Case of Cao Kun's Bribery Presidential Election

In 1923, Cao Kun, leader of the Zhili warlord clique, bribed members of the National Assembly of the Republic of China to win the presidency. Through intermediaries like parliamentary speaker Wu Jinglian, payments of up to 5,000 silver dollars per vote were made. Despite a boycott by many lawmakers, Cao secured the required quorum and was elected president on October 5. The bribery was exposed by legislator Shao Ruipeng, who submitted evidence to the Capital District Procuratorate, provoking public outrage. No formal judicial proceedings were initiated due to political interference. The scandal discredited the Beiyang government and fueled opposition from rival factions.

No formal trial was held. On October 23, 1924, during the Beijing Coup, Cao Kun was deposed and imprisoned by General Feng Yuxiang. He was released in 1926 and lived in retirement. The bribery case itself was never legally adjudicated.

Whether the bribery invalidated the presidential election; whether Cao Kun and complicit legislators could be held criminally liable under the Provisional Constitution; and the broader constitutional crisis over the legitimacy of the presidency.

The bribery scandal severely damaged the credibility of the Beiyang government and the early Republic's parliamentary system. It became a symbol of warlord corruption, intensified public disillusionment, and contributed to the rise of revolutionary movements that eventually overthrew the warlords.