Liu Bowen was born at the end of Yuan Dynasty, older than Zhu Yuanzhang 17 years old, and his family was good. From the age of four or five, he showed extraordinary talent. His parents were very happy and invited a teacher for him. It is said that Liu Bowen has a very strong memory and he reads quickly. At the age of eleven, he was admitted to a scholar, and people in Shiliba Village called him a prodigy.
Later, Liu Bowen followed Zheng Fuchu to learn what other students couldn't learn in a day. He understood in a few minutes. Zheng Fuchu was surprised: "This man is a genius in the world, and his future cannot be * * *." In addition to the Four Books and Five Classics, Liu Bowen was obsessed with books on the art of war and strategy, and even forgot to eat and sleep. Under the guidance of Master Zhang Zhong, he mastered Taoism and achieved great accomplishments in geomantic omen.
In his twenties, Liu Bowen went to Beijing to take an exam and was admitted to Jinshi with excellent results. He thought he could be an official in the DPRK, but because of the chaos at that time, the court told him to go home and wait. A few years later, Liu Bowen was appointed county magistrate. He worked very hard to root out the local gentry and bullies and won the love of the people.
After that, although Liu Bowen was promoted, he resigned and went home because the luck of the Yuan Dynasty would run out and there was no future for him to follow the imperial court. In these years at home, Liu Bowen and Zhuge Liang are similar. Besides studying and making friends, he also went to work in the fields, and his life was fairly comfortable, waiting for a wise master in his heart. Many people have invited Liu Bowen to help, but he declined. Relatives and friends don't quite understand, and even think that Liu Bowen's name is for fame.
By A.D. 1360, Zhu Yuanzhang had taken over the uprising army in Guo Zixing and became its leader. Zhu Yuanzhang, who was thirsty for talents, learned from others that Liu Bowen was a rare talent. If he can help him, it will be easier to win the admiral. So, Zhu Yuanzhang immediately sent someone to visit Liu Bowen, and gave the order to die, and invited him anyway.
Perhaps Liu Bowen had figured out that Zhu Yuanzhang would be the future son of heaven, and he did not refuse, but decisively followed the soldiers to Yingtian. Although others said that Liu Bowen was very talented, Zhu Yuanzhang didn't know him, so he decided to try it himself and said, "Bowen, I heard that you also like playing chess. What do you think? " Liu Bowen once guessed the purpose of Zhu Yuanzhang and agreed with a smile.
In the process of playing chess, Zhu Yuanzhang casually said such a couplet: "Heaven is a chessboard star, and the sun and the moon win glory." Say that finish, he stared at Liu Bowen for several seconds. Liu Bowen thought, "This Zhu Chongba is testing me again, but couplets are too naive for me." Almost without any hesitation, Liu Bowen set the bottom line: "Thunder is the flag, and the wind and cloud will meet."
This couplet is absolute. Zhu Yuanzhang applauded and admired Liu Bowen's talent. Later, when they played chess, they discussed the situation in the world today. Liu Bowen not only analyzed sharply, but also formulated short-term and long-term strategies for Zhu Yuanzhang, all of which were adopted and became Zhu Yuanzhang's most valued counselor.