Former Residence of Xu Liansheng in Dijie Village, Guiyang, Hunan

Built during the late Qing Dynasty and early Republic of China period, Xu Liansheng's former residence covers approximately 400 square meters. Featuring a traditional hard hill roof and a three-bay, three-courtyard layout, the house has a side entrance between the first and second courtyards with bluestone-paved floors. The second courtyard's roof boasts a quadrilateral caisson ceiling, while the main hall displays a plaque inscribed by Sun Yat-sen reading "Residence of a Major General." This structure exemplifies typical southern Hunan Huizhou-style architecture, with its distinctive feature being exquisitely carved cornerstones depicting flowers, birds, auspicious animals, and human figures in relief. It is now a key cultural relic protection unit of Chenzhou City. Xu Liansheng (1881-1918), originally named Yuan with courtesy names Yuanyun and Jieqing, was born in Dijie Village, Taihe Township, Guiyang Prefecture (present-day Guiyang County). At age 19, he joined the military in Guangdong. By 1909 (Xuantong 1st year), he had risen to battalion commander and company officer, later becoming captain of the Guangdong New Army Patrol Battalion. During the 1911 Revolution, he led troops in Huizhou's uprising and was promoted to regimental commander of the 2nd Army Brigade, stationed in Guangzhou to protect the Governor's Office. His merits earned him promotion to 5th Regiment Commander with the rank of Army Colonel and a First-Class Medal. In 1913 during the "Second Revolution," Xu fought in Sanshui but retreated to Zengcheng after defeat. His troops were incorporated by Long Jiguang, and Xu became Zengcheng Garrison Commander while joining the Chinese Revolutionary Party. His subsequent victories in Guangdong campaigns earned him the rank of Army Major General and the Fourth-Class Order of the Striped Tiger. In 1916, he led the Zengcheng Uprising supporting Deng Keng as East River Commander of the Chinese Revolutionary Army, serving himself as 1st Brigade Commander before becoming Mixed 1st Brigade Commander. Political marginalization soon forced his resignation. In 1917, answering Sun Yat-sen's summons, Xu returned to Guangdong as Guerrilla Commander of the Constitution Protection Army. The following year, he became Guangdong Army Garrison Commander with major general rank. During the June 1918 Fujian Campaign, he tragically fell in battle while capturing Yongding City.