14 Facts About Yang Zengxin

Yang Zengxin was the ruler of Xinjiang after the Xinhai Revolution in 1911 until his assassination in 1928.

Yang Zengxin was born in Mengzi, Yunnan Province, in 1864.

Yang Zengxin passed the imperial examination and became a jinshi degree holder in 1899.

Hezhou Prefecture Magistrate Yang Zengxin wrote an essay on Sufi menhuan dated 1897.

Yang Zengxin effectively fabricated Xinjiang's boundaries in its modern form by having the posts of Altay minister, Tarbagatai councilor and Ili general destroyed and having their self-rule directly to Beijing removed.

Ma Yuanzhang, a Sufi Jahriyya Shaykh, gave his support to Yang Zengxin to seize power in Xinjiang.

Ma Anliang, in cooperation with Yang Zengxin, attempted to arrest and execute Yihewani leader Ma Wanfu.

Ma Anliang and Yang Zengxin were both monarchists and did not trust republicanism, and had served in the Qing military together.

Yang Zengxin came to power after he defeated the revolutionaries who caused the last Qing dynasty governor, Yuan Dahua, to flee during the Xinhai Revolution in Xinjiang.

Yang Zengxin appointed Ma Fuxing military commander of 2,000 Chinese Muslim troops, whose purpose was to crush Yang's rivals.

Yang Zengxin was made a Count of the First Rank by Yuan Shikai during Hongxian era.

Yang Zengxin always recognized whichever faction was in power in the Beiyang government to avoid trouble.

Yang Zengxin's rule kept the region relatively peaceful, compared to other parts of China which were war-torn.

Yang Zengxin recognised Russian economic dominance in Xinjiang, while concluding a provisional trade deal which established Soviet consulates in the Ili Valley and two Chinese consulates in Semipalatinsk and Verkhne-Udinsk.