Hu Lian

Hu Lien (, courtesy name Boyu (伯玉);

Early career Hu was born in Hua County (now Huazhou District), Shaanxi in 1907. He studied at the Whampoa Military Academy, and graduated alongside Lin Biao in 1925. After graduating, he joined the National Revolutionary Army and fought during the Northern Expedition. Following the end of the Northern Expedition, a coalition of warlords led by Feng Yuxiang, Yan Xishan and the New Guangxi clique who had supported the National Revolutionary Army attempted to wrestle control from Chiang Kai-shek's Nanjing government in the Central Plains War. Hu was ordered to command a company against Feng Yuxiang's forces, and despite heavy artillery fire, Hu's company held its position. At the end of the conflict Hu was promoted to battalion commander. During the first phase of the Chinese Civil War, Hu participated in multiple encirclement campaigns against the Chinese Communists, eventually being promoted to deputy commander of the 11th Division just prior to the outbreak of the war with Japan. Chiang had deep faith in his military leadership and gave a sword with inlaid jewels to Hu. He retired in 1974 and went to study the history of the Song dynasty at National Taiwan University.