First Zhili–Fengtian War

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First Zhili–Fengtian War
Part of Warlord Era
Date April 10, 1922 – June 18, 1922 Location Zhili, China Result Zhili victory
Belligerents
Zhili clique	Fengtian clique
Commanders and leaders
Wu Peifu	Zhang Zuolin
Strength
100,000	120,000
Casualties and losses
Low	20,000 killed 10,000 deserted 40,000 surrendered

The First Zhili–Fengtian War (First Chihli-Fengtien War; simplified Chinese: 第一次直奉战争; traditional Chinese: 第一次直奉戰爭; pinyin: Dìyīcì Zhífèng Zhànzhēng) was a 1922 conflict in the Republic of China's Warlord Era between the Zhili and Fengtian cliques for control of Beijing. The war led to the defeat of the Fengtian clique and the expulsion of its leader, Zhang Zuolin, from the coalition Zhili-Fengtian government in Beijing. Wu Peifu was credited as the strategist behind Zhili's victory.

Prelude

Having jointly seized Beijing in 1920, the Fengtian and Zhili cliques controlled the nominal government of China. Tensions soon began building between the two cliques in their uneasy coalition government. In 1922 the Fengtian clique replaced Premier Jin Yunpeng with Liang Shiyi without getting prior consent of their partner, the Zhili clique. While the Zhili had the backing of the British and Americans, the Fengtian leader was backed by Japan. The Japanese government had once supported their enemy, the Anhui clique, but had switched sides soon after the change of power. On 25 December 1921, a cabinet under Liang Shiyi's leadership was formed with strong support from Zhang Zuolin, whereupon the new cabinet immediately granted amnesty to six former cabinet members of the Anhui clique.^[1] The Zhili clique strongly opposed the plan but were overruled.

The conflict further intensified as the new cabinet refused to give some $3 million in military budgets previously promised to the Zhili clique. As a result, Wu Peifu and other Zhili clique members forced Liang Shiyi to resign on 25 January 1922. With the pro-Fengtian clique cabinet having collapsed only a month after its formation, Zhang Zuolin threatened to resolve the conflict by force. Troops were deployed on 10 April 1922, though Wu Peifu and his Zhili clique did not formally denounce their opponent until 25 April 1922.

Forces

Zhili armies deployed around 100,000 troops, while the

The Zhili armies' commander-in-chief and commander of the western front was Wu Peifu. The commanders-in-chief of the central front and eastern fronts were Wang Chengbin (王承斌) and Zhang Guorong (张国熔), respectively. Zhang Fulai (张富来) was the deputy commander-in-chief of the eastern front:

Zhang Zuolin was commander-in-chief of the Fengtian army and commander of the eastern front. His deputy commander-in-chief and deputy commander of the eastern front was Sun Liechen (孙烈臣). The commander of the western front was

The Zhili army was deployed across three fronts. Wu Peifu's force, headed by the 3rd Division in the west, was headquartered in the region of Glazed Glass River (Liulihe, 琉璃河). Wang Chengbin (王承斌)'s force was spearheaded by the 23rd Division at Gu'an (固安). Zhang Guorong (张国熔)'s force, with the 26th Division, was stationed in the east at Great City (Dacheng, 大城), and later was reinforced by Zhang Fulai (张富来)'s 24th Division. Wu Peifu was the commander-in-chief of all the Zhili forces.

Western front

Fengtian troops deployed on 10 April 1922. After war broke on April 29, the Zhili army on the eastern front was driven back to

This successful counteroffensive by the Fengtian clique was, however, short-lived. Wu Peifu changed tactics by faking a retreat, luring the advancing Fengtian army into an ambush. As the unsuspecting Fengtian troops advanced, they overstretched themselves. Seizing the opportunity, Zhili troops flanked the enemy and achieved victory. This time the victory was complete; the remaining Fengtian troops of the western front were completely annihilated, and the Zhili army turned its attention eastward.

Eastern front

The Fengtian army on the eastern front was initially victorious, with the Zhili forces holding on in a desperate rearguard action. However, as news of their defeat in the west reached the first echelon of the Fengtian army, brigade commander Bao Deshan (鲍德山) refused to continue to attack the enemy and left his flank dangerously exposed. In danger of being cut off,

The third echelon of the Fengtian army on the eastern front was under the command of Li Jinglin (李景林), and initially succeeded in beating back attacks at Yaoma crossing (Yaomadu, 姚马渡). Though capturing over 1000 enemy troops, reports of the western defeat saw morale collapse. Taking advantage of the situation, Zhili forces renewed attacks on the third echelon headquarters in Horse Factory (Machang, 马厂), succeeding in killing and capturing over 7000 Fengtian troops and forcing the latter to give up Poplar Willow Green (Yangliuqing, 杨柳青). Third-echelon forces retreated to Northern Warehouse (Beicang, 北仓). While preparing to organize a defense at Junliangcheng, the Fengtian troops ran into nearly 20,000 Zhili reinforcements, which had arrived by train. The Fengtian troops were defeated, and the survivors were forced to withdraw to Luanzhou.

By this time it was obvious the Fengtian clique was soundly defeated, and on May 5, the 23rd Division of the Zhili army—under the command of Wang Chengbin (王承斌)--entered Tianjin. Fengtian forces suffered over 20,000 dead, 10,000 desertions and 40,000 troops surrendered or taken prisoner by the Zhili clique.

Conclusion

By this time British missionaries convinced the Zhili clique that the British consul at

• List of battles of the Chinese Civil War
• National Revolutionary Army
• Chinese Civil War
• Warlord Era
• Second Zhili–Fengtian War
• Zhang Zuolin
• Wu Peifu

References