On this day, 85 years ago, on April 5, 1940 (February 28, 1940 in the lunar calendar), anti-Japanese general Song Zheyuan died of illness. Song Zheyuan On April 5, 1940, Song Zheyuan, former commander-in-chief of the First Group Army, died of illness in Mianyang, Sichuan. Song Zheyuan was from Leling, Shandong Province. In 1912, he entered Lu Jianzhang's Left Road Reserve and Supplementary Army School to study, and later joined Feng Yuxiang's army, where he served successively as company commander, battalion commander, and regiment commander. In 1922, he participated in the Zhifeng War and was promoted to the commander of the 25th Mixed Brigade. In October 1924, Feng's troops were reorganized into the National Army, and Song served as the commander of the 1st Division of the First Army (later changed to the 4th Division). In the autumn of 1925, he was transferred to Rehe Dutong. In September 1926, he joined the Kuomintang with Feng Yuxiang, serving as commander-in-chief of the Northern Route Army and temporary commander of the 1st Division. May 1927. The Northwest Army was renamed the Second Group Army of the National Revolutionary Army, Song served as commander-in-chief of the Fourth Front Army, and in November concurrently served as chairman of Shaanxi Province. In 1928, he was temporarily assigned to the 9th Division (later reorganized as the 28th Army Division). In 1929, Feng Yuxiang rebelled against Chiang Kai-shek and was placed under house arrest by Yan Xishan in Shanxi. He acted as commander-in-chief of the National Army and led his troops out of Tongguan to march into Henan. After the defeat, he returned to Shaanxi. In April 1930, the Central Plains War broke out, and he served as commander-in-chief of the Fourth Route of the Second Front Army. The Northwest Army was defeated, and its remnants entered Shanxi and were reorganized by Chiang Kai-shek into the 29th Army and served as commander. In September 1931, power was transferred to fight against the Japanese invaders. In September 1932, he was appointed chairman of Chahar Province. In March 1933, he led his troops to fight against the Japanese army on the Great Wall and served as commander-in-chief of the Third North China Army Corps. In August 1935, he served as Commander of the Pingjin Garrison, and in November he served as Director of the Jicha Pacification Office. At the end of the year, he served as Chairman of the Jicha Government Committee and Chairman of Hebei Province. During the Lugouqiao Incident in 1937, he led his troops to fight against the Japanese army. After the Incident, the 29th Army was expanded into the First Group Army and served as commander-in-chief. In 1938, he was transferred to the position of deputy commander of the 1st Theater Command by Chiang Kai-shek. Soon after, the First Group Army was defeated by the Japanese army, and its designation was cancelled by Chiang Kai-shek. He recovered from liver disease until he died of illness.