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10 CHANG TSO-LIN’S STRUGGLE CHAPTER I HOW NORTH-CHINA

and overthrew the Government, he got through in force, occupied most of Chihli and Shantung province, finally reaching Peking in 1925 which he has since held, keeping no less than 200,000 men camped on the vast plains which run from the Capital to the Yellow River. And here he has remained in spite of repeated efforts to extend his domain.

§ 4.

But what is the object of this routine war: what do the leaders hope to gain—why are they su enamoured of this perpetual see-saw battle which has no end? The answer is peculiar. Civil War in China is one of the most lucrative businesses in the country. It is a protected industry having most-favoured treatment wherever it goes, and paying minor leaders several hundred per cent. per annum on the capital invested—if they are successful. Battles are fought not so much to beat the enemy as to acquire control of rich cities with a high ransom value. Shanghai has already yielded £3,000,000 sterling to Chiang Kai-shek, a very considerable portion of which must have gone into his own pocket.

Then it is all very cheap. The “all-in” cost of a Chinese Division of a nominal strength of

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