He was born in the same region as Mao Zedong, the first leader of the People’s Republic of China (PRC), and they went to the same school. He earned Mao’s deep trust as a prominent general.
Chiang Kai-shek, late leader of the Kuomintang (KMT) Party and the Republic of China, was his teacher. He saved Chiang’s life once in battle.
Zhou Enlai, the first Premier of PRC, was his tutor. He was one of the only two students that Zhou thought highly of.
Peng Dehuai, a prominent Communist military leader, was his leader. They once served in the same regiment.
His name is Chen Geng, a man of unique status in the People’s Liberation Army (PLA). He was an outstanding commander in war and a capable intelligence agent. His innate humor lightened the dangers of military life. He was immensely sociable, creating firm bonds with many members of both the PLA and KMT.
Townsman, comrade to Mao Zedong：
Chen Geng and Mao Zedong were born in neighboring counties in central China’s Hunan Province. Chen was ten years’ younger than Mao.
They studied at the same primary school, which was famous for its pioneering Western-style education. But Chen entered the school five years after Mao left.
Their performance at school was quite different. Mao, born in a peasant family, was very diligent and good at writing articles. He was so excellent academically that within one semester, his tutor recommended he study at another school in the provincial capital of Changsha.
Chen, born in a rich family and being the offspring of a famous general, did not study hard.
Before he was enrolled at the primary school, he had been studying under a private tutor at home. One day, his teacher punished him for not concentrating. In revenge, he sabotaged the floor in the toilet. In the gloom, the teacher fell into the cesspit below.
As smart as Chen was, he was constantly playing pranks in primary school. Teachers and classmates called him “the king of pranks”. He once organized students to boycott classes to protest what he called “unreasonable oppression by the school authorities”. Teachers tried to correct his behavior by telling him stories about how Mao had studied hard. That was how Chen learned of Mao.
After Chen joined the Communist Party of China (CPC) many years later, Mao greeted him with the words: “Now we become battle companions and comrades from fellow-townsmen and schoolmates.”
Chen was unlike other PLA officers who faithfully obeyed Mao’s orders to the letter. He dared to make fun of Mao and even pointed out Mao’s errors to his face. One summer day in 1943, Chen became very restless when Mao was giving a work report at Yan’an, China's revolutionary base. Suddenly, Chen walked up to the rostrum. “What do you want?” Mao asked in surprise. Chen grabbed Mao’s cup and drank it the contents. “It’s too hot, I just want to share your water,” Chen replied. The audience burst into laughter. Mao smiled, without scolding him.
The civil war between the KMT and CPC erupted less than a year after the Japanese invaders were vanquished in 1945. On Chiang Kai-shek’s order, KMT troops attacked Yan’an in 1947. The CPC Central Committee was forced to move under the leadership of Mao. When the CPC Central Committee arrived at its new base, Mao ordered Chen to mobilize his troops to defend it. Chen rushed to see Mao immediately after he received the instruction. “Chairman Mao, I think your idea is not wise,” said Chen, putting forward another plan. No one had talked to Mao like that. Zhou Enlai, who was also present, tried to ease the tension for fear that Mao would get angry. However, Mao and the CPC Central Committee had already realized the problem and revised their plan so it was similar to Chen’s. But Mao, who also had a sense of humor, was toying with Chen. Mao slapped the table and shouted, criticizing his disobedience of military orders. Chen was frightened as he had never seen Mao so irritated. Noticing Chen’s expression, Mao laughed and told Chen about the revised plan of the CPC Central Committee. This is how Mao turned the tables on Chen.
Savior of Chiang Kai-shek
Chen was among the first graduates of the KMT-founded Huangpu (Whampoa) Military Academy, where Chiang Kai-shek was president. In October 1925, Chiang was commanding a difficult battle. He saw a young officer who took the lead amid fierce gunfire to occupy a targeted site. The young man had been shot in the ankle, but he kept fighting. He was Chen Geng, a company commander. Chiang redeployed Chen and his company as the guard of the general headquarters, a decision that would one day save Chiang’s life.
Later that month, Chiang’s troops came under strong attack en route to a new position. Chiang’s division comprised untested new recruits. The division was quickly routed despite Chiang personally taking command at the frontline.
Chiang appointed Chen as division commander to lead a counterattack, but no one paid any attention to the young leader’s orders.
Realizing the situation was out of control, Chen tried to persuade Chiang to seek shelter, but Chiang refused. Chen grabbed Chiang’s arm, trying to carry him away. “I’ve told you in the military academy to fight to the death on the battlefield or to die for a just cause. Today I will do so,” said a desperate Chiang, taking out his dagger. Chen grabbed the dagger, saying, “You’re the commander-in-chief. Your actions will influence to the whole battle. It’s time to get away from here.”
Chen carried Chiang on his back and ran a long distance to a river bank and put him on a boat. Chiang’s mind gradually cleared and he realized that he would have died on the battlefield without Chen’s help.
Despite that incident, Chiang regarded him as unsuitable for important positions when Chiang began to fight the CPC. Chen later left the KMT and joined the CPC. In 1933, Chen and Chiang met again in Shanghai, when Chen was arrested by KMT forces and Chiang himself tried to persuade him to surrender. “You’re thin,” Chiang told him. “I became thin so the world could become plump,” Chen replied. “You’re thin too. You are a leader of a party and a nation, and the world is becoming thin with you. Why?” Chiang promised Chen a bright future if he wrote a statement of repentance, but Chen wrote “Down with Chiang Kai-shek” all over the paper. There is another version of this story, in which Chen maintained his humor even in such a dangerous situation. Chen covered half his face with a piece of newspaper when Chiang was trying to talk to him. Chiang realized finally that Chen was not willing to talk and left with regret, but he did not order Chen’s execution.
