Chapter 118: The Charter

Although there was a consensus within the Chaohu Navy about capturing Songjiang Prefecture, the core issue of how to actually take Songjiang Prefecture remained unresolved.

Though Liu Yi was confident, even his closest confidante Guo Yunyu did not understand the source of his assurance.

After all, in another timeline, Zhang Shicheng had already seized Songjiang Prefecture and was preparing to sweep through the Jiangsu-Zhejiang region by advancing toward Hangzhou and Jiaxing. In this timeline, however, Liu Yi’s unexpected rise forced Zhang Shicheng to retreat to Changzhou immediately after capturing Pingjiang Road. Yet, Songjiang Prefecture was currently undermanned and virtually undefended, meaning Zhang Shicheng could easily seize it by sending a detachment.

The entire Chaohu Navy, including Guo Yunyu, was desperately trying to devise a way to capture Songjiang Prefecture. So when Manzi Haiya, the Imperial Censor of the Great Yuan, boldly offered a plan to help the Chaohu Navy take Songjiang, everyone was breathless with anticipation.

“Deputy Censor, if you can help us take Songjiang for Zhenjiang, it wouldn’t matter if I were made the Prefect of Songjiang or even an Imperial Censor — I wouldn’t refuse either,” Guo Yunyu said eagerly.

Manzi Haiya feigned disdain. “Madam Guo, I’ve suffered eight lifetimes of misery just being the Deputy Censor. If I were made an Imperial Censor, it would be like descending into the eighteenth layer of hell. Please spare me!”

Guo Yunyu knew these Great Yuan officials liked to play coy. “Deputy Censor, if you don’t fancy being an Imperial Censor because you think it unlucky, the Secretariat and the Privy Council positions are all open. Even the posts of Secretary-General or Privy Councilor are available, as long as you help us take Songjiang Prefecture!”

For the Zhenjiang branch of the Privy Council, failing to seize Songjiang meant being constrained in every direction, at best only controlling a few riverfront districts. But if Songjiang were taken, the entire situation would be transformed.

Hearing the titles Secretary-General and Privy Councilor made Manzi Haiya visibly excited. Though he knew these posts were illusions—under the Great Yuan system, they belonged exclusively to the Crown Prince—Guo Yunyu’s ignorance led her to speak them freely.

But since Guo Yunyu was willing to offer positions reserved for the Crown Prince, Manzi Haiya knew she was serious. “Madam Guo, you know I’ve been in frequent correspondence with Chancellor Kangli lately.”

The Chancellor Kangli he referred to was Dashitietimu’er, the Left Chancellor of the Jiangsu-Zhejiang Provincial Administration and Head of the Jiangsu-Zhejiang Privy Council. This was the highest rank attainable by any regional official. Under the Great Yuan system, the Provincial Secretariat had only a Left Chancellor, no Right Chancellor; likewise, the Privy Council had only a Head, no Privy Councilor. After He Weiyi’s retreat northward and the deaths of Deputy Censor Fushou in battle, Dashitietimu’er was the supreme commander of the entire southeastern theater.

Guo Yunyu was aware of this. “Deputy Censor, could it be that you’ve persuaded Chancellor Kangli?”

She knew this was impossible. As supreme commander of the southeast, even if three rebel armies simultaneously attacked the Jiangsu-Zhejiang province, Dashitietimu’er would never negotiate with the Red Turbans. Manzi Haiya replied promptly, “With Gaoyou and Chuzhou now in open conflict, Chancellor Kangli has naturally settled his mind. No matter how skilled I am, I cannot move him. But while I cannot, Yang Wanzhe’s fifty thousand Miao troops can.”

At the mention of Yang Wanzhe’s fifty thousand Miao soldiers, Guo Yunyu immediately understood. On the Jiangdong battlefield, Yang Wanzhe’s Miao army had left a deep impression on the Red Turbans. Though discipline was poor, each soldier was a desperate fighter, matching the Red Turbans in individual combat. Fortunately, the more numerous the Miao troops, the more they disintegrated into rabble. The Provincial Administration and the viceroy’s office constantly sought to exploit and exhaust them by breaking them into smaller units, so Yang Wanzhe’s forces suffered more defeats than victories.

But now that the Jiqing circuit was under Liu Yi’s control and the Jiangsu-Zhejiang Provincial Administration was available, they reluctantly entrusted Yang Wanzhe with important duties. His troops continued as before: quelling local rebellions ruthlessly, leaving no rebels or civilians alive in those areas. According to the latest intelligence Guo Yunyu had received, Yang Wanzhe’s Miao army was currently positioned near Jiaxing and Songjiang.

“How does Chancellor Kangli want us in Zhenjiang to cooperate?” Guo Yunyu asked.

Knowing Guo Yunyu was interested, Manzi Haiya replied, “Chancellor Kangli believes it would be disastrous for Songjiang to fall either to Zhang Shicheng or to the Miao troops under Yang Wanzhe. He would be eternally condemned for either outcome.”

Although the Mongol Yuan regime was fundamentally a “China ruled by barbarians,” after nearly a century of governance, both Manzi Haiya and Dashitietimu’er spoke Chinese, read Chinese texts, and inwardly identified as “Chinese.” They regarded Yang Wanzhe and his barbarian Miao troops with disdain. The thought of such a prosperous place being ruined by Yang Wanzhe’s forces caused Dashitietimu’er’s heart to bleed.

Guo Yunyu grew increasingly hopeful. “Chancellor Kangli’s words are wise. Neither Zhang Shicheng nor the Miao army taking Songjiang is acceptable. What does Chancellor Kangli require from us?”

Manzi Haiya responded clearly, “The Provincial Administration is desperately short of troops now, so they must rely on the Miao army. Madam, you happen to have just such a force.”

Guo Yunyu understood immediately. “Deputy Censor, you mean those eight hundred who have steadfastly refused to surrender?”

Though many generals had surrendered on the Jiangdong battlefield, some remained stubborn and refused to accept the Red Turbans’ banner. Liu Yi had about eight or nine hundred such men under his command, and Manzi Haiya affirmed, “Since you personally led troops to aid Jiqing, they will cooperate fully, and Chaohu can afford to lose eight hundred surrendered soldiers.”

Guo Yunyu nodded. “Not just eight hundred, even eight thousand would be acceptable. But those eight hundred can’t be handed over without conditions. Deputy Censor, you must give me formal guidelines.”

Manzi Haiya was clear: “Then please add two hundred elite soldiers. I’ve already spoken with Chancellor Kangli. As long as you operate under the banner of the Spear Army, he will turn a blind eye.”