Sweep Yuan

Chapter 230 Who Will Raise the Flag for the Expedition to Jiangnan?

The spring chill of the thirteenth year of the Zhizheng era lingered later than in previous years.

When the officials of the Yuan court finally reached a difficult consensus and decided to offer Shishan the "greatest sincerity" ever before, the situation in Huainan Province had already changed drastically.

Zhang Shicheng not only established a foothold in Xinghua County, but also marched westward to besiege Gaoyou Prefecture. The canal transport, which had been briefly opened due to Shishan's willingness to negotiate, was cut off again. This time, there was no alternative route to choose from at the starting point of the canal transport, which made the Yuan court feel the pain deeply.

The Yuan envoy, who was ordered to enter Yangzhou, was almost captured by Zhang Shicheng's rebel cavalry in Gaoyou. He only managed to escape by pretending to be a refugee. By the time he arrived in Yangzhou, it was already March 17th.

The city of Yangzhou (Jiangdu) has long lost its former prosperity as a hub of canal transport. The soldiers guarding the city walls look anxious, and the streets inside the city are deserted. Occasionally, a horse-drawn carriage speeds by, splashing mud, but it does not bring any life to the city.

In an effort to relieve the siege of Gaoyou, Yangzhou sent reinforcements north twice, but both times they were defeated by Zhang Shicheng's forces, suffering heavy losses once again. When the news of the defeat reached back, the city of Yangzhou was plunged into gloom, with a sense that the end was nigh.

Zhao Lian, the Vice Minister of the Huainan Provincial Government, was ordered to pacify Shishan in a time of crisis and dared not delay for a moment. He immediately dispatched a fast horse to Liuhe County to inform Miao Daheng, the Red Flag Battalion commander stationed there, that an imperial envoy was about to deliver an imperial decree, and ordered him to inform Shishan to prepare for the reception to avoid any unforeseen complications.

Zhao Lian then took a fast boat westward along the Yangtze River, arriving at Yuxikou in Wuwei Prefecture, which was controlled by the Red Flag Camp. After completing negotiations with Shishan, he entered the country nearby to save time.

To Zhao Lian's surprise, Shi Shan reacted unusually quickly this time.

Not only did they quickly agree to Zhao Canzheng's request to enter the country, but they also set the meeting place in Wuwei County, the seat of Wuwei Prefecture, which is closer to the front line.

This seemingly considerate gesture saved both sides several days of travel time, but it also made Zhao Lian feel uneasy—when did Shi Shan become so easy to talk to, and why was he in Wuwei?

But the arrow is on the string and must be fired.

Zhao Lian had no choice but to bite the bullet and lead the delegation, under the "protection" of the Red Flag Battalion soldiers, to Wuwei County by land. But before the delegation even entered the city, the unease in Zhao Lian's heart quickly fermented, turning into regret and fear.

What we saw along the way was no ordinary sight.

Along the official road, orderly troop formations frequently set off, their armor gleaming, their swords and spears flashing, their military bearing impeccable—far superior to ordinary county garrisons or local militias. Also present were caravans of pack animals pulling grain carts, their heavy wheels leaving deep ruts in the muddy ground.

The tributaries leading to the Yangtze River were also crowded with small boats of all kinds, loaded with what appeared to be supplies, creating a stark contrast with the farmers busy with spring plowing in the countryside.

Although Zhao Lian was a civil official, he was somewhat knowledgeable in military affairs, so he understood perfectly well that Shi Shan's relocation to Wuwei Prefecture at this time was no ordinary inspection. The Red Flag Battalion was assembling troops and allocating supplies on a large scale, clearly indicating that a major battle was about to be launched!
By intruding into the enemy's military stronghold at this critical juncture and learning of their movements, wasn't this Yuan Dynasty delegation walking right into a trap?
Upon thinking of this, Zhao Lian felt a chill run from the soles of his feet to the top of his head. The others in the delegation also clearly sensed that something was wrong, their faces turning pale and their whispers filled with fear.

But they were now deep within the Red Flag Camp's territory, surrounded by elite soldiers who were "protecting" them. Although these soldiers were polite, their eyes were sharp. The group was like birds in a cage, with no choice but to continue rushing to Wuwei.

Inside Wuwei City, at the headquarters of Marshal Shishan of the Red Flag Battalion, flags fluttered and guards were tight. Zhao Lian, the envoy of the Yuan court, was led directly into the main hall.

"Vice Minister Zhao, how have you been?"

Shi Shan remained as forthright as ever, exchanging a few pleasantries before getting straight to the point:

"What conditions did the imperial court offer me this time?"

In the past, if he could communicate directly with Shishan so quickly, skipping many intermediate steps and red tape, Zhao Lian would have been secretly delighted, feeling that the surrender was likely to succeed.

But at this moment, looking at Shi Shan's ambiguous smile, which carried a hint of mockery and scrutiny, and recalling the sight of the army's mobilization along the way, Zhao Lian felt a cold sweat running down his back, his heart pounding wildly, and he couldn't feel happy at all.

Since we're already here, even for our own safety at this moment, we should try to calm the other party down first.

Zhao Lian could only suppress his fear and try to maintain the dignity and composure of a high-ranking official. He braced himself and began to read and explain the imperial decree. Deep down, he still held a faint hope that the generous terms of amnesty would dissuade Shi Shan from sending troops immediately.

"Boundless grace from Heaven, in recognition of Marshal Shi's meritorious service in protecting the territory and ensuring the safety of the people, a special decree is hereby issued: the Huaixi Pacification Commissioner's Office is hereby established, governing Liuhe County, as well as the four prefectures of Xu, Su, Hao, and Chu, and the entire territory of Luzhou Circuit."

Marshal Shi was promoted to Assistant Prefect of the Huaixi Pacification Commission, with the rank of Third Grade, concurrently serving as General Commander of Luzhou Road and Grand Marshal of the Righteous Army Command, while still in charge of the troops under his command…

The Assistant Prefect of the Pacification Commission was originally a third-rank official, but Shi Shan concurrently served as the General Manager of Luzhou Road, so he was promoted to a third-rank official. Zhao Lian did not go into detail about this because it was unnecessary. Compared to the flexible adjustment of official rank, the scope of the jurisdiction of the Huaixi Pacification Commission was the key.

They forcibly cut off the prime area that originally belonged to Xuzhou Road and Anfeng Road, and included all the core territories that Hongqiying currently controls. They were willing to carve out a new administrative division just to give Shishan a "legitimate" status.

The urgency of the situation and the anxiety of the Yuan court behind the scenes can be imagined.

If Shi Shan were merely a short-sighted, ordinary local strongman yearning for amnesty and official appointment, or a rebel leader who surrendered and then rebelled again, upon seeing such "special favor," he might actually be moved by the court's "sincerity," cease his military campaign, and settle down to be the Assistant Magistrate Shi.

Unfortunately, Shishan was well aware of the course of history and had long seen through the true nature of the Yuan court, which was weak both internally and externally.

After Zhao Lian finished explaining the imperial edict and wiped the sweat from his forehead, Shi Shan slowly spoke, his tone seemingly teasing.

"A third-rank Assistant Prefect of the Pacification Commission? Hmm, that's not low. And who is the Pacification Commissioner?"

This question hits the nail on the head.

Although the rank of Assistant Commissioner of the Pacification Commissioner's Office was not low, he was nominally still a deputy official and was subject to the control of the Commissioner of Pacification Commissioner, who was of the second rank.

The newly established Huaixi Pacification Commissioner's Office was established by Shi Shan, whose territory was conquered and whose army was created by him. Who could and dared to be the Pacification Commissioner who could control him?

This job arrangement was purely a power play tactic commonly used by the Yuan court, a pre-planned check and balance mechanism.

If Shishan accepts, the imperial court can at any time appoint a envoy to intervene in local affairs with central orders, and then gradually divide and weaken his military and political power.

Zhao Lian's heart tightened. He couldn't tell whether Shi Shan's question meant he was already angry and about to turn on him, summoning axemen into the tent to chop his men into mincemeat, or whether he was genuinely considering the conditions but simply had doubts about this detail.

He was filled with trepidation, his heart pounding like a drum, and could only reply with even greater humility:

"If...if Marshal Shi has no objection, and the court's intention is...this official, this official is also willing to do his best to assist Marshal Shi in governing the Huaihe River region, and will certainly not dare to obstruct him in any way."

As the Vice Minister of Huainan Province, Zhao Lian was a high-ranking official of the second rank. His appointment as the Pacification Commissioner was a lateral transfer, or even a slight demotion, but he adopted an extremely humble attitude at this moment.

These words not only indicated the possible personnel arrangements of the imperial court, but also urgently implied to Shi Shan that he was only acting on imperial orders and that the court's plans were not intended to target him; if he was not satisfied, the appointment of the Pacification Commissioner could be discussed further, and everything would be based on Marshal Shi's wishes.

He only wanted to save his own life and get out of this dangerous place first.

Shi Shan, through Zhao Lian's reaction, had roughly discerned the true bottom line of the Yuan court's current offer of amnesty—it was a desperate attempt to win him over, not a calm and assured reassurance. He stopped teasing him, his expression turning serious, and said coldly:
"pity!"

Those two short words pierced Zhao Lian's ears like ice picks. His legs went weak, his knees buckled, and he nearly collapsed to his knees!

He could barely keep standing only because his fingers, clenched tightly in the sleeves of his official robe, were digging into his palms; the sharp pain from the effort kept him upright, but his body was already trembling uncontrollably. It's over, so it really is time for the flag sacrifice after all?

Just as Zhao Lian was lost in thought, Shi Shan continued:
"I appreciate the court's 'good intentions.' It's just a pity that the army has already moved and the arrow has been released. This time, I am destined not to have the fortune to serve in the same office as Councilor Zhao and work together."

"Send...send troops?!"

Despite being somewhat prepared, Zhao Lian was still shocked to hear the definitive answer from Shi Shan himself, blurting it out in shock. In his haste, he disregarded everything else and almost instinctively invoked the authority of the imperial court in a final attempt to dissuade him:

"Marshal Shi! Think it over! That Zhang Shicheng is rampant, besieging Gaoyou and cutting off the grain transport, which is the lifeline of Dadu! The court will not sit idly by and will surely send heavenly troops to punish him! This petty clown will be wiped out in no time! If you, Marshal, were to join forces with him now, wouldn't that be... wouldn't that be ruining your future? If you could pull back from the brink and accept the amnesty, then you could join forces with heavenly troops to quell the bandits, wouldn't that be an even greater achievement?"

Seeing that Zhao Lian still wanted to intimidate him with the Yuan army at this point, Shi Shan chuckled and said sarcastically:

"Heavenly soldiers? Councilor Zhao, at the beginning of this month, the troops from Jiangzhe were quite effective, having already captured Jiangzhou Road of Xu Song. Judging by the time, at this moment, the army of Governor Buyan Temur should already be advancing on Qizhou Road, right?"

The Yuan army originally planned to surround Jiangzhou Road, the northern gateway to Jiangxi, with three armies. The local Jiangxi troops, who were most familiar with the terrain and should have fought the hardest, instead hid on Xiaogushan Island across the Yangtze River to watch the battle, led by Pingzhang Zhengshi Xingji. This left the visiting Jiangzhe troops to the front line.

The three commanders each had their own agendas, were suspicious of each other and hindered each other. None of them were willing to risk their entire resources, so they adopted the most conservative but also the most time-consuming long-term siege strategy.

However, Zhao Pusheng's surprise attack on Xiaogushan, which decisively defeated the Yuan army in Jiangxi, broke this balance.

The troops from Jiangsu and Zhejiang became the main force. To prevent the war from dragging on and to prevent Shishan from causing trouble in the rear, Buyan Temur had no choice but to spare no casualties in order to achieve a quick victory. After he once again dispatched 20,000 troops eastward, he began to launch a fierce attack.

If the Red Turban Army in Jiangzhou continued to hold the city, the Yuan army actually had no good solutions.

However, the food supplies in Dehua and Hukou were insufficient, and prolonged defense would inevitably lead to their loss. The victory at Xiaogushan encouraged some Red Turban Army generals, who advocated for offense instead of defense, using captured warships to harass the Yuan army, disrupt their supply lines, and create an opportunity to breach their defenses.

Buyan Temur, an expert in military affairs, discovered this situation and decisively feigned weakness, continuously shifting his lines backward to lure the Red Turban Army's attacking forces deeper into the territory. Once his own reinforcements arrived, he suddenly launched an attack, encircling and annihilating the Red Turban Army.

Subsequently, riding the momentum of this great victory, the Yuan army launched a counterattack and captured the two cities of Hukou and Dehua, which were left vulnerable due to the division of forces, and seized Jiangzhou Road.

The fall of Jiangzhou was a rare major victory for the Yuan court recently, which greatly boosted the morale of the Yuan army in various places and finally brought a glimmer of hope to the war against the Xu Song regime.

At this time, Zhang Shicheng's siege of Gaoyou was particularly conspicuous, and Shishan, which was located to the west of Zhang Shicheng, remained inactive for several months, which made the Yuan court even more wary. If it weren't for the concern that Shishan would cause trouble at the crucial moment of suppressing Xu Song, the Yuan court would never have made such an extraordinary decision to grant amnesty.

Shi Shan pointed out that the Yuan army had entered Qizhou Road, and Zhao Lian understood the unspoken meaning in his words—if the lips are gone, the teeth will be cold! Once the court concentrates its forces to completely annihilate Xu Shouhui, the next target to deal with will inevitably be Shi Shan!
Even if Shishan were to accept the imperial pardon now, given the court's consistent practices, they would undoubtedly try every means to divide and weaken his followers and power, ultimately leading to his demise. If we don't send troops to contain the Yuan army now, we'll never have another chance!
But what does this have to do with Zhao Lian? He's just a messenger, and he's not willing to sacrifice his life for the expedition to Shishan.

Zhao Lian didn't want to die, so he racked his brains to persuade Shi Shan to calm down.

"The imperial court... the imperial court has always been benevolent. Marshal Shi now commands an army of 100,000 and controls several territories. He is powerful and has the ability to protect himself. If you can seize this opportunity to sincerely submit to the imperial court, serve the imperial army, and assist the heavenly army in quelling the unrest in all directions and creating a new era of peace and prosperity."

At that time, being granted a noble title and high office, with blessings extending to one's descendants, is not even a certainty! Why...why take such a risky step?

Seeing the fine beads of sweat appear on Zhao Lian's forehead again, Shi Shan guessed what he was thinking and suddenly laughed:
"Counselor Zhao has acted terribly today. Is he worried that I will use the entire delegation as a sacrifice to swear an oath?"

Zhao Lian opened his mouth, his throat dry, but ultimately he couldn't utter a single word. Admit it or deny it, their lives were now entirely in Shi Shan's hands; any words were futile in the face of absolute force. What difference would worry make?
Seeing Zhao Lian's expression, Shi Shan knew he had guessed Zhao Lian's thoughts. Although he was ruthless in killing corrupt officials, he wasn't indiscriminate. Zhao Lian was more useful to the Red Flag Battalion alive than dead. He continued:

"You have been busy for several months, which has bought our Red Flag Battalion valuable time to prepare for war. I, Shi, am clear about my grievances and will not treat you unfairly."

These words were like a thunderclap from a clear sky, exploding in Zhao Lian's mind. He stood there dumbfounded, his face turning deathly pale!
From the perspective of Huainan Province, maintaining a ceasefire with Shishan was indeed necessary to barely stabilize the situation on the eastern front and concentrate forces against Zhang Shicheng. However, Zhao Lian, Huainan Province, and the imperial court behind them were all manipulated by Shishan from beginning to end.

The negotiations for amnesty that they had placed so much hope in turned out to be nothing more than a strategy used by Shishan to lull the Yuan court into a false sense of security and buy time. Their hard work and anxiety-ridden efforts had become an act of aiding the enemy.

This feeling of being used and fooled made him feel extremely ashamed, angry and terrified. If the court investigated, the crime of "buying time for the enemy to prepare for war" would be more serious than defeat and loss of territory, or even being killed as a sacrifice to the flag!

Before Zhao Lian could recover from the shock, Shi Shan calmly continued:
"Don't worry, I have no interest in Yangzhou for the time being. Do what you need to do, I will never stab you in the back—if I want to take Yangzhou in the future, I will do so honorably, without needing anyone to help me tie down your forces."

Shishan's military expedition is unstoppable, but as long as Zhao Lian is not sacrificed as a sacrifice and a promise is made not to attack Yangzhou for the time being, then it would be the best outcome that can be imagined for him personally and for Huainan Province.

Zhao Lian tried to calm his turbulent emotions. Thinking back to the shocking case of the large number of warships that had disappeared from the Jiangzhe Province more than two months ago, a thought suddenly flashed through his mind. He tentatively asked:

"Is Marshal Shi's expedition aimed at Jiangnan?"

"Correct!"

Shi Shan nodded in agreement with Zhao Lian's guess. The army was ready and about to set out. There was no need to hide the general direction of the campaign from Zhao Lian any longer.

"Jiangbei has been in turmoil for a long time, and the people are impoverished. Jiangnan is prosperous, with abundant money and grain, which is the perfect place to use our military might!"

He paused, looked at Zhao Lian whose face was ashen, then changed the subject, saying:
"If I'm not mistaken, Gaoyou City probably won't hold out for much longer. Once Gaoyou falls, Yangzhou will most likely fall as well. Even if you return, Councilor, you'll likely be of little use. When Yangzhou falls, are you prepared to die for the city, or surrender to Zhang Shicheng?"

This question precisely touched upon Zhao Lian's deepest confusion and fear.

Once news of Shi Shan's uprising and southward advance spreads, even if the Red Flag Battalion doesn't attack Yangzhou, it will inevitably shake the already low morale of the defending troops. If Zhang Shicheng captures Gaoyou and marches south with the momentum of his great victory, the fall of Yangzhou will almost certainly be a foregone conclusion.

If he were to return, he would first bear the blame for the failed attempt to recruit Shishan, and then, when the city fell, there would be no possibility of him surrendering to Zhang Shicheng. Therefore, perhaps his only option would be to die a desperate death in the city, bearing the infamy of the defeat in Huainan. But did he truly want to die bearing such infamy?
"How about this."

While Zhao Lian was still going through a fierce internal struggle, Shi Shan had already made the choice for him, saying:

"Considering that you are a fairly honest person and have done so much for the Red Flag Battalion, I will help you resolve this dilemma."

Zhao Lian immediately guessed that Shi Shan intended to forcibly detain him, and angrily said:

"Zhao Lian has received great favor from the Emperor and has no choice but to repay the court with his life! There is absolutely no way he would defect to you! If you insist on keeping him here, I, Zhao, will only seek death!"

"Hahaha!"

Shi Shan laughed loudly. He had dealt with Zhao Lian before and knew who he was. He laughed and said:
"Don't be so sure of yourself. Since you've witnessed our troop movements and know our intentions, I can't let you go back now, neither morally nor logically. I'll give you two choices:"

Firstly, you may temporarily 'stay as a guest' in Hefei. Once Yangzhou falls and the situation becomes clearer, I will then politely send you off. At that time, whether you seek leniency from the Yuan court or retire to the mountains is entirely up to you. Secondly, come with me on this expedition and witness firsthand the awe-inspiring spirit of the Red Flag Battalion soldiers!

"you……!"

Zhao Lian was so angry that he trembled all over, pointing at the stone mountain, but he couldn't say a word.

Even if he was filled with resentment, he was powerless to resist Shi Shan, who had already seen through his outward strength but inner weakness. He could only let Shi Shan tie him to the Red Flag Battalion's chariot.

The next day, March 23rd, was a clear, sunny day. The azure sky was as clear as if it had been washed. A gentle spring breeze rustled the new willows along the riverbank, bringing vibrant life. The Yangtze River at Wuwei section was wide and calm, its surface shimmering with countless golden scales in the sunlight.

Inside the Black Heart Island water fortress, ships lined up one after another, their masts like a forest, countless warships of all sizes neatly arranged, almost filling the entire river surface. The fluttering red flags looked particularly bright and dazzling in the sunlight.

The first batch of over ten thousand elite soldiers from the Red Flag Battalion had already boarded the ships. Fully armored and gleaming with weapons, they silently watched the flagship, awaiting the order to attack. A chilling yet majestic aura permeated the air.

The detailed battle plan had already been repeatedly rehearsed and revised, and had been distributed to officers at all levels, eliminating the need for lengthy pre-battle mobilization.

Surrounded by his generals, Shi Shan boarded the towering flagship ship, leaned on the railing, and gazed into the distance. He saw the mighty river flowing, the fertile land on the south bank crisscrossed with fields, and distant mountains like dark eyebrows—a scene of prosperity.

"How can we allow the barbarian cavalry to trample on this land for long!"

A surge of heroic spirit welled up within Shi Shan, like the mighty spring river, surging endlessly. Turning around, his gaze swept over the expectant faces of his generals, and he gave the order:
"Set sail! Set sail!"

(End of this chapter)