Part II Devoting to the Democratic Revolution
When the Revolution of 1911 erupted, Ningbo businessmen responded to the call of the times, actively supporting the democratic revolution headed by Sun Yat-sen. They either threw themselves into the revolution, or support it economically, or took active action. Their righteous deeds reflected the awakening of Chinese businessmen at the time of revolution.
1. Zhu’s Efforts to Raise Fund for the Revolution
To raise money for soldier's pay and provisions, Sun Yat-sen founded China Bank in Shanghai. Chu Pao San, a native of Dinghai and board director of the bank, did not fail the expectation of the President, borrowing 10,5000 taels of silver from over 10 money exchanges with bills of credit issued by the National Army in support of the new revolutionary regime.
2. Wu’s Support of the 1911 Revolution
Wu Jintang from Cixi is a known patriotic merchant in the modern Chinese history. Confident of the anti-Qing struggle led by Sun Yat-sen, he warmly received Sun Yat-sen in Kobe many times. Besides providing financial aid for the revolution, he helped Sun transport ammunitions in secret. In 1905, he served as director of the Chinese Revolutionary League in Kobe. In 1912, at the invitation of the ROC government, he served important positions in Zhejiang provincial government. He made donations to the ROC government, the military governments of Shanghai and Ningbo, and the Red Cross many times. Sun Yat-sen once wrote a tablet for him with the words “Devotion to Public Interest” to commend his support to the revolution.
3. Brothers’ Advocating of the Revolution
In 1904, Zhao brothers Jiafan and Jiayi from Cixi, went to Japan for study, during which they joined the Chinese Revolutionary League, becoming the most loyal followers of Sun Yat-sen. When Sun was organizing uprisings in Guangdong and Guangxi in 1907, they donated all their family possessions. In 1910, Zhao Jiafan provided financial support to Yu Youren in founding such newspapers as The People’s Cry, The People’s Murmurs, and The People’s Independence. In 1911, he helped Chen Qimei to start the Chinese Revolutionary League in Shanghai, while his brother Jiayi set up the Ningbo branch of the League, serving as its director himself. On November 5th 1911, Zhao Jiayi rode across Ningbo City and shouted revolutionary slogans on a white horse, drawing massive support from the people and facilitating the earlier return of Ningbo to the hands of the people. Zhao Jiayi then held an important position in Ningbo military government.
4. The Li’s Waging Battles in Shanghai
The Li’s of Zhenhai was one of the most economically-influential families among Ningbo Bang. The Li brothers, Yunshu, Weizhuang and Zhengwu, were all renowned figures in the 1911 revolution in Shanghai. They joined the Chinese Revolutionary League before 1911. In the battle to retake Shanghai, Li Zhengwu mobilized an army to attack Jiangnan Manufacture Bureau, exhibiting great commanding ability. Later, he founded an organization to raise money for soldier's pay and provisions. Li Yunshu served as the supervisor of the general depot of Jiangsu-Zhejiang united army, devoting himself heart and soul to providing military supply to the front.
