Who's Who in China (3rd edition)/Wang Huai-ch'ing

Marshal Wang Huai-ch'ing

王慶字然宣

Marshal Wang Huai-ch'ing was born at Ning-chin Hsien, Chihli province, in 1866. He received a good education at home in his youth. When he was grown up, he gave up his classics study and entered the Military Academy, Tientsin. He was a member of the second graduating class of that institution. After graduation he became an instructor in Genera! Nieh Shih-cheng's army. During the Sino-Japanes? War he participated in the Mukden campaign and displayed unprecedented bravery during the fight at Taikuling. Later Yuan Shih-kai, then Viceroy of Chihli, appointed him commander of the 2nd Cavalry Brigade of the Peiyang Army. In 1907 when the present President Hsu Shih-chang was Viceroy of the Three Eastern Provinces, transferred Marshal Wang thither and appointed him Co-director of the Department of military affairs. Concurrently he acted as advisor to the Department of Military Instruction and commander of a part of the Huai Chun. During his stay in Manchuria he established a military school called the Chiang Wu Tang, and suppressed numerous brigands who had been devastating the country. Two years later he was transferred to Chihli and promoted to be military commander of Tungyunghen. At the same time he was commander of the Huai Chun. During the winter of 1911, the soldiers at Lanchow east of Tangshan on the Peking-Mukden Railway mutinied at the instigation of the revolutionists. He repaired to the scene and restored order in person. Upon the establishment of the republic in 1911, Yuan Shih-kai appointed Marsha! Wang Garrison Commissioner at Dolonor. General Wang still retained the command of the Huai Chun. During his stay at Dolonor, he also commanded the fifth brigade of the last division of the regular army. In 1913 he personally directed the suppression of the Mongol brigands who were ravaging the frontier, and was present at a bloody battle lasting three days and three nights, which resulted in the extermination of the rebel force. In September 1914 he was transferred back to Chihli and was appointed Garrison Commissioner of Chi-nan division of the province on the border of Shantung and is known as a very difficult place to govern. Brigands were scattered all over the vicinity and were a constant source of menace to the peace loving people. Upon the assumption of his office, Mashal Wang mobilized his troops, followed the brigands whereever they went, destroyed their dens and killed their leaders. This efficient manner of fighting the brigands won for him a good name, and was responsible for the speedy restoration of order in the neighborhood. After the death of Yuan Shih-kai, in June 1916, Marshal Wang retired for a while. Upon his assumption of the presidential office in September 1918, he appointed General Wang a High Advisor. In January 1919 lie was given the Second Class Tashou Paokuang Chiaho. In May 1919 he was appointed acting Commander-in-Chief of the Peking Gendarmerie. In July 1919 he was substantiated to this post. In November 1919 he was given the brevet rank of Full General and also the First Class Wenfu. In July 1920, after the defeat of the Anfu Faction, he was appointed acting Commander-in-Chief of the Metropolitan Garrison as a concurrent post. In September 1929 he received another concurrent position as Commander-in-Chief of the 13th Division. In October 1919 he was given the Third Order of Merit. In January 1921 Marshal Wang was given the First Class Tashou Chiaho and in January 1922 the First Class Tashou Paokuang Chiaho. In February 1922 he was appointed to be concurrently Deputy Director of the I-Chun Troops. In May 1922 he was appointed Commander-in-Chief of the Metropolitan Garrison and also High Inspecting Coommissioner of Jehol, Charhar and Suiyuan, holding concurrently the post of Tutung of Jehol. In October 1922 he was made a Full General. In November 1923 he was made a Shan Chiangchun, Marshal, with "Chin-Wu" as his special title. In July 1924 he was relieved of the Jehol Tutungship by General Mi Chun-piao. In September 1924, in the Punitive Expedition to subjugate Marshal Chang Tso-lin, the Peking government appointed Marshal Wang the Commander-in-Chief of the Second Army Corp.