Li Tao (1905-1970) was born in Rucheng County, Hunan Province. He became a member of the Chinese Communist Party in 1926, joined in the Industrial and Agricultural Revolution Troops in 1927 and engaged in the Jinggang Mountain Fighting, the Fighting of the area under the Soviet Regime as well as the Long March. During the Anti-Japanese War, he worked as the director of the Liaison Office of the Eighth Route Army in Xi’an, Wuhan and Nanjing. He also held the post of the Head Secretary of the Military Commission and head of the second Bureau. During the Liberation War, he worked as the director of the Operation Department of the Military Commission and head of the First Bureau. After the establishment of PRC, he held the posts of the director of the Third Department of the Headquarters of the General Staff, political Commissar and the Secretary of the CPC Committee. In 1955, he was conferred the Senior-General military title and awarded the first-rank Bayi Medal, the first-rank Independence and Freedom Medal and the first-rank Liberation Medal. He was also the commissar of the third National Defense Department, the deputy of the first National People’s Congress, the delegate of the 7th National Congress of the CPC and a member for the 8th Central Committee.