Who's Who in China (3rd edition)/Ts'ao Ying

General Ts'ao Ying

曹錢学子报

General Ts'ao Ying was born at Tientsin, in 1873. He is a brother of Marshal Ts'ao Kun. He studied at the Military Academy, Tientsin, and became a teacher after graduation. In 1907 he was awarded the rank of magistrate and subsequently he went to Mukden and joined the General Staff Office of the Manchuria Viceroy as a non-commissioned officer. He was later detailed to make an investigation of the boundary question in Manchuli and Siberia. Upon the completion of this mission, he was promoted to be the first class member of the transportation department and concurrently a member of the second bureau for the compilation of military maps. In 1909 he became an advisor to the Intelligence Bureau in Manchuria. In 1910 he was transferred to the Military Survey School as sub-director. Shortly afterwards he was promoted to be superintendent and acting director of the same school. In 1912 General Ts’ao was appointed dean of the Military Survey School. In 1913 he was transferred to the Board of General Staff, Peking, to act as special intelligence officer. In 1915 he was appointed aide de camp to the General Officer commanding the Precautionary Troops on the Yangtze River. In 1916 he became first class Aide de camp to the headquarters of the troops in mobilization and concurrently acted as advisor to the commander. He was at the same time made a colonel and given the brevet rank of Major General. In the late part of 1916 he was transferred to the Tuchun Yamen of Chihli as chief military advisor. In 1917 he was appointed Chief of the Staff of the expeditionary force fighting for the overthrow of Chang Hsun's monarchical attempt. Subsequently he became Commander of the Fourth Mixed Brigade. In 1918 he was given the Fifth Order of Merit and was made a Major General with the brevet rank of Lieutenant General. About the same time he was appointed Garrison Commissioner of Shanhaikuan. In March 1919 General Ts'ao was awarded the Second Class Chiaho. Не took part in the overthrow of the Anfu government in the summer of 1920. He was awarded the Second Class Tashou Chiaho in September and the Fourth Order of Merit in October, 1920. Subsequently he was appointed Commander-in-Chief of the 26th Army Division formed of the 4th and the 5th Mixed Brigades which had been in his command, and also made a Lieutenant General. In February 1922 he was given the Second Class Paokuang Chiaho. In September he was made a Chiangchun with “Ping-Wei" as special title. In March 1923 he was given the brevet rank of Full General and also awarded the First Class Wenfu decoration. In November 1923 he was made a Full General. In January 1924 he was appointed Director-General of Forestry Development at Jehol, still in command of the 26th Division.