ABSTRACT
The Central Committee predicted the commencement of a new victorious epoch in the Communist revolution. The Communist Party was like a nearly bankrupt enterprise and Mao was its newly appointed general manager. Mao's diligence in work and charisma in central leadership are unquestionable. Mao's foremost goal in early 1936 was making peace with the Northeastern and Northwestern Armies. The Soviet Union learned of the Xi'an Incident first from its own men in the Russian Embassy in Nanking, and its response stemmed mainly from its diplomatic interests in East Asia at that time. A romantic and sentimental young man, Zhang Xueliang was the most eager to kidnap Chiang and then the most anxious to release him. Yang Hucheng was a resourceful elder warlord. From the beginning he was worried about the risk of this action and now, fearing Chiang's revenge, Yang was reluctant to free him without his signing any formal promise.
