Yu Chengwan is a native of Taishan, Guangdong Province, born in 1902. From an early age, he came from a wealthy family, and at a very young age, he was sent by his father to a private school to study, and eventually was admitted to a normal school. But he didn't want to be a teacher, but he wanted to be a soldier. Therefore, in 1924, he applied for the Whampoa Military Academy and successfully became a student of the first phase of the Whampoa Military Academy.
During the Northern Expedition, Yu Chengwan made outstanding military achievements with his outstanding performance, and soon became the director of the Political Department of the Northern Expeditionary Army and was awarded the rank of major general. Chiang Kai-shek attached great importance to him and sent him to Sun Yat-sen University to study, and he became one of the few high-educated cadres in the Nationalist army at that time. In 1939, Yu Chengwan successfully became the deputy commander of the 57th Division with his excellent performance, and his commanders were all classmates of the Whampoa Military Academy, and they were very friendly to him.
In November 1943, the Japanese sent four divisions to attack Changde, and it was Yu Chengwan's 57th Division stationed in Changde. At that time, his troops were only 8,000 people, and the number of Japanese troops who attacked reached more than 30,000. As far as the situation at that time was concerned, even the troops of the same strength were not necessarily the opponents of the devils, not to mention the difference between the number of defenders stationed in Changde and the number of enemy troops who attacked. However, Cheng Wan, who was in difficulty, did not wait to die, but actively built fortifications to resolutely resist. The 57th Division stubbornly resisted, but under the condition of a huge gap in equipment, it held several Attacks of the Japanese Army. However, with the strong fire support of Japanese aircraft, tanks and incendiary bombs, the 57th Division's defense became more and more difficult, and seeing that Changde City was about to be breached by the enemy, Yu Chengwan was determined to die and resolutely fight the Japanese to the end. By this time they had been holding out for 12 days, and there were only 60 men left in the army.
Seeing that he was about to run out of food, Yu Chengwan wanted to commit suicide to defend the dignity of the soldiers. However, his men dissuaded him and forcibly took him out of Changde City. However, the next day, Yu Chengwan led the reinforcements of the 32nd Regiment to carry out several counterattacks on Changde City, and finally successfully recaptured the city.
After hearing that he had fled the position without authorization, Old Jiang immediately arrested him and wanted to dispose of him according to military law. However, when the more than 60,000 people in Changde heard the news, they resolutely refused to agree and jointly wrote a letter to intercede for him. In the end, Lao Jiang spared Yu Chengwan under the intercession of everyone and only sentenced him to two years in prison. 60 enemy troops who led 8,000 men to fight 30,000 enemy troops were executed, and 60,000 people were executed by shooting, and 60,000 people wrote to avoid death, and General Yu Chengwan became a legend.