Jia Sidao
Raised in a poor family in Wenzhou City, Zhejiang Province, Chen was nevertheless an able student, becoming a "supreme scholar" (太学生, student of the imperial academy). Along with six of his classmates including Huang Yong (黄镛) and Lin Zezu (林则祖) Chen sent a letter to politician Ding Daquan (丁大全) accusing him of mishandling defences against Mongol invaders from the north. As a result, Ding cancelled all the students' qualifications. Banished to a military outpost in Jianchang County in Liaoning Province, the six students became known as the "six nobles" (六君子). In 1263, the third year of Emperor Lizong of Song's Jingding 景定 Era, Chen was placed second in the Imperial examinations. Thereafter he became a government civil servant in Shaoxing City, Zhejiang Province. Later Chen moved to the Imperial censor's office where Chancellor Jia Sidao encouraged him to accuse Chen Yuanfeng (程元凤/程元鳳) of misconduct. In the spring of 1275 CE, Jia Sidao was sacked from his position and Chen appointed Prime Minister by Grand Empress Dowager Xie (謝太皇太后), who held power on behalf of the underage Emperor Gong of Song.