Background
Mr. Keng was born in Hubei, China, in 1884.
Mr. Keng was born in Hubei, China, in 1884.
Keng Po-chao received his early education in his home town and later attended the Japanese Military Officers' Academy in Tokyo, specializing in cavalry.
After graduation, Mr. Keng was appointed military secretary to Dr. Sun Yat-sen in 1911. In 1912 he served as a chief of staff to the Headquarters of Nanjing Garrison Forces. He served as political and military adviser to the President of China. After resignation of Dr. Sun from the provisional presidency, he received the title of General. When the Nationalist Revolutionary Forces arrived in Hankou in 1926, Keng Po-chao was appointed director of the Hubei Telegraph Administration and later director of the 1st Special District of Hankou (former German Concession at Hankou).
In 1929 Keng Po-chao was appointed military counsellor of the National Government with the rank of Major-General, 1929. He was a member of the Party and Administrative Affairs Committee and concurrently director of the Political Affairs Bureau of the Headquarters of the Commander-in-Chief of the Anti-Red Forces in Hubei, Henan and Anhui from 1931. In 1933 Mr. Keng was appointed counsellor of the Nanchang Provisional Headquarters of the President of the Military Affairs Commission.