Chapter Sixteen: On the Brink of Eruption

To Lady Golden Flower, this upheaval felt as if the heavens had collapsed and the earth had cracked open, yet she truly believed that with her mighty spear in hand and the destined, ethereal youth Liu Yi by her side, there was nothing in the world they could not achieve. “We’ll go meet Liu Futong and Du Zundao first, but whatever changes may come, this foundation at Lake Chao is mine for the taking!” Her gaze was resolute, yet softened by a touch of tenderness.

Within Haozhou, the atmosphere grew increasingly grave. As they walked the streets, it was common to see many residences hastily fortified into makeshift strongholds. And yet, paradoxically, the more dire the times, the more people indulged in reckless feasting and revelry. The Red Turban soldiers, having survived countless brushes with death on the battlefield, seized every opportunity to savor the pleasures of life: poultry, wine, meat, beautiful women, song and dance, and even rampant gambling and debauchery—all in excess, surpassing even the usual abandon.

The discerning could see all too well that such frenzied celebration inevitably presaged a mountain of corpses and a sea of blood. Whenever the Red Turbans faced a lack of funds or supplies, they would gorge and carouse until sated, then muster for a campaign, storming cities and expanding their territory. If victorious, the revelry continued; if utterly defeated, they had no need to worry about food or coin ever again. Yet this time, their adversaries were their own brethren.

Of course, among the various camps, there were always those who tried to bridge the sudden rifts, striving to maintain the festive spirit of founding a new dynasty. At the very least, they could not let internecine slaughter give the Mongol Yuan army cause for amusement.

Lady Golden Flower and Liu Yi did not meet with Liu Futong or Du Zundao. These two men, burdened with the affairs of state, refused them outright and without ceremony. To such figures, Lady Golden Flower was little more than a decorative presence under Xu Shouhui, Ni Wenjun, or Chen Youliang; in the new Dragon-Phoenix Court, she was just as marginal. Her invitation to Han Lin’er’s enthronement had been merely to enhance the aura of founding a regime. Now that Du Zundao had become Right Prime Minister and Liu Futong only a Minister of State, with violent strife imminent, Lady Golden Flower was once again a dispensable figure, unworthy of their time.

Not only were Du Zundao and Liu Futong inaccessible, but even Liu Zhongkun and Du Yishan—both commanders of a thousand—showed signs of impending conflict. Although the two maintained a semblance of restraint, their subordinates were on edge, never parting from their weapons, unable to sleep soundly. Tension coiled like a fuse, ready to ignite into a full-blown clash at the slightest spark.

Thus, Lady Golden Flower could only summon Liu Zhongkun and Du Yishan. “Gentlemen, none of us wish for such calamity, but since matters have come to this, we must find a way to set things right. Do you wish to remain in Haozhou, or will you join me at Lake Chao and embark on a grand enterprise?”

Liu Zhongkun and Du Yishan had assumed she meant to urge them toward peace, but instead she turned their thoughts to the Lake Chao navy. Du Yishan was unexpectedly drawn to the idea. “Of course we should go to Lake Chao. While nothing major may happen in Haozhou for the time being, we foot soldiers could be made scapegoats at any moment. At Lake Chao, the future is boundless!”

He let slip his true thoughts, revealing much that had been hidden. Although the mood in Haozhou was tense and confrontational, the Dragon-Phoenix Court had only just been established; no one wished for internecine slaughter to destroy everything so soon. Moreover, infighting would solve nothing. In the past, after revelling, the Red Turbans expanded outwards, gaining gold, grain, land, women, and recruits with victory. But internal bloodshed would yield nothing but a ruined city, no matter who prevailed.

Worse still, several major Yuan army groups watched Haozhou hungrily. Should civil war break out, the victors would barely have time to secure their position before the Yuan cavalry swept in.

Because of such concerns, although tension mounted by the day, a catastrophic civil war in Haozhou was unlikely in the immediate future.

Yet this did not mean Du Yishan could rest easy. On the contrary, he lived in fear that rival factions or old enemies would use him as a sacrificial lamb—he was Du Zundao’s nephew, after all, and had commanded his central army.

Liu Zhongkun, as Liu Futong’s adopted son, felt it inappropriate to leave Haozhou at such a time, though even he recognized that Lake Chao was the wiser choice. “Marshal Golden Flower, perhaps the court should decide when we head south.”

Liu Yi caught the hidden message in Liu Zhongkun’s words. “Commander Liu, much depends on us. The Marshal and I wish to meet with Prime Minister Liu and Prime Minister Du. No matter how things unfold, the court will need the Lake Chao navy.”

Both Du Zundao and Liu Futong, in their respective powers, required control over the Lake Chao navy. Lady Golden Flower pressed on. “Commander Liu, though you are Prime Minister Liu’s adopted son, heading to Lake Chao would serve you better. You need not make the case—General Xiao Liu and I will persuade Prime Minister Liu and Prime Minister Du ourselves!”

With Lady Golden Flower’s assurance, Liu Zhongkun was happy to go along. “My foster father may not agree to my departure—he trusts me most, after all. If I leave, he’d lose a pillar of support! Still, it all depends on what he decides.”

In truth, Liu Futong had no wish to let Liu Zhongkun leave. Despite his composed exterior, he was the calmest figure in Haozhou. “Lady Golden Flower, your plan to go to Lake Chao is commendable, but I must settle matters at home first. Hold off for now—soon I’ll send you twice the troops!”

Lady Golden Flower and Liu Yi had already agreed on their response. “Your Excellency’s business takes precedence, of course. However, the three marshals of Chuzhou’s Grand Marshal’s Office were all personally appointed by Prime Minister Du. Should we delay too long and Chuzhou’s Grand Marshal’s Office seizes Lake Chao, that would not bode well.”

To Liu Futong, anything involving Du Zundao was a point of contention. Lady Golden Flower’s reminder was timely—he awakened at once. “Lady Golden Flower, you’re mistaken. The appointments at Chuzhou’s Grand Marshal’s Office are made by the court, not by Prime Minister Du’s personal will. Nevertheless, with the new state lacking funds and grain, crossing the river to campaign in the south is urgent—we must depart soon.”

With that, he glanced at Liu Yi. “General Xiao Liu, I know Lady Golden Flower always listens to you. Let me remind you: whoever commands the Lake Chao navy, it is an instrument of the state, a cornerstone for restoring the Song dynasty. Do not think of it as your private army—everything must follow the court’s orders!”