Chapter 27 8. Facing the wall and thinking about mistakes, beg Liu Bowen three times with sincerity

Based on Yingtian, Zhu Yuanzhang became more and more powerful, and all civil and military officers and soldiers persuaded him to proclaim himself king and independent.However, Zhu Yuanzhang abided by Zhu Sheng's suggestion, resolutely refused, and allowed the army to participate in production and build water conservancy to reduce the burden on farmers, so that the army would be strong and food sufficient. At the end of the eighteenth year from Yuan to Zhengzheng (1358), Zhu Yuanzhang directed his military offensive to the fertile land in Zhejiang, which was rich in grain and silk. He took down Wuzhou and established Zhongshu East Zhejiang Province in Wuzhou.At the beginning of the nineteenth year from Yuan to Zhengzheng (1359), Zhuji, Chuzhou and other places were successively occupied.Zhu Yuanzhang knew that the south of the Yangtze River was rich and rich, and there were many beautiful women. He worried that the soldiers would be deceived by money and sex in Jiangsu and Zhejiang, and repeatedly emphasized military discipline and military style.However, everyone has desires. Although the military order is strict, some people still commit crimes. For this reason, Zhu Yuanzhang killed many soldiers to warn people's hearts.

As early as Yingtian's time, Zhu Yuanzhang knew that the Four Heroes of Zhejiang were well-known in the south of the Yangtze River, and among the four Heroes, Liu Bowen had the reputation of "Little Zhuge", saying that he knew astronomy, geography, and the art of war. God, read well.From Yuan to Shun years, Liu Bowen was a Jinshi and served as the magistrate of Gaoan County, Ruizhou Prefecture, Jiangxi. Loved by the local people, but jealous of the powerful, he resigned and returned to his hometown in Qingtian.Later, the Yuan court called him to serve as the vice-president of Confucianism in Jiangsu and Zhejiang, and concurrently as the provincial examiner. He was criticized by some people for reporting and supervising the censor's dereliction of duty, and he resigned and returned to Qingtian.Later, when uprisings broke out everywhere, Liu Bowen sometimes lived in seclusion to teach, and sometimes sang poems with friends.

In Zhu Yuanzhang's view, if he can get the assistance of Liu Bowen, his development in Jiangnan will be extraordinary. Zhu Yuanzhang once asked Li Shanchang: "Sir, do you know Liu Bowen in Qingtian?" Li Shanchang said: "One of the four heroes of Zhejiang, I have heard of it as early as in my hometown. And Liu Bowen is the most outstanding of the four heroes. This man is wise and wise, and he can be called Zhuge alive." Zhu Yuanzhang deliberately shook his head and said, "Can it be compared with Mr.?" Li Shanchang hurriedly said: "Marshal, how dare Shanchang compare with Liu Bowen."

After Zhu Yuanzhang laughed, he became more eager to seek talents and decided to mobilize Liu Bowen to come out to assist him. Zhu Yuanzhang knew that Hu Dahai had contacts with the Four Masters of Zhejiang when he conquered the eastern Zhejiang area, so he asked Hu Dahai to invite the four of them to come out of the mountain to serve. appreciate.But this time when Hu Dahai went to invite Liu Bowen, although he brought Zhu Yuanzhang's autographed letter, he was humiliated. The reason turned out to be that a woman Zhu Yuanzhang killed not long ago was Su Tanmei, a talented girl from Jiangnan. He often participated in the famous "Lanxi Meeting" in Zhejiang at that time, reciting poems and discussing major events in the world.Su Tanmei is not only beautiful in appearance, but also extremely intelligent. Her piano, chess, poetry and paintings are all well received.

When Zhu Yuanzhang learned that the beautiful woman he killed was actually Su Tanmei, he sat on the chair in shock and didn't recover for a long time.Zhu Yuanzhang never thought that the one he killed was Su Tanmei, a talented girl from the south of the Yangtze River. He had read the poems written by Liu Bowen and Su Tanmei, but now he made her a scapegoat in order to rectify military discipline. It is not so easy to ask Liu Bowen. Perhaps Zhu Yuanzhang has done many wrong things, but he has never regretted it. However, killing Su Tanmei made him very sad and regretful. He knew that he must be responsible for his reckless behavior.After thinking about it for several nights, Zhu Yuanzhang decided to go to Su Tanmei's tomb to pay homage and apologize.

Seeing the inscription in front of Su Tanmei's tomb, Zhu Yuanzhang felt even more uncomfortable.The inscription on the inscription includes Chu Fangyu's mourning and the crusade against Zhu Yuanzhang. Seeing that the tomb was full of flowers and gifts, Zhu Yuanzhang knew that there must be many literati who came to mourn Su Tanmei. Zhu Yuanzhang immediately decided to build a monument in front of Su Tanmei's tomb as a self-reflection. As soon as Zhu Yuanzhang's inscription was erected, it immediately caused commotion inside and outside the city.People who didn't know that Zhu Yuanzhang killed Su Tanmei also knew about it, but those who knew about it had different opinions.

Zhu Yuanzhang said to Li Shanchang: "We don't care what people in the world think about it. Zhu Yuanzhang did a stupid thing, that is, he wants to criticize the people in the world. I hope that Miss Su Tan knows Zhu Yuanzhang's guilt towards her." Hu Dahai knew that it was inappropriate for Zhu Yuanzhang to come forward and beg Liu Bowen to come out of the mountain at this time, so he suggested to Zhu Yuanzhang to let him go to Qingtian again. When Hu Dahai went, Zhu Yuanzhang prepared a generous gift and asked Hu Dahai to send Liu Bowen off. This time, Liu Bowen declined the gift, and only said to Hu Dahai: "Marshal Zhu has a big heart, and he will surely achieve great things."

Knowing that he set up a monument to repent, Zhu Yuanzhang eased Liu Bowen's dissatisfaction and anger towards him, and decided to visit Qingtian in person in a few days. After Zhu Yuanzhang saw Liu Bowen, he expressed his regret for killing Su Tanmei. Liu Bowen was a little shaken when he saw that Zhu Yuanzhang really repented sincerely, rather than putting up a monument. Zhu Yuanzhang said: "Yuanzhang knew this mistake, which caused criticism from all over the world, and even made literati and Confucians sad, but it has been a big mistake, and Su Tanmei's life is irreparable. Yuanzhang sincerely begged Mr. to come out to help him, but he knew that Mr. After Hangzhou was captured, he lived in seclusion in Qingtian and devoted himself to writing. Yuanzhang’s disturbing was not for himself, but for the people of the world. Now that wars are raging and the people are living in dire straits, if the chaos continues, how will the people of the world survive.”

Seeing Liu Bowen shaking his head in thought, Zhu Yuanzhang cupped his hands and said, "Mr. Wang think twice, Yuanzhang is willing to come again for the sake of the people of the world." Liu Bowen was completely conquered by Zhu Yuanzhang's words, not because of Zhu Yuanzhang's unremitting sincerity, but because Zhu Yuanzhang asked for it in the name of the people all over the world.Liu Bowen originally advocated the Confucian thought of being born out of the world, and he also had some political ideals, but when he was born in troubled times, he had to live in seclusion in his hometown in Qingtian in order to seek peace.

Liu Bowen said: "Since that's the case, Bowen will help you with all your strength." Seeing that Liu Bowen was willing to come out of the mountain, Zhu Yuanzhang saluted and thanked him again and again. This is the 20th year from Yuan to Zhengzheng (1360). It has been a year since Zhu Yuanzhang sent Hu Dahai to ask him to meet Liu Bowen himself. This is where Zhu Yuanzhang's wisdom lies. He knows how to express himself, express his repentance to the world, and save his mistakes; he also knows how to treat a literati who advocates Confucianism and Taoism, cleverly borrowing the name of the people of the world to avoid himself from achieving great things selfishness.Obtaining Liu Bowen is a huge fortune for Zhu Yuanzhang, whether it is the "Eighteen Policies for Current Affairs" originally proposed by Liu Bowen, or the military strategy formulated for Zhu Yuanzhang to destroy Chen Youliang first, then Zhang Shicheng, and then go north to the Central Plains to unify the world. They all played an extremely important role in Zhu Yuanzhang's unification of the world and the establishment of the Ming Dynasty.Zhu Yuanzhang himself called Liu Bowen many times: "My son's house." It can be seen that Liu Bowen's value and significance to Zhu Yuanzhang.