National Protection War
호국전쟁
The civil war launched on 25 December 1915 when Cai E, Tang Jiyao and Li Liejun declared Yunnan independent and raised the National Protection Army against Yuan Shikai’s proclamation of himself emperor of the “Empire of China”. As southern provinces seceded one after another and Beiyang generals turned against him, Yuan cancelled the monarchy on 22 March 1916; after his death in June the provinces rescinded their independence on 14 July. Also called the Third Revolution, it broke the Beiyang government’s control and opened the warlord era.
In depth
Origins: after accepting the Twenty-One Demands, Yuan Shikai’s circle campaigned to restore the monarchy. On 11 December 1915, 1,993 national representatives unanimously approved a constitutional monarchy, and on the 12th Yuan proclaimed the Empire of China with the era name Hongxian. Cai E, under watch in Beijing, came to an understanding with his teacher Liang Qichao, slipped out of the capital in November and returned to Yunnan by way of Japan.
Course: on 23 December Cai telegraphed a demand that the monarchy be cancelled within two days, and on the 25th he declared Yunnan independent at Kunming with Tang Jiyao and Li Liejun. Guizhou followed on the 27th, Guangxi in March 1916, Guangdong and Zhejiang in April, and Shaanxi, Sichuan and Hunan in May. Yuan sent 80,000 men, but they were defeated in Sichuan. The unpaid Beiyang troops did not fight hard, and lieutenants such as Feng Guozhang and Duan Qirui opposed the monarchy; Japan too turned towards overthrowing Yuan and recognised both sides as belligerents.
Outcome: Yuan cancelled the monarchy on 22 March and tried to return to the presidency, but died on 6 June. Li Yuanhong succeeded him and restored the Provisional Constitution and parliament, and on 14 July the provinces rescinded their declarations of independence. But the seceded provinces remained in warlords’ hands, and the Beijing government never again controlled the south. Zhu De, later commander-in-chief of the Red Army, took part as a regimental commander under Cai E.