Sweep Yuan

Chapter 217 The Yuan Dynasty in Turmoil

As winter's chill began to set in, the streets and alleys where the Ministry of Rites' residence was located appeared exceptionally deserted. Guo Zongli, dressed in a blue official robe and followed by two attendants standing with their hands on their swords, walked steadily to the east wing of the residence. He straightened his clothes slightly and gently pushed open the door.

Inside the room, Zhao Lian, the Vice Minister of the Huainan Province under the Yuan Dynasty, paced anxiously in the not-so-spacious guest room, his hands behind his back.

He was dressed in a purple robe and wore a lacquered gauze turban, which should have given him a very good appearance. However, due to days of house arrest and the unknown wait, his brows were filled with gloom and irritability, and his originally well-maintained face showed signs of haggardness.

Hearing the door open, Zhao Lian turned around abruptly and saw Guo Zongli. His face instantly turned as black as the bottom of a pot.

Guo Zongli, seemingly unaware of the reason for the other party's unpleasant expression, looked surprised, cupped his hands, and asked in confusion:
"Counselor Zhao looks displeased. Could it be that the staff at the post station have been negligent these past few days? I will punish them immediately!"

"Humph!"

Several days later, Zhao Lian finally met the official from the Red Flag Battalion responsible for liaising with the delegation again. Suppressing his anger from being effectively under house arrest for so many days, he snorted and, too lazy to continue the pretense, cut straight to the point. His voice, somewhat stiff from the suppressed emotion, said:
"Governor Guo, enough with the idle talk! I have come by imperial decree. When will I be able to proclaim the Emperor's grace? What is the purpose of your delays!"

He had expected Guo Zongli to make excuses and evade the issue as he had done before, but to his surprise, the other party's answer this time was unusually straightforward, which was the result he least wanted to hear.

"I have come today to inform Councilor Zhao that there is no need to announce the imperial decree. Your delegation may return now."

"go back?"

Zhao Lian didn't react for a moment, and after a moment of stunned silence, his pupils contracted slightly, and he blurted out incredulously.

"Why...why?!"

Although he had anticipated the difficulty of recruiting these rebels before his mission, and even secretly speculated that he might fail, Zhao Lian still felt a sense of absurdity and astonishment when he heard them so bluntly want to expel him, their angel.

Ishiyama clearly let them into the controlled area, but the peace talks haven't even started yet, and it's already going to end?
Guo Zongli remained calm, as if discussing a trivial matter, and explained:

"The conditions offered by the imperial court are too harsh, and we cannot persuade our loyal and brave soldiers to accept them. The public is indignant and the people are outraged. For the safety of Councilor Zhao and the entire delegation, we urge you to leave the country as soon as possible."

These words were spoken politely, but their content left no room for negotiation.

Zhao Lian knew, of course, that the terms he had offered for the surrender were indeed very harsh and almost humiliating, but that was just the usual "exorbitant demands" at the negotiating table. If the other party was dissatisfied, they could simply "negotiate on the spot"!

There's no reason to flip the table without bargaining.
These peasant peddlers really don't know the rules!
"cough!"

Zhao Lian coughed lightly, deciding to be frank in hopes of salvaging the situation, and said:
"Governor Guo should know that I have come here by imperial decree and the court has granted me the authority to make decisions on the spot. As long as Marshal Shi truly has a sincere and loyal heart to serve the court, some terms... are not beyond discussion."

He felt he had already humbled himself and shown great sincerity.

However, Guo Zongli still wore that enigmatic smile, shook his head, and said:
"I appreciate Councilor Zhao's good intentions. However, my Marshal has already made another decision and has decided to discuss the peace talks directly with Xie Pingzhang (Xie Zhedu, the Pingzhang Zhengshi of Huainan Province). There is no need for Councilor Zhao to trouble himself further."

"What? Direct peace talks with Xie Pingzhang?"

Zhao Lian could hardly believe his ears. How could Xie Zhedu, the highest-ranking official of Huainan Province, a powerful regional governor, possibly lower himself to negotiate directly with a rebel leader? It was utterly ridiculous!

Immediately, he suddenly remembered that Guo Zongli had said a few days ago that Shishan had a "generous gift" for him. A terrible thought instantly flashed into his mind, causing his face to change drastically, and he exclaimed in horror:
"You—you've sent troops?!"

Guo Zongli was quite pleased with the other party's shocked and pale expression. He nodded, his tone even carrying a hint of relief, and said:
"Indeed. Zhao, the Councilor, will no longer need to detour through Wuhe on your return journey. Our army has already conquered Liuhe, and it shouldn't be long before our forces reach the walls of Jiangdu. At that time, Xie Pingzhang... should be quite interested in having a good talk with my Marshal, right?"

The only place separating Liuhe County from Jiangdu, the seat of Yangzhou Road, is Zhenzhou.

Given the formidable fighting prowess of the Red Flag Battalion, which had repeatedly defeated government troops, Yangzhou would be in grave danger should Zhenzhou fall. For the sake of his own life and future career, Xie Zhedu, who had been granted the authority to "act expediently" by the court, might actually be forced to agree to Shishan's conditions.

Zhao Lian felt a sudden dizziness and his blood rushed to his head, but he knew he was now a fish on a chopping block and dared not rebuke the other party for openly mocking the imperial envoy. Instead, he had to suppress his shock and anger and try to salvage the situation. He forced himself to remain calm and said:

"Foolish! Utterly foolish! If the Red Flag Battalion dares to invade Yangzhou and threaten the vital waterway, even if Xie Pingzhang is forced by circumstances to feign compliance with you, the imperial court will certainly spare no effort to mobilize heavy troops from all directions to fight you to the death in order to ensure the smooth flow of the waterway!"
"Governor Guo, heed my advice: before disaster strikes, quickly persuade Marshal Shi to pull back from the brink and lest he make a fatal mistake!"

Upon hearing this, a fleeting look of panic crossed Guo Zongli's face, and his complexion seemed to paler slightly, but he still refused to back down and retorted:

"Since Xuzhou's water transport has already been cut off by our Red Turban Army, why should we worry about cutting off another one, Jiangdu?"

Seeing that the other party seemed genuinely unfamiliar with the intricacies of canal transport, Zhao Lian could only suppress his temper and patiently explain:
"Although Xuzhou is an important transit point for the canal transport, even if it is blocked, some small canal boats can still change their route, detouring around Chengshui via Xiapi, and then transferring at Yizhou to go north. However, Jiangdu is the fundamental source of the canal transport, a crucial point where canal boats from the north and south gather and set off. If this place is blocked, not a single sail can go north!"

Moreover, the Huai River region is dotted with salt fields, a vital source of revenue for the imperial court; how could the court easily abandon it?

Seeing that Guo Zongli was still skeptical, Zhao Lian grew anxious and emphasized his words:
"This matter is of great importance and is not something you can decide on your own. Quickly relay my words to Marshal Shi verbatim. If he is a wise man, he will understand the implications and make a decision!"

Now that things have come to this, Zhao Lian can only gamble that Shi Shan does not truly want to completely break with the court, and that his willingness to accept the amnesty still has some sincerity. He will not easily use Yangzhou to test the court's final bottom line.

Guo Zongli gave Zhao Lian a deep look, said nothing more, and turned to leave in a hurry.

About half an hour later, Guo Zongli returned and informed Zhao, the councilor, that Marshal Shi had agreed to summon him.

Zhao Lian felt a mix of emotions. He was a high-ranking official of the second rank and an imperial envoy. According to the rules of etiquette, it should have been Shi Shan, the rebel leader who was willing to accept the amnesty, who personally went to the guesthouse to kneel and receive the imperial edict.

Now, however, I am forced to "pay homage" to the other party as if I were a subordinate paying respects to a superior, which is truly disgraceful and detrimental to the dignity of the nation.

But circumstances are beyond his control. Since he entered Hefei, he has been under house arrest and his arrogance has been largely extinguished. Now that he has finally managed to get the chance to explain the pros and cons face to face, he dares not put on any airs.
After all, if the court loses face, it's the court's fault; but if they fail to complete the mission of granting amnesty, or even lose their lives here, it's all their own fault!
Shi Shan did give Zhao Lian some face, setting the meeting place in the main hall of the guesthouse, saving him the trouble of traveling and avoiding the trouble of possibly discovering the true situation of Hefei on his way to the Marshal's Mansion.

The hall was simply furnished. Shi Shan sat imposingly in the main seat. When Zhao Lian entered, guided by Guo Zongli, he merely glanced up casually without rising to greet him. Today, he was dressed in a slightly worn battle robe, a leather belt around his waist, and sturdy boots, exuding the air of a soldier.

The moment the two met, there was no pleasantries or formalities. Shi Shan waved his hand and, in a booming voice, directly stated his terms:
"I'm a straightforward man, good at marching and fighting, but I don't understand your intricacies. If the court really wants to recruit me and my poor brothers, they have to agree to three conditions, not one less!"

Shi Shan spoke with a deliberately unrefined and straightforward manner, extending his thick fingers to count them off one by one:

"First, none of the cities that my Red Flag Battalion originally conquered can be touched. I need to keep the territory, and the brothers need a place to eat. However, if the imperial court is really worried, they can send some civil officials to help govern the area, and I will have no objection!"
Secondly, regarding the canal route to Xuzhou, I can order Sesame Li to open it up and allow the imperial grain ships to pass. But!

He changed the subject, staring intently at Zhao Lian, and said:

“You can’t block the trade routes anymore. Our merchants and people here need to do business and make a living!”

"Third, you know."

Shi Shan stroked his short beard, chuckled, and said with a wild shrewdness:

"I now control a territory encompassing one major route and four prefectures, with tens of thousands of men under my command. If the imperial court offers amnesty, as for official positions... you should know the consequences! If the offer is too small, it'll be humiliating, and we'll just be wasting each other's time!" Before his mission, Zhao Lian had diligently studied the rise of the Red Flag Battalion. He absolutely refused to believe that Shi Shan, who had single-handedly built such a powerful force, was truly a crude and reckless man who only knew how to display brute force. Judging from his words and actions now, it was clearly a feigned bravado, a strategic retreat to advance.

But the conditions that Shishan offered this time were, to be honest, much more "reasonable" than he had expected, and even made him secretly relieved.

Opening up the canal transport in Xuzhou and allowing the imperial court to send civil officials was itself a form of submission and supervision, which was almost the core goal that the imperial court most hoped to achieve.

The opening of trade routes was merely a condition. Once the surrender was successful, given the Yuan court's weak control over local areas, especially these war-torn regions, it would be impossible to maintain the blockade even if it wanted to.

As for retaining territory and demanding high-ranking positions and generous salaries, the Left Chancellor Tuotuo and others were actually prepared for this – what cannot be taken back on the battlefield, one should not expect to easily take back at the negotiating table.

The best-case scenario at present is to exchange a nominal title and land that cannot be effectively governed for smooth water transport and the superficial submission of Shishan.

Thinking about how he had been living in fear these past few days, yet had ultimately achieved a major breakthrough on the most crucial issue without much effort, Zhao Lian breathed a sigh of relief. Looking at Shishan again, he found it much more pleasing to the eye.

However, the matter of surrendering to the enemy was a far-reaching affair and could not be settled in a few words. The specific details involved, such as official titles, the amount of provisions and pay, and the division of defense zones, all required back-and-forth negotiations between the envoys of both sides to be gradually finalized.

Zhao Lian naturally dared not make a decision on the spot. He straightened his expression, cupped his hands in a gesture of respect towards the northern capital, and adopted the air of a high-ranking court official, saying:
"The terms proposed by Marshal Shi concern the national system. I must report this in detail to the court and respectfully request His Majesty's decision before I can give a formal reply."

Shishan seemed very impatient with this bureaucratic process. He waved his hand and said in a loud voice:

"Then go back and report as soon as possible! Come back whenever you've met my conditions!"

Zhao Lian certainly couldn't go back empty-handed; he needed to get more promises, even if they were just verbal. He quickly emphasized:

"If the court grants the offer of amnesty, Marshal Shi, having received the emperor's favor, must diligently perform his duties, serve the court, quickly reorganize his troops, await orders, and punish the disloyal elements from all directions to demonstrate the emperor's might."

"It's natural!"

Shishan agreed with unusual ease, then immediately changed the subject and stated his practical requirements, saying:

"Since it's about serving the imperial court and fighting for the emperor, shouldn't the court first allocate enough soldiers, armor, and provisions? They can't just use some useless titles like 'ten thousand households' or 'thousand households' to fool people!"
As long as the imperial court replenishes the food, supplies, and equipment for my 100,000-plus Red Flag Battalion soldiers, whoever the court commands to attack, I will not hesitate and will immediately lead my brothers to the front lines! Whenever they say we'll fight, we'll fight, without a second thought!

Zhao Lian felt a pang of unease, inwardly cursing the treacherous chieftain for his relentless pursuit of profit. If the imperial treasury weren't so empty, so desperate for money that it was practically bankrupting the court, why would Prime Minister Tuotuo have been tasked with overseeing the currency reform, inciting public outrage and creating this chaotic mess of widespread unrest?
The money and grain needed to quell the rebellion are now being scraped together from various sources. We've even gone so far as to lift the military ban and encourage local tyrants to pay grain to secure official positions. Where is there any extra money or grain to feed this hungry wolf, Shishan?

But Zhao Lian also understood that if he couldn't satisfy Shi Shan's demands, he shouldn't expect him to actually serve the court and attack other rebel armies to prove his loyalty. If he couldn't force Shi Shan to get his hands dirty with the blood of the rebels, this guy might rebel again at any time.

He quickly came to a realization: whether or not the court could provide the funds, provisions, and military equipment was a headache for the court; but whether or not he could successfully pacify Shishan and temporarily put this traitor in the court's hands was Zhao Lian's achievement and political accomplishment.

Regardless, I'll agree first and try to get the credit for myself first.

"This matter...I must also report it to the court for a decision. Furthermore,"

Zhao Lian, being cautious, added:
"Since it is necessary to distribute military supplies and provisions, the imperial court, according to regulations, must also send special commissioners to count and verify the number of soldiers in your unit before the funds can be allocated."

It was common for the imperial court to exaggerate the number of troops, let alone these rebels who could be soldiers by simply grabbing anyone at random. They always had to find a way to obstruct the other side.

Let alone whether progress can reach that point, in which case the two sides will fight again. Even if the Yuan court acts swiftly and quickly completes the other prerequisites for the amnesty, and sends someone to count the number of troops, Shishan will not be afraid.

The organization and expansion methods of the Red Flag Battalion were completely different from those of the Yuan Dynasty and other rebel armies. As long as the training of officers was adequate, the speed of troop expansion far exceeded expectations, and the combat effectiveness would not decline sharply as a result.

"no problem!"

Shi Shan readily agreed to Zhao Lian's conditions, then immediately changed the subject, a sly smile appearing on his face, and reminded him:

"However, I should also make it clear beforehand that in order to have a 'good' talk with Xie Pingzhang, I have already sent reinforcements to Liuhe County today. If Councilor Zhao really wants to accomplish the great feat of granting amnesty, he should return to Yangzhou as soon as possible and make a decision early."

Zhao Lian had not expected Shi Shan to be so stubborn, and still wanted to try to persuade him to suspend military operations:

"Marshal Shi, war is dangerous and perilous. Please think twice before you act..."

But Shi Shan had no intention of continuing the conversation. He abruptly stood up, ready to leave, his tone carrying an undeniable air of authority:
"Talks are one thing, fighting is another! If the imperial court thinks my conditions are not good enough and has no intention of offering amnesty, it is free to send troops to attack the territory of my Red Flag Battalion! I am ready to fight anytime!"

Zhao Lian finally understood that Shi Shan was so confident because he was certain that the court would be unable to organize a large army to suppress him in the short term. He was determined to use war to force peace talks.

The sad thing is that, given the potential threat to Yangzhou, it's really not the right time to confront him head-on. With the small number of troops under Xie Zhedu's command, it's already difficult to defend the city, let alone launch an offensive.

He dared not delay any longer, and after Shishan left, he hurriedly returned to his room to pack his belongings.

On that day, they left Hefei City under the "escort" of a Red Flag Battalion troop.

Shishan did not arrange for the Yuan court delegation to pass through Chuzhou, Liuhe, and Zhenzhou to reach Yangzhou. Although this route was the shortest, there were too many military deployments along the way, and their true strength could not be easily revealed to the Yuan court envoys.

After leaving Hefei, Zhao Lian and his entourage traveled south through Chaoxian County to Yuxikou, where they boarded a large boat and sailed downstream. On the wide river, a biting wind blew. Standing at the bow, Zhao Lian gazed at the scenery on both banks, his heart filled with turbulent emotions and anxieties about the future.

After sailing eastward for a while, the ships docked at Guazhou Ferry on the north bank. From there, they could travel north via the Grand Canal to reach Jiangdu City, the seat of Yangzhou Prefecture.

Upon finally arriving at their destination, before even entering the city, Zhao Lian keenly sensed that something was amiss. The city gates were heavily guarded, the people passing by looked anxious, and a force of about a thousand soldiers marched out of the city.

However, their marching direction was not westward to Zhenzhou to defend against the Red Flag Battalion that might advance eastward, but instead they were rushing eastward towards Taizhou!

Zhao Lian was greatly alarmed, a sense of foreboding creeping over him. He hurriedly ordered his attendants to stop the commander leading the group and inquire:

"What happened in the city? Why are the troops marching east?"

The commander recognized Zhao Lian, quickly dismounted, bowed, and replied:
"Reporting to Your Excellency, Zhang Shicheng, a salt worker from Baiju Saltworks, has instigated a rebellion! He has successively captured saltworks and key locations including Dingxi Saltworks, Dongtai Saltworks, and Liangduo Saltworks, and is about to besiege Taizhou City. Your Excellency has urgently ordered us to rush to their aid!"

"Wha...what?!"

Zhao Lian was struck dumb, cried out in shock, and froze on the spot, feeling as if everything went black.

Before the troubles of dealing with Shishan could be resolved, war broke out again in Huaidong, a crucial salt-producing region! It was truly a case of misfortunes never coming singly, and a delayed boat encountering a headwind! When did the Yuan Dynasty become so precarious?
……

P.S.: I've had a series of events at my relatives' house these past two days, and I also have a social engagement tonight, so I probably won't have time to write the second chapter. Please forgive me!
(End of this chapter)