Zhao Hongjun
Zhào Hóngjūn | |
|---|---|
| 赵鴻鈞 | |
 | |
| 9th Prime Minister of Xiaodong | |
| In office 5th August 1920 – 26th July 1923 | |
| Monarch | Qingzhuo Emperor Shanrong Emperor |
| Preceded by | Kai Panming |
| Succeeded by | Long Zhengxin |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 13 October 1861 Baiqiao, Shangea |
| Died | 27 September 1924 (aged 62) Baiqiao, Shangea |
| Political party | Independent |
| Alma mater | Baiqiao Military Academy |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance | Shangea |
| Branch/service | Heavenly Army of Shangea |
| Rank | Grand General |
Marquis Zhao Hongjun (Shangean: 赵鴻鈞; Zhào Hóngjūn) was a far-right Shangean military officer, aristocrat and strongman politician who served as the Premier of Shangea from 1920 to his dismissal in 1922. He played a key role in the transition of Shangea from a semi-constitutional monarchy to an absolutist totalitarian dictatorship. Zhao for a short time was the de facto ruler of Shangea but lost a power struggle with the Nanqing Clique that led to his fall from power.
Born in 1849 to a minor noble family, Zhao's family supported the Heavenly Shangean Empire during the Restoration War. His family were firm supporters of the Xiyong Emperor and so became part of the aristocratic elite following the revolution. Zhao subsequently attended the Baiqiao Military Academy and joined the Officer Corps of the Heavenly Shangean Army. He would rise through the ranks to eventually become the Grand General of the Army, the professional head of the armed forces.
In 1920 in response to an attempted coup d'état by military officers the Qingzhuo Emperor dismissed the aristocratic liberal cabinet of Baron Liao Congwu and appointed Zhao to lead a military government. Zhao subsequently clamped down on the free press, banned trade unions and repressed political opponents, creating a quasi-military aristocratic dictatorship centred around the Emperor, named the "National-Military State" by Zhao.
Zhao's government was built around the ideals of Shangean nationalism, imperialism, militarism and a form of reactionary autocracy. Domestically Zhao crushed opposition to his rule. His government backed by powerful financial interests engaged in a liberal economic policy in the aftermath of the Great Collapse successfully reducing the large debt burden. Zhao was strongly pro-Gaullican entering Shangea into the Entente.
Zhao was personally inspired by the Shangean political theorist and nationalist writer Chen Ruoqing, who claimed "only under Shangean tutelage can the Australite people's prosper" after the Senrian Revolution. Seeing that event as the precursor of popular agitation in Shangea Zhao repressed liberal elements in Shangea and built up a vast propaganda network that stressed Shangean imperialism, militarism and supremacy over other nations, most prominently Senria. He opposed the influence of more radical elements of the regime led by the Nanqing Clique that were backed by the Church of Emperor Worship who sought to create a more state-led economy and promoted launching a crusade across Coius that would enable Shangea to attain more living space. Zhao would be ousted when the pro-Nanqing Shanrong Emperor was enthroned and would later be killed on the orders of Nanqing leader Ren Xilian in 1924.