On the stage of history, Yang Hucheng and Zhang Xueliang are like two bright stars, but the gap is difficult to ignore. Behind the Xi'an Incident is a huge gap between the two historical giants. Although the age difference is 7 years, the difference between them in terms of military strength and warlord status is significant, which is not only due to the difference in personal efforts, but also from the different starting points and circumstances of their families and warlord families.
Between Yang Hucheng and Zhang Xueliang, the 7-year age gap is only a superficial phenomenon. Behind this is the different fate trajectories of the two families, shaping the completely different starting points of the two. Zhang Xueliang's father, Zhang Zuolin, was the king of the Northeast, which paved the pyramid-like cornerstone for Zhang Shaoshuai's rise.
When he was young, Zhang Xueliang relied on his family power to get strong support, and along the way, Mr. Guo took care of everything, even after Mr. Guo's death, Zhang Zuolin still used his means to shelter him. On the contrary, Yang Hucheng's family background is not so brilliant. Yang Hucheng's father, Yang Fuxing, was an anti-Qing fighter who officially entered the political arena after he joined the People's Army at the age of 18.
Yang Hucheng has been traveling for more than 20 years before he is qualified to talk to Zhang Xueliang, and Zhang Xueliang ascended to the position of the first young marshal early with his family resources. At the beginning of the business, Yang Hucheng laid a foundation in the local area with great difficulty, and gradually formed a militia of 100 people by relying on his own efforts and courage.
However, at the same time, Zhang Xueliang, with the support of Zhang Zuolin, has become a student of the Northeast Army Martial Arts Hall, and the strength of his subordinates has gradually surpassed Yang Hucheng. In 1923, the 22-year-old Zhang Xueliang became the commander of the second echelon of the Eastern Route Army of the Feng Department, controlling many juniors and disciples, and becoming the core figure of the entire Feng Department. At the same time, Yang Hucheng could only watch his Jing ** collapse, and even lost his troops for a time.
After a series of wars, Zhang Xueliang has already become an important figure who can influence the direction of the whole country. However, at this time, Yang Hucheng was still trying to expand his 17th Route Army into three divisions, and his power was dwarfed by Zhang Xueliang. After the Northern Expedition, Zhang Xueliang had a high status, while Yang Hucheng was only a subordinate of the Thirteenth Taibao of the Northwest Army, on the verge of warlord melee.
In the later period of the Central Plains War, Zhang Xueliang's status became more and more prominent, and Yang Hucheng could only reluctantly expand his 17th Route Army to three divisions. After the 918 Incident, although the strength of the Northeast Army was greatly reduced, Zhang Xueliang's armament was still twice that of Yang Hucheng. It was not until the eve of the Xi'an Incident that part of the Northeast Army was stationed in Shaanxi, so that Yang Hucheng had the strength to act together with Zhang Xueliang. However, this is not due to Yang Hucheng's personal inferiority, but due to the difference in the starting point of the two. Zhang Xueliang is the second generation of warlords, while Yang Hucheng is an entrepreneur from scratch.
Although both were important figures on the historical stage at the time, Yang Hucheng and Zhang Xueliang's life styles, family backgrounds, and historical status were very different, which led to a lack of common language and emotional resonance between them. Zhang Xueliang, as the fourth son, has a lofty status and is the real first young marshal; Yang Hucheng is an entrepreneur who started from scratch, and Zhang Xueliang's status on the historical stage is very different.
In this long history, Yang Hucheng and Zhang Xueliang may not be equals, but they have each written their own glorious chapters in different ways. The difference between them is not only a difference in age and military strength, but also a huge difference in family background, historical circumstances and personal efforts. The brilliance of these two historical giants is enough to inspire future generations and lead the wheels of history to roll forward.