History is the memory of things that have been said and done. —Carl Baker
If we regard the figure who once ruled and controlled Yunnan as the "King of Yunnan", then there are four figures in modern history who can be said to have held this title. Let's see which 4 people are!
Defending General: Cai Yi
In November 1902, Cai Washi was admitted to the Army Non-Commissioned Officer School in Tokyo. He was active in thought and outstanding in his achievements, and together with his classmates Jiang Fangzhen and Zhang Xiaozhun, he was also known as the "Three Masters of Chinese Non-Commissioned Officers". At that time, although he was eager to change China into the world's first-class power.
Cai Yi returned to China after graduating from the Japanese Non-Commissioned Officer School. He has successively been recruited as the supervisor of the Jiangxi Military Academy, the deputy of the Hunan Coaching Office, the general staff officer and chief coach of the Guangxi New Army, the director of the Guangxi Surveying and Mapping School, the general office of the Guangxi Army Primary School, and the general office of the Guangxi Army Lecture Hall. The young and handsome Cai Yi, wearing boots on his feet and commanding a knife at his waist, raised his whip and prancing horse every day, and commanded the training of troops. His incisive explanations, skillful skills, strict requirements, deeply admired by officers and soldiers, and was praised as "Lü Bu among people, red rabbit in horses" Soon after, Li Jingxi, the governor of Yunnan-Guizhou, hired him to serve in yunnan for military posts. In 11 years, Kunming launched an uprising, and he himself was elected commander-in-chief of the provisional revolution. Later, the Yunnan military government was established, and he became the governor of Yunnan.
Southern Heaven Pillar: Tang Jiyao
Tang Jiyao was born in Huize, Yunnan Province, although Tang Jiyaojing is not rich, but attaches importance to the education of his children's scholarly family, his father is a lifter, he himself has been a talent, the old school is very basic, for people to be magnificent, and the gentleman has great ambitions. In the twenty-eighth year of Guangxu, Tang Jiyao crossed to Japan and entered the sixth phase of the Non-Commissioned Officer School, at the same time as Zhao Hengti and Yan Xishan. Return to China after graduation.
In the second year of the Republic of China, Tang Jiyao succeeded Cai Yi as the governor of Yunnan. In November, Tang Jiyao officially succeeded Cai Yi as the governor of Yunnan and the civil administrator of Yunnan. Together with Cai Yi and Li Liejun, he launched a vigorous campaign to protect the country, and took the lead in firing the first shot at the southwest frontier to protect the country and seek Yuan. After the end of the Patriotic War, he served as the governor of Yunnan. Later, he participated in the Dharma Protector and Yasukuni Movement launched by Sun Yat-sen.
Tang Jiyao was the founder and main leader of the Dian Army, and also a controversial figure, he still did a lot of practical things during his administration and developed the modernization cause of Yunnan, but there were many blames for his later ruling behavior.
He has ruled Yunnan for 18 years: Long Yun
Zhou En said that during his lifetime, Mr. Long Yun made three important contributions and meritorious deeds to the country: first, he made contributions to China's democratic revolution; second, he opposed Chiang Kai-shek's personal dictatorship and made meritorious contributions; third, throughout the War of Resistance Against Japan, he resolutely supported until victory and meritorious service.
In 1914, Long Yun graduated from the Fourth Infantry Section of the Yunnan Army's Lecture School. He served as an aide-de-camp to Tang Jiyao, the governor of Yunnan. In 1922, he was appointed commander of the Fifth Army by Tang. In 1927, he launched a coup d'état, forced Tang to step down, and monopolized the military and political power in Yunnan, and until 1945, he ruled Yunnan for 18 years. During Long Yun's reign in Yunnan, he maintained a relatively stable situation in Yunnan, carried out some rectification and reform in the military, economic, cultural, educational and other aspects, adopted an open policy towards Southeast Asian countries, received certain results, and enhanced Yunnan's strength, known as the "King of Yunnan"
The Last King of Yunnan: Lu Han
Although Born into a family of slave owners, Luján also participated in field labor in his early years. Later, together with Long Yun, he was sent to Zhaotong City to study. In 1914, after graduating from the Luhan Lecture Hall, he was assigned to the Dian Army as a second lieutenant probationary platoon leader. After that, he participated in the Patriotic War and the Sichuan-Yunnan War. When Tang Jiyao "returned to Dian for the second time", Lu Han was appointed as the commander of the 3rd Regiment of the Guards. After the fall of Long Yun, the "King of Yunnan" in 1945, Lu Han was appointed chairman of Yunnan Province and commander of security, and he ruled in Yunnan for four years, the last "King of Yunnan"