Zhao Hongjun
Zhào Hóngjūn | |
|---|---|
| 赵鴻鈞 | |
| File:Zhao Hongjun.jpg | |
| 10th Prime Minister of Xiaodong | |
| In office 5th November 1914 – 18th August 1922 | |
| Monarch | Qingzhuo Emperor Shanrong Emperor |
| Preceded by | Liao Congwu |
| Succeeded by | Tao Qibao |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 13 October 1850 Baiqiao, Toki Sougunate |
| Died | 27 September 1920 (aged 70) File:Flag of Xiaodong (1876-1951).png Tiandufeng, Xiaodong |
| Political party | Independent |
| Alma mater | Baiqiao Military Academy |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance | File:Flag of Xiaodong (1876-1951).png Heavenly Xiaodongese Empire |
| Branch/service | File:Flag of Xiaodong (1876-1951).png Heavenly Army of Xiaodong |
| Rank | Marshal |
| Battles/wars | First Duljunese-Xiaodongese War, Straits Crisis |
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Marquis Zhao Hongjun (Xiaodongese: 赵鴻鈞; Zhào Hóngjūn) was a far-right Xiaodongese military officer, aristocrat and strongman politician who served as the Prime Minister of Xiaodong from 1914 to his dismissal in 1922. He is widely attributed as the architect of Xiaodongese imperialism in the early 20th century, the creator of the Xiaodongese "National-Military State" ((国立军事政府; Guólì jūnshì zhèngfǔ) and a firm advocate for Xiaodongese militarism.
Born in 1849 to a minor noble family, Zhao's family supported the Heavenly Xiaodongese Empire during the Baiqiao Revolution. 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 Xiaodongese Army. He served in the First Duljunese-Xiaodongese War and subsequently rose through the ranks of the military, becoming the Marshal of the Heavenly Army at the age of 55 in 1904 and was appointed to a seat in the House of Arms in 1905.
In 1914 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 Xiaodongese nationalism, imperialism, militarism and a form of reactionary autocracy. Domestically Zhao crushed opposition to his rule and started a series of measures that were proto-genocidal in Duljun and Tinzhan. His government also sought to modernise Xiaodong launching infrastructure projects, engaging in massive industrialisation and creating a corpratist economic system. Zhao launched measure to militarise society, making conscription mandatory for all males in 1910.
Zhao was personally inspired by the Xiaodongese political theorist and nationalist writer Chen Ruoqing, who claimed "only under Xiaodongese tutelage can the Oriental people's prosper" after the Double Fourth Revolution and Senrian Revolution. Seeing both events as the precursor of popular agitation in Xiaodong Zhao repressed liberal elements in Xiaodong and built up a vast propaganda network that stressed Xiaodongese imperialism, militarism and supremacy over other nations, most prominently Senria. Zhao stated that his regime was based on "Dictatorship, Nationalism and Expansion". In 1922, Zhao was dismissed from the post of Prime Minister after being seen as attempting to undermine the imperial house by the Shanrong Emperor being replaced by Tao Qibao. He died shortly afterwards.
Zhao has often been regarded as the creator of the militarist government that ruled Xiaodong in the early 20th century that ultimately led Xiaodong into the Senrian-Xiaodongese War. Template:Prime Ministers of the Heavenly Xiaodongese Empire