Zhu Yuanzhang, Emperor Taizu of Ming Dynasty, was also very generous to meritorious ministers. He not only gave gold, silver and jewels, but also promoted and reused them according to their merits, which was one of the main reasons why he was able to defeat Chen Youliang and others. However, there was once a general who made great contributions in the battle neutrality. When Zhu Yuanzhang asked him what reward he wanted, he hesitated for a moment, and then he was polite. Zhu Yuanzhang said happily, "I won't give it to you for the time being."
This man is Zhu Wenzheng, nephew of Zhu Yuanzhang, the first emperor of Ming Dynasty, and one of the most capable generals in the early Ming Dynasty. The meritorious military service is comparable to that of Xu Da and Chang Yuchun. Because the family was too poor, Zhu Yuanzhang's eldest brother died earlier. I heard that my brother-in-law is doing well now and has become a rebel general. My mother Wang took her son to see Zhu Yuanzhang.
Zhu Yuanzhang was unhappy with his nephew's arrival, so he carefully trained Zhu Wenzheng, not only teaching him to read and write, but also finding someone to teach him martial arts and the art of war. Zhu Wenzheng lived up to his uncle Zhu Yuanzhang's expectations. When I grow up, I am brave and good at fighting, leading troops to attack the city, and taking the lead in every battle. Because of his work, he was promoted to viceroy and became one of Zhu Yuanzhang's most valued military commanders. Besides, he is his nephew. The relationship between them is not comparable to that between generals.
After the occupation of Hongdu (now Nanchang), due to its extremely important strategic position, Zhu Yuanzhang handed over the important task of guarding Hongdu to Zhu Wenzheng. Before long, Chen Youliang led 600,000 troops to attack Hongdu. In the face of enemy troops several times his own, Zhu Wenzheng said to all the soldiers without fear: "Even if you fight to the last soldier, you will not give up. If someone has the idea of surrender, he will definitely make a decision and believe that reinforcements will come. "
Zhu Wenzheng personally boarded the tower and fought bravely with the soldiers. In three months, he repelled the enemy's repeated attacks. Chen Youliang said with emotion when withdrawing troops: "Zhu Yuanzhang's valiant soldier is like a cloud, and there are military wizards like Zhu Wenzheng. If they can be used by me, why not the world? " The victory of the Battle of Hongdu was of great significance to Zhu Yuanzhang, and even changed the whole situation at the end of Yuan Dynasty and the beginning of Ming Dynasty. If it is another general guarding the city, it may have been breached by Chen Youliang.
Later, Zhu Yuanzhang promoted the active ministers one by one, and Zhu Wenzheng was kind enough to let his uncle Zhu Yuanzhang promote others first. In fact, it's not that Zhu Wen looks up to fame like a cloud. He thinks that uncle will definitely reward himself, and generally the last one is heavyweight. Unexpectedly, Zhu Yuanzhang meant that his nephew didn't want to be rewarded, but in the end he didn't say anything, which made Zhu Wenzheng, who had made outstanding achievements in military service, feel depressed.
From then on, Zhu Wenzheng felt very depressed, lost his former fighting spirit, and even allowed his men to rob property and soldiers' wives and daughters. Soon, it was said that Zhu Wenzheng had a secret association with Zhang Shicheng, which made Zhu Yuanzhang very angry and prepared to put him to death. Persuaded by Ma Huanghou, he pardoned Zhu Wenzheng's death sentence, but imprisoned him. Zhu Wenzheng couldn't swallow this tone, and finally died of grief, and a generation of military wizards fell. If Zhu Yuanzhang can reward Zhu Wenzheng's work at that time, maybe he can create greater glory.