Chapter Seventy-Two: Only a Great Victory Can Solve the Problem

Both Liu Yi and Shao Rong had said before that as long as Zhu Yuanzhang agreed to negotiate, Shao Rong would have a chance to enter the Marshal’s Mansion in Chuzhou. Yet Shao Si had never understood the underlying stakes. Even now, with Zhu Yuanzhang personally promising to recommend Shao Rong for the Marshal’s Mansion, Shao Si still couldn’t grasp the logic. He himself couldn’t get in; what resources did Shao Rong have to gain entry? It was most likely a disaster waiting to happen. “Since both you and Marshal Liu are sincere, let’s lay everything out and talk openly. We mustn’t do anything that would pain our allies and delight our enemies.”

Had he not just lost to the Long Spear Army and the Provincial Troops, Zhu Yuanzhang might have been tempted to deal with the Chaohu Navy right then and there. But his recent setbacks and the resulting disarray convinced him to try and win at the negotiating table what couldn’t be won on the battlefield.

Still, he was determined to prepare for both possibilities. After sending Shao Si away, he spoke earnestly to Li Shanchang. “That Liu fellow not only resorts to sly tricks, he actually has a few genuine talents. Let’s negotiate seriously first, then send over some beautiful women, and finally figure out what to do once we’re inside Jiqing City!”

This was the crucial moment for attacking Jiqing; Left Camp and the Chaohu Navy had to unite to take the city. But once Jiqing fell, the situation would change entirely. Li Shanchang immediately laughed, “Master, rest assured. Leave this matter to me!”

He was completely aligned with Zhu Yuanzhang: once Jiqing was taken, even ten Liu Yis could be dealt with easily, but before that, they had to secure as much advantage as possible, especially the troops left by Guo Tianxu and Zhang Tianyou.

However, the actual negotiations were not as smooth as Zhu Yuanzhang had imagined. Both sides were sincere and unwilling to waste strength on mutual destruction, but their demands were worlds apart, heading in opposite directions. To make matters worse, Liu Yi brought out Guo Yunyu and Guo Tianjue.

Zhu Yuanzhang had thought the Guo siblings were mere decoration, but Guo Yunyu not only sparred sharply with words, she often brought up stories from Guo Zixing’s early days. The more she spoke, the more impassioned she became, until many who had witnessed those past events, regardless of which side they stood on, were moved to tears.

What had begun as a fierce negotiation turned into a gathering of reminiscence, thanks to Guo Yunyu and Guo Tianjue. Though Guo Zixing could at times be a cold, ruthless, and suspicious warlord, people are ever prone to idealize the dead. In their recollections, warm memories of growth lingered.

They began discussing the rise and development of the Guo Family Army, as well as the challenges faced in recent years. Though everyone had their own agenda, the stories most frequently told were those of Guo Zixing’s heroic uprising in Haozhou—even those who hadn’t participated in the rebellion joined in.

Reaching this point meant the negotiations were more than halfway successful. Despite the enormous gap between their offers, the real dispute boiled down to the hope of controlling more troops, particularly those left by Guo Tianxu and Zhang Tianyou. Both sides knew that neither could take everything.

The negotiation proceeded increasingly smoothly, with many points of consensus reached swiftly. Guo Yunyu and Guo Tianjue became the greatest beneficiaries of the talks; several disputed units were agreed to be temporarily managed by Guo Tianjue, though Guo Yunyu was strictly forbidden from involvement.

Mindful of her sensitive position, Guo Yunyu quickly agreed, “I am married out of the Guo family now, so naturally the family’s legacy should be handed over to the men of the Guo clan.”

Neither Liu Yi nor Zhu Yuanzhang had anticipated that Guo Yunyu would become the linchpin of the negotiations. Watching her sway the mood of the entire room, Zhu Yuanzhang could only regret bitterly.

This eldest Miss Guo had once been within his grasp, yet not only had Liu Yi won her, she had now become a powerful weapon against him.

If only he’d known how things would turn out, he would have forced the issue then and there, not played coy with Guo Yunyu and Liu Yi!

The thought made Zhu Yuanzhang want to overturn the table, but the consequences of doing so now were too severe. He could only remind himself to be ready to flip the table at any moment.

Perhaps affected by Guo Yunyu’s melancholy, Liu Yi’s spirits were also low. Sun Yueyong, however, understood his feelings. “Sister Yunyu’s closest and dearest in this world is her husband. You must take extra care of her during this time!”

Though Liu Yi held the world in his heart, at this moment he could muster little enthusiasm. Partly he pitied Sun Yunyu, partly it was the shifting tides of the world, so different from another time and place; the power to foresee and outmaneuver his enemies had faded, and from now on, he would have to match wits and strength with Zhu Yuanzhang, that peerless schemer.

So, hearing Sun Yueyong’s comfort, Liu Yi could only smile wryly. “Yunyu, I understand everything you’ve said, but I just can’t summon the energy right now. I’d rather go out and fight a great battle than see you, Sister Yunyu, suffer so much!”

Liu Yi knew well that Guo Yunyu’s troubles were far from simple hardship. Although Zhu Yuanzhang’s side didn’t want Guo Yunyu involved in the family’s affairs, the burden of the Guo clan had fallen squarely on her shoulders.

Just as later generations would suspect Zhu Yuanzhang’s conspiracy in the deaths of Guo Tianxu and Zhang Tianyou, now there were many conspiracy theories implicating Liu Yi and Guo Yunyu. Zhu Yuanzhang himself had fanned the flames, but the main aim of these interested parties was to prevent Guo Yunyu from meddling in the Guo family’s business.

Under such circumstances, Liu Yi could only keep his distance, unable to help Guo Yunyu much.

Sun Yueyong sympathized with Liu Yi’s mood. “Then you should go and get a good night’s sleep. Once you’ve rested, everything will look brighter!”

But Liu Yi laughed, “Sleep won’t solve the problem. Only a great victory can truly put everything right!”