[citation needed] He began his military career in the army of a local warlord, rising to battalion commander.

[citation needed] Zhou took part in the Nanchang Uprising of 1927 with Zhu De and later retreated with him to the border area of Hunan and Jiangxi provinces in defence of the Chinese Soviet Republic.

[citation needed] Zhou was appointed deputy to New Fourth Army chief of staff Xiang Ying in December 1937.

In the Aftermath of the New Fourth Army Incident, Zhou was murdered in Jing County, Anhui province by Liu Houzong (Chinese: 刘厚总), a member of Xiang's staff.

Liu also murdered Xiang and another officer, taking the gold resources of the New Fourth Army and handing them over to the Kuomintang, who gave him a large monetary reward.