Background
Mr. Wen was born in Ping-Hsiang Hsien, Jiangxi province, China in 1885.
Mr. Wen was born in Ping-Hsiang Hsien, Jiangxi province, China in 1885.
Mr. Wen first graduated from the Jiangxi High Normal College and then was sent by the Governor of Jiangxi to Japan to pursue higher education. In Japan Mr. Wen first studied in the Preparatory Department of the Waseda University and then took a Political Economy course in the Central University of Japan from where he graduated.
After returning to China Mr. Wen passed the Returned Students Examination held by the Board of Education and was therefore given the degree of Chu-Jen or Master's degree.
Upon Jiangxi declaring independence in response to the First Revolution in 1911 Mr. Wen became Chief of the Foreign Affairs Section of the Military Government of Kiangsi and also Secretary to the Tutu of Jiangxi. In January 1912 a Provisional National Council was called in Nanking. Mr. Wen was a Jiangxi Delegate to this Council which elected Yuan Shih-kai as Provisional President of China to succeed Sun Yat-sen and also drafted the Provisional Constitution, the Organic Law of the Republic.
In July 1912 when General Li-Lieh-chun became Tutuh of Jiangxi Mr. Wen accepted the Legal Advisorship of the Office of Jiangxi Tutuh. In April 1913, the Provisional National Council which had been moved to Peking a year ago was dismissed and the First Parliament was convoked, Mr. Wen became a Member of the Lower House of the Parliament. Mr. Wen took an important part in the Second Revolution which broke out in July 1913 planned by Kuo Ming Tang members led by General Li Lieh-chun. The military operations between southern generals and Yuan Shih-kai’s troops only lasted for three months resulting in the collapse of the revolutionary forces.
In November 1913 Yuan Shih-kai proscribed the Kuo Ming Tang as a seditious party and ordered the arrest of its members in the Parliament who were involved in the revolt against the President. Mr. Wen took flight to Japan where he remained until the spring of 1916.
Upon returning to China, Mr. Wen at once joined the Yunnan Revolt against Yuan, Shih-kai’s monarchical attempt. Mr. Wen served both as Secretary of the Headquarters of the Republican Forces and as Director of the Diplomatic Affairs.
In August 1916 tlhe First Parliament was reconvoked in Peking. Mr. Wen took his seat in the House of Representatives. In the meanwhile he also accepted the advisorship to the Military Governors of Yunnan, Juangxi and Chekiang.
In November 1916 Mr. Wen was appointed ViceMinister of Agriculture and Commerce. He was relieved of this post by Chiang Tien-to in July 1917 but before leaving this Ministry he was acting for the Minister for one month. While as a Vice-Minister, he was also Secretary to the President and Councillor to the President’s Office.
In 1917 Mr. Wen went to Guangdong and joined the Military government. He was at first a High Political Advisor. Later he became Vice-Minister of Finance and for a time he was in charge of the Ministry of Finance.
In 1917 Mr. Wen was sent to Peking by the Military government on a mission to negotiate peace terms with the northern leaders, at that time the southern government being in the hands of the Juangxi faction. No sooner than an understanding was about to be reached between the Juangxi faction and the Peking government, the former suddenly lost its hold at Canton. Mr. Wen had to remain in the north and subsequently he accepted an advisorship in the Cabinet and also a councillorship in the President’s Office, Peking.
In 1921 Mr. Wen was appointed resident director of the Commission for the Study of Problems relating to the Unification of China. In July 1922 he was appointed Financial Commissioner of Juangxi province. In October 1922 he was awarded the Second Class Tashou Paokuang Chiaho Decoration. In March 1923 Mr. Wen received the Second Class Wenhu Decoration. In April he was appointed vice-president of the Commission for the Consolidation of National Debts.