Marshal Wu Junsheng’s Former Residence

　　In the bustling central section of Xinglong Street in the ancient city of Taonan Prefecture stands a nearly European-style "Gothic" three-story grayish-blue building. This is the widely known Marshal Wu Junsheng’s Former Residence. Although it may not be as internationally famous as the Shenyang Imperial Palace or the Puppet Emperor’s Palace in Changchun, it stands as a historical witness to the era of warlord conflicts and the Japanese imperialist enslavement of the Chinese people.

　　In December 1925, "King of the Northeast" and Fengtian Clique warlord Zhang Zuolin commended Wu Junsheng for his role in suppressing the Guo Songling rebellion. At a celebratory gathering in Fengtian, Zhang personally awarded Wu the rank of General and bestowed 500,000 silver dollars from the Fengtian treasury to reward his troops. Wu used this reward to build this commercial building in Taonan for his third concubine, Jin Dapeng, and their daughter. Construction began in the spring of 1926 and was completed in 1927. The building has a total floor area of 2,925 square meters, with the main structure measuring 64 meters in length from east to west, 12 meters in width from north to south, and 22 meters in height. It was the first high-rise building in the history of Taonan.

　　This commercial building, combining Chinese and Western architectural art, features a novel design and unique style. From the outside, a ring of balconies between the first and second floors divides the entire structure into upper and lower sections. The building stands as a cohesive unit, like a massive foundation stone supporting the lofty second and third floors. Meanwhile, the first floor is embraced by 11 square pillars along its walls, giving a sense of solidity and sturdiness. The second and third floors are encircled by a total of 27 pillars—16 round pillars and 11 square ones—each extending from the ground to the top. The second and third floors form a unified, towering whole. The facade has 66 windows, designed in three styles: rectangular, square, and semi-circular, creating a sense of unity with variation, avoiding monotony. There are eight entrances along the street, with the main entrance located at the southeast corner, facing the center of the street. Inside is an entrance hall that can accommodate tables and chairs for visitors to rest. The other seven entrances lead to seven separate units, each capable of functioning as an independent shopfront, each with its own signboard, resembling seven distinct businesses. However, the seven sales halls on the first floor are interconnected via arched doorways, making the first floor a continuous space. Entering the first floor through any of the seven entrances allows access to all the sales areas on the first floor, as well as access to the second and third floors of each unit via seven harp-shaped staircases. The sales halls on the second and third floors of each unit are not interconnected, so entering via one staircase only leads to that specific unit’s upper floors. Overall, the internal layout of the first, second, and third floors combines unity and separation. Unity is achieved as all sales halls are connected within a single building via the first floor, while separation is maintained as they function as seven distinct shops, with the second and third floors operating independently. With seven sales halls per floor and 21 in total across three floors, the people of Taonan also refer to this commercial building as the "21-Room Building." In short, no matter which of the eight entrances you use to enter the building, once you stand in the hall and take in the dazzling array of goods on display and watch the stream of customers moving up and down the floors, you’ll feel as though you’re in a bustling shopping mall.

　　After its completion, this commercial building flourished for a time, becoming the premier shopping destination for the people of Taonan and a symbol of the city’s once-booming economy and widespread fame. However, the good times did not last. On the morning of June 4, 1928, Wu Junsheng was killed by the Japanese in a bombing at Huanggutun Railway Bridge, 3 kilometers northwest of Shenyang, while escorting Zhang Zuolin back to Fengtian. The building then became the inheritance left by Wu Junsheng for Jin Dapeng and their daughter. After the September 18 Incident in 1931, the iron hooves of Japanese invaders ruthlessly entered this remote town. From then on, the people of Taonan began 14 years of life under occupation. Marshal Wu’s commercial building was not spared from this fate. Its owner, Jin Dapeng, and others in Wu’s family fled to Tianjin, and this building, built with the sweat of the people, was briefly occupied by the Japanese. After Japan’s surrender on August 15, 1945, and the liberation of the ancient city of Taonan Prefecture, the Marshal Wu commercial building truly became the property of the nation and its people. It was subsequently used as a department store and retail shop.