Sweep Yuan

Chapter 207 Bi of Xuzhou Finds Another Talented Person

"I am Bian Yuanheng, and this Brother Hua Yun is also serving under Marshal Shi."

Hua Yun's previous position was squad leader, which was completely out of the running in the current Red Flag Battalion system; Bian Yuanheng hadn't met Marshal Shi yet, let alone been formally appointed, so their positions were awkward. Bian Yuanheng couldn't elaborate on his relationship with Hua Yun, so he could only mention his cousin, saying...
"My cousin is Shi Nai'an, currently serving as the Chief of the Secretariat of the Marshal's Office. If Mr. Ye would not mind, I, Yuanheng, am willing to introduce you to my cousin and truthfully convey your invaluable words today, which may then be presented directly to the Marshal. I wonder if I, Yuanheng, would have the honor of doing so?"

"This……"

Upon hearing this, Ye Dui frowned slightly, a clear look of hesitation on his face.

Because he had previously claimed to be a "migrant," which was actually a lie, and his family and relatives were still in Haining Prefecture, he was afraid that if he met Shi Nai'an, his lie would be exposed and he would be forcibly detained.

Haining Prefecture is adjacent to Hangzhou. Although it was not captured by the Red Turban Army led by Xiang Pulue and Peng Yingyu, there were quite a few people in the area who were misled by the doctrine of "Maitreya's descent into the world" and caused unrest.

This turmoil also made Ye Dui realize that the Mongol Yuan dynasty was nearing its end, so he turned his attention to the rising anti-Yuan forces in all directions.

The largest anti-Yuan force at present is undoubtedly the Xu Song regime, which was the first choice.

However, Ye Dui witnessed firsthand what Xiang Pulue and Peng Yingyu did after capturing Hangzhou—they only knew how to incite the poor and spread their doctrines, without any strategy or action to establish a stable rule. Their signs of defeat were already evident, so he ruled them out first.

The closest to Haining Prefecture was Fang Guozhen, who had been leading an army for four years and had already consolidated his power.

However, this barbarian lacked ambition and was fickle. Every time he rebelled against the Yuan Dynasty, he would plunder coastal prefectures and counties to blackmail the court. Haining Prefecture, which was located by the sea, also suffered greatly from this. His actions were those of a bandit and he was destined to achieve nothing great. He was not even worth Ye Dui's attention.

Ultimately, Ye Dui turned his attention to the Red Flag Camp, whose influence was second only to Xu Song and which had risen in the Jianghuai region.

He ventured deep into the territory under the Red Flag Battalion's control and witnessed firsthand the truth of the rumors. Shishan's military discipline was strict, its administration effective, and its laws were strictly enforced. The vibrant energy displayed by Hefei City also secretly alarmed Ye Dui.

This Marshal Shi certainly has the bearing of a great leader!

But Ye Duinian was already forty-five years old, and the burning ambition he had once had to achieve great things had gradually cooled down through the trials of time and the ups and downs of the turbulent world. He knew the dangers of the infighting in officialdom, and he was also concerned about his family in Haining. He was unwilling to get involved and put his family's lives on the line for the cause of rebellion.

For him, it was enough to confirm that there was still a true hero like Shishan in this chaotic world, to know that there was hope for the world to return to peace, and that he might be able to witness it with his own eyes in this lifetime.

Ye Dui's original plan was to find an opportunity to leave a letter for Shi Shan, outlining his observations and suggestions about the Red Flag Battalion, in order to end the chaos as soon as possible, and then quietly return to Haining to observe the changing world.

Unexpectedly, in this humble teahouse, Bian Yuanheng's sharp eyes saw through his actions and revealed the secret in a single sentence. Now, it was impossible for him to back down.

Bian Yuanheng, being extremely perceptive, immediately saw through Ye Dui's concerns and simply revealed his own background, sincerely inviting him:

"Mr. Ye, to be honest, Yuan Heng is from Yancheng. I arrived in Hefei yesterday at the invitation of my cousin Shi Nai'an. I have not yet met the Marshal and have not been appointed to any position."

But as Yuan Heng traveled along the way, he witnessed the unity of the army and the people under Marshal Shi's rule, and the clear and efficient administration. He was convinced that no one but the Marshal was capable of the great cause of expelling the Tartars and restoring China!

"Sir, you have the common people in your heart, and are deeply concerned about the nation and its people. This benevolent heart resonates with the Marshal's. Furthermore, you possess the insight to understand the overall situation and the wisdom to foresee hidden dangers. Why not stay and assist the Marshal, so that we may quickly achieve great things and liberate the people from their suffering?"

These words were sincere and heartfelt, and they also pointed out that he was a "newcomer" in order to try to close the distance between the two of them.

Having said all that, Ye Dui knew that further refusal would seem pretentious and impolite. He thought to himself: even if he ultimately decided to return to Haining, he would need someone of sufficient status to directly convey his advice to Marshal Shi, and Shi Nai'an was indeed a very good candidate.

Having understood this, Ye Dui took a deep breath, suppressing his worries about the unknown future, and solemnly clasped his hands in a salute to Bian Yuanheng—he was more than ten years older than Bian Yuanheng, so addressing him as "brother" was inappropriate, and addressing him by his official title was not appropriate, so he chose the most neutral form of address:

"In that case, I would be grateful if you could introduce me, sir!"

Hua Yun watched from the side, knowing that his plan to have a hearty drink and chat with the Bian brothers that afternoon was ruined. Although he was a rough man, he understood that this Mr. Ye was truly insightful. With business as his priority, a simple, honest smile appeared on his dark face as he clasped his hands in a fist and palm salute to Bian Yuanheng and Ye Dui.

"Brother Bian, Master Ye, you two have important business to attend to! I'm just a rough fellow, I won't cause any trouble. I'll just go to the Imperial Guard camp to learn a few characters!"

Having said that, he turned and strode briskly toward the western military camp, exuding a sense of swiftness.

Bian Yuanheng led Ye Dui through the streets of Hefei, still immersed in the joyous atmosphere of the Xuzhou victory, and arrived once again at the majestic Marshal's Mansion.

The guards had seen Bian Yuanheng escort the marshal's relatives into the mansion just yesterday, and recognized this meritorious official. Upon hearing that they were going to see Magistrate Shi of the Xuan Cao Office, they politely ordered a personal guard to lead the two to the Xuan Cao Office.

Inside the Xuan Cao Yamen (a government office), Shi Nai'an was buried in a pile of manuscripts, his dark circles from staying up all night not yet fully subsided. Hearing that his cousin Bian Yuanheng had come to see him, accompanied by a scholar with a Zhejiang accent, he went to greet him with some surprise.

When Bian Yuanheng briefly explained his purpose, especially mentioning Ye Dui's veiled warning about the "foundation" in the teahouse, Shi Nai'an's weary eyes instantly sharpened.

He carefully examined Ye Dui for a few moments. This man had a calm demeanor, but there was indeed worry between his brows. He was definitely not an ordinary pedantic scholar.

"This matter..."

Shi Nai'an pondered for a moment, and instead of immediately agreeing to recommend him to the marshal, he spoke cautiously.

"This involves fundamental military strategy and is not something I, Xuan Cao, can decide on my own. Please come with me. This matter must be informed of Military Advisor Pu of the Military Command, who will then decide whether to submit it to the Marshal."

He knew that the boundaries between military and political affairs were clear, especially when it came to strategic judgments, and that Xuan Cao should not overstep his bounds.

After giving instructions to his deputy, Shi Nai'an led Bian and Ye through the corridors connecting the various government offices within the Marshal's Mansion, arriving at the more heavily guarded Military Command Office area.

When the Red Flag Battalion was smaller, the Military Command didn't have much business, and Pu Daoren could still accompany Marshal Shi on his campaigns.

However, with the recent two large-scale expansions, the number of matters that the Military Command has to coordinate has increased dramatically. Even with the addition of subordinates, it is difficult for Park Dao-in to leave the office for extended periods of time.

The atmosphere here is completely different from that of Xuan Cao; it's a scene of tension and efficiency.

At the foot of the steps in front of the gate, several messengers stood at attention, awaiting orders. Inside the gate, subordinates dressed in military uniforms hurried about, carrying or holding various documents and maps, moving between the offices. The sounds of them talking in hushed tones or reporting quickly were constant, and the busy and tense atmosphere was immediately apparent.

The Military Command, the nerve center of the Red Flag Battalion, faced immense pressure coordinating its operations after Shi Shan led the main force on a distant expedition.

Park Daoren had long since shed his Taoist attire. Now he wore a well-tailored crimson military robe with a leather belt around his waist. Although he was much thinner than before, his eyes were bright and his spirit was vigorous. He exuded a calm and capable aura.

Upon receiving the message, he immediately rose from behind a mountain of documents to greet them.

"Governor Shi, what brings you to the Military Command today?" Master Pu bowed respectfully, his voice steady, his gaze sweeping over Bian Yuanheng and Ye Dui behind Shi Nai'an, with a questioning tone.

Shi Nai'an returned the greeting with a bow. Knowing that the Taoist priest was busy, he got straight to the point:

"Military Advisor Park, I apologize for interrupting military affairs, but it is because Yuan Heng introduced this talented Ye Dui. Mr. Ye observes the people's hearts and sees the hidden dangers. He has some insights that are fundamental to our Red Flag Battalion. Nai'an thinks that this is no small matter. I dare not act on my own, so I brought him here for the Military Advisor to make a decision."

Park Daoren led Byun and Ye into his private quarters and dismissed all other people.

After Ye Dui carefully and subtly reiterated his concerns about the stability of the Red Flag Camp's foundation, Master Pu's tightly furrowed brows relaxed, and a look of genuine appreciation, even a hint of relief, appeared on his face.

"Mr. Ye is insightful and far-sighted! His thoughts coincide perfectly with those of the Marshal!"

"I am impressed," Pu Daoren exclaimed, a hint of excitement in his voice. The specific strategies Shishan employed regarding Xuzhou were military secrets, and he naturally couldn't elaborate to outsiders, only revealing them in a very subtle way.

"The Marshal's command to relieve Xuzhou is for the greater good of resisting the Yuan and relieving the siege of our allies. After the battle, the Red Flag Battalion will only assist Marshal Li in reorganizing the new army and restoring defenses, and will not interfere in the specific civil and military affairs of Xuzhou. In the past few days, the Military Command has been working diligently according to the Marshal's orders to handle battlefield spoils, resettle prisoners of war, and other post-battle matters. If there are no unforeseen circumstances, the Marshal will soon return in triumph!"

These words indirectly show that the Red Flag Battalion had no intention of coveting Xuzhou or overexpanding while neglecting its fundamentals, and affirm Ye Dui's foresight.

Bian Yuanheng listened attentively, and the weight that had been hanging over him because of Ye Dui's warning finally settled down.

What delighted him even more was the opportunity to glimpse the daily operations of the Marshal's Office's core departments. Whether it was the demanding Xuan Cao (a high-ranking official in charge of propaganda) or the efficient military affairs processing center of the Military Command, he gained a deeper understanding of the Red Flag Battalion's rigorous system and vibrant energy.

For this reason alone, today's trip was worthwhile.

Shi Nai'an had stayed up all night and was already exhausted. He was also worried about the backlog of affairs in Xuan Cao. Now that he saw that things had become clear and it was just a false alarm, he got up to take his leave.
"It turns out the Marshal had already planned ahead; we were overthinking things. In that case, we won't bother Strategist Park any longer with military affairs."

"Please wait a moment, Mr. Shi."

Park Daoren raised his hand, gesturing for him to stay, and turned his gaze intently to Ye Dui. Yesterday, along with the victory report, only orders regarding the specific handling of post-battle spoils and prisoners of war from Shishan were sent; no core secrets such as the transfer of Xuzhou to Li Zicheng were mentioned, so Park Daoren naturally knew nothing about them.

However, before the war, he had strongly advocated taking advantage of the situation to annex Xuzhou and had drafted a strategy, but it was resolutely rejected by Shishan.

Although Park Do-in obeyed the order at the time, he may not have been entirely without regret.

Now, this commoner Ye Dui, without understanding the true strength and potential of the Red Flag Battalion, is able to make a judgment that is highly consistent with the Marshal's own based solely on his insight into the general situation of the world and the Jianghuai region—not to covet Xuzhou, but to hold fast to the fundamentals!

Such vision and perspective are truly rare. How can we let such talent slip through our fingers?

However, Park Daoren was self-aware enough to know that only the Marshal had the means to recruit such a talented person, so he immediately suppressed his excitement and sincerely said to Ye Dui:
"Mr. Ye is a man of great talent, insightful and far-sighted. What he has said today is but a small part of the whole picture, yet it is a glimpse into the whole. I imagine that you must have some brilliant strategies for the stability and prosperity of the country in your mind."

If you, sir, do not despise me, whether it be to submit a memorial offering advice or to present my strategies in person to the Marshal in the future, I, Park, am willing to serve you with utmost loyalty.

Upon hearing this, Shi Nai'an immediately cursed himself for being foolish.

Staying up late really does make things worse!

He was an outsider with no roots in the local area, and the Red Flag Camp was in dire need of "his own people." Such a good opportunity to recommend talented people to help him was almost taken by this bull-noble!
He quickly chimed in, his tone equally enthusiastic: "What Military Advisor Park said is quite right. As the Prefect of Xuan Cao, it is my duty to recommend talented people. If Mr. Ye has any great works or insightful opinions, I am willing to pass them on to the Marshal!"

Their eyes met briefly in mid-air, and a subtle spark ignited between them as they vied for the credit of recommending the talent.

Ye Dui was filled with mixed feelings as he watched the two Red Flag Battalion officials vying to curry favor with him.

Before coming to the Marshal's Mansion, Ye Dui did indeed have the idea of ​​submitting a memorial to offer his advice.

But now, knowing that Marshal Shi had already considered everything thoroughly, and seeing that the various departments and offices of the Marshal's Mansion were operating in a standardized and efficient manner, while the Red Flag Battalion had only been established for a short time and was already showing no signs of being a makeshift organization, he realized that Shi Shan was truly a hero capable of great things, and he dared not rashly submit a memorial.

The thoughts he had been pondering these past few days had already been anticipated by the Marshal Shi, whom he had never met, which greatly diminished his desire to submit a memorial and offer advice.

A deeper concern was whether his own superficial knowledge would appear presumptuous before a truly powerful ruler who controlled the overall situation. If he rashly submitted a memorial, it might prove his understanding to be shallow, which would be undesirable.

Ye Dui pondered for a moment, then bowed deeply to Pu Daoren and Shi Nai'an, his tone humble and sincere:
"I am unworthy of your kind words. What I said just now was merely a partial view, a glimpse into the whole picture. The Marshal's profound wisdom and foresight are beyond my reach."

"I would like to linger in Hefei for a few more days to gain a more thorough understanding of the situation and the Marshal's jurisdiction before deciding on my next move. Is that... permissible?"

Pu Daoren and Shi Nai'an exchanged a glance, both seeing a hint of regret in each other's eyes, but even more so understanding and appreciation. Ye Dui's caution precisely demonstrated his composure, proving he was not a frivolous and boastful man.

Master Pu was the first to laugh and say, "I admire your prudence and composure, sir. It is truly a blessing for Hefei and our army that you wish to stay in Hefei for a longer period of time to observe and learn. I am honored!" Shi Nai'an quickly echoed his sentiment.

Although Ye Dui abandoned his plan to submit a memorial immediately, when Pu Daoren reported the military news to Shishan that day, he still solemnly mentioned Ye Dui's matter in a note.

After all, recommending talent is considered equivalent to offering advice, and it is also meritorious.

However, he did not dare to embezzle the credit of Bian Yuanheng and Shi Nai'an, and reported the matter truthfully.

Xuzhou.

During the battle that day, Shishan did not commit all of the Red Flag Battalion's forces to Chulan.

He ordered Chen Tong's troops to remain at the Wuyao camp to guard against the possibility that if the war dragged on, the Yuan army would send elite troops south to cut off their supply lines.

He ordered Qiu Cheng to lead Jin Chaoxing, Ye Sheng, Zhang Huan, Deng Dagang and other troops to garrison Suzhou, guard the army's food and supplies, and deter the Red Turban Army "miscellaneous troops" in Suzhou who had little fighting power but were used to going with the flow.

After deserting in the face of battle, Zhao Jun misjudged the battlefield situation, believing that Shishan was doomed to defeat. He led his remaining troops around Wuyao's camp and secretly sneaked back to Suzhou, attempting to use his former identity to trick the city gates open, seize the city's troops, and steal supplies.

Unexpectedly, Qiu Cheng had already received Shi Shan's strict order that "anyone who withdraws his troops without the order of Commander Jun shall be executed without mercy." He turned the tables on Zhao Jun, pretending not to know about Zhao Jun's crime of desertion in the face of battle, and let his troops enter the city. Ye Sheng, Jin Chaoxing and other troops who were lying in ambush suddenly attacked.

Zhao Junyong's troops were caught off guard and more than a hundred of them were killed on the spot. Nearly five hundred men, seeing that the situation was hopeless, surrendered and the rest scattered.

In the chaos, Zhao Junyong disappeared without a trace.

In the days following the battle, Cui De and Bai Buxin, following Shi Shan's orders, pressed their advantage and recaptured Xiao County and Yongcheng, which had been briefly occupied by the Yuan army. They stabilized the front line, and the Yuan army would have to pay a heavy price if they wanted to encircle Xuzhou again.

Shi Shan also roughly figured out the main problems existing in the military and political situation in Xuzhou, but he only adjusted some key personnel in the name of Sesame Li:
Li Xixi and Xue Xian, who were brave and relatively reliable in battle, were promoted to generals; Bai Buxin and Cui De, who performed outstandingly in this battle, were promoted to commanders; and Da Dao Ao and other meritorious soldiers were appointed as commanders of a thousand households.

The garrison areas of the various troops were adjusted: Xue Xian was ordered to guard Suzhou, Peng Erlang was ordered to guard Lingbi, and Li Xixi was ordered to be stationed in Xuzhou to assist Yin Congdao in reorganizing the Xuzhou garrison and some eligible prisoners.

Shishan handled the purge of the reactionary forces in Xuzhou, which was the most sensitive and most likely to incite unrest, with great caution.

He only ordered the arrest of a few of the most vocal and popular surrenderers, and set the tone for the subsequent investigation—this matter should be led "personally" by Sesame Li, and it was not advisable to take action until Shishan left Xuzhou.

However, in Suzhou, Shishan displayed a completely different iron-fisted approach.

When Zhao Junyong launched his surprise attack on the city, several "miscellaneous" groups inside the city clamored in response, but because Zhao Junyong's forces were defeated too quickly, they failed to cause a major disturbance.

The situation was critical that day. In order to stabilize the overall situation, Qiu Cheng did not dare to provoke these fence-sitters too much when he was unaware of the situation on the front line.

Once the situation was settled, Xue Xian led his elite troops to Suzhou. He immediately followed Shi Shan's strict orders and forcibly dismantled all unreliable, irregular armed forces within the city. Anyone who resisted was executed on the spot! His followers were rigorously screened, the old, weak, sick, and disabled were eliminated, and they were dispersed for retraining.

After this swift and thorough reorganization, although the number of troops in Suzhou was greatly reduced, the precarious pressure on the food supply was significantly alleviated.

More importantly, the remaining troops, after being reorganized and trained, eliminated destabilizing factors, and their cohesion and combat effectiveness increased rather than decreased, truly becoming a usable force.

The Red Flag Camp's headquarters were located hundreds of miles away on Luzhou Road.

Seeing that the situation in Xuzhou was initially stabilized and that his subordinates were gradually getting back on track, Shi Shan did not delay any longer. He led his main force and the civil and military talents such as Mao Gui, whom he had discovered during this period, on a grand journey back home.

(End of this chapter)