Sweep Yuan

Chapter 254 An Private Case

"This humble general dares not guarantee when Fang Guozhen will be completely defeated!"

Bian Yuanheng's answer was exceptionally crisp and decisive. The Yuan court had wasted several years and invested countless amounts of money, grain, and manpower, yet it still couldn't accomplish this. How could he dare to make such a boast when he was building a coastal naval force from scratch, and even just familiarizing himself with the coastal hydrology would take an unknown amount of time?
He knew Shi Shan's temperament and understood that the marshal wanted a practical action plan, not just a simple conclusion, so he quickly added:

"Fang Guozhen's forces are clearly pirates. If we simply build a navy and hope to defeat this villain in a direct confrontation, even if we have thousands of warships and 100,000 naval soldiers, we may not be able to capture Fang Guozhen and annihilate his main fleet if we do not know the right methods."

However, if the operational objective is merely to contain his forces and gradually reduce his operational area, preventing Fang Guozhen from wantonly harassing our coastal routes along the Suzhou Bay and threatening the safety of our shipping lanes, I estimate that this should be achievable within two years.

As for completely eradicating this barbarian and eliminating the maritime threat along the southeast coast, that cannot be achieved by the navy alone.

We must wait until the Marshal has completely conquered all the coastal routes, consolidated his power, regulated maritime trade, and cut off Fang Guozhen's troops from land-based supplies, intelligence, and manpower. Only then can our army advance by both land and sea, employing a combination of suppression and appeasement, and hope to achieve complete victory.

The problem of piracy has never been about the pirates themselves.

The ocean is vast and boundless, with shipping routes extending in all directions, each offering countless opportunities for exhilarating profits. Coastal islands are scattered like stars in the sky, and numerous waterways extend deep inland, all concealing many shady dealings.

Fang Guozhen was difficult to deal with not only because he was an expert in naval warfare, familiar with the hydrology and geography of the Zhejiang coast, and extremely flexible in his fighting style, but more importantly, because he had intricate connections with merchants, salt smugglers, and powerful figures along the Jiangsu and Zhejiang coast.

In this way, Fang Guozhen was able to continuously obtain supplies, troops, and warships after a long period of confrontation with the Yuan court.

Even in the inland areas where feudal dynasties could consolidate their rule, "imperial power did not extend to the countryside," let alone the offshore areas where it was impossible to establish government offices, which were inherently dark jungles where the strong preyed on the weak.

In this era, very few ship owners who have been in the maritime trade for a long time are truly honest.

Pirates and merchants are distinguished not by the type of ship they fly, nor by the flag they carry, but solely by the balance of power between them; their identities can be freely switched at any time.

The so-called "Taizhou pirates" actually included a considerable number of these forces. They may not be from Taizhou, but when the time is right, they can transform into "Fang Guozhen" and when things get tense, they become "legitimate maritime merchants".

At the beginning of last year, Fang Guozhen led a massive fleet of over a thousand ships, successfully navigating from the East China Sea through Suzhou Bay and then deep into the lower reaches of the Yangtze River, avoiding the Yuan army's notice and successfully burning down Liujiagang. This feat was made possible by the secret assistance of these people.

After the war, its fleet size suddenly decreased, greatly reducing the pressure on supplies and enabling it to maneuver against the Yuan court for a long time, also thanks to countless "hidden Fang Guozhen".

The interests of these forces are inherently at odds with those of the Lu Quan Dynasty. Fang Guozhen is merely their overt representative. If these forces cannot be effectively dealt with, even if Fang Guozhen is killed, there will still be Wan Guozhen and Ding Guozhen.

Shishan, being from a later era, deeply understands the importance of maritime trade and will inevitably promote it in the future. Therefore, he cannot exterminate all these people; he must incorporate those who are capable and even support some of their forces to counter the powerful historical inertia of land power.

But all of this is predicated on the Red Flag Battalion taking the lead in maritime trade. They must first be taught how to do things using a "language" that these forces can understand—swords and cannons—and be completely subdued so that they understand who is the true master of the vast sea frontier before it is possible to unify their power.

You can't teach them to be human again at sea, and even with the strongest land power, don't expect them to be obedient. All talk of appeasement and "mutual tolerance for the sake of the country" is seen by these people as weakness and vulnerability.

They are used to making money without any initial investment. Even if you offer them more concessions, they will not be grateful, nor will they stop making trouble. They will get even more if they continue to cause trouble—the Yuan Dynasty has already proven this point.

Bian Yuanheng was able to clearly understand the essence of the pirate problem and dared to speak the truth. Shi Shan was not angry at all; on the contrary, he was even more gratified. He knew he had found the right person. To govern the coastal areas and deal with Fang Guozhen, he needed a general like him who acted with prudence.

Shi Shan turned around, took a bronze token from the table, his expression turned serious, and he said in a deep voice:

"Bian Yuanheng, listen to my command!"

Knowing that a crucial appointment had arrived, Bian Yuanheng stood respectfully with his hands clasped and responded in a loud voice:

"The general is here!"

Shi Shan solemnly handed the token in his hand to Bian Yuanheng and said:
"You are hereby appointed as the Commander-in-Chief of the East China Sea Fleet of the Red Flag Battalion! You shall be fully responsible for the construction of the naval port, the recruitment of sailors, the supervision of the construction of warships, the training of the navy, and all matters related to the reconnaissance and response to enemy activities along the coast."

I will instruct the relevant departments to prioritize the allocation of necessary personnel, funds, provisions, and supplies. Official documents will be sent to the army from the Marshal's Office shortly.

"This humble general..."

Marshal Shi only mentioned the support that could be obtained in forming the East China Sea Navy, but made no mention of the specific time and steps for annihilating Fang Guozhen's forces. This clearly indicated that he approved of Bian Yuanheng's strategy for annihilating Fang Guozhen and gave him sufficient authority, which can be described as a great trust.

Bian Yuanheng did not immediately accept the token. After a slight hesitation, a resolute look flashed across his face, and he decided to reveal the secret buried deep in his heart. This matter concerned whether he could complete the task of building the East China Sea Navy with a calm mind, and he had to tell the Marshal frankly.

"Marshal! This humble general...this humble general has something else that I dare not conceal!"

Shi Shan held the token, his expression unchanged, and said:
"speak."

Bian Yuanheng took a deep breath, seemingly making a complete break with the past, and said:
“I am an old acquaintance of Zhang Shicheng. Last year, I accompanied Zhou Wendao on official business to Yidu Road. On my way back to Beisha Town, I met Zhang Shicheng. At that time, he saw that the Yuan army had been repeatedly defeated by the marshal and had developed the idea of ​​establishing his own power. He wanted to recruit me to join him in making great achievements.”

I refused Zhang Shicheng's offer to his face, yet he did not harm me for the possibility of leaking information, which shows that he still cherishes our past friendship. When I rushed to Hefei to serve the Marshal, Zhang Shicheng had not yet launched his rebellion, so I did not tell him the truth about this matter.

If I were to command the navy in the future, there would be a very high chance that I would have to fight against Zhang Shicheng's forces. I fear that past events may affect my decision-making on the spot.

"Since the Marshal places such trust in Yuanheng, this humble general dares not deceive him!"

After Bian Yuanheng finished speaking, he lowered his head and waited anxiously for Shi Shan's reaction.

His words required immense courage and could bring him unpredictable risks, but he still followed his heart, believing that in the future, when he faced Zhang Shicheng with swords, he would inevitably be mixed with some old feelings, and it was impossible for him to go all out from the beginning.

Rather than waiting until something goes wrong and then apologizing to the marshal, it's better to make things clear from the beginning so that you can face Zhang Shicheng with a clearer mind.

"Hahaha!"

Upon hearing this, Shishan burst into a hearty laugh.

Everyone exists within different social circles; no one can exist independently of society, and the same applies to the Red Flag Battalion.

For example, Liu Xingge, the chief secretary of the Marshal's Office, had worked with Zhao Lian, the vice minister of Huainan Province who was detained; and Wang Guangyang, the newly appointed magistrate of Dangtu County, had studied under Yu Que, the general manager of Anqing Road of the Yuan Dynasty, when he was young.

Bian Yuanheng and Zhang Shicheng were both cooks in Huaidong Road. Their hometowns were not far apart, and they were both influential figures in the area. It was normal for their circles to intersect and for them to have a relationship.

Over the past year, Shishan has learned about Bian Yuanheng's past deeds through various channels. Based on his long-term personal observation and testing, he has determined that Bian Yuanheng is of excellent character and can be entrusted with important responsibilities. He will not hold a grudge because of this old story.

"What is it? It's alright!"

Shi Shan stepped forward, patted Bian Yuanheng firmly on the shoulder, and handed him the token of the Commander-in-Chief of the East China Sea Fleet again, his tone full of trust, saying:
"Dayou's frankness in this matter shows that you have no ulterior motives and act with integrity, possessing the qualities of a great general of old. There's no need to dwell on the past; if you encounter Zhang Shicheng in the future, do as you see fit. I believe that I will not let Dayou down, and Dayou will certainly not let me down either!"

Bian Yuanheng's worries vanished, replaced by a profound sense of gratitude for those who would die for their confidants.

He solemnly accepted the token, clasped his hands in a deep salute, and said resolutely:

"I can never repay the Marshal's trust and kindness! I will do my utmost to clear the vast ocean for the Marshal!"

Trust and loyalty have always been two sides of the same coin, inseparable since ancient times. In the chaotic late Yuan Dynasty, when benevolence and righteousness were hard to find, the harmonious relationship between Shishan and Bian Yuanheng was especially precious.

However, Shishan trusted Bian Yuanheng so much not only because the latter was exceptionally capable and of steadfast and reliable character, but also because Bian Yuanheng had brought his family to the Red Flag Battalion's command before even officially joining the army, demonstrating his unwavering loyalty to Shishan.

There is also a deeper, more practical reason: unlike land forces, a navy is not a reliable land-based supply base. Even the most powerful naval fleet is like a tree without roots, a "one-off" force, and is unlikely to pose a real independent threat.

In contrast, Shishan was much more wary of Lu Shi, who was more likely to establish his own independent territory.

From the very beginning of the army's establishment, he repeatedly adjusted the organization to prevent his generals from controlling private armies. He also introduced a number of systems, such as separating recruitment, training, and command, assigning military judges, and directly managing food and supplies. He also took preventative measures through ideological indoctrination, binding interests, and cross-appointing personnel.

This move is not targeted at any particular individual, but is a necessary measure to ensure that the Red Flag Battalion does not degenerate or split.

If the foundation is flawed, the collapse of the edifice will happen in no time.

It can be said that it is precisely Shishan's tireless efforts in "reforming" the system since the founding of the army that have enabled the Red Flag Battalion to distinguish itself from other emerging forces and maintain a considerable degree of cohesion and unity while maintaining strong combat effectiveness.

Shishan was very clear-headed. After all, it was a "feudal society" that emphasized personal dependence and clan ties. He did not naively expect these systems to remain in place for hundreds of years, or even that they would be completely problem-free in his generation.

The reason for gradually delegating some power during the military expansion process is based on this practical consideration. However, delegating power is by no means abandoning authority! Anyone who dares to challenge or violate the established red lines of the system, regardless of their purpose, is undermining the foundation of the Red Flag Camp and must be severely punished without any leniency.

A day later, Zhou Shier, the commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, came to see Shishan with heavy steps.

His face was filled with undisguised guilt and unease. As soon as he stepped into the Marshal's Mansion, before he even got close, he knelt down with a thud, his forehead almost touching the cold floor tiles.

"Marshal! This humble general has failed in his duty!"

Zhou Shier's voice trembled uncontrollably as he said:
"Besides Zhou Dexing, who is slated for promotion to squad leader, there are at least six other people in the Third Garrison of Fujun Guard, including Squad Leader Zhu Wenzheng, who were placed into the army without the approval of the Military Command and were placed there by the Garrison Commander Zhu Chongba using his authority!"

Military judges, stationed in various departments, should bear the heavy responsibility of inspection and supervision, and preventing problems from escalating. Now, not only did their own subordinates fail to discover such a serious problem in time, but many even knowingly concealed it, tacitly condoning and allowing it to escalate into such a large-scale "organized crime case."

Zhou Shier felt ashamed to face Shishan's trust, and his face turned bright red with shame and self-reproach.

"A total of nine military judges were stationed in the Third Town. After preliminary questioning, it was found that six of them knew about the matter and chose to acquiesce!"
The other three, either due to job rotation or lower rank, were genuinely unaware. "I, Zhou Twelve, have failed the Marshal's trust and mismanagement, resulting in this blunder. I beg the Marshal to punish me severely!" Zhou Twelve's forehead pressed against the cold ground, awaiting the Marshal's thunderous wrath.

"stand up!"

Shi Shan's expression remained calm, revealing little emotion, but his tone carried a hint of coldness as he said:
"You are already a high-ranking commander, leading the Embroidered Uniform Guard, representing the authority of military law! How can you kneel down at the drop of a hat?!"

Upon hearing this, Zhou Shier hurriedly stood up in fear, but still dared not look up at Shishan. He simply lowered his head, like a child who had made a mistake, and obediently awaited the marshal's judgment.

To his surprise, Ishiyama did not immediately inquire about the specific details of the case. Instead, he abruptly changed the subject and brought up a seemingly unrelated personal matter:

"I heard... your wives and concubines caused quite a scene in the inner quarters again yesterday?"

Zhou Shier's heart skipped a beat and tightened suddenly. He came from a poor family in Xuzhou and had worked as a laborer in his early years, suffering a lot of hardships. It was only after following Marshal Shi that he gradually achieved his current status and wealth.

After becoming successful, he married a wife and later took a concubine. However, because he was busy with official duties all day long and neglected his household management, his wife and concubine often quarreled over jealousy and household matters, causing him a great deal of trouble and making him feel deeply ashamed.

What alarmed him even more was that such a private scandal within his own ranks, which even his close colleagues might not know, had reached the ears of the busy marshal so quickly. The Embroidered Uniform Guard was responsible for monitoring the soldiers in the army, so who was monitoring the Embroidered Uniform Guard?

He dared not ponder the terrifying implications of this, and quickly clasped his hands in a fist salute, urgently expressing his stance:

"This humble general is incompetent in managing his household! This humble general... this humble general will immediately drive away that troublesome little vixen when he gets back!"

The private affairs of the subordinate officers, as long as they do not violate basic human ethics and the regulations of the Red Flag Battalion, should be handled by the officers themselves, and Shishan usually does not interfere. Today, he suddenly brought up this matter, not only to take the opportunity to warn Zhou Shier, but also with another deeper meaning.

“Look, there are only two women in our own household, and they still quarrel and argue over trivial matters.”

Shi Shan's tone softened somewhat, and he patiently guided Zhou Twelve:

"My Red Flag Battalion now spans three provinces, seven routes, and thirty-one cities. It governs a million soldiers and civilians. With such a large operation, complex organization, and numerous personnel, how could it possibly be without any problems?"

Problems themselves aren't scary; what's scary is when problems arise but no one notices them in time, or when they are noticed but no one dares or is willing to report them, allowing small problems to escalate into major disasters! That's the truly fatal problem!

Shi Shan approached Zhou Shier, stared into the latter's eyes, and continued:

"What are the Embroidered Uniform Guards? They are the rulers that hang in the army, and they are my eyes and ears in the army!"

I've put you in this position because I want you to lead this special team effectively, promptly identify and report problems, and nip minor issues in the bud to prevent them from escalating. Do you understand?

Zhou Shier felt increasingly aware of the Marshal's good intentions and his own dereliction of duty, and his remorse deepened. He stammered, "..."

"This humble general...this humble general is foolish and dull, but I will remember the Marshal's teachings! I will definitely reflect deeply on them and improve immediately!"

As the Red Flag Camp expanded, how much could Shi Shan personally manage, even if he worked tirelessly day and night?

For an organization to function effectively, it ultimately relies on continuously improving and strictly enforced systems, placing the right people in the right positions to supervise the implementation of these systems and ensure quality control at every level. Only when each individual within the organization fulfills their specific role can it function sustainably.

Zhou Shier's abilities are not outstanding, but he is diligent and eager to learn, his work ethic is beyond question, and his loyalty can withstand scrutiny. At least for now, no one is more suitable than him for the crucial position of Commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, which requires absolute loyalty and meticulousness.

That's enough of the criticism; going too far is as bad as not going far enough.

Shi Shan, knowing when to stop, returned to the main topic, his tone becoming serious again, and said:

"Tell me, why did Zhu Chongba plant these private individuals in the army? And why did those military judges collectively know about it but fail to report it?"

Zhou Shier quickly composed himself, carefully organized his thoughts, and reported the findings of the investigation:

"Time is of the essence, and I dare not make any major moves. I only managed to get a general idea through private questioning."

Shishan intends to limit the authority of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, emphasizing that investigations and evidence collection must be compliant with regulations and explicitly prohibiting the unauthorized use of torture.

Zhou Shier's investigation couldn't interfere with the troops' normal training, and the fact that he could grasp the basic situation in such a short time was already quite efficient. Shi Shan nodded, signaling him to continue.

According to investigation, after Zhu Chongba was promoted to the position of Commander of the Third Garrison of the Fujun Guard, he sent a letter to his fellow villager Zhou Dexing, entrusting him to repair the graves of his parents in order to fulfill his filial duty. Afterwards, Zhou Dexing rushed from his hometown of Zhongli to the army in Hezhou.

Zhu Chongba intended to keep him as an ally, so he found an opportunity to discuss the matter with Qin Shuang, the military judge stationed in the town.

At this point, Zhou Shier seemed hesitant and conflicted, but ultimately dared not conceal anything and reported the truth:

"At that time, the Embroidered Uniform Guard had not yet been upgraded to a Guard. According to corroborating evidence, Qin Shuang probably felt that his future in the Embroidered Uniform Guard was limited and his promotion was slow. Seeing that Zhu Chongba had made great military achievements and had a bright future, and that he was very eager to win him over, he thought this was a rare opportunity to defect."

Thinking that if Zhu Chongba were to rise in rank in the future, he would surely be able to help his own sons and younger brothers' careers, he took the initiative to take on the matter. Using his influence, he persuaded and appeased the other five military judges who knew the truth, instructing them to remain silent and not report the incident.

Zhou Shier paused, and seeing that the marshal was not angry, added:
"After the news of Zhou Dexing joining the army reached Zhu Chongba's hometown, his nephew Zhu Wenzheng and four others went to Hezhou to join the army. They were all settled by Zhu Chongba through similar means."

The nature of this matter can be either major or minor.

To put it bluntly, forming cliques for personal gain and cultivating personal power could even lead to being labeled as "premeditated treason"; but if handled leniently, it could be classified as "betraying public law for personal reasons," which is a serious disciplinary issue rather than a political one.

Zhou Shier has only learned the basic situation through questioning so far. The relevant testimonies and physical evidence have not yet been fully secured, and the specific motives and details of the crimes committed by the suspects need to be further verified.

Therefore, he strived to be objective in his reports, simply stating the facts and daring not to arbitrarily add personal judgments or assertions.

But Shi Shan was no ordinary man; he immediately discerned the key point from this brief report and, with a grave expression, pressed for an answer:

"So, Zhu Chongba orchestrated all of this?"

Zhou Shier understood that as the head of the military's oversight body, his role was solely to be the Marshal's "eyes" and "ears," responsible for providing the most objective intelligence possible, and not to make biased judgments, much less to arbitrarily draw conclusions on behalf of the Marshal. He insisted on his principles, stating:
"The chain of evidence is not yet closed, and this humble general... this humble general dares not draw any conclusions!"

A barely perceptible hint of satisfaction flickered in Shi Shan's gaze as he stared at Zhou Shier. He then asked:
"Based on the information you currently have, do you think similar situations exist in other units of the military?"

Zhou Shier swallowed hard, feeling his throat dry, and answered with difficulty:

"In my humble opinion... this is not a widespread phenomenon. The Marshal is strict in governing the army, and the discipline of our army is generally strict. However, the situations of each battalion, town, and garrison are different, and the personalities and styles of the commanding officers are also different. I think... in some corners where supervision is lax, there may be some similar problems."

Ultimately, all systems must return to the core factor of "people." As human beings, we have emotions and desires, and we have different levels of closeness and distance. We are bound to be influenced by personal feelings, interests, or wishful thinking, which can lead to the distortion and deviation of the implementation of systems.

Anyone who violates the red line of the system, regardless of who they are, must be severely punished. This is a principle, and more importantly, it is fundamental to the rise and fall of the Red Flag Battalion's great cause, and it cannot be shaken.

However, relying on large-scale prisons can only solve the problem temporarily and will create new ones. The next step is to improve the system and strengthen education so that more people are unwilling, afraid, and unable to cross the line.

Shi Shan was mentally prepared for the challenges in implementing the system and was not surprised. He calmly said:
"It's never too late to mend the fence after the sheep are lost. The Embroidered Uniform Guard must be thoroughly reformed and the loopholes plugged after this incident. How do you plan to begin?"

(End of this chapter)