In the early 1920s, there were many struggles between the three factions for power and interests. There has been a war between Wan Zhi and Zhifeng. Shandong soldiers belonging to different factions also fought many times on the battlefield. It is worth mentioning that at that time, although these Shandong generals were their own masters, they were able to generally maintain the "friendship of fellow villagers" in the war. For example, the direct general Wu captured Qu Tongfeng of Anhui Province alive on the battlefield and gave him considerable preferential treatment. During the second direct service war, Zhang Zongchang, who led the direct service army, shouted "Shandong people should not fight Shandong people" and incorporated many troops originally under the command of Wu.
(The pictures are all around the former residence of Zhang Zongchang in Jia Zhu Village, Shahe City, Laizhou City, and were taken by Laizhou Bay people.)
The record that "Shandong people don't fight Shandong people" can be found in the book History of Northern Warlords written by scholar Ding Zhongjiang. The original text said: "Zhang Zongchang is a native of Shandong and a fellow countryman of Wu (admire). Although he was snubbed by Wu, he still admired Wu in his heart. In the second battle of direct service, he collected a large number of Wu Jun remnants under the slogan that Shandong people should not fight Shandong people. "
At that time, Zhang Zongchang served as deputy commander of Feng Jun's Second Army. After Feng Yuxiang defected, he led the army into the customs from the cold mouth and directly won Luanzhou. Luanzhou fell, and the retreat of the troops directly under Shanhaiguan and Qinhuangdao front lines was cut off, and most of them became prisoners. In the TV series Jong, his deeds are also reflected.
Zhang Zongchang shouted "Shandong people don't beat Shandong people", which has two main meanings. On the one hand, it shows that he, as a native of Yexian County, is a fellow countryman with Wu (Penglai), Jimo (Jimo) and Peng Shouxin (Pingdu), and his hometown is close. On the other hand, Zhang Zongchang himself had the experience of going to Kanto. Many of his soldiers are also from Shandong. As the main force of the third division of Wu, there are also many Shandong people among the officers and men at lower levels.
During the Beiyang period, it was common for defeat to be incorporated. If they can't escape this fate, soldiers are psychologically more willing to be recruited by fellow villagers, which has been a tradition since the Xiang Army and Huai Army in the Qing Dynasty. After Zhang Zongchang shouted this slogan, most of the troops that Wu could not retreat were put into the former camp.
In the Biography of Zhang Zongchang written by scholar Su Quanyou, although Zhang Zongchang's slogan was not directly recorded, it was also mentioned that there were so many troops directly under him at that time that after the expansion of the team, "(original) middle and lower officers were all promoted to the rank of general, and because it was too late to replace the epaulettes with new finished products, they were all replaced with yellow epaulettes with tin foil."
Although Zhang Zongchang can't read, he has a clear mind on this matter. His slogan greatly increased his military strength (he was promoted to commander himself) and laid the foundation for his political status.
According to Zhang Zongchang Biography, when he later expelled Zheng (an Anhui native) as the Shandong army, he played the hometown card again.
At this time, Zheng wanted to take the provincial army away and keep his political capital in order to make a comeback. In order to contain each other, Zhang Zongchang went to work in the provincial army. The general meaning is: "You are from Shandong and I am from Shandong. Follow me and I won't treat you badly. " Finally, Zheng's plan failed.
Zhang Zongchang, who was born in the army and didn't understand politics, had a bad reputation as a whole during his tenure as a Shandong army supervisor. But at that time, in his hometown of Yexian, there were many people following him. Therefore, the people still admit that he "attaches importance to homesickness."