Yu Zeming

Yu Zeming (Baiyu: 于泽冥; 31 October 1901 – 4 June 1989) was a Bai nobleman, revolutionary and military leader who ruled Bai as its Crown Regent from 1962 to 1989. Having reunified Bai through the Eastern Expedition and restored the monarchy, he continued to preside over Bai's redevelopment and oversaw its transformation into a developed country and regional power in Northern Archanta. His rule was commonly known as the Regency Era, which has been criticised as authoritarian, with mass persecution of political critics, purging of other warlords and imposition of martial law over certain areas of the country.

Born in Huoyuan, Neilu Province, Yu was initially a member of his father's Bai Fascist Solidatory Party (BFSP). Following political differences with his father, he and his wife Chang Meisheng defected from the regime and remained in Izaland for the remainder of the fascist era. Returning to Bai in the 1950s, he established a new government and organised a coalition of forces (including warlords of Fascist remnants) known as the New Alliance for the Reunification of the Bai People. As commander-in-chief, he led the Eastern Expedition, defeated the various factions and reunified Bai in 1962. Through a referendum, he restored the Bai monarchy but installed his son as the de jure head of state while he continued to rule as the country's de facto leader.

Under his tenure as Crown Regent, he began his Weixin Programme to reconstruct and re-develop Bai through restoring and modernising the national road and rail systems and establishing new economic zones for trade with the outside world. The re-establishment of ties with foreign powers and foreign-direct investments of the 60s and 70s led to the recovery of the Empire's economy, which became industrialized and technology-oriented. In the 80s, he began to delegate more authority to his son, and successfully bided and hosted the Xiongjing Pax Nova Games in 1988. Shortly after, on 4 June 1989, he died of a fatal stroke and was given a royal funeral. He was buried along with the other former Middle Bai Emperors.