Sweep Yuan

Chapter 190 People's hearts are inclined to retreat, but I go against the grain.

Hefei, Marshal's Mansion.

The July heatwave swept across the Jianghuai region, but the signing room of the Marshal's Mansion was filled with a solemn atmosphere more suffocating than the sweltering heat.

The air seemed to freeze, save for the occasional soft crackling of melting ice in the ice basin and the rustling of clerks turning pages. One urgent military report after another, stained with the smoke and blood of battle, was delivered like heavy stone fragments to this core that held the fate of more than a dozen cities in its hands.

Shi Shan sat upright in the main seat, his red casual clothes making his face appear even more serene. His gaze was sharp as he quickly scanned the pile of documents on his desk. He swiftly opened and annotated each battle report, his movements steady and powerful, showing no sign of panic.

Wang Zongdao, the military advisor standing by, quickly recorded his dictation, transforming the clear instructions into concrete orders.

"Read it." Shi Shan's voice was not loud, but it carried an undeniable penetrating power.

A clerk immediately picked up the latest summary report, speaking clearly and quickly with the urgency characteristic of military intelligence.

Battle report summary:

Haozhou (Sun Xun reported): On June 22nd, the Yuan army in Anfeng attacked the camp downstream with fire ships. The garrison commander Yu Er was negligent in his duties, resulting in the burning of twelve warships of various sizes and the loss of 107 soldiers. The garrison commander Han Cheng led his troops to repel the enemy and has arrested Yu Er, awaiting orders from the marshal.

Haozhou (Sun Xuncheng): In late June, the Yuan army from Huai'an Road penetrated deep into the territory, breaching three stockades and massacring and forcibly relocating over 1,900 villagers. Deng Shunxing's troops resisted, killing 600 enemy soldiers but suffering 500 casualties themselves. Shunxing was seriously wounded, and his troops were taken over by his eldest son, Youlong, and retreated to Youxi Fort.

Hezhou (Shao Rongcheng): On June 25th, the Yuan army from Jiangning invaded the territory and burned two villages. Our troops engaged in battle, killing 269 enemy soldiers and suffering 147 casualties. Post-battle statistics show that 537 farmers perished.

Chuzhou (Fu Youde reported): On the night of the third day of the seventh month, Wang Bi and Guo Zixing's troops joined forces and broke through the enemy's fortification at Longwang Mountain, killing 1,319 enemy soldiers.

Lujiang (Wu Liujin): On the fourth day of the seventh month, the enemy invaded Wuwei Prefecture, burned and looted the Zhajiangkou Village, and then fled.

……

Since late June, the Yuan army's counterattacks against the Red Flag Camp's controlled area have intensified dramatically.

Along the hundreds of miles-long front, from Chuzhou, Hezhou, Wuweizhou, Huaiyuan, Hongxian, Wuhe to other places, the flames of war rose everywhere, and urgent dispatches flew to Hefei like snowflakes.

Unlike in the past, although the Yuan army had a large total force, it was divided into many parts, with each route having a relatively limited number of troops. They avoided the heavily fortified cities where the Red Banner Battalion was stationed, and like a cunning pack of wolves, they targeted the relatively weakly defended fortified villages and settlements.

The purpose of their actions—such as destroying fortified villages, forcibly relocating people, burning grain and fodder, and harassing the garrison—was very clear: to disrupt production under the Red Flag Battalion's control, create panic, and thus tie down the Red Flag Battalion's main force.

The battlefront, stretching for hundreds of miles, resembled a giant chessboard, with both sides clashing fiercely at every point, engaging in offense and defense, and suffering casualties on both sides.

The battle reports, like heavy drumbeats, resonated in the hearts of everyone in the Marshal's Mansion.

Shi Shan reviewed each battle report, issuing clear and steady instructions: Fortify city defenses, hold key passes, and prevent the enemy from penetrating deeper! Strengthen scouts and closely monitor the movements of the enemy's main force! All units should act according to circumstances, seek out enemy weaknesses, and strive for a decisive blow!
There was no panicked troop deployment, nor a blind all-out counterattack.

His instructions acted like a stabilizing force, calming the slightly anxious atmosphere at the rear.

Shishan understood the principle that prolonged defense inevitably leads to defeat better than anyone else.

Faced with this high-density, multi-directional, and destructive harassment warfare, the side that takes a defensive stance is like prey surrounded by wolves, passively taking hits, running around desperately, and suffering huge losses.

However, the Red Flag Battalion had just undergone a large-scale expansion, with a high proportion of new recruits. The newly acquired territories needed to be digested and integrated. At this time, launching a large-scale counterattack rashly could easily lead to a quagmire in the war.

More importantly, Shi Shan had already seen through the chaos of the battle. He keenly sensed that the Yuan army's seemingly fierce counterattack concealed a larger strategic intention—it was more like a meticulously planned cover operation!

The objective was to tie down the main force of the Red Flag Battalion, preventing them from focusing on other matters. The true target of the Yuan court, however, was the main battlefield soon to unfold in Xuzhou in the north, which would determine the fate of the anti-Yuan movement in Jiangbei!

The sound of war drums could already be faintly heard there.

Suzhou, General's Mansion.

Unlike the tense yet orderly solemnity inside the Marshal's Mansion in Hefei, the atmosphere in Suzhou was as oppressive as a stuffy can before a downpour, filled with despair, suspicion, and a numb sense of impending doom.

Inside the main hall of the general's mansion, the doors and windows were tightly closed, attempting to block out the scorching heat from the outside, but also locking in the stifling air.

Peng Erlang sat in the main seat, his fingers unconsciously tapping the armrest, his brows furrowed. Zhao Junyong sat beside him, his eyes half-closed, stroking his beard, appearing calm and collected, but a calculating glint flashed deep in his eyes.

The remaining generals stood on both sides, each with a solemn expression, some with their heads bowed and silent, others with wandering eyes, and a suffocating sense of despondency filled the air.

The news of Xuzhou being besieged was no secret. Marshal Li, who had held the fortified city for nearly a year, was now deeply trapped in the iron wall encirclement built by the main force of the Yuan army.

The shadow of defeat spread like a plague from Xuzhou to Suzhou, eroding the fighting spirit of every Red Turban Army soldier.

When a powerful force shows signs of decline, it is clear to anyone with discernment that its internal problems are too deep-seated to be reversed.

However, within Xuzhou city and the general's mansion in Suzhou, facing this sinking ship, no one could come up with a survival plan that would convince most people. Some shouted for a desperate defense, others planned a breakout, and still others secretly discussed surrender—each holding their own opinion and arguing endlessly.

Sesame Li was overwhelmed by the clamor from his civil and military officials and was unable to make a decision for a long time.

In Suzhou, the focus of the generals' discussions, who were nominally part of the Red Turban Army of Xuzhou, was no longer how to rescue Xuzhou, but rather which new patron they should take their remaining troops to if Xuzhou fell.

Was it Marshal Liu Futong of Yingzhou? Marshal Shishan of Hefei? Or Emperor Xu Shouhui of the Xu Song dynasty in Qizhou?
As for holding Suzhou?

Almost no one dared to mention this idea. Even the Xuzhou Circuit, with its high city walls, ample provisions, and large population, was in dire straits. How long could the small city of Suzhou struggle against the main force of the Yuan army? It was merely a matter of whether it would die sooner or later.

Amidst this suffocating atmosphere of gloom and despair, a discordant voice arose.

"Although the Yuan dogs are numerous, Xuzhou is a high-lying city with deep moats, and Marshal Li's troops are well-trained and well-supplied. How can it be taken so easily?! We are interdependent with Xuzhou, and Marshal Li and his generals are our common lords. How can we betray them?"

At this critical juncture, if the two generals could mobilize all the elite troops of Suzhou and launch a surprise attack on one side of the Yuan army besieging the city, while simultaneously attacking from both inside and outside the city's defenders, they might be able to break the siege and relieve the crisis in Xuzhou!

Li Xixi stood tall and proud in the hall, his gaze sharp as he surveyed the generals, whose expressions varied. His voice was impassioned, carrying an undeniable air of righteous indignation:

"We clearly have the power to rescue them, yet we sit idly by and watch Marshal Li be trapped alone!"

If Xuzhou falls and Marshal Li perishes, even if we are lucky enough to survive, we might escape and seek refuge under Marshal Liu, Marshal Shi, or Emperor Xu. But if the truth of watching Marshal Li's demise spreads today, who among the heroes of the land will not know? Who will not know?
At that time, who will dare to trust and value us, these traitors who seek only to live and refuse to help those in distress?!

"Betraying one's master to save oneself" and "refusing to help those in distress"—these eight words were like a red-hot branding iron, searing the hearts of many generals present.

Li Xixi cleverly used the name of "righteousness" and the responsibility of "common ruler" to suppress the sordid calculations in everyone's hearts. These resounding words even made a few generals with remaining courage nod frequently, and a faint spark ignited in their eyes.

Zhao Jun paused slightly, stroking his beard with his fingers. He opened his half-closed eyes a crack, glanced at the ashen-faced Peng Erlang, and a barely perceptible cold smile curled at the corner of his lips. He thought to himself:
“Peng Erlang, Peng Erlang, you abandoned Li Xixi in Yongcheng as a pawn, but I never expected that this fellow would be so lucky as to crawl out of a pile of corpses and escape back to Suzhou. I advised you to kill him to prevent future troubles, but you hesitated and said you were afraid of chilling people's hearts.”

Clearly, you don't trust me, Old Zhao, and are afraid of disrupting the balance between the two factions and having your troops swallowed up by me, right? And now look what's happened! This stubborn mule not only shows no gratitude, but jumps out and uses righteousness as a weapon to cause trouble for both of us! Truly, your cleverness has backfired!

At this moment, Peng Erlang felt extremely resentful. After Li Xixi retreated from Yongcheng back to Suzhou, Peng Erlang worried that Li Xixi would resent his decision to abandon Yongcheng, so he refused to replenish Li Xixi's losses on the grounds of "supply difficulties".

In his eyes, the two hundred or so remnants of Li Xixi's army were no longer a threat. Unexpectedly, this fellow not only did not know how to restrain himself, but instead acted like a thorn in the side, repeatedly jumping out at military meetings and raising the banner of "rescuing Marshal Li," which annoyed him greatly.

Every word Li Xixi uttered was imbued with a sense of righteousness. Peng Erlang could not openly deny that Sesame Li was the leader of the Red Turban Army in Xuzhou, so he could only try to steer the conversation toward "real difficulties" in an attempt to downplay and delay the issue.

He cleared his throat, forced a helpless smile, and sighed:

“Commander Li is commendable for his loyalty and bravery. How could Old Peng not know his heart of loyalty and righteousness? But, in truth, he is powerless to help!”

He shrugged, looking embarrassed.

"The city's grain reserves are already insufficient, and this spring's wheat harvest was ruined by locusts. The replanted rice will take some time to mature and be harvested. An army cannot move without provisions. If we send troops now, where will we get the supplies? We can't let our soldiers fight on empty stomachs, can we?"

He paused, then changed the subject, his tone carrying a hint of reassurance and stalling.

"In any case, the Yuan dogs won't be able to break through Xuzhou City anytime soon. In my opinion, it would be more prudent to wait until the autumn grain is stored in the granary and the food supplies are plentiful before discussing sending troops to rescue it. Wouldn't that be more secure? By then, we'll have well-trained troops and sufficient food, and we'll have a better chance of success."

Li Xixi sneered inwardly.

Peng Erlang's "delaying tactic" is blatantly obvious; he's just waiting for the sesame seed Li to fall and the monkeys to scatter when the tree falls!
Now that he has stepped forward today and openly challenged Peng and Zhao, the two actual controllers of Suzhou, he has already cut off his retreat. How can he let the other party get away with it so easily?

Li Xixi stepped forward, her voice even more resounding, quoting classical texts as she spoke:

“General! There is a saying in the book of Wei Liao Zi: ‘If there is no army that can be rescued, then there is no city that can be defended.’ Marshal Li is trapped in Xuzhou, in a desperate situation. All the soldiers in the city are hoping for outside help. We are right here. If we do not move our troops, the defenders of Xuzhou will think that outside help has been cut off and all hope will be lost.”

Once morale collapses and fighting spirit crumbles, how long can even the strongest fortified city and elite troops hold out? How can they possibly hold out until the day the general speaks of when 'the rice is ripe and the provisions are plentiful'?!

His gaze was intense, fixed on Peng Erlang. "What I ask of you is not to send out all our forces to fight the Yuan dogs. Just send a small elite force, raising the banner of reinforcements. Let the garrison of Xuzhou know that reinforcements are nearby. Let the righteous armies of the world see that Suzhou has not betrayed Marshal Li."

Only in this way can the soldiers in Xuzhou see a glimmer of hope and preserve the reputations of General Peng and General Zhao. Otherwise, if the soldiers of Xuzhou perish quickly out of despair, how long can Suzhou survive alone?!

This analysis hits the nail on the head. Rescue efforts are not only a military operation, but also a political statement to maintain public support.

Peng Erlang's fake smile froze, and his brows furrowed.

To be honest, Li Xixi's words struck a chord with a hidden worry deep within him. The reason he and Zhao Junyong were holding out in Suzhou was not only to preserve their strength, but also because they were indeed somewhat inclined to wait and see.

The main force of the Yuan army besieged Xuzhou for a long time without success. Could internal changes be brewing?
Liu Futong faced dire straits several times, but miraculously turned the tide each time due to the Yuan army's internal strife.

If Xuzhou can hold out a little longer, then the pressure on Suzhou will naturally be much less, and the possibility of surviving the crisis seems to be greater? However, it is not easy to grasp this balance point, and Peng Erlang is hesitant for a moment.

While Peng Erlang was still pondering, Zhao Junyong, who had been observing coldly, spoke first. He gave a forced smile and slowly said:

"Commander Li's words are reasonable, every sentence is logical, and they all stem from a public-spirited heart!"

He started by offering a compliment, then quickly changed the subject, deftly passing the buck back.

"Since Commander Li has such a clear understanding of the battle situation, he must already have a plan in mind. In your opinion, how many troops should be dispatched to achieve this 'must-rescue' situation without causing serious damage to Suzhou?" A cunning glint flashed in his eyes.

This tactic is extremely insidious. If Li Xixi were to make an outrageous demand, asking for seven or eight thousand, or even tens of thousands of soldiers, Zhao Jun wouldn't need to object; Peng Erlang would be the first to jump out and resolutely refuse on the grounds that it would "damage the core" and "shake the foundation."

—Suzhou currently has a total military strength of just over 20,000. If more troops are deployed, it will inevitably require drawing upon Peng Erlang's core headquarters.

If Li Xixi asks for fewer men, such as three or five hundred, given the current low morale of the Suzhou army, sending such a small force out of the city to face the main force of the Yuan army would be like lambs to the slaughter, a pure suicide mission.

Even if Li Xixi is stubborn and insists on taking this small group of people to their deaths.

That's perfect! By using the Yuan army to get rid of this troublesome troublemaker, we can also wear down his restless remnants, save some food, and leave ourselves and Peng Erlang with clean hands. Why not?
Having served under Peng Erlang and Zhao Junshou for so long, Li Xixi was well aware of their intentions.

He had already made up his mind, and with neither servility nor arrogance, he clasped his hands in a fist and said:

"General Zhao, you are wise! Rescuing Xuzhou is no ordinary battle; it is a heroic act of fighting to the death! More people may not be enough; only truly brave warriors willing to go through fire and water can shoulder this heavy responsibility!"
This humble general dares not presume to say how many troops are needed, but I only request that you two generals grant me one request: Give me three days to go deep into each camp, explain the greater good to them, and recruit soldiers willing to fight alongside me. I will take as many men as I can recruit; I will not dare ask for a single soldier more than necessary!

Upon hearing this, the expressions of the generals in the hall varied.

Zhao Junyong and Peng Erlang exchanged a quick glance, both seeing deep disdain and a hint of relief in each other's eyes.

Recruiting volunteers?
joke!

Today, the Red Turban Army in Xuzhou is suffering defeat after defeat, its territory is shrinking, and its morale has long since collapsed!
Even the generals sitting in this military council hall dared not venture out of the city to fight, let alone the soldiers below. Sending Li Xixi to recruit? He'd probably have to run himself ragged and talk himself hoarse to manage to recruit three or five hundred reckless fools. That would be a testament to Li Xixi's extraordinary abilities!
Sesame Li was still alive, and Peng Erlang was still nominally the "second-in-command." For matters requiring public approval and already agreed upon in private, Zhao Jun tactfully relinquished the "performance rights" to Peng Erlang.

Peng Erlang coughed, instantly adopting an expression of fervent enthusiasm and willingness to accept good advice. He slammed his hand on the armrest of his chair and loudly praised:

"Excellent! Commander Li is courageous and loyal, and I grant his permission!"

He surveyed the assembled generals in the hall, his voice suddenly rising in pitch, carrying an undeniable air of authority.

"Generals, obey the order!"

Which of the generals in the hall isn't a shrewd and capable person?
Having listened for a while, they had long since figured out the true intentions of Generals Peng and Zhao, as well as their attitude towards Li Xixi. Now, seeing Peng Erlang speak, they immediately understood, straightened their chests, raised their heads, clasped their fists in agreement, and responded in unison with loud, clear voices, conveying a tacit understanding and cooperation.

"The general is here!"

Peng Erlang was very satisfied with the crowd's reaction and said loudly:
"Starting tomorrow, within three days, Commander Li Xixi, holding this general's order, may freely enter and leave each camp to recruit brave warriors who are willing to fight alongside him to rescue Marshal Li of Xuzhou! No matter whose soldiers he selects, their subordinate generals must not obstruct him!"
If there are those who outwardly comply but inwardly defy, or those who obstruct from the sidelines…

His gaze suddenly turned cold as he swept it over the crowd.

"Don't blame me, Old Peng, for being ruthless in military law!"

"I obey the general's order!" "How dare this humble general obstruct me!" "Commander Li, please make your selection!"

The generals responded with another noisy but unusually loud ovation, and for a moment the scene appeared to be "excited and roused."

Amidst the seemingly united clamor, this military council, filled with scheming and perfunctory exchanges, finally came to a close. Li Xixi, expressionless, clasped his hands in a fist salute to Peng Erlang and Zhao Junyong, then turned and strode out of the suffocating hall.

For the next two days, Li Xixi, like a solitary preacher, carried Peng Erlang's military orders and ventured deep into the camps inside and outside Suzhou City.

He stood on the drill ground, addressing the soldiers who were either numb, fearful, or indifferent, and repeatedly recounted the righteous cause of rescuing Xuzhou, the principle of interdependence, and the heavy burden of betraying one's master.

However, there were very few responses.

On the first day, he ran through several camps, his voice almost hoarse from shouting, but in the end, only less than fifty veterans or young men with undying passion stood up and silently gathered behind him.

Faced with soldiers whose eyes were darting around, clearly tempted yet hesitant, Li Xixi did not try to persuade or entice them like a typical recruiter would.

He calmly explained his reasoning, then turned and walked towards the next camp without looking back.

This unusual "lack of effort" only intensified the disdain in the hearts of Peng Erlang and Zhao Jun, who were secretly observing.

As expected!
On the morning of the second day, Li Xixi repeated the same itinerary as the previous day, shuttling between the various camps.

Suzhou City was peaceful, even eerily relaxed.

Peng Erlang leisurely sipped tea in his mansion, discussing with Zhao Junyong their "plans" after the autumn harvest. Both of them wore a smug, amused expression on their faces.

They were almost certain that Li Xixi would only be able to muster two or three hundred men at most, and then he would either give up or lead those men to their deaths. In any case, this problem was about to be resolved.

However, just past noon, when the sun was at its scorching, a series of hurried and heavy footsteps broke the tranquility of the general's mansion!

A captain from the East Gate scrambled into the mansion, his face filled with panic and disbelief, his voice trembling:

"Report! Report to General Peng! General Zhao! Urgent report from the East Gate!"

Peng Erlang frowned, put down his teacup, and said unhappily:
"Why are you panicking?"

The captain, panting heavily, pointed towards the east gate and spoke incoherently:
"General Xue...General Xue! He...he has arrived at the city walls with a large number of troops!"

"Xue Xian?!"

Zhao Jun suddenly jumped up from his seat, his expression changing drastically!

Xue Xian was originally his top general!

However, after fighting alongside Shishan for a period of time last year, he gradually became estranged from me. He kept staying in Lingbi County under the pretext of "guarding against the Yuan army." I issued orders to summon him back to Suzhou several times, but he ignored them.

Why did this fellow suddenly appear uninvited today, and even bring a large army to the city gates?!
A strong sense of foreboding instantly gripped Zhao Junyong, and he demanded sharply:

"How many men did he bring? What are they doing here?!"

The captain swallowed hard and replied with difficulty:

"Look, judging by the formation, there are probably more than three thousand men! Commander Xue sent someone to shout from the city walls, saying... that he heard that Commander Li was going to send troops to rescue Marshal Li of Xuzhou, and he specially led the elite troops of Lingbi to join him, willing to fight alongside Commander Li and go to Xuzhou together!"

"what?!"

"what?!"

Two exclamations rang out simultaneously!

Peng Erlang's teacup crashed to the ground with a loud bang, shattering into pieces. The scalding tea splashed onto the hem of his robe, but he was completely oblivious. Zhao Junyong was struck dumb, his face turning deathly pale. His finger trembled as he pointed to the door, his lips quivering, but he couldn't utter a single word.

Xue Xian and Li Xixi were not acquainted at all. Besides, even if Li Xixi had secretly sent someone to contact Xue Xian immediately after the military meeting the day before yesterday, it was impossible for him to be at the city gates today.

Behind this incident, there is clearly a shadowy figure who has connections with both Li Xixi and Xue Xian, and is someone that Peng and Zhao absolutely do not want to face—Shi Shan!
Inside the general's mansion, the previous ease and comfort had vanished, leaving only a deathly silence and two faces contorted with extreme shock.

From the east of the city, the faint sounds of bugles and orderly marching of thousands of troops gathering outside the city echoed, like muffled thunder, striking the hearts of Peng Erlang and Zhao Junyong.
(End of this chapter)