本文以「革命政治化」為面向，探究北伐時期社會基層的影響和心態。過去相關討論均強調國民革命軍北伐勝利，得自政治口號和主義宣傳的因素，此處則進一步分析其中錯綜複雜的關係。毫無疑問，政治語言和革命儀式是最先吸引社會民眾參與革命活動的原因；隨著軍事行動的深化，北伐軍撼動了基層社會宗教和信仰，使得人們普遍流傳「黨軍可愛，黨人可殺」的說法。為了能夠得到更多支持的力量，北伐後期國民革命軍開始調整策略，容納不同的「革命」勢力，以致後人有「軍事北伐，政治南伐」之譏。這場高舉「革命」旗幟的軍事行動，讓「革命」成為新的社會現象，每個人在日常生活裡都必須面對和實踐的準則。至於國共雙方也從北伐經驗裡，各自認識到如何運用群眾運動的力量，為日後「黨治」鋪下基礎。

This article focuses on ”revolutionary politicization” (革命政治化) to explore the impact of the grass roots and popular mentalities during the Northern Expedition. Previous scholarship has traced the victory of the National Revolutionary Army to its political slogans and propaganda. I here offer further analysis of the complex relationships involved.There is no doubt that political language(s) and revolutionary rituals aided in attracting people and encouraging participation in revolutionary activities. With the deepening of military operations, the army shook grass roots religious and social beliefs, which led to a widespread view that ”the party's soldiers are nice, but the party's cadres can kill” (黨軍可愛，黨人可殺). In order to gain more support, in the later stages of the Northern Expedition, the army began to adjust its strategies to accommodate different ”revolutionary” forces, which led to the satiric view of ”militarily a Northern Expedition, but politically a Southern Expedition” (軍事北伐，政治南伐).In these military activities, ”revolution” became a new social phenomenon which everyone had to face and practice in everyday life. It was from the experience of the Northern Expedition that the Kuomingtang and Chinese Communists alike learned how to use the power of the mass movement for ”party rule” (黨治) in the future.