He Yingqin

He Yingqin (simplified Chinese: 何应钦; traditional Chinese: 何應欽; pinyin: Hé Yìngqīn) (April 2, 1890 - October 21, 1987), was one of the senior generals of Kuomintang in early stage, and a close ally of Chiang Kai-shek.

Early years

A native of Guizhou, He was healthy and bookish in his childhood. In 1907 he was enrolled by the Guiyang Military Elementary School, and transferred to the more famous Wuchang Third Army Middle School in the following year. In 1917, he was chosen by the Defense Department of Qing Dynasty to study in Zheng Wu Military Academy in Japan for his excellent performance.

When He studied abroad, he became to acquaint with Chiang, who also studied in this academy too. He learned military skills and was influenced by the theories of anti-Qing Dynasty of Tongmenghui. He joined this secret group soon. In 1911 after the outbreak of Wuchang Uprising, He came back to China with other members of Tongmenghui, to work for Chen Qimei (simplified Chinese: 陈其美; traditional Chinese: 陳其美; pinyin: Chén Qíměi)，who was governor of Shanghai and also known as Chiang’s mentor. When the war waged by Tongmenghui against Yuan Shikai failed, He had to take refuge in Japan and proceed his military training in Japanese Petty Officer Military Academy.

After He’s graduation in 1916, Liu Xianshi (simplified Chinese: 刘显世; traditional Chinese: 劉顯世; pinyin: Liú Xiǎnshì) the governor of Guizhou, planned to set up a military academy in Guizhou to train troops for himself. Liu asked his son, who studied in Japan too, to enroll some talents for this job. With the recommendation of Liu’s son and Wang Wenhua (simplified Chinese: 王文华; traditional Chinese: 王文華; pinyin: Wáng Wénhuá)，the commander of Guizhou army, He was appointed as colonel of 4th Regiment of Guizhou army.

He won Wang’s trust quickly and married Wang’s sister later. In the power struggle between Liu and Wang, He supported Wang and Liu lost his power in 1920. As a reward, He was appointed as president of academy, head of police, brigadier of the 5th Brigade of Guizhou army. But when Wang was assassinated by his rivals in 1921, the troops of Wang fell into chaos and civil strife. He was expelled from Guizhou by other generals and went to Yunnan to work for a local warlord.

Rise and fall in KMT

In 1924, Chiang made preparation for the establishment of Whampoa Military Academy under the authorization of Sun Yat-sen. Chiang knew He’s talent and recommend him to Sun. Sun sent a telegraph asking He to Guangzhou for the job. He accepted the offer and was appointed as the General Instructor of academy.

In the course of establishment, He gave Chiang lots of support and won Chiang’s appreciation. In the war against the local warlord Chen Jiongming (simplified Chinese: 陈炯明; traditional Chinese: 陳炯明; pinyin: Chén Jiǒngmíng)，students training in academy were grouped into two regiments. He was appointed as a colonel of one regiment. In the war, He proved his courage and military talent by winning several battles although he just recovered from illness, his performance gave deep impression to both Chiang and Soviet Union military advisor Vasily Blyukher (using the name as General Galen). General Galen even sent his sword to He as a gift after this battle. In July of the same year, the National Revolutionary Army was set up. The students of academy were grouped into the 1st Army Corps, Chiang as the commander, He as commander of one division, Zhou Enlai as the party representative of He’s division. In September, Chen masterminded another commotion, Chiang led the war to put down this revolt, in which He demonstrated his military talent again.

During the Northern Expedition in 1926, He succeeded Chiang as commander of the 1st Army Corps and led his army marching into Guangdong and Fujian province. After He controlled the whole area of Fujian, he conquered Zhejiang as well. When Chiang began to confront Communist Party of China and put the alliance of KMT-CCP in danger, He support Chiang as well. In 1942 He’s army and General Bai Chongxi’s army launched a massacre on CCP members in Shanghai, which announced the end of first alliance of KMT-CCP.

When Chiang took over power, the tension between him and Wang Jingwei, Guangxi Clique led by Li Zongren and General Bai rose day by day. Wang sent a statement to ask Chiang to resign, with the support from Li and Bai. Under this circumstance, He thought Chiang had made himself public enemy and was destined to fail, so he supported Chiang’s opponents activities secretly. In the meeting to decide Chiang’s future, when Bai asked Chiang to resign, Chiang turned to He for support. He said nothing, which hurt Chiang’s heart deeply and then Chiang left the meeting and announced his resignation in sorrow. Later when Chiang recalled this event, he said "Had He given me one word of support, I would not have been forced to resign."

Chiang soon regained his power for Wang and his ally’s incompetence of controlling the situation. After Chiang’s restoration, he took over He’s military command and made himself commander. After He was sacked by Chiang, he went to Hangzhou for relieving his discontent. Chiang knew He’s protest and came to meet with He. Chiang told He "Without you, I can still take over the power, but without me, you will be nothing." After careful consideration, He had to reconcile with Chiang.

He was appointed as chief of staff of the National Revolutionary Army, and training supervisor for NRA. During his term, He spared no effort to train armies for Chiang and crack down on warlords by regrouping their armies into Chiang’s own armies. When the war between Chiang and alliance of Guangxi Clique, Yan Xishan, Feng Yuxiang, He commanded the army even when his father was dead. Chiang sent his condolence, which deeply impressed He.

In 1930, He was appointed as Minister of Military Administration Department of KMT government, of which he held for over a decade. During his term, He made great contributions to military service, logistics, defense construction of KMT, and his probity and cleanness won him great reputation.

In 1931, He was appointed as commander to lead the 2nd Suppression against the Red Army of CCP, but his troops suffered great losses, which was the beginning of the end of his reputation as a skillful commander.

In the same year, Japanese armies launched the Mukden Incident in Manchuria, its ambition of colonizing China was uncovered. But Chiang regarded CCP as archrival and placed priority on suppression of CCP forces, Japanese should be dealt with in a compromised way instead. Thus He was sent to Northern China to handle these tough issues for his friendly way to Japanese. In 1933 Japanese armies invaded Rehe and broke through the KMT defense along the Great Wall. He replaced General Zhang Xueliang as chairman of Beijing Military Committee, which was the supreme organ in charge of military force of Northern China. He advocated no direct confrontation with Japanese troops, and signed the Tanggu Cease- Fire Accord with General Okamura Yasuji (岗村宁次), who was deputy chief of staff of Kantogun at that time.

After that, He oppressed campaigns and efforts against Japanese, and disarmed Feng Yuxiang’s anti-Japanese army. But Japanese never got satisfied, they provoked confrontation from time to time, which would lead to a general war at last. In 1935, Japanese troops made several incidents. When the Blue Shirts Society, the secret organization of Whampoa Clique of KMT, and a firm anti-Japanese group fought back with assassination and other violent activities. Japanese argued that it was violation of Tanggu Accord signed between China and Japan which was to keep status quo of Northern China. Under the name of Yoshijiro Umezu (梅津美治郎 ), who was commander of Japanese troops in Northern China at that time, Japanese spy agency under the direction of Kenji Doihara (土肥原贤二) provided Investigation on BSS as appendix of a memo sent to He. He agreed with all issues proposed by Japanese in this memo, which later was called He-Umezu Accord. According to this accord, all force having relation with BSS inclusive of military police, regular force such as 2nd Division and 25th Division should evacuated from Beijing and out of Hebei province. BSS had to retreat from Beijing in humiliation.

With KMT force out of Northern China, He had little room for maneuver. Then he returned to Nanjing for doing the job as minister. In Dec 1936, Xian Incident broke out, Chiang was taken custody by General Zhang’s army. There were disagreements in KMT leaders on how to handle this incident. Chiang’s wife Soong May-ling was afraid of Chiang’s being killed and urged peace negotiation. He’s role was quite controversial. He was voted as acting commander to lead the KMT armies for rescue of Chiang. Historians used to say that He strongly supported to solve this incident by force, which He contacted with Wang Jingwei and asked him back to China for taking charge of KMT, and sent two armies marching to Xian fighting against Zhang’s army. There was a saying when Madam Chiang came to He and asking for peaceful solution. He refuted her as a woman knowing little politics should leave away form state issues. But new evidences showed that actually it was Whampoa clique especially those young and extremism officers of Blue Shirts Society launched the military attack against Zhang, and He even rejected their request for support army.

Madam Chiang came to Xian for peace talk and did succeed in rescuing Chiang. When Chiang came back, he distrusted He again. Nonetheless, He still held his position of minister but with little real power.

When the Chinese anti-Japanese war turned into a general war after the occurrence of Marco Polo Bridge Incident in 1937, He was appointed as chief of staff and worked with Chiang for drafting military plans. In 1944, with his title of minister was took over by Chiang’s favorite Chen Cheng, He was appointed as General Commander of Chinese Military Area ,which was a honorable title instead of real power, and sent to Yunnan to train the Chinese Expedition Army, which was set up under the proposal of General Joseph Stilwell, for assisting in the ally force’s operation in Southeast Asia.

In Aug 1945, when Japan announced its surrender under no condition, He was appointed as representative of both Chinese Government and Southeast Asia Ally Forces to host the surrender of Japanese troops in China. On Sept 9th, He accepted the statement of surrender submitted by General Okamura Yasuji, who was General Commander of Japanese Troops in China at that time. This historic moment put He under the spotlight of the world, and was the peak of He’s career.

In 1946, KMT government set up Defense Department to take charge of the military attack against CCP forces in the Chinese Civil War, but He lost the race with Chen Cheng and Bai, who were appointed as Chief of Staff and Defense Minister respectively. He was sent to Security Council of United Nations as director of Chinese military delegation. One year later, He was called back to be senior military advisor, and regained the position of Defense Minister in 1948 witnessing the collapse of KMT power.

In 1949, Chiang had to resign for the third time, Li Zongren was voted as acting president. In order to contain Li’s power and influence, Chiang asked He to take the job of speaker of Executive Yuan of Li’s cabinet. He took the job and proposed the plan of cease-fire first and peace negotiation later, for KMT to win time for its governance in China. But CCP leaders were not so foolish as to be fooled this stalling static. They exploited the military victory and crossed the Yangtze River conquering Nanjing, the capital of KMT government. In May He resigned with his cabinet members in Guangzhou.

Later years

When he came to Taiwan, he said he would leave the politics for introspection of the failure of KMT. When Chiang was reelected as president of Republic of China in 1950, he lost his election as member of central committee of KMT, and only got honorable title of senior advisor.

He took charge of several clubs and associations working for KMT, and spent most of his time playing sports, bridge, and planting. In 1986 he suffered from apoplexy and was sent to a hospital, where, after several months treatment, Chiang died on October 21, 1987. With the nickname of Lucky General, he survived battles and campaigns, and lived longer than most of the patriarchs of KMT inclusive of Chiang.