1925年加入中国共产党。曾任中共湘东特委书记，湘鄂赣边区特委书记。

Joined the communist party of China in 1925.A former special secretary of the party, which the communist party of China,XiangEGan special secretary of the border region.

　　1928年参加领导平江起义，成立中国工农红军第五军，后任红五军党代表，红一方面军副政委，军委武装动员部部长等职。

To participate in leadership at pingkiang uprising in 1928,Set up Chinese workers and peasants red army's fifth army,Replacement GongWuJun delegates,The red army deputy political commissar,Military commission minister of armed mobilization.

　　1934年去苏联，参加共产国际第七次代表大会，入列宁学院学习。抗日战争时期，任中共中央军委参谋长，抗日军政大学副校长兼副政委，中共中央北方局委员，第十八集团军参谋长，晋冀鲁豫中央局委员兼军区副司令员，抗日战争胜利后，历任华北军区副司令员，中共中央军委铁道部部长。

To the Soviet union in 1934,To participate in the seventh congress of the communist international,In Lenin's school.During the Anti-Japanese War,Former communist party chief of the central military commission,Anti-japanese military and political university, vice President and deputy political commissar,BeiFangJu bureau of the central committee of the CPC,The eighteenth group army chief of staff,Shanxi-hebei-shandong-henan area c.o councilor and military region deputy commander,After the victory of Anti-Japanese War,Successive military region deputy commander of north China,The communist party of China central military commission ministry of railways minister.

　　1949年后，任新中国第一任铁道部部长，解放军铁道兵团司令员兼政委。为国防部委员会委员，第四届全国政协副主席，中共第七至十届中央委员。