[2] During the Second Sino-Japanese War, Xiao served as Director of the Political Department of the Fourth Division of the New Fourth Army, under commander Peng Xuefeng, and then the same position in the Second Division based in the Huai River region, under commander Luo Binghui.

[1][2] During the subsequent Chinese Civil War, he participated in several major battles in East China.

From November 1952 to July 1953, he was Chinese Communist Party Deputy Committee Secretary of Jiangu province.

After Lu Dingyi was purged at the beginning of the Cultural Revolution, Xiao became the acting minister in May 1966.

[2] Although Xiao was a military official, he followed Liu Shaoqi and attempted to limit the disruptions of the radical Red Guards.