Battle of Eastern Henan

Significance

The Battle of Eastern Henan involved Central Army forces under Chiang Kai-shek engaging Sun Dianying, a Henan native who had allied with the anti-Chiang coalition of Feng Yuxiang and Yan Xishan during the Central Plains War. Sun's forces directed their attack against the Longhai railway line along the eastern border of Henan province, a strategically significant corridor linking the cities of Kaifeng, Zhengzhou, and Luoyang. Control of the Longhai line represented a critical operational interest in the broader Central Plains War, as it served as a primary axis of communication and supply through the central theater. The engagement reflected the wider pattern of coalition forces attempting to contest Chiang's hold on key infrastructure in the region.

Commanders (3)