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Chihli. The province of Shansi, which its Governor, Yên Hsi-shan,
known as "the model Tuchun", had previously kept aloof from the
turmoil of Chinese civil war, being now invaded by the Kuo-min-chun
from the north, has thrown in its lot with Marshal Wu.
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Shantung and part of Chihli are ruled by Marshal
Chang Tso-lin, the Manchurian War Lord, and here the chief issue
is the possession of Paking. Peking was naturally enough
the capital of the whole Chinese Empire under the rule of Mongol
and Manchu dynasties. But it should not be forgotten that the
Han dynasty (B.0.206 A.D.25), which is by far the best known in the early history of China, and in remembrance of which the Chinese to this day called themselves"sona of Ran", had its capital first
at Sianfu in Shensi, the town in which the Manchu Express Dowager
took refuge during the Boxer troubles and later at Loyang in Honan. Moreover, another famous line of Chinese Emperors, the T'ang dynasty, which ruled from 618 to 907 A.D., and after which the southern Chinese still colloquially call themselves
"men of T'ang", had its capital at Ch'ang-nga-fu in Shensi, while the capital of the Sung dynasty (A.D.960 - 1127) was at K'ai-feng-fu in Honan and the capital of the Ming dynasty (A.D.1368 1644) was at first at Nanking on the Yangtaze. The traditions and affections of the Chinese do not, therefore, centre at Peking, as for instance do those of our own Empire at London or those of the French at Paris. On the contrary, in the eyes of central and southern Chinese Peking appears in the guise of a Tartar City, the more so because it has long been associated with rule of Mongol and Manchu dynasties. I very much doubt whether, if the Eighteen Provinces were once more unified under purely Chinese rule, Peking would again be capital. However, at the moment Paking has great importance, because it is the seat of the foreign Viplomatic Body, and because such vestiges as remain of a government coordinating the affairs of the whole
Both Marshal Wu P'ei-fu of China are to be found at Peking. and Marshal Chang Tso-lin wish to make themselves master in Poking and at the moment they are endeavouring to form an alliance,
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