Chapter Fifty: Inviting Marshal Liu Across the River

The rivalry between the Jiangzhe Province and the Jiangnan Administrative Bureau had lasted far beyond a day or two; in truth, the conflict had begun intensifying from the very moment both institutions were established. Yet, in times of peace, such tension never escalated to a life-or-death struggle. Now, with the Red Turban Army looming as a formidable enemy, the discord had erupted into open confrontation. The Administrative Bureau of Censors insisted that all resources be concentrated on the Jiqing Circuit; for if Jiqing fell, the collapse of Jiangdong would be inevitable, and the loss of Jiangdong would, in turn, spell disaster for the entire Jiangzhe Province.

Jiangzhe Province, after all, was the most vital region under the Yuan realm, supplying more than a third of the empire’s revenue and provisions. Should it be lost, it would signal nothing less than the end of Yuan’s fortunes.

Yet, the perspective of Jiangzhe Province was far from identical. The province comprised more than just Jiangdong; among its four circuits—Zhedong, Zhexi, Fujian—each stood on par with Jiangdong, each was embroiled in ceaseless warfare, and within Jiangdong, Jiqing was not the sole frontline. The circuits of Ningguo, Huizhou, Raozhou, Xinzhou, and Qianshan all battled the Red Turban rebels at the vanguard. Why, then, should every resource be handed over to Jiqing?

The provincial authorities believed they must consider the broader picture. Thus, Fushou declared unequivocally, “Zhang Shicheng is willing to accept our terms, Fang Guozhen as well, and the bandits in Jiangxi have no navy to support them; now is our best opportunity. The province must fully support Jiangdong, or else the leadership should be replaced!”

He failed to realize one critical issue: no matter who takes charge of Jiangzhe Province, the needs of the whole province must be weighed.

Meanwhile, the Command Headquarters at Chuzhou faced a similar predicament.

Guo Tianxu flew into a rage upon hearing the news that Liu Yi and Ma Shixiong had become in-laws. His fury was not because his sister, newly wed to the Liu family, had to endure Liu Yi taking a concubine. Rather, it stemmed from Ma Shixiong’s thousands of Green Troop soldiers refusing to join him, the Commanding Marshal, and instead pledging themselves to his brother-in-law, Liu Yi.

The thought that the Lake Chaohu navy now possessed thousands more elite soldiers, capable of independent land operations without relying on his support, left him feeling utterly powerless—more so than if Liu Yi had simply undermined him.

Yet, compared to Zhu Yuanzhang, Guo Tianxu was but a minor player in this drama.

Zhu Yuanzhang had assumed everything was proceeding smoothly, confident he could manipulate Liu Yi as he pleased. But when he turned around, he found Liu Yi had already married Sun Yue Rong, making the matter irreversible. In his indignation, Zhu smashed several exquisite Jiangxi porcelain pieces, and after venting his anger, he grimly remarked, “She was the daughter of a prefect, and now, in the hands of a mere warrior like Liu Yi, her life is surely ruined.”

His words, however, belied his true concerns. All those present—civil and military officials alike—knew Zhu Yuanzhang cared far more about Ma Shixiong’s thousands of armored troops. Unlike Guo Tianxu, these soldiers had originally served under Zhu himself.

Though Zhu’s own forces were powerful and Ma Shixiong’s men comparatively less significant, the thought of these troops now serving the Lake Chaohu navy struck a chord with all present. Li Shanchang was the first to speak: “We must seek justice in this matter. The Marshal’s marriage of Lady Yunyu to Commander Liu was not for her to become a concubine. We must demand justice for Lady Yunyu!”

Everyone knew that “demanding justice for Lady Yunyu” was mere bluster, a pretext to legitimize their actions. If they kept stirring things up, morale in Zhu Yuanzhang’s army would suffer.

After all, Liu Yi was now enjoying the luxuries of Jiangbei, basking in glory, while Zhu Yuanzhang’s elite troops fought bravely with little to show for it. Thus, Xu Da was the first to agree: “Yes, we must demand justice for Lady Yunyu and also for the Marshal. Ma Shixiong had promised to marry Lady Yue Rong to us; how can one woman marry twice? He owes us an explanation.”

Li Shanchang fanned the flames, “Exactly, Xu’s words are right. How can one woman be wed twice? Even if the matter is settled, Ma Shixiong’s Green Troops should be under Marshal Zhu’s command!”

This suggestion was met with universal acclaim. The marriage of Sun Yue Rong to Liu Yi only inconvenienced Zhu Yuanzhang, but the transfer of Ma Shixiong’s troops to Liu Yi affected the entire army of thirty thousand.

While everyone knew that, with the marriage consummated, it was impossible for all five thousand of Ma Shixiong’s men to come under Zhu’s command, they felt entitled to a share. With four marshals at Chuzhou Command, the custom dictated an equal division of spoils; at the very least, Liu Yi and the Lake Chaohu navy should not claim the lion’s share.

As debate grew heated, Zhu Yuanzhang unexpectedly spoke: “Since Commander Liu and Marshal Ma have become in-laws, and Lady Yue Rong has joined his household, we must properly celebrate. Prepare a generous gift—gold, silver, jade, pearls, porcelain, all of the finest quality—to send to Commander Liu. Make sure there’s enough, and have my wife personally offer congratulations on my behalf. Commander Liu must be thoroughly satisfied.”

His intentions were unclear to most, but Li Shanchang suddenly understood: “The Marshal wishes to invite Liu Yi to cross the river?”

Zhu Yuanzhang confirmed, “Precisely. We must invite Commander Liu to come south; the longer he stays in Jiangbei, the less favorable things become for us.”

When Liu Yi first decided to cross north of the river, everyone—from Zhu Yuanzhang and Li Shanchang to the others present—thought him mad or foolish. Jiqing City was nearly theirs, yet Liu Yi abandoned his command to head north, a move deemed shortsighted, destined to see him banished from Chuzhou Command.

Yet now, having married Sun Yue Rong and acquired thousands of Ma Shixiong’s armored troops, with the battle for Jiqing turning into a prolonged war, opinions had reversed. All now saw Liu Yi’s journey north as a stroke of genius, believing his gains would only increase the longer he remained in Jiangbei.

Li Shanchang fully grasped Zhu Yuanzhang’s intent: “Marshal, you are absolutely right. As long as Commander Liu remains in Jiangbei, no matter how clever our plans, we cannot act. We must rely on your wife to bring Liu Yi south!”