After the fall of the Qing Dynasty, China was mired in political chaos. What strengthened the wilting national pride was the May Fourth Enlightenment Movement supported by such modern scholars from the Peking University as Chen Duxiu, Li Dazhao, Hu Shi and Lu Xun who advocated science and democracy. It was Mr Ts'ai Yuan-p'ei, the newly appointed Principal, that masterminded the Movement.
Being in charge of the University, Ts'ai implemented pioneer policies in management such as freedom of speech, freedom of thoughts, professor administration and so on. With his scholar comrades, Ts'ai fought an uphill battle against rotten forces of the traditional conservative parties at the University, the Government and even the powerful feudal generals. He denied the outdated conservative culture of the University and turned it into the cradle of the May Fourth Enlightenment Movement.