Chapter 68: Summoning for Pacification

Shao Rong suspected that Liu Yi might not have clearly heard what he had just said, so he deliberately repeated himself: “Marshal Liu, I already have a unit of one thousand households, totaling six hundred men. My elder brother has promised to support me with four hundred men, and our Shao family has three hundred new recruits in Jiangbei ready to cross the river!”

A command of ten thousand with only three units of a thousand—just thirteen hundred men—was little more than a hollow shell. Yet, in the Yuan army, even a full command typically had only three to five thousand men, so Shao Rong’s thirteen hundred were not particularly meager.

Still, commanding only this force was not enough to make Shao Rong a marshal. Though, with the world in chaos, the title of marshal was losing its value, even the least of marshals would command three to five thousand men.

Liu Yi reiterated his terms: “I don’t want three units of a thousand, nor just a command of ten thousand. All I ask is that you, Shao Six, are willing to stand up against Zhu Yuanzhang, and I guarantee you a marshal’s future.”

Shao Rong’s expression darkened. For the first time, he realized just how intractable Liu Yi could be. He tried a different approach: “Marshal Liu, if my brother comes over with me, could the entire right camp left by Zhang Tianyou—all ten thousand men—be placed under my brother’s command?”

Liu Yi firmly rejected this proposal: “I’d be glad for your brother to come, and his treatment would certainly surpass anything Marshal Zhu could offer. But the foundation left by Zhang Tianyou cannot all be placed under your family’s control. Neither Marshal Zhu nor I could allow such a thing; we’d join forces to crush it at once.”

He added, “If it were not for the rivalry between Marshal Zhu and myself, your brother might have had the chance to command the right camp. But as long as Zhu and I are at odds over this, your brother will never get the chance.”

Liu Yi had seen it too many times: in any trade, when the first and second biggest rivals fought, it was always the third who got eliminated. Shao Rong could not comprehend why, in the struggle between Liu Yi and Zhu Yuanzhang, it would be his own brother, Commandant Shao Si, who would lose out.

Before coming, Shao Rong, his brother, and a host of Shao clansmen had discussed the situation repeatedly. All were optimistic, believing that with Guo Tianshu and Zhang Tianyou dead, the Red Turban Army in Chuzhou lacked a true leader. It was the perfect chance for the Shao clan to rise, or at least to profit from both sides and remain unscathed.

But with a few words, Liu Yi shattered Shao Rong’s illusions. Shao Rong tried to resist: “Marshal Liu, among the commanders in the right camp, my brother’s forces are the strongest and most numerous. Without him, in the battle of Hucun, Chen Zhaoxian would have crushed us completely!”

Liu Yi merely smiled. “Shao Six, haven’t you figured it out? Precisely because your brother’s strength is the greatest in the right camp, I cannot let him take charge of it. But your brother is his own man, and you, Shao Six, are your own as well.”

Shao Rong took some time to understand Liu Yi’s meaning. “Marshal Liu, does your promise of a marshal’s future for me serve to keep my brother in check?”

Liu Yi nodded. “Don’t forget my promise: even if it’s only you, Shao Six, who comes over, as long as you are willing to stand against Zhu Yuanzhang, I guarantee you a marshal’s future!”

Shao Rong did not take Liu Yi’s promise at face value. In times of chaos, power ruled. Not only in the Red Turban Army of Chuzhou, but even in Zhang Tianyou’s right camp, he was no major figure. If he trusted Liu Yi’s words and defected alone, he’d become the laughingstock of all.

But precisely because he was not a major figure in the left camp, Liu Yi’s promise held great appeal: “I am willing to stand up and challenge Marshal Zhu, but three units of a thousand are not enough—I’ll need at least five!”

This was Shao Rong’s way of asking Liu Yi to supply him with the men, equipment, and provisions for two additional units. Liu Yi immediately agreed. “That’s no problem. I’ve just returned from Jiangbei; many Green Army and Spear Army soldiers, unable to make a living there, have come over to join me. Two units are guaranteed.”

Now Shao Rong felt a twinge of regret. He had come as an emissary for his elder brother, only to undermine both him and the entire right camp. But he knew such an opportunity would not come again.

In the past, everyone referred to him as “Shao Four’s younger brother, Shao Six.” He had always lived in his brother’s shadow, never able to step into the light. Now the opportunity had arrived: five units of a thousand was just the first step. So long as he stood against Zhu Yuanzhang, Liu Yi would surely continue to support him. In future military councils, he would certainly have a seat at the marshal’s table.

His words became all the more fluent: “Then I thank you, my lord. My lord, leave the right camp to me, Shao Six. As for the personal troops left by the Grand Marshal, you must give them your special attention.”

Liu Yi would never place all his hopes on Shao Rong alone, but with Shao Rong helping him recruit within the right camp, much of the work was already done. “Then I’ll leave the right camp to General Shao. I have already invited Lady Yunyu to cross the river—there is great hope for the old followers of the Guo family!”

Having boarded Liu Yi’s pirate ship, Shao Rong now saw matters entirely from Liu Yi’s perspective. “As long as Yunyu crosses the river soon, Zhu Yuanzhang will have nothing to be proud of!”

He had only just finished speaking when Sun Yueyong pushed open the door. “Sister Yunyu has already crossed the river—she’ll be here any minute!”

Meanwhile, in the city of Jiqing, the air was thick with celebration. Though the Red Turban Army still held Taiping Road, everyone believed it was only a matter of time before they were driven back north of the river, perhaps even annihilated in Jiangnan.

Grapes and fine wine, beauties dancing and singing, pools of wine and forests of meat—debauchery reigned.

After two cups of grape wine, Vice Censor-in-Chief Manzi Haiya grinned and said, “This great victory is all thanks to the Lord Censor—he turned the tide in the southeast with his far-reaching strategies.”

The Lord Censor, Fushou, grinned so broadly his teeth nearly fell out. “Vice Censor, that’s too much praise. It was the unity of the whole Secretariat that brought about this miraculous victory. I won’t forget your contributions, nor will I shortchange anyone!”

“Yes, yes, everyone has contributed!”

“We all share in the hard-earned triumph!”

“Next, when we petition the court for rewards, not a single one of us from the Censorate will be left out!”

Seeing spirits so high, Manzi Haiya pressed his advantage. “My lord, don’t be so modest. The Battle of Hucun was the greatest stroke of fortune in the southeast—the crisis in Jiangdong has passed. What are your plans for military action going forward?”

Fushou was a Han name, but the Lord Censor was in truth a pure-blooded descendant of Western Xia, a “well-rooted Semuren.”

The Yuan prized lineage above all. The post of Darughachi had to go to a Mongol; failing that, at least to a “well-rooted Semuren.” And because he was such a man, he acted without the slightest restraint. “Vice Censor, I’ll speak plainly. The immediate priority is pacification. Of those two fierce bandits, Zhu Yuanzhang and Liu Yi, which do you think is easier to win over?”