[1] Cai studied at the prestigious and progressive Shiwu Xuetang (School of Current Affairs), where he was taught by reformer faction intellectual Liang Qichao and Tang Caichang.

During this second sojourn in Japan he received military training at the Tokyo Shimbu Gakko, followed by the Imperial Japanese Army Academy.

Shortly after the Xinhai Revolution began on 10 October 1911, Cai, leading the 37th Brigade, successfully occupied Yunnan.

[4] After the revolution Cai gained a reputation as a strong supporter of democracy and of Kuomintang politician Song Jiaoren.

[3] After returning to Yunnan, Cai established the local National Protection Army to fight Yuan Shikai and defend the Republic.

Guangxi and Shandong declared independence in March, Guangdong and Zhejiang in April and Shaanxi, Sichuan and Hunan in May.

He left for Japan for medical treatment at Kyushu Imperial University in Fukuoka for tuberculosis later in 1916, but died shortly after his arrival.