Many of those guerrilla fighters were civilians, but a great many were former soldiers of Zhang Xueliang's army that decided to continue to resist on their own rather than surrender or leave Manchuria. One of the more notable resistance leaders was Ma Zhanshan, whose army fought rearguard actions as Zhang Xueliang's main force retreated south.
Many of the guerilla fighters were civilians and former soldiers of Zhang Xueliang's army who continued resisting on their own rather than surrendering or leaving Manchuria. One notable resistance leader was Ma Zhanshan, whose army fought as a rearguard during Zhang Xueliang's retreat south.