Xiao Ke

Xiao Ke, courtesy name Changren, was born on July 14, 1907, into a scholarly family in Jiahe County, Hunan Province. He received private tutoring in his early years, studying the "Four Books" and the "Five Classics." Later, he attended Tongshan Senior Elementary School (later renamed Tongshan Middle School). In 1923, he was admitted to Jiahe First-Class Short-Term Normal School. After graduating in winter 1925, he traveled to Guangzhou alone. In 1926, he entered the Military Supervisory Cadet School under the National Government Military Commission (which was later incorporated into the Whampoa Military Academy). After graduation, he participated in the Northern Expedition, fighting in Jiangxi and Zhejiang among other places.

In 1927, during the Nanchang Uprising, Xiao Ke joined the Chinese Communist Party in June, serving as political instructor and company commander in the 11th Army of Ye Ting's forces. After the uprising's failure, he organized the development of grassroots party branches in the Chaoshan area. In 1928, he established the Communist Party's Southern District branch in Jiahe County and served as commander of the Youjiang Guerrilla Group in Yizhang County. During the counter-encirclement campaigns, he served as commander of the Red Fourth Army detachment and as chief of staff of the detachment's column. In spring 1930, he was appointed commander of the 3rd Column of the Red Fourth Army, leading troops into Jiangxi and Hunan, conducting rigorous training, and strengthening the forces to become a main force of the Red Army.

Starting in 1931, Xiao Ke served successively as commander of the 5th Division of the江西 Red First Army, and as commander of the 8th Red Army during the Hunan–Guangxi Soviet Area era. In 1934, he was ordered to raid the Nanshuxi Railway in the north, leading over 4,000 troops across 1,250 kilometers of enemy-occupied territory, repelling multiple enemy pursuits under harsh conditions, earning high praise. In the same year, he participated in the Chanjiahe Campaign, successfully annihilating several enemy brigades, and was awarded the Central Military Commission’s commendation and the Second Red Star Medal. During the establishment of the Hunan–Hubei–Sichuan–Guizhou base areas in November 1934, he commanded multiple anti-encirclement battles, establishing several Soviet areas and opening new zones in Guizhou (west), Dazhou (Ding area), and Bijie.

In November 1935, Xiao Ke organized the Long March, breaking through enemy blockades alongside Ren Bishi, He Long, and Guan Xiangying, pioneering the Guizhong Soviet Area. In the battles of Liangjia and Wumeng Mountain, he performed outstandingly, helping to preserve the strength of the Chinese Workers' and Peasants' Red Army. In 1936, with the formation of the Red Second Front Army, Xiao Ke served as deputy commander and later as commander of the Red Fourth Front Army. In October 1936, he was appointed a member of the Central Revolutionary Military Commission of the Chinese Soviet Republic. During the northward anti-Japanese resistance, he served successively as commander of the Eighth Route Army's Jizhao (Jiehe) Advance Army and as deputy commander of the Shanxi–Hebei–Shanxi Military District, repeatedly achieving victory in anti-"sweeping" campaigns.

After the victory in the Second Sino-Japanese War, Xiao Ke helped establish North China University of Military and Politics, serving as vice president. In 1949, he was appointed chief of staff of the Fourth Field Army, leading southward campaigns, participating in several large-scale battles, killing over 430,000 enemy troops, and facilitating the liberation of Hunan, Hubei, Jiangxi, Guangdong, and Hainan regions. In 1950, he became Minister of Military Training of the Military Training Department of the Central People's Government's Military Revolutionary Committee, focusing on military educational development. In 1954, he was appointed Vice Minister of National Defense, and in 1955, promoted to the rank of full general. He received honors such as the August 1st Medal and the Liberation Medal.

After 1958, due to the "Anti-Rightist" movement, he was temporarily removed from his position. During the Cultural Revolution, he faced criticism and was demoted but was appointed in 1972 as president of the PLA Political-Military University and later served as dean of military academies and other key positions. From 1977 onward, he held various roles including member of the Central Military Commission. In July 1988, he was awarded the first-class Red Star Merit Medal. In his later years, he actively engaged in cultural and academic pursuits, advocating for historical accuracy, and edited numerous historical publications and books.

Xiao Ke passed away in Beijing on October 24, 2008, at the age of 102. His life spanned revolutionary wars, military education, and cultural endeavors, making a significant impact on modern Chinese military and cultural development.