Sa Zhenbing

Sa Zhenbing was a Chinese diplomat and general who served as the premier of the Republic of China twice, in 1918 and 1919. He was a close friend and supporter of Yuan Shikai, the first president of the republic, and held various positions in his government, such as the minister of finance and the minister of internal affairs. He was elected as the premier by President Xu Shichang in 1919, but resigned shortly after due to the political turmoil caused by the warlord Zhang Xun's attempt to restore the Qing dynasty. He was appointed as the premier again by President Xu Shichang in 1920, but faced many challenges, such as the May Fourth Movement, the Warlord Era, and the rise of the Kuomintang. He tried to reform the financial system and improve the foreign relations of China, but his efforts were hampered by the lack of central authority and the interference of the warlords. He resigned in 1920 and lived in retirement until his death in 1952. He was also a leader of the Anfu Club, a political faction that opposed the Zhili and Fengtian Cliques. He led the Chinese delegation at the Paris Peace Conference of 1919, where he refused to sign the Treaty of Versailles that transferred the German concessions in Shandong to Japan. He was known for his loyalty and his moderate views.