General Chen Tsao-chung, was born at Ta-cheng Hsien, Chihli. In 1886 he entered Ting Hu Army as corporal and instructor. In 1887 he was appointed corporal of the recruits. In the following year General Chen was promoted right guard of the third camp of the reorganized infantry. At the expiration of training the recruits in the following year, he was decorated with sixth-class Military Merit. By dint of his valor in exterminating bandits in the three Eastern Provinces, General Chen was recommended as candidate for a lieutenancy in 1905. In the fall of the same year he was appointed lieutenant of the first platoon of the sixth camp of the Zu-Chuang Army. In 1907 General Chen was made captain of the tenth infantry. In 1910 he was sent to study in the Military Academy of the three Eastern Provinces, from which institution he was graduated in the summer of the following year. Four months after graduation he was recommended to fill the position of major. In 1912, after suppressing bandits in Shansi General Chen was appointed major with the honorary title of Brigadier-general. In April of the same year he was promoted commander of the first regiment of the infantry. In April 1913, he received a fourth-class Wen Hu Decoration. In May, he twice fought Mongolian bandits, and received the title of lieutenant colonel. In May 1914, General Chen was appointed Commander of the 37th Tuan of the tenth regiment. On December 14, 1915, he was specially appointed commander of the Woosing Forts, from which position he soon resigned. He was decorated with the third-class Wen Hu in March 1917, and also conferred the honorary title of major-general. On July 7, 1919, he received the fourth-class Chia Wu Decoration. On December 11, of the same year he was appointed assistant commander of the Tan Districts, Chekiang, which position he resigned in August 1923. Since his resignation as assistant commander of the Tan Districts, he has been holding office as assistant commander of Kashing, Chekiang.
