Who's Who in China (3rd edition)/Ch'en Shu-fan

General Chen Shu-fan

陳樹藩字伯生

General Ch'en Shu-fan was born at An-kang Hsien Shensi province, and is a graduate of the Paotingfu Military Academy. He played an important part in the First Revolution commanding the people's army at Hotung, Shansi, against the royal soldiers and therefore, subsequent to the establishment of the Republic in 1912, he was appointed Commander of the First Mixed Brigade in the province of Shensi. From 1912-14 the notorious bandit chief, “The White Wolf,” created much disturbance in Honan, Shansi and Shensi in open defiance of the provincial authorities. General Ch'en maintained order and peace in the province of Shensi to the best of his ability and his efforts finally drove the White Wolf out of Shensi. In May 1915 General Ch'en was appointed Defence Commissioner of Southern Shensi and in January 1916 he was transferred to Northern Shensi. In December 1915 occurred the Yunnan Uprising against Yuan Shih-kai's monarchical attempt. Upon reaching Northern Shensi, General Ch’en gathered together all the revolutionary members and declared independence at San Yuan, at the north of Northern Shensi. General Lu Chien-chang then Military Governor of Shensi, was driven away and General Ch'en was made Commander of the Shensi Republican Army. Following the death of Yuan Shih-kai in June 1916, Li Yuan-hung became president and in July he appointed General Ch'en Tuchun of Shensi. In July 1917 he was ordered to act concurrently as Civil Governor of Shensi. These positions he held until May 1921 when he was relieved and subsequently created a Chiang Chun of the Chiang Chun Fu with the special title of two words "Hsiang Wei.” He has since been living in retirement at Tientsin.