Chapter Eighty-Seven: I Must Cross the River

Although Guo Yunyu and Ma Xiuying were usually locked in sharp contention, neither willing to yield an inch, a woman need not make life hard for another woman. Whenever matters reached the point of discretion, the two of them would always leave themselves a way out. Lately, especially after Ma Xiuying had given birth to her eldest son, Guo Yunyu had become even more restrained and had won Ma Xiuying’s goodwill.

She believed that if she went to Ma Xiuying in person, Ma Xiangying would certainly grant her face. But Sun Yuerong saw it very differently: “This is a matter of state. Since he has made up his mind not to see your husband and to force the issue all the way, he certainly will not change his mind because of a few words from Ma Xiuying.”

Although Sun Yuerong had very little direct contact with Zhu Yuanzhang, her woman’s intuition had led her to a nearly perfect and accurate judgment: “Zhu Yuanzhang is absolutely a wolf-king of the age of chaos. He is ruthless not only to others, but even more ruthless to his own people!”

Zhu Yuanzhang’s Left Camp had always been strictly disciplined, with orders obeyed and prohibitions enforced. Once Zhu Yuanzhang gave the command, no one dared openly defy him. His absolute authority had been built upon mountains of severed heads.

By contrast, Liu Yi and the Water Camp were somewhat more humane and had stronger cohesion, but they could not achieve the same absolute authority as Zhu Yuanzhang. If Zhu Yuanzhang refused to negotiate directly with Liu Yi, then a subtle hostility would remain between the Left Camp and the Water Camp.

Lady Golden Flower had always preferred to solve problems by killing, but when faced with Zhu Yuanzhang, who could not be appeased by softness, she had little recourse. “If even Ma Xiuying cannot persuade Zhu Yuanzhang, then I’m afraid no one can persuade the Left Camp. I think we should let Yunyu try. At any rate, there’s nothing to lose.”

Liu Yi suddenly thought of something. “Even if Yunyu persuades Ma Xiuying, it will be useless. I know Zhu Yuanzhang better than all of you, but as long as Ma Xiuying is persuaded, there won’t be any problem on Zhu Yuanzhang’s side.”

His words sounded contradictory: on the one hand saying that even if Guo Yunyu explained things to Ma Xiuying it would be useless, and on the other hand saying that “as long as Ma Xiuying is persuaded, there won’t be any problem on Zhu Yuanzhang’s side.” But Sun Yuerong understood at once. “Husband intends to cross the river himself to see Ma Xiuying?”

Liu Yi laughed. “Since that one has personally taken command in Yangzhou, I naturally must make preparations. Tell Zhao Pusheng to get a boat ready for me!”

Though for the past half year Zhu Yuanzhang, the Grand Commander of Chuzhou, had been the most dazzling presence on the Jiangdong battlefield, while Liu Yi and the Chaohu naval forces advanced steadily and built their positions step by step, naturally drawing far less attention, some even believed that the entire Chuzhou Red Turban Army was under Zhu Yuanzhang’s sole control.

But those who truly paid attention were watching Liu Yi and the Chaohu navy very closely. Everyone knew full well that although Zhu Yuanzhang had dominated the Jiangdong battlefield, he could manage without anyone except Liu Yi and the Chaohu naval forces. The moment the Chaohu navy withdrew from the war, Zhu Yuanzhang’s Chuzhou Red Turban Army would not merely be forced immediately onto the defensive, but would also face the danger of fighting with its back to the river and being annihilated to a man.

Yet Zhu Yuanzhang’s Left Camp and the Chaohu navy had always maintained a relationship of conflict without rupture. For that reason, everyone paid extraordinary attention to Liu Yi and the Chaohu navy’s movements. Some even cared more about Liu Yi than about Zhu Yuanzhang. So when word suddenly spread that Liu Yi was preparing to cross the river northward, it set off a tremendous shock.

Some believed this was the prelude to full-scale internal strife within the Chuzhou Red Turbans, with the Yuan army about to launch a general counteroffensive on the Jiangdong battlefield. Others thought Liu Yi’s crossing north was merely a retreat to advance. Still others believed that the reason Liu Yi was crossing the river was that the situation in Yangzhou Route north of the river had undergone a shocking reversal, and the Chuzhou Red Turbans feared their rear would be cut off, so they sent Liu Yi back across the river.

The last explanation naturally came from the Left Camp. Although most of the Left Camp’s officers and men supported the view that “the Red Turbans do not fight the Red Turbans,” and believed that internal unity should be maintained until Jieqing City was taken and a foothold firmly established, Zhu Yuanzhang’s authority in the Left Camp was absolute, and so within the camp itself there was also an expectation of bloodshed.

No one had expected Liu Yi to suddenly cross the river northward at this moment, and all levels were thrown into confusion, not knowing how to respond. In their haste they could only first let out the rumor that “Grand Marshal Zhu and Grand Marshal Liu have already reached an agreement” in an attempt to muddle through.

But such rumors could not fool those who were paying attention. Although everyone from the Left Camp insisted that Liu Yi had crossed the river on Zhu Yuanzhang’s orders, the Chaohu navy’s various reactions made it clear that this was not the case at all. Thus the Yuan army responded at once.

Originally, they had planned to rely on Jieqing City and adopt a defensive counterattack strategy. Even though good news had come from Yangzhou, the leading figures of the Jiangnan Branch Administration had no intention of changing tactics. But once news of Liu Yi crossing the river arrived, the Branch Administration held an overnight meeting to discuss how to seize Jieqing City in one decisive stroke.

Yet among all those involved, the most passive was the commander of the militia, Chen Zhaoxian. He had originally made full preparations and even considered joining forces with Zhu Yuanzhang to deal with Liu Yi, but no one had expected Liu Yi to cross the river before they even made a move.

In theory, now that Liu Yi had crossed to Chuzhou, the situation for Chen Zhaoxian ought to have been excellent. In reality, however, the opposite was true: Chen Zhaoxian had become the greatest victim.

According to the Branch Administration’s original defensive counterattack strategy, Chen Zhaoxian’s militia needed only to remain still and wait for the right moment. Whether the Yuan army won or the Red Turbans won, Chen Zhaoxian could join forces with the victor and become the greatest beneficiary.

But since Liu Yi had crossed north, the Branch Administration naturally could not permit Chen Zhaoxian’s twenty thousand armored troops to sit idle and drain the granaries. In the space of a single day, Chen Zhaoxian received more than a dozen orders commanding him to take the lead and advance immediately on Taiping, and each order was harsher than the last.

Since Chen Zhaoxian was already exchanging glances with Zhu Yuanzhang, he naturally wanted to play the part of an arrogant and unruly general who would not submit to the Branch Administration’s command. But the Branch Administration not only controlled the food, clothing, and supplies of those twenty thousand militia troops; below him, those prefects and county commanders who were displeased with Chen Zhaoxian were also fanning the flames, insisting that he march west at once and fight his way into Taiping City as quickly as possible.

Chen Zhaoxian was infuriated beyond measure. The Branch Administration had spent half a year in full mobilization and still could not break into Taiping City, and now, on top of the New Year festivities, they expected him alone and his one army to take Taiping City!

But those prefects and county commanders all wanted to see him made a fool of, and kept urging the troops to set out at once. Chen Zhaoxian now found himself berated from both sides, and could only vent his anger on Zhu Yuanzhang: “Tell Grand Marshal Zhu that as long as he settles Liu Yi and the Chaohu navy, I will rise in revolt immediately!”