Northern Expedition

In May 1926, the vanguard of the national Revolution Army (NRA), composed of the first section of No. 7 Army and the Independent detachment of the No. 4 Army, entered into Hunan to assist No. 8 Army headed by Tang Shengzhi, which was retreating because of attacks by the army of Warlord Wu. On July 6, the headquarters of the NRA was formed in Guangzhou. On July 9, 100,000 soldiers from eight armies started the expedition to the north. The commanders of each army were respectively: He Yingqin, No.1; Tan Yankai, No. 2; Zhu Peide, No. 3; Li Jishen, No. 4; Li Fulin, No. 5; Cheng Qian, No. 6; Li Zongren, No. 7; Tang Shengzhi, No. 8. Eight warships and three fighters also took part in the operations.  Communist party members Li Fuchun, Zhu Kejing, Liao Qianwu and Lin Boqu were political commissars in No. 2,3,4 and 6 armies.  Other Communist members such as Chen Yi, Chen Gen, Jiang Xianyun, Zhang Jichun, Bao Huizeng, Ye ting and Zhou Shidi all joined the armies. The 3rd plenary session of the 4th congress of the Communist party called on the people to support the Northern Expedition in order to overthrow warlords and imperialists.