On June 22, Colonel Mainz's train arrived in the northeastern region of the Far East.
Prior to this, he had met Admiral Kolchak in Siberia, who had retreated from the Urals. Although Kolchak was technically a White Army leader, and Mainz was currently conducting business with the Soviet Union, he did not see Kolchak as an enemy. On the contrary, Mainz was interested in the man whom the Red Army regarded as their greatest threat.
Kolchak had originally planned to regroup in the Far East, near the Western Pacific, hoping to consolidate his forces and seek support from the local powers before launching a counterattack. Historically, however, this strategy failed: blizzards and extreme cold decimated his forces, mercenaries betrayed him, and he was eventually handed over to the Soviets and executed.
Even without the blizzard, Mainz knew that Kolchak's plan was flawed. The Far East, distant from European Russia, was sparsely populated—probably less than a million people—and could not sustain Kolchak's army of over a million, including nobles, officers, and their families. Without sufficient food and shelter, winter would inevitably claim many lives. In such circumstances, Kolchak's forces might have been forced south into the Celestial Empire to plunder—a result Mainz found unacceptable.
Instead, Mainz suggested an alternative: move south from Siberia into Central Asia. The climate there was milder, and regions near the Aral Sea and Caspian Sea could support agriculture. These areas would allow Kolchak to recruit troops, collect supplies, and even establish a stable base of operations. From Central Asia, he could receive support from the British Empire and, if pressed, retreat into British-controlled territories.
By maintaining a safe base, Kolchak would continue to be a thorn in the side of the Soviet Union. He could garner international support and inspire anti-Soviet movements across the world. After careful consideration, Kolchak admitted that Mainz's plan was far more comprehensive than his own original strategy. He had been naïve to assume that support from the Far Eastern powers alone could sustain his ambitions.
Following Mainz's advice, Kolchak led his forces south into Central Asia. Meanwhile, Mainz and his entourage continued along the Trans-Siberian Railway, entering the Celestial Empire.
At this time, the Northeast region was controlled by warlord Zhang Zuolin, known as the Feng warlord. Behind him were British and Japanese interests, keeping a careful eye on East Asia. The Celestial Empire was in political chaos: after Yuan Shikai's death in 1916, no central authority could unify the provinces. Warlords established de facto control over their territories, paying nominal obedience to the Beiyang government in Beiping while pursuing their own agendas.
Three major factions dominated the warlord melee:
1. The Feng warlords, centered in the three northeastern provinces, led by Zhang Zuolin.
2. The Zhili faction, supported by Britain and the United States, controlling Jiangsu, Jiangxi, Hubei, and Zhili provinces, led by Feng Guozhang, Cao Kun, and Wu Peifu.
3. The Anhui faction, supported by Japan, controlling Anhui, Zhejiang, Fujian, Shandong, and Shaanxi, led by Duan Qirui.
At this point, Zhang Zuolin's power was not the strongest; the Anhui and Zhili factions were more influential, each vying for the Beiping presidency. However, Zhang's proximity to Shanhaiguan and the resources of the Northeast gave him a strategic advantage. Over time, he began to emerge as a dominant figure.
Mainz was particularly interested in Zhang Zuolin. Despite being a warlord, Zhang was knowledgeable, had developed a local military industry, and had imported and copied advanced foreign weapons. Mainz planned to establish contact with him to advance German interests in the region before British influence solidified in the Northeast.