Xu Caihou, a retired PLA general and former vice-chairman of the powerful Central Military Commission (CMC), was taken from his sick bed at 301 Military Hospital in Beijing on Saturday by dozens of armed policemen, the South China Morning Post reported, quoting unidentified sources. 

Xu was detained the same day President Xi Jinping chaired a steering group tasked with reforming the military, the Post said. 

If confirmed, Xu would become the highest-ranking military officer to be detained on suspicion of corruption. 

Xu's critics claim that during his tenure, the buying and selling of military ranks was widespread in the defense establishment. 

"I was told by an ex-PLA man I met on the train travelling to Guangzhou that he quit the military because so many people were buying positions and he did not want to play that game," said David Zweig, professor at Hong Kong University of Science and Technology. 

"Telling me, a foreign professor, such dirt suggests that it is widespread and the anger that exists about this is also widespread." 

Bribery scandal 

Xu's detention may be connected with the corruption probe of Gu Junshan, the army's former deputy logistics chief and one of Xu's closest subordinates. Gu, who was in charge of the military's massive procurement and property portfolio, reportedly received bribes in cash and gifts. He has been under investigation since early 2012. 

Xu, 71, was promoted to the CMC in 1999 and became its vice-chairman in 2004. He retired in March last year. 

He has not been seen in public for several months until January 20, when the Chinese media showed him with President Xi greeting a group of retired military officials on the eve of the Chinese Lunar New Year. 
Was Xu promoted?
What age?
When?
Was he liked?
Was he arrested?
When?
How?
For what?
Who bribed him?
Is he still working?
Did he resurface?
When?
Where?
For what?
Celebrating what?
What was bought?
By whom?
Was a game played?
Where?
Did he have people beneath him?
yes
Xu, 71, was promoted to the CMC in 1999
71
71
in 1999
in 1999
no
anger that exists
yes
Xu Caihou, a retired PLA general and former vice-chairman of the powerful Central Military Commission (CMC), was taken from his sick bed at 301 Military Hospital in Beijing on Saturday by dozens of armed policemen, the South China Morning Post reported, quoting unidentified sources. 
Saturday
 Saturday
taken from bed by policemen
was taken from his sick bed at 301 Military Hospital in Beijing on Saturday by dozens of armed policemen
suspicion of corruption
suspicion of corruption
Gu Junshan
Gu Junshan
no
He retired in March last year. 
yes
ntil January 20,
January 20
January 20
with President Xi
with President X
greeting military officials
greeting a group of retired military officials
Chinese Lunar New Year
 the Chinese Lunar New Year
military ranks
military ranks
the defense
the defense
yes
play that game
the military
 the military
yes
highest-ranking military officer