Chen Xilian

Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
In this Chinese name, the family name is Chen.
Chen Xilian
Order of Bayi (First Class Medal)
Order of Independence and Freedom (First Class Medal)
Order of Liberation
(First Class Medal)
Spouse(s)
Li Ge
​
​
(m. 1942; died 1948)​
Wang Xuanmei
​
(1949⁠–⁠1999)​
Children3 (two sons and one daughter)
Chen Xilian
Hanyu Pinyin
Chén Xīlián

Chen Xilian (pronounced [ʈʂʰə̌n ɕíljɛ̌n]; 4 January 1915 – 10 June 1999) was a Chinese military officer and politician, general of the People's Liberation Army. A prominent Maoist, he held very important positions in both military and political spheres.[1]

Following acclaimed participation in many battles during both the

Vice Premier (1975–80).[2]

After Mao's death, Chen was one of Hua Guofeng's most significant supporters, along with Wang Dongxing and Li Xiannian. When Deng Xiaoping gradually rose to power, Chen lost his powerful posts, but was allowed to retire without harm.

Early military career and Sino–Japanese War

Chen was born in

Communist Youth League a year later.[3] Following military training at the Red Army School, he served in the 4th Front Army as a political instructor and communications man, moving up the ranks to regiment political commissar in 1934. His unit, which was led by Zhang Guotao, Xu Xiangqian and Li Xiannian, included such future leaders as Qin Jiwei. They fought Sichuan warlords on the western leg of the Long March.[4] At the close of the Long March, Chen – like his colleagues Xu Shiyou and Yu Qiuli – would find himself on the wrong side of the Mao Zedong-Zhang Guotao dispute, and badly battered by Muslim Hui cavalry and warlord armies. After the fighting, Chen emerged as a division commander and reached Yan'an in late 1935.[5] He was assigned to the 129th Division of Eighth Route Army, which later became the core of the 2nd Field Army led by Liu Bocheng and Deng Xiaoping
.

On October 19, 1937 he led the 769th Regiment, First Column, against Japanese units defending Yangmingbao airbase, destroying 24 Japanese military aircraft, and killing more than 100 Japanese soldiers, which alleviated the air threat on the Xikou Front.[6] Chen at this time served under Xu Xiangqian with future generals Xu Shiyou, Xu Haidong and Han Xianchu.[7]

Chen Xilian addressing soldiers in 1940

In the summer of 1940, Chen’s unit participated in the victorious

Hundred Regiments Campaign near Taiyuan, and by September Chen had succeeded the reassigned Xu Shiyou as 385th Brigade Commander; his political commissar at the time was future Public Security Minister Xie Fuzhi, later to become another powerful leftist.[8]

From 1943 to 1944, he studied at the Central Party School in Yan'an.

Chinese Civil War

During the

Southwest.[9]

Early People's Republic

From 1949 to 1950, he was appointed Party First Secretary, Mayor and Military Governor of Chongqing, as well as a member of the Southwest Military and Political Committee, under the leadership of Deng Xiaoping, He Long and Liu Bocheng.[10][11][12]

From 1950 to 1959, Chen served as Central Commander of the entire PLA

Qing Dynasty Manchu imperial prince Zaitao, as a special adviser.[13]

From 1959 to 1973, Chen Xilian was in

Sino–Soviet border conflict, commanding the artillery assault on Zhenbao Island
.

A beneficiary of the

Liaoning Province in 1971.[14]

Height of power and subsequent fall

In December 1973, Chen Xilian became Commander of the

Vice Premier. During Mao Zedong's last years, Chen was one of his most trusted lieutenants, and Mao even allowed Chen to unofficially take over daily control of the Central Military Commission, something that offended Marshal Ye Jianying
, who was previously tasked with this sensitive assignment.

In October 1976 (following the death of Mao in September) Chen was given credit by many for managing the arrest of the Gang of Four, but other sources instead give full credit to Wang Dongxing; in any case, the two were close allies, and both agreed in supporting Hua Guofeng, Mao's designated successor.[16][17]

Hua Guofeng gradually saw power slip from his hands, and Deng Xiaoping's re-emergence spelled the end of Chen's military and political power.

Tiananmen gate
on 1 October, 1984.

Chen went on to enjoy a comfortable retirement, and died in Beijing in 1999, at the age of 84.

See also

  • List of officers of the People's Liberation Army

Notes

  1. ^ The History of the Chinese People's Liberation Army" Compilation Group. The History of the Chinese People's Liberation Army: Volume II. Military Science Press. 2010: p. 247.
  2. ^ The Biography of Ye Jianying". Biography of Ye Jianying. Beijing: Contemporary China Press. 2006: p. 376.
  3. ^ Editorial Board, Who’s Who in China: Current Leaders, (Foreign Language Press, Beijing: 1989), p. 59.
  4. ^ Whitson, William and Huang Chen-hsia, The Chinese High Command: A History of Communist Military Politics, 1927-71 (Praeger, New York: 1973), p. 141
  5. ^ Lampton, David M., Paths to Power: Elite Mobility in Contemporary China, "Michigan Monographs in Chinese Studies No. 55," The University of Michigan (Ann Arbor: 1986), p. 252-253).
  6. ^ Lampton, p. 255).
  7. ^ Whitson, p. 160.
  8. ^ Lampton, p. 255.
  9. ^ Whitson, Chart D.
  10. ^ Lampton, p. 259.
  11. ^ 《重庆市人民代表大会志》编纂委员会 (1994). 重庆市人民代表大会志 (in Chinese). 该会. p. 63. Retrieved 2025-01-20.
  12. ^ 重庆市地方志编纂委员会 (1987). 重庆年鉴 (in Chinese). 科学技朮文献出版社重庆分社. p. 18. Retrieved 2025-01-20.
  13. ^ Lampton, p. 264.
  14. ^ Lampton, p. 266-69.
  15. ^ Zeng Siyu. My First Hundred Years (Part 2). Dalian: Dalian Publishing House. 2013: p. 725
  16. ^ Lampton, p. 285.
  17. ^ Lampton, p. 273-277.
  18. ^ Lampton, p. 285ff.
Military offices
Preceded by Shenyang Military Region Commander
1959–1973 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Beijing Military Region Commander
1974–1980 		Succeeded by
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