From Poverty to Power: The Making of a Village Leader

In 1930, Yu Zuomin was born into a poor farming family in Daqiuzhuang village, Tianjin. As the third of four children, young Yu stood out for his intelligence, earning him the rare privilege of attending a traditional Confucian school while his siblings toiled in the fields. This early education in classical Chinese texts would later inform his unorthodox leadership style.

The village of Daqiuzhuang was notorious for its poverty. Surrounded by saline-alkali lands unsuitable for productive farming, the settlement became synonymous with hardship. A local saying captured the desperation: “Better eat chaff for three years than marry a daughter to Daqiuzhuang.” When Yu became village Party secretary in 1974, the collective’s annual net income barely reached 50,000-60,000 yuan after expenses – insufficient to support the entire population.

The Great Transformation: Building an Industrial Empire

The turning point came in 1977 during leadership elections. China had just emerged from the Cultural Revolution, and Yu made a bold promise: “Give me three years, and I’ll lead everyone out of poverty. If I fail, I’ll step down.” His ambitious vision won him reelection.

Yu’s epiphany was simple yet revolutionary for a peasant leader: “Why do landlords and capitalists get rich? Because they engage in industry!” In 1978, he risked the village’s meager savings to establish a cold-rolled steel factory – an operation that generated 170,000 yuan profit in its first year. This success launched Daqiuzhuang’s industrial revolution.

By 1984, the village boasted 15 enterprises with 20 million yuan in fixed assets. Four years later, industrial output reached 500 million yuan with 80 million in profits. Yu’s management philosophy centered on meritocracy, appointing talented individuals regardless of background:

– Liu Wanmin, a former collaborator during Japanese occupation, became steel plant manager
– 24-year-old former pig farmer Zhang Yanjun ran the electronics factory
– Militia company commander Yu Zuoyao headed the pipe factory

Yu created an unprecedented incentive system: factory managers kept 10% of profits above 1 million yuan. While controversial, this approach produced spectacular results. By 1992, Daqiuzhuang hosted over 200 factories with 15 billion yuan in assets and 4.7 billion in annual profits.

The Dark Side of Success: Power Corrupts

As wealth accumulated, Yu’s behavior grew increasingly autocratic. He surrounded himself with luxury – imported Mercedes sedans, a villa locals called the “Little Zhongnanhai,” and a personal security detail. More troubling were his governance methods:

– Appointed family members to key positions, including making his 25-year-old son company CEO
– Established a 100-strong private security force answering directly to him
– Publicly declared: “Remove the word ‘local’ and I am the emperor!”

The village became Yu’s personal fiefdom. Visitors had to disembark at the gate and use Daqiuzhuang transportation. When a Hong Kong journalist asked if he was the “local emperor,” Yu famously replied: “Drop the word ‘local’ – I am the emperor!”

Lawlessness and Downfall

Yu’s disregard for legal norms culminated in several shocking incidents:

In 1990, after his niece accused a factory manager of harassment, Yu’s men beat the accused’s father to death in public. When courts convicted the perpetrators, Yu organized mass protests against the verdict.

The final unraveling began in November 1992 when an employee, Wei Fuhe, was tortured to death during an interrogation about alleged embezzlement. When police investigated, Yu:

– Falsified evidence and witness statements
– Helped suspects flee
– Detained six police officers for 13 hours
– Mobilized villagers to blockade the town

In April 1993, authorities finally arrested Yu after luring him to a meeting. At trial, he was convicted on five charges including obstruction of justice, bribery, and illegal detention, receiving a 20-year sentence.

Legacy of a Complex Figure

Yu died in 1999 under disputed circumstances while serving his sentence. His story remains a cautionary tale about China’s reform era:

– Demonstrated the potential of rural entrepreneurship
– Showcased the dangers of unchecked power
– Highlighted tensions between economic reform and rule of law

The Daqiuzhuang miracle transformed from a model of rural development into a warning about the perils of personality cults and legal nihilism. Yu’s rise and fall encapsulates the central paradox of China’s economic transformation – how to reconcile explosive growth with institutional constraints.

As China continues wrestling with questions of governance and development, Yu Zuomin’s legacy endures as both inspiration and warning – a reminder that no individual, no matter how visionary or successful, stands above the law.