Last time we spoke about the second Zhili-Fengtian War. After the first Zhili-Fengtian War of 1922, the Zhili warlords took control of Beijing. Cao Kun bribed his way into the presidency as Zhang Zuolin retreated to Manchuria to rebuild his

Fall and Rise of China: 2nd Zhili-Fengtian War

13 days ago 32m 1s

Last time we spoke about the first Jiangsu-Zhejiang War. Wu Peifu and Zhang Zuolin became swift rivals after the first Zhili-Fengtian War. The Zhili clique remained in control of Beijing and began bullying everyone into submission, trying to

Fall and Rise of China: First Jiangsu-Zhejiang War

20 days ago 31m 38s

Last time we spoke about the first Zhili-Fengtian War. The Anhui-Zhili War of 1920 saw the defeat of the Anhui clique by the Zhili and Fengtian cliques, reshaping territorial control. Despite their victory, stability remained nowhere to be se

Fall and Rise of China: First Zhili–Fengtian War

27 days ago 33m 51s

Last time we spoke about the tyrannical regime of Ungern-Sternberg in Mongolia. Ungern-Sternberg's secret police led by Colonel Leonid Sipailov targeted Reds and Jews, executing nearly 900 people, including over 50 Jews. Meanwhile, Ungern-St

Fall and Rise of China: Case of Mongolia and Tibet

Jun 3rd, 2024 30m 56s

Last time we spoke about the Mongolian Revolution of 1921. Mongolia found herself stuck between two crumbling empires who both were engulfed in brutal civil wars. Warlord Duan Qirui invaded Mongolia effectively making it a protectorate. This

Fall and Rise of China: Mongolian Revolution of 1921

May 27th, 2024 30m 50s

Last time we spoke about the rise of the Spirit Soldier movement. As a result of the hardship brought upon the common people of China during China’s Warlord Era a new group known as the Spirit Soldiers rose up. Motivated by grievances against

Fall and Rise of China: Spirit Soldier Rebellions

May 20th, 2024 32m 33s

Last time we spoke about the first Guangdong-Guangxi War. The First Anhui-Zhili War not only affected northern China, it also put into motion many events in the south. Viceroy Lu Rongting, working for Duan Qirui and his Anhui Clique was sent

Fall and Rise of China: First Guangdong-Guangxi War

May 13th, 2024 30m 9s

Last time we spoke about the invasion of Outer Mongolia and the First Anhui-Zhili War. During the Xinhai Revolution, Outer Mongolia declared independence from the Qing Dynasty. Conflict arose between Mongolian nobles and Chinese authorities,

3.98 Fall and Rise of China: Invasion of Outer Mongolia & First Anhui/Zhili War

May 6th, 2024 33m 5s

Last time we spoke about Manchu Restoration of Zhang Xun. After the death of Yuan Shikai, Duan Qirui maneuvered to maintain control amidst the political chaos. After being outed from Premiership for trying to drag China into WW1, General Zh

Fall and Rise of China: Manchu Restoration of the Pigtail General

Apr 29th, 2024 30m 9s

Last time we spoke about the Southern Warlords. Yuan Shikai's abuse of power prompted declarations of independence from several southern regions, leading to the Second Revolution of 1913. Despite initial successes, Yuan Shikai's Beiyang Arm

Fall and Rise of China: Meet the Southern Warlords

Apr 22nd, 2024 34m 59s

Last time we spoke about Feng Yuxiang and Zhang Zongchang. Both men were born into poverty, rose through the ranks of the military, earning popularity. Feng became known for his integrity and generosity. He played a pivotal role during the Xi

Fall and Rise of China: Feng Yuxiang, Zhang Zongchang: the Angel and Devil

Apr 15th, 2024 34m 47s

Last time we spoke about the Northern Warlords and their respective factions. We covered the three big names, Duan Qirui and his Anhui clique; Wu Peifu and his Zhili cliques and Zhang Zuolin and his Fengtian clique. We also went into the smal

Fall and Rise of China: Meet the Northern Warlords

Apr 8th, 2024 38m 49s

Last time we spoke about the May fourth movement of 1919 . The Xinhai Revolution of 1911 sparked the May Fourth Movement marked by nationalism, anti-imperialism, and a quest for modernization. Disillusioned with traditional values and foreign

Fall and Rise of China: May Fourth Movement of 1919

Apr 1st, 2024 33m 32s

Last time we spoke about the New Culture Movement. China had seen humiliation after humiliation and her population was fed up. The leaking of secret dealings by foreign powers, Japan and members of the Chinese government alongside a weak stan

Fall and Rise of China: New Culture Movement

Mar 26th, 2024 34m 10s

Last time we spoke about the end of WW1 and China’s bitter experience at the Paris Peace conference. Yes it WW1 brought a lot of drama to China. Yuan Shikai and later prominent figures like Duan Qirui took the poor habit of making secret deal

Fall and Rise of China: China & the Treaty of Versailles

Mar 18th, 2024 32m 17s

Last time we spoke about the Twenty-One Demands and the rise of the Walrus Emperor, Yuan Shikai. Japan certainly had their work cut out for them during WW1. Seizing upon every possible opportunity Japan occupied Shandong province after the si

Fall and Rise of China: Twenty-Demands & the Walrus emperor

Mar 12th, 2024 37m 7s

Last time we spoke about Chinese laborers during the Great War. Although China took upa stance of neutrality at the offset of WW1, there was still this enormous desire to join the Entente side. The new Republic of China wanted to get a seat a

Fall and Rise of China: China’s forgotten role during the Great War

Mar 4th, 2024 36m 30s

Last time we spoke about the rise of Yuan Shikai, the outbreak of WW1 and the siege of Tsingtao. Yuan Shikai used every dirty little trick to seize and maintain his authority in the new republic. He forced the KMT’s hand, prompting Dr. Sun Ya

Fall and Rise of China: Great War and the Siege of Tsingtao

Feb 27th, 2024 45m 56s

Last time we spoke about the Wuchang Uprising and the Xinhai revolution. The revolutionary armies formed a massive assault, managing to seize Wuchang, Hanyang and Hankou. However, the Qing Dynasty had a card up their sleeve in the form of Yua

Fall and Rise of China: Xinhai Revolution of 1911

Feb 19th, 2024 34m 59s

Last time we spoke about the Railway Protection Movement and the Wuchang Uprising. Emperor Guangxi and Empress Dowager Cixi were dead leaving regent Zaifeng in charge of the ailing dynasty. Alongside their deaths, the Guangzhou-Hankou and Sic

Fall and Rise of China: Wuchang Uprising

Feb 12th, 2024 32m 53s

Last time we spoke about the New Policies of the ailing Qing Dynasty and the rise of revolutionaries, such as Dr. Sun Yat-Sen. Empress Dowager Cixi begrudgingly had to endorse major reforms to try and keep her ailing dynasty alive. It was a s

Fall and Rise of China: Old Ways Meet New Policies

Feb 5th, 2024 35m 13s

Last time we spoke about the invasion of Sakhalin and the Portsmouth Treaty. The Japanese had defeated their enemy upon the land and sea, yet the reality was, both empires were ailing. They were both verging bankruptcy, but Russia held the ed

Fall and Rise of China: Russo-Japanese War #11: Portsmouth

Jan 29th, 2024 35m 44s

Last time we spoke about the legendary battle of Tsushima. Admiral Rozhdestvenski traveled across the globe to bring the Baltic fleet to the Pacific to give a climactic fight to Admiral Togo’s combined fleet. Yet during the journey, Port Arth

Fall and Rise of China: Russo-Japanese War #10: Tsushima

Jan 22nd, 2024 46m 47s

Last time we spoke about the end of the land campaign for the Russo-Japanese War, the battle of Mukden. Kuropatkin had been served defeat after defeat after defeat and found himself against the wall at Mukden. Meanwhile Oyama received reinfor

Fall and Rise of China: Russo-Japanese War #9: Fall of Mukden

Jan 16th, 2024 31m 4s

Last time we spoke about the bitter stalemate the emerged during the battles of Shaho and Sandepu. General Kuropatkin had finally rid himself of the nuisance that was Admiral Alexeiev. However his quasi replacement would turn out to perhaps b