On October 1, 1949, Chinese Communist Party leader Mao Zedong (1893-1976) announced the creation of the People’s Republic of China after a brutal struggle against the Kuomintang (“KMT”) forces under the leadership of General Chiang Kai-Shek (1888-1975).  Mao and the CCP had watched China grapple with its own internal conflicts for years which led to instability and uncertainty. On the night of May 5, 1923, Chinese bandits commanded by Sun Meiyao (1898-1923) seized a train traveling between Shanghai and Beijing, known as the “Peking Express”. Local citizens and foreigners were taken hostage by the bandits and forced to march towards Paotzuku mountain. This is the story of what became known as the “Lincheng Incident” re-told by author James M. Zimmerman in stunning detail.

One hundred years have now passed since the events in this book occurred, but the effects of the crisis on modern day China should not be overlooked. After introducing us to the well-connected passengers aboard the train, mostly foreigners, the author changes gears and takes us to the night when all hell breaks loose as a crude act of sabotage changes the lives of the train’s passengers and the course of history. Of course, the most important question is why? Well, there is more than one reason for the bandits’ actions, but financial gain is among them. But I could not ignore the savagery displayed towards native Chinese passengers by the bandits. Mental and physical exhaustion soon creeps in, making the hostage situation difficult to say the least. The female passengers which included Lucy Aldrich (1869-1955), daughter of Rhode Island Republican Senator Nelson W. Aldrich (1841-1915), are released over the course of several days following the incident, but the male passengers were remanded for several more weeks as the incident played out. However, as readers will see, the women did not have an “easy” time, and found that in the wilderness, the elements spare no one.

As I read the book, I began to understand that the rebels did not have a long-term plan. Aside from taking hostages, the end game did not make much sense. Further, the arrival of Chinese military personnel combined with pressure from foreign governments made it clear that the kidnappings would have to be resolved. What ensues is a haphazard pace of events in which more passengers are released while others use any means available to make their escape. And I had no illusions that the bandits were in store for anything but grisly fates upon the events’ conclusion.

The story is surreal, and the lawlessness of rural China in the early 1900s comes into sharp focus. This story is mind boggling, but incredibly important in Chinese history, and it served as the basis for the 1932 film ‘Shanghai Express‘ starring the late Marlene Dietrich (1901-1992).  Following the release of the passengers, the Chinese government wastes no time in dealing with the rebels, and their fates as told by the author, are not for the faint of heart. Frankly, justice was swift and brutal, but to be expected in China. Zimmerman also provides a few words about the lives of the famous passengers whose experiences continued long after their release from the bandits. But none of them could have imagined than fourteen years later, the Japanese Army would launch a military operation during World War II which brought death and destruction to China and made it clear to both the CCP and KMT, that China could only survive once free from foreign occupation. Mao Zedong, years away from becoming “Chaiman Mao”, shrewdly observed the lasting effect of the incident, and as the author points out:

“One of the people closely following the Lincheng Incident was the young Chinese communist leader Mao Tse-tung. In one of his first public speeches, at the Hunan Peasant Congress in December 1926, Mao specifically cited the event as an example of “starving peasants rioting” against the imperialists, warlords, and feudal classes.”

Zimmerman’s research into the events is incredible and my attention never waned while reading. The story is told at the right pace with the right amount of suspense. Without this book, the Lincheng incident may have been forgotten history. However, this book keeps the unbelievable story alive, and is a valuable account of a moment when the world changed.

ASIN ‏ : ‎ B0B9BCP7LP