Yang Hu-ch'eng (d. October 1949) was a Chinese warlord and Nationalist general during the Chinese Civil War.

A bandit of unknown origins, Yang Hu-ch'eng had become a popular warlord of Shensi Provence (Shaanxi) by 1926. Following the defeat of Feng Yu-hsiang and Yen Hsi-shan's rebellion in 1930, Yang allied with the Nationalist or KMT government becoming commander of the KMT's Northwest Army. Ordered to destroy the newly established Communist CCP stronghold at Yenan (Yan'an) with Chang Hsueh-liang's Northeast (Manchuria) Army in 1935, both Yang and Chiang Hsueh-liang were impressed with the CCP's determined defense and fighting capabilities and were convinced by the CCP's proposal for a united Chinese defense against the Japanese invasion.

As both sides ceased hostilities, Chiang Kai-shek flew to Sian (Xian) in early December to investigate the inaction. Refusing the CCP's proposal to join forces against the Japanese, Yang and Chiang Hsueh-liang had Chiang Kai-shek arrested and held him captive until he agreed to an alliance between the KMT and CCP. Flying back to the KMT capital at Nanking (Nanjing) with Chiang Kai-shek, both generals were arrested upon their arrival. Yang would remain in prison for over thirteen years until his ordered execution by Chiang Kai-shek in October 1949, shortly before the CCP capture of Nanking.

References

• Dupuy, Trevor N. The Harper Encyclopedia of Military Biography, New York, 1992

1949 deaths | Chinese generals | Political prisoners

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