Introduction
Yang Yuting (simplified Chinese: 杨宇霆; traditional Chinese: 楊宇霆; pinyin: Yáng Yǔtíng; Wade–Giles: Yang Yü-t'ing; 1886 – January 1929), was a Fengtien clique warlord and Military Governor of Jiangsu during early Republic of China from August to November 1925. He was executed by Zhang Xueliang during a political power struggle.
Biography
Yang was a native of Shengyang, and was sent to Japan in 1904 to study at the Tokyo Shimbu Gakko, a military preparatory school, by the Qing government. He continued on for training at the Imperial Japanese Army Academy, with a specialty in artillery. He returned to China after the Xinhai Revolution of 1911, and served in various military posts in the Beiyang government and was chief-of-staff for Zhang Zuolin during the 1924 First Zhili–Fengtian War and in the 1925 Second Zhili–Fengtian War. He was governor of Jiangsu Province from August–November 1925. During the revolt of Guo Songling against Zhang Zuolin, he was forced to withdraw to Dalian and seek assistance from the Japanese Kwantung Army.
In 1928, after Zhang Zuolin was assassinated in the Huanggutun Incident, Yang came increasing into conflict with Zang Zoulin’s son Zhang Xueliang. He was especially opposed to the Northeast Flag Replacement unifying Manchuria with the Kuomintang government of the Republic of China, and was shot by a firing squad on January 10th in Zhang Xueliang's home after Zhang invited him over to play cards.