Xiao Ke

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Xiao Ke (Chinese: 萧克; Pinyin: Xiāo Kè; born July 14, 1907) is a general in the People's Liberation Army of China.

[edit] Biography

Xiao was born in Jiahe County, Hunan Province of China in 1907.

He joined the National Revolutionary Army and participated the Northern Expedition in 1926. He joined the Communist Party of China in 1927 and fought in Nanchang Uprising. He went to Jinggangshan and was recruited to the Red Fourth Army.

From 1930-1933, he was appointed as the head of the fifth division, the head of Red Eighth Army, and the head of the Red Sixth Army Group, fighting in many "Anti-Besieging" battles. In August of 1934, he led the army to the west, and merged with the Red Second Army Group led by He Long. They co-founded Xiang-E-Chuan-Qian Soviet District. In July of 1936, he was appointed as the vice commander of the Red Second Army Group. Along with the commander He Long, they were called "Xiao-He".

Since the outbreak of Second Sino-Japanese War, he was appointed as the vice commander of 120 division of Eighth Route Army, vice commander of Jin-Cha-Ji Military Region, and the commander of Ji-Re-Liao Military Regrion. He was made Lieutenant General in the National Revolution Army of the Republic of China.

In February, he was the vice commander of Jin-Cha-Ji Military Region, and became acting commander in August, 1943.

In April 1949, he was promoted to the chief of staff in the Fourth Field Army, and led battles in Hengbao, Guangdong, Guangxi, and other places.

After the establishment of People's Republic of China, he was made the director of the military training department under central military commission. In November 1954, he was appointed as the vice director of the training superintendence department and the director of battle training department.

On September 27 1955 he was awarded general of PLA (ranked No.1).

In 1957, he was promoted to the director of training superintendence department as well as the secretary of CPC's committee there.

From 1958, he was criticized for so-called "doctrinairism", and was deprived of all posts.

From January 1972, he became the principal of the University of Military and Politics, deputy minister of national defense, the principal of military academy and the first political commissar.

In September 1980, he was appointed as one of the vice chairmen of the Fifth National Political Consultative Conference.

Many people think he should have been made Grand General due to his past honor and experience. Instead, he was awarded general, though ranked No.1. This was probably because he used to support Zhang Guotao, who wanted to found another central communist government, and he didn't get along very well with He Long in history.

Xiao is also a notable writer. He wrote the saga novel Bloody Heaven (浴血罗霄), and he won the third prestigious Mao Dun Literature Prize. His other works include the book Sidelights on the Red Army of Zhu & Mao (朱毛红军侧记).