Liu Bowen

Liu Ji (July 1, 1311 - April 16, 1375). Han nationality, character Bowen, posthumous Wencheng, Yuan Wuzong to the fourth year of his freshman year (1311) was born in Wuyang Village, Nantianshan, Qingtian County, the capital of Jiangsu and Zhejiang Province (now Wuyang Village, Nantianshan, was transferred to Wencheng County, Wenzhou in 1948). A military strategist, statesman, and writer in the late Yuan and early Ming Dynasties, he was well-known all over the world and was compared to Zhuge Liang by later generations by assisting Zhu Yuanzhang in completing the imperial business, founding the Ming Dynasty and trying his best to maintain the stability of the country. Zhu Yuanzhang called Liu Ji many times: "My son's room is also." Liu Bowen was extremely intelligent and talented since childhood. Under the influence of his family, he was eager to learn and think deeply since he was a child, liked to read, and was very familiar with Confucian classics and the books of hundreds of schools. Especially in astronomy, geography, art of war, and mathematics, he devoted himself to research and had a lot of experience. His memory is very good, and he can read ten lines at a glance. And the writing is wonderful, and the articles he writes are extraordinary. At the age of 14, he entered the prefecture to study "Spring and Autumn". At the age of 17, he studied Neo-Confucianism under Zheng Fuchu, a famous scholar in Chuzhou, and actively prepared for the imperial examination. Natural endowment and acquired efforts made the young Liu Bowen stand out in the local area soon, becoming a great talent and a great celebrity in Jiangsu and Zhejiang, and began to attract the attention of the world. His teacher, Zheng Fuchu, once told Liu Bowen's grandfather, "In the future, this child will definitely brighten your family and revitalize the Liu family!" Zhao Tianze, a famous man in Xishu, listed Liu Bowen as the first in his evaluation of Jiang Zuo's characters, comparing him with Zhuge Kongming, saying that Liu Bowen would definitely become a great tool in the future.

Liu Bowen is indeed a hero among the people. He was admitted to the Jinshi in the first year of Yuan Tong (1339), and since then entered his career and began to perform wonderfully on the stage of China history.

At first, Liu Bowen hoped to serve in the Yuan government and realize his lofty ambitions by becoming an official. Shortly after he became a scholar in the Jin Dynasty, he was appointed to the city of Gao'an County in Jiangxi Province, and later served in the Yuan Shuai Mansion. But his suggestions were often not accepted by the court, and his talents were suppressed by the court. Liu Bowen was very disappointed. He resigned three times angrily and returned to his hometown Qingtian to live in seclusion.

When Liu Bowen lived in seclusion in Qingtian, he devoted himself to writing. He summarized his thoughts and insights into society and life, and wrote the famous book "Yu Ion". At this time, the situation in the whole country has undergone fundamental changes. Anti-Yuan uprisings are surging all over the country, and the rule of the Yuan Dynasty is on the verge of collapse, but the anti-Yuan rebel armies are contending with each other and are not willing to give in. Liu Bowen observed the situation in the world. After some analysis, he believed that among the many uprising armies, Emperor Taizu of Ming, who was born as a civilian, was the most powerful of the true dragon and the emperor of heaven. The Red Scarf Army he led was the team that overthrew the Yuan Dynasty and established a new country.

In 1360 AD, Emperor Taizu of Ming, the commander of the Rebel Army, twice invited Liu Bowen, who lived in seclusion in Qingtian. After careful consideration, Liu Bowen finally decided to go out to assist Emperor Taizu of Ming, hoping to achieve his grand ambition of governing the country and pacifying the world by helping the Zhu family fight the country. Similar to Zhuge Liang's "Long Zhong Duo", Liu Bowen first met the Zhu family and proposed "Eighteen Strategies for Current Affairs". After Emperor Taizu of Ming saw Liu Bowen, he was even more overjoyed and regarded Liu Bowen as his confidant and advisor.

After Liu Bowen came out of the mountain, he worked loyally for the Zhu regime and actively made suggestions for Emperor Taizu of Ming. He formulated a strategic policy for the Zhu family to "destroy Chen Youming first, then Zhang Shicheng, and then head north to the Central Plains to rule the world." Emperor Taizu of Ming was assisted by Liu Bowen, which was just a tiger's power. He basically acted in accordance with the strategies and tactics set by Liu Bowen for him. He first defeated Chen Youming with a plan to lure the enemy, frustrated his sharpness, and then fought the Chen family in a decisive battle at Poyang Lake in 1363 to completely eliminate his power. The next year, Zhang Shicheng's power was eliminated according to the plan. Then, Emperor Taizu of Ming sent troops north to attack Beijing, the capital of the Yuan Dynasty, while preparing to proclaim himself emperor in the south.

In 1368 AD, Emperor Taizu of Ming ascended the throne in Nanjing and officially established the Ming Dynasty, which was changed to "Hongwu" in the Yuan Dynasty. Liu Ji, who made great contributions to the Zhu family's final pacification of the world and the creation of the Zhu Ming Dynasty, was appointed as one of the founding fathers of the imperial history. In recognition of Liu Bowen's special contributions and great merits, Emperor Taizu of Ming also issued an edict to exempt Liu Bowen's hometown Qingtian County from taxation. This is the only county in Chuzhou that does not increase taxes. Soon after, Liu Bowen's grandfather and father were named Duke Yongxi.

In the third year of Hongwu (1370), Liu Bowen was appointed as a bachelor of Hongwenguan, and was awarded the title of "Founding of the country, the luck of the country, the protection of the official, the good doctor, and the protection of the army". So far, Liu Bowen's own career and the development of the Qingtian Liu family have both flourished and reached the most glorious peak.

As a generation of military advisors and wise men, Liu Bowen knew that he was usually evil and offended many colleagues and dignitaries, and he also knew the truth of "accompanying the king like a tiger". Therefore, after his success and fame, he resolutely chose to retire. Yu Hongwu resigned from all positions in the fourth year (1371), relocated to his hometown, and returned to Qingtian to live in seclusion.

Liu Bowen lived in seclusion in Qingtian for two years, and originally hoped to stay away from the competition between right and wrong in the world. However, his wisdom and talent were too high, and his reputation was too great. He was even portrayed by the people as a living fairy-like figure, which could not avoid the jealousy of political opponents and the suspicion of the emperor. In the sixth year of Hong Wu (1373), Liu Bowen's political enemy Hu Weiyong became the prime minister of the left, and ordered others to falsely accuse Liu Bowen, saying that he wanted to occupy a "royal" land named "Mingyang" as his own tomb, with evil intentions. Emperor Taizu of Ming, who had long been worried about Liu Bowen, deprived Liu Bowen of his seal after hearing the false accusation. Liu Bowen was very frightened, so he went to Nanjing to apologize to Emperor Taizu of Ming in person, and stayed in Nanjing and did not dare to come back. Later, Hu Weiyong was promoted to the right prime minister. Hu Weiyong was the number one traitor in the world, comparable to Qin Hui. Liu Bowen was even more worried and finally fell ill.

Statue of Liu Bowen in front of Liu Bowen's temple

In the eighth year of Hongwu (1375), Liu Bowen, who was sick, was escorted home by emissaries sent by Emperor Zhu Yuanzhang, and soon died at home at the age of 65.

When Liu Bowen was in Nanjing, Hu Weiyong once sent an imperial doctor to diagnose Liu Bowen and deliver medicine, but after Liu Bowen took his medicine, his condition worsened. Therefore, at that time, people suspected that Liu Bowen was poisoned to death by Hu Weiyong. 139 years after his death, that is, the ninth year of Zhengde of Wuzong of the Ming Dynasty (1514), he was posthumously awarded the title of Taishi with the posthumous title of Wencheng, so later generations also called him Liu Wencheng. Wencheng County is a Xin County established in 1948. The county name is in memory of Liu Ji.

Liu Bowen is not only a master of strategy, but also a famous scholar and literati. He has many works, including the 10 volumes of "Yu Zi" and the 20 volumes of "Chengyi Bo Selected Works". Among them. The representative work "Yu Zi" occupies an important position in China's ideological and literary history.

After Liu Bowen's death, he was buried in Xiashan, Wuyang, Qingtian. It is said that before his death, Liu Bowen predicted that Hu Weiyong would be defeated, and that Emperor Taizu of Ming would rehabilitate Zhaoxue for himself. He also left a secret note to his son, asking him to play it when Emperor Taizu of Ming remembered him in the future. Five years later, Hu Weiyong really fell. After another 10 years, Liu Bowen was indeed rehabilitated. Emperor Taizu of Ming also gave the Liu family a golden book iron voucher, which was specially approved for members of the Liu family to be exempted from a capital crime.

Comments: Zhu Yuanzhang's conquest of the world depends on his resourcefulness. Accumulate grain and slowly become king