The Kuomintang, Warlords, and the Rise of the Communists (jan 1, 1920 – dec 31, 1929)

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As the struggle against the warlords wore on, the Chinese Nationalists, the Kuomintang, begun to seek assistance from foreign powers in stabilizing the former territories of the Qing Empire.
Many calls were sent out for assistance - whether it be in armaments, general supplies, or shipments of food. Only the Soviet Union answered these calls; sending military advisors, technical personnel, and political support in their struggles against the warlords.
Following the death of the Kuomintang leader, Sun Yixian in 1925, Chiang Kai-Shek succeeded his position, reforming and revising its military into a comparatively formidable fighting force.
In 1926, he ordered one of the largest military campaigns against the warlords, later named the Northern Expedition, which ultimately quelled most of the resistance that had been organized by the warlords. Although their technology was still outdated in comparison to the Great Powers of the World, the Nationalist army was highly efficient and effective in comparison to the adversaries they were pitted against.
Despite this, a portion of the members of the Kuomintang were largely dissatisfied with the performance of the party, slowly creating a rift between the left-wing leaning members and the right-wing leaning members of the party. Chiang Kai-Shek eventually ascended to the position of leader for the right-wing portion of the party.
In 1921, groups of Chinese intellectuals met in Shanghai, forming the Chinese Communist Party, as they were inspired by the then-recent Russian Revolution and the ideals of Vladimir Lenin, as well as Karl Marx.
Mere years after the arrival of Soviet expeditionaries and other forms of assistance in China, all Soviet advisors were expelled from the country in 1927. Soldiers loyal to Chiang subsequently attacked the Communist stronghold of Shanghai. Many members of the left wing were extradited, executed, or arrested by the Kuomintang.
Following his declaration that the Chinese Communists were no longer a threat to the Kuomintang, Chiang Kai-Shek organized a Nationalist government in Nanjing.
Despite prior promises, the Nationalists instead established a one-party governmental system with Chiang virtually acting as a dictator.

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