Chapter Nineteen: The Appointment of a Second Deputy Marshal on the Right

For reasons unknown, after Lady Golden Flower and Liu Yi mentioned Zhu Yuanzhang, a newfound closeness seemed to arise between Zhang Tianyou and Lady Golden Flower’s group. “We all serve the court,” Zhang Tianyou remarked, “and the court places high hopes in Commandant Golden Flower. It specifically sent Centurion Liu and Centurion Du to accompany us southward—this is a blessing for the Song Dynasty.”

Had Lady Golden Flower been alone, Zhang Tianyou might have simply made a move against her upon reaching Chuzhou. But with Liu Chongkun and Du Yishan, each commanding three hundred men, and being the adopted son of Liu Futong and the nephew of Du Zundao respectively, they were both individuals Zhang Tianyou needed on his side.

Though Liu Futong and Du Zundao were fated to clash sooner or later, at least one of these two centurions would eventually have the emperor’s ear. Zhang Tianyou resolved not to offend either of them. At worst, he could leave the matter for Zhu Yuanzhang to handle.

With this shared understanding, both forces decided to set out immediately.

Lady Golden Flower commanded seven hundred men, and Zhang Tianyou three hundred. For the war-ravaged Jianghuai region, this was a tremendous burden. Thus, everyone—including Lady Golden Flower and Liu Yi—had to carry ample provisions of food, gold, silver, and copper coins.

There were few supply points along the route, and those that existed offered meager stores. Although Lady Golden Flower bore an imperial edict from the Dragon and Phoenix Court, the cities and forts along the way paid it little heed. “You may come in for a drink of water, but nothing more! Don’t try any tricks. Out of respect for Chancellor Du and Minister Liu, we can sell you two stones of rice, but not a grain more!”

At such moments, Zhang Tianyou, Liu Chongkun, and Du Yishan had to take turns negotiating, using both hard and soft tactics. Compared to Lady Golden Flower, the so-called “Grand Marshal of Chaohu,” the towns and forts flying the Dragon and Phoenix banner were at least willing to grant them some courtesy.

During these interactions, both sides tested one another. Although Lady Golden Flower’s force was nearly twice the size of Zhang Tianyou’s and better equipped, even Liu Chongkun could see that the Chuzhou troops were not to be underestimated.

Lady Golden Flower summed it up succinctly: “Every one of these Haozhou men is a true desperado, and worse yet, they’re so tightly knit you couldn’t squeeze a needle between them!”

Liu Yi found her assessment accurate. Compared to the two centurions sent from Haozhou, the Chuzhou army, though slightly inferior in equipment, was exceptionally fierce, bound by kinship and only obeying Zhang Tianyou’s orders, unmoved by either force or persuasion.

Despite his efforts, Liu Yi had yet to find a true opening. “We must find a way to reach into the heart of the Chuzhou army. Facing them head-on isn’t wise.”

While Liu Yi tried to win over the Chuzhou troops, Zhang Tianyou also sought ways to draw Lady Golden Flower to his side.

Lady Golden Flower and Liu Yi knew that capturing the Chaohu navy required support from Chuzhou, so they made significant concessions in negotiations. “Marshal Zhang, you’ve seen His Majesty’s edict, haven’t you? I may act as Grand Marshal of Chaohu, but I also hold the title of Marshal of Chuzhou. It all depends on the arrangements at the Chuzhou Marshal’s Office.”

Currently, the Chuzhou Marshal’s Office had one grand marshal and two deputy marshals. Considering Lady Golden Flower’s help in securing the Chaohu navy, Zhang Tianyou thought it possible Chuzhou might yield a marshal’s position.

But the question remained: what sort of marshal would she be? The edict named Lady Golden Flower as “Grand Marshal of Chaohu with full authority.” Although Guo Tianxu was also a grand marshal, he did not possess the same latitude. If Lady Golden Flower wished to join the Chuzhou Marshal’s Office, compromise was inevitable.

Zhang Tianyou proposed an additional marshal position, subordinate to the three existing marshals. But Lady Golden Flower countered cleverly, “Marshal Zhang, your magnanimity is admirable and you are destined for greatness. I’d gladly serve beneath you. But Deputy Marshal Zhu is merely a former vagrant monk, not even a true member of the Guo family. How can my rank be below his? I must at least have an added position as Right Deputy Marshal.”

According to Lady Golden Flower, she should rank between Zhang Tianyou and Zhu Yuanzhang—thus pushing Zhu Yuanzhang down to fourth in order.

At this, a broad smile broke across Zhang Tianyou’s face. The negotiations had finally entered the right track, and he even revealed much about the inner workings of the Guo family army.

Just as Liu Yi had mentioned, the current forty thousand armored soldiers under the Chuzhou Marshal’s Office were the legacy of Guo Zixing, the former Grand Marshal of Haozhou. The grand marshal was Guo Zixing’s eldest son, Guo Tianxu; in theory, the army was the Guo family’s private force.

Yet the problem was that Left Deputy Marshal Zhu Yuanzhang had risen too swiftly. In just two or three years, he had transformed from a starving mendicant monk into, at least in theory, the third-ranking figure at the Chuzhou Marshal’s Office—while in reality, he commanded over half the troops. The Guo family’s army could become Zhu’s army at any time.

For this mission to Haozhou, Guo Tianxu originally intended to send Zhu Yuanzhang to Chuzhou.

But Zhu Yuanzhang immediately saw through the ruse as a ploy to lure him away. At the military council, as soon as Guo Tianxu broached the subject, the assembled officers put Zhang Tianyou on the spot: “Marshal Zhang should take this one. With a major battle imminent, how can we go without Marshal Zhu at the front? Of course, if Marshal Zhang is willing to lead us to victory, then Zhu Yuanzhang can go to Chuzhou. Otherwise, let Marshal Zhang go himself…”

At that, Zhang Tianyou had nearly burst with rage. Zhu Yuanzhang’s men not only disregarded him as Right Deputy Marshal, but even made cutting remarks. He, after all, had earned his post through genuine battle.

Yet men like Tang He and Xu Da were Zhu Yuanzhang’s confidants. If Zhang truly dared take them into combat, some “accident” might occur. So he had to swallow his anger and head to Haozhou, but the matter remained a source of bitterness for him. “I also think the added Right Deputy Marshal position suits Commandant Golden Flower, but I doubt Deputy Marshal Zhu would accept such an arrangement.”

Liu Yi promptly twisted the knife: “Brother Tianyou, didn’t I tell you before? Now, whatever Zhu says goes in Chuzhou. At this rate, the Guo family army will soon become Zhu’s army.”