The Brewing Storm: Origins of the Zhe-Feng Conflict

The Zhe-Feng War of 1925 represented a critical juncture in China’s turbulent warlord period, emerging from the complex web of regional rivalries and shifting alliances that characterized the post-Yuan Shikai era. This conflict between Fengtian clique leader Zhang Zuolin and Zhejiang warlord Sun Chuanfang was not an isolated incident, but rather the culmination of years of escalating tensions following the Second Zhili-Fengtian War.

At the heart of the dispute lay Zhang Zuolin’s aggressive expansion southward after his 1924 victory. The Fengtian leader had systematically violated the “Shanghai Non-Militarization Agreement” by deploying troops to the strategic port city, while simultaneously extending his control over Jiangsu and Anhui provinces. This created a semi-circular encirclement around Sun Chuanfang’s Zhejiang territory, placing the Zhejiang governor in an increasingly precarious position. As Fengtian forces consolidated their positions in Shanghai, Jiangsu, and Anhui, Sun recognized that preemptive action might be his only chance to avoid being swallowed by Zhang’s expanding domain.

The political landscape grew more volatile when Duan Qirui’s provisional government appointed two key Fengtian figures – Yang Yuting as governor of Jiangsu and Jiang Dengxuan as governor of Anhui – on August 29, 1925. These appointments, coming just two days after their announcement, galvanized Sun Chuanfang into action. On August 31, he convened a secret meeting with his senior officers and lodged a formal protest with Duan Qirui’s government. Recognizing the growing public resentment against Fengtian’s heavy-handed rule, Sun began laying the groundwork for a coalition of regional forces threatened by Zhang Zuolin’s expansionism.

The Gathering Alliance: Anti-Fengtian Forces Unite

As Fengtian’s influence spread southward, various regional militarists sought safety in alliances. Henan governor Yue Weijun, facing pressure from Fengtian-aligned forces in Zhili and Shandong, spearheaded the formation of a Hubei-Henan alliance with Hubei governor Xiao Yaonan in July 1925. This mutual defense pact aimed to create a united front against northern Fengtian forces.

Meanwhile, former Zhili clique members Feng Yuxiang, Sun Chuanfang, and Xiao Yaonan established the “New Zhili Alliance.” Initially professing loyalty to Duan Qirui’s government for self-preservation, these warlords soon realized Duan’s inability to restrain Zhang Zuolin. They turned to Feng Yuxiang’s formidable National Army as a potential counterweight to Fengtian power. In a strategic masterstroke, Sun Chuanfang and Feng Yuxiang formed a sworn brotherhood, agreeing to coordinate attacks against Fengtian forces from both north and south.

However, the National Army’s repeated strategic retreats and Feng Yuxiang’s public declarations of focusing on “developing the Northwest” allowed Fengtian forces to concentrate on their southern expansion without northern distractions. This miscalculation by potential allies left Sun Chuanfang facing Zhang Zuolin’s forces with reduced support.

The Outbreak of War: Sun Chuanfang Strikes First

By late September 1925, with Fengtian generals Yang Yuting and Jiang Dengxuan formally assuming their governorships in Nanjing and Bengbu respectively, tensions reached breaking point. On October 7, Sun Chuanfang hosted a pivotal military conference in Hangzhou, attended by representatives from Zhejiang, Fujian, Jiangsu, Anhui, and Jiangxi. The meeting resulted in the formation of the “Zhe-Min-Su-Wan-Gan Allied Army” with Sun as commander-in-chief, marking the formal beginning of the Zhe-Feng War.

Sun’s military strategy was characteristically swift and decisive. Within days, he mobilized five divisions along different fronts:
– First and Second Routes targeting Shanghai via the Shanghai-Hangzhou Railway
– Third Route (commanded personally) as central reserve
– Fourth and Fifth Routes advancing toward Suzhou from Changxing

On October 15, Sun officially assumed command and launched his offensive. His forces moved with remarkable speed, capturing Shanghai’s Longhua district by midnight that same day. The following day, Sun issued a scathing denunciation of Fengtian rule, citing their violation of the Shanghai agreement, military atrocities during the May Thirtieth Movement, and general misgovernment as justification for his campaign.

The Tide Turns: Fengtian Retreat and Allied Victories

Faced with Sun’s lightning offensive, Fengtian forces found themselves dangerously overextended along a thin defensive line stretching from Shanhaiguan to Shanghai. Yang Yuting, recognizing the strategic vulnerability, ordered a tactical withdrawal from Shanghai on October 14, publicly reaffirming the “Shanghai Non-Militarization” principle even as his forces retreated northward.

The Allied advance proved unstoppable. Key victories came in rapid succession:
– October 18: Allied forces captured Danyang after fierce fighting
– October 19: Yang Zhen’s troops took Zhenjiang
– October 20: Allied armies reached Nanjing’s Xiaguan district
By October 21, with Jiangsu provincial forces defecting to the Allies, Fengtian troops abandoned Nanjing without major resistance.

The collapse continued in Anhui, where governor Jiang Dengxuan was forced to resign on October 23 after just one month in office, fleeing northward by armored train. Within weeks, Fengtian forces had been driven back to their stronghold at Xuzhou, marking a stunning reversal of their earlier southern expansion.

The Wider Conflict: National and International Dimensions

The Zhe-Feng War quickly escalated beyond a regional conflict. The dramatic return of ousted Zhili leader Wu Peifu in late October added new complexity. Proclaimed commander of a “Fourteen Province Anti-Bandit Allied Army” on October 21, Wu’s resurgence threatened to open a second front against Fengtian but also created tensions with potential allies like Feng Yuxiang’s National Army.

Internationally, Japan’s evolving stance significantly impacted the conflict. Initially declaring neutrality, Japanese authorities gradually intervened to protect their substantial interests in Manchuria, ultimately tilting the balance in Zhang Zuolin’s favor through both diplomatic pressure and military positioning along the South Manchuria Railway.

Aftermath and Legacy: Reshaping the Warlord Landscape

The Zhe-Feng War concluded with Sun Chuanfang’s forces capturing Xuzhou on November 7, 1925. At a victory celebration on November 8, Sun declared Xuzhou as his northern limit and began consolidating control over five provinces (Zhejiang, Fujian, Jiangsu, Anhui, and Jiangxi), establishing himself as a major independent warlord power.

While the war successfully checked Fengtian’s southern expansion, it failed to fundamentally alter China’s fractured political landscape. The conflict demonstrated both the fragility of warlord alliances and the continued influence of foreign powers, particularly Japan, in Chinese domestic affairs. Sun Chuanfang’s victory temporarily created a new power center in eastern China, but like other warlord regimes, it would ultimately prove unable to provide lasting stability or resist the rising tide of revolutionary nationalism.

The Zhe-Feng War stands as a vivid illustration of the complex interplay between regional militarism, personal ambition, and foreign intervention that defined China’s warlord era, while setting the stage for the even more dramatic conflicts that would soon follow, including Guo Songling’s rebellion against Zhang Zuolin and the Northern Expedition.