Who's Who in China (3rd edition)/Chang Ching-yao
General Chang Ching-yao
張敬堯字勳臣
General Chang Ching-yao was born at Huo-Ch'iu Hsien, Anhui Province, in 1881. He attended the Military Academy at Paotingfu in his early youth. His military career before the first revolution in 1911 was none too promising. But after the establishment of the Republic of China, he was promoted from one rank to another with rapidity.
From the position of a non-commissioned officer, General Chang was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant-General in August 1913 and given the brevet rank of Major-General in August 1914. During that period, he commanded the Second Regiment of the Eleventh Brigade of the Sixth Division. A little later he was promoted to be Commander of the Third Mixed Brigade, and at the same time was appointed Garrison Commander at Nanchang, Kiangsi. Shortly afterward he was promoted to be Commander of the Seventh Division. For a time he made his headquarters at Kaifeng, Honan, where he fought the White Wolf brigands. In 1917, Chang Hsun restored Hsuan Tung, former Manchu Emperor, to his throne. The Emperor appointed General Chang Ching-yao, Commander-in-chief of the Yang-tze Inland Navy. The first message of congratulations on the reestablishment of the monarchy was despatched by General Chang. Through the influence of Marshal Tuan, General Chang was allowed to retain his post after the failure of the Manchu restoration. In July 1917, General Chang was appointed Commissioner for the Extirpation of bandits at the boundary of Kiangsu, Anhwei, Shantung and Honan. In October 1917 he was appointed Tutung (Military and Civil Governor) of Charhar. Concurrently he retained the Command of the Seventh Division. Upon the commencement of hostilities between North and South China, he was sent by the Peking government to Hunan as Commander of the rear troops. Shortly afterwards, Changsha was lost to the South. General Wu Pei-fu's troops recaptured it but General Chang got the credit for this victory and was appointed Military Governor of Hunan. This unjust treatment of General Wu called forth much criticism from the people and was somewhat responsible for the final withdrawal of General Wu's troops, from the Hunan front. As a result of the withdrawal of General Wu's troops, General Tan Ye-kai, southern Commander, advanced and expelled General Chang from Hunan in May 1920. General Chang became a refugee in a foreign concession at Hankow. He was officially removed from the Military Governorship of Hunan on June 29, 1920. He was pardoned in December 1923.
