In 1919, the King of the Northeast—Zhang Zuolin—still maintained a relatively low profile. At the time, the Feng warlords were not the strongest faction, yet it was precisely this measured, deliberate approach that impressed Colonel Mainz.
Building strong defenses, stockpiling grain, and gradually consolidating power—these were the strategies of Zhu Yuanzhang, the Ming Dynasty's Taizu, and Zhang Zuolin seemed to follow a similar path. Mainz admired not only his strategic patience but also his sense of integrity. Although Zhang had relied on Japanese support, he never compromised the interests of his people; he even paid the ultimate price for this stance. For Mainz, a man who combined ambition with principle was worthy of respect, even if he was technically a warlord.
"Your country wishes to donate a batch of weapons to us?" Zhang Zuolin asked.
"That's correct, General Zhang," Mainz replied sincerely. Yet he noticed the doubt lingering in Zhang's eyes.
Zhang turned to his trusted strategist, Yang Yuting, nicknamed "Little Zhuge." Yang, having studied in Japan and graduated from a Japanese military academy, was among the few foreign-trained officers in the warlord ranks. He combined sharp intellect with international perspective, keeping close watch on global developments and the unfolding paris City Peace Conference.
Yang Yuting spoke first: "I must ask, Colonel, what kind of weapons does your country intend to donate?"
"Rifles, machine guns, artillery, even airplanes and tanks—we have it all," Mainz answered.
The eyes of the five generals seated across from him lit up. Weapons of such caliber were a rare treasure in the Celestial Empire, and the prospect of acquiring them immediately captivated their attention.
"But Colonel," one asked, "your country is defeated, and your weapons are confiscated by the Entente. How can you possibly provide these arms?"
Mainz smiled, impressed by their knowledge of world affairs in such a remote corner of the Far East.
"These weapons are not delivered in the name of the state," Mainz explained. "They are provided by private individuals. And by the timing, it appears they are arriving now."
At that moment, a messenger burst in: "Dashuai, a merchant ship flying the American flag has arrived at Huludao. All the weapons on board are reported to be yours!"
The generals exchanged astonished glances. Until now, they had assumed Mainz's claims were mere bravado. But the arrival of a fully loaded munitions ship changed everything.
"Let's go, let's see for ourselves!" Zhang Zuolin exclaimed. Huludao was not far from Fengtian, and the promise of planes and tanks—the first to reach the Northeast Army—was too exciting to ignore.
For Zhang, these weapons were the key to leapfrogging other factions in the Celestial Empire. More than a decade earlier, during the Russo-Japanese War, he had witnessed the devastating power of modern artillery and machine guns. Ever since, he had dreamed of equipping his own army with advanced weaponry. Over the years, he had built military factories, mined resources, repaired roads, and founded academies—all to one day produce artillery and aircraft capable of defending and expanding his territory.
This industrial foundation is also why the Japanese coveted the Northeast. A fully developed industrial and agricultural base meant they could establish control more easily and use the region as a springboard for wider operations.
Now, standing at the port, Zhang Zuolin and his senior generals gazed upon the first planes delivered from Europe—advanced weapons that until now had existed only in dreams. Two hours later, the shipment revealed its crown jewel: the German Fokker D.VII fighter, codenamed Red Baron—the first aircraft to join the Celestial Empire's fledgling air force.
Excitement and anticipation surged through the ranks. For the first time, the Northeast Army held the potential to wield modern airpower, and Zhang Zuolin's long-held dream was about to take flight.