Editing Liu Bocheng (section)

==Early life==
Liu was born to a peasant family in [[Kaixian]], [[Sichuan]] (the site is currently submerged by the [[Three Gorges Dam]]). Influenced by the revolutionary theories of [[Sun Yat-sen]], he later decided to dedicate himself to the cause of establishing a democratic and modern China.{{cn|date=May 2024}}

In 1911, Liu joined the [[Scouting in Mainland China|Boy Scouts]] in support of the [[Xinhai Revolution]]. In the following year, he enrolled in the [[Chongqing]] Military Academy and later joined the army against [[Yuan Shikai]], who was planning to undermine the Xinhai Revolution and proclaim himself Emperor. In 1914, Liu joined Sun Yat-sen's party and gained extensive military experience.{{cn|date=May 2024}}

In one battle during this period he captured 10,000 enemy soldiers, for which he was promoted to brigade commander.<ref name="Barron" />
In 1916, he lost his right eye in a battle for Fengdu county, Sichuan. After he lost the eye he gained the nickname "One-Eyed Dragon".<ref name="Lew 12">Lew 12</ref> Alternative accounts of how Liu lost his eye have included the speculation that he lost it either earlier, in the 1911 [[Xinhai Revolution]], or later, during the [[Long March]].<ref name="Barron">Barron</ref>

In 1923, during a war against the warlord [[Wu Peifu]], in response to the [[Northern Expedition (1926–1927)|Northern Expedition]] of the [[Kuomintang]], Liu was appointed commander of the Eastern Route, and later was promoted to commanding general in Sichuan.{{cn|date=May 2024}}

While fighting the army of [[Long Yun]], a [[Yunnan]] warlord, Liu defeated a force commanded by [[Zhu De]], who would later become one of his closest comrades in the Red Army.<ref name="Lew 12" /> In the same year, Liu became acquainted with {{ill|Yang Angong|zh|杨闇公}}, the elder brother of [[Yang Shangkun]], and [[Wu Yuzhang]], who were among the earliest communists of Sichuan. Their relationship marked Liu's first real exposure to the theory and practice of [[Communism]]. In May 1926, Liu joined the [[Chinese Communist Party]] (CCP) and was appointed military commissioner of Chongqing. In December 1926, along with Zhu De and Yang, Liu masterminded the Luzhou and Nanchong uprising, fought against local warlords, while supporting the [[Northern Expedition (1926–1927)|Northern Expedition]].{{cn|date=May 2024}}

In 1927, Liu was appointed army corps commander of the 15th Temporarily Organized [[National Revolutionary Army]]. It was during this time that Liu witnessed the split between the [[Kuomintang]] and the CCP. After joining the CCP, Liu led the [[Nanchang Uprising]] together with Zhu De, [[He Long]], [[Ye Ting]], [[Li Lisan]] and [[Zhou Enlai]], effectively declaring war on the KMT.{{cn|date=May 2024}}

During this uprising, Liu was appointed the first chief of staff of the newly born Chinese Red Army. However, after a series of defeats Liu's forces were destroyed, and its leaders went underground. In 1927 Liu was selected to travel to [[Moscow]], where he mastered Russian and attended the prestigious [[M. V. Frunze Military Academy]]. While studying in the [[Soviet Union]] he learned conventional, Western-style military tactics. While in Russia he translated a Russian textbook into Chinese, ''Combined Arms Tactics'', produced a commentary of [[Sun Tzu]]'s ''[[Art of War]]'', both of which promoted conventional tactics.<ref name="Lew 12" /> Later on, Liu gave a lecture on the subject at the [[6th National Congress of the Chinese Communist Party]], which was held in Moscow.