Sweep Yuan

Chapter 272 Xu Da Triumphs in Kunshan Prefecture

The Mongol Yuan dynasty's territory spanned thousands of miles, with vastly different conditions in the east, west, north, and south. Consequently, many Yuan court edicts were implemented in vastly different ways at the local level, demonstrating a great deal of "flexibility" and "adaptation."

Take, for example, the construction of city walls, which was of utmost taboo to the Mongol Yuan dynasty.

The city walls of Pingjiang Road (later Suzhou, which included Wu County and Changzhou, two counties adjacent to the city) were destroyed, just like those of the neighboring Changzhou Road, during the catastrophe of the Mongol conquest of the Song Dynasty decades earlier.

But the outcomes were quite different: Changzhou was abandoned by the Yuan court due to its extremely low strategic value and became known as the "paper city" at the time; the city walls of Pingjiang Road were extensively repaired and even made stronger.

The key lies in the word "profit".

Pingjiang Road was the lifeline of the Yuan Dynasty—the starting point of the sea route for grain transport from the south to the north, and the lifeline that maintained the vast military and political system of Dadu Road and the north all depended on this place.

In addition, after Fang Guozhen raised an army in Taizhou, his navy frequently harassed the southeastern coast, seriously threatening the safety of the grain transport.

Therefore, even after Fang Guozhen accepted the amnesty and things calmed down a bit, the Jiangzhe Province repeatedly submitted memorials requesting the repair of the city wall of the Pingjiang Circuit.

In the fourth month of summer in the eleventh year of the Zhizheng era, under the leadership of Li Temur, the Commissioner of the Jiangnan Circuit of the Jiangzhe Province, and with the full cooperation of officials such as Angjir, the Darughachi of Pingjiang Circuit, and Gao Lu, the General Manager, more than 100,000 laborers from nearby prefectures and counties were conscripted to begin the massive city construction project.

The construction of the city wall of Pingjiang Road was completed in August of that year, after five months.

When the project was launched, Han Shantong, Liu Futong and others had not yet raised their banners in Yingzhou, and the country was still at peace.
When the project was completed, Shishan had just arrived from another time, and Zhima Li had just captured Xuzhou, and the flames of war were just beginning to rise across the land.
Several months after the city was repaired, the Yuan court officially issued the "City Repair Order" in response to the sudden outbreak of a nationwide uprising.

The newly renovated Pingjiang City not only restored the traditional layout of Helu City (the old name for Pingjiang), but also greatly strengthened its defensive functions.

The new city wall was about 45 li in circumference, nearly twice the size of the Jiangning city wall, and was a magnificent sight! The wall was 23 feet high and 16 feet wide. The bottom layer was made of three layers of huge stones stacked and rammed, and the top was covered with specially made large blue bricks, making it exceptionally sturdy.

The city had six gates: Chang, Xu, Pan, Feng, Lou, and Qi (of which Xu and Lou were water gates that connected the city's waterways). Each gate was topped with a watchtower, from which one could see more than ten miles away.

Such a massive and fortified city, even though it is located on a plain with a dense network of waterways and no natural defenses, is itself an insurmountable fortress.

Qing Tong, the Pingzhang Zhengshi of Jiangzhe Province, gathered a large army here, relying on Pingjiang, this super fortress, as his greatest asset.

Not only did he station tens of thousands of troops in the city, but he also deployed a large number of troops in surrounding key locations such as Changshu Prefecture and Wujiang Prefecture. Furthermore, he constructed a dense network of beacon towers and strongholds along the crisscrossing waterways and land routes.

Qing Tong's strategic intent was very clear: to use the vast battlefield space and numerous strongholds to force the invading Red Flag Battalion to split its forces, slow down the advance of its main force, and find weaknesses in the Red Flag Battalion in the process of moving around, so as to defeat them one by one.

Chang Yuchun's troops had already captured Wuxi City and successfully joined forces with Hu Dahai and Wang Bi's troops.

Nominally, he commanded three main fighting forces: the Qingri Left Guard, the Bashan Left Guard, and the Weiwu Guard, as well as nearly 14,000 newly recruited Changzhou militia (more than 1,000 of whom were killed or eliminated during the attack on Wuxi).

In reality, only about 25,000 soldiers from the Three Guards and 5,000 relatively reliable local militia from Changzhou Prefecture, who had been preliminarily selected, were truly able to accompany Chang Yuchun in mobile operations.

The remaining troops had to be dispersed to garrison the newly acquired cities of Liyang, Yixing, Dantu, Jiangyin, Changzhou, and Wuxi, while also being reorganized by the training camp personnel sent from the rear. It was impossible to gather them all together in a short time.

Faced with the well-prepared defensive system of the Yuan army in Pingjiang Road, Chang Yuchun's forces were insufficient. Although he was brave and skilled in battle, he dared not rashly advance directly to the city of Pingjiang, lest he be stranded under the fortified city, his rear fall into chaos, and he be put on the defensive.

Chang Yuchun's strategy was to first steadily eliminate the beacon towers and strongholds that the Yuan army had set up on the outskirts, and then try to lure some of the Yuan army out of the city so that they could annihilate their manpower in open battle.

As a result, the Red Flag Battalion's advance on the eastern front inevitably slowed down, and the battle became stalemated for a time.

Behind them, Shi Shan indeed held tens of thousands of reserve troops, including the Fujun Guard and Qingri Right Guard, which were undergoing intensive training.

However, he knew that it was not advisable to launch a rash attack before Chang Yuchun could effectively clear the area around Pingjiang and weaken the Yuan army's strength to create a favorable opportunity.

After all, the Red Flag Battalion had reserves, and so did the Yuan army in the Jiangzhe Province; in terms of sheer numbers, the other side had more.

Before the outcome of the battle is clear, it is unwise to blindly deploy valuable strategic reserves to the enemy's pre-planned battlefield.

The key to victory in a major battle often lies not in the amount of troops deployed in the initial stage, but in the timing of the battle.

The two commanders are like chess masters; they rarely commit their entire army at the outset. Instead, they engage in repeated probing, tug-of-war, and attrition.

Only when one side reveals a fatal flaw will the other side decisively increase its bets and invest its reserve forces in an attempt to create an opening, disrupt the enemy's overall strategy, and then snowball its victory.

However, the battle is also full of variables. Not only do excellent players try their best to control the situation, but some exceptionally talented pieces will also create their own opportunities.

Just as the Yuan army's main attention was drawn to Chang Yuchun's troops on Pingjiang Road, a surprise attack that could change the balance of the battle was quietly brewing to its northeast.

Liujiagang, Kunshan Prefecture.

The Red Flag Battalion of the Yangtze River Navy took over this bustling port, known as the "Six Nations Wharf," without firing a shot.

The small Yuan army fleet that was originally used to maintain order in the port had long since surrendered at the sight of the enemy, leaving only a few dozen civilian ships that had come for the reward money for transporting grain. The ship owners watched in fear as this huge fleet with its forest of masts and flags blocking out the sun sailed in, afraid that they would be plundered at any moment.

After landing, Xu Da immediately began interrogating several captured low-ranking Yuan officers and port officials. Combining this with intelligence previously provided by the Military Command, he quickly ascertained the true situation of Kunshan Prefecture.

With time of the essence, Xu Da immediately summoned all his officers of the rank of Garrison Commander and above to a military meeting in a temporarily requisitioned port office.

It was mid-June in the lunar calendar, and the Jiangnan region was already shrouded in sweltering heat. The scorching sun beat down on the water-rich plains, and the air was filled with the unique scent of rice paddies, mud, and sweat. The cicadas chirped hoarsely, adding to the restlessness.

The main hall of the government office was unbearably hot and stuffy; even with all the hinged windows open, the thick, sticky heat couldn't be dispelled.

Xu Da was dressed in the ordinary linen battle robe of a general, yet his forehead showed little sign of sweat. This time, he did not have his subordinates brief him on military affairs; instead, he swept his gaze over his assembled troops and cut straight to the point, his voice steady and clear.

"We have just received news that Kunshan City only has a rammed earth core, which is low and thin. The defending army is less than two thousand, and most of them are newly recruited local militia, whose fighting strength is worrying. With the fighting strength of our naval and land forces, it should not be difficult to take this city. What do you all think?"

Although the Commander-in-Chief's words were inquiries, the decisiveness in his tone was quite evident.

Liao Yong'an, the garrison commander of the Third Garrison, was the most hot-tempered. Upon hearing this, he immediately stood up and said in a loud voice:

"What's there to think about? The general gave the order, so let's just do it! We've been on the water for so long, the brothers are itching to get ashore and stretch our muscles!"

Upon hearing this, Yu Tingyu, the garrison commander of the Second Garrison, and Sang Shijie, the garrison commander of the Fourth Garrison, nodded in agreement, clearly showing their support for Liao Yong'an's opinion. The Yangtze River Navy had recently achieved a series of victories, reaping substantial spoils, and the morale of the entire army was high; everyone was eager to strike while the iron was hot and achieve further merit.

However, Zhang Desheng, the garrison commander of the First Garrison, frowned slightly. Being a cautious man, he still harbored some doubts. After a moment's hesitation, he spoke:

"General, Kunshan Prefecture and Liujiagang are the vital waterways for the Yuan Dynasty, so their importance goes without saying. The Yuan army has ample troops in Pingjiang Road, and that barbarian Haiya, as the Vice Minister of the Jiangzhe Province, has previously quelled the Xu and Song armies in Raozhou and Xinzhou. He is by no means an incompetent person."

Why did he only leave these two thousand weak soldiers in Kunshan? This humble general is worried that... there might be a trap involved.

The "barbarian Haiya" that Zhang Desheng mentioned was the current supreme commander of the Yuan army on the Pingjiang front. This man had practical combat experience and would not be so negligent in his military operations. Such an unusual defensive deployment could not help but arouse Zhang Desheng's vigilance.

Xu Da looked at Zhang Desheng, his eyes showing not displeasure but rather a hint of approval. He was greatly influenced by Shi Shan and needed a general like him who could think independently and dare to raise objections.

The man nodded slightly and explained:

“Desheng’s concerns are not without merit. According to the prisoners’ confessions and intelligence provided by the Military Command, the Yuan court had previously used the position of Director of the Water Transport Office as bait to try to transfer Fang Guozhen westward to assist in the defense of Liujiagang.”

The barbarian Haiya, fearing Fang Guozhen wouldn't dare come, initially only deployed a thousand troops in Kunshan. It wasn't until our army entered Changzhou and the situation became critical that he hastily added another thousand men to Kunshan.

Before the battle, Shishan instructed the military command to explain in detail the external situation of the Red Flag Battalion to officers of the rank of garrison commander and above, especially the complex relationship between the Red Flag Battalion, the Yuan court, and Fang Guozhen.

Therefore, the generals present were not unfamiliar with this background, knowing that the Yuan court and Fang Guozhen both used each other and were wary of each other.

The Yuan Dynasty's Maritime Transport Office was located in Kunshan Prefecture. They wanted to utilize Fang Guozhen's naval power. However, if the city was well-defended and had a large garrison, Fang Guozhen, being cunning and suspicious, would certainly not dare to come to this place to take up his post.

On the other hand, the Yuan court was unwilling to give Fang Guozhen a strong city to prevent him from becoming too powerful, so that it could deal with this villain at a more relaxed pace after pacifying the country.

Both sides were suspicious of each other and kept their eyes on each other. The defenses of Kunshan Prefecture became the victims of this strange "tacit understanding".

Under the rule of the Mongol Yuan dynasty, many strange things happened. The situation in Kunshan could indeed be as Xu Da described, but Zhang Desheng still had some concerns.

"Since our army set out, we first assisted Liu Zhenfu in capturing Jiangyin, then annihilated the Yuan navy at Chengjiaosha, and now we have taken Liujiagang without bloodshed. Our achievements and spoils are already more than enough."

The soldiers, having fought fiercely for days, were inevitably exhausted. Continuing to advance further on land to launch an attack, even if successful, would only increase their military achievements slightly. If the situation changed, they would become an isolated force. How would they cope then?

Upon hearing this, the excitement on the faces of Yu Tingyu, Liao Yong'an, and the others subsided slightly. They also realized the potential risks of this battle and looked at Xu Da, awaiting his decision.

Xu Da sighed inwardly. Yu Tingyu, Liao Yong'an and other generals were brave, but their thinking was still stuck at the level of obeying orders and charging into battle. Only Zhang Desheng, because he often received guidance from Marshal Shi, could weigh the pros and cons from a holistic perspective, but his vision and courage still needed to be honed.

He was highly trusted by Shishan and entrusted with the important task of commanding the Yangtze River Navy. Every tactical decision he made concerned the lives of thousands of soldiers and the overall situation of the battle. How could he act like a bandit and think about things wherever he went?
Xu Da had already made up his mind, but he still summoned his generals to discuss the battle situation. He knew that only when their thoughts were unified could their actions be more resolute—a phrase Marshal Shi often used. Taking advantage of Zhang Desheng's question, Xu Da analyzed in a deep voice:

"The Yuan court only made contact with Fang Guozhen at the beginning of this month, which was immediately sabotaged by our Gu Cheng, who assassinated the Yuan envoy. The two sides already had no mutual trust, and this incident will only deepen the rift, making them unlikely to make contact again in the short term."

It would take at least two or three months for these two sides to repair their relationship, let alone achieve genuine cooperation. Before this, Fang Guozhen was afraid that the Yuan court would set a trap for him, so he dared not send his main force deep into the heart of Pingjiang Road.

The small navy rebuilt by the Mongol Yuan dynasty has been completely annihilated by our forces at Chengjiaosha. Currently, from Liujiagang to Kunshan, both waterways and land routes are under our control, and our rear is secure! This is a golden opportunity, one that will be fleeting!

Xu Da first dispelled everyone's worries about their retreat being cut off, then changed the subject and became more impassioned, explaining why he still wanted to risk another battle even though he had already achieved military merit.

"Our troops had previously won a series of victories and seemed to be in great shape. However, in the Battle of Jiangyin, the main attack was launched by Liu Ju's land forces; the annihilation of the Yuan navy was merely a pursuit of the fleeing enemy, whose strength was extremely weak; and the capture of Liujiagang was accomplished with a simple proclamation, without even damaging the Yuan land forces."

These achievements, however, failed to truly alter the battlefield situation in the upcoming Battle of Pingjiang Road. So much so that even knowing Fang Guozhen couldn't come, the barbarian Haiya dared to disregard Kunshan, which was so close at hand; and even knowing our navy was coming, he only sent a thousand reinforcements as a perfunctory gesture!

Xu Da's gaze swept across the faces of each general, and he said in a loud voice:
"Why? Because he believes that my Yangtze River Navy is ultimately just a water dragon, and once it goes ashore, it is not a threat!"

Only by independently capturing Kunshan Prefecture can we prove to the Marshal, our allies, and all enemies that our Yangtze River Navy can not only dominate the rivers and seas, but also conquer cities and territories by 'landing by water,' truly influencing the course of the land war!

From this day forward, wherever our Yangtze River Fleet advances, the enemy must exert all its strength and divide its forces to defend it, never daring to underestimate us in the slightest! This battle is a battle to 'restore' the reputation of our navy!

Xu Da's words not only clarified the reasons for launching this battle, but also emphasized that by doing so, the navy could completely get rid of its awkward status as a "sidekick" and thus strive for more combat opportunities and merits in the future, igniting the flame of desire in the hearts of the generals to prove their abilities.

Even the oldest among them, Yu Tingyu, was so excited that he couldn't help but clap his hands in praise:

"The general is absolutely right! The marshal has invested so much money in the navy, building the best ships and equipping them with the most powerful cannons! Although we have won a few battles, they were either on the water, where no one witnessed our might, or we were just assisting the land forces."

Even so, we often hear Brother Lu making sarcastic remarks. We've been holding this in for too long! We should show them all that while they can't win on the water, our navy can certainly fight a formidable battle on land!"

Zhang Desheng was not actually against sending troops. He was just worried that Xu Da would be blinded by his military achievements and act rashly without regard for the possible risks. That's why he reminded him. Now that he saw that Xu Da had thought things through carefully, was determined, and had a clear goal, what was there to hesitate about?
He immediately clasped his hands in a fist and replied readily:

"General, your thinking is thorough; I was short-sighted! I'll obey you, General, and do it!"

Liao Yong'an, Sang Shijie, and others were even more agitated, shouting:

"Done!"

"That's how it should be!"

Seeing that his generals were of one mind and full of fighting spirit, Xu Da nodded in satisfaction and began to deploy specific tactics.

"In that case, this battle is a battle for our navy to 'restore its reputation.' We must have the determination to fight to the death. We will not retreat until we are victorious!"

His gaze swept across the crowd like lightning. Seeing only burning fighting spirit in his subordinates' eyes, without the slightest fear of "burning the boats," he felt even more reassured and continued:
"The Loujiang River (a tributary of the Yangtze River connecting Pingjiang Road and Kunshan Prefecture) is narrow, making it difficult for a large fleet to deploy. If the entire fleet were to enter, it would easily become a burden."

Furthermore, our forces have recently captured numerous warships, many of which urgently need repair and must be returned to Jiangning as soon as possible. Therefore, for this battle, only fifty medium-sized warships will be left to transport provisions and supplies!

Warships were not only vehicles for naval officers and soldiers, but also their battle platforms. For a navy to abandon its warships was like a cavalryman dismounting from his saddle or an infantryman abandoning his shield.

However, Xu Da had already laid the groundwork, and all the generals knew that this was a "do-or-die" decision, so not one of them raised any objections. Their only worry at this moment was that Xu Da would specifically ask them to lead the team back to port, causing them to miss this battle that would surely be recorded in naval history.

With morale high, the troops are in high spirits!
Xu Da no longer hesitated, his voice suddenly rising as he said:
"Generals, obey the order!"

Commander Xu was strict in managing his troops. Although he was usually humble and low-key, once he started giving orders, everyone immediately straightened their backs and became solemn.

"Each town shall retain two hundred soldiers to escort the ships, in addition to the necessary personnel to operate them. All other soldiers, along with all artillery, ammunition, arrows, and ten days' rations, shall land! The remaining ships shall be allocated as follows..."

Furthermore, one thousand prisoners of war will remain to assist the army in combat and transport supplies. The return voyage of the fleet will be entirely overseen by Sang Shijie, the garrison commander of the Fourth Division!

Among the garrison commanders, Sang Shijie was the least senior and was mentally prepared for this arrangement. Although he was not selected to participate in the land assault, he knew that escorting the massive fleet and the captured spoils back to Jiangning was an equally important responsibility.

Without hesitation, he stepped forward, clasped his hands in agreement, and said:

"I will obey your orders!"

Although the Yangtze River Navy was not as large as the various garrisons of the land forces, it still had a total strength of nearly seven thousand men. The landing and conversion of such a large number of personnel, equipment, and supplies could not be accomplished immediately with just an order from the commander-in-chief.

Xu Da had to allow sufficient time for his troops to coordinate their actions, and he himself needed to use this gap to personally draft battle reports, send them to the rear by fast ships, and explain in detail to Shi Shan his decision to launch a decisive attack on Kunshan, the risk assessment, and the expected impact of the battle.

"The army will set off in half an hour. All units, move out immediately!"

"As ordered!"

The generals responded with a resounding roar, then quickly dispersed and hurried back to their respective units to relay the orders. The previously relatively calm Liujiagang instantly transformed into a bustling, tense, and orderly scene, like an anthill that had been blown apart.

On the warships that had already docked, the sailors quickly pushed cannons covered with gun covers ashore via gangplanks; boxes of heavy ammunition and bundles of arrows were carried off the ships by shoulder and hand.

The land soldiers who were about to fight alongside Xu Da checked their swords and armor, their faces a mixture of sweat and excitement.

The warships that followed waited anxiously in the waterway outside the harbor, while small transport boats shuttled between the ships like shuttles, transferring personnel and orders.

With limited berths in the port, ships entering and leaving were almost side-by-side, nearly colliding several times. This made the ship commanders very nervous, and the sounds of shouts, commands, oars, and sails churning filled the air.

The rigorous training they usually undergo is showing its effectiveness at this moment.

Despite the tight schedule and somewhat chaotic scene, all tasks were carried out in an orderly manner under the command of officers at all levels.

Finally, within the half-hour limit set by Xu Da, a landing force of more than 5,000 men (including more than 4,000 naval and marine soldiers and 1,000 prisoners of war responsible for supplies) lined up outside Liujiagang.

Sang Shijie boarded his flagship and took one last look back at the shore.

Under the blazing sun, the prominent "Xu" banner fluttered in the wind at the front of the marines, the army like a dragon, their swords and spears gleaming with a blinding cold light. He took a deep breath, suppressing his envy, and decisively turned to give the order:
"Raise the sails! Set sail! Destination—Jiangning!"

Although Sang Shijie was unable to participate in this battle, he still had a daunting task on his shoulders: to safely bring the main fleet and a large amount of spoils back to the Jiangning headquarters, and to report as soon as possible the important news that the navy had penetrated deep into Kunshan to Marshal Shishan and the front-line commander Chang Yuchun.

The rest depends on whether Commander Xu and his men can significantly alter the course of the battle in Pingjiang Road!
The movement of an army of over five thousand men was a formidable spectacle, and naturally could not escape the notice of the Yuan army's scouts and informants scattered throughout the region.

However, Xu Da's decisiveness and swiftness of action far exceeded the expectations of the Yuan army in Kunshan. By the time the main force of the Yangtze River Navy arrived at the walls of Kunshan the following day, the defending troops in the city had failed to devise a proper countermeasure.

On the low rammed earth walls, the defending soldiers ran in panic, their officers' desperate shouts drowned out by the chaos. They probably never imagined that the Red Flag Battalion, which had always operated on the water, would so brazenly land and head straight for the city.

Xu Da, mounted on his warhorse, calmly observed the city's defenses. Knowing that the enemy's morale had been shattered and that victory was assured, he launched the attack directly without even attempting any surrender attempts or probing attacks.

"Artillery, advance! Target: the section of the city wall directly ahead, fire a salvo!"

The commands are concise and clear.

The navy's gunners moved with practiced skill, quickly pushing the cannons to the front of the formation, adjusting the firing angle, and loading ammunition.

"put!"

As the command flag was waved, a sudden roar broke the afternoon's dullness, and more than twenty iron projectiles whistled as they crashed into the mottled earthen city wall.

Most of the shells hit the rammed earth core, only creating a small crater and failing to cause structural damage. However, a few shells still flew over the crenellations and landed among the defenders, instantly causing nearly twenty casualties.

This fierce and terrifying blow became the final straw that broke the morale of the defending troops. The already demoralized defenders let out a shout and completely collapsed. Ignoring the officers' attempts to suppress them, they fled in panic towards the city walls.

Zhang Desheng, the garrison commander of the First Garrison, had been keeping a close eye on the movements on the city wall. Seeing this golden opportunity, how could he let it slip by?

"Charge team, follow me!"

With a roar, he personally led two hundred elite soldiers, charging towards the city walls like wild horses. These naval warriors, who were used to practicing boarding and seizing ships, now found themselves on solid ground instead of the swaying decks, their movements still agile and swift.

Once they reached the base of the wall, they didn't even need complicated siege equipment. Working in groups of several, they used the long bamboo poles they carried to brace themselves against the ground and, with the help of their comrades' shoulders, they nimbly leaped upwards like monkeys, swiftly scaling the low Kunshan city wall...

The city fell in an instant.

(End of this chapter)