Sweep Yuan

Chapter 275 The Demonic Monk Emerges After the City's Demise

In the northwest suburbs of Pingjiang City, a solitary hill rises abruptly from the ground. Although the hill is only ten zhang high (about 34.3 meters above sea level), it is already a very rare high point in the area of ​​Pingjiang Road, which is surrounded by a wide network of waterways.

This hill is named "Tiger Hill" because King Helü of Wu during the Warring States period was buried here, and a white tiger appeared on the tomb three days after he was buried. Due to its flat surrounding terrain and excellent views, it has long been known as the "outstanding hill and valley of Jiangnan".

Such a strategically important location, adjacent to a prosperous city (less than five miles from the expanded city wall), naturally attracted the Buddhist temples and palaces where "where there are people, there is incense."

During the Xianhe era of the Eastern Jin Dynasty (326-334 AD), the brothers Wang Xun and Wang Min, who were in awe of Buddhism and monks, donated two of their villas located in Tiger Hill to build Tiger Hill Temple and West Hill Temple respectively.

For more than a thousand years thereafter, Tiger Hill Temple and West Hill Temple went through many calamities, being destroyed and rebuilt repeatedly, and their scale became increasingly grand. Eventually, they were merged into one temple and renamed "Yunyan Temple" (later renamed "Yunyan Chan Temple" because the temple converted to Chan Buddhism).

In the sixth year of the Xiande era of the Later Zhou Dynasty, Qian Chu, the ruler of the Wuyue Kingdom, was a devout Buddhist and donated funds to build the "Yunyan Temple Pagoda" in the temple. The pagoda was over fourteen zhang tall (47.7 meters), with seven levels and eight sides, standing majestically. Standing on the top of the pagoda, one could see almost the entire street, alley, waterway, pavilion, and fortifications inside and outside Pingjiang City.

The Yuan army commander, Manzi Haya, was a seasoned warrior; how could he not see the strategic value of Tiger Hill?
Even before the Red Flag Battalion arrived, he dispatched 5,000 elite troops to build fortresses and strongholds around Yunyan Temple, taking advantage of the mountain terrain. He transformed this ancient temple into a formidable military camp, intending to form a pincer movement with the main city of Pingjiang, supporting each other and wearing down the invading enemy.

Chang Yuchun led the main force of the Red Flag Battalion to the walls of Pingjiang City. After a brief observation, he saw through the barbarian Haiya's scheme. He reined in his horse at the front of the battle, pointed to the Yuan army flags fluttering on Tiger Hill, and smiled at his men:
"That barbarian Hague certainly knows how to pick a spot, trying to use this mountain as a focal point to hinder our army. Too bad, though his eyes are sharp, they're now blind!"

He then turned the tables on them, making it appear as if he was going to attack the Tiger Hill stronghold with all his might, while in reality he had deployed his elite troops, waiting for the Yuan army in Pingjiang City to come out of the city to come to their aid. He planned to defeat them in one fell swoop, then take the opportunity to drive out the defeated soldiers and seize the city.

Then, the war drums thundered, and the battle cries shook the heavens. The Red Flag Battalion soldiers launched a fierce attack on the Yuan army's fortress on Tiger Hill like a tidal wave. Arrows rained down like locusts, and cannonballs whistled, leaving countless scars on the ancient temple walls.

Manzi Haiya climbed to the top of Pingjiang City and saw the Red Flag Battalion's offensive was like a rainbow, their formations were well-organized, and their weapons were excellent. He witnessed the Red Flag Battalion's formidable fighting power firsthand and was deeply impressed. His adjutant, seeing this, urgently requested that troops be sent to their aid, but Manzi Haiya raised his hand to stop him.

The old Mongolian general, his face grave, slowly shook his head:
"Chang Yuchun is the top general under Shi Shan, and his military tactics are unpredictable. This traitor clearly intends to besiege the city and attack the reinforcements, and is hoping that our army will leave the city."

"Judging from the enemy's formation, their fighting strength is formidable. Sending troops out of the city now will not only fail to relieve the siege of Tiger Hill, but will also greatly increase the chances of the enemy taking advantage of the situation. If the enemy then drives their defeated troops to storm the city, the situation will be hopeless!"

In the end, the barbarian Haiya gritted his teeth and reluctantly abandoned the five thousand soldiers on Tiger Hill, leaving them to struggle against the fierce attack of the Red Flag Battalion.

Thus, Chang Yuchun led his troops in a "fierce attack" for two days, but seeing that there was still no movement on the walls of Pingjiang, he knew that his plan to lure the enemy had been seen through.

"That barbarian The Hague is quite composed."

He snorted coldly. Since he could no longer lure the Yuan army out of the city to provide reinforcements, he decided not to delay any longer and immediately ordered all units to launch a full-scale attack.

The Yuan army's fortress was already on the verge of collapse under the feint attack of the Red Flag Battalion soldiers. Seeing that their comrades in the city still did not come to their rescue, their morale was already low. How could they possibly withstand the Red Flag Battalion's all-out attack?
Before they could hold out for even an incense stick's time, Tiger Hill Fortress fell, and thousands of Yuan soldiers became prisoners of the Red Flag Battalion.

Chang Yuchun did not kill these defeated soldiers, but instead used his elite troops to escort the long procession of prisoners around Pingjiang City as a show of force. Seeing the miserable state of their comrades outside the city, the morale of the defenders on the city walls plummeted.

After this defeat, Manzi Haiya knew that he could not defeat Chang Yuchun with the city's strength alone, which strengthened his determination to defend the city. No matter how the Red Flag Battalion provoked him, he simply kept the city gates tightly closed, built deep moats and high walls, and placed his hopes on Buyan Temur, who was fighting against the Xu Song regime on the Jinghu front, to lead his main force back to the city as soon as possible.

When Shi Shan personally led the main force of the Pengyue Guard to Pingjiang, Chang Yuchun had already cleared most of the battle traces on Tiger Hill and thoroughly swept away all Yuan army strongholds outside the city.

Shi Shan then set up his headquarters on Tiger Hill, which had just been ravaged by war, and summoned Chang Yuchun to climb the Yunyan Temple Pagoda with him to overlook this giant city that would soon determine the fate of northern Jiangsu and Zhejiang.

Inside the Yunyan Temple Pagoda, the space was already cramped, and with the Moon Guards stationed on each floor in advance, it felt even more confined. However, Shi Shan climbed the pagoda to observe enemy movements, and the safety of the Red Flag Battalion rested on his shoulders; he would not sacrifice his own safety for a little comfort.

Accompanied by Chang Yuchun, Shishan climbed up the steep stone steps, one by one.

The tower was dimly lit, with only a few rays of sunlight filtering through the windows, illuminating the dust motes floating in the air. Shi Shan walked steadily, but his mind was racing, calculating the upcoming siege plan.

He knew that with each step he climbed higher, his observation of Pingjiang City would become clearer, and the responsibility on his shoulders would feel heavier.

Chang Yuchun followed closely behind. He had firmly established himself as the top general under Shishan's command based on his military achievements. After years of experience in leading troops independently, he had long since shed his early impetuousness, and what remained between his brows was the composure and competence unique to a general in command of troops.

As he led Marshal Shi around, he clearly reported the results of the battles over the past few days:
"Marshal, since our army entered Pingjiang Road, we have engaged in 21 battles, large and small, with the Yuan army. Including the victories of Commander Xu in Kunshan, Jiading and other places, we have annihilated more than 38,000 enemy soldiers (this number only counts those annihilated or captured, not those who fled)."

The main force of the Yuan army in Jiangzhe was drawn away by Buyan Temur, and the rear was mostly composed of "volunteer soldiers" hastily recruited by Qingtong. The organization was loose and collapsed in one battle. Once defeated in open field battle, it was impossible for all the defeated soldiers to return to the camp.

His troops suffered nearly 40,000 casualties in succession, with the final loss being at least 50,000.

However, dwelling on this data is not very meaningful. In order to fight against the Red Flag Battalion, Qing Tong mass-produced "righteous soldiers" with titles such as commander of a thousand and a ten-thousand households, greatly expanding his army. It is estimated that even he himself may not know how many "armies" he actually had.

Shi Shan was more concerned about the current situation in Pingjiang City and asked:

"How many soldiers are left to defend the city?"

The Manzi Haiya's troop deployment in Pingjiang Road was primarily centered on Pingjiang City, with Changshu Prefecture and Wujiang Prefecture as secondary strongholds. Chang Yuchun didn't actually have accurate data on the enemy's troop strength; he could only offer a rough estimate based on the intelligence gathered over the past period.

"This humble general does not have the actual number of Yuan soldiers. According to various investigations and estimates, the number of Yuan soldiers in the city should be less than 40,000. Among them, at least 30% are defeated soldiers who fled into the city after previous battles."

As the two were talking, they had already reached the top of the temple pagoda. Shishan then walked over the railing, took out his monocular telescope, and looked into the distance.

Through the telescope, the magnificent scenery of Pingjiang City comes into view.

The streets were crisscrossed, the waterways were intertwined, and the buildings and pavilions were lined up one after another. The scale of this city and the prosperity of its market far surpassed that of Jiangning (Note 1).

However, this once bustling place, which should have been filled with "jewels and jewels, and silks and brocades vying for luxury," was now shrouded in a somber atmosphere.

In the streets and alleys, the figures of Yuan army patrols moved incessantly; on the battlements, the cold glint of swords and spears flashed under the scorching sun.

Shi Shan observed the situation within Pingjiang City while pondering a strategy to conquer it. He understood the subtext of Chang Yuchun's earlier words: although the Yuan army in Pingjiang City was numerous, their morale was low, and there was a good chance of breaking through the city with a clever plan.

Since the uprising began, Shishan has captured dozens of cities. He has developed a unique personal "algorithm" for deciding which cities to persuade to surrender, which to use stratagems, and which to attack by force.

Pingjiang is, after all, a formidable city with high walls, deep moats, and abundant supplies. Now, with a sufficient garrison and a commander who is knowledgeable in military affairs, even if the morale of the garrison is low, it is by no means an easy place to conquer with such a well-developed city defense system.

Shi Shan put away his binoculars, turned to look at Chang Yuchun, and said with a testing tone:
"Bo Ren, what are your thoughts on the battle to breach the city?"

At this moment, the Red Flag Battalion soldiers gathered under Pingjiang City consist of the Pengyue Guard, Qingri Left Guard, Fujun Guard, and Weiwu Guard, totaling about 40,000 men (some of whom are stationed in other key locations). In addition, there are the newly surrendered strongmen and surrendered soldiers, bringing the total to about 21,000.

In addition, Xu Da's troops, which had expanded rapidly during this period, had enough total strength to give them an absolute advantage over the Yuan army in Pingjiang City.

However, siege warfare is never simply a matter of comparing the strength of the two sides.

The complex city defense system greatly limits the deployment of attacking forces. Whether the Red Flag Battalion deploys 50,000 or 500,000 troops under the city, only a portion of them can be used to attack the city. The rest of the troops are used to clear out the Yuan army's outer strongholds and block enemy reinforcements.

Having commanded troops for so long, Chang Yuchun naturally understood the underlying principles. Although he was brave and skilled in battle, he was not a reckless brute. His mind was clear at this moment, and he replied:
"Marshal, Pingjiang is such a fortified city that a direct assault would inevitably result in heavy casualties. I believe we should proceed in three steps."

Before Shi Shan led his troops to arrive, Chang Yuchun was the commander at the front. He had obviously thought deeply about how to break through Pingjiang City, and his answer was very straightforward and fluent.

"Firstly, clear out the outer perimeter and cut off the enemy's wings. Especially Wujiang Prefecture in the south! This city is very close to Pingjiang and is connected to Jiaxing, Songjiang, Huzhou and Hangzhou by canals and many waterways, making it the throat of Pingjiang City."

"If Wujiang doesn't fall, Pingjiang will receive continuous reinforcements, making it difficult for our army to attack the city with peace of mind. This city must be taken as soon as possible!"

Pingjiang Road comprises five cities, of which Kunshan and Jiading have been successively captured by Xu Da's troops, while Changshu Prefecture has been besieged by Hu Dahai.

The only remaining city, Wujiang, is located within the Yuan army's inner lines. It is surrounded by a dense network of waterways, making it easy to defend and difficult to attack. Although the number of troops defending the city is less than that of Pingjiang, the difficulty of attacking it may not be any less.

Chang Yuchun pointed out the importance of taking Wujiang first, but deliberately did not say who he wanted to send to attack Wujiang Prefecture. However, Shishan knew very well that no one but Xu Da, who was good at using the terrain and had just made great achievements, was the best choice for this battle.

Shi Shan had always placed high hopes on the navy, investing countless sums of money, food and supplies. Xu Da lived up to these expectations. In this battle, his accurate grasp of the overall strategic situation, his flexible application of tactics, and even his ability to use a navy that was not good at land warfare to fight against a strong enemy (training his troops) were all commendable.

Shi Shan's control over the army wasn't achieved through personal prestige or force, but rather through institutional control and checks and balances in personnel appointments. Naturally, he wasn't afraid of having too many elite troops under his command. Xu Da's ability and drive were certainly a good thing; he could be given even greater responsibilities in the future.

"That's a good idea! Continue." Shi Shan nodded, his eyes full of encouragement. This battle was Chang Yuchun's first time as a commander-in-chief in the strict sense. When he set out from Jiangning, he planned to join forces with Wang Bi's troops of the Weiwu Guard, then take advantage of the enemy's unpreparedness to drive straight in, defeat the important cities along the Grand Canal one by one, and advance to Jiaxing Road as quickly as possible.

The marshal only needs to stay in the rear and then mobilize the army to fight a decisive battle under the walls of Hangzhou.

However, after the troops were dispatched, both sides made unexpected adjustments. The battle has now deviated from Chang Yuchun's original plan. It was only halfway through when Xu Da had to break the deadlock and the marshal had to personally intervene, which made him somewhat embarrassed.

He had spoken cautiously just now, but seeing that the marshal not only didn't blame him but also encouraged him even more, Chang Yuchun felt a warm current surge in his heart, and his spirits rose even higher as he continued:

"Secondly, Pingjiang's defenses are complex and tight, and difficult to break through easily. Before our army formally attacks the city, we must make full preparations, manufacture more weapons, and minimize unnecessary casualties."

The moat of Pingjiang is five zhang wide and two chi deep. In reality, it is far inferior to that of Jiangning in both depth and width. But the depth of the moat is not important; as long as it is functional, that is enough.

The city is surrounded by waterways such as the Grand Canal, Xushui River, Loujiang River, Taihu Lake, and Yangcheng Lake, and has abundant groundwater, so there is no need to consider the tactic of digging tunnels to bypass the moat.

Moreover, this regulation also restricted large ships from entering the moat, which actually made it easier for the Yuan army to defend.

Chang Yuchun was the bravest general in the army, a fierce general who dared to fight, was capable of fighting, and loved to battle. When he first became the commander-in-chief, he was injured while challenging Zhu Liangzu to a duel. Now, however, he was able to consider building weapons and using strategies to eliminate the enemy's defensive advantages, rather than relying on personal bravery and the soldiers' reckless fighting.

This growth pleased Ishiyama even more, and he immediately nodded, signaling him to continue.

"Thirdly, we must find out the enemy's strengths and weaknesses and wait for the right opportunity. Large cities are difficult to defend. Pingjiang's city wall is 45 miles long. No matter how well the garrison is distributed, there will inevitably be gaps and weaknesses."

Before the general offensive, I intend to conduct numerous probing attacks, either feints or night raids, to tire and harass the enemy, and to carefully investigate and find any weaknesses in their defensive system.

After Shi Shan led the main force of the Red Flag Battalion across the river, he launched a multi-front war, hoping to take advantage of the strategic window of opportunity presented by the main force of the Yuan army in Jiangnan encircling and suppressing the Xu Song regime, to expand rapidly, open up the situation as much as possible, and gain a strategic advantage.

However, given the current size of the Red Flag Battalion, he was not actually afraid of fighting the Yuan army head-on, so he demanded both speed and stability in the expansion in all directions.

If both cannot be achieved, then stability should be prioritized. This is especially true for the offensive on Pingjiang Road.

Chang Yuchun may not have fully understood Shishan's strategic intentions, but his experience of leading a large army alone, and the composure and strategy he demonstrated, have greatly satisfied Shishan.

"Very good! Bo Ren has thought things through carefully and knows when to advance and retreat. We will proceed with your strategy in this battle!"

Shi Shan clapped his hands in praise, giving Chang Yuchun full trust and affirmation.

Just as Shishan and Chang Yuchun were discussing the battle situation at the top of the tower, in the relatively secluded Zen monastery "Pingyuan Hall" of Yunyan Temple, sandalwood incense was wafting. A young monk wearing a red sanghati (a type of Buddhist robe) sat facing each other with Shi Puming (Note 2), the abbot of Yunyan Temple, who had white hair and beard and a compassionate face.

The young monk looked to be no more than seventeen or eighteen years old. His face was quite peculiar, especially his pair of strange triangular eyes with slightly upturned corners. His gaze was sharp and piercing, unlike the usual calmness of monks. Instead, he possessed a keen and profound insight into the ways of the world.

When Master Puming took over as abbot of Yunyan Temple in the fourth year of the Zhiyuan era (1338 AD), he was determined to reform the temple, which made the temple flourish and spread its fame far and wide.

In the fourth year of the Zhizheng era (1343 AD), after Chengtian Temple in Pingjiang was burned down by fire, he was transferred to be the abbot of Chengtian Temple and was in charge of rebuilding the temple.

Afterwards, Master Puming retired due to illness. In the ninth year of the Zhizheng era, he returned to the position of abbot of Yunyan Temple.

This experience earned him immense prestige among the believers in Pingjiang Road. Even when the Yuan army occupied the temple, they treated him with great courtesy and did not harm him. After Chang Yuchun led his troops to capture the Yuan army's fortified village, he continued the Yuan army's practices, only restricting the monks' activities.

Therefore, it is possible that today, when climbing the pagoda on Shishan Mountain, the soldiers of the Red Flag Battalion on the mountain are on high alert, while monks in the temple are able to spy on the pagoda from afar.

This young monk had an unusual appearance, but he was quite wise. At only eighteen years old, he had already received full ordination.

At this moment, Shi Puming noticed Daoyan's triangular eyes frequently glancing towards the towering Yunyan Temple Pagoda outside the window, clearly indicating that his mind had already wandered elsewhere. The old abbot sighed inwardly and spoke slowly, his voice aged yet peaceful:
"Daoyan, you seem to be in low spirits at today's Dharma assembly, your mind wandering. Could it be that the distinguished guests on the pagoda disturbed your meditation?"

Dao Yan, having his thoughts exposed by Shi Puming, remained calm. He withdrew his gaze, clasped his hands together, and bowed slightly.

"Abbot, please understand! This disciple's wandering thoughts have disturbed the purity of the Dharma assembly. I have committed a sin!"

As they were talking, figures moved in the tower in the distance, clearly Shi Shan and the others had finished observing the enemy situation and were about to leave. Dao Yan's eyes flashed, and he suddenly stood up, straightened his monk's robe, and was about to walk out of the hall.

"Dao Yan!" Upon seeing this, Shi Puming guessed Dao Yan's thoughts and raised his voice.

He had a deep friendship with Daoyan's first master. After his master passed away, he was entrusted with taking care of his last disciple. He knew that although Daoyan was young, he had great ambitions and was not interested in the mundane life of a monk. He was truly a rare monk in the world.

Seeing that he was about to actively seek out the Red Flag Battalion Marshal who held heavy troops and was decisive in killing, he couldn't help but feel worried and called out to stop him.

Dao Yan paused, turned around and looked at this elder who was both a teacher and a friend, his gaze clear and firm.

Shi Puming gazed at him, speaking earnestly and with a voice filled with compassion:

"The mortal world is a turbulent sea of ​​suffering. A single decision can lead to an unimaginable fate. Dao Yan, have you... thought this through?"

Dao Yan's triangular eyes were now completely focused, filled only with a resolute determination as if he had seen through the fog. He bowed deeply once more, his voice low but clear, each word seemingly imbued with the power of unwavering faith, and said:
"The abbot, in your compassion, inquired of his disciple. He said, 'I have been studying Buddhism in this monastery for many years, reciting scriptures by day and meditating on Zen riddles by night. Yet, there is a fierce tiger in my heart that I have not only failed to tame, but has become increasingly restless and uneasy.'"

Whenever I hear of war breaking out across the world, and the people suffering terribly, I feel as if I, confined to the mountains and forests, am a dragon stranded in shallow water, a tiger fallen to the plains, possessing only this seven-foot frame and a heart full of wisdom, yet utterly useless in this raging torrent of calamity.

He paused briefly, his gaze drifting to the window, as if he could see through the temple walls to the chaotic world outside, before continuing:
"Although I have never met the distinguished guest in the tower, I have long admired him. Observing his military leadership, governance, and care for the people, he is well-ordered and has the appearance of a great leader, which is incomparable to ordinary bandits and tyrants."

"Today, witnessing Marshal Shi ascend the Yunyan Pagoda, I suddenly realized that it wasn't that Buddhist teachings couldn't subdue the tiger within me, but rather that my cultivation was not in the serene, empty mountains, but rather in the turbulent and unpredictable world!"

Upon hearing this, Shi Puming frowned slightly, as if he wanted to say something but hesitated.

Daoyan turned back and saw that Shishan was still under the pagoda. He then turned back to look intently at the old monk, his words carrying an almost devout sense of mission:
"The world today is hell, and all beings are tormented by the fires of karma. When I see suffering beings, it is as if I see the Buddha suffering; to relieve the suffering of beings is to help the Buddha overcome his calamity. This is the practice of the Mahayana Bodhisattva path, and it is true cultivation!"

Marshal Shi may be the one who can save the world from collapse and relieve the people from their suffering.

This disciple wishes to emulate the ancients, using this wisdom of Buddhism to enter the world and undergo trials, assisting a wise ruler and quelling wars. If this can bring about a day's peace in the world and a moment's relief for all people from suffering, then this disciple will have attained the supreme enlightenment! I humbly request the abbot to grant this disciple's wish for worldly cultivation!

Daoyan's words, drawing on classical texts, skillfully combined his personal aspirations with the Mahayana Buddhist spirit of saving the world, both expressing his intentions and occupying the high ground of Buddhist principles.

Having been a monk for decades and having met countless people, Master Puming had never seen a monk like Daoyan, so young yet possessing such profound wisdom, such extraordinary ambition, and such sharp wit. He knew that the boy's mind was made up and could not be persuaded by words; forcing him to stay would be counterproductive.

The old monk remained silent for a long time, finally letting out a long, drawn-out Buddhist chant, his face a mixture of compassion and relief.

“Amitabha! Excellent, excellent! Since your mind is made up, and you regard the mortal world as your place of practice and relieving suffering as your spiritual cultivation, this old monk... will no longer hinder you. All beings suffer. I hope that on your journey you will uphold wisdom, use the methods of a Vajra to act with the heart of a Bodhisattva, help stabilize the world as soon as possible, and attain the Great Way in your heart!”

"Thank you for your kindness, Abbot!"

Daoyan bowed respectfully again, then resolutely turned around, his monk's robes fluttering, and strode quickly toward the stone mountain.

The tranquility before the Buddha was no longer reflected in his triangular eyes, but rather the excitement and determination of someone about to plunge into the torrent of history. He knew that his own stage was slowly unfolding beneath the war-torn city of Pingjiang.

……

Ps: 1. During the Zhishun era, Pingjiang Road had 466,158 households and 2,433,700 people; Jiqing Road had 214,548 households and 1,072,690 people.

In comparison, the former is almost two and a half times that of the latter, which shows how prosperous Pingjiang Road is.

2. The lay surname of the monk Shi Puming was Cao. He was a highly accomplished monk in the late Yuan Dynasty. He was not a fabrication by a savage. Please do not make unfounded associations.

(End of this chapter)