Yu Shanliu

Yu Shanliu (Baiyu: 于山六) was a politician and military officer who ruled Bai as dictator from 1922 until his death in 1942. Rising to power as the leader of the Bai Fascist Solidatory Party, he was Chancellor of the Middle Bai Dynasty from 1910 to 1916 and became President after the 1922 coup and the establishment of the Bai Democratic Republic. During his dictatorship, he instigated the War of Fellow Brothers by invading Kaosha and other neighbouring states.

Yu was born in Khesong, Kaosha but was raised in Huoyuan when his family moved to Bai. He joined the Bai military in 1890 and quickly attained the rank of major. Even as a military leader, he joined politics and took over the Bai Fascist Party in 1908, leading the party to secure the most seats in the 1910 elections. The Longjin Emperor was persuaded to appoint Yu as Chancellor, and the two cooperated on re-armament and promoting anti-communism and pan-Baiism. However, Yu faced considerable opposition from the Yongren Emperor, who eventually dismissed Yu over ideological differences and fears of Yu's political ambitions that would transform the country into a dictatorship and oust the monarchy.

Even dismissed and the Fascist Party disbanded, Yu still held popular support. With military support, Yu overthrew the Bai monarchy in 1922 and reorganised Bai into a one-party military dictatorship, removing all political opposition through his secret police and outlawing labour strikes.