Cao Lihuai was a founding lieutenant general of the People's Liberation Army, a Deputy to the Third National People's Congress, and a member of the Ninth, Tenth, and Eleventh Central Committees of the Chinese Communist Party.
10 Facts About Cao Lihuai
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In early 1928 Cao Lihuai learned that the Communist General Zhu De was leading an army in southern Hunan.
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Cao Lihuai quickly rose through the ranks, and had served as both a propaganda secretary and a staff officer by 1930.
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Cao Lihuai's promotions continued and by 1932 he was chief of staff for the Seventh Division in the Fourth Red Army.
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Cao Lihuai got an opportunity to serve as a division commander during the fourth anti-encirclement campaign when his superior officer was wounded, and proved capable in battle.
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Cao Lihuai was then sent to the Red Army University in Ruijin to get advanced military training.
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Cao Lihuai was spared from execution because of Zhu De's intervention.
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Cao Lihuai would spend the next few years as an instructor at the Red Army University.
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In June 1956, Cao Lihuai was promoted to deputy commander of the Air Force and director of the Air Force Military Training Department.
10.
Cao Lihuai retired in November 1982, although he remained involved in party and military affairs.