# Chen Cheng

> Chinese politician and soldier (1897–1965)

**Wikidata**: [Q701313](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q701313)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chen_Cheng)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/chen-cheng

## Summary
Chen Cheng was a Chinese politician and soldier who lived from 1897 to 1965. He served as a key military commander during the Northern Expedition and Central Plains War, and later held prominent political positions in the Republic of China government.

## Biography
- Born: January 4, 1897
- Nationality: Chinese
- Education: Not specified in source material
- Known for: Military leadership during the Northern Expedition and Central Plains War, political service in the Republic of China
- Employer(s): Kuomintang (KMT), Republic of China government
- Field(s): Military, politics

## Contributions
Chen Cheng served as a military commander during the Northern Expedition (1926), a major Kuomintang campaign to unify China under Nationalist control. He also participated in the Central Plains War, a significant conflict within the Nationalist camp. During the Second Sino-Japanese War, Chen Cheng commanded forces in the Battle of Changsha (1939) and the Battle of Zaoyang–Yichang (1940), both important engagements against Japanese forces attempting to advance into central China.

## FAQs
**What military campaigns did Chen Cheng participate in?**
Chen Cheng served as a military commander during the Northern Expedition (1926), the Central Plains War, and the Second Sino-Japanese War. He led forces in the Battle of Changsha (1939) and the Battle of Zaoyang–Yichang (1940).

**What was Chen Cheng's role in the Republic of China government?**
Chen Cheng held prominent political positions in the Republic of China government, though specific offices are not detailed in the source material. He was a key figure in both military and political spheres during the Republican era.

**When did Chen Cheng live?**
Chen Cheng was born on January 4, 1897, and died on March 5, 1965, living to the age of 68.

## Why They Matter
Chen Cheng was a significant military and political figure in Republican China, serving as a key commander during critical campaigns that shaped modern Chinese history. His leadership during the Northern Expedition helped establish Nationalist control over much of China, while his military service during the Second Sino-Japanese War contributed to China's resistance against Japanese invasion. As both a soldier and politician, Chen Cheng bridged the military and civilian leadership of the Republic of China during a turbulent period of Chinese history.

## Notable For
- Military command during the Northern Expedition (1926)
- Participation in the Central Plains War
- Leadership in the Battle of Changsha (1939)
- Command in the Battle of Zaoyang–Yichang (1940)
- Service as both military commander and political leader in the Republic of China

## Body
### Early Life and Military Career
Chen Cheng was born on January 4, 1897, during the late Qing dynasty period. He entered military service and became affiliated with the Kuomintang (KMT), the Nationalist Party that would lead the Republic of China. His military career began during a transformative period in Chinese history, as the country transitioned from imperial rule to republican government.

### Northern Expedition Leadership
Chen Cheng served as a military commander during the Northern Expedition (1926), a major campaign launched by the Kuomintang to unify China under Nationalist control. This expedition was a critical campaign that brought much of southern and central China under Nationalist authority, ending the fragmentation of the Warlord Era. Chen Cheng's role in this campaign established him as a capable military leader within the Nationalist ranks.

### Central Plains War
Following the Northern Expedition, Chen Cheng participated in the Central Plains War, a significant internal conflict within the Nationalist camp. This war represented a major struggle for power among different factions within the Kuomintang, and Chen Cheng's involvement demonstrated his continued importance as a military commander during this turbulent period of Republican China.

### Second Sino-Japanese War Service
During the Second Sino-Japanese War (1937-1945), Chen Cheng commanded forces in several important battles. In 1939, he led troops in the Battle of Changsha, which was the first of four Japanese attempts to capture this strategically important city in Hunan Province. The successful defense of Changsha was a significant victory for Chinese forces and boosted morale during the war.

In 1940, Chen Cheng commanded forces in the Battle of Zaoyang–Yichang, another critical engagement in central China. This battle was part of the larger Japanese campaign to advance into the interior of China and capture key transportation hubs. Chen Cheng's leadership in these battles demonstrated his continued military capabilities during the most challenging period of the war against Japan.

### Political Career
Beyond his military service, Chen Cheng held prominent political positions in the Republic of China government. While specific offices are not detailed in the source material, his dual role as both military commander and political leader indicates his importance in both spheres of Nationalist governance. His career spanned the critical period from the Northern Expedition through the Second World War and into the later years of the Republic of China.

### Legacy
Chen Cheng's career represents the intersection of military and political leadership during one of the most turbulent periods in modern Chinese history. His service during the Northern Expedition helped establish Nationalist control over China, while his military leadership during the Second Sino-Japanese War contributed to China's resistance against Japanese invasion. As a figure who served in both military and political capacities, Chen Cheng exemplified the complex relationship between military power and civilian governance in Republican China. He died on March 5, 1965, at the age of 68, leaving behind a legacy of service during a critical period of Chinese nation-building and resistance.

## References

1. International Standard Name Identifier
2. Open Library
3. Virtual International Authority File
4. CiNii Research
5. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013
6. IdRef