Chapter 122: Key Figures

Zhang Shixin and Li Bosheng harbored a deep disdain for Zhu Yuanzhang’s chaotic tactics, firmly believing that as long as their forces numbered at least seventy to eighty percent of the Chuzhou Red Turbans, they could deliver a devastating blow to them.

However, the reality was that after capturing Jiqing Road, the Chuzhou Red Turban army surged forward with an unstoppable momentum. Although the oft-cited figure of “two hundred thousand armored troops” was grossly exaggerated, their actual strength neared one hundred thousand soldiers—not counting the twenty to thirty thousand troops from the Zhenjiang Military Affairs Branch.

Therefore, Zhang Shide spoke bluntly, “No matter how unmethodical Zhu Yuanzhang is, we must find a way to deal with him. Besides the Chaohu fleet, what other strategies do we have to turn the tide?”

Though much hope was placed on the Chaohu naval forces, there existed an irreconcilable territorial conflict between Zhang Shicheng’s faction and the Chaohu fleet under Zhenjiang’s command. Hence, Lady Jinhua and Li Pusheng showed Zhang Shide no respect. After several probing exchanges, Zhang Shide bluntly stated, “Besides Chaohu, what other options are there?”

Li Bosheng grew increasingly distraught: “The greatest variable lies with Chaohu. If Chaohu defects, the entire Jiangsu-Zhejiang and Huainan provinces will be ours. But that scoundrel Liu Yi refuses to give us face. He doesn’t realize that if we fall to Zhu Yuanzhang, the next one he’ll deal with is him!”

On this point, Zhang Shide’s understanding surpassed Li Bosheng’s: “Liu knows full well that if we defeat Zhu Yuanzhang, he will be the first to be dealt with afterward. Lady Jinhua, Zhao Pusheng, Li Pusheng, Yu Tonghai, Liao Yongan—they can come over, but he certainly won’t!”

Although everyone acknowledged Zhang Shide’s point, his words only deepened their anxiety: “Since Chaohu will never cooperate with us, what other brilliant strategy do we have to reverse our fortunes?”

Everyone assumed Zhang Shide was merely fishing for ideas because he had none, but to their surprise, he answered without hesitation, “There is one!”

Chen Erbao immediately asked, “General Shide, what is this strategy to turn defeat into victory?”

Among Zhang Shide’s commanders, Chen Erbao was currently under the greatest pressure.

As Zhang Shide had said, Zhang Shicheng could welcome the generals from Chaohu, but could never accept Liu Yi, the chief official of the Zhenjiang Military Affairs Branch. Many officers had already defected to Zhu Yuanzhang, but Chen Erbao had no such privilege.

Zhu Yuanzhang and Tang He had already made it clear: anyone was welcome to join except Chen Erbao, who had betrayed them suddenly behind their backs, causing the fall of Changzhou.

Chen Erbao nursed a bitterness deep in his heart but pinned his hopes on Zhang Shicheng’s faction winning decisively. Hearing Zhang Shide mention a plan to reverse their fortunes, he was naturally eager.

Zhang Shide stated clearly, “The last time we turned defeat into victory at Changzhou, it was thanks to Marshal Erbao. Now, although Liu Yi refuses to switch sides, among the hundred thousand armored troops of the Chuzhou Red Turbans, we should find a second Marshal Erbao!”

The greatest advantage of the Chuzhou Red Turbans lay not only in their strong numbers but also in their extraordinary unity, as they were organized by local clans and kinship groups. However, Zhang Shide believed that after crossing the river, the Red Turbans had expanded wildly and chaotically. Given the existence of a semi-independent figure like Liu Yi, there must be others of similar standing.

If they could find a second Chen Erbao, Zhang Shicheng’s faction could surely reverse the tide on the Changzhou front: “Even a few hundred defectors would be enough to change the battlefield!”

Zhang Shide proposed this idea to gather collective wisdom, but Chen Erbao immediately took up the point: “A few hundred won’t be enough. To turn the tide, we need at least several thousand. But do we have that much gold, jewels, beauties, and fine silks to offer?”

Zhang Shide immediately understood. Chen Erbao must have someone in mind. Only a wealthy local magnate like him could pull this off: “Good places like Suzhou and Changyin are under our control. We can offer as much gold, jewels, beauties, and fine silks as needed. And can such wealth compare to an entire prefecture or province? Zhu Yuanzhang cannot offer that, but we can!”

This was the greatest advantage Zhang Shicheng’s group held over Zhu Yuanzhang’s. Zhu’s faction was tightly organized with strict constraints—even top officials had families in Yingtian Prefecture and were burdened with military duties. Zhang Shicheng, however, ruled in a far more carefree manner; even a county seat was a paradise compared to Zhu’s regime. Chen Erbao was instantly tempted but furrowed his brow: “This isn’t so simple. You can’t just conjure up an entire prefecture or province’s land out of thin air!”

The more Chen Erbao spoke, the more Zhang Shide grew confident: “If he agrees to come over, half of Changzhou Road can be yours, Marshal Chen. We can even offer half of Hangzhou Road, Jiaxing Road, and Songjiang Prefecture. As long as he comes, which force among the righteous militia would it be?”

Zhang Shide assumed Chen Erbao’s contacts were among the militia and local levies who had joined the Red Turbans after crossing the river. But Chen Erbao gave a completely unexpected answer: “Not militia or local levies. It’s a trusted general under Zhu Yuanzhang himself. Though he is a general under Zhu, he’s discontented with his position and prefers the freedom of being a thousand-household or hundred-household leader here. But his family is powerful, and since Zhu is currently dominant, he may not be willing to defect!”

Zhu Yuanzhang, by employing his reckless tactics, was gradually gaining the upper hand at Changzhou, but if the conflict dragged on, Zhang Shicheng’s faction would inevitably face defeat. Zhang Shide suddenly grew desperate: “No matter who he is, if he agrees to come, we will meet any demand!”

Zhang Shixin supported him from the side: “Marshal Chen, if we cannot reverse the tide this time, my brother and I might suffer hardship, but you are different. Zhu Yuanzhang and Tang He will surely make sure you pay dearly!”

Chen Erbao immediately made up his mind: “Then I will go in person. With me involved, this will surely succeed!”

Though he was just a local gentry leader, at times such men shaped the course of history.