Chapter 22 3. In Dingyuan City, Li Shanchang, a talented person, is worshiped

When Zhu Yuanzhang captured Dingyuan, he accumulated preliminary military strength, and he had his own small army.When he was about to leave Dingyuan to attack Chuzhou, one evening, Zhu Yuanzhang took a few soldiers to enter the city from outside the city, and met a scholar riding a donkey at the gate of the city.The soldiers all rode horses, and when they saw the commoner riding a donkey, they couldn't help laughing. It's always a scholar who can't explain why he meets soldiers. In this very short time, Zhu Yuanzhang took a quick look at the scholar, and felt that he had keen eyesight and elegant appearance, and he liked him, so he asked, "Wait a minute, sir. May I ask your name?"

The scholar didn't answer, but snorted and said, "Excuse me, who are you?" The little soldier beside him yelled: "Presumptuous, who in Dingyuan City doesn't know Mr. Zhu?!" Zhu Yuanzhang shouted: "Don't be rude, I'm Zhu Yuanzhang, may I ask..." Before Zhu Yuanzhang finished asking, the man said in surprise, "You are Zhu Yuanzhang? I am Dingyuan Li Shanchang." After finishing speaking, he drove the donkey and left. Zhu Yuanzhang heard that it was Li Shanchang, so he hurriedly sent soldiers to follow him to invite him. When Zhu Yuanzhang was a wandering monk in the Huaixi area, he had already heard about Li Shanchang's talent. He knew that he was resourceful, knew the art of war, and had the reputation of predicting things like a god.Now is the time when his career is starting, how much he longs for the help of such talents.

Unexpectedly, after a long time, the soldiers came back and reported that Li Shanchang refused to come to see Zhu Yuanzhang.It turned out that Li Shanchang had also heard about Zhu Yuanzhang's deeds these days, and was somewhat interested in this man. When he saw him today, he was indeed very handsome, with a heroic look on his brows, and he was able to treat scholars with courtesy.But Li Shanchang wanted to know what kind of mentality and purpose this Zhu Yuanzhang had when he came to him, and he deliberately didn't come to see him.He knew that if Zhu Yuanzhang knew how to attract talents, he would come to ask again.

Two days later, Zhu Yuanzhang took the time to go to Li Shanchang's residence to see him in person. Li Shanchang saw that Zhu Yuanzhang came in person, but he still didn't make a sound. He still wanted to observe Zhu Yuanzhang again. I saw Zhu Yuanzhang said sincerely: "The soldiers were rude the day before yesterday and disturbed Mr. Zhu Yuanzhang came here to make amends." Li Shanchang said: "It's not necessary to make amends. If it is to make amends, the young master can go back." Zhu Yuanzhang hurriedly said: "Of course not. Yuanzhang is a rough man who doesn't read much. If you offend him, please forgive me. I have known about Mr.'s talent and learning. Yuanzhang admires him very much. Today I am here to ask for advice."

Li Shanchang's originally cold face eased a little, and he motioned for Zhu Yuanzhang to sit on the stone bench in the courtyard. Zhu Yuanzhang first invited Li Shanchang to take a seat before he sat down himself.Seeing that Li Shanchang's expression softened, he said: "Yuanzhang joined the army not long ago, and Dingyuan was the first city we captured, but we are very worried." Li Shanchang frowned and asked, "What are you worried about, Young Master?" Zhu Yuanzhang looked up at the sky, let out a long sigh, and then asked Li Shanchang with a worried look on his face: "Nowadays, there are armies from all directions and the world is in chaos. May I ask when will there be peace?"

Li Shanchang said: "My son should know Liu Bang, the emperor of the Han Dynasty?" Zhu Yuanzhang smiled apologetically and said, "I know, but we don't read much, and we don't read much about history. Please tell me clearly." Li Shanchang said loudly: "The Emperor Gaozu of the Han Dynasty was also born as a commoner, but he was able to pacify the world. The reason is that Gaozu had great ambitions in his heart, saw the long-term, and knew how to use people well. The army was well-disciplined, conquered the city, never killed innocent people, and loved the people. , and was also supported by the people. Gaozu raised his army for only five years, and the general trend of the world was clearly seen, and he achieved the emperor's career."

Hearing these words, Zhu Yuanzhang couldn't help nodding his head in praise, as if he had benefited a lot.Seeing that Zhu Yuanzhang is a wise general, Li Shanchang was delighted, and then said: "Now the Yuan Dynasty is like a rotten tree, the government is not governed, and the people are in dire straits. It has come to collapse. The ancestor of Pei County is not far from Haozhou. You can be regarded as a fellow son. You If we can learn the merits of Liu Bang, the great ancestor of the Han Dynasty, it will not be long before we want peace in the world." After hearing these words, Zhu Yuanzhang felt that they were very reasonable and benefited a lot. He felt that what his army and even Haozhou lacked was such talents who could learn from the past and present and make suggestions.

Zhu Yuanzhang immediately saluted and said: "Thank you for your guidance, Mr. Yuanzhang implores you to join us in seeking a day of peace for the people of the world." Li Shanchang laughed and said: "My lord, don't say thank you. You are a commoner and don't dare to accept the gift. If you can agree to something, you can consider following me." Zhu Yuanzhang hurriedly said, "Sir, please tell me." Li Shanchang said: "When the young master conquered Dingyuan, he received thousands of shi from the government. Shanchang begged the young master to use half of the grain in the granary to help the local people."

Zhu Yuanzhang didn't know how to answer for a while, he hesitated, and said hesitantly: "Sir, I want us to give half of the official rations to the people. Isn't that too much? These rations are the basis for our recruitment and development of strength. If the rations are scattered, they are gone." How can material security stabilize the world?" Hearing this, Li Shanchang smiled and said: "How can you calm down the world with your thoughts, and you are no different from other leaders of the rebel army. Please come back, my son." After speaking, Li Shanchang walked into the room.

Zhu Yuanzhang had no choice but to go back.A sleepless night, tossing and thinking. In the early morning of the next day, just after dawn, Zhu Yuanzhang went to Li Shanchang's house to see him. Li Shanchang was studying in the courtyard. Zhu Yuanzhang stopped at the door when he heard the sound of reading aloud. What Li Shanchang read aloud was the biography of Han Gaozu Liu Bang.It wasn't until Li Shanchang finished reading a page, saw Zhu Yuanzhang who had been waiting for a long time, and greeted him, that Zhu Yuanzhang stepped into the door and greeted him. Li Shanchang knew something was going on, so he deliberately said: "Master, come early in the morning to listen to Shanchang's reading?"

Zhu Yuanzhang said: "It is also a kind of intellectual interest to be able to listen to Mr. reading and talking about history. We have thought about it for a long time and figured it out. Today, we will post a notice, open a warehouse to release grain, and return it to the people. All will be dispersed without leaving a stone behind." Li Shanchang was delighted when he heard this, and said with a smile: "Young master is indeed a smart person, Shanchang is willing to do his little bit for you." "Okay, that's great, Yuanzhang is very grateful to have Mr. help!" Zhu Yuanzhang excitedly saluted Li Shanchang again. Through these several observations, Li Shanchang knew that Zhu Yuanzhang was a general who knew how to use people, was polite, and could accept words. Seeing that he could love the people, think about the overall situation and have a vision, he immediately decided to follow Zhu Yuanzhang. Zhu Yuanzhang said kindly to Li Shanchang again: "Mr. is old, and he should be respectful. In the future, you don't need to be a son or son, just call us Yuanzhang. Yuanzhang has benefited a lot from his husband. He respects him as a teacher. In the future, Just call me sir." Li Shanchang said: "You must not call the young master by his name directly. There are military rules in this army. Shanchang thinks that it is very correct for the young master to plan to become independent from Haozhou. Although the young master is actually a general, he has not been appointed. It’s better to call it ‘superior’. In this way, there is no presumptuous meaning, and it is in line with the truth.” "Okay, sir, it's wise, the title 'Superior' is very distinctive, and it sounds quite friendly." Zhu Yuanzhang continued, "Let's beg Mr., it's really like Liu Bei begging Zhuge Liang for three times. We can't compare ourselves to Liu Bei now. Not strong enough, but sir, you do have the talent of Zhuge Liang." Li Shanchang said with a smile: "The superior has won the prize. I'm afraid that in the future history, the superior will be better than Liu Bei, and Li Shanchang will not be able to compare with Mr. Zhuge." Zhu Yuanzhang then said: "Thank you, sir. Although Yuanzhang has been in the army for a short time, he also knows that a good army must have a good staff. Now that there are many heroes everywhere, it is not easy to achieve a career. Zhu Yuanzhang will do our best to protect and respect you. When we were in Haozhou, the clerical and staff staff we saw were all from left to right, and most of them were dissatisfied with the military generals, which made the relationship between literati and military generals very poor and difficult to cooperate. Therefore, the once brilliant five marshals are now trapped in Haozhou City. The power of development. A good general must have a capable shogunate and brave soldiers, I implore you to be a bridge for us to communicate with the soldiers and make suggestions." Zhu Yuanzhang's sincerity and respect for scholars moved this wise man who was 19 years older than Zhu Yuanzhang.Since then, Li Shanchang followed Zhu Yuanzhang, received courtesy from Zhu Yuanzhang, and was retained by Zhu Yuanzhang as the secretary. And not long after, Guo Zixing learned that when Zhu Yuanzhang asked Li Shanchang, a literary talent, he tried his best to get Li Shanchang to assist him, and even forced him to do so.Li Shanchang was very distressed. He was afraid that because he was caught in the middle, there would be a stalemate between Zhu Yuanzhang and Guo Zixing. He was also worried that Zhu Yuanzhang would be suspicious of him and would no longer trust him. After Zhu Yuanzhang learned that Li Shanchang was invited into the Guo Mansion by Guo Zixing, he did not have any doubts or dissatisfaction, but talked with Li Shanchang from the bottom of his heart: "Marshal Guo's kindness to us, we will never forget. Now, Marshal Guo has already treated us. Suspicious, the father and son stayed in Haozhou City without seeking development, and they were afraid that our power would increase, and a split would happen sooner or later. We know Mr. We all respect the choice of Mr. Mr. and whoever he chooses. Today, we are in a low position. If Mr. Guo follows Marshal Guo, we will have no complaints. If Mr. Zhang trusts Yuanzhang, we will be grateful." Hearing Zhu Yuanzhang's words of righteousness, Li Shanchang resolutely rejected Guo Zixing, followed Zhu Yuanzhang loyally, and worked wholeheartedly as Zhu Yuanzhang's shogunate. Make the best use of talents, internally harmonious, and externally comprehensive.Since then, Zhu Yuanzhang has Liu Bang, the great ancestor of the Han Dynasty, as his role model in his heart. He learns from him everywhere in dealing with people, leading soldiers in battles, and treating the people. Zhu Yuanzhang's army is also supported by the people. Li Shanchang played an important role in Zhu Yuanzhang's military and political career.And the talent of this role can be displayed because of Zhu Yuanzhang's reuse and good use of talents.