Chapter Twenty-Two: Guo Tianxu

Guo Yunyun?

Neither Lady Golden Flower, Liu Yi, nor anyone else expected Zhu Yuanzhang to so openly address Miss Guo by her given name.

In these times, a woman’s given name was known only to her father, brothers, or husband, and never spoken in public. Many women spent their lives toiling away, only for their names to be omitted from the family records altogether.

Even after spending so much time with Lady Golden Flower, Liu Yi only knew that her surname was Xiang, and that she might be of the same clan as the renowned Xiang Pulue, but he could not say for certain what her personal name was.

Yet Zhu Yuanzhang called out Guo Yunyun’s name with such ease and confidence, it was clear he was determined to have this lady for himself.

Guo Yunyun herself had not expected Zhu Yuanzhang to reveal her name before so many outsiders, but she met the moment with perfect composure. “General Liu, greetings. Greetings as well to Commanders Liu, Du, and Huo. You have all come from afar and must be weary from the journey. I have prepared a small reception with wine to welcome you.”

Though Zhu Yuanzhang had done his best to be thorough, he had overlooked Huo Qiu, Lady Golden Flower’s trusted subordinate. Yet Huo Qiu, even if aggrieved, had no grounds for complaint.

After all, Liu Zhongkun and Du Yishan each had powerful backers and strong forces, while Huo Qiu was a minor figure with just over a hundred scattered soldiers. It was only natural that Zhu Yuanzhang would forget him.

Huo Qiu thought he would have to swallow this slight in silence, but to his surprise Guo Yunyun not only remembered him, but praised him as well: “Commander Huo joined Lady Golden Flower in her righteous uprising and has now found a worthy master; he must seize this chance to realize his ambitions and achieve lasting fame.”

Though these were only pleasant words, Huo Qiu felt invigorated. “You flatter me, Miss Guo. It is my duty to serve the court. Should you require anything, do not hesitate to command me.”

Perhaps because she came from a military family, Guo Yunyun was not the delicate, gentle maiden so typical of Jiangnan. Though she wore no armor, only a long sword slung across her back, she possessed an undeniable air of valor. Yet “valiant” alone was not enough to describe her.

She was not strikingly beautiful, but the longer one looked at her, the more appealing she became. If Zhu Yuanzhang was like a spring breeze upon first meeting, Guo Yunyun was someone whose worth grew the longer she was known—a woman one could truly trust.

When she was earnest, she became even more attractive. She handled every matter with flawless precision. As Lady Golden Flower would say, she could both draw her sword and charge into battle, and was just as skilled at embroidery and housework. She could earn money and manage a household; many affairs of the Grand Marshal’s residence were handled by Guo Yunyun herself.

Even now, she had thought of every detail. “General Liu, do you have any dietary restrictions? Would you care for a drink? If so, which wine do you prefer?”

She asked Lady Golden Flower, Liu Yi, and the three commanders in turn, “If any of you need anything, please do not hesitate to let me know.”

Lady Golden Flower, however, knew Guo Yunyun was testing her intentions, probing to see whether she truly meant to defect to the Han-Song regime.

There were many dietary taboos among the White Lotus Sect. If Lady Golden Flower continued to observe them, it would suggest ulterior motives. Liu Yi’s reply, though, was flawless: “Rest assured, Miss Guo, I have no restrictions. I can eat and drink anything!”

Zhu Yuanzhang, hearing this, beamed. “Then tonight we must eat and drink our fill, and not part until we are drunk! Yunyun has already prepared everything for us.”

To outsiders such as Liu Yi and Lady Golden Flower, these words may have seemed unremarkable. But to Zhang Tianyou, the Deputy Right Marshal, they were cause for concern. “Let’s not get swept up in feasting. Pacifying the Chaohu fleet is our true priority. Yuanzhang, have you had any news from Chaohu these days?”

Zhu Yuanzhang shook his head. “What news could there be? They’re on the water; we’re on land. We can’t do anything to them, and they can’t do anything to us. We’re just waiting for Marshal Golden Flower to make the decisive move.”

Though Zhu Yuanzhang spoke this way, Zhang Tianyou dared not relax his vigilance. “Can Zhao Pusheng and Li Pusheng truly remain so patient? They’re being attacked from three sides.”

On the surface, Zhang Tianyou’s words were merely a sigh, but in truth they were a reminder to Lady Golden Flower and Liu Yi. Liu Yi caught his meaning at once. “There must be some news. We can’t allow this force to be won over by Zuo Junbi. Anyone else can have them, but not Zuo Junbi.”

Zhu Yuanzhang replied with perfect candor, “They will never fall into Zuo Junbi’s hands. Enough of these details—the Grand Marshal is still waiting for us. Tonight, we will not part until we are drunk.”

Although Lady Golden Flower, after her defeat at Xiangyang, was little more than a figurehead among the Red Turban Army, she still wielded considerable influence among the various anti-Yuan insurgents. Thus, tonight’s welcome banquet was of the highest order. Not only did Grand Marshal Guo Tianshu appear in person, but he also brought his younger brother Guo Tianjue and several of the most important commanders under his command.

“This is the famed Marshal Golden Flower,” Guo Tianshu announced. “She has come to recruit the Chaohu navy on behalf of the court. From now on, we are family. Marshal, take a stroll through the city tomorrow—whichever residence catches your eye is yours for your headquarters.”

Lady Golden Flower had not expected matters to progress so smoothly, though she also understood Guo Tianshu’s enthusiasm.

Despite his deliberately cultivated beard, Guo Tianshu’s face was still boyish, his manner uncertain, lacking the confidence to command. Though he had inherited this army through the legacy of Guo Zixing, he was unable to control the unruly officers beneath him.

The commanders present tonight were respectful enough, but Lady Golden Flower could see at a glance they did not truly respect Guo Tianshu. Not to mention the commanders brought by Zhu Yuanzhang, even the two commanders under Zhang Tianyou were boisterous and self-satisfied.

As for the younger Guo Tianjue, he was even less able to command. Among Guo Zixing’s children, it was Guo Yunyun who best held the room, but she was still a woman. Even if she managed family affairs, she could maintain but not expand.

This precarious situation was also a reflection of the power dynamics within the Chuzhou Red Turban Army.

She had just inquired and learned that the entire Chuzhou Red Turban Army numbered about forty-five thousand men. Zhu Yuanzhang, though an outsider who began his career as Guo Zixing’s personal guard, had developed rapidly and now commanded some twenty-four or twenty-five thousand men. Of the remaining twenty thousand, Deputy Right Marshal Zhang Tianyou controlled the majority, while Guo Tianshu himself led only eight or nine thousand.

Wherever Zhu Yuanzhang stood, the commanders would naturally gather around him—his prestige rivaled that of Guo Tianshu. But for Lady Golden Flower, this was a rare opportunity. She quickly picked up two morsels of food, took a sip of wine, and stood with her cup raised.

“Grand Marshal, I have here two edicts to present to the Chaohu navy. Which do you think is preferable?”