Sweep Yuan

Chapter 186 Accepting the Suzhou Troops?

Bai Buxin felt as if a huge boulder had been pressing on his chest had been lifted, and joy instantly washed away all his fatigue and anxiety. He almost instinctively bowed deeply, his voice choked with emotion.

"Thank you, Commander Sun! I, Bai Buxin, will never forget your great kindness!"

Sun Xun nodded slightly, seeing Bai Buxin's grateful expression.

"I have ordered people to prepare wine and food. You have worked hard for days. Go to the lodgings to rest and recuperate before you see the marshal."

After seeing Bai Buxin off, Sun Xun went to the Bashanwei garrison to hand over the city's defenses and inform them of Bai Buxin's visit.

When Shi Shan led his troops south to capture Luzhou Road, he left Hu Dahai to temporarily garrison Haozhou. After capturing Hefei, which had a better geographical location and agricultural base, he moved the Marshal's Office to Hefei and changed the Haozhou General Administration Office to the Garrison Office.

Sun Xun was entrusted with the important task of guarding Haozhou, overseeing the defense of Zhongli, Wuhe, Dingyuan, and Huaiyuan. His Zhongwu Guard was expanded from 2,500 men to 4,000, and he also controlled 1,500 men under Han Cheng, who was being relieved of his post in Huaiyuan, bringing his actual military strength to 5,500 men.

These are just the tip of the iceberg of the recent large-scale personnel and organizational restructuring in the Red Flag Battalion.

Wu Liujin's Fenwu Guard, originally stationed in Huaiyuan, was transferred to Lujiang and expanded to 4,000 men. They were responsible for the defense of Lujiang County, Shucheng County, and Wuwei Prefecture, and also controlled 2,000 men under Xia Junxiang in Wuwei Prefecture, thus effectively controlling 6,000 troops.

The Fujunwei Shao Rong troops, originally stationed in Liang County, were transferred to Hezhou and expanded to 4,500 men, responsible for the defense of Hezhou, Wujiang and Hanshan.

The Zhenshuo Guard stationed in Chuzhou was expanded to 4,500 men (not including Zeng Xing's troops who were assigned to assist in defense), and was responsible for the defense of Chuzhou, Quanjiao, and Lai'an.

The Hongqiying naval force stationed in Chaoxian County and Laoshan Island has a strength of 3,000 men, but it is currently lacking warships and is mainly focused on reserving key personnel and training soldiers.

All five directly subordinate guards have also been expanded.

Among them, the Moon-Holding Guard was expanded to 7,000 men, the Sun-Supporting Guard to 6,000 men, and the Mountain-Pulling Guard to 5,000 men.

Due to a lack of qualified warhorses, the Swift Cavalry Guard was the smallest in scale, expanding to only 3,500 men.

The Zhongyi Guard under Zuo Junbi was newly established and its staff was tentatively set at 3,000.

In addition, eleven directly subordinate scattered battalions were added, including Deng Dagang (Shenji Battalion), Jin Chaoxing (Chaoxian Township Braves), Chen Tong (Lujiang Army), Qiu Cheng (Hanshan Army), Zhang Huan (Hefei Army), and Ye Sheng (Hefei Army). After this round of expansion, the total number of Red Flag Battalion soldiers exceeded 50,000.

Although the Red Flag Battalion actually controlled sixteen cities (excluding Hong County), the logistical support for such a large, full-time army was still extremely challenging. Food, weapons, pay, tents, uniforms, and so on all required astronomical sums.

However, compared to other rebel armies that would easily capture a few cities and amass over 100,000 men, Shishan was already being very restrained.

The Red Turban Army in Xuzhou to the north is already in dire straits. If the Red Turban Army in Xuzhou collapses, we must prepare in advance to absorb and resettle the large number of refugees and defeated soldiers who will flood in if the Red Turban Army in Xuzhou collapses.

After capturing Luzhou, the Red Flag Army's territory surpassed that of many other Red Turban armies in Jiangbei, including Nan Suo, Bei Suo, Xuzhou, and Yingzhou. Shishan also rose to become the number one rebel king under Xu Shouhui, overshadowing heroes such as Liu Futong, Zhima Li, Wang Quan, and Meng Haima.

Even if the Yuan court was still muddle-headed and slow to react, it had now come to its senses and was shifting its focus of suppression towards Shishan, the tiger entrenched in the heart of the Jianghuai region. The expansion of the Red Flag Battalion in preparation for war was a necessity forced upon them by the circumstances.

In addition to 50,000 full-time combat soldiers, the Red Flag Battalion also had a large number of local militia and garrison troops in the various fortified villages under its jurisdiction, which could mobilize more than 100,000 people in an emergency.

However, these able-bodied men have limited fighting power, and once mobilized, the agricultural production for the season will be greatly reduced. Unless faced with a major crisis that would destroy his forces, Shishan would never lightly mobilize this force.

In fact, this expansion was the result of comprehensive consideration of many factors, including the quality of the soldiers, the limits of logistical capacity, and the recovery of agricultural production.

In the short term, the problems of floods, droughts, and locust plagues under the jurisdiction of the Red Flag Battalion could not be completely eradicated. The construction of the city and the fighting required a lot of food, and the shortage still existed. The problem of some people at the bottom of society not having enough to eat could not be completely avoided, and sustainable development was far from being possible.

However, thanks to its relatively efficient resource allocation and the policy of "tax exemption" to protect production, the Red Flag Battalion was able to withstand the widespread famine that occurred in the areas where other rebel armies were active, without any problem. It could easily sustain several years of intense warfare.

In fact, as the reputation of Hongqiying for protecting production through "tax exemption" gradually spread, migrants poured into the surrounding Xuzhou Road, Anqing Road, and even Huaian Road, causing the population of the Hongqiying-controlled area to increase rather than decrease.

Hongqiying has no shortage of land to cultivate or restore, nor of people who yearn for a stable life. What it lacks most is time to integrate, digest, and transform these resources into real strength.

This is also one of the important reasons why Shishan immediately adjusted the location of the Marshal's Office and moved the focus of governance southward after taking control of Luzhou Road.

The Marshal's Office is now a very large organization, and with the various non-combat personnel remaining in Haozhou, the relocation is an even bigger project.

Two days ago, Li Wu led the elite of the Xiaoji Guard to escort the staff of the Marshal's Mansion and important targets such as the Hostage Battalion and the Feathered Forest Battalion to Hefei on the official road ahead.

The remaining group was much larger but also slower to arrive: the families of veterans' associations, military battalions, training battalions, and security battalions, and their personnel, totaling nearly 5,000. Most of them were non-combatants, and there were also many elderly, weak, women, and children.

Such a team had to trek over 300 li in the sweltering summer heat. If they were not careful, they would suffer from heatstroke, fall behind, or even be plagued by disease. The heavy burden of escorting them fell on the shoulders of the 2,000 soldiers of the Bashan Guard under Hu Dahai (they could not be formally expanded until they arrived in Hefei).

Bai Buxin and his group, along with over fifty fine warhorses, joined the southward migration. Their marching speed inevitably slowed down, but he remained calm—observing non-combat personnel moving over long distances up close revealed the true strength of a force.

This time, I really saw the trick.

Hu Dahai rationally organized the personnel according to their physical strength and marching ability.

The able-bodied marched on foot, while the elderly and weak were placed on carts, and some able-bodied women were also organized to take care of the elderly and weak.

Apart from a small number of sentries stationed at the front and rear to prevent people from falling behind and to deal with possible sporadic attacks, most of the soldiers of Bashanwei arrived at the planned rest points in advance, set up simple sheds, and prepared millet porridge, mung bean soup, and cool boiled water with a little salt for people to drink and relieve the heat.

The army of several thousand men was able to provide for themselves without disturbing the villages and communities along the way, unlike the Red Turban Army of Xuzhou, which would swarm like locusts wherever they went, demanding grain and laborers from the villages and communities along the way, causing chaos and widespread complaints. It was a world of difference.

Of course, the villages and communities along the way were not entirely unresponsive.

Bai Buxin personally witnessed some elderly people leading young and strong men to deliver fruits, vegetables, and even pigs and sheep as gifts. Their faces showed reverence, as well as a hint of barely perceptible expectation.

Upon hearing the news, Hu Dahai rushed over, a hearty and sincere smile on his face. If the gift was light, he would accept it on behalf of the Red Flag Battalion with a bow and express his gratitude to the villagers for their kindness. If the gift was valuable, such as a pig or a sheep, Hu Dahai insisted on paying the market price in copper coins.

During this period, military clerks would accurately record the types, quantities, and estimated prices of the purchased supplies. After payment, the leading elders and young representatives would leave their names and addresses, and solemnly affix their fingerprints to the document, stating that it was "for future verification and to prevent embezzlement."

The whole process was natural and smooth, and it was by no means a stunt performed for outsiders.

This greatly puzzled Bai Buxin, who was used to the Red Turban Army eating and taking things for free. He took the opportunity to ask Hu Dahai, who was inspecting the pavilion, for advice.

Hu Dahai stopped, wiped the sweat from his beard, and his dark face became solemn.

"Brother Bai, this is the fundamental principle that the Marshal always teaches us."

His gaze swept over the villagers and their families who were quietly drinking water and resting under the shade of the pavilion, then looked towards the lush fields in the distance, and said:
"The people are the foundation of the army. The people are our providers! Only when they can survive and feel secure can they farm with peace of mind, pay our taxes, and send their sons to join the army. With this continuous supply of food, pay, and able-bodied men, the army can grow stronger with each battle. Even if we suffer a defeat and lose some strength, we can quickly recover and continue to fight the enemy!"

He paused, as if recalling the actions of the Yuan army during the Battle of Wudu Village last year, and his tone suddenly turned stern as he said:

"But if we indulge in momentary pleasure, eat and take for free, or even burn, kill and plunder, forcing the people to flee with their families, leaving the land uninhabited and the fields barren, then no matter how capable our army is, it will be like water without a source or a tree without roots."

The longer the fighting continues, the less hope there is. Even a mighty army that has never been defeated will eventually perish!

These words struck Bai Buxin's head like a heavy hammer.

A year ago, Bai Bushin, who had just joined the Red Turban Army, would have scoffed at such "grand principles"—in chaotic times, might makes right! If the Red Turban Army didn't rob the people, wouldn't those people be robbed and conscripted by the Yuan army when they returned?

If the Yuan army used looted grain and men to fight the Red Turban Army, wouldn't the Red Turban Army be defeated even faster? This logic seems impeccable.

But after the painful lessons of losing Xiayi and Yongcheng in succession, Bai Buxin finally understood. These two places were destroyed because the Red Turban Army and the Yuan Army repeatedly "requisitioned grain," leading to the extinction of the people.

The defending army had no food to collect and no people to rely on, so the main force had no choice but to withdraw, watching helplessly as the Yuan army easily breached the city.

The Red Turban Army in Xuzhou went down the wrong path from the very beginning, and their defeat was not unjust! This "not robbing the people" may seem like a disadvantage, but it is probably the survival strategy that enabled the Red Flag Battalion to rise rapidly and establish a stable foundation in the Jianghuai region.

Because the army was marching within the territory, and Hu Dahai's skillful command and effective support enabled the large force, which included many elderly, weak, women and children, to travel more than 300 li and arrive safely at the city of Hefei in less than seven days.

Their marching speed and organization were so fast that they even surpassed the number of Red Turban Army soldiers in Xuzhou!

What Bai Buxin didn't expect was that as soon as he and the troop stepped into the tall Gongchen Gate of Hefei, they were stopped by a burly officer.

"But doesn't Brother Bai believe me?"

The officer's voice boomed, carrying an unassailable air of authority. "I am Hua Yunlong, commander of the Marshal's personal guard. I have been waiting here for some time on the Marshal's orders. The Marshal is aware of your arrival; please follow me into the residence for an audience!"

"To pay homage to the Marshal?"

Bai Buxin was overjoyed, but this was quickly replaced by intense anxiety. He looked down at his battle robe, which was covered in dust and sweat, and then smelled the sour odor that had accumulated on his body from marching in the sweltering heat for many days. An embarrassed look appeared on his face.

"Brother Hua, I've been traveling for days, and I'm covered in sweat and filth. I'm truly an insult to the Marshal's dignity! Could you allow me to find a place to wash up and change into clean clothes before I go to pay my respects to the Marshal?"

He was afraid that his disheveled appearance would leave a bad impression on Marshal Shi, which would in turn affect Commander Li's important plans.

Hua Yunlong grinned upon hearing this, and patted Bai Buxin's shoulder with considerable force.

"Brother Bai, you're overthinking it! We're all soldiers who've been through thick and thin, who doesn't have a bit of sweat and mud on them? Why bother with these formalities! The Marshal knows you've had a long and arduous journey, so he ordered me to wait for you at the city gate. Once you enter the city, I'll take you to see him. Don't keep the Marshal waiting!"

A warm feeling welled up in Bai Buxin's heart, and he dared not refuse any longer, hurriedly saying, "Thank you for leading the way, Brother Hua!"

Hefei was clearly a larger and more orderly city than Haozhou. The streets were wide and, though busy due to the new garrison and relocation of institutions, were well-ordered. Along the streets, one could see patrolling soldiers of the Red Flag Battalion, their armor gleaming and their spirits high.

All the shops along the street were open, and some daring vendors had even set up stalls on street corners, selling food and miscellaneous items, adding a touch of vitality to this new "capital" of Hongqiying. A vibrant, energetic, and orderly atmosphere permeated the air.

Before Bai could take a closer look, Hua Yunlong led him to a heavily guarded and magnificent mansion. This place was originally the Luzhou Road General Administration of the Yuan Dynasty, then became Zuo Junbi's General's Mansion, and now it has become the Red Flag Battalion Marshal's Mansion.

After passing through numerous guard posts, he entered the main hall. The interior was simply furnished yet exuded an air of authority. Several clerks were quietly processing documents behind desks in the corners. In the central seat sat a man. Bai Buxin felt an overwhelming, imposing aura emanating from him, causing him to instinctively hold his breath.

The man was broad-shouldered and thick-backed, dressed in a red casual uniform without armor, yet he possessed an air of commanding authority. His face was resolute, with distinct features, and his eyes were deep and bright, as if they could see right through people's hearts. He was none other than Shi Shan, the Red Flag Battalion Marshal who was renowned throughout the Jianghuai region.

Bai Bushin dared not delay. He strode forward, knelt on one knee, and held up the token given to him by Li Xixi—the gold pendant—high in both hands. His voice trembled slightly with excitement and nervousness.
"This humble servant, Bai Buxin, has come to pay my respects to Marshal Shi on the orders of Commander Li Xixi! This is Commander Li's token; please examine it, Marshal!"

"Brother Bai, you must be tired from your journey. No need for formalities, please rise!" Shi Shan's voice was gentle yet powerful, carrying a reassuring calmness. He rose from his seat, personally helped Bai Buxin up, and took the pendant from him.

It felt slightly cool to the touch, yet retained the rich texture of gold. Shishan held the pendant in his palm, his thumb gently tracing the familiar patterns along the edge, his eyes revealing genuine emotion and reminiscence:

"Last year, in Brother Li's camp in Suzhou... I only met Brother Li once, but we had a very pleasant conversation. We exchanged our experiences in training and combat, but unfortunately, time was limited and we could not talk in depth. When I was about to leave, Brother Li saw me off, and I made a promise with him that we would definitely warm wine and talk again when we had time in the future."

Shi Shan raised his head, looking intently at Bai Buxin with a hint of genuine regret.

"Unexpectedly, amidst the chaos of war, this parting has lasted for more than half a year. I have already warmed the wine, waiting only for my old friend."

Bai Buxin was Li Xixi's old subordinate and was well aware of the brief interaction between Shi Shan and Li Xixi last year regarding the "redemption" of Fu Youde. Although Shi and Li got along well at the time, it was short-lived and far from a deep friendship.

His biggest worry was that Shi Shan, having now established a vast empire with numerous fierce generals and tens of thousands of elite troops, was now a dominant force in the anti-Yuan movement in Jiangbei. He feared that Shi Shan would look down on Li Xixi, who only had a few hundred remaining soldiers. He was even prepared to be treated coldly and perfunctorily.

Unexpectedly, when Shishan opened his mouth, he not only clearly remembered the details of the meeting, but also the promise to warm wine. His words did not reveal a condescending act of charity, but rather a sincere expectation and invitation to an old friend and a comrade-in-arms who fought against the Yuan Dynasty.

This sentimentality and sincerity, like a warm current, instantly dispelled the anxiety and unease that had been building up in Bai Bushi's heart. He excitedly raised his head, a glimmer of light already appearing in his eyes.

"The Marshal is a man of great loyalty and righteousness, and Commander Li is often grateful for that! He often says that the Marshal is a hero of our time, and the most righteous of all! It's just a pity that we wasted more than half a year in Xuzhou, suffering heavy losses, and were unable to join the Red Flag Battalion sooner. The Marshal is so kind, and we will do anything you need!"

Bai Buxin's words already revealed his undisguised intention to defect.

Sun Xun had already sent a fast horse to inform Li Xixi of his purpose in sending the envoy. Upon hearing Bai Buxin's statement, Shi Shan immediately understood that Li Xixi was not only seeking help, but also wanted to offer up Suzhou City as a pledge of loyalty, willing to act as an inside agent for the Red Flag Camp to seize the Red Turban Army's territory in Xuzhou.

Shishan was certainly willing to accept Li Xixi, a veteran general who was genuinely committed to resisting the Yuan Dynasty. However, he already had tens of thousands of troops under his command, and he did not lack thousands of Xuzhou Red Turban Army soldiers with poor discipline and limited combat effectiveness. He also did not want to bear the infamy of betraying his allies.

Instead, allowing these people to remain in Suzhou would buy the Red Flag Battalion valuable time to develop, allowing them to play a greater role.

However, since Li Xixi had genuinely pledged allegiance, he could not say these things directly, lest he hurt the feelings of the righteous man.

Unlike Peng and Zhao, Shi Shan would never mistreat any brother who was willing to risk their life for him. He said:
"It's all for the great cause of resisting the Yuan. Didn't I fight alongside Brother Li in Xuzhou back then? Once my troops are reorganized, I will send my elite troops north again to fight the Yuan invaders together with the Red Turban Army in Xuzhou."

If you lack soldiers, armor, money, or provisions, we can provide those as well. If Brother Li is feeling stifled in Suzhou, I'll leave a position open for you; come anytime, and we can share a warm drink!

Bai Buxin quickly figured out Shi Shan's meaning. Although the result was quite different from what he had expected, he was able to be received by Marshal Shi in person and receive a clear promise, so the trip was not in vain.

"I will certainly convey the Marshal's wishes."

(End of this chapter)