Background
General Yuan Tsu-ming was born at Antung, Guizhou province in 1889.
General Yuan Tsu-ming was born at Antung, Guizhou province in 1889.
Mr. Yuan's early training in his own province fitted him to enter the Military Middle School at Wuchang. After graduating he went to the Military College at Paoting in Chihli. After a few months there he was obliged to return to Guizhou because of the death of his mother.
In the year of the Revolution (1911) Mr. Yuan was not able to return to Paoting. The First Year of the Republic saw him with a commission in his own province, since which time he has had his second training in the field, advancing rapidly through all the ranks. He was a Major in 1914, a Colonel in 1915 and became a Brigadier-General in 1916, when he first came to Sichuan at which time Guizhou was under the control of General Tai Kan who tried to hold Sichuan against Peking.
General Yuan was attached to Tai Kan and it was necessary for him to take Chungking. After the flight of Liu Tsen Hou he went on to Chengtu. Subsequently he changed his allegiance and in 1920 he was given Command of the Guizhou troops operating in Sichuan with rank of General of Division.
In 1922 General Yuan was able to return to Guizhou for a short time and was made the Generalissimo and Civil Governor of the province which position he held for about one year. When he found it necessary to retire he returned to Sichuan in 1923. Attaching himself with energy to the Northern cause he was given the control of the military organization known as the Allied Forces for the Relief of Sichuan. This position he assumed at Wanhsien in November. With his allies he swept back to Chungking and then on to Chengtu. Nor did he stop till he had driven all the rebel forces from the province.
At that time General Yuan was in supreme command of the military operations. Since his great victory General Yuan made plans to return to Guizhou. To do so he would find it necessary to fight his way.
After a period of sick leave he was made the General of the 34th National Division. He was also the director for the Defence of the Sichuan-Guizhou frontier. There were 20,000 troops in and around Chungking, belonging to that command. General Yuan was in appearance and manner a typical soldier.
General Yuan was given many decorations such as Peking showers on her favored sons, in 1923 the rank of Marshal. His title was Hung Wei Tsiang Chun. He was looked to as one of those who would have much to do with the future of Southwestern China. Whether it was necessary for him to force his way or not, he was expected to carry the banner of Unification to Guizhou and Yunnan.
