Ep. 207 | The Forgotten Chinese Labour Corps
In commemoration of the American Labor Day Holiday, Laszlo brings you a rather forgotten tale from the annals of Chinese modern history. As discussed in previous CHP episodes, the Chinese Labour Corps played a thankless but critical role in the allied victory over Germany in WWI.
Who could have predicted the series of events that would happen as a result of the story of these men and the subsequent peace treaty that didn’t recognize them or their country? When it was over in early 1919, the Chinese people woke up and took appropriate action.
From everyone here at the CHP, we wish you all a Happy Labor Day!
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Terms in Episode
| Pinyin/Term | Chinese | English/Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Běiyáng Government | 北洋政府 | The Beijing-based government of Republican China from 1912-1928 |
| Dūjiāngyàn | 都江堰 | An amazing ancient engineering project that brought irrigation to the Sichuan plain. |
| Guǎngxī | 广西 | Province in SW China just west of Guangdong |
| Liáng Shìyí | 梁士诒 | 1869-1933, Chinese politician and government figure, premier of China during the Beiyang Government |
| liúfāng bǎishì | 流芳百世 | A good reputation endures forever |
| Lǐ Shízēng | 李石曾 | 1881-1973 Among other things created the Work Study Movement in France to aid Chinese workers and immigrants |
| màizhūzāi | 卖猪仔 | "Pigs that are sold", an abusive term given to these CLC workers |
| Nánjīng | 南京 | Capital of Jiangsu province and the Republic of China for a while |
| Qīngdǎo | 青岛 | Scenic port city on the Shandong coast |
| Shāndōng | 山东 | Coastal province in north China |
| suī sǐ yóu shēng | 雖死猶生 | Though dead he still liveth |
| Sìchuān | 四川 | Province in SW China |
| Tiānjìn | 天津 | Port city about an hour east of Beijing |
| Wēihǎiwèi | 威海卫 | City in Shandong, known today at Weihai |
| Yuán Shìkǎi | 袁世凯 | 1859-1916, Qing and early Republican era military and government official. |
| Yūnnán | 云南 | Province in SW China. |
| yǒngwǎng zhíqián | 勇往直前 | A noble duty bravely done |
| Zhì sǐ zhōngchéng | 至死忠誠 | Faithful unto death |
| Zhōngguó láogōng lǚ | 中国劳工旅 | The Chinese Labour Corps |
| Zhōu Ènlái | 周恩来 | Premier of China and a former student / worker / organizer in France in the early 20's |
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Related Episodes
In Part 5 Laszlo gives the backstory to the Anhui-Zhili War and introduces another warlord, the famous Zhang Zuolin, a.k.a. The Manchurian Warlord. We’ll also look at the very brief war between the forces of Duan Qirui and their Zhili opponents led by Wu Peifu as well as the aftermath up to and including the First Zhili-Fengtian War.