Background
General Chao Hengt’i was born at Hsiang-t’an Hsien, Hunan Province in 1880.
General Chao Hengt’i was born at Hsiang-t’an Hsien, Hunan Province in 1880.
After graduation from a military school in China Mr. Chao went to Japan and entered the Military Officers’ Academy, taking the course in artillery. In November 1908 he graduated and returned to China.
Subsequently General Chao became a commanding Officer in Juangxi Province. During the First Revolution in 1911-1912 he was in Hunan and played an active part as Commander of a Revolutionary Force, as a Kuomintang member.
Following the establishment of the Republic in 1912 and the election of Yuan Shih-kai to the Presidency Mr. Chao went to Peking together with several other Kuomintang Generals. Owing to his intimate ralation with Kuomintang people, he was much suspected by Yuan Shih-kai who subsequently had him arrested and imprisoned in the Peking Marshal Court popularly known as Yuan Shih-kai’s “Bastile”.
General Chao remained in prison until finally released through the efforts of General T’an Yen-k’ai, then Tutuh (Military Governor) of Hunan. In December 1916 he was appointed Commander of the First Division of Hunan and soon afterwards became Commander in Chief of the Hunan Forces.
In 1922 the people of Hunan declared Provincial Autonomy. A constitution was promulgated containing the provision that the people were to elect their own governors. As a result of the election General Chao was placed at the South. However he was thought to be on better terms with the former than capacity he was supposed to be neutral from the standpoint of North and South.
In October 1922 General Chao was decorated by the Second Order of Merit. In August 1923 Hunan was threatened with an attack by Sun Yat-sen’s men commanded by General T’an Yen-k’ai, former Military Governor of Hunan. General Chao’s position was weakened somewhat but he was still upholding the provincial constitution of Hunan.