Background
Mr. Chen was born in Hoppo Hsien, Guangdong, China in 1889.
Mr. Chen was born in Hoppo Hsien, Guangdong, China in 1889.
Chen Ming-shu received his early training at Baoting Military Academy in Chihli (now Hebei).
Mr. Chen joined the Tungmenhui (predecessor of the Kuomintang) when still young and took part in the First Revolution, fighting against Chang Hsun at Hsuchow. He returned to Guangdong (Kwangtung) in 1915 when Yuan Shih-kai declared himself Emperor. Chen Ming-shu became involved in an attempt to assassinate Lung Chi-kwang, Military Governor of Guangdong (Kwangtung), for which he was arrested, but was soon released and fled to Japan where he remained until 1924.
On returning to China he joined the 1st Guangdong (Kwangtung) Army Division and was appointed to the general staff. As a reward of his services to Dr. Sun Yat-sen in suppressing the rebellion of Cheng Chung-ming, Mr. Chen was made commander of the 10th Division of the 4th Army and concurrently commander of the South Route Army. Accompanied Pei Chung-hsi to Hunan in 1925 to Induce various militarists there to join the forthcominer drive to the Yansrtsze.
He led the 10th and 11th divisions of the 4th Nationalist Army into Hunan in 1926 and participated in the capture of Wuchang and the war against Wu Pei-fu in Hupeh. Chen Ming-shu was appointed Commander and Defence Commissioner of Wu-Han and later promoted to the command of the 11th National Army. He later became chief of the General Political Bureau of the National Army Headquarters.
When Communist activities developed in Guangdong (Kwangtung) in December 1927 he was appointed Commander of the Eastern Route Army and concurrently Commander of the 11th Nationalist Army with instructions to suppress the disturbances and was successful. Chen Ming-shu was appointed a member of the Canton Division of the Central Political Council in 1928 and in the same year on the resignation of Li Chi-sun was appointed Chairman of the Guangdong (Kwangtung) Provincial Government, which post he held until 1931, when he was ousted by Gen. Chen Chi-tang.
Mr. Chen was promoted garrison commander of Shanghai-Nanking Area, Vice-President of the Executive Yuan and concurrently Minister of Communications between 1931 and 1932. He was a leading spirit in the Fukien Independence Movement from 1933 to 1934. After the collapse of the Movement, Chen Ming-shu was expelled by the C. E. C. of Kuomintang and lived in retirement.