Cursed is this man and void
of law and right . . .
Unfit for public rule or private care . . .
My heart detests him as the gates of Hell , . .
—ILIAD BK. IX
Amid Homeric moil and treachery the city of Shanghai changed hands, last week, falling to China's best detested War Lord, Chang Tsung-chang, called "Chang of Shantung."*
When Chang, a six-foot bandit chieftain, visited Peking, last winter, cultivated Chinese were shocked to see in his train as concubines some eighty young women seized by his soldiers from the richest fathers and husbands in Shantung province. Conscienceless and avaricious, Chang has farmed tribute out of this densely populated province until even the poorest have yielded all that could be seized.
Since October Chang has been wringing $300,000 a month additional tribute out of Sun Chuan-fang, the comparatively benevolent despot at Shanghai, in payment for not attacking Sun in the rear, while Sun has been defending Shanghai from the Southern Nationalist (Cantonese) Army (TIME, Oct. 4 et seq.).
Broken Faith. Sun, in return for his $300,000 a month, has received the aid of several thousand of Chang's hosts as well as the latter's "friendship." But last week Chang saw that the Cantonese were pressing hard upon Sun. The time was opportune to forget the $2,000,000 payment that had passed between them. Chang, ever faithless, forgot it easily; last week, ordered his troops with Sun to betray the latter, and marched upon Shanghai himself with an army said to number 100,000 men.
Sun Capitulates. Chang and Sun met at Nanking, west of Shanghai, last week. The tall, heavy-muscled Chang curtly told the man from whom he had accepted $2,000,000 that gold was a thing of the past. Remained steel and lead. In these Chang predominated. He Would be generous. Sun might keep his head upon his shoulders. . . .
From that meeting Sun emerged to disappear into hiding in a manner peculiar to Chinese war lords who have been checkmated. He who had lorded at Shanghai, absolute even a month ago, vanished so completely that correspondents reported him to be in two or three places at the same time.
Chang, victorious traitor, quickly moved a division of his troops into Shanghai, sent his main army to reinforce the troops of Sun which had continued all the while their stubborn resistance to the Nationalist attack upon Shanghai.
Though Sun deserved some sympathy he is after all only a rather superior type of bandit and can flee abroad to live on his still considerable wealth should he prefer to quit the Chinese game of war and intrigue.
*To be carefully distinguished from his nominal overlord, the great Chang Tso-lin, "Chang of Manchuria."