Who's Who in China (3rd edition)/Hsu Lan-chou

General Hsu Lan-chou

許蘭洲字芝田

General Hsu Lan-chou, was born in Nan Kun Hsien, Chihli, in 1873. He followed President Hsu Shih-chang, who was at that time Viceroy of Manchuria to Fengtien as a member of the Viceroy's staff. Later he was attached to General Chang Hsun's force as commander of a section of the patrol troops. In 1912, General Hsu was promoted to be a brigade commander with the rank of lieutenant general. In 1913, he was given the official rank of major general for his successful suppression of the Sun Ya-hu band of Hunghutze. In 1914, he was acting commander of the 3rd Division in Heilungkiang. In 1917, he expelled General Pi Kuei-fang, then Military Governor of Heilungkiang, and succeeded him subsequently, as acting Military Governor. Later Peking appointed General Pao Kwei-ching to be Military Governor of Heilungkiang to succeed General Hsu and General Hsu was transferred to be adviser to General Chang Tso-ling. In December 1917 he was appointed by the Central government to be aide de camp of the College of Marshals, Peking, and he held this post for a brief period. In October 1920 he was conferred the Fifth Order of Merit. In December 1920 he became commander of the Fengtien troops in Mukden and Chief of Staff to General Chang Tso-ling, High Inspecting Commissioner of Manchuria. During the Chihli-Fengtien War in 1922, General Hsu took an active part as Commander of one brigade of Cavalry. After the defeat of Fengtien, General Hsu retired into private life and has been residing in Tientsin ever since that time.