Sweep Yuan

Chapter 224, "The Pillar of Strength," will be released.

Hefei, Marshal's Mansion
"Marshal, Qin Congde has brought with him the official imperial edict from the court."

Guo Zongli, the clerk of the Ministry of Rites, stood at the lower end of the table and carefully reported the purpose of the Yuan envoy's visit. He noticed that Marshal Shi only paused slightly before continuing to write, as if he had only heard a routine report. Fearing that Shi Shan would be displeased, Guo Zongli dared not keep him in suspense any longer and quickly revealed the crucial information:

"The imperial court plans to grant him the title of Marshal...General of Luzhou Road, concurrently serving as Grand Marshal of the Huainan Righteous Army."

The position of Luzhou Road General Manager is tantamount to acknowledging Shishan's jurisdiction over the core control area of ​​Hongqiying.
The title "Grand Marshal of the Huainan Righteous Army" is even more flexible, and its scope of authority can even vaguely cover areas such as Haozhou, Chuzhou, and Liuhe, which are already under the actual control of the Red Flag Battalion.

In any case, Shishan also agreed to the Yuan court sending civil officials to govern the area.

Once Shishan accepts the imperial decree, the Yuan court can announce to the outside world that the government troops have recovered these areas.

Of course, this official title alone was not enough to govern Xuzhou Circuit—even the Huainan Province was powerless to govern the Huaibei region.

Shi Shan was approving the report on the implementation of the "mixed reclamation" plan for displaced people submitted by the Ministry of Revenue. Upon hearing Guo Zongli's words, he continued writing without pausing. In his eyes, the official title bestowed upon him by the imperial court was clearly less important than the report concerning the livelihoods of tens of thousands of people. He simply asked casually:
"What do you think we should do to get rid of this Left Chancellor Qin this time?"

The "peace talks" between the Red Flag Battalion and the Yuan court—or more accurately, the Yuan court's Huainan Province—have entered their fourth round.

As the main person in charge, Guo Zongli's state of mind changed from initial unease when facing the imperial envoy, to pride in the Red Flag Battalion's ability to force the other side to make concessions time and time again, and then back to unease and even fear.

Seeing that the Yuan court had offered such a high price, and even sent Qin Congde, the Left Vice Minister of Huainan Province, a second-rank official, to personally deliver the imperial edict, this was a great show of "sincerity" in terms of diplomatic protocol.

At least, since the chaos began, no other "rebel king" had ever received such a "high-level" offer of amnesty from the Yuan court.

The Yuan Dynasty delegation had already arrived in Hefei and was waiting for Shishan to pay his respects and receive the imperial decree.

If they continue to use the "delaying tactic," they can only delay for a day or two at most. They can't really detain Qin Zuocheng like they did Zhao Canzheng, can they? But if they refuse to accept the imperial decree, will they completely enrage Qin Congde, thereby provoking the Yuan court's central government and incurring its thunderous wrath regardless of the cost?
Although rationally speaking, Huainan Province is currently incapable of fighting on two fronts, the Yuan court is not Huainan Province. This time, the Yuan court has shown its sincerity, but Shishan is ungrateful. Guo Zongli dares not think about the consequences.

At heart, he was still a traditional scholar, unable to maintain the composure of a mountain collapsing before him.

When faced with such a crucial decision that could determine the fate of the Red Flag Battalion and even his own life, he deeply understood why scholars throughout history have often been criticized for being "more scheming than decisive."

Under immense pressure, he felt a dryness in his throat, and his voice trembled slightly.

"I believe that it would be best for the Marshal to condescend to meet with Left Chancellor Qin today. In any case, he needs to give an explanation in person."

The strategy of feigning compliance with the Yuan court to buy precious time for preparations was a plan that the officers and soldiers of the Red Flag Battalion had already discussed and agreed upon.

Guo Zongli dared not directly advise Shishan to accept the imperial decree—that would violate fundamental principles; but he also lacked the courage to utter such a resolute suggestion as "expelling Qin Congde." Left with no other choice, he could only opt for the safest approach—passing the buck back to Shishan.

However, his words clearly revealed a tendency to act cautiously.

Shi Shan finally put down his pen, looked up at Guo Zongli's face, which was filled with tension, hesitation, and a hint of fear, and a barely perceptible disappointment flashed in his eyes. He said:

“I will not see Qin Congde. Tell him that this official position is too low and I am not satisfied.”

"Can--"

Guo Zongli wanted to persuade Shishan again, but before he could speak, he was met with the marshal's cold gaze. He quickly swallowed the words he was about to utter and changed his words to:

"I obey my orders!"

Guo Zongli's talent lay in handling tedious affairs and diplomatic negotiations, but his limitations were laid bare at crucial moments requiring immense courage and strategic resolve. Shi Shan, not wanting Guo Zongli to lose his composure in front of Qin Congde, added:
"If he gets angry, tell him that if Xie Pingzhang cannot explain to the Yuan court, the Red Flag Battalion can fight alongside them!"

Watching the distraught Guo Zongli leave, Shi Shan shook his head inwardly.

No matter how well an organization's strategy is formulated, it ultimately needs specific people to execute it. However, individuals with different stances, courage, vision, and personalities will inevitably make different judgments and reveal different flaws when faced with the same situation.

Just like the long-running struggle with Huainan Province, a consensus had been reached at the top, but as time went on, the other side kept raising its demands, the external situation changed, and different voices emerged internally.

Some, like Guo Zongli, wavered and feared the consequences as the other side kept escalating the demands; others, like Shi Nai'an, suspected that Shi Shan was just putting on an act and genuinely wanted to accept the offer of amnesty, so they repeatedly wrote letters to explain the pros and cons and earnestly advised against it.

Even within the military, some generals felt confused and anxious about the ongoing "peace talks."

If the Red Flag Battalion, with its relatively tight organizational structure, was in such a state, how could the Yuan Dynasty, which was rife with internal strife, possibly achieve true unity of purpose and respond appropriately?

For the Yuan court's central government in Dadu, both Shishan and Zhang Shicheng, who had just started their uprising, were traitors who had to be eliminated. The best outcome would naturally be for these two groups of rebels to kill each other, and then the court would step in to clean up the mess and reap the benefits.

However, for the officials of Huainan Province, who were facing Shishan and Zhang Shicheng's military might head-on, they faced an extremely realistic and cruel choice:

The priority should be to first stabilize the more powerful Shishan on the western front at all costs, and then concentrate efforts on suppressing Zhang Shicheng, who was threatening the lifeline of the canal transport and salt fields on the east.
Or was it to maintain the long-vanished dignity of the imperial court, disregarding its own precarious situation, forcing a two-front war, and then being pushed to the city walls by the Red Flag Battalion in a very short time, sacrificing itself for the country?
Now, the initiative for war and peace is firmly in the hands of the Red Flag Battalion, not in the Huainan Province, which is weak both internally and externally.

If Xie Zhedu, Qin Congde, and others were still somewhat clear-headed and knew how to weigh the pros and cons, they would not have chosen to reignite the war with the Red Flag Battalion at this time and bring about their own destruction.

At the last moment of announcing the imperial edict, they replaced Zhao Lian, who had been in contact with the Red Flag Battalion, with Qin Congde, who held a higher official position. This was a compromise made out of desperation, an attempt to "give face" to ensure that Shishan would receive the edict smoothly.

Meanwhile, after a period of rest and recuperation, Hongqiying not only successfully resettled and absorbed tens of thousands of refugees, but also took advantage of the winter off-season to organize manpower to complete a large number of small-scale water conservancy projects, such as dredging ditches and digging ponds, laying a solid foundation for agricultural production in the coming year.

At the same time, most of the preparations for the war have been completed.

First, some of the garrison troops were reassigned, and the outer fortified villages and beacon towers were constructed and improved. If the Yuan army were to continue sending small groups of a few hundred men to wreak havoc deep into enemy territory as before, they would pay a heavy price.

Secondly, the military organization was adjusted and optimized once again.

The Weiwu Guard was newly established, with Wang Bi as its commander-in-chief, and a staff of 5,000.

The remaining guards also saw an increase in troop strength depending on their garrison duties and strategic directions.

Shishan also changed the position of "Zhenfu Shi" (镇抚使), which was originally a temporary appointment, to a permanent position, placing it between the Duzhishi (都指挥使) and the Zhihuishi (指挥使), in order to solve the problem that the original command hierarchy was too large and not flexible enough.

The valiant generals Chang Yuchun, Gong Wu, Li Wu, Hu Dahai, Fu Youde, and Shao Rong were promoted from "Captain" to "General" due to their outstanding military achievements accumulated in various battles, temporarily widening the gap between them and Wu Liujin, Sun Xun, and others.

Of course, Shi Shan knew that the current organizational structure was only a temporary measure. Once the crossing of the river was successful and the territory expanded exponentially, the command situation and combat tasks would change drastically, and the army's organizational structure would inevitably need to be adjusted again.

This is how one starts from scratch in chaotic times. The situation changes rapidly, and the organizational structure of the army must also be constantly adjusted and optimized. Before a great cause is accomplished, there is no such thing as a fixed and unchanging organization.

Every adjustment we make now is in preparation for the next, even greater development.

During the peace talks, the Red Flag Battalion steadily expanded its army and prepared for war, while the Yuan army in Huainan on the other side was not idle either.

Troops were frequently redeployed in Yangzhou, Gaoyou, and Huai'an, significantly weakening the western defenses against the Red Flag Battalion. Elite forces were transferred eastward in an attempt to encircle Zhang Shicheng in Taizhou. It is said that after occupying Taizhou, Zhang Shicheng aggressively recruited soldiers, claiming to have over ten thousand troops.

This figure is naturally exaggerated. The most basic problem of weapon and armor shortage cannot be solved by simply occupying Taizhou City. His troops are filled with a large number of farmers and salt workers who have just put down their hoes, and their training and equipment are far inferior to those of the Red Flag Battalion.

However, the first counterattack hastily organized by the Huainan Province suffered a crushing defeat at the gates of Taizhou, losing nearly three thousand soldiers.

This defeat, from another perspective, proves that Zhang Shicheng's troops were not entirely a rabble; their core forces were quite capable of fighting, and Zhang Shicheng himself also possessed certain military command abilities.

The equipment and supplies "sent" by the Yuan army greatly alleviated the predicament of Zhang Shicheng's troops being short of armor and weapons.

The current situation is as follows: Although the Yuan army in Huainan has suffered another defeat, it has managed to form a semi-encirclement of Taizhou by virtue of its superior troop strength and using the five cities of Xinghua, Gaoyou, Jiangdu, Taixing and Tongzhou as its fulcrum, attempting to lock Zhang Shicheng in a corner of Taizhou.

Zhang Shicheng then ordered his brother Zhang Shide to lead a detachment eastward, capture Rugao County, and take control of six major salt fields, including Matang Salt Field, Juegang Salt Field, Fengli Salt Field, Pincha Salt Field, Jiaoxie Salt Field, and Fu'an Salt Field. They obtained a large amount of money, grain, and people, and initially stabilized the situation.

As a result, along with the Baiju Saltworks, Dingxi Saltworks, Dongtai Saltworks, Liangduo Saltworks, and Anfeng Saltworks that were destroyed by Zhang Shicheng when he raised his army, most of the saltworks under the jurisdiction of Yangzhou Road had fallen into Zhang Shicheng's hands or were paralyzed. The few remaining saltworks were also frequently harassed and unable to produce normally.

The reserve funds, grain, and military personnel that the Huainan Province relied on to maintain its rule shrank sharply, and its financial situation deteriorated further.

Under such circumstances, even if the Yuan army in Huainan were to eventually manage to defeat Zhang Shicheng, they would be severely weakened and would be unable to launch a large-scale attack on the Red Flag Battalion in the short term, let alone fight on two fronts.

Their most pressing need right now is to stabilize Shishan and absolutely prevent a conflict from breaking out with the Red Flag Battalion.

As expected, when Guo Zongli went to the guesthouse with trepidation to visit Qin Congde and subtly conveyed Shishan's refusal to accept the official title, the expected thunderous anger did not occur.

Qin Congde, the Left Vice Minister of Huainan under the Yuan Dynasty, instantly turned as black as the bottom of a pot. His fingers, gripping the teacup, turned white from the force, his eyes blazed with anger, and his chest heaved, clearly indicating that he was extremely furious.

The atmosphere in the hall seemed to have dropped to freezing point; Guo Zongli could even hear his own heartbeat.

In the end, Qin Congde only managed to squeeze out a perfunctory remark through gritted teeth: "Prefect Guo, please tell Marshal Shi not to make a mistake! The imperial court's grace is boundless and not something you can easily humiliate!"

Immediately, Qin Congde stood up abruptly, turned away, and left Hefei City in a sorry state with his entourage, without even enjoying the prepared banquet.

He arrived with great fanfare, eager to let everyone know that Shishan had accepted the imperial court's offer of amnesty, but he left in a great hurry and in a sorry state.

Since Shishan has refused to accept the imperial decree, there is no point in staying any longer, and it may even be dangerous. It is the right thing to do to return to Yangzhou as soon as possible to discuss the next steps.

However, the peace talks did not completely break down. Didn't Shishan refuse to fight for so long before because he thought the official rank was too low? We can only hope that the court can keep this enemy in check before sending a large army south.

In fact, the situation in Huainan Province is not all bad news. In a corner that Xie Zhedu, Qin Congde and others had almost forgotten, there is still a small but tenacious fighting force in Huainan Province.

Southwest of Luzhou Road, Yu Que, the chief administrator of Anqing Road, is preparing to launch a new military operation.

Yu Que's ancestors were Tanguts (a branch of the Tangut people). He was born when his father, Sha Lazangbu, was an official in Luzhou. Yu Que grew up in Hefei and was deeply influenced by Han culture. He was well-versed in classics and history and was skilled in both literature and martial arts.

In the first year of the Yuan Dynasty's reign (1333), Yu Que achieved second place in the first class of the imperial examination and was appointed as the Assistant Commissioner of the Zhejiang East Circuit. Later, due to the death of his mother, he resigned from his post in accordance with the regulations for mourning and returned to his hometown to observe the mourning period.

In the first half of this year, Xu Shouhui's general Xiang Pulue and others captured Wuchang Prefecture, causing shockwaves in Jiangnan, and White Lotus followers from all over the country responded. Xiang Pulue launched an uprising in Jiangzhou, which was only separated from Anqing Road by a river, and captured its capital, Dehua, in one fell swoop. The Xu Song regime was at the height of its power.

Meanwhile, the White Lotus Rebel army "Peng Zu's family," which was active in Luzhou Road, was exhausted in the repeated tug-of-war with the Yuan army led by Zuo Wu, Dong Tuanxiao, and Zhou Chang, and was unable to break through the situation. Furthermore, Zuo Junbi surrendered the city and led the Red Flag Camp south, making their situation even more difficult.

Peng Yingyu, the leader of the "Peng Zu family," assessed the situation and decided to give up the struggle for Luzhou and instead serve Xu Shouhui, who was gaining more momentum.

Afterwards, Peng Yingyu's troops marched westward, first capturing Tongling, then breaking through Chizhou, and the "Peng Zu family" regained its prestige. Peng Yingyu then personally led a large army back to the north bank of the Yangtze River to besiege Huaining County, the seat of Anqing Road.

At that time, Huaining was in dire straits. Outside the city, the rebel camps were connected one after another, with banners covering the sun and the sound of drums and clamor shaking the heavens and the earth. Inside the city, people were in a state of panic. Some officials had already given up hope and began to indulge in a life of debauchery, waiting for the end to come.

In a moment of haste, Tuohuerbuhua, the Pingzhang Zhengshi of Henan Province, reinstated Yu Que and appointed him as the acting deputy envoy of Huaixi and the vice-commander of the Grand Marshal's Office, assigning him to garrison Anqing Road.

Yu Que was appointed to the post in a time of crisis. When he arrived, Huaining City was already surrounded by the army of "Peng Zu's family". He could only risk sneaking into the city through a side road.

After entering the city, Yu Que displayed extraordinary courage and skill:

First, the granaries were opened to provide relief to the starving people, and the young and strong among them were recruited and trained into an army. This not only eliminated the hidden danger that the starving people might rebel or become collaborators with the rebel army outside the city, but also supplemented the city's defense forces.

He then vigorously rectified officialdom, swiftly and decisively punished corruption, and executed two officials who had aroused great public resentment with ruthless measures, which quickly stabilized the hearts of the people in the city and boosted morale.

After stabilizing the situation, Yu Que knew that prolonged defense would inevitably lead to defeat, and that he had to take the offensive instead of the defensive. Therefore, he carefully selected his soldiers and personally led them out of the city at night to launch a surprise attack on the "Peng Zu family" army.

After leaving Luzhou Road, the "Peng Zu Family" troops won a series of victories and were in high spirits. However, due to their rapid expansion and lack of training, their organizational structure was very loose. Caught off guard, they were defeated by Yu Que's surprise attack. The important stronghold of Shuanggangzhai was captured, and all the stored grain and fodder were burned.

Peng Yingyu suffered a heavy blow, and the morale of his army was unstable. He hastily led the main force back to the south bank of the Yangtze River, and did not even have time to support his disciple Zhao Pusheng, who was attacking Qianshan County, northwest of Huaining.

After that, Xiang Pulue led his army eastward and invited the "Peng Zu family" army to help him fight. Peng Yingyu left Li Pusheng to guard Chizhou, while he personally led a part of his troops southward to fight in Jiangxi, Jiangsu and Zhejiang.

Although Yu Que lifted the siege of Huaining in one battle and gained great prestige, Zhao Pusheng subsequently captured Qianshan County. Anqing Road still faced the unfavorable situation of being attacked from both the north and south by Zhao Pusheng in Qianshan and Li Pusheng in Chizhou. The situation was still not optimistic.

Yu Que was well aware that his forces were insufficient and that the newly recruited troops needed time to be trained, so he did not rush things.

He first focused on strengthening the defenses of Huaining City, digging deeper trenches, building more watchtowers, training soldiers, and teaching them battle tactics to prevent the "Peng Zu family" army from returning. He also continuously sent out small elite troops to harass Zhao Pusheng's forces, preventing them from establishing a stable foothold.

A month later, after the army had completed its initial training, Yu Que personally led the main force out of the city to besiege Qianshan.

Although Zhao Pusheng was brave and skilled in battle, his troops were mostly newly recruited soldiers, and their fighting strength was not complete. In addition, their food and supplies were running out, and their morale was wavering. After several days of fierce fighting, they were ultimately no match for Yu Que. Zhao Pusheng led his remaining troops to retreat to Tongcheng County in the northeast corner of Anqing Road, where he captured the city and held it.

The successive battles have depleted Anqing Road's resources, and the previous siege of Huaining by the "Peng Zu family" army, which also plundered young men and looted grain, has caused devastating damage to agricultural production within the region. Fields are barren, villages are desolate, and people's livelihoods are impoverished, making recovery urgently needed.

At that time, Shishan was leading the Red Flag Battalion in a major offensive against Luzhou Road, and could take advantage of the situation to invade Anqing Road at any time.

Yu Que dared not be careless in the slightest, and could only let Zhao Pusheng's remnants rest and recover, while stabilizing the other prefectures and counties in Anqing Road first.

He gathered the rebels together and established military settlements in Huaining and Qianshan areas to first consolidate the foundation and accumulate food supplies. At the same time, he constructed a defensive system of beacon towers and stockades to prevent the Red Flag Battalion from advancing westward and to guard against Zhao Pusheng's troops from heading south from Tongcheng to cause further damage.

Once the autumn harvest was stored and farming was less demanding, Yu Que immediately organized military training and drills for the local militia in various villages and fortresses, replacing some of the garrison troops in Huaining and freeing up more core mobile forces.

Now, after months of painstaking preparation, everything is in place, and Yu Que has finally mustered his army once again, vowing to set out on a campaign, aiming his sword at Tongcheng.

(End of this chapter)