Lü Chao

Lü Chao (March 9, 1890 – July 20, 1951), born in Xuzhou Fu,

Early life

Lü Chao was born to a family originating in Hunan province in 1890. He entered the first phase of the Sichuan Army Elementary School, graduating in 1909. He entered the Fourth Middle School of the Army in Nanjing. During his time there, he picked up revolutionary ideals and sympathies, causing him to join the Tongmenghui. In spring 1910, he joined the Baoding Military Academy. In October 1911, with the beginning of the Wuchang Uprising, Lü went to Shanghai. Under orders from Chen Qimei, he headed North with Li Shizeng and Wang Jingwei (then known as Wang Zhaoming), where he founded the Beijing-Tianjin Tongmenghui Branch in Beijing. In February 1912, under the orders of Yuan Shikai the 3rd Division of the Beiyang Army destroyed the Beijing-Tianjin branch of the Tongmenghui. Lü fled back to Sichuan.

After returning to Sichuan, Lü Chao joined the Sichuan Army under the command of

In 1915, with the breaking out of the

In 1919, Xiong Kewu started to advocate for Chinese Federalism with Chen Jiongming, Tang Jiyao, and Zhao Hengti, opposing Sun Yat-Sen. In April 1920, Lü Chao and other Kuomintang forces launched the "Anti-Xiong War", leading to the expulsion of Xiong Kewu from Chengdu, with Lü taking the position of commander-in-chief of the Sichuan Army. However, Xiong and his former enemy Liu Cunhou reconciled and fought back, expelling Lü, who, in September, was defeated and fled to Shanghai.^[2][3]

Return to Sichuan and later years

As a direct subordinate of Sun Yat-Sen, Lü Chao was responsible for negotiations with political and military factions such as the Guominjun. In May 1923, Lü was promoted by Sun to the Generalissimo's Chief of Staff. In June, he was appointed Commander-in-Chief of the Sichuan Anti-Thief (referring to political opponents) Army, directly leading its 1st Army. He was responsible for fighting the pro-Beijing warlords Yang Sen and Liu Xiang. In March 1924, Xiong Kewu was defeated. Lü remained in Sichuan to fight against Governor of Sichuan Yang Sen. In November 1926, Lü was appointed High Pacification Commissioner of Sichuan by the National Government, an echo of the beginning of the Northern Expedition.

After the end of the Northern Expedition, Lü Chao joined

On July 20, 1951, Lü Chao died in Chongqing at the age of 62.

References