In October 1949 when the communist army landed along the coast of Kinmen from Chiunglin in the northwest to Hsiyitienhung Beach, Li was just 31 years old and was a colonel commanding the 42nd Regiment of the 12th Army. He had just arrived at Liaoluo Bay from Shantou (Swatou), and his troops were exhausted.
民國卅八年十月，當共軍由金門西北方的瓊林到西一點紅沙灘登陸時，他才卅二歲，是十二軍四十二團的上校團長，剛從汕頭抵達料羅灣。