Feng Guozhi Governor And Governor Su Study

Feng kuo-chang, an important historical figure in social transformation of late Qing Dynasty and early Republic China, has rich experience in provincial governing and central ruling. At present, the academic researches of Feng kuo-chang are mainly concentrated in his political struggle in early Republic China. Researchers seldom make comprehensive researches in his governing of Zhili and Jiangsu, thus they usually negatively evaluate Feng kuo-chang in history. In the study of complex historical figures in early Republic China, objective and fair evaluation can be obtained only by carrying out a comprehensive study of the historical behavior under the guideline of dialectical materialism and historical materialism, with objective historical activity as the basis and its time as the historical background. Thus, this dissertation mainly studies Feng kuo-chang’s governing of Zhili and Jiangsu and presents his practice of military and civil governing in Zhili and Jiangsu as well as its effects from the perspective of national governing, in order to reevaluate Feng kuo-chang’s historical status and role and deepen the study of Peiyang Figures.The first part includes chapter one, which presents the rise of Feng kuo-chang in the late Qing Dynasty. It mainly studies Feng kuo-chang’s transformation after many practices from a solider to an important official in military and politics and analyzes his abilities and qualities as well as his contributions to the formation of the Peiyang group. Through unremitting struggle, Feng kuo-chang, from the bottom of society, now plays an important role in military reform in late Qing Dynasty. He not only helps Yuan Shih-kai to train new army but also devotes himself to the modernization of military education. As a result, he has made great achievements and cultivated a large number of military backbones for the Peiyang group. Because of his outstanding performance of military modernization in late Qing Dynasty, Feng kuo-chang is constantly get promoted by Yuan Shih-kai and becomes an important official in military and politics, which not only promotes his historical status but also lays foundations for his provincial governing in early Republic China. In particular, the political evolution in 1911, he has greatly changed his thoughts and behaviors from being loyal to the king to being loyal to the lord, which shows he can keep up with the trend of historical development and be in favor of the republic. And the peace talk in 1911, he eventually supports Yuan Shih-kai and helps him settle the north among three forces, which shows Feng kuo-chang’s influences on the current political situation. Meanwhile, Yuan Shih-kai feels assured to appoint him as the governor of Zhili in the fierce competition between North Peiyang group and Kuo min tang.The second part includes chapter two and chapter three. Chapter two studies Feng kuo-chang’s governing in Zhili. It mainly studies his military reform in Zhili and the policies and measures of social governing as well as analyzes the mutual relationship between Feng kuo-chang and legislative and judicial authorities. Zhili has always been an important base for the capital and the ascent of the northern warlords.The Peiyang group can’t allow other political forces to conquer it. In the first year of Republic China, after Nanjing provisional government moving to the north, the political contradiction between Kuomintang and the Northern Warlords sharpens a lot, which leads to the opposing political situation between north and south., Yuan Shih-kai appoints Feng kuo-chang as the governor of Zhili in order that Kuomintang has no control over the governor. During his governing, Feng kuo-chang has cooperated with its temporary parliament to some degree and has carried out many measures to improve military and civil governing.Chapter three studies Feng kuo-chang’s governing in Jiangsu. It mainly studies his measures of military and civil governing in Jiangsu as well as their effects. During his governing, he imposes strong military politics. One the one hand, he causally deals with the relationship with central government; on the other hand, he tries to ease the conflicts between the Peiyang military forces and Jiangsu local social forces. These help him safeguard social stability in Jiangsu for over three years. Feng kuo-chang not only tries to improve the relationship of military and politics in Jiangsu, but also relies on military forces to suppress the revolutionary party. For example, he establishes provost marshal department to maintain social order. He also establishes military academy and sets military discipline. He sets limits for the number of marine and salt trapping camps, and establishes model division in Jiangsu. To sum up, he has made some progress in knowing people’s hidden thoughts and marinating social order. Besides, he takes many measures like strengthening defense to help Yuan Shih-kai to suppress and ban Kuomintang and strengthen the Peiyang group’s governing in Jiangsu. However, he manages to improve social governing and makes great achievements. For example, he strongly impose the policy to suppress bandits, ban opium trades, help businessman, support banner’s living and promote the Nanjing municipal construction. Feng kuo-chang’s achievements in Jiangsu has promoted his political status and laid foundations for his election as vise president and then acting president later.The third part includes the forth chapter, which studies of Feng kuo-chang’s governing of Zhili and Jiangsu. It mainly analyzes the political implication of his governing under the political revolution in early Republic China and from the perspective of the relationship between central and provincial government and summarizes the practices of his governing in Zhili and Jiangsu for five years. His governing not only enhances provincial support for Yuan Shih-kai’s centralized ruling but also promotes his status in early Republic China. His military and civil governing is recognized to a certain extent by people in these two provinces, and he constantly strengthens his own power, making him become an important representative of provincial figures in early Republic China, which lays foundations for his constant participating in political struggle and leading ZhiXi warlords.