A Study On The Soldiers Sources Of The Shanxi Warlord Clique's Army

The Shanxi Warlord Clique's Army,from 1912 to 1949,was founded by Yan Xishan and pledged loyalty to him all the time.It was based on New Army in the late Qing dynasty in Shanxi province.There has been mercenary system,not conscription system as Yan said,in Shanxi province in the late Qing dynasty.Plenty of sharper soldiers were cut out,and more local law-abiding people were admitted to join the army,as a result,the soldiers structure was optimized,for example,the proportion of soldiers from Shanxi province has risen from 20%to 80%.The achievements of military reform in the late Qing dynasty were disrupted and superfluous troops appeared as a result of the Revolution of 1911.Yan,after the revolution,were in military power in Shanxi and started to reorganize the army.Its organized anarchy was suspended,the superfluous troops were cut out,and the military construction was recovered.Yan in 1917 became part time Shanxi provincial governor,in both military and governmental power,as a result,he could construct his army on his own way.The arms expansion was advanced for four times,from 1916 to 1930,and the Shanxi Warlord Clique's Army became essential in the North China.At the same time,conscription system was carried out in Shanxi province,which was a great event for both the army and the province.Its manpower resources were law-abiding people but bandits or refugees.The soldiers from Shanxi province again played a main role in the army,but they only came from some plain,traffic convenient and rich places.Moreover,mercenary system was still in practice.It can be concluded that the conscription system was in trial but mature period.The main age of soldiers,from 20 to 40,was appropriate.The majority of the people service in army in short time,so veterans were scarce resources.Their backgrounds were mainly poor farmer' families.Their educational level was low generally.1920s was the golden age for the Shanxi Warlord Clique's Army,but the Central Plains War in 1930 became the turning point from thriving to downfall.Yan,again in power in 1931,concentrated on the economic but military construction.The army's strength was recovered to some extent,but below expectation.In the Second Sino-Japanese War,the Shanxi Warlord Clique's Army had to retreat to western Shanxi,a narrow and sparsely populated area.Short of soldiers,the soldiers structure was deteriorated,such as population aging,brought to the attention."As Soldiers and Farmers As Well",a characteristic conscription system,was in practice in seven countries in western Shanxi since 1943,which increased the number of soldiers.Overcoming difficulties,the Shanxi Warlord Clique's Army finally ushered Japan' surrendering.With the help of CPC,the Shanxi New Army was established by Yan.Different from old Shanxi Warlord Clique's Army,its soldiers were recruited through political mobilization,and political commissar system was set up.It was vital.Afraid of expansion of CPC,Yan caused December Incident,as a result,the Shanxi New Army was divided,and some was led by CPC,the other was incorporate into the old Shanxi Warlord Clique's Army.After Japan' surrendering in 1945,Yan returned to Taiyuan.Because of expansion of CPC in Shanxi province,Yan-controlled areas has been shrinking.On this background,Yan gave order that popularize "As Soldiers and Farmers As Well"to all Yan-controlled areas.Thanks to this measure,its soldiers sources all the time were not exhausted.Taiyuan under siege,no external manpower supporting,Yan organized all inhabitants into military organization,so its manpower sources were sufficient.To strengthen its power,the Shanxi Warlord Clique's Army incorporated Japanese troops surrendering in Shanxi province,who could participate in the war against CPC.This Japanese troops to some extent prolonged life-span of the Shanxi Warlord Clique's Army,but its aid was limited.The Shanxi Warlord Clique's Army was wiped out in 1949 when Taiyuan and Tatung were captured.