Ma Zhanshan

        Ma Zhanshan (1885—1950), whose courtesy name is Xiufang. His native place is Fengyun County of Shuntian Mansion who later migrated to Huaide of Jilin. His family has been farmers for generations with a poor family circumstance. He was appointed as security guard of Huaide County Yamun in the 31 st year of Guangxu's Reign (1905) to be in charge of the local security. Ma Zhanshan was favored by Wu Junsheng, Commander of Tianhou Road Patrol and Defence Battalion of Mukden for his good marksmanship and equestrianism and he was appointed as Guard Monitor of the 4 th Security Guard Battalion in the 34 th year of Guangxu's Reign (1908). He was appointed as Major Company Commander of Company 3, Regiment 3, and Brigade 2 of Central Cavalry Army in the 2 nd year of Republic of China (1913). He was consecutively promoted to Colonel in the 9 th year of Republic of China (1920) who followed Warlord Wu Junsheng to defend Hailun County. Then he was successively appointed as Brigadier of Cavalry Brigade 5, Cavalry Division 17, of Northeast Army and Brigadier of Infantry Brigade 3 of Heilongjiang Army. He was appointed as Heilongjiang Provincial Bandit Suppression Commander and Heilongjiang Provincial Calvary Commander-in-chief in the 17 th year of Republic of China (1928). He was appointed as Commander-in-chief of Heilongjiang Calvary and Heihe Guard Commander of Heilongjiang Province in the 19 th year of Republic of China (1930). After the 9.18 Event, the Japanese invaders invaded the 2 provinces of Liaoning and Jilin and then moved upon Heilongjiang. At that time, the Chairman Wan Fulin of Heilongjiang Province was in Peiping for important government issues, nobody to lead the provincial government and the province was in a very dangerous situation. Zhang Xueliang telegraphed Nanjing Government to ask for instructions, and then appointed Ma Zhanshan to act as Chairman of Heilongjiang Province (later appointed as Chairman formally) and Heilongjiang Province Vice Commander of Northeast Frontier Defence Army and Military Commander-in-chief of Heilongjiang Province October 10 th of the 20 th year of Republic of China (1931). Ma Zhanshan arrived in the capital Qiqihar on October 19 th and took office the next day. He held military meetings and personally inspected the defence positions and performed many contentions with the party who affirmed to surrender and refused the lure into surrender from the Japanese army in northeast in stern words, and he showed his determination that “I am appointed as Chairman of the province, and I have the responsibility to defend the province and I will never be a surrendering martial”. The Japanese invaders also demanded for many times to repair Harge River Bridge and were all refused by Ma Zhanshan. The Japanese army intruded into Jiangqiao from Tailai on November 4 th , and then moved upon Daxing and was fought back by Ma Zhanshan's army. Then the Japanese army made new attack toward the defending troops, Ma Zhanshan sent cavalry to reinforce the frontier and then the world renowned Jiangqiao War against the Invasion of Japanese Army was started. By November 19 th , Ma Zhanshan's troops retreated for their headcount was much less than the Japanese Puppet Army and had suffered serious casualties. Ma Zhanshan led his troops back to defend Baiquan and Hailun after the defeat at Jiangqiao and they were still in a dangerous situation. The next year, Ma Zhanshan surrendered to the Japanese invaders in order to save from damage and he flew to Shenyang to attend the Four Tycoons Meeting of Northeast. Actually what discussed on the meeting was the founding of Puppet Manchukuo, Ma Zhanshan was ill at that time and he refused to sign on the Independence Declaration of Puppet Manchukuo. He attended the inaugural ceremony of Pu Yi to the Puppet Manchukuo in March the same year, and he was appointed as Stratocracy Minister of Puppet Manchukuo and Governor of Heilongjiang Province. However, the Japanese invaders put very strict control on him, he had to ask approval from the Japanese Consultant about all matters of the province before taking implementation. Ma Zhanshan intended to rebel although he was in an adversity. When he was appointed as the Governor of Heilongjiang, he refused to sign three indentures of selling Huhai Railway, etc, and he secretly transported the weapons and ammunitions out while demobilizing his wife and families. He led troops to retreat from Qiqihar on April 1 by the excuse of army inspection. He arrived in Heihe on April 7 and announced to reestablish Heilongjiang Provincial Government and continue to resist the Japanese invaders. Ma Zhanshan reorganized the former troops into 9 brigades at the beginning of May, and then he continue to establish another 11 troops respectively of Buxi, Gannan, Keshan and Kedong volunteers, etc, and established the Northeast Anti-Japanese National Salvation Army and he appointed as Commander-in-chief. The Anti-Japanese National Salvation Army undertook bushfightings alongside Huhai Road and Qike Road and gave the Puppet Japanese troops a badly blow. The Japanese Army transferred a large number of forces to besiege, chase and block Ma's troops in July, and Ma Zhanshan's troops were seriously wounded in the fierce battles, and finally there were only dozens of cavalries breaking through the tight encirclement. Ma Zhanshan arrived in Longmen County in September and established relationship with another Anti-Japanese Army of Su Bingwen. 30,000 Japanese armies made fierce attacks toward Su and Ma's troops. Ma Zhanshan and Su Bingwen led their troops to retreat into Soviet Union in December, and most of its troops were transferred to Rehe. Ma Zhanshan left Soviet Union for Berlin in April of the 22 nd year of Republic of China (1933). He met with Zhang Xueliang in May. Later he came back to the country from Venice of Italy and arrived in Shanghai in June. Before long, he went to Lushan to ask for armies from Jiang Jieshi to resist Japanese invaders but failed. Then he settled his home in Tianjin the next year. Jiang Jieshi suddenly telegraphed him in October of the 25 th year of Republic of China (1936) and sent him to the frontier of the Civil War of China. Ma Zhanshan went to Xi'an at the time of Xian Incident, he suggested Zhang Xueliang not to kill Jiang Jieshi while the country is in calamity and signed on the Current Political Situation Declaration declared by Zhang Xueliang and Yang Hucheng as well. Zhang Xueliang appointed Ma Zhanshan as the Commander-in-chief of Anti-Japanese Aid Suiyuan Calvary Group Army, which was suspended afterwards because Zhang Xueliang was detained by Jiang Jieshi. After the 7.7 Incident in the 26 the year of Republic of China (1937), Ma Zhanshan was appointed as Commander of Northeast Forward Army and in charge of the amnesty offering matters in the four northeastern provinces (Liaojing, Jilin, Heilongjiang and Rehe). Ma Zhanshan established Headquarters in Datong in August the same year and he led his troops to fight the Japanese in Chahar, Suiyuan, Datong and Shanxi Area and he cooperated with Fu Zuyi's troops in Suiyuan Defence War and Yinshan War. Ma Zhanshan abhorred the nonresistance policy of Kuomintang and he fully understood the Anti-Japanese and National Salvation claim of the Communist Party during the communications with the Communist Party. He visited Yanan in the 28 th year of Republic of China (1939) in order to look for the true way out for Anti-Japanese and National Salvation. Ma Zhanshan was appointed as Chairman of Heilongjiang Provincial Government in the 29 th year of Republic of China (1940), Heilongjiang Provincial Government founded in Yulin Shanxi in August the next year and Ma Zhanshan started to undertake Anti-Japanese and National Salvation activities. After the victory of Anti-Japanese War, the Government of Republic of China appointed Ma Zhanshan as Commissary of Northeast Battalion Political Committee and Northeast Deputy Security Commander. He took office in Shenyang, and half year later he settled his home in Peiping by saying he was ill. Before the peaceful liberation of Peiping, he once persuaded Fu Zuoyi to clearly see the situation and not to be a sinner condemned throughout ages, and he had done certain contributions to the peaceful liberation of Peiping. After the founding of the People's Republic of China and Chairman Mao Zedong invited him to attend the CPPCC (Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference) in June 1950, but he failed to attend for illness. He passed away in Beijing on November 29 th , the same year.