Liu Bocheng

Liu Bocheng was a highly influential Chinese military officer and a Marshal of the People's Republic of China. He was a key founder of the People's Liberation Army (PLA). Historians often recognize him as a brilliant military strategist and theoretician. He was one of the "Three and a Half" Strategists of modern Chinese history. Because of his character and skill, he earned several nicknames. One was "The Kutuzov of China," referring to a famous Russian general. Another was "The One-eyed Dragon," because he lost his right eye during a battle in 1916.

Liu's journey began in a peasant family in Kaixian. He was deeply moved by revolutionary theories from Canton. He wanted to help build a modern and democratic China. In 1911, he joined the Boy Scouts to support the Chinese revolution. He later enrolled in the Wampoa Military Academy. In 1914, he joined the party of Sun Yat-sen. During this time, he gained significant military experience. In one specific battle, he captured 10,000 enemy soldiers. This achievement led to his promotion as a brigade commander. However, fighting in Fengdu county in 1916 resulted in the loss of his right eye.

Liu's military career grew more complex as he interacted with different political groups. In 1923, he commanded the Eastern Route during a war against the warlord Wu Peifu. He also fought the Yunnan warlord Long Yun. During this period, he defeated a force led by Zhu De. This victory led to a lifelong partnership with Zhu De in the Red Army. In May 1926, Liu officially joined the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). He helped lead the Luzhou and Nanchong uprising in late 1926. In 1927, he participated in the Nanchang Uprising. This event helped establish the newly born Chinese Red Army. Liu was appointed its first chief of staff.

To improve his skills, Liu traveled to the Soviet Union in 1927. He studied at the prestigious M. V. Frunze Military Academy. While there, he mastered the Russian language. He focused on learning conventional, Western-style military tactics. Liu translated a Russian textbook called "Combined Arms Tactics" into Chinese. He also wrote a commentary on Sun Tzu's "Art of War." These works promoted formal military methods. He shared these ideas at the 6th National Congress of the CCP in Moscow. In 1932, he became the president of the Red Army Military Academy. Later that year, he served as the Chief of Staff of the Red Army.

Liu often faced internal disagreements regarding military strategy. He supported conventional tactics, which sometimes clashed with Mao Zedong's focus on guerrilla warfare. This tension was evident during the period when the "28 Bolsheviks" led the military. These leaders, including Bo Gu and Otto Braun, favored direct warfare against the larger KMT army. This approach led to repeated defeats for the Red Army. Consequently, the CCP had to begin the Long March to find safety. During this journey, Liu was reappointed as Chief of the General Staff. At the Zunyi Conference in January 1935, Liu supported Mao Zedong. This support helped shift leadership to a new team including Mao and Zhou Enlai.

During the Second Sino-Japanese War, Liu commanded the 129th Division of the 8th Route Army. He worked closely with his commissar, Deng Xiaoping. Their partnership lasted for over fifty years. They were often described as a perfect pair due to their complementary talents. Together, they led troops in the Taihang Mountains. They established the Jin-Ji-Yu Base Area across Shanxi, Hebei, and Henan. In 1940, Liu led his division during the Hundred Regiments Campaign. This was a major effort to break Japanese blockades. Even after the Japanese attempted to target his family, Liu remained a determined commander. His resolve and courage under fire inspired his troops.

Following the war with Japan, Liu played a vital role in the Chinese Civil War. He and Deng Xiaoping led the Shangdang Campaign. In this campaign, they defeated 13 divisions of Yan Xishan's troops. This totaled more than 35,000 soldiers. They also won the Handan Campaign against another army corps. These victories showed that the CCP army could successfully move from small-scale bushfighting to large-scale campaigns. These successes helped the CCP occupy Manchuria quickly. Liu's strategic leadership helped his side gain a strong position. His long career of service and military brilliance helped shape the foundation of modern China.