After Liu Bowen became famous, according to the general trend of the world at that time, he concluded that the Yuan Dynasty was running out of time, so he began to look for a wise Lord worthy of his support to make contributions. Liu Bowen started hanging out with Zhang Shicheng, but found that Zhang Shicheng was rich and powerful, and had no ambition, so he didn't deserve his help. So Liu Bowen took the excuse of leaving Zhang Shicheng and continued to bide his time. Later, Zhu Yuanzhang invited Liu Bowen many times. Liu Bowen thought that Zhu Yuanzhang would succeed, so he decided to help Zhu Yuanzhang, and finally helped Zhu Yuanzhang to make suggestions and establish the Ming Dynasty. Liu Bowen was also named a sincere man by Zhu Yuanzhang and went down in history.
Although Liu Bowen died of poisoning, he was highly valued by Zhu Yuanzhang in the early Ming Dynasty. Zhu Yuanzhang often called Liu Bowen "Mr. Liu" instead of calling him by his first name, and he always liked to discuss things with Liu Bowen, which shows how popular Liu Bowen is.
Zhu Yuanzhang did this because Liu Bowen was proficient in astronomical phenomena and extremely clever. He helped Zhu Yuanzhang turn the tide many times and made Zhu Yuanzhang deeply dependent on him. In order to show his esteem for Liu Bowen, Zhu Yuanzhang once specially gave Liu Bowen a melon hammer (a weapon used by imperial warriors).
When giving Liu Bowen a melon hammer, Zhu Yuanzhang told Liu Bowen, "Don't use this melon hammer I gave you indiscriminately unless you are in a hurry. Remember. " Liu Bowen has kept the melon hammer at home since he got it. Until midnight, Liu Bowen suddenly came to the palace gate with a melon hammer and said he wanted to see Zhu Yuanzhang. Guards stopped Liu Bowen, Zhu Yuanzhang got up and ordered Liu Bowen to enter the palace.
Zhu Yuanzhang was awakened in the middle of the night, full of anger, and was about to scold Liu Bowen. When I saw Liu Bowen holding a melon hammer, I knew it must be urgent. He asked Liu Bowen, "You didn't sleep in the middle of the night. What's important to say?" Liu Bowen replied: "I have nothing important, I just want to play chess with your majesty!" " Zhu Yuanzhang didn't know what Liu Bowen was doing, but it's no use crying over spilt milk. Let's see what Liu Bowen will do. So he promised to play chess with Liu Bowen. They just started playing chess. Suddenly, a eunuch reported to Zhu Yuanzhang: "The emperor's event is not good, and Taicang (here refers to the national treasury) is on fire!"
Zhu Yuanzhang was shocked to hear that there were many gold and silver in the national treasury, which was the lifeblood of the country. It would be great to burn it So I forgot to play chess with Liu Bowen, and immediately ordered people to prepare a sedan chair to personally direct the fire fighting.
At this time, Liu Bowen quickly stopped Zhu Yuanzhang and said, "Your Majesty, you must not personally direct the fire fighting! At this time, the fire was in chaos. What should I do if someone takes the opportunity to assassinate you? If you are worried about the urgency of the fire, you can let a eunuch represent you first and make a sedan chair to command. " Zhu Yuanzhang sent eunuchs to Taicang in sedan chairs to put out the fire. As a result, the eunuch was killed by an unidentified person in the fire.
Zhu Yuanzhang was surprised this time. Sure enough, someone tried to assassinate him! He asked Liu Bowen, "Why did you come to the palace to play chess with me tonight? How did you know that someone would assassinate me? " Liu Bowen replied, "Speaking of the Emperor, when I was in court yesterday, I found someone secretly putting homing pigeons outside the palace, acting suspiciously. Moreover, when I watched the stars at night, I found that the elephant had changed, so I specially came to the palace with a melon hammer to remind your majesty that I was scared in the palace and asked the emperor to atone! "
Zhu Yuanzhang was overjoyed and said, "Mr. Wang is eager to rescue the coachman, loyal to the king and patriotic." What crime? " Zhu Yuanzhang immediately ordered people to put out the fire while searching for the murderer, and he was captured. Unfortunately, the killer couldn't find out his name by biting his tongue.
If Liu Bowen hadn't broken into the palace in the middle of the night, Zhu Yuanzhang would have been assassinated by thieves. It can be said that Liu Bowen saved Zhu Yuanzhang's life. Later, after Liu Bowen's death, the descendants of the Liu family hung a portrait of Liu Bowen at home. In the portrait, Liu Bowen is dressed in royal robes and looks natural and unrestrained. There is a boy named Zhu Yuanzhang with a golden melon hammer in Liu Bowen. It is said that this portrait is to commemorate Liu Bowen's contribution to saving Zhu Yuanzhang!