Geng Biao

Geng Biao (Chinese: 耿飚; pinyin: Gěng Biāo; August 26, 1909 – June 23, 2000) was a senior official in the Communist Party of China (CPC) and a leader in Chinese politics, foreign relations and military.

Geng was born in Liling, Hunan Province of China, and was a child worker in a lead-zinc mine in Shuikoushan, south of Hengyang City in 1922. He joined Communist Youth League of China in Shuikoushan in 1925. In 1926, he led a miners' military campaign and failed. He then organized and led a militia in Liuyang in 1928. In August of the same year, he joined CPC.

In September 1930, his forces merged into the Third Corps of the Red Army's First Army Group and he became the staff of 9th division of Third Corps. In 1933, he became the head of the 4th regiment, 2nd division of the Red First Front Army. On 10 October 1934, he embarked on the Long March as the pioneer of 2nd division and, in the beginning of 1935, seized a critical military fortress at Loushanguan in Guizhou Province. As a result, he was promoted to the chief of staff of the 1st division of Red 1st Front Army after Zunyi Conference. After arrival in northern Shaanxi, he was severely wounded in combat. In 1936, he graduated from the University of Anti-Japan Military of Politics and was appointed the chief of staff of the Fourth Corps of the Red Fourth Front Army. The Fourth Corps had just arrived in northern Shaanxi having been commanded by Zhang Guotao, and Geng took control of the unit.

After outbreak of Second Sino-Japanese War, he became the chief of staff, deputy head and deputy political commissar in 385 brigade, 129 division of Eighth Route Army. His army occupied East Gansu Province, responsible for the safety of west border of Shaan-Gan-Ning Region. He entered the school of the CPC's central committee. After graduation, he wen to Jin-Cha-Ji Region and became a military leader there. He led his army to seize Zhangjiakou in 1945.

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