Chapter Fifty-Three: River Water

"Marshal Liu from Chaohu has crossed the river!"

Though this news was only a single sentence, its implications were astonishing. Whether it was the Yuan army, the Red Turbans, the righteous forces led by Chen Yexian and Chen Zhaoxian, or Minister Xie Guoxi’s gun troops, all temporarily ceased their fighting and sent scouts to gather every scrap of information about Liu Yi.

All knew this was merely the calm before the storm. Apart from playing a decisive role in breaking through the mouth of Chaohu and conquering Taiping, the Chaohu navy had always been a supporting player on the Jiangdong battlefield, never drawing attention to itself. Yet everyone understood that once the Chaohu navy entered the fray, it could alter the entire course of the war.

After capturing Taiping, the Chaohu navy had been recruiting vigorously, drawing countless spearmen, Green Army, and Red Turbans from north of the river. Even though Liu Yi had sent only a detachment of three hundred under a thousand-man commander across the river, all knew that behind them were waves of reinforcements. For the Red Turbans of Chuzhou, who had endured two months of bitter struggle, hope had finally appeared.

"Marshal Liu has crossed the river—surely now we can take Jiqing City?"

"Of course! Didn’t Marshal Liu say before that Jiqing City couldn’t be taken in ten or even twenty days? He was right!"

Liu Yi’s prediction remained fresh in everyone’s memory.

When Liu Yi had said that the campaign for Jiqing would be a drawn-out affair, none believed him. Yet, reality had proven his prophecy entirely accurate, almost eerily so.

Of course, their recollections were colored by hindsight; Liu Yi’s predictions had included many errors, but people remembered only the wise and correct ones. Now, hope filled their hearts: "If we can capture Jiqing, that would be wonderful! We made a fortune when we took Taiping, and they say Jiqing is ten times richer!"

"Ten times? Twenty! It’s said Jiqing is the greatest city in the southeast—apart from Hangzhou, nowhere else compares!"

"As long as Marshal Liu leads us to crack Jiqing and win another fortune, I’ll follow him anywhere!"

"Yes, once Jiqing falls, we’ll all be Marshal Liu’s men from then on!"

Though these were the drunken words of ordinary soldiers grown despondent from repeated setbacks, such talk was heard among every commander of ten thousand and of a thousand. The Jiqing campaign had been going badly, casualties far exceeding the Chuzhou Red Turbans’ predictions; many Red Turban soldiers felt they could endure no longer.

Such words inevitably reached the ears of the marshals and commanders. At this moment, Guo Tianxu was seething, "And to think I gave him my sister in marriage. Now look—he refuses to exert himself when it matters, but swoops in to reap the rewards when the fruit is ripe! Liu Yi is playing a dirty game!"

Zhang Tianyou could only force a bitter smile, "Marshal Liu may be playing it a bit dirty, but since the men have fought so hard and still see no hope of breaking the city, it’s only natural they pin their hopes on him. At this point, only Marshal Liu can change the course of battle!"

Guo Tianxu gave a cold laugh, "There are others besides Liu Yi who can change things in Jiangdong. I’ve made up my mind—whatever terms Chen Yexian offered, I’ve agreed to them!"

Zhang Tianyou was shocked, "Isn’t that too risky?"

Guo Tianxu, clearly at his wits’ end, retorted, "What risk? Fortune favors the bold! When Lady Jin Hua and Liu Yi first joined us Han-Song men, they had only a handful of followers and a few horses. Had they not risked all, how could they have built their current foundation? Besides, I’ll bring plenty of vanguard guards—nothing can go wrong. If I succeed, I’ll be the true Grand Marshal!"

His words clearly struck a chord with Zhang Tianyou.

Though Liu Yi had kept a low profile and even withdrawn to Chuzhou to recruit, both he and Guo Tianxu were gradually being sidelined in the Chuzhou Grand Marshal’s residence. Guo Tianxu at least held the nominal title of Grand Marshal, while Zhang Tianyou, theoretically the second-in-command, actually sat in the fourth seat. This could not continue. "You’re right—fortune comes to those who dare. But we mustn’t let Chen Yexian lead us by the nose; when the time comes, we should strike first!"

Guo Tianxu shared his thinking, "Prepare for bloodshed."

Under the scorching sun, the mighty river surged endlessly; a vast fleet, oars rising and falling, advanced toward Taiping in the southland.

Watching this grand flotilla, cheers erupted now and then from the walls of Taiping. All awaited Liu Yi’s arrival, hoping he would finally turn the tide.

But on the deck, feeling the river breeze, Liu Yi was troubled. He still sensed the faint fragrance left by Guo Yunyü and could not help but sigh in a way only Sun YueRong could hear, "I wonder if leaving Yunyü in the north was the right choice after all!"

As Liu Yi’s principal wife, Guo Yunyü naturally remained in the north, overseeing all military matters there and guarding his rear. Should the Chaohu navy fail to gain a foothold in the south, Liu Yi would have to lead them back north. But for a long time, he and Guo Yunyü would be separated by the river.

For Sun YueRong, however, this was a rare chance to be alone with Liu Yi, though she had no thought of vying for his affection. "Husband, don’t worry. With Sister Yunyü holding the north, we can cross the river with full confidence. I’ve promised her I’ll keep a close eye on you during this time—you’re not to get up to any mischief. If you try to take another wife or concubine under cover of this campaign, I’ll be sure to tell her!"

Liu Yi’s mood brightened, "I wouldn’t dream of it. With a beauty like you by my side, why would I want another? What troubles me are affairs of state."

Sun YueRong laughed, "You said the same thing to Yunyü once, didn’t you? But in the end, you married me as a second wife!"

Liu Yi shook his head. "It was Yunyü who insisted I marry you. If she hadn’t agreed, I wouldn’t have dared touch a finger to you, let alone take you as my wife."

Sun YueRong was hearing this for the first time. "Is that so? No wonder you respect her so much, Husband."

Liu Yi sighed, "It’s because I respect her so deeply that I feel so conflicted. After all, this is the Guo family’s foundation."