"Divided we shall fall, United we shall conquer."
Ever since Chiang Kai-Shek took over control of the Kuomintang from Sun Yat-sen, China slowly began rebuilding itself from the ashes and started advancing in the 20th century at a steady phases. Even though numerous technology had to be ignored for the Kuomintang to reach this point, their lack was only slightly felt as Chiang focused mainly on the modernization of the Chinese industry and improving the condition of the armed forces. He was determined to make out the Kuomintang forces one of the most professionals armies in Asia, yet the Civil War, the Sino-Japanese war and numerous economic crisis pushed China way behind schedule, being considered at best a mediocre nation when talking about it's industry. Now, in 1936, after the crisis were over, Chiang re-started his projects to modernize China, even with the Civil war still in full swing. Yet once again, Chiang plans to modernize China were left a lowest priority, with the population felling neglected and angry at the fact that the Kuomintang cannot achieve a one, united nation. As such, a part of the Chinese industry was sent towards the production of consumer goods to appease the people and buy time.
In the summer of '36, the the Chinese Civil war was finally brought to a halt, more well known in the west as the Xi'an Incident. Peace was signed between the two nations, the Communist being left in isolated in their mountains while the Kuomintang was re-organizing it's armed forces, splitting the whole of China in three fronts. Chiang Kai-Shek, the leader of the Kuomintang, took the position of supreme commander of the Manchurian/Shanxi front, preparing the troops for any Japanese threat coming this way. At first, the warlord was not happy about having Kuomintang troops marching around their country, but after intimidating them by the sheer numbers of the Kuomintang army and the Royal Japanese army, the warlord decided that it would of been best to ally with Chiang rather then be split apart between the Kuomintang and the Japanese.
The Southern front, respectively Gunaxi and Yunnan, was assigned to the German military envoy, Alexander von Falkenhausen and was assigned to prepare for an upcoming war with either of the warlords. Although such a war was not to be seen, as after only 1-2 months after Shanxi entered an alliance with the Kuomintang in August, Guanxi and Yunnan followed, each a month after the other. When the news hit Chiang, he ordered Falkenhausen to come into Shanxi, to control the military forces that shall be stationed in Beijing and to command the center of border (Beijing-Kalgan) while Chiang controlled the west and the east (Tianjin-Jining).
Withe the re-deployment of Alexander, the southern front was rubbed off the map and was assigned to Long Yu, the leader of Yunnan and the commander of the third front. He was assigned to protect every beach from any possible foreign invasion, and was assigned more then half of the combined Chinese armies. Chiang was aware he could not challenge the IJN's supremacy of the sea, as such he ordered the construction of several fortifications on the beaches, thus freeing up more troops for the front line.
As such, the united Chinese army was organized and China's industry was catching up with the west at an alarming rate, being well ahead of numerous nations in the quality of machine tools. The rest of the funds aquired were assigned to Alexander Von Falkenhausen to research better tactics for the Chinese army, for numerous corporations in Nanjing to research better computer technology to make the governments life, easier, and for the purchasing of supplies for an upcoming invasion.
War maps were drawn in mid '37, a few months before the Declaration of war issued by the Japanese, for the invasion of Manchuria and Korea in the spring of 1940, once the northern front could of been manned properly and the armed forces brought to modern standards. Yet, fate hasn't smiled upon Chiang as the Japanese issued a declaration of War upon Shanxi, the Kuomintang and Gunaxi in the summer of '37. Now, war loom's over asia again, as a united China is preparing to face the hardships of a second Sino-Japanese war.
Chiang ordered for no commander to retreat from his front, no soldier to falter under the onslaught sent their way by the Japanese, and to make them pay for every kilometer of land gained with the death of thousands. For the first month of the war, the whole front was brought to a stalemate, the Japanese making no initiative into Shanxi and not daring the attack the Chinese positions at the beaches. As such, Chiang decided it was time to take the offensive and prepare for an invasion of Manchuria, to reintegrate the country back into the Kuomintang. A full invasion was ordered in August(?) on the entire northern front, yet it failed miserably, leaving their positions open for a Japanese counter attack that was to come very soon..................................
................................ As November made way for December, the Japanese forces began advancing into Kuomintang territory, managing to cross the yellow river in the center of the front. Up until this point, the front was stabilized at a river line, with most of the northern front being focused in Communist China, hoping for an opening to invade. Yet such an opening never came and forces were ordered to head down south, to the freshly captured Xi'an by the Japanese. Even though Chiang had numerical superiority, the number of forces were even in the northern front and even with the new tactics developed by Alexander, the Chinese could not turn the tide. The Japanese were not letting them rest on any front and most of the army was outdated, using weaponry from the Great war while the Japanese army was up to date with modern standards. The biggest success was the encirclement of forces in two provinces bordering Xi'an. After a failed Japanese relive attack on Xi'an, the four cavalry divisions were sent to their death a month/two months later. But not on all front were things as bright. In the west, Long Yun ordered the retreat of a part of the northern beaches, totaling a number of 18 divisions, without counting the ones retreating from Shanxi. The center front was as well in a desperate situations, being severely undermanned and un-organized. Retreating units could of been seen from miles away.
Finally, as '37 made way for '38 The new front was organized, Armchair Mao commanding the west, Alexander the center and Chiang the east. Now, the Chinese army prays and waits for the next assault.
