![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/c/c8/Yan_Xishan3.jpg)
Marshal Yen Hsi-shan
圈錫山字百川
Marshal Yen Høi-shan was born at Wu-tai Hsien, Shansi province, 1883. When Marshal Yen arrived at manhood state, he had to arrange a settlement with his father's creditors. After studying in his native district and arranging his business affairs, he went to Taiyuan Fu and entered a military institution. After his graduation there he went in 1908 to Japan where he studied in the Military Cadets' Academy, Tokyo, taking Infantry Courses. In 1910 he graduated from that academy and at once returned to China. Upon his return to Shansi he took up the task of building up a model brigade in the province. His military rank was then a Colonel. During his student days Marshal Yen had become a member of the Tung Meng Hui, the fraternity of young evolutionists. With the opening of the revolution at Wuchang he was on the spot in Taiyuanfu, and on October