14 Facts About Zhang Jinghui

Zhang Jinghui was a Chinese general, warlord and politician during the Warlord era.

Zhang Jinghui is noted for his role in the Japanese puppet regime of Manchukuo in which he served as Prime Minister for most of its existence.

Zhang Jinghui was born in Tai'an, southwest of Mukden, Liaoning Province.

Zhang Jinghui deserted Zhang Zuolin to join Wu Peifu's Zhili clique.

Zhang Jinghui later rejoined Zhang Zuolin and served as his Minister of War in the Beiyang Government from May 1926 to June 1927 and as Minister of Industry in the National Pacification Army Government from June 1927 to June 1928.

Zhang Jinghui called a conference in his office on 27 September 1931 to organize an "Emergency Committee of the Special District", with the goal of achieving the secession of Manchuria from China.

Ma Zhanshan from Qiqihar, Zhang Jinghui proclaimed his territory to be self-governing and was inaugurated as governor on 7 January 1932.

Uncertain of the intentions of the Soviet Union to the north, and unable to withstand the Japanese military presence to the south, Zhang Jinghui reached an agreement with the Japanese and accepted an appointment as governor of Heilongjiang Province in the new Japanese-run state of Manchukuo.

However, when Ma Zhanshan agreed to terms with the Japanese on 14 February 1932 in exchange for the post of Governor of Heilongjiang Province, Zhang Jinghui was set aside.

Ma revolted in April 1932 and Zhang Jinghui took his place as Minister of Defense of the Empire of Manchukuo.

On 21 May 1935, Zhang Jinghui succeeded Zheng Xiaoxu as Prime Minister of Manchukuo at the instigation of the Kwantung Army over the objections of Emperor Puyi.

That same year a false report was published in Time Magazine that Zhang Jinghui had poisoned his family and killed his Japanese advisor and other members of the Manchukuo government before committing suicide.

Zhang Jinghui held the position of Prime Minister until the collapse of Manchukuo following the Soviet Red Army's invasion of Manchuria in August 1945.

Zhang Jinghui died of heart failure nine years later in 1959.