General Chao Heng-t'i was born at Hsiang-t'an Hsien, Hunan Province, in 1880. After graduation from a military school in China, he went to Japan and entered the Military Officers' Academy, taking the coursa in artillery. In November 1908 he was graduated and returned to China. Subsequently General Chao became a commanding Officer in Kuangsi Province. During the First Revolution in 1911-12, he was in Hunan and played an active part as Commander of a Revolutionary Force, as a Kuomintang member. Following the establishment of the Republic in 1912 and the election of Yuan Shih-kai to the Presidency, he went to Peking together with several other Kuomintang Generals. Owing to his intimate relation with Kuomintang people, he was much suspected by Yuan Shih-kai who subsequently had him arrested and imprisoned in the Peking Marshal Court popularly known as Yuan Shih-kai's "Bastile." General Chao remained in prison until finally released through the efforts of General Tan Yen-k’ai, then Tutuh (Military Governor) of Hunan. In December 1916 he was appointed Commander of the First Division of Hunan and soon afterwards, became Commander in Chief of the Hunan Forces. In 1922 the people of Hunan declared Provincial Autonomy. A constitution was promulgated containing the provision that the people were to elect their own governors. As a result of the election, General Chao was placed at the South. However he was thought to be on better terms with the former than capacity he was supposed to be neutral from the standpoint of North and South. However he was thought to be on better terms with the former than the latter. In October 1922 General Chao was decorated by the Second Order of Merit. In August 1923 Hunan was threatened with an attack by Sun Yat-sen's men commanded by General Tan Yen-k'ai, former Military Governor of Hunan. General Chao's position has been weakened somewhat but he is still upholding the provincial constitution of Hunan.
