Sweep Yuan

Chapter 183 Jun Bi Bows His Head and the Turmoil Subsides

The seat of Hezhou, Liyang County, is located at the crossroads of the Yangtze and Huai rivers, flanked by the Yangtze River to the left and Zhaoguan Pass to the right. Liangshan Mountain stands to its east, and the Hao and Chu rivers encircle its north. It serves as the "gateway to Huainan" and the "protection of Jiangnan," making it a strategic location that has been contested by military strategists since ancient times.

Three days ago, after paying a heavy price, Shao Rong's Red Flag Battalion finally captured the city. Of the more than 6,000 soldiers who attacked the city, more than 1,000 were killed or wounded.

The lingering smell of gunpowder and blood had just dissipated, but the corpses hidden beneath the bricks and rubble, which had not yet been cleared away, were already beginning to emit a foul stench, which, mixed with the humid heat unique to the Jianghuai region in summer, clung stickily to the broken walls and the nasal cavity of everyone.

The streets were sparsely populated, and the pedestrians looked frightened. Most shops were closed, and those that were open were deserted.

Beside the ruins of collapsed houses, surviving people rummaged through the rubble for usable belongings, their movements numb and slow.

In the distance, from the direction of the wounded soldiers' camp, faint, suppressed groans of pain could be heard.

The ancient city of Liyang, with its thousand-year history, was severely weakened by this brutal battle and struggled to maintain its fragile social order amidst the chaos.

Thanks to the medical team established at Marshal Shi's insistence, the actual casualties were not very serious. Most of the wounded were eventually able to return to their units with their scars and pick up their weapons again to fight. This is one of the reasons why the soldiers, despite suffering heavy casualties, gritted their teeth and charged forward, ultimately breaking through the city.

But physical wounds can heal, while psychological trauma can spread like wildfire.

Having experienced bloody battles and witnessed the tragic deaths of their comrades, the soldiers generally harbored a pent-up sense of violence that was difficult to vent, and they desperately needed an outlet for their rage.

This violent atmosphere erupted in the first two days after the city fell, with serious violations such as looting shops and robbing people of their property occurring one after another. There were even several heinous cases of murder and rape of women.

The embroidered-clothes troops dispatched from outside the city were simply unable to handle such a large-scale situation, and could only request the intervention of the elite cavalry guards who had not participated in the bloody siege.

Fourteen soldiers who committed serious crimes were arrested on the spot, or, after their crimes were verified, were executed without mercy on the spot. Their bloody heads were displayed on the city gates, which barely managed to curb this evil trend that was about to get out of control.

Of these fourteen heads, eight belonged to Zuo Junbi's Hefei Army, accounting for nearly 60% of the total number of people who seriously violated discipline. It was like a resounding slap across Zuo Junbi's face, burning with pain.

The Hefei army dispatched more than 2,000 troops, but suffered fewer than 400 casualties, which was not greater than the casualty ratio of the other three units.

Because its original troops were Yuan soldiers with poor discipline and severely lacking in training, they could barely be disciplined on a normal day, but once they experienced a fierce battle, the roguishness and brutality of the old army would be revealed.

Their military discipline was even worse than that of Qiu Cheng's Hanshan Army, which was formed from the grassroots.

This made Zuo Junbi feel that Shao Rong and Li Wu's gazes carried a subtle scrutiny during military discussions, making him feel extremely uncomfortable.

Zuo Junbi's mood was like the weather in Liyang these past few days—sultry and gloomy.

Besides the military disciplinary incident in Hefei that caused him to lose face, what was even more distressing was the pervasive anti-war sentiment within the military.

The Hefei army was a typical "guardian dog," with its soldiers already low morale due to fighting away from home, and the brutality of the siege further wore down their last shred of fighting spirit. After the war, Commander Shao strictly forbade disturbing the people and prohibited looting, thus shattering many people's hopes of "getting rich."

Now that the battle is over, but they are still unable to return home, the soldiers are complaining and some are even clamoring to disband and go back to Hefei.

Zuo Junbi's own thoughts were also in turmoil.

The western front campaign is over, and Shi Shan's main force is returning home. Hefei! What's the situation in Hefei now? Will Shi Shan follow the example of "borrowing a path to attack Guo" and take advantage of the return journey to seize Hefei, his stronghold?

Although there were still nearly two thousand soldiers in Hefei, and the city could be mobilized to assist in defense in case of emergency, and the city was considered to be strong, Zuo Junbi was confident that Shishan would be difficult to capture in a short time.

However, he knew full well that his acquisition of the city was illegitimate and that his popular support was weak. What he feared was not a strong attack from an external enemy, but rather internal strife. If Shishan secretly sent people to contact forces within the city who were dissatisfied with the Zuo family, and they colluded from within and without, the consequences would be unimaginable.

To guard against unforeseen circumstances, Zuo Junbi made an agreement with his third brother, Zuo Junfu, who was staying behind in Hefei, before setting off on his campaign, to exchange letters every three days. These past few days, their correspondence had continued uninterrupted, but a letter he received from his younger brother yesterday set off alarm bells in his mind.

The letter was vague and ambiguous, only stating that "everything in the city is as usual, brother, do not worry." It avoided discussing key information such as specific military affairs, the people's situation, and whether there was any contact with outsiders. Even the handwriting appeared somewhat hasty and sloppy.

This was definitely not Zuo Junfu's usual style. Zuo Junbi sensed an extremely dangerous atmosphere—something had probably really happened in Hefei! Or at least, it was in some kind of extraordinary situation, making it impossible or impossible for his third brother to speak openly!

With a heart heavy as lead and burning with anxiety, Zuo Junbi stepped into the military council tent for today's meeting.

The Eastern Route Army consisted of four forces: Shao Rong's Red Flag Battalion (missing three battalions), Zuo Junbi's Hefei Army, Li Wu's Valiant Cavalry (missing the second battalion under Feng Guosheng), and Qiu Cheng's Hanshan Army. The composition was complex, commands varied, and coordination was difficult.

During the siege, Shao Rong insisted on summoning the commanders of each unit every night to report on the day's battle situation, casualties, and losses, and to deploy the tasks for the next day.

This move effectively enhanced understanding among departments, strengthened coordination, and reduced friction.

After the city fell, military councils became a regular practice, but the content changed to reporting on the reorganization, rewards, disciplinary actions, and maintenance of military discipline in each unit.

The atmosphere inside the main tent was solemn. Shao Rong sat upright in the main seat, his face calm and composed, his fingers unconsciously tapping on the table covered with maps. Li Wu sat beside Shao Rong with his hand on his sword. His dark, honest face had eyes as sharp as an eagle's as he scanned the generals who entered the tent.

Qiu Cheng sat at the lower end, his face radiating the smugness of a newly promoted "direct subordinate"—he had been summoned by Shao Rong earlier that morning to announce the Marshal's Office's reorganization order: the Hanshan Army was reorganized into two commands, Red Flag Battalion A and B, truly integrating into the core system of the Red Flag Battalion.

Before the battle, the Hanshan army had already completely sided with Shishan, and they fought the hardest in this battle. Of the more than 1,000 soldiers, more than 300 were killed, which was a devastating blow. They urgently needed to be reorganized and replenished after the battle.

But with this honor and the promise of the future, it's all worth it.

Zuo Junbi was unaware of this situation. He sat down in his seat with a heavy heart, feeling that the air in the tent was so stuffy that it was hard to breathe.

The military meeting began, and each unit reported on the follow-up handling of disciplinary issues and the progress of rectification. Shao Rong gave a concise summary, emphasizing once again that military discipline cannot be relaxed, and the routine procedures were completed.

Zuo Junbi took a deep breath, suppressing his anxiety, and said:
"Commander Shao, Commander Li, the cities of Wujiang and Liyang have been recaptured, and the war on the eastern front is over. The troops have had three days of rest. Shouldn't we consider returning to camp? The soldiers... are longing for home."

Zuo Junbi emphasized his last sentence, his gaze fixed intently on Shao Rong. He was prepared to expend considerable effort, even to argue his case. With Liyang newly pacified, Shao Rong, as the commander-in-chief on the eastern front, would likely want to linger longer to consolidate the situation.

Unexpectedly, Shao Rong nodded and readily agreed:
"General Zuo is absolutely right. The Marshal has received our army's victory report and has instructed us to properly reward the soldiers. Once morale is restored, we can choose a day to return to base."

Zuo Junbi felt a sense of relief and was about to blurt out the question about the specific return date, but Shao Rong's next words made his heart jump again.

"Hezhou has just been conquered, and everything is in need of rebuilding. It requires a large force to guard it. The Fujun Guard needs to remain here, and the troops under Commander Qiu of Hanshan also need to stay to assist in the defense."

Qiu Cheng immediately stood up, straightened his back, and replied, "This subordinate obeys!"

Shao Rong turned his gaze back to Zuo Junbi and continued, "Once the Xiaoji Guards and the Hefei Army are properly prepared, they can set off to break camp."

"The Hefei army can set off today!"

Zuo Junbi could no longer contain himself. He suddenly stood up, his voice filled with barely concealed urgency, as if he wished he could sprout wings and fly back to Hefei immediately.

Shao Rong's expression turned somewhat strange. Instead of directly answering Zuo Junbi's request, he slowly took out another letter from his pocket.

The envelope was made of stiff yellow paper commonly used in the military, sealed with sealing wax, and stamped with a clear seal—it was none other than Shi Shan's commander's seal! On the front of the envelope were the five large characters "To be opened by the Left General," written in strong, powerful strokes that seemed to penetrate the paper—Shi Shan's unique handwriting!
Shao Rong gently pushed the letter to the center of the table, his voice low but clear enough to reach Zuo Junbi's ears:

"Haha, I understand why General Zuo is so eager to return home. However, before you return, please take a look at this personal letter from the Marshal. It's not too late to decide what to do after you've read it."

boom!
Zuo Junbi felt as if something had exploded in his head, and a chill instantly shot up his spine from the soles of his feet, his heart feeling as if it were being gripped tightly by an invisible hand.

Another letter written in Marshal Shi's own hand!

The last time I wrote a personal letter, Shishan had not yet sent troops.

The order, though seemingly polite, was actually quite forceful, forcing Zuo Junbi to mobilize all the elite troops in Hefei to follow Shishan in capturing Chaoxian and then on a distant expedition to Hezhou.

Now that the battle is over and the casualties are heavy, the Hefei army has been disgraced for violating discipline, and he is eager to return home.

At this critical juncture, Shishan sent another letter!

What could it be? A new mobilization order? A reprimand for the military discipline of the Hefei troops? Or... news about Hefei?!
Countless terrifying thoughts gnawed at his heart like venomous snakes. He stared intently at the letter on the table; the sealing wax was intact, proving it hadn't been opened. But this sealed letter, at this moment, seemed to him like a red-hot iron, or a death warrant.

The tent was deathly silent. Shao Rong, Li Wu, Qiu Cheng, and the others all stared at Zuo Junbi. He could sense the probing, understanding, and wariness in their gazes, and perhaps even a hint of...pity?

Zuo Junbi's Adam's apple bobbed with difficulty as he suppressed the turmoil in his heart. He reached out with a slightly trembling hand and picked up the letter. The envelope felt heavy in his hand, as if it bore the weight of a thousand pounds.

He took a deep breath before opening the letter and slowly unfolding the paper.

On the letter, Shi Shan's strong and powerful handwriting leaps to life:

"To the Left General:"

The uprising in Hefei, the change of flags to Han, and the protection of the Jianghuai region were all meritorious deeds, which will be forever etched in our hearts.

The capture of Hefei today is truly to reorganize Huaixi, gather troops and provisions, and repair armor and weapons to solidify our foundation and jointly resist the Yuan invaders' counterattack. General, do not worry, the city is in good order, the treasury is sealed, your younger brother Junfu and your family are all safe and sound, your residence is well-maintained, and your servants are as before.

The eastern front is now pacified; the general's efforts have been invaluable. Now, you face two paths; the choice is yours:

First, he led his troops to accept the reorganization of the Red Flag Battalion, and was granted the "Guard" level of establishment. He was given the same food, salary, rank, and authority as other guards, and together they worked to achieve great things.

Secondly, if your ambitions lie elsewhere, I will not force you. I will provide you with travel expenses and see you off politely, so that we may each accept our fate and not damage our past friendship.

I await your decision on what to do next. Respectfully yours.

Greetings Shishan! "

(Attached: A letter from your younger brother Junfu, confirming that our family is safe and well.)

Wow!

The letter in Zuo Junbi's hand fluttered to the ground, like a withered leaf struck down by frost.

His vision went black, and he felt the candlelight in the tent suddenly twist into a strange vortex, blurring and swaying the faces of Shao Rong, Li Wu, and the others in the light and shadow. The chirping of cicadas and the shouts of soldiers training outside the tent all receded like the tide, leaving only the roar of blood pounding in his ears.

Finished!

It's all over!

The veins on Zuo Junbi's hands, which were gripping the chair, bulged, and his nails almost dug into the wood grain. No wonder Shao Rong had agreed so readily when he suggested withdrawing the troops! It turned out that Hefei had already changed hands, and the foundation built by his Zuo family over generations had been uprooted by Shi Shan with a few words.

A metallic taste rose in his throat, but he swallowed it back down—several pairs of eyes were fixed on him from inside the tent: Shao Rong's calm and collected demeanor, Li Wu's sharp and ruthless gaze, and Qiu Cheng's barely concealed gloating were all like thorns pricking his back.

The image of Hefei flashed through Zuo Junbi's mind: the gray city walls gleaming coldly in the morning light, the pomegranate tree in the backyard of the Zuo residence about to bear fruit, and his young son's favorite pastime of climbing the branches and playing...

But now, all of this has become Shishan's possession!
What a brilliant move to reorganize Huaixi and jointly resist the Yuan invaders!

Zuo Junbi's anger was like wildfire, almost bursting out of his chest—he would lead his troops back now and use his two thousand men to turn Luzhou Road upside down. You took my homeland, I will destroy your foundation!
But fantasy is just fantasy after all.

Zuo Junbi had no doubt that if he did that, he would probably not be able to leave this tent today.

Shao Rong's knuckles tapped unconsciously on his teacup, a sign that he was about to strike at any moment; Li Wu was calm and composed, with the elite cavalry guards right outside the tent, and even Qiu Cheng, the newly promoted "direct subordinate," had his hand on his sword hilt.

Cold sweat slid down his spine, soaking through Zuo Junbi's inner shirt.

More importantly, the Hefei army was already weaker than the Red Flag Battalion, and now it had become a defeated and helpless force. How much combat power could these rotten soldiers still exert? How many people were willing to continue fighting alongside this "young general" who had lost the city?

Before the battle, he had made proper arrangements, but Shishan still captured Hefei without bloodshed.

Zuo Junbi dared not imagine what would happen if he really raised an army to rebel against Shishan, and had his head chopped off by one of his greedy subordinates and handed over to Shishan.
If one abandons their family and children and goes far away, how many subordinates will be willing to follow them?

More importantly, with war raging everywhere, outside the Red Flag Camp's controlled area, there were either even more ruthless rebel armies or government troops guarding the area to the death. Away from the familiar Hefei, where could Zuo Junbi find refuge?
In just a few breaths, all hope vanished.

Zuo Junbi felt as if all his strength had been drained away, and the cold sweat on his back soaked through his outer robe, making him look as if he had aged ten years.

When he looked up again, his eyes no longer held the eagerness of a victorious return, but only a bottomless despair and worry about his future and even his life. He understood that his life was completely ruined by Shi Shan, and he couldn't see even a sliver of hope for a comeback.

If you don't accept your fate, what else can you do?

"Commander Shao, Commander Li."

Zuo Junbi's voice was dry and hoarse, with a noticeable tremor. He swallowed hard before continuing to ask.

"Is...I am still able to work with you all?"

Asking that question almost exhausted all his dignity and strength.

"Hahaha!"

Shao Rong stood up, walked a few steps to Zuo Junbi, a smile on his face, grasped Zuo Junbi's cold and slightly trembling hand, and said:

"The Marshal often says that General Zuo is a wise man! As long as we are truly compatible, what is there to worry about in terms of wealth and status?"

"Exactly!"

Li Wu echoed loudly, strode forward, and patted Zuo Junbi's shoulder heavily with his large, fan-like hand.

"Brother Zuo is just too scheming! Take Deng Shunxing, for example. He joined Third Brother's service earlier than Hu Dahai and Chang Yuchun, but he just couldn't let go of his own little territory. He was so hesitant and indecisive. And what's the result? He's still stuck in that small place in Hong County, with his troops and armor incomplete. What great future can he have?"

Don't worry, Third Brother values ​​heroes above all else. As long as you remain loyal and fight alongside Third Brother, with your abilities, becoming a duke or marquis in the future is not impossible!

The Zuo family of Hefei had only ever held the position of a thousand-household commander for generations. Zuo Junbi dared not imagine the "wealth and honor of a duke or marquis," but the promises from the two great commanders, Shao Rong and Li Wu, made him feel much more at ease.

Now that things have come to this, he truly dares not waver any longer.

Zuo Junbi took a deep breath, suppressing the immense resentment and bitterness in his heart, and immediately made a decision, expressing his stance to Shao Rong and Li Wu:

"Delay will only lead to unforeseen changes! This humble general will immediately mobilize all troops and return to Hefei today to be reorganized by the Marshal!"

He paused, then turned his gaze to Li Wu, his tone becoming solemn and pleading.

"However, with the army setting out, morale is bound to waver along the way. If any unscrupulous individuals secretly stir up trouble, I fear I will be unable to suppress them effectively. In that case, I hope Commander Li will act righteously and deal with the matter swiftly to stabilize the morale of the troops!"

This was his last struggle, an attempt to retain some control over his old subordinates while pushing any potential trouble onto Li Wu.

"Haha! Don't worry, General Zuo! Leave it to me!"

Li Wu answered with unusual ease. His mission was to guard against any unforeseen events that might occur during the journey to Hefei. He was nominally accompanying the army, but in reality, he was supervising the troops. However, he still reassured Zuo Junbi.

"Third Brother is righteous. As long as your men don't cause trouble, I guarantee that I will bring them all to Hefei without killing a single one of them!"

Zuo Junbi's tense nerves finally relaxed a little, and he solemnly clasped his hands in a fist and bowed deeply to Li Wu.

"In that case, I thank Commander Li!"

That afternoon, the Hefei army broke camp and set off. Li Wu led his elite cavalry close behind, the two units about four miles apart.

The elite cavalry did not camp with the Hefei army, nor did they march together. Instead, their scouts and rangers, like an invisible net, constantly and subtly surrounded the Hefei army.

The journey home was somewhat gloomy, with a sense of oppression and unease permeating the air.

Along the way, passing through places like Hanshan and Liangxian, the locals had clearly received the strict orders from the Marshal's Office and had prepared ample food and fodder in advance, even planning campsites for the two groups of men, ensuring a smooth logistical supply.

This efficiency, in Zuo Junbi's view, was like an invisible giant hand controlling everything, adding to his sense of powerlessness. Perhaps intimidated by this invisible pressure, or perhaps eager to return home, the soldiers of the Hefei Army behaved themselves along the way and did not cause any trouble.

Four days later, at dusk, the army arrived at Nanshigang, forty li southeast of Hefei City, and set up camp there. The marshal sent a generous reward—one hundred jars of strong liquor and thirty fat sheep.

A campfire roared across the camp, filling the air with the aroma of roasted meat and the strong smell of alcohol. The soldiers from Hefei, who had been listless for days, finally perked up under the influence of alcohol, and the sounds of drinking games, shouts, and cheers gradually rose.

Zuo Junbi looked at the cheerful soldiers, but his heart was filled with coldness.

Is this wine and meat meant to appease?
Or was it a final consolation before his execution?
The next day, just as dawn was breaking, the soldiers of Hefei, still hungover, groggily emerged from their tents, preparing to pack their gear and continue their journey. However, the scene before them instantly plunged them into an icy abyss, utterly sobering them up!

Outside the camp, on the open field, a dense array of soldiers stood solemnly.

Crimson battle banners fluttered in the cool morning breeze, like burning flames. A forest of gleaming spears and halberds stood tall, their cold metallic sheen gleaming in the morning light, exuding a chilling, oppressive aura.

The leading general, clad in iron armor and riding a magnificent warhorse, was none other than Chang Yuchun, a fierce and valiant general under Shi Shan's command!

Chang Yuchun's eyes flashed like lightning as he swept over the panicked Hefei military camp. He suddenly pulled on the reins, and his warhorse reared up, letting out a loud neigh. His voice, like a thunderclap, instantly shattered the morning tranquility, clearly reaching the ears of every soldier in the Hefei army:

"By order of the Marshal! All soldiers of the Hefei Army shall undergo reorganization on the spot! Anyone who disobeys shall be punished according to military law!"

This order came as a bolt from the blue. Many soldiers in Hefei realized something was wrong and instinctively went to get their swords, spears, and armor.

But when they rushed into the tent and frantically searched for the items, they were horrified to find that the knives, spears, and armor that had been placed in the tent the night before had vanished.

It turned out that while they were drinking and making noise last night and letting their guard down, Zuo Junbi's personal guards had already confiscated and moved all their weapons and armor under the pretext of transporting wine and meat and cleaning the campfire.

At this moment, Zuo Junbi was standing at the camp gate with his three hundred personal guards. He glanced at his panicked and unarmed subordinates behind him with complicated emotions, and finally looked at the Red Flag Battalion army outside the camp, which was full of murderous intent and well-equipped.

All the struggles and all the illusions shattered completely at this moment.

Zuo Junbi took a deep breath, took a sudden step forward, and knelt heavily on the cold, hard ground, kicking up a small cloud of dust. He lowered his head, his voice trembling slightly, yet clearly echoing before the silent camp:

"This humble general, Zuo Junbi, respectfully obeys the Marshal's orders!"

The era of the Zuo family in Hefei officially came to an end in the morning light of Nanshigang.

(End of this chapter)