When Chiang had retreated into western China, he was forced into an area barely under his control and hardly touched by the national revolution that had taken place after the fall of the Qing. Both of the two principal provinces of west China, Szechwan (pop. : 60 million) and Yunnan (pop.
As Chiang withdrew to western China, he found himself in a region largely beyond his influence and unscathed by the national revolution that occurred after the fall of the Qing dynasty. Both major provinces in western China, Szechwan (population: 60 million) and Yunnan (population: