Historical Studies (Chinese Edition)

No.4, 2014

 

The Revolutionary Government and Local Society in the Sale of Official Property in Guangzhou

(Abstract)

 

Shen Chengfei

 

At the beginning of 1923, Sun Yat-sen established his government in Guangzhou for the third time and set up his Generalissimo’s Headquarters there. Meanwhile, auxiliary troops had settled in the provincial capital, where they controlled the taxes, leaving Sun Yat-sen isolated and confined. In this emergency, the Guangzhou Government under Sun Ke decided to raise money by selling Guangzhou government properties in order to support the Generalissimo Headquarters, suppress Shen Hongying's forces and those of Chen Jiongming in the east, and realize national unification through the Northern Expedition. However, Sun Ke's methods appeared close to force majeure and threw the city into disorder, arousing public indignation. This had a negative impact on the revolutionary government’s image, public identification with the government, regional social development and political stability. At the same time, the auctioning of government property had progressive significance in that its revenue provided basic financial support for the normal operation of the Generalissimo Headquarters, the campaigns against Shen and Chen, and the military engagements of the Northern Expedition, and was thus in line with the historical trend of the revolutionary unity of modern China.