China: Lin Biao (1907-1971) in Yan'an, c. 1938

Lin Yurong, better known by the nom de guerre Lin Biao ( December 5, 1907– September 13, 1971) was a Chinese Communist military leader who was instrumental in the communist victory in the Chinese Civil War, especially in Northeastern China, and was the General who led the People's Liberation Army into Beijing in 1949. He abstained from becoming a major player in politics until he rose to prominence during the Cultural Revolution, climbing as high as second-in-charge and Mao Zedong's designated and constitutional successor and comrade-in-arms. He died in a plane crash in September 1971 in Mongolia after what appeared to be a failed coup to oust Mao. After his death, he was officially condemned as a traitor, and is still recognized as one of the two 'major Counter-revolutionary parties' during the Cultural Revolution, the other being Jiang Qing (Madame Mao).