“Hunanese Rule of Hunan” Versus “Hunanese
Self-Rule” (September 30,1920)


“Hunanese rule of Hunan” is the opposite of “non-Hunanese rule of Hunan,” such
as having someone from Hubei or Anhui rule Hunan. This is, however, still rule by
bureaucrats, not by the people. If the purpose of driving out Tang and Zhang were
just to get rid of a non-Hunanese, this would once again be merely a change in form,
leading once again to Hunanese rule of Hunan. Well then, Zhang Zuolin178 in Fengtian,
the two Caos179 in Zhili, Zhao Ti180 in Henan, Chen Shufan in Shaanxi, Ni Cichong181
in Anhui, Lu Rongting in Guangxi, Tang Jiyao in Yunnan — all these are natives of
their respective provinces. This is indeed “Fengtianese rule of Fengtian,” “Zhilian rule
of Zhili,” “Henanese rule of Henan,” “Shaanxian rule of Shaanxi,” and “Anhuian rule of
Anhui.” How is this really any different from the “non-Hunanese rule of Hunan” by Tang
Xiangming or Zhang Jingyao, or the “non-Hubeian rule of Hubei” by Wang Zhanyuan,
or the “non-Fujianese rule of Fujian” by Li Houji,182 or the “non-Guangdongese rule
of Guangdong” by Mo Rongxin?183 Furthermore, it was with this excuse of having a
“Hunanese rule Hunan” that Duan Qirui sent Fu Liangzuo to Hunan. We, therefore,
must completely oppose the idea of having a “Hunanese rule Hunan” because it contains
many evil intentions. It sets up a few special persons as the rulers, and the common
ordinary people become the ruled. The rulers are made masters, and those they rule
are made slaves. Such rulers are just like Yu and Tang, Wen and Wu,184 and we oppose
them all. Should we not oppose even more strongly the Fu
Liangzuos of the past and the countless Fu Liangzuos of the future? The idea that
we propose and welcome is “Hunanese self-rule.” Not only are we unwilling to be ruled
by someone from another province; we do not want to be ruled by a few privileged


178 Zhang Zuolin (1875–1928), zi Yuting, from Liaoning Province, was leader of the Beiyang clique
of warlords. At this time he was military governor of Fengtian and inspector-general of the three Northeastern provinces.


179 Cao Kun and Cao Rui. Cao Rui, zi Jianting, was Cao Kun’s younger brother, his close supporter,
and a Tianjin government official.


180 Zhao Ti (1871–1933), zi Zhouren, from Henan Province, was allied with the Anfu and Zhili
warlord cliques and at this time was military governor of Henan.


181 Ni Sichong (1868–1924), zi Danchen, was actually a former governor of Anhui Province, having
just been removed from his post after the Anfu clique’s defeat.


182 Wang Zhanyuan was from Shandong Province, and Li Houji was from Jiangsu Province.


183 Mo Rongxin (1853–1930), zi Richu, was born in Guangxi Province.


184 I.e., the kings and emperors of old: Yu, founder of the Xia dynasty; Tang, founder of the Shang
dynasty; King Wen (posthumous title of Duke Zhou) and his son, King Wu, founder of the Zhou dynasty.