Chinese Revolutionary Leader and Warlord-Cai E

  Chinese Revolutionary Leader and Warlord-Cai E

 Cai E or Tsai Ao (18 December 1882  8 November 1916) was a Chinese revolutionary leader and warlord. They was born Cai Genyin in Shaoyang, Hunan and his courtesy name was Songpo.

In 1898, Cai studied at Yuelu Academy, and later went to Japan to study in 1899. Cai returned to China in 1900. They took part in the rebellion of the Self-Support Army with Tang Caichang. When they failed, Cai returned to Japan. Cai later joined Tongmenghui or Chinese United League and took part in the Xinhai Revolution of 1911. After the revolution, they served as Commander-in-Chief of the Military Government of Yunnan.
 

When Yuan Shikai proclaimed himself as the Emperor of a new Empire of China in 1915, Cai and Tang Jiyao launched the Republic-Protection Campaign in Yunnan to crusade against Yuan. With only twenty,000 soldiers, his army defeated Yuans army of 80,000 in Sichuan. With several provinces behind them, the revolutionaries successfully forced Yuan to abandon monarchism. According to popular folk story, it was a young prostitute woman who inspired Cai E to turn against Yuan's Beijing government rule.

After Yuan died, Cai held the position of Governor-General and Governor of Sichuan. He later left for Japan for medical treatment, but died soon after arrival.

Cai E is regarded by plenty of as the man and general, who possibly changed the work of China's history. Although plenty of warlords loyal to Yuan Shikai did not support his ambition to revive monarchy, Cai E was the leading figure to force Yuan to step down. He also served as the inspiration for a young Zhu De who would later become a military leader and found the Chinese Red Army, the forerunner to the People's Liberation Army.