Background
He was born in Yung-sheng, Honan, China.
He was born in Yung-sheng, Honan, China.
Mr. Sun started his career as a common soldier. After having served successively as a squad commander, battalion commander and regimental commander, he became Commander of 5th Mixed Brigade of 35th Division in 1924 and concurrently Defense Commissioner of southern Chihli in 1927. Then ne was promoted Commander of the 12th Army of the 6th Group Army in 1928. In the same year, the Army was reorganised into the 2nd Independent Division and he remained Commander of the same.
After that Tien-ying Sun was promoted Commander of the 18th Division in 1929 and in 1930 was transferred as Commander of the 40th Division. In December the same year, he was promoted Commander of the 41st Army with rank of Marshal. In 1933 Mr .Sun was given a further promotion as Commander-in-Chief of the 9th Group Army in the spring of 1933, be volunteered his services for the defense of Jehol against the Japanese.
Before he reached his defense post-Chihfeng-in Jehol, he encountered the Japanese Army and fought with it. But due to poor equipment and lack of supplies, and after the fall of Chengteh, Capital of Jehol, he was forced to withdraw the Army to eastern Charhar where it was pursued by the Japanese and battled its way in retreat. His Army fought more than 20 battles with the Japanese in 26 days during its campaign in Jehol. When Dolonor and Kuyuan in Charhar finally were captured by the Japanese, he withdrew further into Charhar and after the Tangku Armistice, he was appointed Reclamation Commissioner in Chinghai (Kokonor). Following his appointment, he marched his Army westward to Paotaochen in Suiyuan on way to his appointed garrison. But when his Army advanced beyond the Suiyuan border, he encountered opposition from Ninghsia, Shensi and Kansu authorities. Tien-ying Sun fought for many months against the combined forces of Shensi, Kansu and Ninghsia and was finally forced to leave the Army in March, 1934.