After the establishment of the Ming Dynasty, Liu Bowen and Li Shanchang, the left prime minister, jointly assisted Zhu Yuanzhang. As a result, Li Shanchang and Liu Bowen are incompatible. At that time, Li Shanchang had a close friend named Bing Lin, who was in charge of books and provinces and committed the crime of corruption. Li Shanchang naturally wanted to shield him, so he took the initiative to intercede with Liu Zhang, hoping that he could spare Li Bin.

Arguably, Liu Bowen had to give Li Shanchang this face. However, Liu Bowen reported Bing Lin's crimes to Zhu Yuanzhang. Finally, Bing Lin was beheaded, but Li Shanchang broke with him. After that, Li Shanchang looked everywhere for Liu Bowen's thorn. Liu Bowen also knew that the future was dangerous, so he resigned and went home on the grounds of strong health.

After Liu Bowen returned to his hometown, he began to "close the door". It is reported that a local magistrate asked for an audience several times, but Liu Bowen refused him. Later, he came to see him disguised as an ordinary person. As a result, when the magistrate revealed his identity, Liu Bowen immediately stood up in horror and said that he was the right person. He sent the magistrate out with a gift and never saw him again.

Liu Bowen went home cautiously, but it was still difficult to protect himself. Li Shanchang's cronies, such as Hu, launched a strong counterattack against Liu Bowen. As a result, Zhu Yuanzhang deprived Liu Bowen of his salary. Soon, Zhu Yuanzhang worshipped Hu, and Liu Bowen sighed deeply. Because of worry and anger, Liu Bowen fell ill.

In March of the eighth year of Hongwu, Zhu Yuanzhang finally sent someone to send him back to his hometown. Shortly after returning home, he died of serious illness at the age of 65. Liu Bowen died quickly. It is said that he was poisoned by Hu.

After Liu Bowen's death, he was posthumously presented.

In the eighth year of Zheng De in the Ming Dynasty (15 13), the imperial court named him a Taishi and posthumous title Wencheng.

In the tenth year of Emperor Sejong's Jiajing (153 1), Li Yu, a fellow countryman of Liu Ji and a doctor of punishments, told Ming Sejong that "(Liu Ji) should enjoy the high temple and be made a Spyker, just like King Zhongshan (Xu)". The imperial court once again discussed Liu Ji's achievements and decided that Liu Bowen enjoyed the same benefits as Xu Da and other founding heroes. This year, Liu Ji's ninth grandson, Chu Zhouwei, ordered Liu Yu to attack and made him an earl.