The NRA continued its advance, terrifying many foreigners who assumed that this Soviet-backed, Communist-allied army would upend their comfortable lives. Greater success increased the real tensions between the left and right wings of the alliance. Chiang Kai-shek’s military supremacy over the other leaders was clear, as was his increasing distaste for the Communist presence within the United Front. The Soviets were bankrolling the Expedition, making it impossible for Chiang to end the alliance with them, but he had already begun to put plans in place to tip the balance of power when the moment
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