On the stage of history, there are many heroes and heroes, among which Liu Bowen's story may be little known, but it is a talented and stormy legend. Maybe your impression of him only comes from the role of Wang Jinsong in the TV series "Mountains, Rivers and Moonlight", however, Liu Bowen's real experience is more tortuous and touching than the plot on the screen.
Let's go back to the grand scene where Zhu Yuanzhang rewarded the heroes. Among the many meritorious princes, Liu Bowen was only named "Sincere Uncle", a seemingly beautiful title that hides a profound political insider.
When it comes to Liu Bowen's salary, it can be described as "meager". Compared with other heroes such as the Korean Gong Li Shanchang, his age is only 240 stones, which is unsatisfactory. Even compared with Wang Guangyang, who is also an earl, Liu Bowen's treatment pales in comparison. What kind of treatment is this?
Some people may think that Liu Bowen's short service is the reason for all this. He was originally a Jinshi of the Yuan Dynasty, but he resigned and retired because he was dissatisfied with the imperial court. It was not until 1370 that Zhu Yuanzhang invited him out of the mountain that Liu Bowen joined the entrepreneurial team. However, when he was a hero, his working experience was only 10 years, far less than the years of struggle of other heroes such as the "Twenty-four Generals of Huaixi".
However, short service is not the only explanation. Take Lan Yu as an example, although he was young and did not participate in the entrepreneurial stage, he won a prestigious knighthood in just a few years due to his talent. Zhu Yuanzhang obviously attaches great importance to talents, but Liu Bowen's underestimation may also have hidden political conspiracy.
Zhu Yuanzhang once praised Liu Bowen as "my son's room", which was not only an affirmation of his talent, but also a signal that Liu Bowen was unwilling to serve him. Liu Bowen saw through Zhu Yuanzhang's mind and understood the liquidation of the heroes. His refusal to be a pawn in Zhu Yuanzhang's political chess game caused Zhu Yuanzhang to have an indescribable disappointment, which led to an underestimation of him.
In "Mountains, Rivers and Moonlight", Liu Bowen said to the crown prince Zhu Biao: "Zhongshu Province is a big coffin. This may be Liu Bowen's insight into Zhu Yuanzhang's thoughts. He foresaw Zhu Yuanzhang's liquidation of the heroes, so he chose to flee. However, Zhu Yuanzhang recalled him to the court, and Liu Bowen died by drinking poison by mistake. His life, though short, was full of legends.
In the long river of history, Liu Bowen may not have received the respect he deserved, but his talent and responsibility have left indelible traces. His story teaches us that sometimes, not being understood doesn't mean not being great. History is like a tidal wave, many heroes have emerged, and everyone's contribution is worthy of our deep thought. Perhaps in this long history of pursuing dignity, we can also find some value of our own.
Liu Bowen, although history has been unfair to you, your bravery and wisdom will always shine in our hearts. Let's be curious about history, follow the footsteps of this influential figure, and explore more stories buried by time. This is not only a tribute to history, but also a memorial to those forgotten heroes.
Liu Bowen, your light is getting brighter and brighter, more ordinary, and will forever be in the annals of history. In the long river of history, we should also strive to let everyone who pays silently for their dreams and beliefs can leave their own glory.