[2][3] Born in Luxi, Yunnan, Zhang Chong became a bandit in his teenage years, taking advantage of the chaotic Warlord era to become a feared and powerful figure in Southwest China through plunder, kidnapping and extortion.
In 1926, Zhang was recruited by the warlord Long Yun, and his private bandit force was reorganized into the Fifth Division of the Yunnan Army.
In October 1945, Long Yun was relieved of military power in Yunnan by Chiang Kai-shek, and since then Zhang Chong was in secret contact with the CCP.
[citation needed] In 1946, Zhang Chong secretly flew to Yan'an, supported Mao Zedong and, in February 1947, he officially joined the CCP.
[citation needed] During the Liaoshen campaign of the Chinese Civil War, Zhang Chong wrote a letter to persuade his old subordinate Zeng Zesheng to surrender, and made great contributions to the victory of the CCP in the siege of Changchun.