Although Liu Bowen has a low status among Zhu Yuanzhang's founding heroes and is just a strategist, the cause of his death is thought-provoking.
Although he was not a nobleman of the Huaixi group or a general who commanded the army, Zhu Yuanzhang became suspicious of him and eventually poisoned him.
Such an ending can't help but make people interested in the reasons for it.
Liu Bowen's tragedy stems from two reasons, one is that he is too knowledgeable, proficient in astronomy and geography, especially good at metaphysics; The second is that his people are too shrewd and perceptive to everything, both of which have violated Zhu Yuanzhang's taboo.
Regarding Liu Bowen's metaphysics, when Liu Bowen defected to Zhu Yuanzhang, the latter was not a king, but a general under Han Lin'er. However, since Liu Bowen was attached to him, Zhu Yuanzhang's ambitions began to swell.
At that time, there were many people who were kings in the world, in addition to Han Lin'er, there were also Chen Youliang, Zhang Shicheng, Fang Guozhen and others. With the increase of power, Zhu Yuanzhang also had the idea of becoming the king, but he never had a bottom in his heart.
He is most puzzled by two questions: one is whether he has the fate of a "dragon elephant"; The second is when is the best time to become king.
When Zhu Yuanzhang was confused, Liu Bowen's words of the true son of heaven gave him a direction. Liu Bowen's divination and fortune-pushing won Zhu Yuanzhang's trust, and his words undoubtedly planted the seeds of the emperor's dream in Zhu Yuanzhang's heart.
Soon after, Zhu Yuanzhang proclaimed himself King of Wu, and then officially proclaimed himself emperor, which was undoubtedly inseparable from Liu Bowen's encouragement.
The battle of Poyang Lake between Zhu Yuanzhang and Chen Youliang was a turning point in fate for both sides.
Liu Bowen always accompanied Zhu Yuanzhang, and when Zhu Yuanzhang was supervising the battle on the ship, Liu Bowen reminded him in time to abandon the ship and avoid the disaster of the cannonball hitting the warship. Zhu Yuanzhang was grateful and deeply admired Liu Bowen's life-saving grace.
During one battle, Zhu Yuanzhang asked Liu Bowen why he could predict that the cannonball would hit the warship before it was fired. Liu Bowen explained that he deduced from the Five Elements Theory that Zhu Yuanzhang was the golden life and Chen Youliang was the wooden life.
It happened to be Jin Mu Xiangke that day, and Chen Youliang was bound to lose. However, Zhu Yuanzhang will also have a disaster.
Although Zhu Yuanzhang was happy about this, he was still in awe of Liu Bowen's metaphysical ability.
He realized that Liu Bowen might be in control of his destiny. However, during the battle, Zhu Yuanzhang did not think too much about this issue. However, when he became emperor, the situation changed.
As a great tomorrow, he does not allow anyone to control his own destiny.
Liu Bowen was too shrewd, and Zhu Yuanzhang said that the emperor's attitude towards him became cold.
In the first great title of meritorious hero, Liu Bowen was only made an earl, far lower than Li Shanchang and Xu Da and others.
This is obviously Zhu Yuanzhang's intention to suppress Liu Bowen and prevent him from having too high status and power.
In fact, even after the founding of the People's Republic of China, Liu Bowen's role was always that of a senior adviser, and he was only summoned when he needed a consulting strategy.
As Zhu Yuanzhang's suspicion became heavier and heavier, he especially began to guard against those old Huaixi who had followed him for many years, especially Li Shanchang, the leader of the Huaixi Group, Zhu Yuanzhang became more and more unpleasant, and even began to consider revoking his position as prime minister.
Zhu Yuanzhang consulted Liu Bowen when he removed Li Shanchang from his post as prime minister. Liu Bowen objected, believing that Li Shanchang was experienced and able to reconcile the contradictions between the general and the old man.
However, Zhu Yuanzhang insisted on replacing Li Shanchang, and when asked about the new prime minister, Liu Bowen first proposed Yang Xian.
Although he had a good personal relationship with Yang Xian, he believed that Yang Xian lacked strength and liked to deal with others, so he was not suitable to be the prime minister.
Then, Zhu Yuanzhang proposed Wang Guangyang as another option, Liu Bowen believed that although Wang Guangyang was highly qualified, he was not as talented as Yang Xian, and he was narrow-minded, and he was not suitable for the prime minister.
After Zhu Yuanzhang listened to Liu Bowen's opinions, he proposed Hu Weiyong as the third candidate. However, Liu Bowen resolutely opposed Hu Weiyong's appointment as prime minister, believing that he was like making a wheel out of rotten wood, and no one dared to ride in such a car.
When Zhu Yuanzhang was choosing the prime minister, Liu Bowen vetoed several candidates, which made Zhu Yuanzhang a little impatient. He suggested to Liu Bowen that he should be the prime minister, but Liu Bowen politely refused, saying that he had many shortcomings and was not qualified for this position.
Although Liu Bowen was not elected prime minister, he played a key role in Zhu Yuanzhang's suggestion.
Although Yang Xian, Wang Guangyang, and Hu Weiyong were successively exterminated under Zhu Yuanzhang's reuse, Zhu Yuanzhang's trust in Liu Bowen did not increase, but became more vigilant against him.
Liu Bowen's thoughtfulness and accurate recognition of people made Zhu Yuanzhang feel that he was an uncontrollable person.
Liu Bowen is an honest official, and Zhu Yuanzhang expressed his appreciation for this. However, he was too shrewd and unlearned, which made him less popular in officialdom and aroused Zhu Yuanzhang's suspicions.
The final result is also expected, after all, Zhu Yuanzhang is not the ancestor of the Han Dynasty, and Liu Bowen cannot be as free as Zhang Liang.