Lu Keqian

Grand Marshal Lù Kèqián
陆客钱
Lu Keqian in 1937
Chairperson of the State Presidium of Auspicious Republic of Xiaodong
In office 20th September 1938 – 12th May 1944
Preceded by	Position established
Succeeded by	Yu Changshao
First Minister of Xiaodong
In office 20th September 1938 – 12th May 1944
President	Himself
Deputy	Zhou Hongkui
Preceded by	Position established
Succeeded by	Ma Renzhong
Chairman of the Xiaodong Regeneration Society
In office 7th April 1933 – 12th May 1944
Deputy	Zhou Hongkui
Preceded by	Position established
Succeeded by	Ma Renzhong
21st Prime Minister of Xiaodong
In office 23rd November 1933 – 6th July 1934
Monarch	Taiyi Emperor
Preceded by	Zhang Mingshu
Succeeded by	Xu Dongwu
Personal details
Born	(1881-10-13)October 13, 1881 Rongzhuo, Jiebu Prefecture, Xiaodong
Died	May 12, 1945(1945-05-12) (aged 63) Rongzhuo, Langang Prefecture, Xiaodong
Political party	Xiaodong Regeneration Society
Other political affiliations	Republican Party
Spouse	Tao Guangmei
Children	5
Alma mater	University of Rongszhuo
Occupation	Politician
Military service
Allegiance	Heavenly State of Xiaodong (1894-1934) Xiaodong (1934-1952)
Branch/service	Heavenly Army of Xiaodong (1894-1934) Xiaodongese Army (1934-1952)
Rank	Grand Marshal
Battles/wars	Great Borean War, Senrian-Xiaodongese War, Xiaodongese Civil War

This is a Xiaodongese name; the family name is Lu (陆).

Grand Marshal Lu Keqian (Xiaodongese: 陆客钱, Lù Kèqián; October 13^th 1881 - May 12^th 1944 aged 63) was a Xiaodongese statesman, revolutionary, military officer and strongman politician was was the founder of the modern Auspicious Republic of Xiaodong, serving as both its Chairperson of the State Presidium and First Minister from the Corrective Revolution until his death in 1945. He also was the founder and first Chairman of the Xiaodong Regeneration Society and served as Prime Minister of Xiaodong from 1933 to 1934,

Born in a wealthy military family in 1881, Lu was active in the Heavenly Army of Xiaodong after becoming an officer in 1902. He rose through the ranks of the military during the 1910's, becoming a colonel in 1922 after supporting the Jianyin Uprising. Considered politically close to nationalist spiritual-socialists within the army, an ideological current popular amongst lower officers, in 1927 Lu was made head of Xiaodongese forces in Senria during the Senrian-Xiaodongese War where he led the successful first offensive, although he was dismissed by rival Qiu Hanjie in 1932. A fierce nationalist and critic of the Treaty of Keishi, Lu formed in April 1933 the Xiaodong Regeneration Society, a secret society within the military and a political arm known as the Republican Party, both of which supported National Principlism, an ideology promoting socialist-spiritualism under an authoritarian, nationalist state.

Lu was appointed in November 1933 as Prime Minister due to his strong anti-treaty views. His cabinet supported the maintenance of the Xiaodongese empire, but Lu came to clash with the Taiyi Emperor who opposed his socialist economic programme. In July 1934 Lu initiated the July Incident, an attempted removal of the monarchy by rallying his supporters in the military. The coup failed resulting in Lu to be placed into exile, travelling to Ankoren to avoid assassination.

In 1936 the Xiaodongese government officially signed an armistice with Min with terms deemed detrimental to Xiaodongese interests. Outrage amongst the military led to Lu to return to Xiaodong and alongside a coalition of the Regeneration Society and the Communist Party of Xiaodong known as the Army of National Salvation launched the "Corrective" Revolution", seizing power in northern Xiaodong and declaring creation of the Auspicious Republic of Xiaodong, with Lu becoming its head of state and government as well as Grand Marshal (大元帥; dà yuán shuài). This act triggered the Xiaodongese Civil War from 1936-1940 which ended with the defeat of royalist and separatist forces to the Army of National Salvation, with Lu becoming the undisputed leader of Xiaodong.

The Auspicious Republic was created as a de facto one-party state under the Xiaodong Regeneration Society with Lu at its helm. Threats from his communist allies led by Rao Junzhao led to Lu to launch a purge of communist officials, consolidating his power and ensuring the Regeneration Society remained the only political organisation capable of maintaining power.

Under Lu Xiaodong modernised with literacy, social welfare and infrastructure programs being launched whilst Xiaodong recovered from both the Senrian-Xiaodongese and civil wars. Under his leadership, poverty decreased whilst illiteracy was almost eliminated. His government also promoted women's rights, ending forced marriages, legalising divorce and criminalising foot bindings. Ethnic and cultural assimilation was also carried out under Lu who controversially expelled many ethnic minority communities in Xiaodong under his rule, notably the last large remaining communities of Senrians. In 1944 Lu designated technocrat Ma Renzhong as his successor for the post of party chairman, increasingly withdrawing from public life due to his frustration of political corruption and serving more as an ideological figurehead than executive ruler. In 1945 Lu died of a cerebral haemorrhage after which he was afforded a state funeral and interned in a mausoleum with his body embalmed. In 1987 the Tokkeitai conducted a terrorist attack on Lu's mausoleum which killed 87 people and the destruction of his body, the remains of which were interned in a rebuilt mausoleum.

Lu's family has remained active in Xiaodongese politics following his death - his wife Tao Guangmei served as State Chairwomen from 1953-1960, his first son Lu Dejiang State Chairman 1967-1974, his daughter Lu Fangliang Presiding Officer of the State Presidium from 1956-1970 and his granddaughter Lu Yanling the incumbent Presiding Officer of the State Pesidium.

Lu continues to be revered as the founding father of modern Xiaodong and one of the most important individuals in Xiaodongese history, with his legacy continuing to be celebrated in Xiaodong today. Lu's social policies are seen as having advanced the rights of women and expanded universal education for the first time in Xiaodongese history, with his economic policies recognised as serving the blueprint for Xiaodong's high economic growth under his successor. Lu is also highly regarded by Xiaodongese nationalists for asserting Xiaodong's sovereignty and for restoring national pride after defeats from Senria and Min, whilst his social welfare programs endeared him to the poor. However, Lu has been criticised for his policies towards ethnic minorities whilst in Senria he is vilified due to his role in the invasion of Senria. His involvement in the Senrian Genocide has been subject to great debate and controversy. Lu is continually to be ranked as one of the greatest Xiaodongese leader of all time, with a cult of personality of him continuing to be maintained in Xiaodong.

Early life

Lu Keqian in 1899, aged 18.

Military Career

Senrian-Xiaodongese War

Lu Keqian in a publicity photo during the Senrian-Xiaodongese War.

Post-war period

Prime Minister

Lu with his cabinet after becoming Prime Minister.

Exile

Lu's immigration photo to Ankoren following his exile

Corrective Revolution and Civil War

Lu arriving back from exile during the Corrective Revolution.

Death and aftermath

Lu's body being taken to his mausoleum.

Legacy

Cult of Personality

Portrait of Lu Keqian in Rongzhuo

Personal life

Lu and his wife Tao Guangmei at their wedding.