Chen Geng (27 February 1903–16 March 1961; original name Shukang, courtesy name Chuanjin) was a high-ranking officer of the Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) and a military strategist. His . He was born at Erduliushupu, Xiangxiang County, Hunan province, and died of an illness in Shanghai.
In 1922, he joined the CPC. In 1924, he was enrolled in the earliest class of Whampoa Military Academy and was called one of the “Whampoa Three Talents” for his excellent performance. In October of 1927, he participated in the Nanchang Uprising. From 1928 to 1931, he was in charge of the intelligence work of the Central Committee of the CPC in Shanghai. Later, he was appointed as the Division Commander of the Fourth Front Army of the Red Army. In 1933, he was arrested by Chiang Kai-shek, but he refused to surrender. Later, he was rescued with the help of Song Qingling and others. He returned to the Central Soviet Area and participated in the Long March.
In the Second Sino-Japanese War, he was the Commander of the 386th Brigade, 129th Division of the Eighth Route Army, and the commander of Taiyue Military Command. He defeated many rounds of attack by the enemy and participated in the creation of the Shanxi-Hebei-Henan Anti-Japanese Base Area. During the Chinese Civil War, he was the Commander of the Taiyue Corps. While fighting against the Nationalist army in southern Shanxi province, he destroyed Hu Zongnan’s main force, the so-called “first-ranked troop.” In October 1947, he led the troops crossing the Yellow River to support the troops of Liu Bocheng, Deng Xiaoping, Chen Yi, and Su Yu to launch strategic attacks in the Central Plains. Chen Geng also participated in the Huaihai Campaign and the Crossing the Yangtze Campaign. In 1949, he served as the commander and political commissar of the Fourth Army Group of the PLA. He took part in the battle of liberation of Guangdong and Guangxi provinces.
In July 1950, he went to Vietnam to help to organize and train the People’s Army of Vietnam in its transformation from a guerrilla army to a regular army, and he won victory in battles in the border area. In 1951, he served in the Korean War as the commander and political commissar of the Third Army Group and vice-commander of the Chinese People’s Volunteer Army. In 1952, he became the president and commissar of the Military Engineering Institute of the PLA, making great contribution to the cultivation of high-tech talents for national defense. In 1955, he was awarded the rank of senior general. In 1959, he served as the commissioner of the Central Military Commission of Central Committee and vice-minister of the Defense Ministry. Chen was a member of the Eighth Central Committee of the CPC.