The Fourth Outstanding Person of Huangpu Military Academy

Chen Mingren: "This is my first time in Shanghai.

Chen Tianheng: “I have been here several times, but this is the first time I have been welcomed by so many people.

Chen Mingren: "The people of Shanghai have probably never seen such a Chinese army.

The first battalion of the first regiment and the third battalion marched in formation, singing military songs. The First Army Band (which came with the division headquarters' special train) also played music. Chen Tianheng, Chen Mingren, and Xu Xiangqian rode in the front on horseback.

"Welcome, welcome! On behalf of all my colleagues in Shanghai's industrial and commercial circles, I sincerely welcome the arrival of the Northern Expedition Army!"

Yu Qiaqing, dressed in formal attire, and several other Shanghai celebrities welcomed the First Division into the city in front of the Taotai Yamen.

Chen Tianheng: "Shanghai, the Pearl of the Yangtze River, the Metropolis of the East. Recovering Shanghai is the mission of the Northern Expedition Army. The prosperity of Shanghai is the common goal of us and the two million Shanghai citizens. I, Tianheng, hope to contribute my humble efforts to this end in the future."

"Commander Chen, the divine troops have arrived, and Shanghai has changed its flag overnight. You are the elite force of the Northern Expedition and the best of the hundred divisions. You are truly worthy of the title. We are all impressed by your bravery and are willing to contribute our own little bit of strength to the goal of building a strong army." Yu Qiaqing had already learned and applied the "Strong Army War Song" of the First Regiment. With a smile on his face, he handed over a HSBC promissory note with both hands.

Chen Tianheng took the check and handed it to Huang without even looking at the number on it. "Report it to the Northern Expedition Army Headquarters and enter it into the account after approval."

Yu Qiaqing: "Commander Chen doesn't care about power or money, which I admire. Shanghai is the gathering place of wealth in the southeast, known as the Pearl of the Yangtze River and the Paris of the East, and it is well-deserved. There are also beautiful women everywhere, and it is a paradise for adventurers. If Commander Chen has any hobbies or ambitions in the future, I am willing to provide assistance.

Chen Tianheng smiled: "Mr. Yu, these are nothing. The foreign concessions are only... Ruan Lingyu, and she already has someone else. Therefore, the foreign concessions have nothing to do with me. ... Mr. Yu, let's hold the flag-raising ceremony.

Chapter 49: Transition period, wait for the transition?

The climax of the entry ceremony was the flag-raising ceremony. On the flagpole in front of the Shanghai Government Building, the Beiyang Five-Colored Flag was lowered and the Blue Sky, White Sun Flag was raised.

The Shanghai Revolutionary Government of the Republic of China was established on the same day. On the same day, the Shanghai City Defense Headquarters of the National Revolutionary Army was also established, with Chen Tianheng as the commander of the Shanghai City Defense.

City defense...Yes, there must be city defense.

On January 17, when it was confirmed that Shanghai had changed its flag, the Wusongkou Fort declared its uprising.

The Wusongkou Fort, located at the confluence of the Huangpu River and the Yangtze River, was a strategically important location. However, even if Western powers attacked Shanghai, it would not have been able to defend itself. If Western powers had not attacked Shanghai, the Wusongkou Fort would have played a minor role in the civil war.

90% of the artillery pieces mounted on the fort couldn’t reach downtown Shanghai. Even if they could, because Shanghai was densely populated and had many buildings, even Sun Chuanfang didn’t dare order the Wusongkou Fort to turn around and bombard Shanghai.

If there is a problem with Shanghai's defense, it should come from the concessions.

In the early morning of January 17, at the southern section of the Bund, on the border between the French Concession and the Central Control Zone, the First Battalion of the First Regiment deployed in battle formation, with their guns and cannons aimed in the direction of the concession.

The French garrison in the concession, feeling threatened, also dispatched a detachment of soldiers to the southern part of the Bund, with the two sides facing each other across the street. As the situation became too serious, the British army in the International Settlement also dispatched a detachment of soldiers to the southern border to negotiate with the Chinese.

British Army Major Lescott crossed the border into the French Concession, rushed to the border line, and carefully looked at the Chinese army opposite.

Lescott had seen the Beiyang Army before when Sun Chuanfang was stationed in Shanghai, but the army opposite him looked different from the Beiyang Army at first glance.

It is obvious that all these soldiers have undergone long-term training and their standing posture has been specially trained, which makes the spirit and temperament of this army stand on a different level from that of the Beiyang Army.

The Chinese soldiers on the other side appeared to be of two types: infantrymen in standard Northern Expedition uniforms, and engineers in standard uniforms, but not the Northern Expedition's peaked caps, but berets. Lescott also noticed that each of the engineers moving and setting up roadblocks had a Gurkha knife at his waist.

Every officer, from the second lieutenant platoon leader on down, wore a Burberry trench coat. Lescott looked at himself, also wearing a Burberry trench coat. Night.

And they weren't just World War I surplus. The trench coats were tailored to each person's height and build, making them a perfect fit. Plus, they even had a small logo on the upper arm. -- They were custom-made.

Hey..

"The commander will be here soon."

The division's reconnaissance battalion commander, Guan Linzheng, rode his horse over from a distance and dismounted beside Xu Xiangqian.

Xu Xiangqian: "We have French and British troops across the way. The American and Japanese garrisons have also sent military representatives, and they're almost all here."

Lescott, who was on the other side of the border, was amazed again. The Northern Expedition officer who got off the horse was dressed differently.

Guan Linzheng is wearing a Hermès leather riding jacket and a complete Hermès saddle. Both the jacket and saddle have similar small markings.

The citizens watching on the Bund also found it more and more interesting. When Chen Tianheng arrived at the scene, the citizens all understood:

The Northern Expedition soldiers were all very handsome. The officers were even more handsome than the soldiers. The division commanders were the most handsome.

"General Chen. The existence of the French Concession and the International Settlement in Shanghai is based on treaties between China and the United Kingdom, France, the United States, Italy, Japan and other countries. It is a contract between governments.

Lescott and Chen Tianheng negotiated at the border: "Both of us must abide by the contract we have signed... Forget it, stop talking nonsense, I know what you want.

Lescott briefly concluded his negotiation speech and waved his hand. Li Baozhang, commander of the 9th Division of the Five Provinces Allied Forces, was brought forward.

Li Baozhang was still in his pajamas. Last night, he had been dragged from his concubine's bed by British troops in the International Settlement.

The British troops in the Shanghai International Settlement were of course fully aware of the repossession of the British Concession in Jiujiang. The first reason was that the British troops in Jiujiang were too few, as the Northern Expedition had an absolute advantage in manpower. The second reason was that the British Concession in Jiujiang had some legal flaws.

"Li Baozhang, commander of the Ninth Beiyang Division?" Chen Tianheng made a surprised expression, then asked knowingly, "Did Commander Li remotely command his troops from the concession?"

"Absolutely not." Lescott chuckled happily, "General Chen, you can verify it through your channels.

Chen Tianheng extended his hand and shook hands with Lescott: "Thank you for the British cooperation. Now we sign the handover of the prisoners.

Lescott signed the handover document.

1 sea

“Capitalism, so capitalistic!”

Zhao Shiyan, the Shanghai Special Committee member of the Military Department, was at the Bund South Road at the time, mixed in with the citizens, and witnessed with his own eyes the negotiation process between the First Division and the troops stationed in the concession.

Zhao Shiyan is really angry now.

A week earlier, the Shanghai Special Committee had convened a meeting to prepare for an armed workers' uprising. However, Chen Duxiu, at the meeting, stated that the uprising was not adequately planned, or rather, completely unplanned, and that it would be impossible to carry out. Chen Duxiu's criticism was irrefutable; the preparations for the uprising were simply crude.

Several comrades from the Military Department then split up to prepare again: some gathered weapons, some mobilized workers, and some mapped the terrain. Zhao Shiyan spent several days wandering around the Shanghai Circuit Intendant's Office, finally figuring out the deployment of the police guarding the city government. Just as he began to draw a floor plan of the first floor of the city government building, there was a bang: gunfire and artillery fire from the General Manufacturing Administration, and then a group of aggressive Northern Expedition troops arrived at the Circuit Intendant's Office and the police station, and the police immediately surrendered.

Then, the blue sky and white sun flag was raised in front of the Taotai Yamen.

So all my work in recent days has been in vain.

The Northern Expedition Army was now at the border of the concession, negotiating with the foreign troops stationed there. The officers and soldiers of the Northern Expedition Army were all very stylish, especially the officers, who dressed like male models.

Otherwise, why would you say it is "too capitalist"?

Then, it seemed that a man in a white robe was brought out by the British, and the Northern Expedition Army received him and tied him up and took him away. At this time, the onlookers who were nearby cheered and applauded like a mountain.

Isn't this Li Baozhang?"

"Oh, Scratch Lee, Scratch Lee was caught!

Zhao Shiyan: "Scratch Li?

"This Li Baozhang, in the six months he was in Shanghai, he collected more money than the previous governor collected in three years.

"He collected his own share of the money, and his soldiers went out on the streets to collect another share.

"Before leaving, they asked the Chamber of Commerce to give them 2 million yuan for departure expenses. If they didn't raise the money, they would rob them. Fortunately, the notice had only been sent to the Chamber of Commerce for half a day when the Northern Expedition Army arrived..."

Zhao Shiyan: "That's not right. The concessions implemented foreign laws. Doesn't entering the concessions mean political asylum?"

"It seems the rules were changed after the British concession in Jiujiang was reclaimed. Military commanders, regardless of whether they had soldiers or weapons, were not allowed to flee to the concession."

Zhao Shiyan is gone.

During the two days since Shanghai was liberated, citizens, students, and workers were all very excited.

It's not just because the Beiyang warlords were driven away, but the troops now stationed in Shanghai also give the citizens enough freshness.

Gradually, no one mentioned the armed uprising of Shanghai workers planned by the Central Military Department.

However, the organized teams of workers still had to be maintained. Zhao Shiyan came to the vicinity of the racecourse. The Yunnan Road warehouse here was the secret meeting place of the third team of workers in the concession.

"Why are there only so few people here?" Zhao Shiyan looked at the empty warehouse construction team three. There were more than forty people there. "Xiangzi, where are all the people?"

Zhao Shiyan said Xiangzi's workers replied: "Some asked for leave, some didn't, anyway, no one came.

Zhao Shiyan: "This discipline cannot be broken. If the discipline is broken, people's hearts will be broken.

Xiangzi: "Commissioner Zhao, let me say something unpleasant...

"Don't say anything unpleasant." Zhao Shiyan knew what Xiangzi was going to say.

"Ah. Oh, and one more thing. Many members of the Third Work Team have applied for police positions."

Zhao Shiyan: "What?! Become a police officer?!"

"Yes, the police headquarters posted a notice, recruiting new police officers. We won't be working with the same police officers who arrested us before. Newly recruited police officers must have a clean background and no suspicion of any secret society or cult background. Workers are preferred. Workers who still have jobs can also go for interviews, and if they are accepted, they can resign. So many people from the Third Work Team applied.

Zhao Shiyan: "I have to ask Secretary Gu about this. This is too undisciplined." Xiangzi hesitated for a moment, then said: "Commissioner Zhao, we have been through enough these past few months. I think it's worse than having no discipline.

"Xiangzi, what are you talking about?

"Discipline means following the instructions of superiors. I joined the Party last May. What were we doing then? Yes, we were supporting Wang and opposing Chiang. The superiors said that Chairman Wang was the leader of the Chinese revolution, and the Party would unite around him and serve as his loyal defenders.

"In a few months, it will be wrong to support Chiang and oppose Wang. They say Wang Jingwei refused the Northern Expedition and purged our Party cadres from the KMT Central Executive Committee. This is like getting rid of the donkey after it has served its purpose. The police must firmly oppose Wang Jingwei's dictatorial politics and his idea of ​​settling for peace in South China. They must support Commander-in-Chief Chiang, who is determined to fight the Northern Expedition to the end.

Zhao Shiyan: “This is a historical document, it’s different now.

...Then, I don't know when, maybe a month or two ago, two comrades from Wuhan came and took charge of us. They said the Party's mission now was to support Wang and oppose Chiang. That's when we started preparing to oppose Chiang again. You see, isn't it worse to have no discipline? If we hadn't gone through those months and had continued to support Wang and oppose Chiang, others might have looked up to us a little more.

Xiangzi had come back to get his own hat. After getting the flat cap he had forgotten, Xiangzi pushed the door open and left.

At the border of the concession, Chen Tianheng and Lescott completed the signing and handover, and Li Baozhang was officially handed over to the Northern Expedition Army.

Li Baozhang looked pale.

First, he was not sure whether Sun Chuanfang, who had lost all the land south of the Yangtze River, had the money to redeem his hostages; second, he felt that the Northern Expedition Army would most likely not release his hostages and might even bring him to trial.

Sun Chuanfang started a killing spree.

In late October and early November of last year, several powerful figures in the Zhejiang Army sent telegrams to surrender to the Northern Expedition Army. Sun Chuanfang then took drastic measures to arrest one of these figures, Xia Chao. After his arrest, there was no news for a long time, and it was only recently confirmed that Sun Chuanfang secretly executed Xia Chao.

Not only that, in the Fuyang battle a few days ago, Sun Chuanfang also killed a regimental commander of the 26th Army of the Northern Expedition who was captured. It seemed that this regimental commander was previously a member of the Five Provinces Allied Forces.

In fact, compared with the old-school warlords in the early years of the Republic of China, Sun Chuanfang, who rose to prominence in 1924, really loved killing people. In 1925, he captured Shi Congbin, a brigade commander under Zhang Zongchang, and killed him with a snap.

Anyway, Li Baozhang really has no hope that the Northern Expedition Army will release him.

Four engineers wearing berets stepped forward and restrained Li Baozhang.

Xu Xiangqian: "Hey, you engineers are now experts at catching fish heads.

"Of course not. We will take in any of those who are captured alive or delivered to our door.

Engineer Company Commander Che Mingxiang was right. Engineers captured three of Sun Chuanfang's three elite division commanders—Zheng Junyan of the 10th Division wasn't captured by engineers, but Lu Xiangting was captured twice by engineers armed with daggers.

This time, Li Baozhang, commander of the 9th Division, was also included.

Chen Tianheng shook hands with Lescott again. The negotiations between the Concession Garrison and the First Division today were entirely peaceful, which pleased both of them greatly.

"We look forward to establishing a military trust-building mechanism with the foreign troops stationed in the concessions and the volunteer groups there," Chen Tianheng said. "We will inform you of our large-scale military deployments within Shanghai, and you will inform us of any increases or decreases in troops stationed in the concessions. Establishing such a military trust-building mechanism during the transition period will be very conducive to a smooth transition of the Shanghai Concession."

"Very good news, General Chen. Transition period, etc?" Lescott suddenly realized something:

"transition?

Chapter 50: Negotiations? Sino-British Joint Declaration?

The Shanghai Concession was the earliest concession established in modern China.

The concession was actually something forced upon foreigners by the Qing government.

The earliest Sino-British Treaty of Nanjing only mentioned the cession of Hong Kong, and did not propose concessions. It only mentioned the opening of five ports for trade, and British citizens could enter to reside, do business, travel, and preach.

But when the war ended, foreigners came to China excitedly to do business? No, you can't live here. You can't live there either.

That's not right. Doesn't the treaty clearly state that British people can live and do business in China?

Taotai and the governors: Yes, that’s what the treaty says, but I won’t let you live here.

The foreigner insisted on staying there. Early the next morning, he was lying in bed with his head hanging on the flagpole outside.

...The two sides were about to fall out, and the Shanghai governor finally made a concession. You can live here, but I will designate a piece of land to rent to you. You can just treat this land as nothing and I won't care about it. I will also not allow ordinary people to enter this area and have contact with you. You can only live in this rented land and are not allowed to run around.

In other words, they would rather give the legal rights of the rented land to foreigners to manage themselves than to ensure that foreigners and Chinese people are isolated.

Later, when the Taiping Rebellion reached the outskirts of Shanghai, refugees flocked to the concessions, and quarantine became an empty promise. By 1927, more than 90% of the residents in the Shanghai concessions were Chinese.

Then there are Shanghai's current French Concession and International Settlement, which together account for 60% of Shanghai's total residents. The iconic Bund, the skyscrapers reminiscent of European and American cities from aerial views, corporate offices, clusters of factories, and 80% of China's GDP are all located in these concessions.

The "transition period" mentioned by Chen Tianheng is actually a complete expression:

1. The Shanghai Concession must be recovered by China.

2. China, Britain and France will negotiate to determine a time point for the recovery of the concessions and announce it in the form of a joint statement. The recovery time can be very long, ten or eight years, but it must be recovered in the end.

3. The timeline from now to the recovery of the concession is called the "transition period".

4. During the transition period, the number of Chinese directors (councillors) on the Concession Municipal Council should be gradually increased, reaching six (for a total of nine) by the time of the handover. With the addition of Chinese directors, the Municipal Council can return to its normal English translation, "Municipal Council." Previously, the British, fearing an outburst of Chinese nationalist sentiment, had resorted to the unconventional "Municipal Council" as its Chinese name.

5. During the transition period, China, Britain and France should establish a military mutual trust mechanism. The increase or decrease of British and French troops stationed in the concessions should be notified in advance, and a principle should be established: the garrisons should be gradually reduced and eventually withdrawn.