That's right, Liu Bowen refused.
In the face of Zhu Yuanzhang giving him so much face, he refused without raising his head.
"What is it? You said Liu Bowen refused to come?"
Hearing that he had been rejected, Zhu Yuanzhang was naturally unhappy.
He felt that he had given Liu Bowen enough face.
"Does he think that we are not worthy of his assistance? Or do you think that I'm no different from Fang Guozhen and the others? Do you think that I'm just doing this for my own benefit and harming the world?”
"Duke Wu, please calm down! Liu Bowen, that was not what he meant.”
Sun Yan had a troubled expression on his face, even though he wasn't in a good mood after being rejected.
However, he still put in a few good words for Liu Bowen, lest Liu Bowen was killed by Zhu Yuanzhang in a fit of anger.
"Liu Bowen and Fang Guozhen did not get along because he brought disaster to the common people. However, no matter how shallow his knowledge was, it was impossible for him not to have heard of the good reputation of the citizens of Wu Country.”
"Actually, when Liu Ji was facing the dust, although he didn't agree, he kept saying some meaningless words.”
"What did he say?"
"He's just saying that he's not talented enough. Now that he's old and his body is weak, he's afraid that he'll affect the prince after coming to Ying Tian City.”
"But I felt that he had something else to hide, so…"
"What?"
Zhu Yuanzhang saw Sun Yan stutter and was immediately dissatisfied.
"That night, I specially sent someone to listen to Liu Bowen's true thoughts. He was indeed talking to his wife about this matter. He was unwilling to come to Nanjing because of two main concerns.”
Zhu Yuanzhang frowned.
"What is it? Just say it. I won't be angry.”
Sun Yan lowered his head, not daring to look at Zhu Yuanzhang's expression.
"First, he's worried that you won't be able to win this war. If Liu Bowen continues to follow you, then you'll be his second master. If you don't succeed, he will never have the chance to enter the official career again.”
"Even if he had Zhuge Liang's talent, the scholars in the world would not allow him to serve a third master.”
When Zhu Yuanzhang heard Sun Yan's first reason, he did not show any anger on his face.
It was human nature to choose a wise master to serve, but Zhu Yuanzhang did not think much of it.
" Secondly, he's worried that you're from a humble background and have no family education. Even if you become the final victor, you might do something like killing your former meritorious minister. He's afraid…afraid…"
Sun Yan raised his head and carefully glanced at Zhu Yuanzhang. Seeing that there was no anger on his face, he boldly continued.
"He…he was worried that you would kill the meritorious officials because of the incompetence of your descendants!!”
After Sun Yan finished speaking, he knelt on the ground with a thud, wishing he could bury his head in the ground.
"Alright, alright! Liu Ji, Liu Bowen!"
Zhu Yuanzhang slammed the table furiously.
He hated it the most when people used his background to talk. This Liu Bowen was so bold!
Seeing this, Sun Yan lowered his head even more, and his body trembled slightly.
He was afraid that Zhu Yuanzhang would be too angry and drag him down with him.
"So this Liu Bowen is looking down on our background? What's wrong with my status? I'm of low birth, so I can consider the commoners better. I've been a beggar and a wandering monk, so why should I kill?”
Zhu Yuanzhang walked back and forth in the room with his hands behind his back. He was still furious.
Suddenly, Zhu Yuanzhang thought of Zhu Biao. The anger on his face quickly dissipated and even turned into a relaxed smile. He waved his hand and asked Sun Yan to get up.
"Get up. Didn't this Liu Bowen say that we can't tolerate anyone else? I'll let him see how broad-minded I am!”
It couldn't be helped. Although Liu Bowen's words weren't pleasant to hear, what he said was still the truth.
Zhu Yuanzhang was born into a poor family. Even if he became the King of Wu or the Emperor, he would not be able to change this fact, let alone the fact that he was only the Duke of Wu.
The reason why Liu Bowen was unwilling to say these words in front of Sun Yan was probably because he knew that Zhu Yuanzhang would be furious.
The reason why Zhu Yuanzhang's anger suddenly dissipated was also very easy to explain.
He, Zhu Yuanzhang, had never denied that he was born a peasant.
But it didn't matter. Who asked his son to be so capable?
His father, Zhu Yuanzhang, was a farmer who had starved to death due to natural and man-made disasters. His ancestors had been digging for food for three generations.
However, when Zhu Biao was born, Zhu Yuanzhang was already the Duke of Wu.
He was the eldest son of the Duke, and his background was definitely not low.
Moreover, when Zhu Biao was born, nine dragons surrounded him. When he was one year old, the auspicious bird gave him a jade seal.
He was proficient in both literature and martial arts.
When he was seven years old, he was praised by Song Lian, the great scholar of the current era. Confucius and Mencius were still alive.
He was loved by the people of Yingtian, and his younger brother was convinced.
No matter how one looked at it, he would be a wise ruler of a generation.
Zhu Yuanzhang only needed to lay a good foundation for his son. He did not need to doubt this or that like Liu Bowen said.
He, Liu Bowen, was wrong!
Since Liu Bowen was wrong, why was Zhu Yuanzhang still angry?
If he was angry, wouldn't that be what Liu Bowen wanted?
After Zhu Yuanzhang understood, he wrote a letter to Liu Bowen and asked Sun Yan to send it to Liu at full speed.
In that letter, Zhu Yuanzhang was not angry because Liu Bowen said that he was of low birth. Instead, he was very humble and reasonable.
He directly invited him to take a look at Ying Tian City and see how it was.
He wanted to show him what kind of ruler Zhu Yuanzhang was.
In the original history, Zhu Yuanzhang did not have a son that he was proud of.
In history, Zhu Yuanzhang also sent Sun Yan to invite Liu Bowen out of the mountain purely to let him assist him.
Liu Bowen also felt that Zhu Yuanzhang was not a person worthy of his assistance. He refused and gave Sun Yan a sword, claiming that it was passed down in his family.
He had little talent and knowledge, and he was too old. He would use this sword to serve Zhu Yuanzhang.
However, the hidden meaning was that he would not go even if he was killed.
Sun Yan even said directly,"The sword should be offered to the Son of Heaven to kill those who do not obey his will." How can I dare to accept it privately?"
On the surface, it meant,'This sword is too good. I'm afraid only Rulers can carry it. I don't dare to touch it.'
What he meant in secret was, if you don't go, I'll kill you.
Liu Bowen did not expect Sun Yan to be such a person.
It was not worth it to lose his life for such a thing, so Liu Bowen went in the end.
However, he was not very respectful to Zhu Yuanzhang.
This also caused Zhu Yuanzhang to still think that this person was not good enough even after Liu Bowen was convinced by Zhu Yuanzhang.
He was especially stingy with him when distributing the titles.
The relationship between Liu Bowen and Zhu Yuanzhang in history was really like a forced melon that wasn't sweet, but it quenched his thirst.
Now that Zhu Yuanzhang had a son, Zhu Biao, he didn't need to take things step by step.
He did not believe that Liu Bowen would be unwilling to meet Zhu Biao.
……
Five days later, a person who looked somewhat similar to Song Lian arrived at Ying Tian City. He went straight to Duke Wu's Mansion to seek an audience with Duke Wu.
"This commoner Liu Ji greets the Duke of Wu.”
"No need for formalities! Mr. Liu, please get up!"
Zhu Yuanzhang smiled and helped him up.
"I should have learned from Liu Bei and paid three visits to Mister Liu's thatched cottage, but I'm really too busy here. Now, I've troubled Mister Liu to come personally.”
"Please take a seat."
"Thank you, Duke Wu."
Although Liu Bowen was thanking him, his actions were not very respectful, and he did not sit opposite Zhu Yuanzhang.
Instead, he stood on the spot and said to Zhu Yuanzhang.
"This one won't sit. Duke Wu, please introduce me to the prince.”
This book comes from：m.funovel.com。