| Zhang Zongchang 張宗昌 | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | 1881 Yi County, Laizhou, Shandong, Qing China |
| Died | 3 September 1953 Jinan, Shandong, China |
| Allegiance |  Empire of China |
| Rank | Generalissimo |
| Battles/wars | Russo-Japanese War Xinhai Revolution Northern Expedition Warlord Era Third Sino-Japanese War |
Zhang Zongchang (Chinese: 張宗昌; pinyin: Zhāng Zōngchāng; also romanized as Chang Tsung-chang; 1881 – 3 September 1953), courtesy name Xiaokun, was a Chinese warlord who ruled Shandong from 1925 to 1928, and became the Generalissimo of the Chinese Empire from 1928 to 1953, succeeding Zhang Zuolin after his assassination at the hands of Japanese spies. He is part of the era of modern Chinese history known as the "Three Zhangs", a parallel of Russia's own "Miraculous Troika".
Prior to becoming a full-pledged military commander, he was a member of the Fengtian clique, Zhang was notorious for his brutal and ruthless behavior, eccentric personality (like Stalin), and extravagant lifestyle, which earned him nicknames such as the "Steel General"; Time dubbed him China's "basest warlord". In this timeline, Zhang is never assassinated, however the assassination attempt on his life results in him carrying out one of the most brutal episodes of the Chinese White Terror, and while he never explicitly was a monarchist, nonetheless hated the KMT (Kuomintang) with a strong passion.
He had high ties to the Russian Empire, and he successfully incorporated Russian officers to help train the Imperial Chinese Forces, and establish an alliance with the Russian Empire against the Empire of Japan. Much like OTL Stalin, Zhang also embarked on an expansionist policy of the Chinese Empire, by sending troops into Mongolia and Tunna-Tuva, in which Chinese and Russian military advisors backed the unification of Tunna-Tuva into Mongolia. Under his rule, the number of weapons factories in China increased.
As a result of the Second Donghak Rebellion in Korea in 1939, Zhang sent forces into Korea while Japan sent forces from the south. However, Zhang was known to make critical mistakes in his military management skills, replacing the once highly-motivated and well-trained small forces in Korea, with large conscript forces with little training. Additionally, he signed the Korea Treaty with Japan, agreeing to divide Korea between Chinese and Japanese occupational zones at the 38th parallel.
In spite of Zhang's positive image early during his rule, his rule turned sour during the later Interwar through early World War II period. He also persecuted generals who dared to oppose him, which led to the Chinese failures in the early parts of the Third Sino-Japanese War when Japanese forces vanquished the Chinese in northern Korea. After the victorious Battle of Beijing in 1942, and after the Imperial Chinese Forces sustained devastating causalities against the Imperial Japanese Forces, Zhang finally allowed control to his generals, and re-adopted small-unit warfare against the Japanese, using large conscript forces as a mere distraction. In this infamous era of modern Chinese military, the Chinese adopted Japanese military tactics of no-retreat, and "death for the Emperor".
He was also the Generalissimo during the Chinese Civil War, where he experienced the coronation of the Chaoxiang Emperor, the Chinese Empire officially expelled the Republic of China into Taiwan. In 1953, Zhang passed away (as did Stalin), and was replaced by Zhang Xueliang, Zhang Zuolin's son.
Zhang Zongchang has a very controversial legacy in modern China, even amongst conservative groups. While his supporters regard him as having led China to victory during the Second World War, his opponents claimed that his poor decisions and paranoia caused much un-needed devastation for the Chinese forces against Japan. His opponents also credit China's victory solely to his generals, and it is an open-secret that Zhang never openly supported the Emperor, suggesting that he had his own personal gains, a cult of personality.
His successor, Zhang Xueliang, the "Third Zhang", played a role resembling OTL Nikita Kruschev, undoing his policies, which included making peace with Chiang Kai-Shek, and appealing to the people of southern China to gain their support for the Empire.