a position guaranteed by the countrys... 1926 (MCMXXVI) was a common year starting on Friday (link will take you to calendar). ... 1927 (MCMXXVII) was a common year starting on Saturday (link will take you to calendar). ... It has been suggested that Revolutionary be merged into this article or section. ... Roland pledges his fealty to Charlemagne; from a manuscript of a chanson de geste. ... Imperialism is a policy of extending control or authority over foreign entities as a means of acquisition and/or maintenance of empires. ... The former government location at Wuhan after Wuchang Uprising, 1911. ... Warlord is a term that refers to one who has de facto military control of a subnational area, due to armed forces which are personally obedient to — somewhat circularly — that warlord. ...

The term “Northern Expedition” may also be understood to include a related campaign in 1928, which is otherwise called the Second Northern Expedition, during which the NRA captured Beijing (8 June 1928) and paved the way for the Chinese reunification (1928). The National Revolutionary Army (NRA) (Chinese: 國民革命軍; pinyin: guo2 min2 ge2 ming4 jun1) was the national army of the Republic of China. ... Beijing [English Pronunciation] (Chinese: 北京 [Chinese Pronunciation]; Pinyin: BÄ›ijÄ«ng; IPA: ), a city in northern China, is the capital of the Peoples Republic of China (PRC). ... June 8 is the 159th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (160th in leap years), with 206 days remaining. ... 1928 (MCMXXVIII) was a leap year starting on Sunday (link will take you to calendar). ... Beiyang Governments Five Color flag. ...

Objective

The Northern Expedition began from the KMT's power base in Guangdong province. In 1926 the May 30th Movement announced the chains for strike and protest against western imperialism and its warlord agents in China. At the same time, the alliance between KMT and CPC was questioned after the Zhongshan Warship Incident in March 1926, and the following events made Chiang Kai-shek the paramount military leader of KMT in effect. Although Chiang doubted Sun Yat-sen's policy of alliance with the Soviet Union and CPC, he still needed aid from the Soviet Union, so he could not break up the alliance at that time. Above all, Chiang needed a stage to indicate his role of paramount leader and military talent. On the other hand, the Soviet Union and CPC cherished the alliance more than Chiang, as they did need a stage to show their friendship to the KMT. Thus all three parties agreed to launch the Northern Expedition to solve their own problems. China, and should not be confused with the former Kwantung Leased Territory in north-eastern China. ... The May 30 Movement (May 30, 1925) was a labor and anti-imperalist movement during early History of the Republic of China. ... Chiang Kai-shek (October 31, 1887 – April 5, 1975) was a Chinese military and political leader who assumed the leadership of the Kuomintang (KMT) after the 1925 death of Sun Yat-sen. ... Sun Yat-sen (November 12, 1866–March 12, 1925) was a Chinese revolutionary and political leader who had a significant role in the overthrow of the Qing Dynasty. ...

The main target of this expedition consist of three notorious and powerful warlords of China: Zhang Zuolin who governed Manchuria, Wu Peifu in Central Plain of China and Sun Chuanfang in eastern coast of China. Advised by the famous Russian general Vasily Blyukher using the pseudonym Galen, the HQ of the expedition decided to use all its power to defeat these warlords one by one, first Wu, then Sun, last Zhang. On July 9, 1926, Chiang gave his lecture to 100,000 soldiers of the National Revolutionary Army, which was set up by the students trained in the Whampoa Military Academy and equipped with Russian arsenal in the opening ceremony, which was the official commencement of Northern Expedition. NRA were far better organized than the warlord armies which they faced, for they had good military advisors, better weapons and commissars from CPC to inspire the soldiers. In addition, the NRA was regarded as a progressive force on behalf of ordinary people persecuted by warlords, for which it received warm welcome and strong support from peasants and workers. It was no surprise the NRA could march from Zhu River area to Yangtze River in less than half a year and annihilate the main force of Wu and Sun, and strengthen its force from 100,000 to 250,000. Chang Tso-Lin (WG) (Chinese: 張作霖, pinyin: Zhāng Zuòlín) (1873 – June 4, 1928), nicknamed the Old Marshall or Mukden Tiger, was a Chinese warlord in Manchuria in the early 20th century. ... Manchuria (Manchu: Manju; Traditional Chinese: 滿洲; Simplified Chinese: 满洲; pinyin: MÇŽnzhōu, Russian: ) is a vast territorial region in northeast Asia. ... Wu Peifu (吳佩孚) (1874–1939), was a major figure in the struggles between the warlords (軍閥) who dominated China during the years 1916 to 1927. ... Central Plain may refer to: North China Plain, a plain in Northern China in the middle reaches of the Yellow River. ... Sun Chuan-fang or Sun Chuanfang was a Zhili clique warlord and protege of Wu Peifu. ... Marshal of the Soviet Union Vasily Blyukher Vasily Konstantinovich Blyukher (also spelled Blücher, Blukher, Bliukher etc, Russian: Василий Константинович Блюхер) (November 19, 1889 - November 9... July 9 is the 190th day of the year (191st in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 175 days remaining. ... 1926 (MCMXXVI) was a common year starting on Friday (link will take you to calendar). ... The National Revolutionary Army (NRA) (Chinese: 國民革命軍; pinyin: guo2 min2 ge2 ming4 jun1) was the national army of the Republic of China. ... The Chinese Military Academy emblem includes its motto, which was first proclaimed by Sun Yat-sen at the Whampoa Academys opening in 1924. ... Afternoon light on the jagged grey mountains rising from the Yangtze River gorge The Yangtze River or Chang Jiang (Simplified Chinese: , Traditional Chinese: ; pinyin: Cháng Jiāng)   is the longest river in Asia and the third longest in the world after the Nile in Africa and the Amazon in...

Outcome

Today, the Northern Expedition is viewed positively both in Mainland China and on Taiwan because it ended a period of disorder and started the formation of an effective Chinese central government. However it did not fully solve the warlord problem, as many warlords still held large armies that didn't necessarily obey central orders. The highlighted area in the map is what is commonly known as mainland China. Mainland China (Simplified Chinese: 中国大陆; Traditional Chinese: 中國大陸; pinyin: Zhōnggúo Dàlù; literally The Chinese Massive Landmass or Continental China) is an informal (disputed — see talk page) geographical term which is usually synonymous with the area...

The irony is when old warlords such as Wu and Sun were brought down, new warlords such as Chiang, Li Zongren and his Guangxi Clique, Yan Xishan and his Shanxi Clique, Feng Yu-hsiang and his Northwestern Clique, Tang Shengzhi and his Hunan Clique, Chiang Kuang-Nai and his Fujian Clique, Sheng Shicai of Xinjiang Clique, Zhang Xueliang of Northeastern Clique, Long Yun of Yunnan Clique, Wang Jialie of Guizhou Clique, Liu Xiang and Liu Wenhui of Sichuan Clique, Han Fuqu of Shandong Clique, Bie Tingfang (别廷芳) of Henan Clique, Ma Bufang and his family of Qinghai Clique, Ma Hongkui and his family of Ningxia Clique, Ma Zhongyin and his family of Gansu Clique, Chen Jitang and his Cantonese Clique, Lu Diping (鲁涤平) of Jiangxi Clique, Jing Yuexiu (井岳秀) of Shaanxi Clique, quickly took over power, and the wars between these new warlords claimed more lives than ever in the 1930's. This would prove to be a major headache for the KMT all the way through WWII and the following civil war. Li Tsung-jen (李宗仁 Pinyin: Lǐ Zōngrén) (August 13, 1890 - January 13, 1969), courtesy name Delin (德鄰), was vice-president and acting president of the Republic of China and adversary of Chiang Kai-shek. ... Guangxi (Zhuang: Gvangjsih; old orthography: ; Simplified Chinese: 广西; Traditional Chinese: 廣西; Pinyin: GuÇŽngxÄ«; Wade-Giles: Kuang-hsi; Postal System Pinyin: Kwangsi), full name Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region (Zhuang: Gvangjsih Bouxcuengh Swcigih; old orthography: ; Simplified Chinese: 广西壮族自治区; Traditional Chinese: 廣西壯族自治區; Pinyin: GuÇŽngxÄ« Zhuàngzú ZìzhìqÅ«) is a Zhuang autonomous region of... Yen Hsi-shan (閻錫山; pinyin: Yán Xíshān) (1883 - 1960) was a Chinese politician who served in the Republic of China government. ... Shanxi (Chinese: 山西; Hanyu Pinyin: ; Wade-Giles: Shan-hsi; Postal System Pinyin: Shansi) is a province in the northern part of the Peoples Republic of China. ... Feng Yü-hsiang (Traditional Chinese:馮玉祥, Simplified Chinese: 冯玉祥, pinyin: Féng Yùxíang; 1882-1948) was a warlord during the early years of the Republic of China. ... Tang Shengzhi (唐生智) (1889-April 6, 1970) was a Chinese military commander during World War II. He was put in command of Nanking during the citys siege in December 1937 by the Japanese. ...   (Chinese: ; pinyin: Húnán) is a province of China, located in the middle reaches of the Yangtze River and south of Lake Dongting (hence the name Hunan, meaning south of the lake). Hunan is sometimes called 湘 (pinyin: Xiāng) for short, after the Xiang River which runs through the... Also recorded as: Chiang Kuang-Nai; Jiang Guangnai. ... (Chinese: 福建; Pinyin: Fújiàn; Wade-Giles: Fu-chien; Postal System Pinyin: Fukien, Foukien; local transliteration Hokkien from Min Nan Hok-kiàn) is one of the provinces on the southeast coast of China. ... Sheng Shicai (Chinese: 盛世才; Pinyin: Shèng Shìcái; Wade-Giles: Sheng Shih-tsai) (1897 - 1970) was a Chinese warlord who ruled Xinjiang from 1933 to 1944. ... For the county in Shanxi province, see Xinjiang County. ... Zhang Xueliang or Chang Hsüeh-liang (張學良, pinyin: Zhāng Xuéliáng, English: Peter Hsueh Liang Chang) (June 3, 1901 – October 15, 2001), nicknamed the Young Marshal (少帥), became the effective ruler of Manchuria and much of Northeast China after the assassination of his father Chang Tso-lin on June... Long Yun was governor and warlord of the Chinese province of Yunnan from 1927 to near the end of the Chinese Civil War. ... (Simplified Chinese: 云南; Traditional Chinese: 雲南; pinyin: Yúnnán south of the clouds) is a province of the Peoples Republic of China, located in the far southwestern corner of the country. ... The introduction to this article provides insufficient context for those unfamiliar with the subject matter. ... (Simplified Chinese: 贵州; Traditional Chinese: è²´å·ž; pinyin: Gùizhōu; Wade-Giles: Kuei-chou; also spelled Kweichow) is a province of the Peoples Republic of China located in the southwestern part of the country. ... Liu Xiang Liu Xiang (Simplified Chinese: 刘翔, Traditional Chinese: 劉翔; pinyin: Liú Xiáng) (born July 13, 1983 in Shanghai, China) is a Chinese hurdling athlete, Olympic gold medalist who holds the current world record in 110 meter hurdles with time of 12. ... (1895-1976) General Liu Wenhui or Liu Wen-hui, one of the warlords of Sichuan Province during Chinas Warlord era. ... (Chinese: 四川; Pinyin: ; Wade-Giles: Ssu-ch`uan; Postal Pinyin: Szechwan and Szechuan) is a province in central-western China with its capital at Chengdu. ... (1890-1938) Han Fuqu or Han Fu-chu, Chinese General, Warlord, and governor of Shandong Province 1930-38. ...   (Simplified Chinese: ; Traditional Chinese: ; pinyin: Shāndōng; Wade-Giles: Shan-tung) is a coastal province of eastern Peoples Republic of China. ... Henan (Chinese: 河南; Hanyu Pinyin: ; Wade-Giles: Ho-nan), is a province of the Peoples Republic of China, located in the central part of the country. ... Ma Bufang 馬步芳, (1903-1975), was a prominent Ma clique warlord in China during the Republic of China era, ruling the northwestern province of Qinghai. ... Qinghai (Chinese: 青海; Hanyu Pinyin: ; Wade-Giles: Ching-hai; Postal System Pinyin: Tsinghai; Tibetan: མཚོ་སྔོན་ mtsho-sngon; Mongolian: Köke Naγur; Manchu: Huhu Noor) is a province of the Peoples Republic of China, named after the enormous Qinghai Lake. ... Ma Hongkui 馬鴻逵, (1892-1970) was a prominent warlord in China during the Republic of China era, ruling the northwestern province of Ningxia. ... Ningxia (Simplified Chinese: 宁夏; Traditional Chinese: 寧夏; Pinyin: Níngxià; Wade-Giles: Ning-hsia; Postal Pinyin: Ningsia), full name Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region (Simplified Chinese: 宁夏回族自治区; Traditional Chinese: 寧夏回族自治區; Pinyin: Níngxià Huízú ZìzhìqÅ«), is a Hui autonomous region of the Peoples Republic of China, located on the northwest Loess... now. ... Gansu (Simplified Chinese: 甘肃; Traditional Chinese: 甘肅; Hanyu Pinyin: ; Wade-Giles: Kan-su, Kansu, or Kan-suh) is a province located in the northwest of the Peoples Republic of China. ... This October 2006 does not cite its references or sources. ... China, and should not be confused with the former Kwantung Leased Territory in north-eastern China. ... Jiangxi (Chinese: 江西; Hanyu Pinyin: ; Wade-Giles: Chiang-hsi; Postal System Pinyin: Kiangsi) is a southern province of the Peoples Republic of China, spanning from the banks of the Yangtze River in the north into hillier areas in the south. ...   (Simplified Chinese: ; Traditional Chinese: ; pinyin: ShÇŽnxÄ«; Wade-Giles: Shan-hsi; Postal map spelling: Shensi) is a north-central province of the Peoples Republic of China, and includes portions of the Loess Plateau on the middle reaches of the Yellow River as well as the Qinling Mountains across the...

However, Chiang did get the greatest benefit from the expedition, for the victory won him prominence in the political stage. Furthermore, Chiang made the military command superior to KMT party leadership, which resulted in his dictatorship later. Moreover, even before the objectives of the Northern Expedition had been achieved the first cooperation between KMT and CPC fell apart in the Wuhan incident, where CPC members and parts of the KMT political left-wing broke ties with Chiang, but with the military firmly in his grasp, they proved no match for Chiang and as a result all of the CPC members of the KMT were expelled. This would also prove to be the beginning of a 20 year long KMT/CPC civil war that only had a partial ending by the KMT withdrawal to Taiwan in 1949.

See also

• Central Plains War
• Whampoa Military Academy
• Chiang Kai-shek
• Military of the Republic of China
• History of the Republic of China
• National Revolutionary Army
• Sino-German cooperation
• Kuomintang

Combatants Forces of Chiang Kai-shek Forces of the coalition of Yan Xishan, Feng Yuxiang and Li Zongren Commanders Han Fuju, Liu Zhi Yan Xishan, Feng Yuxiang, Li Zongren Strength 600,000 800,000 Casualties ~95,000+ ~150,000+ Central Plains War (Traditional Chinese: 中原大戰; Simplified Chinese: 中原大战; pinyin: Zhōngyúan... The Chinese Military Academy emblem includes its motto, which was first proclaimed by Sun Yat-sen at the Whampoa Academys opening in 1924. ... Chiang Kai-shek (October 31, 1887 – April 5, 1975) was a Chinese military and political leader who assumed the leadership of the Kuomintang (KMT) after the 1925 death of Sun Yat-sen. ... The Republic of China (ROC) maintains a large military establishment, which accounted for 16. ... The Republic of China (Traditional Chinese: 中華民國; Pinyin: Zhōng huá mín guó) succeeded the Qing Dynasty in 1912, ending 2,000 years of imperial rule. ... The National Revolutionary Army (NRA) (Chinese: 國民革命軍; pinyin: guo2 min2 ge2 ming4 jun1) was the national army of the Republic of China. ... Close Sino-German cooperation, dating back to the 1920s, was instrumental in modernising the industry and the armed forces of the Republic of China, especially in the period immediately preceding the Second Sino-Japanese War. ... The Chinese Nationalist Party (Traditional Chinese: 中國國民黨; Simplified Chinese: 中国国民党; Hanyu Pinyin: ; Tongyong Pinyin: ; Wade-Giles: Chung-kuo Kuo-min-tang), commonly known as the Kuomintang (KMT), is a centre-right political party in the Republic of China on Taiwan, and is currently the largest political party in terms of sitting Legislative...

External links

• ROC Ministry of National Defense Official Website
• The Armed Forces Museum of ROC