Chu Yangtsao

## Overview

Chu Yangtsao was one of the most influential and monumental of Ch'ingshan's long list of presidents. He ran for two terms, first in 1918, and then in 1922. His presidency ended in 1926, upon which he was too old and retired. His policies improved the economy, and transformed Ch'ingshan from a tiny city-state with a population of only 2,000 people into an economic and industrial powerhouse. He remains one of the most controversial presidents, being both lauded and despised by many.

## Before Politics

Before his political career, he started the Mandarin Migrant's Association, which later became the Migrant's Association, which helped Mandarin immigrants get their footing in the city at a time when Ch'ingshan was still a part of Liberia. He also ran multiple businesses; a Mandarin restaurant, an antique store, an grocery, and a farm. During the Ch'ingshan Revolutionary War, he backed the revolutionaries and the Three Principles Party, donating funds to them. After the war, he would become more entrepreneurial, investing into multiple shipping and mining companies.

## Political Career

After the end of Chee Ong Sing's first tenure as president, Chu Yangtsao entered politics, using his vast wealth to build up a strong political campaign that would take him to the presidency. During this time, he would also engage in acts of philanthropy and charity, further boosting public opinion of him. He won the presidential election in 1918. He quickly, and enthusiastically went to work as president, adopting a focus on "National Rejuvenation." But what exactly did "National Rejuvenation" exactly mean? Well, it's definition can be found in Yangtsao's policies. Chu Yangtsao lessened restrictions on business, adopting laissez-faire policies. He also adopted policies making it easier for people to establish and run businesses. This also coincided with the loosening of workers rights. Though still not technically legal, many companies were allowed to get away with union-busting, as the government turned a blind eye to these developments. He also introduced laws bettering educational standards, and expanded funding for education and healthcare. He also gave grants to rail, shipping, manufacturing, mining, and agricultural companies, and would encourage them develop the country and to expand into the international markets. In order to facilitate this expansion, he introduced and endorsed the Self-Reliance Economic Reform, with the guise of making Ch'ingshan independent from "reliance on other nations." He used this reform to help local corporations in muscling out competition in the local and international markets, allowing these companies to expand into the international market. Although he was an independent, he would later on establish a party of his own, the National Rejuvenation Party, named after his policy of "National Rejuvenation." Though his policies were somewhat controversial, he narrowly won the 1922 election, continuing his presidency for another four years. During this time, he focused more on geopolitics, focusing on bolstering democratic nations across the archipelago, and forcing other nations to buy from and trade with Ch'ingshan. These policies were despised by the population of Ch'ingshan, being criticized as "a whitewashed and embellished form of imperialism." As monopolies in Ch'ingshan grew more cruel towards workers, Chu was generally blamed for the lack of response to these companies. These policies grew so unpopular, it prompted the first president, Chee Ong Sing, to run in the 1926 election in order to defeat Chu Yangtsao and reverse some of his more disasterous policies, chief among them his economic and foreign policies. Chu stood no chance against Chee Ong Sing, and so, he lost the 1926 election. After a failed stint at mayor of Pinp'u, Chu Yangtsao retired from politics and from business, living out the rest of his days painting and writing poetry in a private villa in Mandarin.