Sweep Yuan

Chapter 156 Laying Out a New Battlefield in Chaohu

Fishing is different from farming. Whether it's to evade government troops' crackdowns, to resist the bullying of fishing tyrants when selling fish, or even to cooperate in catching fish, it all requires partners who share the same boat.

As the saying goes, "a single tree cannot support a forest," and it is extremely difficult for one person to live a stable life for a long time in the treacherous depths of Chaohu Lake.

Shishan raised this question precisely to assess the depth of Zhang Desheng's foundation.

Zhang Desheng was unsure of Marshal Shi's meaning and dared not exaggerate. He pondered for a moment, then counted on his dark fingers for a while before cautiously replying:
"Reporting to the Marshal, I have been working my way up in Chaohu for many years and I recognize at least two or three hundred people."

There are seventeen brothers I can truly entrust with my life and share life and death with, and six small boats that can withstand the storms. They are all like me, struggling to make a living in the wind and waves.

"If the marshal is willing to take them in, I can go back right now and persuade them to come ashore and join the army!"

For various reasons, it is not advisable for the Red Flag Battalion to attack Chaoxian County at the moment.

However, those who do not plan for the long term cannot plan for the short term. From a long-term perspective, it is feasible to first plant a seed in the vast Chaohu Lake region.

Seeing that Zhang Desheng not only had a firm resolve to rebel against the Yuan dynasty, but also possessed the ability to gather followers to instigate a rebellion, Shi Shan felt even more confident and asked:

"As long as they are truly patriots who resist the Yuan, why should they care whether they are on land or in the water? Tell me, what are the forces that cannot be bypassed in Chaohu right now?"

By this time, Zhang Desheng had calmed down and guessed that the marshal intended to set up a trap in Chaohu, also testing his knowledge. He immediately stood up straight and listed the major and minor forces in Chaohu one by one:

"There are at least three or four thousand people who make a living by the lake, though most of them are not many, and only a few are powerful."

First-class troops were the Tartars' Chaoxian navy, which had more than 120 fast boats of various sizes. Every few days, they would send out four or five fast boats, ostensibly to patrol the lake, but in reality to collect fishing taxes. As long as they paid, they were easy to deal with.

Every spring and autumn, government troops would come out in full force, gather some fishermen, and patrol the lake. Their sails would cover the sky, specifically to suppress us "restless" fishermen and prevent anyone from taking over the lake and causing trouble.

The second class is Zuo Junmei. In the past, relying on her father being an official, she often bullied us, forcibly levying "fishing taxes" like tearing our bones apart.

Now that his father is gone, and his brother Zuo Junbi has rebelled in Hefei, I reckon this guy won't stay quiet. He'll definitely take the opportunity to recruit soldiers and buy ships to expand his own power, and his appetite will only grow bigger.

The third tier is led by Brother Yu Tingyu, who is the most righteous. He has about thirty fishing boats and a hundred and fifty fishermen under his command. Last year, he joined forces with Liao Yong'an and his gang to fight a fierce battle against Zuo Junmei, effectively thwarting Zuo Junmei's arrogance. He is the most famous fisherman on the lake.

The Liao brothers, Yong'an and Yongzhong, were also formidable, commanding nearly thirty boats and a hundred men. They were incredibly fierce and fearless in battle. Zuo Junmei was beaten by the Liao brothers last year, but she didn't dare to retaliate.

Further down the line, there were heroes like Zhao Bozhong from Shucheng, Sang Shijie from Wuwei, and Hua Gao from Hezhou, each leading a group of daring and bloodthirsty men..."

Upon hearing this, Shi Shan understood: Chaohu was still in a state of flux, with many powerful figures yet to emerge and a chaotic mix of different factions.

Zhang Desheng, a fisherman who had only been living in the lake for a few years, was able to understand the ins and outs of all parties so clearly, which shows his dedication and that he was by no means a mediocre person.

This man possesses both courage and ambition, precisely the kind of skilled water-faring talent that Shishan desperately needs. Therefore, his abilities were further assessed, and it was said:

"The situation is different now. Our army has taken Liang County, and the Hefei army has been firmly pinned down in Hefei by the Red Flag Battalion. They dare not leave their stronghold for a short period of time."
Chaoxian County, isolated between Liangxian, Hanshan, and Wuwei Prefecture, is already a frightened bird, barely able to protect itself. Its previous efforts to calm the lake are unlikely to be sustainable. If given the opportunity to raise a flag and start an uprising on the lake, how would you proceed?

Raise an army?

Zhang Desheng's heart skipped a beat. He had thought about this before, but quickly gave up on this unrealistic idea.

Although Chaohu Lake has a vast expanse of water, its resources are limited, and fishing alone cannot support a large number of soldiers.

In reality, no navy can completely detach itself from land. Every single item needed for life on the water—firewood, oil, salt, ironware, cloth, fishing nets, boat materials, etc.—relies on supplies from the shore.
If they were merely bandits gathering on the lake, at most they would only occasionally come ashore to rob and wreak havoc on the area. How could that be considered an "uprising"?
But... if Marshal Shi, this towering tree, were to support us on the shore, then it would be a completely different world!

Upon realizing this, Zhang Desheng felt a surge of hot blood rush to his head, and his breathing became rapid. He quickly suppressed his turbulent emotions, pondered for a long time, and then answered in a deep voice:

"If I were to rely solely on my own meager strength, I would be utterly incapable of accomplishing anything."

Only by first seeking refuge with heroes like Brother Yu Tingyu or Brother Liao Yong'an, and then trying to incite them to gather a crowd and launch an uprising, could they find an opportunity to launch a surprise attack on the Chaoxian water fortress, seize the government troops' fast boats, and then hide in the lake to train their troops, waiting for a change in the world to occur, thus having a glimmer of hope.

If I can get the Marshal's strong support, then I will no longer need to rely on others. I will first secretly gather those helpless fishermen brothers, gather dozens of boats and two or three hundred people, and then seize Laoshan Island, build a stockade and train the navy.

Once they have established a firm foothold and trained their troops effectively, they will issue a proclamation to heroes such as Yu Tingyu and Liao Yong'an, inviting them to raise the banner of righteousness together, join forces, and march straight to the water fortress in Chaoxian County to seize all the government troops' warships.

Whether they respond or not, as long as I seize the official boat and then find an opportunity to eliminate this scourge, Zuo Junmei, and clear away all obstacles, then this vast expanse of Chaohu Lake will belong to me—”

In his excitement, he almost blurted out "my navy," but as soon as the words left his mouth, he realized his mistake and broke out in a cold sweat. He hurriedly corrected himself, saying "the Marshal's navy reigns supreme," his heart still pounding wildly in his chest as he nervously stole glances at Shishan.

Shi Shan, however, did not take it to heart, his expression remained unchanged, and he did not hold Zhang Desheng's small slip of the tongue against him.

He knew that this inland lake navy, which relied heavily on supplies from the shore, was far superior to the mere Chaohu Lake, as long as its foundation was in his own hands and the Red Flag Battalion was thriving. He had no fear that Zhang Desheng might have ambitions to become independent.

The strategic move to Chaohu is crucial for controlling Hefei's vital passage and is also related to the grand plan for the future army to cross the Yangtze River. Such a critical move, if entrusted to the wrong person, will not only waste money and supplies but also miss the opportunity to win the battle.

Shishan then raised a series of questions, such as "What is the difference between fishermen fighting amongst themselves and naval battles between two armies? What are the key differences in the outcome between a battle between ten boats and a battle between a hundred boats? What aspects should be paid attention to when facing an enemy in a narrow waterway versus an open waterway?"

Zhang Desheng answered each question clearly and logically, demonstrating that his responses were not improvised but rather based on genuine experience in fighting on the lake and careful consideration.

Shi Shan nodded secretly, quite satisfied. He immediately decided on a strategy to conquer Chaohu, and said in a deep voice:

"Your ship is small and your men are few. If you have too many soldiers, you won't have a chance to use them. I'll give you fifty elite soldiers and two thousand strings of cash as capital. Once you've established a firm foothold on Laoshan Island and raised the Red Flag Battalion's banner, I'll send another five hundred elite troops to the island to start a great enterprise together."

If there are difficulties in daily life, one can send someone to Liang County to seek assistance from the garrison; the money, food and weapons needed to develop the navy can also be obtained from Commander Shao.

Furthermore, Zuo Junbi has already defected to our army. Although his loyalty is not yet fully established, his righteous cause has been set. Zuo's power in Chaohu can be eradicated completely, but Zuo Junmei's life should be preserved as much as possible. If he is truly stubborn, there is no need to force him; stability is paramount. Zhang Desheng, back then, dared to venture alone into the treacherous Chaohu to survive. Upon hearing that the Red Flag Battalion had reclaimed his hometown, he rushed back day and night to avenge his family. He possessed a fierce and ruthless courage in his bones, and was not lacking in the ambition and audacity to seek wealth and power in chaotic times.

With such a tremendous opportunity and heavy responsibility falling upon him, how could he possibly back down in the slightest?
A surge of intense heat rushed to his head, and Zhang Desheng abruptly straightened his lean yet exceptionally strong back. His voice, trembling slightly with excitement, held a resolute determination as he said:
"The Marshal's trust is as solid as a mountain. I am willing to sign a military pledge to lay an ironclad foundation for the Marshal in Chaohu. From now on, I will face any danger, no matter what!"

……

Shi Shan lingered in Liang County for more than ten days. The military and political affairs that required his personal approval had been basically sorted out. Shao Rong, who was stationed in Liang County, was also experienced and capable of handling things independently. After making arrangements for the naval and military affairs of Chaohu, he led his army back to Haozhou.

Before setting off, Shi Shan didn't stand on ceremony with Zuo Junbi. The Xiaojiwei were ordered to advance westward, taking with them nearly 10,000 people from Hefei.

The army returned in triumph, banners obscuring the sun, horses' hooves kicking up clouds of dust as they headed north. The people of Hefei, a dense mass of them, young and old, were escorted by soldiers of the Red Flag Battalion to Dingyuan.

With the fall of the three counties of Chuzhou and Liang County of Luzhou, Dingyuan was transformed from an outer line directly facing the enemy into a relatively safe inland area.

Because of last year's turmoil, Dingyuan still has a large amount of unclaimed arable land, which can be used to resettle the people of Hefei. Although the farming season has been delayed, as long as spring plowing is carried out in time, most of the harvest can still be achieved.

Shishan had promised Li Shanchang that once Dingyuan was on the right track, he would appoint him as the head of the household administration in the Marshal's Office, and he fulfilled his promise on the spot when he returned.

However, with so many immigrants suddenly pouring into Dingyuan, the resettlement work was complicated and the spring plowing task was imminent. Magistrate Li volunteered to stay and handle the situation, stating that he would go to Haozhou to take up his new post after everything was settled.

Shishan knew Li Shanchang's abilities and naturally had no reason not to.

These past few days, Li Shanchang must have been overwhelmed with paperwork and extremely stressed.

But Shishan wouldn't wait for him. After many days of fighting, the soldiers long wanted to return to Haozhou to rest.

On the way, another messenger galloped from the direction of Wuhe, delivering a messenger to the camp:

The Yuan general Lu Luzeng, weakened by illness, died in the army. The salt workers of Huaidong, leaderless, hastily retreated. Feng Guosheng seized the opportunity and led his troops in pursuit, winning battle after battle, beheading and capturing nearly a thousand, finally venting his anger.

After the Red Flag Battalion occupied Chuzhou, Xuyi County, the seat of Sizhou Prefecture, which was originally isolated on the south bank of the Huai River, was exposed to the pincer attack of the Zhongwu Guard (East) and the Zhenshuo Guard (South).

Now that the salt workers of Huaidong have retreated in disarray, the Yuan army in Xuyi is in even worse shape and no longer has the ability to take the initiative to invade the area controlled by the Red Flag Camp.

Thus, the Yuan court's fierce offensive against Xu and Hao's Red Turban armies was declared a complete failure!
With the external pressure on the Red Flag Battalion greatly reduced, they finally gained valuable time for reorganization and training.

Unlike the large-scale military training exercise that was uniformly supervised by the Marshal's Office at the end of last year, the Red Flag Battalion has become much more autonomous after this expansion, and the enthusiasm for training has reached an unprecedented high.

Due to factors such as the allocation of weapons and provisions, as well as the command capabilities of officers, Marshal Shi set a small number of personnel for each guard. He also made it clear that this was only a temporary arrangement, and whichever guard performed well in training would be prioritized for expansion in the future.

Marshal Shi spared no expense in providing provisions and supplies. After a brief rest, the guards threw themselves into the intense drills with renewed vigor. The drill ground was instantly filled with the deafening roar of battle cries and the incessant clang of metal. Their uniforms were quickly soaked with sweat, and everyone's eyes burned with a fierce determination to compete.

Haozhou, the inner residence of the Marshal's Mansion.

Liu Ruoyun had shed some of her girlish naiveté, and her figure was now more voluptuous and gentle. After being separated from her husband for more than a month, when she saw Shi Shan enter the inner room covered in dust from his journey, two blushes still rose on her cheeks.

"Husband!"

Shi Shan, reeking of sweat, waved away the maidservants who were standing by.

"Du Ruo, go boil some water."

Liu Ruoyun instantly understood her husband's meaning, her face flushed even more, and she quickly said:
"My husband's campaigns are arduous—oh—"

Before she could finish speaking, Shishan pulled her into his strong arms. A familiar and passionate breath washed over her, and all her words melted away in her husband's deep kiss, which carried the dust of time and longing. Her delicate body trembled slightly, and her hands unconsciously wrapped around Shishan's neck.

After a long while, Liu Ruoyun nestled softly in Shi Shan's firm and warm arms like a lazy cat, and whispered her feelings of separation.

Shi Shan's restless hand roamed over her increasingly shapely body, causing her to tremble slightly.

It wasn't until Du Ruo pushed open the door carrying a bucket of hot water that Liu Ruoyun realized her robe was half undone and hurriedly covered her exposed chest.

While Du Ruo was adjusting the water temperature, Liu Ruoyun gently loosened Shi Shan's sweat-soaked military uniform and whispered:

"The Huang family's younger sister has been in the household for some time now. Shouldn't my husband take her as his concubine?"

Huang Shuyao entered the household earlier than Liu Ruoyun, and the young talents of the Huang family are quite capable. This matter can indeed be put on the agenda.

But at this moment, as the couple were enjoying their time together after a long separation, the fact that they had to talk about other people made Shishan feel slightly surprised, and he looked down at his wife.

Why bring this up all of a sudden?

Liu Ruoyun spoke with a mixture of shyness and longing, her head slightly lowered, her voice barely audible:

"I am pregnant."

"Are you happy?"

Shi Shan was taken aback at first, then reacted, his heart suddenly filled with immense joy. He subconsciously reached out and covered his wife's still flat but pregnant belly with a new life—there was nothing unusual there yet, and a tiny embryo that was only a month old would naturally not give its father any response.

However, imagining a brand new life that he had personally helped create quietly growing here, a wonderful and sacred warmth, unlike anything he had ever experienced, instantly filled his chest.

(End of this chapter)