Born in Mizhi District (米脂縣), Yan'an Subprefecture (延安府), Shaanxi, Li grew up as a shepherd. Li started to learn horseriding and archery at 20 and started gathering peasants in 1630. In three years, he gather more than 20,000. The Li rebels then attacked and killed leading officials in places in Henan, Shanxi, and Shaanxi.
After his army was defeated by the Manchus and Wu Sangui, Li died, either by committing suicide or assassination at the age of 40.