Everything Everywhere Daily: History, Science, Geography, & More · Gary Arndt

The Rise and Fall of Lin Biao

February 15, 2026·15 min·1 clip

Mao's 1969 constitution named Lin Biao as his successor, an unprecedented move in Chinese political history.

This episode traces Lin Biao's journey from a brilliant military commander in the Chinese Communist Party to Mao Zedong's designated successor, highlighting his key roles in events like the Long March and Cultural Revolution. It culminates in his dramatic fall, including an assassination plot against Mao and his mysterious death in a plane crash while fleeing to the Soviet Union.

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