Lu Rongting
Encyclopedia
Lu Rongting (1856 - 1927) was born in Wuming
, Guangxi
, China. Originating as a common bandit, Lu became a military commander in Guangxi in the Qing dynasty
and suppressed the revolutionary uprising at Zhennan Pass (now Friendship Pass) on the Sino-Vietnam border in Pingxiang, Guangxi
led by Sun Yat-sen
and Huang Xing
.
However, when Guangxi declared independence on September 11, 1911, the former Qing Governor, Shen Bingkun, became the head of the rebel administration, Lu Rongting the Vice-Governor, and the Provincial Assembly created by the Manchu reforms reconstituted itself into a local parliament. Shortly afterward Lu expelled Shen Bingkun upon the founding of the Guangxi Revolutionary Military Government and became the military governor from 1912 to 1916, and civil governor till 1913. Lu created a tight-knit organization, the Old Guangxi Clique through which he remained in control of Guangxi until 1921. This was built on ties of kinship and friendships stemming from his days as a Qing battalion and brigade commander.
Lu Rongting, despite his origins as a bandit, was said to have provided good government for the people of Guangxi. He pushed an anti-opium campaign, despite depriving his government of a major source of revenue, later eagerly exploited by his successors. Land taxes were the major source of revenue. These were only marginally increased over Qing tax rates, and were far lower than they would be under subsequent governments.
During the turmoil as China went from a republic headed by Sun Yat-sen to a dictatorship under Yuan Shikai, Lu tried to stay out of the conflict and did not oppose Yuan Shikai
until late 1916 when the southern provinces again declared independence and organized the National Protection Army
. Lu occupied Guangdong as military governor from 1916 to 1917, when the Guangdong revolutionary army left to fight against Yuan. The death of Yuan and subsequent events cut short the war, and increased Lu's power in the south. In 1917 he was named Viceroy of Guangxi and Guangdong by the national government, and was the most important southern warlord, rivalled perhaps only by Cai E
, who had established himself in Yunnan after departing Guangxi. One of Lu's important allies in Guangdong was the local warlord Cen Chunxuan
.
When Sun Yat-sen attempted to re-establish himself in Canton in 1917, Lu, remote from his power base in Guangxi, reluctantly supported Sun for a few years until Sun Yat-sen split with the Guangxi forces over the allocation of troops to commanders. Sun attempted to strip Cen Qunxuan of some units to be assigned to the apparently more loyal Chen Jiongming
, the Guangdong warlord who had sponsored Sun's return there.
In 1920, Chen drove Lu Rongting and the Guangxi warlords out of Guangdong, in the or First Ao-Gui War. In 1921, Chen, pushed into Guangxi, starting the Second Ao-Gui war. Lu sent two wings, one led by his wife's younger brother, Tan Haoming, the other under Shen Hongying
, into Guangdong where they drove back the Guangdong forces and occupied Qinzhou
and Lianzhou
. But the center at Wuzhou, commanded by Lu's follower Chen Binghun collapsed and Chen Jiongming drove up the rivers while allies came in from the north, forcing Lu Rongting to step down in July 1921 and by August, Chen had occupied Nanning and the rest of Guangxi. When Sun Yat-sen was appointed as Grand Marshal
of the military government in Guangzhou, Lu Rongting was promoted to Marshal
.
Chen Jiongming and the Guangdong forces occupied Guangxi until April 1922. Their occupation was largely nominal because armed bands of Guangxi loyalists began to gather under local commanders, calling themselves the Self-government Army. Sun Yat-sen and Chen Jiongming soon split over the continuation of the Northern Expedition. Sun wanted it to have begun with the occupation of Guangxi, from whence he wished Chen to push into Hunan. Chen, however, aspired merely to be the warlord of Guangdong and after the Zhili clique in Beijing
recognized his power in the south he abandoned Sun Yat-sen. By May 1922, the Guangdong forces had evacuated Guangxi.
With the support of Wu Peifu
and the Zhili clique, Lu slipped into Guangxi in 1923 and began to try to rebuild his coalition. He soon had control over the south with its important pool of manpower, but the situation had changed and his localistic political organization could not be rebuilt. Among the younger men who had been trained in military schools after the 1911 revolution there was a new appreciation for modern tactics, weapons, and political means. By the spring of 1924, three of these men, Huang Shaohong, Bai Chongxi
, and Li Zongren
, formed the beginning of the New Guangxi Clique
had and created with opium revenue the well equipped Guangxi Pacification Army. By August they had defeated Lu Rongting and driven other contenders out of the province. Lu Rongting never returned and died in 1927 in Suzhou
, in Jiangsu
province.
Wuming County
Wuming County is a county under the administration of Nanning city, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, People's Republic of China.The Wuming dialect is the prestige dialect of the Zhuang language....
, Guangxi
Guangxi
Guangxi, formerly romanized Kwangsi, is a province of southern China along its border with Vietnam. In 1958, it became the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region of the People's Republic of China, a region with special privileges created specifically for the Zhuang people.Guangxi's location, in...
, China. Originating as a common bandit, Lu became a military commander in Guangxi in the Qing dynasty
Qing Dynasty
The Qing Dynasty was the last dynasty of China, ruling from 1644 to 1912 with a brief, abortive restoration in 1917. It was preceded by the Ming Dynasty and followed by the Republic of China....
and suppressed the revolutionary uprising at Zhennan Pass (now Friendship Pass) on the Sino-Vietnam border in Pingxiang, Guangxi
Pingxiang, Guangxi
Pingxiang is a county-level city in the municipal region of Chongzuo in southern China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region.-Situation:The city covers an area of 650 km²...
led by Sun Yat-sen
Sun Yat-sen
Sun Yat-sen was a Chinese doctor, revolutionary and political leader. As the foremost pioneer of Nationalist China, Sun is frequently referred to as the "Father of the Nation" , a view agreed upon by both the People's Republic of China and the Republic of China...
and Huang Xing
Huang Xing
Huang Xing or Huang Hsing , was a Chinese revolutionary leader, militarist, and statesman, was the first army commander-in-chief of the Republic of China. As one of the founders of the Kuomintang and the Republic of China, his position was next to Sun Yat-sen. Together they were known as...
.
However, when Guangxi declared independence on September 11, 1911, the former Qing Governor, Shen Bingkun, became the head of the rebel administration, Lu Rongting the Vice-Governor, and the Provincial Assembly created by the Manchu reforms reconstituted itself into a local parliament. Shortly afterward Lu expelled Shen Bingkun upon the founding of the Guangxi Revolutionary Military Government and became the military governor from 1912 to 1916, and civil governor till 1913. Lu created a tight-knit organization, the Old Guangxi Clique through which he remained in control of Guangxi until 1921. This was built on ties of kinship and friendships stemming from his days as a Qing battalion and brigade commander.
Lu Rongting, despite his origins as a bandit, was said to have provided good government for the people of Guangxi. He pushed an anti-opium campaign, despite depriving his government of a major source of revenue, later eagerly exploited by his successors. Land taxes were the major source of revenue. These were only marginally increased over Qing tax rates, and were far lower than they would be under subsequent governments.
During the turmoil as China went from a republic headed by Sun Yat-sen to a dictatorship under Yuan Shikai, Lu tried to stay out of the conflict and did not oppose Yuan Shikai
Yuan Shikai
Yuan Shikai was an important Chinese general and politician famous for his influence during the late Qing Dynasty, his role in the events leading up to the abdication of the last Qing Emperor of China, his autocratic rule as the second President of the Republic of China , and his short-lived...
until late 1916 when the southern provinces again declared independence and organized the National Protection Army
National Protection War
The National Protection War , also known as the anti-Monarchy War, was a civil war that took place in China between 1915 and 1916. The cause of this war was Yuan Shikai's proclamation of himself as Emperor. Only three years earlier, the last Chinese dynasty, the Qing Dynasty, had been overthrown...
. Lu occupied Guangdong as military governor from 1916 to 1917, when the Guangdong revolutionary army left to fight against Yuan. The death of Yuan and subsequent events cut short the war, and increased Lu's power in the south. In 1917 he was named Viceroy of Guangxi and Guangdong by the national government, and was the most important southern warlord, rivalled perhaps only by Cai E
Cai E
Cai E or Tsai Ao was a Chinese revolutionary leader and warlord. He was born Cai Genyin in Shaoyang, Hunan, and his courtesy name was Songpo...
, who had established himself in Yunnan after departing Guangxi. One of Lu's important allies in Guangdong was the local warlord Cen Chunxuan
Cen Chunxuan
Cen Chunxuan was the governor of Shanxi , governor-general of Sichuan , Liangguang , Yungui , and Tibet and chairman of the Governing Committee of the Military Government of China .-Biography:He was under the protection of General Lu Rongting's Old...
.
When Sun Yat-sen attempted to re-establish himself in Canton in 1917, Lu, remote from his power base in Guangxi, reluctantly supported Sun for a few years until Sun Yat-sen split with the Guangxi forces over the allocation of troops to commanders. Sun attempted to strip Cen Qunxuan of some units to be assigned to the apparently more loyal Chen Jiongming
Chen Jiongming
Chen Jiongming was a revolutionary figure in the early periods of the Republic of China. Chen Jiongming was born in 1878 at Haifeng, Guangdong, China....
, the Guangdong warlord who had sponsored Sun's return there.
In 1920, Chen drove Lu Rongting and the Guangxi warlords out of Guangdong, in the or First Ao-Gui War. In 1921, Chen, pushed into Guangxi, starting the Second Ao-Gui war. Lu sent two wings, one led by his wife's younger brother, Tan Haoming, the other under Shen Hongying
Shen Hongying
Shen Hongying was a Chinese general in the Old Guangxi Clique. He served as Military governor of Guangdong from March 1923 to May 1924....
, into Guangdong where they drove back the Guangdong forces and occupied Qinzhou
Qinzhou
Qinzhou is a municipal region in Guangxi, People's Republic of China.The municipality lies on the Gulf of Tonkin and has a population of 944, 000.-Administration:The Qinzhou municipal region comprises two districts and two counties....
and Lianzhou
Lianzhou
Lianzhou is a county-level city of Guangdong Province, China, directly under the administration of the prefecture-level city of Qingyuan. Lianzhou has become famous for an international photography festival celebrated yearly in the city....
. But the center at Wuzhou, commanded by Lu's follower Chen Binghun collapsed and Chen Jiongming drove up the rivers while allies came in from the north, forcing Lu Rongting to step down in July 1921 and by August, Chen had occupied Nanning and the rest of Guangxi. When Sun Yat-sen was appointed as Grand Marshal
Da Yuan Shuai
Da Yuan Shuai was a Chinese military rank, usually translated as Grand Marshal or Generalissimo.During the early Republic of China, the rank of "Grand Marshal of the Army and Navy" was assumed by Yuan Shikai in 1913, Sun Yat-sen in 1917 and Zhang Zuolin in 1927.The rank was replaced by the...
of the military government in Guangzhou, Lu Rongting was promoted to Marshal
Yuan Shuai
Yuan Shuai was a Chinese military rank that corresponds to a marshal in other nations. It is given to distinguished generals during China's dynastic and republican periods. A higher level rank of Da Yuan Shuai , which corresponds to a Generalissimo, also existed.-People's Republic of China:The...
.
Chen Jiongming and the Guangdong forces occupied Guangxi until April 1922. Their occupation was largely nominal because armed bands of Guangxi loyalists began to gather under local commanders, calling themselves the Self-government Army. Sun Yat-sen and Chen Jiongming soon split over the continuation of the Northern Expedition. Sun wanted it to have begun with the occupation of Guangxi, from whence he wished Chen to push into Hunan. Chen, however, aspired merely to be the warlord of Guangdong and after the Zhili clique in Beijing
Beijing
Beijing , also known as Peking , is the capital of the People's Republic of China and one of the most populous cities in the world, with a population of 19,612,368 as of 2010. The city is the country's political, cultural, and educational center, and home to the headquarters for most of China's...
recognized his power in the south he abandoned Sun Yat-sen. By May 1922, the Guangdong forces had evacuated Guangxi.
With the support of Wu Peifu
Wu Peifu
Wu Peifu or Wu P'ei-fu , was a major figure in the struggles between the warlords who dominated Republican China from 1916 to 1927.- Early career :...
and the Zhili clique, Lu slipped into Guangxi in 1923 and began to try to rebuild his coalition. He soon had control over the south with its important pool of manpower, but the situation had changed and his localistic political organization could not be rebuilt. Among the younger men who had been trained in military schools after the 1911 revolution there was a new appreciation for modern tactics, weapons, and political means. By the spring of 1924, three of these men, Huang Shaohong, Bai Chongxi
Bai Chongxi
Bai Chongxi , , also spelled Pai Chung-hsi, was a Chinese general in the National Revolutionary Army of the Republic of China and a prominent Chinese Nationalist Muslim leader. He was of Hui ethnicity and of the Muslim faith...
, and Li Zongren
Li Zongren
Li Zongren or Li Tsung-jen , courtesy name Delin , was a prominent Guangxi warlord and Kuomintang military commander during the Northern Expedition, Second Sino-Japanese War and Chinese Civil War...
, formed the beginning of the New Guangxi Clique
New Guangxi clique
After the founding of the Republic of China, Guangxi served as the base for one of the most powerful warlord cliques of China: the Old Guangxi clique. Led by Lu Rongting and others, the clique was able to take control of neighbouring Hunan and Guangdong provinces as well...
had and created with opium revenue the well equipped Guangxi Pacification Army. By August they had defeated Lu Rongting and driven other contenders out of the province. Lu Rongting never returned and died in 1927 in Suzhou
Suzhou
Suzhou , previously transliterated as Su-chou, Suchow, and Soochow, is a major city located in the southeast of Jiangsu Province in Eastern China, located adjacent to Shanghai Municipality. The city is situated on the lower reaches of the Yangtze River and on the shores of Taihu Lake and is a part...
, in Jiangsu
Jiangsu
' is a province of the People's Republic of China, located along the east coast of the country. The name comes from jiang, short for the city of Jiangning , and su, for the city of Suzhou. The abbreviation for this province is "苏" , the second character of its name...
province.
Sources
- Index Lo-Ly at rulers.org Lu Rongting (with photo)
- Zhuang 019 at mcel.pacificu.edu THE ZHUANG AND THE 1911 REVOLUTION