Sweep Yuan

Chapter 234 The Stone Mountain Kills People, But Also Strikes at Their Hearts
The two battalions that were the main force attacking the north gate belonged to Deng Youlong's troops, who were added to the Loyal and Righteous Guard after the army was expanded again last year.

As the youngest commander in the Red Flag Battalion, Deng Youlong, only nineteen years old, bore an immense burden of pressure.

There were rumors circulating in the army. Some people gossiped behind his back, saying that Marshal Shi promoted his son Deng Dalang out of consideration for his father Deng Shunxing's past service in defending Hong County and his heroic sacrifice in the battle, thus enabling him to hold such a high position at such a young age.

Although Shishan did have such considerations, Deng Youlong still harbored a strong desire to prove that he was not just relying on his father's influence, but that he truly had the ability to hold this position and was worthy of this general's robe.

After the drums of the general offensive sounded, the young garrison commander took the lead and charged ahead. Even after being hit by two arrows (fortunately, his excellent armor protected him, and the arrows did not penetrate deeply), he gritted his teeth and persevered, refusing to retreat even slightly.

Deng Youlong personally led his daredevils, braving the arrows and stones raining down from the city walls, bravely scaling the ladders to fight on the ramparts. His fearless courage greatly boosted the morale of his troops.

While the friendly forces on the east and west walls were still making feigned attacks, Deng Youlong's troops were the first to scale the north wall with astonishing speed!

Deng Youlong was even more unstoppable, slashing left and right with his sword, successively killing several Yuan generals who were trying to organize a counterattack, tearing open the defenders' defense line in one fell swoop, and opening a crucial breakthrough for the follow-up troops.

After capturing the city, Deng Youlong was not blinded by victory. He immediately disciplined his troops strictly. In the subsequent pursuit of the remaining enemy, the capture of the county government, and the control of the treasury, his troops maintained excellent discipline and did not engage in any looting of civilian property or harm to the people.

This was not only Deng Youlong's personal awareness, but also a common principle for all troops entering the city.

Before crossing the river, Shi Shan summoned all officers of battalion commander rank and above who were participating in the battle, repeatedly emphasizing the extreme importance of military discipline, and issued unprecedentedly strict orders:
"After the city falls, anyone who plunders the people's property or harms the civilians will be executed on the spot! Their direct subordinate captain will be dismissed and stripped of his rank! The battalion commander will be implicated and demoted to captain!"

Shishan has always attached great importance to military discipline since the beginning of the army's establishment. In the past, every time a city was captured, a few negative examples would be severely punished to serve as a warning to others. However, such a severe "collective punishment" has never been implemented before.

This campaign involved crossing the river and advancing into the south, a move vastly different from conquering cities north of the river—almost equivalent to entering a completely different cultural and political region. To win over the hearts and minds of the people and lay the foundation for long-term stability, harsh measures were necessary.

Fortunately, the Red Flag Battalion had long established a stable military pay system, so the soldiers did not need to rely on looting and hoarding spoils to support their families; the concept of strict military discipline had also taken root in their hearts over the years.

Furthermore, with their own future prospects and post-war rewards at stake, the generals at all levels kept a close eye on their soldiers. Therefore, although the battle was slightly hampered beforehand and the soldiers were determined to fight, no one dared to defy the odds.

By the time the elite soldiers of the Moon Guard escorted Marshal Shi into Dangtu, the sporadic sounds of fighting in the city had already subsided, and there was no scene of fire and chaos that was common after a rebel army broke through a city.

In the streets and alleys, only rows of neatly dressed Red Flag Battalion soldiers patrolled, loudly proclaiming proclamations to reassure the people, warning the residents that the Red Flag Battalion only opposed the Yuan dynasty and would not harm them, and that everyone should go about their business in peace and not panic. The atmosphere was unusually calm, even with a somewhat eerie sense of orderly composure.

The people of Dangtu certainly wouldn't all shut their doors and huddle at home in fear.

Even before Shishan entered the city, local gentry representatives, elders, and celebrities were already waiting near the north gate—this was one of the reasons why Shishan intentionally stayed outside the city temporarily, allowing Zuo Junbi to enter the city first to completely control the situation and maintain order.

In fact, this is not a unique feature of Jiangnan, nor is it because the people of Dangtu were grateful for the strict discipline of the Red Flag Battalion and "welcomed the royal army with food and drink".

In reality, the spontaneous welcoming of the army by the gentry and elders in the city had little to do with these two factors.

Throughout history, similar "surrender" ceremonies have often occurred, whether it was the rebel armies of Liu Futong and Zhima Li in Jiangbei, or Xu Shouhui and others in the south, or even when the Mongol cavalry breached Han Chinese cities.

Unless it involves a protracted and brutal siege, and unless the army entering the city simply burns, kills, and loots, after a city changes hands, there is almost always a ceremony where local gentry and common people elect representatives to "welcome" the new city lord.

This is also a manifestation of the wisdom and survival philosophy of the common people during the thousands of years of regime changes in China.

Because conquerors needed such rituals to demonstrate their "benevolence and love for the people" and their "divine mandate," thus establishing the "legitimacy" of their rule;
The gentry and common people in the conquered cities also needed to elect representatives to communicate with the new rulers, test the limits, and negotiate how to protect themselves under the new power structure, thereby further distributing benefits.

Having conquered more than ten cities in his campaigns, Shi Shan was already familiar with the process. He even had the leisure to secretly compare the subtle differences between the "surrender" ceremonies in Jiangbei and Jiangnan.

The ceremony north of the Yangtze River is often more boisterous, usually spearheaded by local powerful figures; while the ceremony south of the Yangtze River seems more "refined." The two men leading the welcoming party at this moment are both dressed as scholars.

Standing at the front was an elderly man, probably over eighty years old, with snow-white hair and beard, yet he was vigorous and had clear eyes; the other man was about thirty-four or thirty-five years old, with a dignified face and a calm and solemn demeanor.

Upon entering the city, Shi Shan immediately dismounted to show respect to the local scholars and elders, and walked forward on foot.

Upon seeing this, the two men who were there to greet Marshal Shi immediately stepped forward and were about to bow down:

"Li Xi and Wang Guangyang, dressed in Dangtu cloth, pay their respects to Marshal Shi!"

This was clearly a tacit political show, and Shishan naturally couldn't allow these two, especially the venerable elder, to perform such a grand gesture. He quickly stepped forward, firmly supporting their arms, and said earnestly:
"Master Yun Guan cultivated talents for the Mingdao school, and his scholarship and morality are admirable; Mr. Wang Gaoyou was well-versed in classics and history, and his talent was widely known. I, Shi, have long admired your names, and I am extremely fortunate to meet you today!"

Li Xi, courtesy name Boyu, was renowned in Jiangnan for his mastery of classics and history, his skill in governing local areas, and his emphasis on integrity. He and his brother Li Yi were known as the "Two Lis of Jiangzuo". In his early years, he served as the headmaster of Mingdao Academy in Jiangning, and was considered a leader among scholars. However, his pseudonym "Yun Guan" was not widely known.

Wang Guangyang was a native of Gaoyou. He had passed the provincial examination and was a well-known scholar in his hometown north of the Yangtze River. To escape the chaos caused by Zhang Shicheng, he had been living in Dangtu County for less than two months.

Even locals in Dangtu might not be able to describe these details about Li and Wang so clearly unless they knew them well or specifically inquired about them.

Shi Shan not only knew their names by heart, but also seemed to know their past experiences. Upon hearing this, Li Xi and Wang Guangyang couldn't help but show their astonishment.

Wang Guangyang was relatively young, and it wasn't appropriate for him to speak first in this situation. Li Xi, on the other hand, gaped in surprise, his years of cultivated composure nearly crumbling, and he almost blurted out:

"Marshal... Marshal, you actually recognize my humble name?"

Dangtu was the first territory conquered by the Red Flag Battalion in Jiangnan. Shishan had to treat any scholar of reputation he found there with courtesy and give him an official position, regardless of his actual talent.

This demonstrates to the entire Jiangnan gentry class that they are willing to "co-govern Jiangnan," thus attracting more talent to come and serve.

However, since Shishan had already decided to lead future cultural changes and the integration of North and South, and to reshape the landscape of China, he could not allow the gentry of Jiangnan to completely control the discourse. How to identify and utilize the talents who had come to serve him was an extreme test of political skill.

Therefore, among the various intelligence gathered by the Military Command before the war, in addition to topography, hydrology, and military deployment, detailed information on local gentry, scholars, and powerful figures was also of paramount importance.

At this moment, Shi Shan saw that although Wang Guangyang was surprised, he was able to maintain his composure. Li Xi, being an experienced and shrewd man, had subconsciously offered a perfectly timed remark. He was quite satisfied with their reactions and immediately said:
"Shishan is determined to expel the barbarians, unify the north and south, and rebuild China. How could he not recognize the heroes of the world?" Shishan's voice was clear and resonant. His gaze swept over the two men as he continued:
"Yun Guan is honest, capable, and prudent, skilled in governance, and a model of national virtue; Mr. Wang Gaoyou is honest, prudent, knowledgeable in politics, and adept at handling complex administrative affairs. Both are talents that our Red Flag Battalion urgently needs! I wonder if you two would be willing to step down and help me achieve this great undertaking?"

Marshal Shi had already said so much, rendering all the subtle probing and status-revealing remarks that Li Xi and Wang Guangyang had prepared beforehand useless. The two could only make a gesture to thank him again, but were naturally stopped by Shi Shan.

"Marshal, you have lofty ambitions and your achievements will last for generations. I am but a humble student, lacking in talent and knowledge, and of little virtue and ability. I am honored that you have not abandoned me, and I am willing to follow in your footsteps and do my best to contribute my meager strength." The two replied in unison, their attitude extremely respectful.

"Hahaha! Good!"

The normal recruitment process requires assessing an individual's abilities before assigning them specific duties—essentially giving them a chance to build their reputation. Shi Shan, however, wouldn't follow the normal procedure. He clapped his hands and laughed, seemingly in a good mood, saying:
"With the assistance of these two great sages, our army can now hope to conquer Jiangnan!"

Just then, Jin Chaoxing, accompanied by several soldiers, escorted an official whose robes were stained with mud, who looked dejected yet stubborn. He clasped his hands in a fist salute towards Shishan and reported in a gruff voice:
"Marshal, this thief is Jin Yi, the Grand Administrator of Taiping Road of the Yuan Dynasty! When the city fell, this fellow jumped into the Yongfeng River, trying to escape by swimming, but my men pulled him out! Hehe, that saved us a lot of trouble searching!"

Jin Yi originally intended to drown himself to die for his principles, but was pulled out by the Red Flag Battalion soldiers who wanted to gain merit. Feeling humiliated, he only wanted to die quickly. Now, being brought to the stone mountain, he didn't even look at it properly, his neck stiff, looking like he was offering his neck for execution.

Seeing how courteously Shi Shan treated Li and Wang, and comparing it to the cold reception he had received, and thinking that he would probably be branded as a "fugitive from justice" after his death, a surge of anger overwhelmed his feigned composure. He struggled and argued hoarsely:
"I am the Grand Administrator of Taiping Road, appointed by the Imperial Court. My family has received the Emperor's favor for generations, and I have a duty to defend this land. I know only that I will never be dishonored! Today the city has fallen, and I have no choice but to die! You traitorous leaders, stop your arrogance! When the Imperial Army arrives here one day, it will crush you traitors and rebels into dust!"

"Take him away and keep him under close surveillance!"

Shi Shan waved his hand dismissively, signaling Jin Chaoxing to take the man away, as if shooing away a noisy fly.

Once Jin Yi was dragged away, the anger on Shi Shan's face vanished instantly, replaced by his previous calm, as if his earlier expression had been merely an illusion on Li and Wang's part. He turned to Li Xi and asked casually:
"Lord Yun has lived in Dangtu for a long time and must be familiar with the local situation. But I wonder, what was the reputation of this Steward Jin during his tenure?"

Li Xi's heart skipped a beat. He knew this was the first and extremely dangerous test Shi Shan had thrown out. He suddenly regretted accepting the request from the city's gentry to deal with Shi Shan—this young man was incredibly bloodthirsty! And his methods were ruthless!

Normally, a man of his age, over eighty and renowned throughout Jiangnan, would simply need to be treated as a mascot, honored and worshipped by the new master to enhance his image and win over the hearts of the people.

Unexpectedly, Shi Shan did not play by the rules and directly questioned him about Jin Yi's official reputation.

Shi Shan wasn't trying to inquire about official conduct at all; he was clearly trying to force Li Xi to hand over a pledge of loyalty! He not only wanted to kill Jin Yi's men, but also to destroy Jin Yi's heart, and even wanted Li Xi to personally deliver the knife!

To be fair, Jin Yi's reputation as the chief administrator of Taiping Road was indeed mediocre, and he was even known for his greed and cruelty. However, there were many officials in the Yuan Dynasty who were worse than him. Jin Yi also had many classmates, protégés, and former subordinates in the officialdom. Could he really kill them all?
If we follow these words today and sow such evil seeds, we will surely reap bitter fruit in the future.

He himself was already old and frail and would not live for many more years, but he still had a house full of children and grandchildren, and his family's foundation was all in Jiangnan. Did he not want to establish himself as an official in the new dynasty in the future?

Li Xi pondered for a moment, then carefully chose his words and spoke slowly:

"The Yuan Dynasty's fortunes have declined, and the people are disaffected. The Marshal, acting on the orders of Heaven, upholds righteousness and benevolence, and is invincible in battle. He is truly the one destined by Heaven. Whether Jin Yi is virtuous or not, he has already committed suicide by drowning himself. Whatever his initial intention, he has fulfilled his duty as a subject."

If the Marshal were to one day conquer the world, he would need to educate the people with loyalty, filial piety, benevolence, and righteousness, and uphold morality and public sentiment. Why not… thus preserve his reputation for loyalty and righteousness, and inspire future generations to be loyal as well?”

Li Xi's words not only pointed out the Yuan court's moral failings and its favoritism towards Shi Shan, but also attempted to preserve Jin Yi's posthumous reputation under the guise of "loyalty and righteousness." The subtext was to advise Shi Shan to kill him if necessary, but not to resort to the tactic of killing someone to destroy their spirit. It was an extremely tactful statement.

After listening, Shi Shan's face remained expressionless, neither confirming nor denying anything. He then turned his gaze to Wang Guangyang beside him and asked calmly:

"Wang Gaoyou, what's your opinion?"

Wang Guangyang immediately felt his heart pounding like a drum, and beads of sweat quickly appeared on his forehead.

He was in his prime, his ambition for fame and fortune burning brightly, but he fled south to Dangtu only because he didn't think highly of Zhang Shicheng's ambitions. But who in Jiangbei didn't know the ruthless and ambitious nature of Shi Jingxing from Shishan?

He recognized Shishan's potential and harbored a desire to serve him, which is why he accepted the request from the gentry of Dangtu and, as a "Han Chinese" from Jiangbei, tried to persuade Marshal Shi to treat the gentry of Jiangnan well, in order to win over the hearts of "Southerners" across the land and thus gain a stepping stone for advancement.

Unexpectedly, Shishan had just recruited them when he suddenly threw out such a fatal question.

What Li Xi could think of, Wang Guangyang could naturally think of as well. But he was more aware that Shishan had now established its dominance and had a complete team of civil and military officials under its command. Although it was not yet able to completely break away from the Jiangnan gentry and go it alone, at least it no longer had to grovel and beg them.

Wang Guangyang is different. If he cannot clearly state his position at this moment, he may never have a chance to rise again in this life.

— Li Xi still has the identity of a leader of the "Southern" literati to win over the hearts of the people in Shishan, but Wang Guangyang, a "Han Chinese" who has fled to Jiangbei, if he cannot keep up with Marshal Shi's pace, what can he rely on to establish himself in the new dynasty?

In a flash, Wang Guangyang took a deep breath, having made up his mind. He cupped his hands and said in a deep voice:
"Marshal, you are wise and just. Justice resides in the hearts of the people. As for the reputation of Steward Jin during his tenure, it is not for me, a mere outsider, to presume to comment. However, Steward Jin has been governing Taiping Road for nearly three years. The local gentry and people will have their own opinions on his merits and demerits."

Why doesn't the Marshal convene local elders, gentry, and distinguished figures for a public discussion of this matter? This would demonstrate the Marshal's fairness and his respect for public opinion, thereby gaining the trust and support of the people.

Shishan gave Wang Guangyang a deep look.

This person was indeed a clever and cunning shrew. Instead of directly answering whether Jin Yi should be killed or spared, he cleverly passed the buck back to "local public opinion," thus avoiding directly offending anyone and implying that "public opinion" should be followed (which can often be manipulated).

More importantly, it shows that he is willing to follow the rules set by Shishan, and at least knows whose bowl he is eating from.

"it is good!"

Shi Shan nodded, a smile of unreadable depth appearing on his face, and said:
"As Mr. Chaozong (Wang Guangyang's courtesy name) said, this matter will be entrusted to you. You must gather the local respected people as soon as possible to discuss the official reputation and achievements of this Steward Jin. Lord Yun Guan is highly respected and virtuous, and we hope you will be there to witness it."

……

P.S.: The detailed outline of this chapter is about how to deal with Jin Yi and Naha Chu. It's too late, so I can only write half of it for now.

(End of this chapter)