Xuzhou

徐州市 Xuzhou
Photograph of Xuzhou
Details
Population	35.76M
State GDP	$2.60
GDP/C	$72
Culture	Jianghuai

In-Game Description

Xuzhou is an incredibly large city of Jiangsu province, and as such, has been a priority for any aspiring warlord or invading army. In the Xinhai Revolution, Xuzhou was thrown into the thick of fighting with Zhang Xun's army capturing the city soon after the revolution, making it his base of operations. When the Northern Expedition reached Jiangsu, the Kuomintang government fought back and forth with local warlords and Beiyang splitters. Eventually coming under the control of the KMT in late 1927, Xuzhou was looking to be an important city for the government to occupy if they wanted to stay in control of the lands around the Yellow River. In 1938, with the Second Sino-Japanese War in full swing, the Japanese army descended on Xuzhou, sending panic through Chinese high command. The defense of Xuzhou was rushed, and while they showed early success in nearby battles, the situation was determined unwinnable and orders for a general retreat were given. Chinese forces breached the dykes holding back the Yellow River to cover their retreat, and the consequential 1938 Yellow River Flood destroyed much of Xuzhou and other nearby settlements. More than 20 years after the horrific flood that flattened the city, Xuzhou is once more a jewel of the North China Plain, but to call the wounds of the Second Sino-Japanese War healed would be inaccurate. Struggling under the flatlining of the RGOC's economy, Xuzhou has found it difficult to rebuild above and beyond its pre-war economy.