Zhang Zuolin and Feng Yuxiang were influential warlords in early 20th-century China during the Warlord Era. This period, roughly spanning from 1916 to 1928, was marked by fragmentation and conflict among various military cliques and regional leaders.
Zhang Zuolin controlled the northeastern provinces of China, known as Manchuria. He amassed significant military power and wealth, aiming to extend his control over more regions of China.
Feng Yuxiang, known as the “Christian General,” was another powerful warlord who controlled parts of northern China. He was known for his reformist views. Feng played a significant role in the shifting alliances and power struggles of the time, often emphasizing moral and ethical conduct in his leadership.
In early 1926, warlord Zhang Zuolin spent a staggering amount of money, equivalent to US$5 million dollars, to purchase six tanks from the French. At that time, Chinese military forces primarily used outdated rifles, making tanks a formidable advantage. Zhang Zuolin, aiming to extend his power across China, was confident in his military superiority.
A kind heart saves the National Army
In August 1926, Zhang Zuolin’s forces advanced southward toward Beijing. Defending the city was Feng Yuxiang, who led the Nationalist Army, the main military force of the Kuomintang (KMT), aiming to unify China.
On August 4, Feng Yuxiang traveled to the frontline command at Nankou Town. Upon arrival, two shabby, thin middle-aged men blocked his car, pleading for help to save a dying daughter. These brothers, surnamed Chen, were well-known local hunters. The elder brother had never married, and the younger brother’s wife had passed away, leaving behind a seriously ill 15-year-old daughter.
Moved by their plight, Feng Yuxiang handed over 5 silver dollars to help them seek medical attention for the girl. The grateful brothers knelt and vowed to repay him, only to learn he was the famous General Feng Yuxiang.
Tanks show their might
The battle began on August 7. Zhang Zuolin’s tanks quickly demonstrated their power, easily traversing the rugged terrain. Despite Feng Yuxiang’s strategic planning, his forces suffered heavy losses, losing thousands of men and significant territory within three days. On August 11, Zhang Zuolin launched a full-scale assault to capture Juyong Pass.
Zhang Zuolin’s tanks led the charge, forming a phalanx. The National Army, using the mountainous terrain for defense, fought desperately. As noon approached, a tank reached the National Army’s front lines, its machine gun spitting fire. Just as the position seemed lost, a man suddenly appeared, jumping down from a rock to the tank’s blind spot. With a shotgun blast, Chen’s scattershot pierced the tank’s viewports, disabling it.
Turning the tide with a hunter’s skill
Seeing this, the National Army cheered. Chen’s younger brother then distributed shotguns to the soldiers, explaining they had observed the tanks’ vulnerabilities. They used the shotguns to target the tanks’ viewports, crippling four out of six tanks. The remaining two tanks retreated in panic.
After the battle, Feng Yuxiang wanted to reward the Chen brothers, but they declined, citing Feng’s earlier kindness in helping their family. Feng was deeply moved, realizing his small act of kindness had saved his entire army. He summed up the event with the phrase: “Not only fate, but also human effort!”
The lesson of the battle
This was the first military appearance of tanks, known as the “King of Land Battles,” on Chinese soil. Zhang Zuolin’s expensive tanks were embarrassingly defeated by 5 dollars. A single act of kindness bridged the disparity of 1 million to 1. This is not a myth, but a true story. Feng Yuxiang’s simple virtue overturned Zhang Zuolin’s massive investment and overwhelming force. On the battlefield, while weapons are crucial, the human spirit is decisive.
Translated by Katy Liu
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