Hongdao Ren

Hongdao Ren (1968-present) is a Tong politician and was the 3rd Chairman of Tongchuk from 1999-2004. He is a member of the Albertian-turned-Tong party Tongyun Jyusai.

## Early Life

Hongdao Ren was born in 1968 in the state of Wenshou. His parents were born working class, but had increased their social and economic standing due to Ren's father being a captain during The Great Faringway War.

Ren wanted to study political science and received an offer from Wendall University (the most prestigious in Alberat), but he turned it down in favour of Jiangma since he wanted to support his native Tongyun. However, he found that many of his classes at Jiangma were taken in Somian anyway.

While at Jinagma, he became leader of the debate team and was well-known among the student body for being outspoken and passionate. His 1988 speech denouncing The Great Reshuffle was reported on by Waidan newspapers.

### Breakout of the Albertian Civil War

On the first day of 1989, Warklebury seceded from Alberat and declared war on the rest of the nation. In an attempt to avoid the fighting, Waidan and Wenshou separated from Scotch, forming Tongchuk, however New Alberat attacked them anyway. Ren was very against the war and believed that Tongchuk should not have to fight at all. He also formed a strong anger towards New Alberat at this time, which never went away. He refused to join the army and continued his studies.

## Political Career

### Undercover in Exsurgere

When Exsurgere took over Tongchuk in 1990, Ren, just finishing his studies, was hired by the new regime to be a local official. He worked across 3 provinces across his career, all in Waidan.

Around 1992, Ren began contact with the underground organisation Tongyun Jyusai, the previous ruling party of Tongchuk. Most of its members had been executed upon Exsurgere's takeover. Ren worked as an informant for the group. There was at least one time when senior Exsurgere members became suspicious of him, however other officials testified that Ren was loyal to the regime, so this, combined with his charisma, allowed his name to be cleared.

Citizens who encountered Ren during this time have come forward and said that he was "witty" and "practical".

### Tong Revolution

In May 1998, leader and reformist of Ariel, Portiki Malchici was assassinated. A popular theory that Exsurgere committed the killing spread throughout Stevenis. Anger towards Exsurgere caused the Tong Revolution, which reclaimed North Alberine as Tongchuk in a month.

One of the few living members of the original TJ, Menhui Ming, came out from hiding during the revolution. He was chosen to be the new leader of TJ as they became the ruling party of Tongchuk. Ming recognised the large numbers of supporters he had among the lower Exsurgere members, Ren being one of them, and acquitted all who could prove they helped TJ while they were in hiding. Ren then joined TJ and by July 1998 he was appointed Vice Chairman.

### As Vice-Chairman

Ren was extremely angered by the Scotchist and Albertist troops that would not leave Tongchuk. In a public meeting with Wenshou council, Ren announced that he expected conflict between the two forces. Ming was extremely embarrassed by Ren's proclamation as it made him seem like a pushover, and he did not appear in public for many days afterwards. Ren's prediction came true in September. Ming made his first public appearance in many days, in which he ordered the governments of Scotch and New Alberat to fight on their own turf. Later that day, Ren gave a speech in which he demanded Insomnia Central stop sending support to New Alberat. He also publicly declared that he had fallen out with Ming, and would set up his own Pro-Scotchist political party in Tongchuk, however he never officially left TJ. He now believed that the only way to win the war was to make an alliance with Scotch.

Ren began conscripting soldiers to fight on the Scotchist side, for which the pacifist Ming called him a "traitor to peace". Ren's battalion joined the Scotchist lines in September. However, they were almost entirely slaughtered in the bloody Battle of Tingmei Plain the following month. Ren announced he would form another battalion to mixed reactions. Many Tong people joined the 'independence units' which fought both the Albertists and Scotchists.

President of New Alberat, Bobby Flynn, declared that he would do anything to win in Tongchuk, as it is 'rightfully Albertian'. Menhui Ming still condemned any fighting back. Hongdao Ren said "Ming should lay in a pile of his own shame - if he had formed an army or taken literally any action, perhaps we would not be facing this dire situation".

### As Chairman

In January 1999, Menhui Ming was assassinated by unknown culprits (possibly Ren). Since Ren was technically never removed as Vice Chairman, he became Chairman of Tongchuk. In his first address to the nation, he stated that Tongchuk will enter an alliance with Scotch. He also begun planning for a formal Tongchuk army.

In December 2000, Bobby Flynn finally replied to Hilda Ryan's requests for peace and Ren agreed to the white peace proposed by Flynn. Scotch and Tongchuk remained close allies under Ren, whist New Alberat was hated by Ren and many other Tongs.

In September 2002, Hilda Ryan died of natural causes in her home in Audenlea. A large funeral was held in her honour, and during the dinner, Ren is rumoured to have loudly criticised Ryan for her foreign relations, such as agreeing to trade with Robert Paul of IC. Whether these rumours were true or not, they dampened Ren's popularity in Tongchuk.

Ren's party, Tongyun Jyusai, voted him out of leadership just before the 2004 election, replacing him with Lee Zhaoling, who won the election.