Long Jiguang Government And Guangdong Social Studies In The Early Republic Of China (1913-1916)

Long Jiguang was seen as a complex historical figure from late Qing Dynasty to the beginning of Republic of China, which was a period of social transformation. In the past, under the guidance of revolutionary history concept and Sun Yat-Sen Thought, academic judge of Long Jiguang was mostly negative, as he not only led his army into Guangdong Province to become a loyal speaker of Yuan Shikai, but also established feudal and autocratic government, repressed revolutionary activities, supported monarchy restoration and hindered democratic revolution and social progress of Guangdong Province.However, based on dialectical materialism, modernization theory, national rejuvenation theory and historical data, author thinks Long Jiguang, the Long Jiguang Government and the other side of Guangdong society during the beginning of Republic of China are worth studying.In 1911, after the Second Guangzhou Uprising, Long Jiguang was commanded by Qing government to go to Guangzhou City with two battalions. In June, he was appointed as 25th town leader of Guangdong new army. It was also at that time, Guangdong revolutionary fell into hard times. After Wuchang Uprising, under the influence of Revolutionary Party, Long Jiguang observed the situation in silence and helped the success of Guangdong independence without violence, together with Li Zhun. During the period of 1912 to 1913, a period that Guangdong was supervised by Hu Hanmin, Long Jiguang was appointed as the director of Suijing Government Office and vice commissioner of army protection. Together with Hu Hanmin and Chen Jiongming, he not only disbanded the militia, prohibited smoking, gambling and stolen, but also had greatcontribution of social order and new Guangdong military government. As such, he received the affirmation of Sun Yat-Sen and Yuan Shikai.In July 1913, Guangdong Province was involved in the Second Revolution. Supporting Central Government against independence, Long Jiguang was appointed by Yuan Shikai as the representative of Guangdong Province to lead his army to suppress revolution. On August 3, he was appointed as Guangdong Province Governor by Yuan Shikai. On August 12, he captured Guangzhou City and served his job until September 13,1916. During three years in Guangdong Province, relying on the Jinan army, Long Jiguang reorganized the army, strengthened disciplines and established not only an absolute military leadership, but also an authoritativeprovincial government. Followings are remarkable achievements that he had made on social governance:1. According to national ordinance of theft governance, made principles of identifying theft, suppressed banditry and maintained public order.2. In accordance with requirements of Central Government and Smoking Administration, focused on all the aspects of growing, transporting, selling and smoking and had great success in initial stage of smoking prevention.3. Forbidden and cracked down on gambling.4. Maintained currency price in an appropriate rate, established Bank of China in Guangdong Province, stabilized financial order, improved tax authorities and ensured revenues.5. Restructured industrial institutions, ran industrial press and developed industries in all the agroforestry, animal husbandry, fishery and mining fields.6. Cracked down on superstition and protected cultural relics, books and intellectual property. Improved schooling, developed primary & secondary education, enhanced abundant forms of vocation education and encouraged donation education. Besides, he also encouraged and protected commercial trade.7. Took positive coping methods to disaster prevention, especially twice led the relief and rehabilitation work after serious flood happened in 1914 and 1915 by launching donations at home and abroad.Long Jiguang had great contribution of getting rid of the cruel and pacifying the good people. Besides, hefought against secession and had received strong support from both central and local government. In addition, he not only had the ability of discovering able people and putting them at suitable posts, but also know how to cooperate with colleagues to promote social development. The civil administrator, Li Kaixian, Li Guojun, Zhang Mingqi and Long Jinguang were Long Jiguang’s friends or relatives. They were seriously responsible for their work and had remarkable achievements. The finance chief, Yan Jiazhi and Jiang Jiyi tried hard to secure stable finance and revenue. The police director, Wang Guangling dedicated themselvesmaintaining social security. The water supervisor, Tan Xueheng worked hard and diligently. Besides, there were many magistrate officials dedicated themselves handlingmultiple tasks at one position.However, the Long Jiguang Government strongly supported the Central Government and tried to suppress revolutionary activities, therefore tied deep resentment with revolutionaries. On April 6,1916, Long Jiguang was forced to announce Guangdong’s independence, claiming to be officers and took part in National Protection Movement. Besides, he strengthened the power of National Protection Movement in the South, not only making a great impact on the central government, but greatly shaking the status of Yuan Shikai. At the later period of National Protection Movement, the Revolutionary Party and Single Party Constitutionalism supporters cooperated with each other politically and militarily, forcing Long Jiguang to left to Qiongya (Hainan Province) with his army.In the past, very few scholars has studied and"determined" this history. However, history needs dialectical views and multi-angle examinations. Throughout the five years after Long Jiguang in Guangdong Province, although he suppressed the Revolutionary Party and killed revolutionaries, which was seen as negative, the effort he had made to modernization construction of Guangdong Province was for sure and should be reconsidered in a positive way.