Chen Baozhen

During the Self-Strengthening Movement, Chen became closely associated with Zeng Guofan's efforts to rearm China.

In 1895, he was appointed governor of Hunan province, where he carried out a reform program with the aid of Tan Sitong and Liang Qichao.

[3] During the reform, Chen appointed Liang Qichao and Tan Sitong who were active advocates of modernization, a move that met with resistance from Hunan's local conservative gentry.

In order to silence his conservative opponents, Chen enforced censorship on local newspapers.

Mao Zedong, the founder of the People's Republic of China, was among the younger elites who were influenced by Hunanese reformist ideals.