Chapter Thirty-Seven: Forcing Surrender

Guo Tianxu wanted very much to argue with Zhang Tianyou, but he knew all too well that in the end, he would surely be the loser, so he could only steer the conversation back: “Since taking Jiqing Road will be an arduous task, that’s all the more reason to bring Chen Yexian over to our side first. As long as Chen Yexian joins us, Jiqing Road will be ours in no time.”

At present, forty thousand of the Chuzhou Army had crossed the river, while only ten thousand remained to garrison Hezhou and Chuzhou on the northern bank. Although these forty thousand battle-hardened veterans formed one of the most formidable military forces in the land, and were more than enough to defeat any army in the field, the Yuan forces had also, at the first opportunity, called in every available reinforcement from across the Jiangzhe province. Now, near Jiqing Road, the Yuan Army numbered at least seventy to eighty thousand, and their numbers continued to swell. This was the very foundation of the Mongol general Haiya’s confidence in launching a counterattack on Taiping Road.

In such a situation, the troops under Chen Yexian had become the true linchpin of victory and defeat. Yet Zhang Tianyou maintained his composure and said, “Chen Yexian may not be willing to come over, and even if he does, he may not wish to cooperate with us. The terms we offer may not outstrip those of the two marshals.”

Guo Tianxu grew anxious at these words. “Uncle, then what do you suggest we do?”

Zhang Tianyou remained unruffled. “That’s why these two matters must be woven together. In Jiangbei, Chen Yexian’s banner is more useful than ours!”

Rather than saying Chen Yexian’s banner was more effective than Guo Tianxu’s or Zhang Tianyou’s in Jiangbei, it would be more accurate to say that, among the Long Spear Army and the Green Army, Chen Yexian commanded greater loyalty. After all, they had all previously fought under the “Zhizheng” banner of the Great Yuan, and so if Chen Yexian stepped forward to raise troops, he would naturally attract more followers.

Guo Tianxu, however, hesitated. “But wouldn’t that mean Chen Yexian reaps all the benefits? What’s left for us?”

Zhang Tianyou, however, was full of confidence. “As long as Chen Yexian is willing to come over, we can direct him as we please. The key now is how to get him to cross over!”

Guo Tianxu understood. “Exactly, we need to lure Chen Yexian over!”

But before they could deceive Chen Yexian, the Chuzhou Army would first have to deal with the Yuan’s counterattack.

Although Liu Yi had already warned them that taking Jiqing Road would not be easy, whether it was the Chaohu Navy, Zhu Yuanzhang’s elite troops, or other forces, all assumed that taking Jiqing Road would be little different from crossing the river—there might be a battle or two, but the campaign would not last long.

Yet the war developed in a direction far from what anyone had imagined. Though most of the Yuan troops near Taiping were already veterans who had tasted defeat at the hands of the Chuzhou Army, the Jiangzhe province had thrown every mobile force into the defense of Jiqing Road: hastily assembled volunteer militias and local levies, Green Army and Long Spear Army who had crossed from the north, garrison troops drawn from both western and eastern Zhejiang, and even Miao warriors transferred from Huguang province.

At last, everyone understood why, when Xiang Pulue had swept through three provinces and captured more than forty cities, he had ultimately failed and could go no further after being defeated at Jiqing City.

Jiqing Road and Jiangdong Circuit were simply too important!

Meanwhile, a rare scene of harmony played out between Zhu Yuanzhang and Liu Yi. Zhu Yuanzhang smiled and said, “Marshal Liu, in the past, I was at fault, and today I came to apologize to you in person. Both of us harbor grand ambitions, and whether we prosper or fail depends on our unity. Only by working together can we take Jiqing and seize Jiangdong Circuit. Let us put the past behind us, what do you say?”

Liu Yi’s face was all smiles as well. “Of course, that’s not a problem. Given the current situation, we have no choice but to unite in earnest. But let me say this before anything else: I can yield in anything, except women. Anyone who dares lay a hand on my woman, I’ll sever his hands and feet. Brother Yuanzhang, please remember this.”

Though Zhu Yuanzhang felt a twinge of displeasure, he had come to reconcile with Liu Yi for now. “That’s absolutely fine. My view is different from yours—what man ever lacks for a wife? If you set your eyes on any woman, just say the word, and I’ll never stand in your way.”

Liu Yi was naturally delighted. “Marshal Zhao, Marshal Li, and all you commanders, you heard it from Marshal Zhu himself—remember these words!”

The Chaohu Navy’s commanders, including Zhao Pusheng, Li Pusheng, Liao Yong’an, and Yu Tonghai, all burst out laughing, their ridicule thinly veiled, but Zhu Yuanzhang responded unabashedly, “Brother Liu, since I’ve yielded women to you, shouldn’t you yield something to me in return?”

Liu Yi knew well that Zhu Yuanzhang’s intentions were less than pure, but with the Yuan Army at their gates, it truly was necessary to ease tensions. “Whatever you ask, so long as it’s within my power and doesn’t involve women, I’ll do my utmost to help!”

Zhu Yuanzhang immediately said, “I’ve heard that you’ve been sending men north of the river to recruit troops these past few days? I’m also preparing to raise soldiers in the north. We need to set some ground rules—if we both make too many promises, we’ll both lose out.”

Liu Yi knew that Zhu Yuanzhang’s worries went beyond just unhealthy competition, so he laid things out plainly. “Are you worried I’ll poach the Green Army and Long Spear Army? Rest assured, my name means little in Jiangbei; Zhu Yuanzhang’s banner carries the true weight there. At most, I’ll be able to recruit ten or twenty thousand men.”

Zhu Yuanzhang’s greatest fear was that the Chaohu Navy would raise another ten or twenty thousand Long Spear or Green Army troops in Jiangbei. He already struggled to contain Liu Yi’s naval forces; if Liu Yi added elite infantry and cavalry to his ranks, Zhu Yuanzhang would be powerless to resist. So he could only force a smile. “Marshal Liu, let’s not joke about this. It’s best to set a clear agreement.”

Liu Yi, too, spoke candidly to the assembled commanders. “Yes, we need some ground rules. There are two volunteer armies: one far away in Jiangbei, and another outside Taiping City who have already sent in their letter of surrender. We can’t let one person take all the spoils. Marshal Zhu, you’re the elder, you choose first.”

Zhu Yuanzhang breathed a sigh of relief. As long as Liu Yi was willing to compromise, things would be much easier. “You mean Chen Yexian? I’ve been in contact with him, but he may not be willing to surrender. After all, he still commands twenty thousand troops.”

Liu Yi laughed aloud. “If Chen Yexian won’t surrender, then let’s force him to do so together!”