He Jian

He Jian was born into a family of farming background in Liling County, Hunan, on April 10, 1887. In 1903 he attended Zhuzici School (朱子祠小學) and then transferred to Liling County Lujiang Middle School (醴陵縣立渌江中學). In 1906 he enrolled at Chonggu School (崇古學堂) and three years later he studied at Hunan Public Law School (湖南法政學堂). After the outbreak of the Xinhai Revolution, he was educated in Wuchang Army High School. After graduating from Baoding Military Academy in 1916 he was assigned to the 1st Brigade of 1st Division of Hunan Ground Force.[1]

In March 1918, Zhang Jingyao attacked Hunan, He Jian threw down his arms and fled the field. He returned to his hometown and rebuilt an guerrilla forces. In May, Cheng Qian, the commander-in-chief of Xiang Army, commissioned him as commander of Liuyang-Liling guerrilla forces. In 1919, Tang Shengzhi incorporated his army and he became a brigade commander. He joined the Kuomintang and took part in the Northern Expedition. After Wuhan was captured he was promoted to army commander of the 35th Army.[1]

In April 1927 he fought against Zhang Zuolin's army in Hebei. At the same time, Communist revolutionaries Guo Liang, Liu Zhixun (purged by Xia Xi and executed), and Xia Xi in alliance with Kuomintang leftist pressed ahead with rural land reform in Hunan, this incident lead to intensification of the contradictions between Communist Party and Kuomintang. On May 21, 1927, the Mari Incident broke out, He Jian began to crack down the Communists.

In November 1928, the Nationalist government commissioned him as commander-in-chief of Hunan-Jiangxi Jiaofei Headquarters. His army marched towards the Jinggangshan Revolutionary Base. The Red Army were defeated and fled to the Central Soviet Base Area.

In 1929, he was appointed governor of Hunan province. That same year, his subordinates arrested and then executed Wu Ruolan, wife of Communist military leader Zhu De.

In 1930, the Communist Party sent troops to attack Changsha, He Jian's car was destroyed in the war, in reprisal, he participated in the "encirclement and suppression" led by Chiang Kai-shek and He Yingqia in Jiangxi.[1] On November 14, his subordinates executed Yang Kaihui (Mao Zedong's wife) in Changsha.[1]

In 1933, the Nationalist government commissioned him as commander-in-chief of West Route Army.

He was Interior Minister in 1937 and chairman of Military Committee in 1939.

After the Second Sino-Japanese War, he resigned from his post because of illness. He recuperated at Heng Mountain, in Hengyang.[2]

He Jian relocated to British Hong Kong in the Spring of 1949 and one year later he settled down in Taipei, Taiwan.[1] He served as national policy advisor to the President Chiang Kai-shek until his death.[1]

On April 25, 1956, He Jian died of cerebral hemorrhage in Taipei.