Sweep Yuan

Chapter 170 Encountering Spring's Obstruction in Lujiang City

"Commander-in-Chief, the Marshal summons you!"

The Red Flag Battalion had just captured Chaoxian County, and the affairs of taking over the city were numerous and complicated. The marshal's summons at this time must mean that there was a very important task. Xu Da dared not delay. After briefly explaining the precautions to Zhang Desheng, Yu Tingyu and others, he immediately rushed to the city.

Xu Da was led directly into the county government office by the marshal's personal guards. Shi Shan was engrossed in reading county documents, and Xu Da dared not disturb him. Only after Shi Shan put down the documents did Xu Da clasp his hands in greeting and say:
"marshal!"

Upon hearing the sound, Shi Shan turned around, walked towards the commander's seat, and greeted Xu Da warmly:
"Tiande (Xu Da's courtesy name), come and sit down!"

After Marshal Shi took the main seat, Xu Da respectfully sat down, his back ramrod straight, and he only sat on the bottom halfway.

"The navy fought a brilliant battle! Please tell us the details of this battle."

"Last night, the navy sailed in first..."

Xu Da immediately recounted the entire process of his unit using the cover of darkness to approach the enemy's water fortress ahead of time, including the stealth of the water ghosts, the transmission of signals, the storming of the fleet, the boarding of ships, the burning of the fortress, and the capture of the warships. He gave a clear and detailed report.

Throughout his speech, there was not a trace of arrogance on his face; instead, he displayed a calm and analytical approach to the details of the battle.

Shishan listened attentively, nodding repeatedly, his eyes filled with increasing admiration. After the speaker finished, he asked:
"The navy is newly established, and its victory in this battle is largely due to your merit as commander-in-chief. Now, there is no rival on the waters of Chaohu. In your opinion, what are the next steps for the navy's development? And how should the defense of Chaohu be constructed?"

Xu Da had clearly given this matter considerable thought, and immediately replied confidently:

"The primary task at present is to build a strong and capable force. Although the navy has a large number of personnel, the vast majority of them are fishermen who have been temporarily recruited. They include the old and the weak, and are of varying quality. It would be a waste of money and supplies to organize them all into the navy. We must weed out the weak and keep the strong, and select the best and strongest."

The navy also absorbed many river bandits and lake bullies. Although they were brave and fierce, their organizational discipline was extremely poor. If this continued, they might cause great disaster. They needed to be strictly trained in order to be organized into a fighting force.

Secondly, there is the need to replace the warships. The ships currently used by the navy are mostly small fishing boats, which can only be used as short-distance transport and are not suitable for use as warships. It is necessary to supervise the construction of special warships. At present, there is a shortage of craftsmen and timber. We do not need to build large ships, but only warships that are flexible, sturdy and suitable for river and lake operations.

Thirdly, the defense of Chaohu Lake is not solely the responsibility of the navy. Water fortresses and beacon towers must be established at the entrances and exits of the Fei River, Zhegao River, Hangbu River, Ruxu River, and Changlin River, forming a defensive network with the naval fleet, ensuring the safety of Chaohu Lake and protecting the hinterland of Luzhou Road.

Fourthly…

"Excellent! Well-organized and to the point!"

Shi Shan clapped his hands in praise, saying that Xu Da was not only brave and skilled in battle, but also had a strategic vision. Even before consolidating the forces on Chaohu Lake, he had already conceived of reorganizing the navy and establishing an integrated land and water defense system. He truly lived up to his expectations of Xu Da's talent as a commander.

"Xu Da, listen to my command!"

"Your subordinate is here!" Xu Da knew his chance had come again, so he quickly stood up and answered with a loud and passionate voice.

Shi Shan looked at Xu Da with eyes full of trust and expectation, and said:
"I hereby appoint you concurrently as the magistrate of Chao County, overseeing all military and political affairs in Chao County and Chaohu! You will be fully responsible for training the navy and establishing a joint land and water defense system. Within three days, compile the matters presented today into a strategy and submit it to me!"

Xu Da had only been in the army for three months when he was promoted in succession and given such an important task. He felt deeply grateful for the opportunity to serve the country, so he knelt on one knee and spoke with a firm voice.

"The last general takes command!"

The fields along Luzhou Road are fertile, with crisscrossing ditches and irrigation conditions far superior to those of Xuzhou Road and Anfeng Road, which have long suffered from the Yellow River floods. Its population was already larger than the latter two roads. If production can be restored and the area managed well, it will surely become a stable granary and source of soldiers for the Red Flag Battalion.

Chaoxian County, guarding Chaohu Lake and connecting the cities in the north, south, east, and west of Luzhou Road, is a frontline fortress for future tug-of-war with the Yuan Dynasty, and its foundation must be solidified.

Shi Shan, leading an army of over ten thousand men, was determined to sweep through the entire Luzhou Road. It was impossible for him to remain in Chaoxian to handle civil affairs. Therefore, it was only natural to test Xu Da and entrust him with an important task.

But he didn't just sit back and do nothing; after assigning Xu Da responsibilities, he continued:
"These next few days, you will come with me to familiarize yourself with government affairs, especially how to appease the people and stabilize the market. Whether we can gain a foothold in Luzhou Road depends on whether you can establish a stable government in Chaoxian County."

Xu Da felt a heavy sense of responsibility on his shoulders and replied in a deep voice:
"This humble general will certainly live up to the Marshal's trust!"

The Red Flag Battalion had captured more than ten cities and had a complete set of procedures for taking over and effectively controlling them. After the Fujun Guard entered the city, they used strong suppression, and the sporadic resistance and looters were basically eliminated.

However, the air was still thick with unease and restlessness after the city fell. A large number of reactionary old forces had not yet been eliminated, and the peace in the city was extremely fragile.

The newly joined rebel forces under Xia Junxiang, Jin Chaoxing, and others were of mixed quality. Having just tasted the fruits of victory, those with weak minds were easily led astray and indulged in the readily available wealth and women within the city. If not careful, they could commit disciplinary problems such as looting.

Before the city's order is stable and the people's hearts are won over, they should not be easily allowed to enter the city.

Apart from the Hanshan Army, which had already been issued armor and weapons and received training from officers stationed by the Red Flag Battalion, all other units remained outside the city to rest and reorganize.

There were great rewards after the great battle. Although the newly surrendered rebels were not "direct descendants," Shishan was not stingy with the rewards.

"Order: Reward the troops with wine and meat! All righteous armies shall rest and await orders outside the city and shall not enter the city without orders."

With wine and meat as a reward, the rebel soldiers quickly forgot their displeasure at not being able to enter the city to rest and reveled in the merriment of eating and drinking. In chaotic times, the lower classes are so easily satisfied.

Three days later, Shishan had completed the initial screening of officials in Chaoxian County and recruited some local talents. The remaining tedious administrative affairs could be handed over to Xu Da to handle slowly. Despite two consecutive days of rain and difficult roads, Shishan decided to continue the campaign.

Before setting out with troops, he summoned Zuo Junbi.

"Junbi, Chaoxian has fallen. More than 10,000 troops are amassed here, wasting food and supplies. This is not a long-term solution."

I intend to divide my forces into two routes to continue clearing out the remaining Yuan troops on this route. One route will head east to capture Hezhou and Wujiang County, controlling the gateway to the north bank of the Yangtze River. The other route will head west to sweep through Lujiang, Shucheng, and Liuan Prefecture, completely clearing out the heartland of Luzhou Road.

Shishan's deep gaze fell on Zuo Junbi's face, as if trying to see through his outward submissiveness to discern his true inner thoughts.

"You, Hefei Jun, which group are you willing to join?"

If he had a choice, Zuo Junbi would naturally want to immediately retreat to Hefei City, guard his small plot of land, and not go anywhere else.

However, having been forced to send troops this time, they had already admitted defeat. Having witnessed Shi Shan's ability to manipulate events at will, they understood the price of resistance. Although they were unwilling, they dared not really challenge Shi Shan.

Zuo Junbi suppressed his distracting thoughts, clasped his hands in a fist and bowed deeply, adopting an extremely humble posture:
"Marshal, your vision is far-sighted and your battles are invincible! This humble general is short-sighted and ignorant of the overall situation, and dares not act on his own initiative. The entire Hefei Army follows the Marshal's lead and submits to his commands!"

Good, you've made progress.

Among the newly recruited troops, the Hefei Army, which claimed to be a separate entity, was the most difficult to assimilate. However, Hefei's location was right between Haozhou and the cities of Luzhou Road, making it a thorn in their side. No matter how difficult it was to assimilate, it had to be assimilated.

Zuo Junbi was able to recognize the situation and take the initiative to lower his stance, which allowed both sides to save face and avoid a lot of trouble.

"it is good!"

Shi Shan nodded, no longer needing to be polite, and gave the order:
"In that case, your troops shall follow Commander Shao eastward to capture Hezhou and Wujiang."

On the eastern front, the cities of Hezhou and Wujiang are indefensible and close to Chaoxian County. The distance to Chaoxian is also much shorter than that of the three cities of Lujiang, Shucheng, and Liuanzhou on the western front, making them much easier to capture.

This also meant that the casualties suffered by the Hefei army would be much smaller. Zuo Junbi secretly breathed a sigh of relief, but dared not show it on his face, and respectfully replied:
"I will obey the Marshal's orders!"

Shishan could probably guess Zuo Junbi's thoughts, but his perspective on the issue was completely different.

The three cities on the western front are naturally protected by the Dabie Mountains and the Pi River on the outside, and supported and backed by Chaohu Lake on the inside. The terrain is relatively closed, making them easy to defend and difficult to attack.

Compared to the eastern front, which is adjacent to the Yangtze River and is constantly at risk of counterattacks by the Yuan army by land and water, the western front is clearly more suitable as a stable rear base to provide money, food and troops. It must be taken first and integrated as soon as possible.

Therefore, Shishan was willing to personally lead the main force to tackle this slightly tough challenge.

The next day, as the rain subsided slightly, the trial of Dong Yukun and others was held at the time agreed upon in the public notice.

Outside the east gate of Chaoxian County, a massive crowd had already gathered around the makeshift wooden platform. People of all ages, braving the mud, awaited the grand feast that was about to begin. The air was thick with tension, anticipation, and long-suppressed anger.

At 9:00 AM, the public trial began.

Six Yuan Dynasty officials and local bullies, including Dong Yukun, who were deeply resented by the people, were bound hand and foot and taken to a high platform.

County Magistrate Dong's face was ashen, like a dead man. Although the wound on his calf had been bandaged, he still limped as he walked. After only a few steps, he could no longer walk and was dragged up the high platform by the Red Flag Battalion soldiers like a dead dog.

In the past few days, for that faint hope of "survival", he endured the pain and worked almost non-stop, writing a confession of nearly 100,000 words. Every word was written in blood and tears, detailing his various crimes of embezzlement, disregard for human life, collusion with the powerful, and oppression of the people.

He fantasized that Marshal Shi would show leniency online because of his "deep repentance," but little did he know that these words would become the ironclad evidence that nailed him to the pillar of shame.

Xu Da, with a booming voice, publicly read out some of the charges against Dong Yukun and others.

The crimes of forcibly seizing farmland, driving people to their deaths, framing innocent people, imposing exorbitant taxes, and shooting innocent civilians are all shocking.

Each time a line was read, a wave of angry shouts erupted from the audience!

"You corrupt official! Give me back my son's life!"

"Kill him! Cut him into a thousand pieces!"

"Heaven has eyes!" Mud and pebbles rained down on the platform, hitting Dong Yukun and the others. Dong Yukun collapsed to the ground, tears streaming down his face, muttering pleas for mercy. Where was even a trace of the former magistrate's authority?
Shi Shan stood in front of the stage, his voice like the clanging of metal, drowning out the clamor from below.

"The Yuan court is tyrannical, and its officials are like tigers! Dong Yukun and his ilk have committed heinous crimes. Today, the Red Flag Battalion is acting on behalf of Heaven to punish them and avenge the blood debts of the people of Chaoxian. However, I, the commander, always keep my word. Although Dong Yukun deserves to die ten thousand times, considering the detail of his confession, as promised, I will grant him a swift and painless death! Execute him!"

The word "斩" (cut) was uttered like a thunderclap!
The executioner raised his blade and brought it down!
A flash of cold light, and blood splattered three feet!
Before Dong Yukun could even shout, his head had already rolled into the mud.

"it is good!"

"Good kill!"

The people cheered, their voices echoing across the land! Years of pent-up resentment seemed to be released with this single strike.

Immediately afterwards, the crimes of the remaining five were announced one by one, and they were executed in public, either by beheading or hanging.

Based on the confessions of Dong Yukun and others, Shishan also released two people who had been wrongfully imprisoned in public and exonerated six wrongful convictions. The wronged individuals and their families knelt down and wept, thanking the heavens for their mercy.

Without comparison, there is no harm. Dong Yukun, as an official of the imperial court, only cared about oppressing the people, while Marshal Shi, a rebel, stood up for the people. The people's aversion to the Red Flag Battalion quickly subsided.

"Rehabilitate the wronged officials! Kill the corrupt officials! Marshal Shi is righteous!" Someone in the crowd shouted, instantly igniting the entire scene!
"Marshal Shi is benevolent!"

Amidst deafening cheers, the Red Flag Battalion, having sacrificed the blood of corrupt officials and gentry to raise their flag, set off simultaneously from the east and west, braving the still-ongoing rain, like two giant dragons.

The eastern route, commanded by Shao Rong as the general commander, comprises the Hefei Army, Hanshan Army, and the elite cavalry (excluding Feng Guosheng's second battalion), with a total strength of approximately six thousand men. Objectives: Hezhou and Wujiang!
The western route, personally commanded by Shi Shan, comprises the Pengyue Guard, Qingri Guard, the Second Battalion of the Xiaoji Guard, and the militia forces under Jin Chaoxing, totaling approximately 7,500 men. Their objective: Lujiang, Shucheng, and Liuan Prefecture!

Because the Wuwei rebels lacked training and Wuwei Prefecture was located on the southern flank of Chaoxian County, it was an important barrier against the Yuan army's counterattack from the Yangtze River. Therefore, Shishan appointed Xia Junxiang as the commander of the Red Flag Battalion in Wuwei and ordered him to lead his troops back to Wuwei to guard the area.

To enhance the fighting strength of the Wuwei rebels, Shishan allocated the four hundred weapons that Li Wu had seized from strongholds such as Zhajiangkou to the Wuwei army, and also transferred a team from Pengyue Guard to return to Wuwei with Xia Junxiang to assist him in training the troops and building city defenses.

Lujiang.

When Shi Shan led the western army to the city of Lujiang, the brave and fierce Chang Yuchun had not yet captured the city.

It wasn't because Lujiang had high walls and deep moats, making it difficult to conquer.

Although Lujiang is also known as "a strategically important place located at the confluence of the Yangtze and Huai rivers, surrounded by mountains and rivers", in reality, the northeast of the city is Zhifu Mountain, which is less than 100 feet high, the west of the city is Hangbu River, and only west of Hangbu River is the Dabie Mountain range.

The city wall was just a low earthen enclosure with the bricks removed, and theoretically it was not difficult to conquer.

The main reason that hindered Chang Yuchun's progress was that the plum rain season had begun, and the sky seemed to have leaked, with continuous drizzle that never stopped. The roads were muddy and the mud was so deep that one could sink up to one's ankles, making marching and fighting extremely difficult.

To make matters worse, the damp and cold weather and the muddy conditions made life miserable for the soldiers camping in the field.

Despite Shishan's strict orders that the entire army must drink boiled water and eat hot food, and Qingriwei's campsites were set up on high ground and drainage ditches were dug as much as possible, non-combat casualties such as typhoid fever and diarrhea still occurred unavoidably.

Furthermore, the garrison in Lujiang County was far more determined to resist than the garrison in Chaoxian County.

If there's any difference between Lujiang County and Chaoxian County, it's probably that they both had a "good official"—the county magistrate Zhou Chang.

During his years in office, Magistrate Zhou led the people in dredging ditches, encouraging production, and did some practical things that benefited the people.

In times of chaos, people seek nothing more than a glimmer of hope for survival.

If local officials could do things like Zhou Chang did, giving the people hope for survival, it would be difficult for unrest to occur in the area.

Last year, Peng Yingyu led his disciples to launch uprisings in multiple locations along Luzhou Road. His capable disciple Zhao Pusheng (who was originally from Lujiang) started an uprising in his hometown, but few responded. In the end, he could only lead his relatives and believers to Hanshan to start another uprising.

After that, Li Pusheng, the leader of the "Peng Zu family" who occupied Wuwei Prefecture, twice led his troops to attack Lujiang County. Both times, Zhou Chang organized the army and civilians to rely on the fortified villages and county town to stubbornly repel them. Zhou Chang's prestige in Lujiang County also increased day by day.

After Chang Yuchun led the Qingri Guard into Lujiang County, the situation he encountered was completely different from that in Chaoxian County.

Here, fortified villages stand in rows, echoing each other.

Even if one or two fortified villages were breached, the local people, out of trust in Zhou Chang and their desire for a stable life, mostly provided grain and manpower to fulfill their duties. Very few were willing to provide detailed intelligence on the garrison in the city, let alone volunteer to serve him.

Chang Yuchun keenly realized the unusual nature of Lujiang County. After his troops approached the city, he did not blindly launch a strong attack, but instead focused his efforts on surveying the terrain and probing the strength of the defending army.

"marshal!"

The rain had subsided slightly today, but the ground remained slippery and muddy. As they trudged through the muddy rocks to the foot of Lujiang City, Chang Yuchun truthfully recounted the enemy situation he had scouted over the past few days. He pointed towards Zhifu Mountain and said:
"The garrison built a camp at the southwest foot of Zhifu Mountain, which blocked the passage of our army from there to the south of the city, precisely between Huangpi Lake and the county river."

Chang Yuchun's expression was solemn. His gaze swept over the city walls, and he continued:
"On the hill in the southwest corner of the city, there is also a camp that controls the Hangbu River crossing, preventing our army from crossing the river and attacking the city from the west. In the past few days, I have led my troops to launch several probing attacks, but the defending troops, relying on the terrain, have put up a fierce resistance and are very difficult to defeat!"

Shi Shan's gaze swept over a fresh dent and several scratches on Chang Yuchun's shoulder armor, and he understood. For Chang Yuchun to personally engage in battle and leave such marks, the garrison of Lujiang was indeed no ordinary force.

Chang Yuchun then accompanied Shi Shan, Gong Wu, Feng Guosheng, and others, riding closer to the city wall for a closer look. Pointing to the crenellations on the city wall, he said:
"Zhou Chang has some tricks up his sleeve this week; he's built battlements connected to the city walls!"

Card games and battle tents are not new concepts; their regulations and uses are recorded in the "Complete Essentials of Military Classics" presented to Shishan by Huang Yanwen.

The battle shed is easy to understand; it is a wooden shed with a wet cowhide cover to shield it from arrows and flying stones. The shield is a leather-covered wooden board that is used to hold the wall in place, with a firing hole in the middle to prevent direct fire from the attacking troops.

The two structures were integrated, allowing the defenders to avoid arrows from below while still being able to fire arrows freely through the firing ports. Although the field of fire was limited, the defensive capabilities were greatly enhanced, significantly reducing the effectiveness of the long-range suppression by the attacking forces below.

What's even more ingenious is that these barriers are detachable. Once an attack is launched from below the city walls, the defenders can quickly remove the barriers and pour scalding hot molten gold from the crenellations, or lower logs and rolling stones.

"This Zhou Chang is indeed quite capable!"

Even the most fortified city cannot withstand internal decay, and vice versa. If Dong Yukun of Chaoxian had half the ability of this man, he wouldn't have been defeated so quickly.

However, admiration for the enemy should wait until they are defeated. What pleases Ishiyama more now is the change in Chang Yuchun.

Although he was stuck at the gates of Lujiang for several days, Chang Yuchun showed no signs of anxiety. Instead, his gaze was calm, and his reports were clear and logical. He was already showing the demeanor of a capable leader who could take charge on his own, which was a testament to the careful guidance Shishan had given him over the past few months.

"Bo Ren".

Shi Shan looked at Chang Yuchun with great interest and asked:

Now that we have ascertained the strength and weaknesses of the defending forces, do you have a good plan to break through the city?

Chang Yuchun clearly had a plan in mind, and immediately replied:

"Lujiang City is built according to the terrain of mountains and rivers, and only the north and south sides are suitable for deploying troops. Due to insufficient troops and continuous rain, I could only attack the northern half of the city wall against the wind (the northeast section of the city wall is built according to the terrain of Zhifu Mountain, making it difficult to deploy troops).

The defending troops resisted stubbornly due to the terrain, and with the help of barricades and fortified positions, they were unable to break through.

Now that the Marshal has led a large army to reinforce us, with ample forces, we can attack from both the north and south simultaneously. This humble general is willing to lead the Qingri Guard to bypass the city to the south, first eliminating the enemy camp at Shushan and clearing away the obstacles beneath the city.

Meanwhile, construct siege rams. As soon as the weather improves slightly, use the rams to breach the enemy's battlements before scaling the city walls. I am confident that we will capture this city within five to ten days at most!

Chang Yuchun's tone was firm, but a hint of helplessness crept in when he mentioned the weather. The plum rain season brings continuous overcast skies and rain; when an effective attack can be launched depends entirely on the heavens' mercy.

The commander's determination to fight is important, but Ishiyama is more concerned about the condition of the troops, saying:
"How is the condition of Qingriwei's injuries?"

There were sixty-two people in total.

Checking the condition of the wounded is a daily task that the commander must complete. Chang Yuchun had a very accurate grasp of the situation and answered immediately. However, he then worried that Shishan might not need him to attack the city because of the large number of wounded and sick soldiers, so he quickly added:

"The medical team responded promptly, and all the wounded and sick were isolated in time. The epidemic is now basically under control. However, the terrain is muddy and damp, and the drinking water is murky. Even with alum to purify the water, the effect is not good. Under the walls of Jiudun, the soldiers' health will eventually collapse. We must win this battle quickly!"

Shi Shan wholeheartedly agreed, noting that the harsh living conditions in the wild could sometimes be more devastating to morale and combat effectiveness than enemy swords and arrows.

This is why he insisted on advancing westward despite knowing that marching in the rain would be difficult—if the battle dragged on, the non-combat casualties of the Qingri Guard, who had already reached the walls of Luzhou, would only become more and more serious.

"it is good!"

Shishan decisively made the decision, saying:

"As you say. It is already late today, and the ground is muddy. Even if we send your troops to the south of the city, they will have difficulty establishing themselves. Tomorrow morning, I will arrange for the navy to escort you."

The goose cart was too rudimentary and easily targeted by the defending army. The "Complete Essentials of Military Classics" does describe a siege weapon that combines offense and defense, but it is complex to manufacture and takes a long time to make.

The weather has been raining continuously for some time, and the siege will not be completed in a day. The time spent is not the problem; however, the craftsmanship is complicated, so we need to ask the craftsmen who accompanied us on the expedition if they can make it. We will not tell Chang Yuchun about things that are not yet certain.

(End of this chapter)