Chapter Thirty-Two: The Bestowal of Treasures

Liu Yi was well aware that Lady Golden Flower had deliberately reminded him not to waste too much time and energy on Zhu Yuanzhang. The most urgent task at hand was to break through the Yuan army’s blockade on Lake Chao.

Though Liu Yi turned his gaze to the distant horizon, Lady Golden Flower had not forgotten about Zhu Yuanzhang. She needed to keep an eye on him for Liu Yi—and deliver a fatal blow at the most critical moment.

There was no longer any room for reconciliation between them. For now, they shared a common goal, but sooner or later, open conflict would erupt. With a sigh, Liu Yi said, “Sister Golden Flower, it’s a good thing you were wise and decisive back then. Otherwise, if Zhu Yuanzhang had managed to entangle us, today it would be him berating us instead!”

Lady Golden Flower’s expression remained as fierce as ever. “Let’s set out early. The time has come to win glory and establish our names!”

Liu Yi nodded. “Then I leave Deputy Marshal Zhu in your hands, Sister Golden Flower! Let’s go!”

Though today’s battle was nominally under Guo Tianshu’s command, the real main force was the Lake Chao naval fleet led by Liu Yi.

Liu Yi needed a victory to consolidate his prestige, but he knew very well that he was not an outstanding naval commander. All eyes of the Lake Chao fleet were fixed on his every move—any mistake would be remembered for a lifetime.

As someone with a divine reputation, Liu Yi could not allow himself any errors. He first patted Zhao Pusheng and Li Pusheng on the shoulder, then addressed the brothers on deck, “The barbarian Haiya is ahead of us. He is the Censor-in-Chief, one of the highest officials in all of Jiangnan. Brothers, are you afraid?”

At his words, laughter broke out on deck. No matter how high Haiya’s position, it meant little on the battlefield. Zhao Pusheng promptly drew his twin blades. “I, Zhao, am willing to capture Haiya for the General!”

At present, Liu Yi’s formal title was “Additional Marshal” of the Chuzhou Marshal’s Office—a compromise reached after much wrangling with Zhu Yuanzhang. Yet within the Lake Chao fleet, this title felt awkward. After all, there were already three marshals, and crossing the river would only add more. Liu Yi’s “Additional Marshal” title was especially embarrassing, so the fleet’s officers wisely avoided mentioning it, instead respectfully calling him “General.”

This respect and his limited divine aura were not enough to establish absolute authority. Liu Yi even suspected that veterans like Zhao Pusheng might sideline him completely. Now, hearing Zhao Pusheng volunteer for the task, he was delighted. “I’ll lend you this treasure, Marshal Zhao. If you help me capture Haiya, it’ll be yours!”

He produced the telescope he once treasured above all else, though to him now it was of little use.

But to the officers of the Lake Chao fleet, the telescope was of immense value—a true artifact, and a supreme tool for victory. With it, the enemy’s movements could be seen clearly from miles away.

Liao Yong’an was the first to step forward. “General, if I capture Haiya, does this treasure become mine?”

Liu Yi burst out laughing. “Of course, Commander Liao. Whoever captures Haiya will have this treasure. I hope all the generals will give it their best.”

This was very much in Liu Yi’s style. Though these officers usually prized gold, jewels, beautiful women, and power, at this moment, the telescope alone ignited their fighting spirit.

Gold, jewels, and power may be hard to come by, but with effort, there was always a chance. The telescope, however, seemed unique in all the world.

In an instant, a thousand ships surged forward, and a fierce naval battle began!

Both sides sent fire ships crashing into each other at once.

Though fire ships were an ancient tactic, their use well into the nineteenth century in another world attests to their effectiveness. The river blazed with flames, and now, the telescope in Zhao Pusheng’s hand proved invaluable.

The Lake Chao fleet was always a step ahead of the Yuan navy, anticipating their every move. The Yuan’s fire ships were either too slow or met sudden, fierce attacks, while those launched by the Lake Chao fleet were twice as effective.

Haiya, the Censor-in-Chief, was beside himself with frustration. “What’s going on? These are the old tricks for dealing with Lake Chao pirates—why have they suddenly failed?”

The old methods had not just failed—they had utterly collapsed. The Yuan navy was completely on the defensive. Months of carefully prepared blockades were now in peril, and some water forts were already aflame.

Aruhui, the Left Vice Minister of Huguang, had an idea. “Censor-in-Chief, if this continues, the Lake Chao pirates will soon break into the Yangtze. We should make a decision now!”

Haiya understood Aruhui’s meaning, but also knew the time for decisions had come. Without hesitation, he said, “We’ll have to apologize to Yu Qingyang—spread the word: we’ll let them sail upstream!”

Historically, after breaking out of Lake Chao, the fleet split: one force followed Zhao Pusheng upriver to besiege Anqing, while the other became the core of Zhu Yuanzhang’s navy. Now, Haiya only wished to redirect disaster, letting the Lake Chao fleet attack Chizhou and Anqing upstream. “Brothers of Lake Chao, if we keep fighting, we’ll only both suffer. Better we let you turn your attack upstream—no need for further bloodshed. Though you fly the Dragon and Phoenix standard, you are still Xu Shouhui’s troops.”

In another world, Zhao Pusheng would have unhesitatingly turned upriver, since Xu Shouhui’s Red Turbans were besieging Anqing. But now, hearing the Yuan navy’s cry, Zhao Pusheng burst out laughing. “The Tartar navy can’t hold on! Brothers, give it all you’ve got. Whether you win the treasure depends on your strength!”