Many historical novels with Zhu Yuanzhang as the theme tell the story of his youth burying his parents without land and being given alms by the landlord Liu Jizu. Every time I see such words, many people will think that it is just a novelist's fiction. But if we look through the history books, we will find that this is actually the history that happened.
After Zhu Yuanzhang ascended the throne, he still missed the old street. Whether it's returning home with clothes on, or remembering the old feelings, Ming Taizu is really good to his former neighbors, especially to Liu Jizu and his wife, and he is really forbearing.
Liu Jizu and his kindness to Zhu Yuanzhang: Today, Liu Jizu's date of birth is unknown, except that he died in 1353, and he was a squire of the Yuan Dynasty. Liu Jizu, a native of Fengyang, Anhui Province, was an official at the end of Yuan Dynasty and served as the general manager of Fuzhou Road, and then returned to his hometown to live in seclusion.
Liu Jizu, who used to be an official, has a well-off family and is regarded as a local rich man. When Liu Jizu was alive, Zhu Yuanzhang's father moved here from Sizhou and lived next to Liu Jizu. But Zhu Yuanzhang's family is undoubtedly relatively poor, and when the years are good, they just barely have enough to eat.
In the fourth year of Yuan Dynasty (1344), there was a great drought in Huaibei area, followed by locust plague and plague. In this disaster, Zhu Yuanzhang's parents, brother and younger brother died one after another. Due to his poor family, Zhu Yuanzhang had no land to bury his relatives. At the critical moment, Liu Jizu was rescued and given a cemetery to rest his loved ones.
Liu Jizu's kindness to Zhu Yuanzhang can be said to be unbearable in the disaster year.
Zhu Yuanzhang's repayment to Liu Jizu and his wife: When Zhu Yuanzhang proclaimed himself emperor, he decided to return to his hometown to worship his ancestors and repay his neighbors. At that time, Liu Jizu and his wife had passed away, but Zhu Yuanzhang still sincerely thanked them. He posthumously awarded Liu Jizu as the righteous marquis and his wife Lou as the royal lady, and ordered people to pay tribute to them.
Among the documents handed down, there are letters commemorating Hou Liu Jizu, as well as tributes to Liu Jizu and his wife Lou. In this series of articles, Liu Jizu's kindness to Zhu Yuanzhang and Zhu Yuanzhang's gratitude to them are all mentioned.
For example, in the "posthumously granted YiHuiHou Liu Jizu letters patent" mentioned at the beginning:
? When it was slightly cold, the living had enough food and clothing, but the dead did not worry. Whew! Difficult! However, following the heart of his ancestors, he generously benefited me with his fertile soil. ? It is precisely because Liu Jizu was able to take out his own land and help Zhu Yuanzhang bury his parents when Zhu Yuanzhang was in danger that Zhu Yuanzhang was very grateful to him. Therefore, after Zhu Yuanzhang became emperor, he has been thinking about how to repay this great benefactor. This is the story of Ming Taizu's gratitude:
? I am in a hurry now and want to give my stepfather a special gift. I am a knight in the dark, and he knows how to serve my life! ? While posthumously conferring Liu Jizu as the righteous Hou, Zhu Yuanzhang also gave his wife Lou an imperial edict. You know, it is also a glorious threshold for ancient women to win this honor. Although Liu Jizu and his wife have long passed away, Zhu Yuanzhang's gratitude is quite touching.