Background
Mr. Li was born in Shandong, China, in 1902.
Mr. Li was born in Shandong, China, in 1902.
Li Yen-Lien graduated in the first class of the Whampoa Cadets' Academy in Guangzhou.
Li Yen-Lien served in the Training Corps of the Academy and took part in the First East River Campaign against Chen Chiun-ming and the Campaign against Guangxi Militarists in Guangzhou in 1925. He participated in the Shameen Incident in the same year, fought in the second East River Campaign. Upon launching of the Northern Punitive Expedition in 1926, he was appointed a battalion commander in the First Army and participated in the battles in Wuchang and Nanchang. Then he was promoted vice-commander of the 4th regiment and fought along the Shanghai-Hangzhou Line in advance to Shanghai in 1927.
Mr. Li was appointed commander of the 5th regiment of the First Army and fought against Sun Chuan-fang's Forces in Longtan on Shanghai-Nanjing Line, Haizhou, Pengpu and Xuzhou on the Tianjin-Pukou Line, promoted Major-General for meritorious services in 1927. He campaigned against Chang Chung-chang's remnants at Hanchwang and Taian on the Tsinpu Line and was in defence of Tsinan City when the Tainan Tragedy occurred on May 8, 1928, promoted vicecommander of the 2nd Division after the Incident and was soon transferred as commander of the 26th Brigade of the 9th Division, participated in the campaign against Guangxi Faction in Wuhan, fought in punitive expedition against Tang Sheng-chih and Feng Yu-hsiang in 1980.
Yen-Lien Li campaigned against the Northern Military Coalition of Yen Hsi-shan and Feng Yu-hsiang in 1981 and fought in Kweiteh, Zhengzhou and other important points on the Beijing-Hankou Line, appointed vice-commander of the 2nd Division of the National Guards, transferred as vice-Commander of the 88th Division of the 5th Army in 1932 and fought against the Japanese in Shanghai.
In recognition of his meritorious service during the war in Shanghai, he was promoted Commander of the 9th Division, participated in the campaign against the Fujian Independence Movement in 1933-1934. Since the collapse of the Movement, he had been engaged in Communist-suppression work in Fujian.