Chapter 133: People of Wealth and Status

The awe and dread felt by the Left Wing toward the Chaohu Navy grew ever more profound. Even the mountains of gold and silver offered by Zhu Yuanzhang could not sway them; yet, the mere mention of attacking Changzhou or Zhang Shicheng acted like a potent stimulant. "Rest assured, Commander," they would declare, "if the naval camps can sweep away seven of Zhang Shicheng’s water forts in a single day, we can do the same to seven of his land forts!"

"Changzhou is but a trifle; we shall trample it into the dust!"

"Once we take Changzhou, we shall strike while the iron is hot and seize Jiangyin, Pingjiang, and Songjiang as well!"

Seasoned generals like Xu Da, Chang Yuchun, and Hu Dahai were not merely boasting. With thunderous momentum, they launched a total offensive along the entire front. Despite the stalemate against Zhang Shide that had dragged on for over a month with neither side gaining the upper hand, the personal presence of Liu Yi boosted the morale of the Left Wing to unprecedented heights. Their assault surged like a tidal wave; in little more than a day, they captured five enemy camps and took two thousand prisoners, sweeping away all previous setbacks and losses.

Of course, the Left Wing’s ferocity was driven by a measure of self-interest. While they dared not openly defy the Navy, they knew that if they were the ones to take Changzhou city, the prestige would be theirs. The Navy’s achievements, no matter how great, would only amount to half an extra district, whereas the Left Wing was on the verge of securing the entire Jiangdong region.

Zhang Shide, meanwhile, had not anticipated such a drastic shift in the situation. He could only offer a bitter smile: "In less than two days, the hard-won gains we struggled for have vanished like water. Thank goodness I sent Zhu Ding to test the mettle of the Zhenjiang rebels; had we rushed out of the city for a decisive battle, Changzhou would likely have fallen by now!"

Everyone remained deeply unsettled. No one had expected the Zhenjiang rebels to be this formidable. Zhu Ding’s Jiangyin navy had failed to hold out for even a single day and was reportedly retreating to defend Jiangyin. The situation on land was equally grim, with the Red Turbans from Chuzhou mounting increasingly desperate assaults. Without reinforcements, the loss of Changzhou was only a matter of time.

Reinforcements! They cried for reinforcements!

To the generals in Changzhou, reinforcements were the only straw left to grasp. Zhang Shixin, relying on his status as Zhang Shicheng’s younger brother to enjoy a life of luxury regardless of the circumstances, was the first to speak: "My brother must personally lead the campaign to Changzhou. If he remains in the palace enjoying a life of ease, the Great Zhou Kingdom shall surely perish!"

Pan Yuanshao, the military supervisor stationed in Changzhou, was supposed to suppress such morale-damaging talk, but he now sang the same tune as Zhang Shixin: "If His Majesty does not personally take the field at this juncture, the Great Zhou Kingdom is beyond salvation!"

Backed by Zhang Shixin and Pan Yuanshao, Zhang Shide regained his confidence: "Only by my brother personally leading the campaign can our kingdom be saved!"

"Only by my personal intervention can the fortunes of the Great Zhou be saved?"

Zhang Shicheng felt as if he were about to vomit blood. He had only just dispatched his main forces to the eastern front to seize Songjiang Prefecture, and now, no sooner had they departed than the situation in Changzhou had collapsed.

Although Zhang Shide, Zhu Ding, and Pan Yuanshao could not clearly state how many Red Turban rebels had arrived, nor quantify their own losses, they were unanimous in their claim that Liu Yi had personally led one hundred thousand Zhenjiang rebels in an all-out assault, causing the Changzhou front to collapse entirely. They insisted that only Zhang Shicheng’s personal command could save the kingdom.

Under different circumstances, Zhang Shicheng would have stripped the Changzhou commanders of their ranks. But two of these three men were his own brothers, and the other, Pan Yuanshao, was his most trusted comrade. Since they all insisted, Zhang Shicheng had little choice: "I warned Shide and the others to be wary of the Zhenjiang rebels, but they were always half-hearted. Now, not only have they suffered at the rebels' hands, but they also expect me to clean up their mess. I suppose I must make the trip to Changzhou!"

Deep down, Zhang Shicheng had no desire to leave the comfort of the Zhou Palace. Within those walls, he enjoyed every luxury life had to offer, and once inside, he had no inclination to leave. Yet, with his brothers having bungled the situation, he was forced to step back into the fray.

After all, it had been only a year or two since he was a desperate outlaw; he had not enjoyed this prosperity for long. However, as soon as he spoke, an uproar broke out among his courtiers: "Your Majesty, the Zhenjiang and Chuzhou rebels are among the most fierce outlaws in the world. You cannot be so reckless! Your safety is tied to the very fate of the Great Zhou!"

"Indeed, Your Majesty’s safety is paramount. Let the generals handle the warfare. If you lead the campaign and the rear falls into chaos, what shall we do?"

"Your Majesty must consider the long term and avoid acting on impulse. There are plenty of fierce generals to lead the charge; there is no need to trouble yourself!"

Though their words were grating, Zhang Shicheng knew they were loyal. As long as he sat in Pingjiang City, the sky would not fall. Soon, someone offered a counter-argument to Zhang Shide’s suggestion: "My brother and the others are too focused on the gain or loss of a single city. The current priority of the state is to take Songjiang Prefecture—how can we withdraw troops now! Even if we withdraw, we should send a detachment to take Songjiang. It is currently undefended; we cannot miss this opportunity!"

The speaker, Pan Yuanming, was the younger brother of the Changzhou supervisor Pan Yuanshao. His words struck at the heart of Zhang Shicheng’s concerns: "Yuanming, you are right. Changzhou must not fall, but Songjiang must also be taken. Do you have a plan that satisfies both?"

Pan Yuanming immediately volunteered: "Three to five thousand men are sufficient to take Songjiang. I am willing to capture it for Your Majesty!"

Zhang Shicheng frowned. Even though he had been a standard outlaw only a year or two prior—sometimes struggling to even find a meal—he had grown unable to part with his palace: "Then who can take my place and hold Changzhou?"