Sweep Yuan

Chapter 276 Yao Guangxiao's Plan to Break Pingjiang

The Red Flag Battalion Marshal's Headquarters on Tiger Hill, though newly established, was already heavily guarded. The soldiers of the Moon-Holding Guard were all battle-hardened veterans, their eyes sharp as eagles, standing solemnly with their hands on their swords, protecting the outer area of ​​the stone hill without leaving a single gap.

Daoyan had only taken a few steps out of Pingyuan Hall when he was spotted and stopped by a patrol of soldiers. Upon learning that this strangely shaped, sharp-eyed little monk wanted to see the marshal, the squad leader dared not delay and immediately reported the matter up the chain of command.

Hearing that a young monk with the Dharma name "Daoyan" had specifically requested to see him, Shishan was also somewhat curious; the name sounded familiar. He hesitated for a moment, suppressing the subtle ripples in his heart, and calmly said:

"Bring him here."

Before long, Daoyan was led by his personal guards to the front of the stone mountain.

This marshal of the Red Flag Battalion, renowned throughout the Yangtze River region, wore only a simple red robe, yet his demeanor was as dignified as a mountain, his gaze exuding authority, and his manner was composed. He showed no trace of the rough and uncouth air of a commoner, but rather a profound understanding of the ways of the world.

Dao Yan's last doubts vanished, and he became even more convinced that his visit today was the right step toward his lifelong ambition.

Knowing that Shishan's military affairs were busy and that practicality was paramount, he dared not waste the other party's precious time with roundabout talk. He stepped forward directly, clasped his hands together in a salute, and then got straight to the point:
"This humble monk, Daoyan, humbly requests an audience with the Marshal. I have heard that the Marshal aspires to rule the world, embracing all talents from all corners of the land. But I wonder if the Marshal's forces are willing to accept those from beyond the borders?"

Shishan sized up the young monk in front of him. He was not good-looking, and even looked a bit "fierce" because of his triangular eyes, but he stood tall and straight, with bright and firm eyes, without the usual restraint and escapism of a monk.

Shishan only appoints people based on their abilities. Even the lame Sun Yan was appointed to a key position. Civil and military officials such as Pu Daoren, Zhu Chongba, and Ma Zhi either had been monks and then returned to secular life or were still adhering to their Taoist names. They would not refuse to serve this little monk just because he looked strange.

He has already decided to accept Dao Yan as his disciple. However, talent needs to be honed, and insight needs to be nurtured by experience.

The young monk before him appeared to be quite young. Even if he possessed wisdom and profound knowledge of Buddhist teachings, he wouldn't be of much urgent use to Shishan if he couldn't solve the immediate problems facing the Red Flag Battalion. In a flash, Shishan made his decision, laughed heartily, and said:
"When Shi employs people, he only asks about their talents, regardless of whether they are Buddhist, Taoist, Confucian, or secular, and regardless of their social status. As long as they have a skill, he will naturally leave a position for them to join him in this great undertaking!" This statement is both a statement and a subtle test.

Dao Yan, being exceptionally astute, immediately discerned the unspoken meaning in Shi Shan's words—empty words were insufficient; concrete evidence was needed. He took a deep breath and replied in a solemn voice:
"The Marshal speaks frankly, and this humble monk dares not speak empty words. I am originally from Cheung Chau, and after becoming a monk, I often travel within the city. I know a little about the weak points in Pingjiang's defenses, and perhaps I can help the Marshal's army break this stalemate?"

Shi Shan did not rush to inquire about the weak points in the city's defenses. His Buddhist name was Daoyan, and he resembled a sick tiger; he was from Cheung Chau…

When these key pieces of information were put together, it was as if a lightning bolt had struck his mind, and four words suddenly popped into his head—"Black-Clad Prime Minister"!
Could this young monk before me truly be Yao Guangxiao, the one from the original historical timeline who assisted Zhu Yuanzhang in overthrowing the Jianwen Emperor's court and rebuilding the Ming Dynasty under the guise of "pacifying the rebellion"?
A figure who "should" have shone brightly forty or fifty years later not only appeared ahead of time but also said he wanted to serve him, instantly giving Shishan a sense of historical absurdity.

However, he quickly calmed down – what is a true hero afraid of heroes coming to his aid?
Having been in this world for so long, he has already profoundly changed the course of history, and even Zhu Chongba is now working diligently as his advisor.

What is there to be alarmed about in a monk who is only eighteen or nineteen years old, whose temperament, wisdom, and experience are far from the peak state of the original historical plane? On the contrary, this person is a rough gem waiting to be polished, an extraordinary flower that has been placed under his command ahead of time.

Shi Shan suppressed the turmoil in his heart, his face remaining calm, and said with great interest:

"Appreciate further details."

Speaking from outside is neither the proper way to treat a guest, nor the proper etiquette to treat a potential hero.

Shi Shan raised his hand, making a "please" gesture, his posture solemn:
“Since the Master has such a good plan, how can we talk outside the tent? Please come inside with me to discuss it in detail. Bo Ren, you should come along too, so we can discuss it further!”

Chang Yuchun was preparing to return to camp to reorganize his troops and launch a probing attack on Pingjiang City when he heard Daoyan's words. He had already stopped in his tracks and was eager to know the "weak points in Pingjiang City's defenses" that Daoyan had mentioned. He quickly followed after hearing this.

He wanted to see what tricks this little monk could come up with.

Just as Shishan predicted, the growth of a person's knowledge and understanding requires a process and cannot be achieved overnight.

At this time, Daoyan was only eighteen years old and was far from being the mature politician in the original historical timeline who was proficient in Confucianism, Buddhism, Taoism, military strategy, and political maneuvering, and who could assist Zhu Di in completing the great undertaking of "Jingnan".

When he was fourteen, his father wanted him to study medicine to make a living, but he only wanted to "study hard, become a high-ranking official, and bring glory to his family."

Afterwards, although he left home to become a monk due to various circumstances, he naturally no longer pursued the worldly goal of "bringing glory to his family." However, his desire to make achievements and become famous throughout the world never died out; in fact, it became even more intense because he was in the Buddhist order.

This is his most immediate pursuit in life, and he doesn't yet have any clear or lofty political ideals or ambitions.

Therefore, upon seeing Shishan today, Daoyan feared he would miss this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, and disregarding his status as a layman, he rushed here to serve.

His question, "Whether or not to accept outsiders," seemed calm on the surface, but it actually revealed the barely suppressed excitement and urgency in his heart.

As Dao Yan followed Shi Shan along the way, his gaze swept across the area quickly and subtly.

The headquarters had just been established, and the various arrangements in the camp were not yet fully in place. The soldiers were busy moving equipment and setting up tents, but everything was in good order and not chaotic. Only simple commands could be heard, and there was no noise like in an ordinary military camp, which showed the training level of the Red Flag Battalion.

What impressed him even more was that Shishan, as the commander, did not directly requisition the comfortable monks' quarters of Yunyan Temple like the Yuan generals did. Instead, he slept in tents just like his soldiers, with the tents being larger only for the needs of command.

The furnishings inside the tent were extremely simple. Apart from military maps, sand tables, and desks, there were almost no luxurious decorations, only a strong sense of pragmatism and austerity.

The two men took their seats as host and guest, and the guards served them coarse tea. Shi Shan didn't stand on ceremony and went straight to the point, saying:

"The Master just mentioned that the defenses of Pingjiang have weaknesses. May I ask where they are?"

"It's right here in Loumen!"

Daoyan answered with exceptional decisiveness, without the slightest hesitation.

Shi Shan knew that Pingjiang City Wall had six gates, among which Lou Gate was a water gate, named after the Lou River it connected to. Logically speaking, the city's defenses had only been rebuilt in August of the year before last, less than two years ago, and it was a key project closely monitored by the Yuan court, so there shouldn't be any obvious defensive loopholes.

Dao Yan keenly noticed the doubt in Shi Shan's eyes and, before the other could ask, took the initiative to explain:

"Marshal, you are wise. Li Temur, who was in charge of supervising the construction of the Pingjiang city defense project, pushed the construction period extremely hard in order to complete the project before the end of his term so that he could claim the credit for himself."

During the construction of the Loumen section, due to the eagerness to complete the task, the drainage and silt removal were not thoroughly carried out, and the foundation was not compacted, which led to the collapse of the dam outside the gate by the raging torrent.

Afterwards, in order to speed up the process, Li Temur only hastily rebuilt the visible parts of the city gate tower and sluice gate, while the foundation beneath the water was simply reused from the old city's foundation stones. He paused, a hint of reminiscence flashing in his eyes, and continued:
“Those old stone foundations have been eroded by water, especially by the damage caused by the war at the end of the Song Dynasty. One of the stone slabs has become loose. When I was young, I was naughty and once went down into the river to catch mud eels during the dry season, so I know about this. It’s just that the water level is usually deep and the bottom is covered with silt, so it is hard to notice from the bank.”

The water gate is called a water gate because a river flows through it, and it cannot be closed with a solid wooden door; instead, it is sealed off from the inside and outside with an iron gate.

To prevent enemy soldiers with good swimming skills from diving in from the bottom, heavy stone blocks are usually laid to block the way. These stone blocks fit together tightly, and even during the dry season, they are extremely difficult to pry open without special tools.

Moreover, even if one knew that a certain stone slab was loose, with guards patrolling the city walls day and night and the water gates blocked by iron gates, it would be an extremely difficult task to move it silently and sneak into the city.

Chang Yuchun, who had been full of anticipation, frowned deeply upon hearing this, his face revealing undisguised disappointment, and his tone becoming impatient:
“Master Daoyan, what you’re saying is as good as saying nothing! That stone is sunk to the bottom of the water, it’s already dead heavy, and there’s nowhere to put it on. There are also Yuan soldiers on the city wall watching with their eyes wide open. Do you think we can dive down into the water right in front of them and move the stone in a big way? How can that be possible!”

Since Daoyan dared to offer his advice, he would not allow himself to find himself in a situation where he had a plan but could not implement it.

He didn't actually tell the whole story. More than one of the old stone foundations underwater at Loumen was loose, and some of the stone slabs were already broken or damaged. With the right methods and careful operation, quietly clearing a small passage underwater is not an impossible task.

He did not argue with Chang Yuchun, but calmly rose, faced the stone mountain, his gaze firm, and volunteered:

"If the Marshal trusts this humble monk, please allocate two light boats and more than ten brave and meticulous men skilled in swimming to my command. Within three nights at most, this humble monk will be able to dig a secret passage for the Marshal to infiltrate the city through the waters of Loumen!"

If it fails, I am willing to accept military law!

Just today, Shi Shan and Chang Yuchun at the Yunyan Temple Pagoda devised a prudent strategy of "clearing the outer perimeter, preparing sufficient weapons, and seeking opportunities to exploit weaknesses." In fact, they did not place all their hopes on a surprise attack to breach the city.

However, in the art of war, the orthodox and the unorthodox must be combined.

If a breach can be opened at a relatively low cost, that would be ideal. Even if this plan fails, the main force can continue its operations of building equipment, probing attacks, and eliminating outlying strongholds as usual, without wasting much time or resources.

Shi Shan stood up, looking intently at Dao Yan, and said:

"Let's not beat around the bush. I am grateful for the Master's great help. If this matter can be accomplished, the Master will have rendered a great service to my Red Flag Battalion. But I wonder if the Master intends to take off this monk's robe, join the army, and strive for a high-ranking official title?"

Or would you rather join my shogunate, assist in government affairs, and govern a region? Or... would you rather wield your staff, build Buddhist temples for my red banner, and lead the teachings?

Last year, Daoyan accompanied his master to Miaoxing Temple in Hangzhou and witnessed firsthand the rise and fall of the Xu-Song Red Turban Army. His desire to leave his mark on the tide of the times was completely ignited.

However, he knew that since he had already become a monk, without a great opportunity, he could only spend decades in solitary meditation amidst the ancient Buddha statues and the morning and evening bells, and perhaps eventually become a great master of Zen Buddhism, but this was not the "fame" that he truly desired.

The only way to realize one's ambitions as quickly as possible is to take advantage of this chaotic world to follow a true leader and use him as a platform to realize one's aspirations.

Looking at the world today, no one can be called a great leader but Marshal Shishan.

Dao Yan was not an impulsive person. Before this, he had collected rumors and stories about Shi Shan through various channels and carefully studied his character and actions. He knew that this marshal was pragmatic and efficient and did not like empty words and empty talk.

He met Shi Shan's scrutinizing gaze and answered frankly:

"Although I am a layman, I cultivate the way of helping and saving people. I have no other desires in this life but to devote all my knowledge to assisting a wise ruler, to cleanse the world, and to create an unparalleled legacy. If I can use this insignificant merit to be remembered in history, that would be my greatest achievement and fulfillment."

To make a name for oneself in history is a form of spiritual practice! What a boastful tone, what a straightforward ambition! As Shishan looked at the young monk before him, the sense of familiarity he felt grew stronger.

"The Master has lofty aspirations, which I admire."

Shi Shan paused, then asked casually:

"May I ask your secular name, Venerable Master?"

Dao Yan was slightly taken aback, wondering why Shi Shan had suddenly asked this, but since he had already decided to join the Red Flag Camp, he had no intention of hiding anything and answered frankly:

"My secular surname is Yao, and my childhood name is Tianxi."

The name "Guangxiao" in the original historical timeline seems to have been bestowed by Zhu Di. As for his original name, Tianxi, Shishan is not really sure, but the monk from Changzhou surnamed Yao, named Daoyan, should be the real Yao Guangxiao.

It's perfectly normal for someone to have this thought.

"Alright! Daoyan! We will proceed as you have suggested. We will prepare the manpower and supplies for you shortly."

Shishan addressed Daoyan by his Dharma name instead of the honorific "Dharma Master," thus formally accepting him. Daoyan naturally understood and responded:

"Subordinates take orders!"

Shi Shan was very satisfied with Dao Yan's change of identity, then looked at Chang Yuchun and said:

"Bo Ren, we will make two preparations. You should stick to the original plan, speed up the production of equipment, and deploy probing attacks to put enough pressure on the Pingjiang garrison and cover Dao Yan's actions at Loumen."

Chang Yuchun was still somewhat skeptical of Daoyan's plan, but seeing that the marshal had made a decision, he immediately clasped his hands in a fist salute and resolutely accepted the order.

"Your subordinate obeys! I will make sure that barbarian Hague has no time to spare!"

……

P.S.: This chapter was originally supposed to be a long one, going straight to the capture of Pingjiang City. Splitting it out would have been a bit drawn out. But oh well, it's the first day back to work after the holiday, and there's just too much to do. That's why I only managed to write this much so late!

(End of this chapter)