married to Chen's sister, Chen Qiuju, was strongly influenced by Chen to join the Communists and became a senior general at the same time. Returning from the Korean War, Chen founded the PLA Military Engineering Institute in Harbin, engaging in the development of technological weapons. The school became one of the most famous universities in China in a few years. Because of his experience, Chen focused on China's ballistic missile and nuclear weapons program. He died of a heart attack in Shanghai, on March 16, 1961. Personal life In 1927 Chen married Wang Genying (), who was killed in the Second Sino-Japanese War. She was survived by their son: Chen Zhifei (), engineer. In February 1942, he married Fu Ya (), the couple had four children, one daughter and three sons, in order of birth: Chen Zhijian (), military officer. Chen Zhijin (), doctor and professor, only daughter. Chen Zhishu (), military officer. Chen Zhiya (), politician. Chen Geng was well known as a joker and a prankster amongst comrades. He was a gifted actor and performer and was well known for his acting. This proved instrumental in his underground work. He was jovial and well liked by both Communist comrades as well as former classmates in Whampoa who became Nationalist officers. He had a caring attitude towards comrades and was instrumental in arranging Peng Dehuai's marriage to Pu Anxiu. He was the only Communist Whampoa student to visit his rehabilitated former classmates that had come out of Gongde Lin prison. References Bibliography 1903 births 1961 deaths Whampoa Military Academy alumni Counter-Japanese Military and Political University alumni People from Xiangxiang People's Liberation Army generals from Hunan People's Republic of China politicians from Hunan Chinese Communist Party politicians from Hunan Deputy Ministers of National Defense of the People's Republic of China