Chapter 138: Guo Ninglian

The valiant, elegant, and poised young lady on the left is none other than Guo Ninglian, sister to the prominent Left Battalion generals Guo Xing and Guo Ying. She represents the greatest gain Liu Yi secured from this strategic marriage.

Although the brothers Guo Xing and Guo Ying seemed lukewarm, or even somewhat resistant, toward the union—providing a dowry sufficient only for a middle-class life—that was merely a facade. As distant kinsmen of Guo Zixing, the brothers had risen to prominence within his ranks. By aligning with their new brother-in-law, Commissioner Liu, they had effectively soared to new heights, securing an almost unassailable position. Thus, while the brothers maintained a cool exterior, the rest of the Guo family showered the new son-in-law with warmth, constantly inquiring after his well-being and asking if he had suffered any slights.

The true breakthrough, however, was in the relationship between the Left Battalion and the Naval Battalion. While they were nominally one family, they had functioned as separate factions, keeping each other at arm's length. Once Guo Ninglian married into the family, she not only warmed her husband's bed but immediately began to champion his interests: "We captured Jiangyin through our own efforts in Zhenjiang; why should the benefits be handed over to Assistant Commissioner Zhu?"

Before she was married off, countless people—including Zhu Yuanzhang, Li Shanchang, and Ma Xiuying—had repeatedly reminded her not to forget her roots or her origins as a woman from Haozhou. Yet, no sooner had she crossed the threshold than she began to advocate for justice on Liu Yi's behalf: "In any case, we cannot let Assistant Commissioner Zhu take all the credit. If he wants us to cede Jiangyin, then he should yield Yingtian Prefecture in return!"

It was not only Guo Ninglian who felt this way. Even Guo Ying and Guo Xing, who had lectured her so many times, changed their tune and lent her their full support. Many commanders within the Left Battalion seized the opportunity of her marriage to build ties with the Naval Battalion, declaring, "Assistant Commissioner Zhu's actions were unprincipled; we must see that you receive justice!"

The motivation behind the support of the Guo brothers and the Left Battalion officers was not purely familial. Seeing that Zhu Yuanzhang could carve off a piece of the pie for himself, they realized they, too, had the chance to claim a larger portion. Guo Ninglian stated quite frankly, "My Guo family has so many siblings; if the Assistant Commissioner intends to send officials to Jiangyin, why not entrust the task to them? Are none of my kinsmen capable?"

Guo Xing and Guo Ying were in complete agreement. Since Zhu Yuanzhang had bestowed their sister upon Liu Yi, he owed them some form of compensation. The brothers had lacked a platform to shine before, but now, with such a formidable brother-in-law, surely Zhu Yuanzhang would not stand in the way of their ascent.

A significant number of men in the Left Battalion shared this sentiment. Previously, interactions between the two battalions had been strained, but since Liu Yi became a son-in-law of the Left, everyone from marshals and battalion commanders down to squad leaders and common soldiers sought ways to connect with the Naval Battalion, their tone becoming markedly more cordial.

Many in the Chaohu Navy had initially doubted the necessity of Liu Yi’s marriage, suspecting it was merely a pretext, but after Guo Ninglian arrived, all were thoroughly convinced. Now, the Naval and Left Battalions could truly be called one family. While they bickered, what family doesn't? They could now sit down to drink, dine, and converse freely. Despite Zhu Yuanzhang’s repeated attempts to impede their contact, the more he blocked them, the closer they became. Having a "connection in the Naval Battalion" became a mark of status. Though Zhu Yuanzhang remained formidable, he no longer dared to act too harshly against the Guo brothers or those associated with Guo Ninglian, often choosing to turn a blind eye.

Zhu Yuanzhang was moody and hardly an ideal superior, but if one had a genuine path to the Naval Battalion—specifically to Commissioner Liu—he became the best boss imaginable, ensuring all concerns were addressed. Consequently, after the Guo brothers set such a precedent, every influential family in the Left Battalion with a beautiful daughter considered seeking a "Liu" as a son-in-law, while those without daughters considered adopting foster or clan daughters to bridge the gap.

Liu Yi had never expected such a tectonic shift in the relationship between the two camps. He had his own calculations, yet he had not foreseen the transformation triggered by a single woman. Moreover, Guo Ninglian was impeccable; she not only looked out for his interests but also got along famously with Guo Yunyu.

Despite both women sharing the surname Guo, Guo Ninglian knew her place, remaining humble and doing her utmost to please Guo Yunyu. Guo Yunyu quickly embraced her "little sister," and now even she spoke on Ninglian's behalf: "Husband, Little Lian has rendered a great service this time. How do you intend to reward her?"

Though Liu Yi knew full well that Guo Yunyu was digging a pit for him, he had no choice but to jump in: "The number of officials Assistant Commissioner Zhu has sent to Jiangyin is not small, but I find him quite negligent in this matter. If they wish to take up their posts, let Sister Ninglian vet them first."