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Chapter 137 A Battle That Will Risk the Martial Arts World of Central China
Nanjing City.
The city of Jinling has now changed hands. After Li Boyang left Jinling for Peach Blossom Island, Zhu Yuanzhang, with the help of Shen Wansan, seized Jinling from within and without, and officially became the ruler of Jinling.
After capturing Nanjing, Zhu Yuanzhang moved his base there as well.
In a council hall of the former Jiqing Prefecture government office.
A dozen or so people sat on either side of a long table, some dressed as generals and others as strategists.
A dignified man dressed as a general sat in the main seat, guiding the meeting.
"That concludes today's agenda."
"In short, it all boils down to nine words."
"Build high walls, store up plenty of grain, and delay declaring yourself king."
After he finished speaking, applause rang out in the council chamber.
Zhu Yuanzhang, who was seated in the main seat, stood up and said with admiration:
"Good, strategist Bowen is right. These nine words are the general outline of our army for the foreseeable future. Does everyone understand?"
"To be able to utter such insightful nine words, I am truly convinced of your greatness today, Liu Bowen."
The speaker was Li Shanchang, one of the founding heroes of the Ming Dynasty. In history, he was praised as a figure comparable to Xiao He, the prime minister of the Han Dynasty.
At this moment, Li Shanchang looked at Liu Bowen with admiration, and he agreed with the military strategy that Li Boyang had put forward.
"With the help of our strategist Bowen, what is there to worry about in achieving great things?"
The speaker was dressed as a general; he was Chang Yuchun, a founding general of the Ming Dynasty and a famous general whose name is recorded in history.
If Li Boyang were here, he would find that this small council hall is full of hidden talents, including not only first-rate strategists like Li Shanchang and Zhu Sheng, but also famous generals like Xu Da, Chang Yuchun, and Li Wenzhong.
Seeing that everyone thought he was the one who uttered the nine-character mantra, Liu Bowen said somewhat awkwardly:
"Actually, this was the teacher's suggestion; I just quoted it directly."
Upon hearing Liu Bowen's words, Xu Da exclaimed in surprise:
"What? It was actually said by the strategist's teacher."
"If the strategist is already this amazing, then how incredible must his teacher be?"
Xu Da's words immediately resonated with everyone. Liu Bowen's performance after joining Zhu Yuanzhang was evident to all, and everyone's impression of him was that he was a master strategist with brilliant plans.
Upon hearing for the first time that Liu Bowen actually had a teacher, he immediately became curious.
Zhu Yuanzhang looked like he was recalling something, and said with some suspicion:
"Bowen, who is your teacher?"
Liu Bowen smiled and said, "That's right, my lord, you have met my teacher, who is in Huangjue Temple."
Upon Liu Bowen's reminder, Zhu Yuanzhang immediately recalled the scene at Huangjue Temple where Liu Bowen's teacher fought against Jueyuan, the head of the Shaolin Temple's Discipline Hall.
“I remember your teacher was a martial arts practitioner, yet he has such insight.”
In Zhu Yuanzhang's mind, Liu Bowen's teacher was an absolute master of martial arts, and he never expected that a martial arts person could say such things.
Liu Bowen chuckled and said:
"My teacher is a remarkable person with extraordinary talent. I am far inferior to him. Half of what I have learned was taught by him."
Li Shanchang looked at Liu Bowen with some disbelief: "That amazing?"
Scholars often look down on each other, and Liu Bowen was no exception. If Liu Bowen hadn't consistently demonstrated his unparalleled strategic acumen, Liu Bowen wouldn't have been so acknowledging him. Seeing Liu Bowen praising his teacher to the skies, Liu Bowen naturally looked incredulous, thinking he was just bragging.
Liu Bowen chuckled but did not reply.
"Since your teacher is so capable, what are we waiting for? Let's quickly invite him to join us in undertaking this important task."
Chang Yuchun didn't have that many tricks up his sleeve. When he heard that Liu Bowen's teacher was so amazing, his first thought was to capture him and bring him to serve Zhu Yuanzhang.
Zhu Yuanzhang also showed obvious signs of change. How could such a great sage be left to wander in the wilderness? He asked tentatively:
"Bowen, your teacher is..."
Before Zhu Yuanzhang could finish speaking, Liu Bowen interrupted him, saying, "Our teacher is a reclusive master. Although he lives in seclusion in Jinling, he will not participate in the conflicts of the world. My lord, you should not think about it."
"Is that so... Bowen, when are you free? Would you be willing to take me to visit you?"
Zhu Yuanzhang was clearly not giving up and wanted to personally visit the wise man.
Liu Bowen said with some difficulty, "My teacher left Jinling two months ago and hasn't returned yet. I will inform the lord when my teacher returns."
Zhu Yuanzhang's face showed longing as he muttered, "Has he gone traveling the world? He truly is a great man."
Just as the general meeting was being held in the council chamber.
The Shen Mansion in Jinling.