On November 11, 1923, at 9 AM, Republic of China President Xu Shichang and Premier Duan Qirui issued a nationwide telegram while also sending a message to the foreign legations in the Legation Quarter.

"The nation suffers so greatly, yet neither the President nor the Premier can reverse it. Therefore, we announce our resignation. The candidates for the next President and Premier have not been decided at this time."

This news immediately threw the Legation Quarter into chaos. This statement contained all the usual elements of a resignation, yet held too many unreasonable aspects. All legations knew Duan Qirui was going to surrender, but if he were truly surrendering, Duan Qirui and Xu Shichang should have recommended He Rui as the next President and gone through the National Assembly process. Even if foreign governments were unwilling to recognize He Rui's new government, at least the procedures would be complete.

With Xu Shichang and Duan Qirui's resignation statement as it was, they clearly weren't leaving He Rui any room. It didn't look like a surrender at all.

At 10 AM, Northeast Army advance units had already entered Beijing. *The Northeast Daily* distributed extras throughout the nation: "The current President of the Republic has announced his resignation. Northeast Government Chairman He Rui announces that beginning November 11th, he will assume control of the central government. The position of President of the Republic of China will be changed to Chairman of the Republic of China."

The foreign delegations in the Legation Quarter were all stunned. From what they knew of He Rui, he was a leader proficient in diplomacy who understood Western order. He was also seen as China's future leader. Now He Rui's power seizure was handled so crudely—it didn't seem like the level He Rui should display.

The Japanese Embassy immediately contacted Tokyo, establishing a dedicated diplomatic wireless line. Professional cipher typists quickly arrived, using codes to communicate about the current situation.

In Tokyo, both Nagata Tetsuzan and Ishiwara Kanji received phone calls ordering them to the Army General Staff Headquarters immediately. Their cars met at the headquarters entrance, entering one after the other. Both got out simultaneously. Colonel Obata Toshishiro, who came to receive them, stepped forward and saluted: "The Chief of Staff is already waiting for both of you."

Japan's former "Three Crows" were Nagata Tetsuzan, Obata Toshishiro, and Okamura Yasuji. Now the recognized "Three Heroes" among the younger generation of the Japanese Army were Nagata Tetsuzan, Ishiwara Kanji, and Okamura Yasuji. Obata Toshishiro, having been in the rear, hadn't been promoted to general officer rank. As he led Nagata and Ishiwara straight to the Chief of Staff's office, Obata felt genuinely dejected. However, the current situation was an opportunity—Colonel Obata wanted to accomplish something.

Nagata and the current Chief of Staff Suzuki Soroku were both Lieutenant Generals. The three sat in leadership positions among the assembled officers. After reading the latest news, Nagata and Ishiwara's expressions remained unchanged, as if this wasn't any major matter.

Suzuki Soroku admired how calm the two were, yet could only take the initiative to ask: "What are your views on this, gentlemen?"

Nagata glanced at Ishiwara, who looked back—neither intended to speak first. Suzuki could only ask: "Lieutenant General Nagata, how do you think the situation came to this?"

Nagata Tetsuzan couldn't understand it either and could only answer: "In my view, this looks like Mr. He's subordinates made an error. But things may not be this simple. The situation being what it is, all nations can declare they don't recognize Mr. He's government. There's a possibility Mr. He did this deliberately."

Chief of Staff Suzuki very much hoped that was the case. But what Nagata said was also the internal judgment of the General Staff—everyone felt that with He Rui's capabilities, it was impossible for him to bungle things to this degree. If He Rui only had this level of ability, he certainly couldn't have defeated Japan.

Since Nagata couldn't offer a view, Chief of Staff Suzuki asked for Ishiwara's opinion. Ishiwara Kanji answered leisurely: "I don't think there's been any problem. I believe Mr. He probably intends to completely tear up the Boxer Protocol. If he tears it up as a recognized government, it would greatly damage the new government's reputation. By deliberately making others refuse recognition, he gains strategic initiative. Chief of Staff Suzuki, if I might offer a suggestion—why not immediately recognize Mr. He's central government, request that he establish diplomatic relations, and make contact on a series of issues? This would turn the tables."

The officers all fell silent. They wanted to look at Ishiwara as if he were a fool but couldn't bring themselves to do it. Obata felt Ishiwara was too bold—making such an outlandish judgment on such a major matter. But Obata didn't dare completely dismiss Ishiwara's assessment. Officers could consider Ishiwara a troublemaker, but no one would think him cowardly or less than brilliantly clever. Since he spoke this way, there must be a reason.

Chief of Staff Suzuki momentarily felt perhaps he shouldn't have invited Ishiwara Kanji. Not that this fellow lacked ability—his answer was just too outrageous. Ever since Ishiwara became a Lieutenant General, he actually carried himself like one. Even as a troublemaker, he was now one who no longer sneered and whose bearing was quite steady.

Nagata meanwhile considered how credible Ishiwara's judgment was. The Japanese government would absolutely never immediately recognize He Rui's government as China's legitimate central government, but Ishiwara Kanji's idea of turning the tables had considerable merit. However, for how to effectively turn the tables, Nagata felt they needed to wait and see.

At noon on the 11th, several military trains entered Tianjin Station. By this time, the Northeast Army had completely controlled Tianjin's railways and led the arriving follow-up units toward their next objectives.

Troops poured from the carriages, quickly forming up at the station before running through the streets following their guides. Tianjin citizens hadn't expected the Northeast Army to arrive so quickly. Seeing this army in neat formation, not threatening toward people, they watched from outside the controlled areas. Some followed the troops' direction of march along smaller streets.

When these units surrounded the foreign concessions and garrison camps, cheers of delighted surprise erupted from among the Tianjin citizens: "The Northeast Army is going to attack the concessions! Marshal He is going to attack the concessions!"

Tianjin had historically suffered multiple devastations by foreign armies. The various concessions and garrisons normally lorded it over everyone, treating the Chinese very cruelly. Seeing the Northeast Army that had defeated Japan surrounding the concessions, any Tianjin citizen with a bit of spirit was overjoyed.

Though the Northeast Army controlled the main roads, Tianjin locals knew perfectly well how to avoid the controlled areas. Alerted by those running to spread the news, many Tianjin citizens left their homes and headed toward the concessions. Though they didn't dare fully believe the Northeast Army would move against powers other than Japan, they hoped the Northeast Army could at least recover the concessions.

At this moment, at the Tianjin Police Bureau, Tang Gui, dressed in government work uniform, was asking the assembled Tianjin Police Commissioner and other officials in Tianjin dialect: "Gentlemen, are you unwilling to go arrest criminals in the concessions, or are you afraid to go?"

As Tianjin's Police Commissioner, he naturally had much broader knowledge than police chiefs elsewhere. Even being questioned this way by Tang Gui—a young man of 25 or 26—the Commissioner still held back, stubbornly not answering. Duan Qirui had lost to He Rui; the Commissioner knew he couldn't keep his position, so there was no need to offend the foreigners for He Rui's sake.

Tang Gui didn't make things difficult for him. Taking this opportunity to remove this fellow was a clean break. Tang Gui had already sent people to notify the various police stations that the Northeast Army invited them and hoped everyone could arrive within two hours. Two hours had now passed, with hardly anyone showing up—this gave Tang Gui an excellent reason.

From the Siping experience, retaining too many old officials wasn't necessary. Just keeping some lower-level personnel was fine. And even those retained would basically be purged before long.

Since these people refused to confront the foreigners, Tang Gui went outside. There he saw the police from the bureau headquarters already assembled. Tang Gui announced loudly: "Gentlemen, the foreigners have been in Tianjin so many years doing damnable things—countless evil deeds. As for morally rotten acts, you couldn't finish listing them in ten days and ten nights. Right now, we need the Police Bureau to take the lead in telling these foreign scum to come quietly to the station—their cases have caught up with them! Is anyone willing to do this in the capacity of Police Chief? Those willing, step forward and speak plainly."

Hearing Tang Gui wanted to move against the foreigners, the police looked dumbfounded. Just then, one man stepped forward and announced loudly: "Brother Tang, I don't dare be Police Chief. But I'd be happy to go arrest those foreign devils. Give me a megaphone, and I'll stand in front of those foreign devils and tell them to come out obediently."

Tang Gui thought this fellow looked familiar but couldn't quite place him. The policeman said: "My name is Gao Qubing—do you remember me, Brother Tang?"

Only then did Tang Gui recall—Gao Qubing was his elementary school classmate; they hadn't attended middle school together. He hadn't expected Gao Qubing had become a policeman these past two years. This wasn't time for catching up, so Tang Gui ordered: "Very well, let's move out."

The other police, seeing Tang Gui wasn't joking, didn't dare make a sound. They just watched Gao Qubing and Tang Gui leave the bureau headquarters together. They were about to follow to watch when several Northeast Army squads entered the bureau and took control. Getting out was no longer possible.

Tang Gui arranged for Gao Qubing to accompany the Northeast Army troops heading straight for the French Concession and garrison. By 2 PM, the attacking units were in position. Gao Qubing, in his police uniform alongside communicators, went to the front of the French garrison camp and began reading loudly from the paper.

The French garrison lived up to their reputation as proud Gauls. Even seeing the situation was hopeless, an officer still insisted: "You don't respect the treaty—this is illegal! We absolutely cannot accept demands from an illegal government!"

Since this one was so principled, negotiations naturally broke down. When the French troops saw two self-propelled guns appear in their field of vision, they all gasped. France had developed self-propelled guns during World War I—also mounting artillery on tractor chassis. Seeing the same design, how could French soldiers not understand its power?

Yet the 75mm rapid-fire guns in the camp had far less range than 105mm artillery. On the WWI battlefield, France's 75mm guns had been completely suppressed by Germany's 100mm field howitzers. Now it was too late to charge out. The 105mm's rate of fire couldn't match the 75mm, but its power far exceeded it.

First to be destroyed was the French camp's outer wall. The fairly sturdy wall crumbled like paper under the 105mm explosive shells, becoming flying fragments. Then the main buildings were shelled. Seeing that holding on meant waiting to die, the French troops immediately began attempting to break out.

But they had no chance now. Pre-positioned machine guns mowed down the French troops charging out like reaping wheat, driving them back.

The French were still French—even at this point they tried to make a last stand. But as the Northeast Army mortars continued demolishing French positions, seeing the Northeast Army meant business, the French finally raised the pure white French flag.

The unit that held out longest was, surprisingly, the Italian garrison. Those Italians fought tenaciously, from ground level down to the cellars. Only when the Northeast Army used flamethrowers to clear the cellars was the last Italian resistance crushed. The cellars reeked of the stench of roasted meat, and with insufficient oxygen, there were no survivors. Only about a dozen Italian officers and soldiers wounded and captured on the surface survived.

When interrogating them, the Italian soldiers cursed their commander: "He said if we just held out a bit longer, the other garrisons would come to help!"

The interrogator had never expected Italian soldiers to be so guileless and momentarily didn't know how to continue questioning.

The resistance second only to the Italians came from American soldiers. Then the French, then the Japanese. The fastest to surrender was still the British. Seeing the situation was hopeless, the British officers very gentlemanly surrendered to the Northeast Army rather than the Tianjin police. The British troops marched out in neat formation, and as they left, didn't forget to write on the door: "Please keep clean, we'll be back soon"—truly living up to Britain's old imperial style.

On November 11th, all concession garrisons in Tianjin were dealt with. But the work of arresting concession police continued. The Northeast Army had ordered that all foreign police must be captured—these people had Chinese blood on their hands and absolutely must not be let go.