Xiao Ke (1907-2008) was born in Jiahe County of Hunan Province. He engaged in the Northern Expedition (1926-1927), Nanchang Uprising (1928), Jinggang Mountain Fighting and the Long March (1934-1936). During the Anti-Japanese War, he worked as the vice-commander of No.120 Division which belonged to the Eighth Route Army (led by the CCP during the war of Resistance-against Japan), the commander of the Hebei-Rehe-Chahar advancing army, the Vice-commander of the Shanxi-Chahar-Hebei Military Region. During the Liberation War, he worked as the commander of the Hebei-Rehe-Chahar-Liaoning Military Region, the Vice- commander of the Northern China Military Region, the Vice- president of the Northern China Military and Political University, the first general chief of staff of No.4 Field Army. After the establishment of the PRC, he worked sequentially as the minister of the Military Training, the director of the Military-training Supervision Department, the vice minister of the National Defense Department, the president of the Military and Political University, the president and political Commissar of the Military Academy. He was also the vice president of the 4th national political consultative commission, the member of the 8th central committee of the CPC, the candidate for the 10th central committee, the 11th central committee of the CPC, and the permanent member of the 10th Central Consultant Commission. In 1955, he was conferred the General Military Rank awarded the first-rank Bayi Medal, the first-rank Independence and Freedom Medal and the first-rank Liberation Medal.