Background
General Hsu Lan-chou was born in Nan Kun Hsien, Zhili in 1873.
Government and military official
General Hsu Lan-chou was born in Nan Kun Hsien, Zhili in 1873.
Mr. Hsu followed President Hsu Shih-chang who was at that time Viceroy of Manchuria to Fengtien as a member of the Viceroy’s staff. Later he was attached to General Chang Hsun’s force as commander of a section of the patrol troops.
In 1912 General Hsu was promoted to be a brigade commander with the rank of lieutenant general. In 1913 he was given the official rank of major general for his successful suppression of the Sun Ya-hu band of Hunghutze. In 1914 he was acting commander of the 3rd Division in Heilungkiang.
In 1917 Mr. Hsu expelled General Pi Kuei-fang, then Military Governor of Heilungkiang, and succeeded him subsequently, as acting Military Governor. Later Peking appointed General Pao Kvvei-ching to be Military Governor of Heilungkiang to succeed General Hsu and General Hsu was transferred to be adviser to General Chang Tso-ling.
In December 1917 he was appointed by the Central government to be aide de camp of the College of Marshals, Peking and he held this post for a brief period. In October 1920 he was conferred the Fifth Order of Merit. In December 1920 he became commander of the Fengtien troops in Shenyang and Chief of Staff to General Chang Tso-ling, High Inspecting Commissioner of Manchuria.
During the Chihli-Fengtien War in 1922, General Hsu took an active part as Commander of one brigade of Cavalry. After the defeat of Fengtien, General Hsu retired into private life and was residing in Tanjin ever since that time.