Sweep Yuan

Chapter 274 Jiangdong has always been a land of talented people

[Subscription Notice] This chapter mainly showcases the results of Shishan's conquest of northern Zhejiang (all the civil and military talents have entered Huzhong). The ten newly introduced characters are all historical figures (some of whom will have more plot developments later), and are not fictional.

If each character were to be developed in detail, it would take tens of thousands of words. Condensing it into a chapter of 5,000 words would be a bit dry, but it avoids padding and slowing down the pace.

……

Before the emergence of the Red Flag Battalion Navy, Fang Guozhen had already wreaked havoc in eastern Zhejiang for many years. His fleet was like a sea monster, often landing unexpectedly in places where the Yuan army could not expect, burning, killing and looting, but rarely taking the initiative to attack cities.

Even if they captured a city, they would hastily withdraw before the Yuan army could launch a counterattack.

It was precisely because of this blind spot in understanding that the defensive system meticulously constructed by the Yuan army commander, Barbarian Haya, on Pingjiang Road resembled a giant crab:
With its impregnable core city of Pingjiang, and its two powerful forelegs of Changshu and Wujiang, supplemented by dozens of beacon towers and fortresses scattered throughout key waterways and land routes, it formed a solid defensive system that was impossible to breach from the front.

However, Xu Da led the Yangtze River Navy in a surprise attack and captured Kunshan Prefecture, located on the northeastern wing of Pingjiang Road. This was like a sharp blade piercing the relatively soft side of this giant crab, immediately disrupting the Yuan army's troop deployment.

When the urgent report reached Pingjiang City, Manzi Haiya, based on his inherent understanding of the weakness of the navy, immediately dispatched 6,000 troops, attempting to take advantage of the enemy's unstable foothold and seize Kunshan Prefecture in one fell swoop.

Unexpectedly, Xu Da did the opposite. After capturing Kunshan, he left only a thousand soldiers to guard the city, while he personally led the main force twenty miles ahead to meet the enemy. Taking advantage of the darkness and the fact that the Yuan army had just fallen asleep, he launched a surprise attack, catching the enemy off guard and killing more than a thousand people and capturing nearly two thousand four hundred.

Hundreds of miles away in Jiangning City, Shi Shan was unaware that Xu Da had achieved another great victory after capturing Kunshan, but based on the known intelligence and the Yuan army's troop deployment, he was still able to make the right adjustments.

Land warfare was not the forte of the Yangtze River Navy. Xu Da was defending the poorly fortified city of Kunshan, and facing the inevitable fierce counterattack from the Yuan army, immediate reinforcements were necessary. However, this direction was deep behind enemy lines, with a long and fragile supply line, making it unwise to commit too many troops there.

—In the decisive battle surrounding Pingjiang Road, which would determine the fate of Jiangsu and Zhejiang, the Yuan army had committed nearly 100,000 troops and possessed the advantage of a fortified city. While attacking its flanks could effectively tie down Yuan forces, a decisive victory still required a frontal assault on the fortress of Pingjiang.

After comprehensively analyzing the situation of both sides, Shi Shan divided his available troops into four parts:

First, he ordered Li Song, the garrison commander of the Fifth Garrison of the Pengyue Guard, to rush to reinforce Kunshan Prefecture.

With over two thousand fresh troops, plus the marines under Xu Da's command, his forces were able to hold Kunshan firmly and, like a wedge, remain firmly planted on the Yuan army's flank and rear, continuously harassing them and making the barbarian Haiya feel like he had a fishbone stuck in his throat, unable to commit his full strength to the main battlefield.

Secondly, Shao Rong was ordered to lead the Fujun Guard to reinforce Chang Yuchun. While the Yuan army was forced to divide its forces to deal with the threat from Kunshan, the Yuan army was to increase pressure on the front, quickly expand its gains, eliminate the Yuan army's outer strongholds, and press towards Pingjiang City step by step.

Thirdly, Li Xixi's Right Guard, due to incomplete reorganization, remained in Jiangning City along with the Loyal Guard. This force served both as a stabilizing force to deter internal instability and as the most crucial strategic reserve for this major battle, to be used only in critical moments.

Fourth, Shi Shan personally led the main force of the Pengyue Guard and some of its elite troops, traveling by warship through the Yangtze River and then into the Jiangnan Canal, heading towards the Pingjiang front. He not only had to personally command from the front, but also had to complete a series of crucial "battles" along the way.

At the front, Chang Yuchun's predicament was greatly alleviated after receiving reinforcements from Shao Rong's Fujun Guard. He was finally able to divide his forces to eliminate some Yuan army strongholds in tricky locations.

On the battlefield, the sounds of battle were deafening, and arrows rained down. The soldiers of the Red Flag Battalion fought bravely in the sweltering heat, gradually shrinking the Yuan army's space to maneuver.

However, the Yuan army's resistance remained stubborn, and it would still take time and more bloody battles to completely break through the defenses and create the perfect opportunity for a decisive battle with the enemy.

In the relatively peaceful rear, the newly surrendered Zhenjiang Prefecture and Changzhou Prefecture became the unseen "battlefield" of Shishan.

As a leader of a powerful force, Shishan deeply understood the principle that "one can conquer the world on horseback, but cannot govern it on horseback."

He had to personally meet with the former officials who chose to remain in their posts, recruit influential local gentry and celebrities, and promote his open attitude of being willing to "share the world" with scholars throughout the entire northern Zhejiang region.

Although many discerning people could foresee that as the Red Flag Battalion grew stronger and its foundation became more solid, Shishan's policies toward the gentry would inevitably be adjusted and tightened.

But that's for the future! Right now, the Red Flag Battalion's cause is at its zenith, and its sweeping momentum across Jiangsu and Zhejiang is unstoppable. The allure of "following the dragon" is irresistible to many scholars who yearn to make a name for themselves or protect their families.

The opportunity is right in front of you. If you hesitate, others will flock to it!

The value of military commanders is proven in the bloodshed of conquering cities and seizing territories, while the "conquest" of power leaders is a continuous process, regardless of the order of events, encompassing military, political, and people's livelihoods, requiring comprehensive and multi-dimensional efforts.

Appeasing the people, winning over the hearts of the soldiers, and establishing a firm foothold in the newly occupied territories are no less important than any battle on the front lines.

Furthermore, some things require Shi Shan's personal intervention to achieve the best results. This is similar to how Liu Bei visited Zhuge Liang three times to persuade him to join his cause. If he had sent his subordinates Zhang Fei and Guan Yu to save time, it would likely have backfired.

After the fleet arrived in Zhenjiang Prefecture, Shi Shan immediately summoned several local talents to his residence: Shi Xiang, Fu Bao, Li Shan, and others.

Among them, Shi Xiang came from a branch of the Shi family in Zhenjiang. He was the nephew of Shi Qian, who was appointed by Shi Shan to serve as an instructor in Jintan County. Shi Qian was the founder of Yingxue Academy. After being recruited by Shi Shan to take up his post in Jintan County, Shi Xiang succeeded him as the headmaster of Yingxue Academy.

Shi Shan would naturally not allow local powerful clans to monopolize the cultural and educational undertakings that should be led by the government for a long time. However, he had just forcefully dismantled the Shi clan and relocated many members of the Shi clan. At this time, he needed to appease and appease them, and it was not appropriate to be aggressive.

The reason for summoning Shi Xiang was to deal with another key figure in the main branch of the Shi family who was detained—Shi Wenbin, the former prefect of Kunshan Prefecture.

Shi Wenbin passed the imperial examination and was a successful official with a good reputation and ability. He was highly respected in the clan and mentored promising younger generations such as Shi Xiang. It is said that the two had a mentor-student relationship.

Shi Xiang was a smart woman. She understood the deeper meaning behind Shi Shan's seemingly casual question and knew that she had no right to refuse Shi Shan. She took the initiative to offer to persuade Shi Wenbin to surrender.

Shi Shan nodded slightly; this was exactly the attitude he wanted.

Although Kunshan Prefecture's defenses were poor, its economic status was not bad. Shi Wenbin's knowledge of Kunshan Prefecture's affairs speaks volumes about his abilities.

However, Shi Shan's recruitment of this person was not out of appreciation for talent, nor was it necessary to recruit Shi Wenbin. Rather, it was a way to send a political signal that he was willing to recruit and accept defectors.

As long as Shi Xiang agrees to this matter, Shi Shan's goal will be achieved regardless of whether Shi Wenbin surrenders or not.

Fu Bao was a representative of the powerful clans of Dantu County. Last year, when the Xu Song Red Turban Army wreaked havoc throughout Jiangnan, he responded to the Yuan court's call and organized local militias.

His "Fu Family Army" had considerable combat strength. Relying on the terrain, they were adept at attacking the rebel army's supply lines. They once joined forces with powerful local forces such as Shi Shun'an and Zhang De to quell the remnants of the Xu Song rebel army that had invaded Zhenjiang, and were awarded the title of "Righteous Army" commander by the Yuan court.

When Shi Shan led the main force of the Red Flag Battalion across the river and their troops pointed directly at northern Zhejiang, Qing Tong once again used high-ranking positions and generous salaries to drive these local armed forces to serve the Yuan court.

As a result, these powerful local tyrants were exposed for what they were made of when faced with the Red Flag Battalion, a truly elite force.

Shi Shun'an was quick to seize the opportunity and surrendered before the Red Flag Battalion officially attacked the city. However, Wang Zongdao seized on the massacre of the rebel prisoners and forcibly separated his clan, with most of his clan members forced to migrate to other places. Zhang De, relying on his bravery, resisted stubbornly and was killed in the chaos by Deng Youlong, a fierce general under Wang Bi.
Fu Baoze assessed the situation and decisively surrendered before defeat was inevitable, handing over all his private troops in exchange for his life and property.

Shi Shan was well-versed in the art of "using both kindness and severity." Now that the troublemakers in Zhenjiang had been eliminated and the rest had been subdued, it was only natural to show them appropriate kindness and make use of them.

Otherwise, if only members of the collateral branches of the Shi family were appointed in the early stages, it would be difficult to guarantee that the Shi family would not become the dominant force in Zhenjiang in the future.

During his visit to the headquarters, Shi Shan carefully examined Fu Bao's knowledge and abilities. Seeing that he had a good understanding of the local situation and knew how to act, he immediately appointed him as the commander of the Red Flag Battalion.

This move was not only to appease Fu Bao himself, but also to send a message to all the local forces in Zhenjiang who were watching from the sidelines, in order to further stabilize the local people's hearts.

Li Shan was not a local, but the magistrate of Dantu County appointed by the Yuan court.

This man served for several years, governing with leniency and simplicity, and was quite capable of pacifying the people, earning him a good reputation in the region. After the city fell and he was captured, Li Shan also refused to surrender to the Red Flag Battalion, citing the principle that "a loyal minister does not serve two masters."

The newly appointed prefect of Zhenjiang, Wang Zongdao, believed that this man's reputation was acceptable and that killing him would be pointless, so he kept him imprisoned, awaiting Marshal Shi's personal disposal.

Looking at Li Shan, who, despite his imprisonment, still tried his best to maintain his composure, Shi Shan felt little urgency to recruit him. In his plan, the village schools and county schools established in Luzhou Road, as well as the Hefei Academy (under the supervision of Ye Dui), and the rapidly growing youths in the Imperial Guard Camp, were systematically cultivating his own talent pool.

Once the Red Flag Battalion has conquered all of northern Zhejiang and Shi Shan has established his own kingdom, the imperial examinations will be held again, and the shortage of talent will be fundamentally alleviated.

Therefore, he always maintained the attitude of "useful, but not demanding" towards these former Yuan officials who had a decent reputation but rigid thinking.

Like Shi Wenbin, Shi Shan only needed to follow the proper procedures, regardless of whether Li Shan surrendered or not.

He inquired gently about Li Shan's situation, then explained his ambitions and the current state of affairs, making his intention to recruit him clear.

Li Shan had been imprisoned for many days, and his heart had already begun to waver. He knew that even if Shishan released him, the Yuan court might not spare him, a minister who had lost a city, and his career in government would probably be over.

After decades of hard study, how can one be content with unfulfilled ambitions?
Now that Marshal Shi has personally offered him a way out, if he doesn't appreciate it, he will be ruining his future.

Therefore, Li Shan took the opportunity to back down and expressed his willingness to serve as a dog or horse.

Shi Shan then went along with the idea and reinstated him to his original position as magistrate of Dantu County, to assist Wang Zongdao in governing the area.

While recruiting local talents, Shishan was also quietly observing Wang Zongdao's performance after his transfer to another region.

Although the Red Flag Battalion had only occupied Zhenjiang for a short time, along the way, it was clear that the order in the towns of Dantu and Danyang (Jintan was not on the way, so I did not visit it in person) had been largely restored, shops were open for business as usual, and the people's faces rarely showed the fear of war.

This was primarily due to the strict military discipline of the Red Flag Battalion, which forbade disturbing the people, but Wang Zongdao's efforts in pacifying and comforting the people and restoring local social order were also evident.

Shi Shan secretly hoped that as long as this situation could be maintained for half a year, and the people could truly feel that their lives were more secure under the rule of the Red Flag Battalion, then even if the Yuan army counterattacked in the future, the local people would spontaneously cooperate with the Red Flag Battalion to resist these inhuman "invading armies".

With the war situation urgent, Shi Shan could not stay in Zhenjiang Prefecture for long. After encouraging Wang Zongdao and others to continue their efforts, he led his army eastward to Changzhou Prefecture.

Although Changzhou Prefecture was much larger than Zhenjiang, the Yuan court's strategic abandonment and Qing Tong's early withdrawal of troops meant that the Red Flag Battalion encountered almost no significant resistance when advancing eastward, and the region was pacified with a mere proclamation. Therefore, the work of pacifying the area was relatively simpler.

During this period, Shishan received a group of scholars and powerful figures, including Zhu Daocun, Ma Zhi, Zhou Di, Mo Tianyou, and Lü Min.

Among them, Zhu Daocun was appointed as the Prefect of Jiangyin Prefecture by the Mongol Yuan court.

Jiangyin was originally a key town for the defense of the Yangtze River, and the prefectural governor bore great responsibility. However, due to Zhu Daocun's negligence in defense, it was easily defeated by Liu Ju's troops, which triggered a chain reaction, causing the morale of the warriors in the entire Changzhou area to collapse and surrender at the mere sight of them.

Knowing full well the gravity of the loss of the city, he surrendered to the Red Flag Battalion without much hesitation after being captured, and actively assisted Liu Ju in taking over the city, hoping to gain Marshal Shi's appreciation.

Subsequently, Shishan adjusted the administrative divisions of Changzhou Road, downgraded Jiangyin Prefecture to a county and merged it into Changzhou Prefecture, and appointed Xia Mao, the clerk of the Administrative Office, as the county magistrate. However, Zhu Daocun was left idle and not given a new position. He was only asked to make sure that he could hand over the reins to Xia Mao.

These days, Zhu Daocun felt like he was sitting on pins and needles. He saw that his former colleagues had either been demoted or left and all had been arranged for themselves, but his own future was uncertain. He was worried day and night, fearing that Shishan might remember him one day and issue an order to settle scores.

Every time a city was captured, the generals at the front lines had to report to the Marshal's Office in a timely manner on their own gains, losses, and the course of the battle, as well as the fate of enemy officials.

Shi Shan had already read the battle report from Jiangyin and naturally knew of Zhu Daocun's existence; this action was intentional.

In the Yuan dynasty, the chief official of a directly governed prefecture (directly under the jurisdiction of a province or pacification commission) was called "Prefect," a fourth-rank official; the chief official of a subordinate prefecture (under the jurisdiction of a circuit or prefecture) was called "Prefect," a fifth-rank official.

Although Zhu Daocun surrendered after the city fell, his abilities were mediocre, and it was unwise to keep him in Jiangyin. He was also a high-ranking official of the fourth rank. Although he would definitely be demoted after surrendering, it would be better to leave him out of the limelight for a while.

Sure enough, when he finally received the news that Marshal Shi would receive him, Zhu Daocun practically stumbled and crawled over, having long since thrown away any semblance of the airs he held as a fourth-rank official from the previous dynasty.

Looking at the trembling former prefect before him, Shi Shan understood that the drying process had been effective.

He asked a few questions gently, and seeing that Zhu Daocun was respectful, he took the opportunity to appoint him as the magistrate of Yixing County (formerly Yixing Prefecture).

Zhu Daocun felt as if he had been granted a pardon, and gratefully accepted the order and left with tears in his eyes.

Ma Zhi and Zhou Di were both well-known scholars from Changzhou. Ma Zhi was from Yixing, while Zhou Di was from Wuxi.

Shishan personally examined the two men's scholarship and found that they were indeed accomplished in calligraphy, painting, poetry and prose, quoting classics and displaying remarkable literary talent. However, when it came to specific matters such as finance, grain and criminal law, they seemed somewhat pedantic and not very knowledgeable.

Nevertheless, Shishan, still aiming to win over the hearts of his men, appointed Zhou Di as Xuan Cao Yuan and Ma Zhi as the Yuan Shuai Fu Li Jing Si Jing Li.

—As long as they have the right attitude and are willing to serve the Red Flag Battalion, even if they lack experience in general affairs, Shishan has plenty of patience to train them.

Lü Min was from Kaifeng, Henan. To avoid the chaos caused by Liu Futong, he lived in Wuai Temple in the north of Wuxi City and called himself "Wuai Jushi". With his talent in poetry and prose, he had close relationships with famous scholars in Wuxi such as Hua Youwu and Ni Zan.

Hua, Ni, and others had already fled to other places with their families before the Red Flag Battalion's troops arrived, clearly indicating that they did not have high hopes for the Red Flag Battalion.

Such short-sighted scholars, no matter how famous they are, will never be interested in Shishan.

On the contrary, it is more worthwhile to win over and cultivate Jiangbei literati like Lü Min, who can thrive in the Jiangnan scholar circle.

After a conversation, Shishan found that he was well-mannered and had insights into the current situation, so he appointed him as the clerk of the Ministry of Rites and sent him to travel with the army.

Mo Tianyou was also a powerful figure from Wuxi who organized a local militia last year. Because of his bravery and skill in battle, he wiped out several bandit groups in the area. However, he was also ruthless and killed people indiscriminately. He was so skilled that he could stop children from crying at night, which earned him the nickname "Tiger Mo".

In chaotic times, the people's moral expectations of the strong give way to the need for survival. Mo Tianyou was able to protect the peace of the local area, so he was quite prestigious.

He was one of the few local armed leaders in Changzhou Prefecture who dared to confront the Red Flag Battalion with real swords and guns. Naturally, he suffered a crushing defeat, losing nearly 30% of his local militia. This man was quite resolute; seeing that the situation was hopeless, he went out of the city alone and surrendered to Chang Yuchun.

Chang Yuchun used battle to hone the newly surrendered local militia, and his fierce attack on Wuxi caused considerable damage. After the battle, the area needed to be pacified. He himself admired brave warriors, so he spared Mo Tianyou's life.

However, how to deal with this person involved local stability and the relationship with the newly attached forces, so Chang Yuchun dared not act on his own and reported to Shishan for a decision.

Shishan's strategy towards powerful local clans has always been to "use their courage and suppress their power." The Mo clan was not powerful to begin with, and this defeat has further weakened them, making them a good candidate for incorporation and utilization.

Therefore, he also appointed Mo Tianyou as commander, and together with Fu Bao, they were temporarily placed under the command of the Pengyue Guard.

Shi Shan planned to keep them by his side, partly to let them systematically learn the command rules and military regulations of the Red Flag Battalion, and partly to observe their character and abilities closely. He would not easily let them truly lead troops before he had thoroughly understood their background and ensured their loyalty.

Just as Shishan was recruiting talents in Zhenjiang and Changzhou to stabilize the rear, battle reports from the front lines were flying to the headquarters like snowflakes.

On the flank, Xu Da had already repelled two consecutive counterattacks by the Yuan army, annihilating and defeating about 15,000 enemy troops. His troops not only did not suffer any losses in the battle, but were also strengthened by absorbing surrendered soldiers and local armed forces, and took advantage of the situation to capture Jiading Prefecture.

Once the rear was secured, Xu Da prepared to lead his troops toward Pingjiang City.

On the front, after receiving reinforcements from the Fujunwei, Chang Yuchun's troops launched an even more ferocious offensive.

He dispatched Hu Dahai to lead the Bashan Left Guard northward to besiege Changshu Prefecture, intending to cut off one of the Yuan army's arms first.
Chang Yuchun himself led the main forces of the Qingri Left Guard, the Weiwu Guard, and the Fujun Guard eastward, capturing strongholds and fortresses. With his troops advancing, he finally reached the ultimate goal of this campaign—the giant city of Pingjiang!
(End of this chapter)