Tao Yong, originally Zhang Daoyong (Chinese: 张道庸), was born into a peasant family in Huoqiu County, Anhui Province on 21 January 1913.
[1] Zhang followed the Fourth Red Army marching west and arrived in the Sichang area, after which, he was appointed commander of the Second Battalion, Regiment 28, Division 10.
The Central Committee rescued Zhang and helped him get back to Yan'an to study at the Military and Political University of Resistance Against Japan.
In January 1941, after the Southern Anhui Incident, the New Fourth Army was reorganized and Tao was appointed commander of the third bridge of the first regiment.
In March 1942, Tao was appointed division commander of the Fourth Army of the military region of the middle Suzhou area.
At the end of the year, Tao led his division across the Yangtze and was appointed commander and political commissar of the third column of the military region of Suzhou and Zhejiang area.
[6] At the end of February, the Fourth Column took part in Laiwu Battle and annihilated the NRA's Li Xianzhou Group.
In November, they took part in the sabotage battle in Longhai Road and killed more than 3700 cavalry enemies in Guanting County.
[8] On 21 April, the 23rd Army took part in the Crossing-River Battle, breaking the NRA defence between Zhenjiang and Jiangyin Area, and cutting the Huning Railway and Ninghang Road.
[citation needed] In October 1950, Tao was appointed Deputy Commander of the Ninth Troop of the People's Volunteer Army and took part in the Korean War.
In 1955, Tao was appointed commander of the East China Sea Fleet and became a Lieutenant General of the People's Liberation Army.
According to an attempted rescuer, he reported to commissar of the East Sea Fleet Liu Haotian twice that "Commander Tao is dead despite efforts to rescue him, please come to the scene and see."
Soon after Tao's death, Liu Haotian declared based on his personal opinion, though without evidence, that the Navy had classified him as a "traitor" and that he "committing suicide for fear of punishment".