Li Xiannian

Li Xiannian joined the Long March as a political commissar, leading troops through harsh conditions. He later became a key military commander in the Communist forces during the Chinese Civil War.

Li Xiannian was appointed Minister of Finance, overseeing China's economic planning during the First Five-Year Plan. He implemented Soviet-style central planning and managed the national budget.

Li Xiannian supported Deng Xiaoping's market-oriented reforms, helping to shift China from a planned economy to a more market-based system. He advocated for agricultural decollectivization and foreign investment.

Li Xiannian was elected President of the PRC, serving until 1988. He was a ceremonial head of state but also a member of the Politburo Standing Committee, influencing economic policy.

Li Xiannian died while still serving as President of the PRC. His death marked the end of an era of revolutionary-era leaders in Chinese politics.