ABSTRACT
In the meantime in Canton, Hu Han-min, acting on behalf of Dr. Sun, negotiated a compromise with the Merchants' Volunteer Corps. Because 200,000 dollars had been given as a loan, Hu Han-min issued an order to Kai-shek for the release of the impounded arms. Reluctantly, Kai-shek obeyed. But when the arms were handed over, a quarrel between the government soldiers and the volunteers broke out. A free-for-all ensued in which several soldiers were shot and killed. The next day, Kai-shek formed a Revolutionary Committee. And on December 13, 1924, Kai-shek, in his capacity as head of the Training Department in the Headquarters of the Cantonese Army, launched an attack on the Merchants' Volunteer Corps. After two days of street fighting, the corps capitulated and was subsequently disarmed and disbanded. This marked Kai-shek's first decisive victory over enemy forces, as well as over internal opposition.
