Sweep Yuan

Chapter 155 Talented Scholars and Martial Arts Men Compete for Position

Flames licked at the low-hanging night sky, thick smoke obscured the stars, and the air was thick with the acrid stench of burning and destruction. A catastrophe was devouring this once-prosperous megaport.

Even from twenty miles away, looking at the half-sky illuminated by the firelight, glowing crimson like blood, Zhou Wendao could still imagine the devastation Fang Guozhen had inflicted on Liujiagang. Driven by his merchant instincts, he considered the potential rise in grain prices and blurted out:

"Boss Yang, how much grain and fodder has been stockpiled in Liujiagang?"

Yang Polang grabbed a shoe haphazardly on his way out and ran. Now that he had stopped to rest, he realized that it was not only a size too small, but also only for his left foot, making his right toes ache. He had taken off the shoe and was sitting on the ground, staring blankly at the location of Liujiagang in the northeast.

"My boat is gone, what kind of boat captain am I? If you don't mind, my benefactor, just call me Wavebreaker."

His voice was hoarse, filled with the lingering fear of surviving a disaster, as he said:
"The grain stored in Liujiagang is at most 100,000 shi, right? Most of the grain was stored in advance in the official granaries in Kunshan (Taicang). The grain stored in the warehouses in the port was only a small amount temporarily stored for the convenience of loading the ships."

Having said that, Yang Polang, thinking of how half his life's work had gone up in flames, was overcome with grief and indignation. He gritted his teeth and cursed:
"Fang Guozhen, that scoundrel, has committed such a heinous crime, how can the imperial court possibly forgive him this time?!"

Fang Guozhen was known for his fickle nature; each time he was granted amnesty by the imperial court, he would not remain docile for long before rebelling again. His reputation was already well-known, and few ship owners who made a living at sea knew him.

"Who knows?"

Zhou Wendao had no interest in responding to this, and silently recited in his heart, "It is the will of Heaven."

Xu Shouhui was causing a ruckus in Jiangnan, and Fang Guozhen was burning down Liujiagang. The bigger the storm they stirred up, the more opportunities Marshal Shi would have to take advantage of the situation.

He quickly put aside these grand plans—such important military and national affairs were to be planned and executed by the Marshal. The most pressing matter at hand was to escape this dangerous situation first, and then consider how to fulfill the Marshal's important mission.

Heading southwest from Liujiagang, one can reach Kunshan via the Loujiang River; if one travels upstream along the Yangtze River, there are also Baimao Port and Fushan Port in Changshu Prefecture.

Zhou Wendao had previously worried that the Taizhou pirates, after burning and looting Liujiagang, would then attack these areas again, so he deliberately avoided the directions of Kunshan, Maogang, and Fushan during his escape. Now, however, he only saw Liujiagang engulfed in flames, while the Kunshan direction remained completely unaffected, leading him to wonder:
"Did Fang Guozhen make such a big show of things just to burn down Liujiagang?"

That is enough.

The one who answered was the old man carrying a basket of books whom Hua Yun had saved. Seeing everyone's attention on him, he calmly straightened his clothes and said in a deep voice:

"This is a clumsy plan by the court to 'drive a tiger to devour a wolf.' The central government wants to send Fang Guozhen north to use his blade to suppress the Red Turbans in Xuzhou."

However, this cunning fellow is by nature treacherous; how could he possibly submit to orders? This raid on Liujia Port, with its burning of grain, is merely a pretext. His true intention is to annihilate the imperial navy's elite forces, seize their ships, and secure his maritime base! To sever the imperial navy's maritime transport arm and strengthen his own claws and teeth—Fang Guozhen's ambitions are far from insignificant!

Zhou Wendao was startled upon hearing this! He recalled that the old man had fled over twenty miles with the crowd without falling behind, his demeanor calm throughout the journey, and now he spoke eloquently, displaying extraordinary bearing. Zhou realized he had encountered a reclusive master, so he straightened his clothes and respectfully inquired:

"May I ask your name, sir, and where you reside in the immortal realm?"

The old man returned the greeting with clasped hands, displaying a dignified and graceful demeanor.

"My name is Shi Nai'an, a native of Xinghua, Gaoyou. I am fifty-seven years old and have been honored to be a scholar. I am deeply grateful for your help. However, I dare not address you as 'elder brother' in your presence."

Zhou Wendao was forty-three years old, only fourteen years younger than Shi Nai'an. Calling him "old man" had indeed been rather abrupt, and he felt a little embarrassed. Remembering Yang Polang's earlier question, he quickly changed the subject, saying:

"Master Shi, your insight is profound and your understanding is as clear as day. May I ask if the imperial court will launch a large-scale military campaign to wipe out the pirates of Taizhou?"

Shi Nai'an's gaze was sharp, and he said decisively:
"We will definitely mobilize our forces, but we will not use the full strength of the nation to suppress them!"

Shi Nai'an first gave his conclusion, but seeing the doubts on the faces of Zhou Wendao, Yang Polang, Hua Yun, and others, he stroked his beard and explained to them:

"A military campaign will inevitably be launched, for the sake of legitimacy and righteousness. The Red Turbans of Xuzhou (Sesame Li) have blocked the throat of the Grand Canal, and the Grand Canal's grain transport has been cut off. Now, Fang Guozhen has burned the grain and fodder ships transported by sea, which cuts off the Yuan court's lifeline for transporting grain from the north and south!"
This year, famine will surely strike Dadu, the northern deserts, and other places, and countless people will starve to death. If the court sits idly by and lets this barbarian run rampant without punishing him, then the so-called "Great Yuan's might" will only become a laughing stock. This is the reason why the court has no choice but to send troops.

It was not due to the combined strength of the entire nation, but rather because their strength was insufficient. Fang Guozhen, this traitor, was as cunning as a sea eel, appearing and disappearing like the wind. For several years, the imperial court repeatedly dispatched large armies to suppress him, but he habitually employed the strategy of "retreating to advance." When the government troops were powerful, he would retreat into the vast ocean; when the government troops recklessly pursued him, they would often fall into his ambush trap.

The imperial army suffered repeated defeats on land, and its naval victories were even more elusive! This time, Liujiagang was reduced to ashes, the imperial navy lost more than half its elite forces, and all its ships fell into the hands of the rebels. With this aid, Fang Guozhen's power grew even stronger, and he was now unstoppable at sea!

Even if the imperial court wished to launch a large-scale military campaign, it lacked the resources and strength, and feared repeating past mistakes of losing soldiers and generals while wasting resources. Therefore, a show of force to launch a punitive expedition might be possible, but a decisive and powerful annihilation was absolutely out of the question!

Upon hearing that famine was imminent in Dadu and the northern deserts, Yang Polang recalled the exploitation and humiliation he had suffered at the hands of Tartar officials during his voyages in previous years, and slapped his thigh in anger, saying:
"Good riddance! Justice will prevail! Let those arrogant Tartars taste the agony of starvation! Only when they all starve to death can I quell my hatred!"

The words had barely left his mouth when he suddenly felt that they sounded like praise for Fang Guozhen's burning of ships and grain, and he spat out a curse:
"Bah! Bad luck!"

Zhou Wendao thought to himself, "What a pity! If Fang Guozhen hadn't been able to entice the imperial army to launch a full-scale southward offensive, the situation facing the Red Flag Camp wouldn't have changed much." He then mocked himself for being foolish; the imperial court was facing a food shortage, how could they maintain their offensive against the various rebel armies? A single sentence slipped out:

"If the imperial court runs out of supplies, wouldn't it have to suspend military operations on all fronts?"

Shi Nai'an shook his head and said decisively:

"Nonsense! The imperial court will not only not withdraw its troops, but will instead send even more troops south!"

Zhou Wendao was even more puzzled now, and asked in confusion:

"Without provisions, how can the imperial court send out troops?"

A cold glint flashed across Shi Nai'an's lips as he said:
“They are accustomed to the method of ‘seeking food from the enemy.’ As long as they do not treat the people as human beings and allow their soldiers to plunder and loot the land, how can they be afraid of not having food? Since the capital and the northern desert regions are destined to be filled with starving corpses, it would be better to drive these starving troops south to ‘suppress the rebellion.’”

If we win, we can shift the burden of famine; if we lose... well, we can still use the rebel army to eliminate a major threat! This will prevent those starving soldiers from following the path of Chen Sheng and Wu Guang in the heart of the Mongol territory.

Shi Nai'an's conclusion was incisive and to the point. Zhou Wendao listened with heartfelt admiration, bowed deeply, and said:
"Master's profound words have enlightened me greatly! My lord is eager for talented people and urgently needs a man of extraordinary talent like you. Would you be willing to condescend to join us in temporarily escaping the chaos caused by the rebels?"

Throughout his escape, Shi Nai'an had been carefully observing Zhou Wendao and his group, and had long noticed the military spirit emanating from Hua Yun and the others. His recent grand discourse was both a deliberate display of his profound knowledge and a test of their capabilities.

When asked at this moment, Shi Nai'an looked intently at Zhou Wen and said:

"May I ask, esteemed lords, which heroes are you who have come to relieve the people's suffering and punish the guilty?"

Zhou Wendao's gaze swept quickly over Shi Nai'an and Yang Polang, finally settling on Hua Yun. Hua Yun nodded almost imperceptibly, his bulging muscles bulging beneath his coarse clothes. These two were the only "outsiders" present, and neither of them were known for their martial prowess. If they made any unusual moves, Hua Yun could easily subdue them with one hand, without any risk of leaking information.

Zhou Wendao understood and uttered two words in a low and cautious voice.

"red flag."

Upon hearing this, Shi Nai'an's eyes suddenly lit up with a strange light, his face instantly filled with immense joy, and his voice even trembled slightly:
"But what about Marshal Shi Jingxing, who exempted people from taxes to relieve their suffering, refrained from looting cities to appease the people, kept markets open to stabilize trade routes, led people across rivers to demonstrate his benevolence, and recently even defeated Dong Tuanxiao and Cheli Buhua, saving the common people from suffering?"

Seeing that Shi Nai'an knew the marshal's deeds so well, Zhou Wendao felt a slight sense of unease, but the man's heartfelt joy and admiration were undeniable. How could he be so sincere if he didn't truly respect him? He nodded hastily and replied:
"Exactly!"

Shi Nai'an's original intention was to travel throughout the north and south of the Yangtze River, witness firsthand the decay of the Yuan Dynasty's foundations, and then decide whether to serve a wise ruler and rebel against the Yuan. Now, the people under the wise ruler's command are right before his eyes—is this not the will of Heaven?
He immediately bowed deeply, his words earnest and sincere:
"Marshal Shi's reputation for benevolence and righteousness is renowned far and wide! I have long admired him and wished to travel to Haozhou to see his face. However, the roads have been blocked, preventing me from making the trip. Meeting you all today is truly a godsend! I earnestly hope that Master Zhou will introduce us!"

"Haha, it's my duty!"

Zhou Wendao laughed loudly, feeling a weight lifted from his heart.

……

Liang County.

After letting Zuo Junbi return to Hefei, Shi Shan did not rush to return to Haozhou, but instead stayed there to focus on reorganizing the military and political affairs of the newly acquired Liang County.

This place is the source of the Chu River and was originally considered fertile land. However, in recent years, the Huai River basin has been plagued by frequent floods and droughts. In order to prepare for disasters and war, the Luzhou Circuit General Administration has been ruthlessly demanding taxes and grain. Liang County, which is adjacent to Hefei, has been hit hardest and is now a desolate place with starving people everywhere and the people living in extreme poverty.

During the besieging of Liang County by the Red Flag Battalion for several days, local heroes came to join them one after another.

Today, Wu Fu, a local strongman, led more than forty fierce villagers to join the army.

Shi Shan intended to promote a man from Liang County to stabilize the situation. Seeing that Wu Fu was six feet tall, with a majestic appearance and an air of authority, and that his speech was also extraordinary, he asked him about the "strategy to settle Hefei" to test his abilities.

Wu Funian was praised by his fellow villagers as "possessing both wisdom and courage" when he was young. In his early years, he traded local products between Hefei, Liang County and Chaohu, and was very familiar with the geography of the area.

At the tender age of twenty-one, a time of youthful ambition and drive, he heard the marshal's inquiry and knew it was a rare opportunity. He took a deep breath, his eyes gleaming, and began to speak eloquently:

"Marshal, please accept my report! Hefei enjoys the advantage of the Fei River, and the surrounding area for hundreds of miles is full of fertile land. Downstream, there is the vast Chaohu Lake, which is rich in fish and salt. The two complement each other and can support tens of thousands of soldiers. Moreover, the city is high and the moat is deep, making it easy to defend and difficult to attack. It is a vital town in the Jianghuai region. A direct attack is definitely not the best strategy."

Upon hearing his words, Shi Shan realized that he truly possessed strategic acumen, and a look of delight appeared on his face.

"Good! Go on!"

Wu Fushang was unaware of the inside story of Zuo Junbi's "surrender of the city." He only felt that the marshal's command was full of talented individuals, and that as a newcomer, he feared he would have difficulty rising to prominence without a brilliant strategy. Therefore, he held nothing back and revealed all his strategies:
"However, if the Marshal wishes to control Hefei, merely occupying Liang County is probably insufficient. He must control Chaohu Lake to sever its arm. To control Chaohu Lake, Chao County is a must-contest location."

This city guards the vital passage where the Ruxu River flows into Chaohu Lake. The Yuan Dynasty established sluice gates and stationed troops here to control the waterway, precisely to prevent anyone from using the lake to cause chaos and threaten the lifeline of the Yangtze River!

Wu Fu's strategy was indeed a fatal blow.

Unfortunately, the timing wasn't right.

Chaoxian County is located between Wuwei Prefecture, which was controlled by Peng Zu, and Hanshan County, making its location very sensitive.

Zuo Junbi's act of "offering" Hefei had already led to a delicate relationship between the Red Flag Battalion and the Peng Zu family. If the Red Flag Battalion were to seize Chaoxian at this time, it would be tantamount to stirring up a hornet's nest for the Peng Zu family, which would strongly provoke the Hefei army and the Peng Zu family, and destroy the fragile situation of the three parties joining forces to resist the Yuan.

Moreover, the Red Flag Battalion has recently expanded, and its various units urgently need reorganization and integration. It is not advisable to expand blindly for the time being, so as not to increase the burden unnecessarily.

Shi Shan had already made up his mind, but his face remained expressionless as he praised him:
"Brother Wu is indeed a man of great insight. Our army has just captured Liang County and needs heroes like you to help us more."

He was then appointed as a commander and ordered to assist Shao Rong in guarding Liang County.

During this reorganization, the Dingyuan Army was formally incorporated into the Red Flag Battalion and awarded the banner of "Fujunwei".

However, the elite troops of Guo Xing and Guo Zixing were transferred to Zhenshuo Guard and Xiaoqi Guard, and Zhu Chongba's troops were also added. Shao Rong was ordered to move to Liang County, so the combat power of Fujun Guard was actually weakened in the short term.

Liang County was a key piece in the Red Flag Camp's infiltration of Luzhou Road.

Only by firmly establishing themselves in this place and remaining as stable as a mountain can they maintain their superior position and effectively restrain the Hefei Army, the Pengzu family, and even the Yuan Army.

After the Battle of Shishan, he personally stationed himself in Liang County to help Shao Rong stabilize the situation, sort out military and political affairs, and truly build Liang County into a solid stronghold embedded in Luzhou.

After Wu Fu received the order and withdrew, Shi Shan ordered his personal guards to bring the list of those who had joined the army in the past few days, and carefully read through it page by page.

Soon after, a line of records came into view:
Zhang Desheng was from Majiayuan Village, Liang County. Due to excessive taxation by the government, his family was destroyed and he fled to Chaohu Lake, where he made a living by fishing and hunting. Upon hearing that Marshal Shi had recaptured Liang County, he returned home overnight to join the army and also filed a complaint against Xie Wu, a corrupt official in his hometown.

"Send word that Zhang Desheng from Majiayuan Village has come to see me."

Zhang Desheng joined the army alone, without any influential connections or special contributions, and had never had the opportunity to meet the marshal before. Now, suddenly summoned, he was somewhat at a loss. Entering the hall, he saw Shishan sitting upright, and hurriedly prostrated himself in deep worship, saying:

"This humble one, Zhang Desheng, pays his respects to the Marshal!"

Shishan said warmly:
"Brother Zhang, please rise."

Upon closer inspection, the man had dark, shiny skin, a lean yet exceptionally agile physique, large knuckles, and a fishy smell as he walked, clearly a man who made his living on the water year-round.

"I called you here today to ask how many trustworthy brothers you have in Chaohu?"

(End of this chapter)