Nathan Chang

Nathan Chang  ONS (Chinese: 張宜洋; pinyin: Zhāng Yíyáng; August 7, 1898 - May 8, 1989) or Chang I-yang was a Tsengian military leader and politician. He first served in the, then quickly rose up the ranks and became and the first commander of the Tsengian Army, Chang was an influential figure in Tsengian politics and served as the first (and only) president of the Provisional Government of Tseng. Chang was part of the Gang of Five, a Tsengian political faction that was instrumental in the independence of Tseng.

Today, Chang is seen as a patriot of Tseng and a man who fought for his rights. He is often seen as Pierre Huang-li's secondary.

Early life
Chang was born in Caoning, British Tseng, to a upper-middle class family from Tainan, Qing Taiwan. His father, M. P. Chang, made a fortune selling bicycles. In his teenage years, he helped his father in his bicycle shop.

At age 16, he enrolled at the Caoning Army School as punishment by his parents for accidentally setting fire to almost all of his father's shop. There, he met Liu Liwei (then known as Carl Liu), and Jorge Xi. The three would later become the leading figures in Tseng's military.

Rise in power
Chang was deployed to Germany in 1916 to help fight for the British in. He earned the in 1917 for saving five of his comrades while under fire.

When Chang returned to Tseng in 1919, he was inspired by the Indian independence movement and joined the Tridem Society, a pro-Tseng independence group. That was where the 21-year old Chang met Pierre Huang-li.

Chang was promoted to lieutenant in 1925, however, his pro-independence views were concerning for his officers. In 1931, he was promoted to major. Chang was given the courtesy name Yongsheng (永生).

President of the Provisional Government of Tseng (1946)
Chang became the head of the Tseng Independence Council and ruled Tseng for 5 days from its independence on July 17, 1946, to July 22, 1946, when the first presidential election was held and Pierre Huang-li was elected. When asked why he didn't campaign for president, Chang replied, "I am a military man, not a politician."

Later life and death
After Chang was relieved from his duties, he continued to work in the Tseng Armed Forces. Chang received the Order of National Service, Tseng's highest order of honour, in 1969. Chang finally retired from military life in 1977 at the age of 79.

Chang died of liver cancer on May 8, 1989.