Chapter Nine: Du Zundao

Lady Golden Flower’s eyes grew even clearer. “That Zhu Yuanzhang, who commands over half the troops in Chuzhou? I know he’s the Gu family’s son-in-law. Xiao Yi, do you think he’s our true adversary?”

The Chuzhou Supreme Marshal’s Office had three marshals. Supreme Marshal Gu Tianxu was unquestionably the leader. The Yuan dynasty honored the right, and the various anti-Yuan insurgent forces had inherited this tradition—so the Right Deputy Marshal, Zhang Tianyou, was second in command, while the Left Deputy Marshal, Zhu Yuanzhang, was theoretically only the third most important figure.

In a time of upheaval, strength and territory were all that mattered; with Zhu Yuanzhang commanding more than half the Chuzhou troops, his word carried greater weight. Never mind fighting the Gu family army—no one could hope to take the Chaohu navy without dealing with this legendary figure.

Liu Yi’s expression suddenly grew tense. “It’s the Gu family army that is our true opponent. Sister Golden Flower, you must not take them lightly.”

Unlike the various Red Turban armies, the initial leader of Chuzhou’s Red Turbans, Gu Zixing, had also been a disciple of Han Shantong and used the same banner of the “Birth of the Ming King.” Yet after Gu Zixing’s death, the Chuzhou Supreme Marshal’s Office had become more like a feudal military group mobilized by clan and regional ties.

Among the three marshals, Supreme Marshal Gu Tianxu was Gu Zixing’s eldest legitimate son; Right Deputy Marshal Zhang Tianyou was Gu Zixing’s brother-in-law; and Left Deputy Marshal Zhu Yuanzhang was Gu Zixing’s adopted daughter’s husband. The other key figures were also intimately connected to the Gu family, and most of the ordinary soldiers had complex, tangled relations with them as well.

Such a feudal military force, unified by clan and local connections, was always tightly knit and exceedingly hard to break from the outside—a truly formidable foe. Lady Golden Flower shared the sentiment. “Liu Futong also said not even a needle could slip into Chuzhou. If we don’t have Haozhou’s support, we won’t be able to move an inch, let alone take Chaohu!”

With Liu Futong’s backing, Lady Golden Flower dared to contemplate turning the Chuzhou forces against each other, but Liu Yi saw no hope of success. “Sister Golden Flower, we need to break them from within—after all, they have forty thousand elite armored soldiers!”

Even if Lady Golden Flower could seize the Chaohu navy, she would have no more than ten thousand men. What’s more, the Chaohu navy was a jumble of all sorts, nothing like the veteran Gu family army of Chuzhou.

These days, Liu Yi’s predictions had been uncannily accurate—he seemed to strategize from a thousand miles away. Lady Golden Flower trusted him completely. “If Xiao Yi says we need to break them from within, then we’ll do as you say. Let’s think carefully—how should we go about it? Xiao Yi, do you have any ideas?”

In truth, Liu Yi was at a loss. Reaching this point was already the limit of his abilities. The thought of facing a warlord like Zhu Yuanzhang head-on left him feeling far from confident.

Lady Golden Flower clearly noticed this and smiled radiantly. “Xiao Yi, once we reach Chuzhou, I’ll follow your lead!”

Her smile was like spring returning to the earth, instantly steadying Liu Yi’s nerves. Their conversation soon became lighthearted and filled with laughter, but such pleasant times could never last. “Lady Golden Flower, Chancellor Du requests your presence!”

Unlike ordinary Red Turban troops, this uninvited contingent was fully armed and exuded a fierce aura—it was obvious they were not to be trifled with. The leading cavalryman shouted, “Lady Golden Flower, don’t keep the Chancellor waiting! General Xiao Liu, you are summoned as well!”

Chancellor Du was none other than Du Zundao, the second-in-command of the Red Turban Army. Although the Dragon and Phoenix Emperor had yet to formally ascend the throne, it was already decided that Du Zundao would serve as chancellor, and so his subordinates didn’t hesitate to announce his title openly.

Unlike Liu Futong and Sheng Wenyu, Du Zundao’s name contained the character “Dao,” but he had never been a disciple of Han Shantong, nor did he believe in the prophecies of the Ming King’s birth or the tale of the “one-eyed stone man stirring the Yellow River to rebellion.”

On the contrary, he had once been an ambitious scholar. Before the world descended into chaos, he had petitioned the Yuan court to open military examinations, hoping to gather the wise and the brave to suppress the rebels. The court, recognizing his talent, appointed him as a secretary in the Privy Council.

Yet personal ambition could not withstand the tide of history. The more capable Du Zundao was, the harder it became for him to survive in the Privy Council, controlled as it was by Mongols and Semu people. Even after resigning and going into seclusion, the Mongol lords continued to suspect him, always believing he was in league with the rebels.

Life grew ever more difficult for Du Zundao, and in the end, this very scholar—who had first petitioned the Yuan to crush the rebels—joined the Red Turbans himself, becoming the top enemy in the Mongol court’s eyes.

Because of this history, Du Zundao had always been at odds with Red Turban veterans like Liu Futong and Sheng Wenyu. Yet in terms of ability, vision, and strategy, he was the first among the Red Turbans and thus acted with absolute confidence.

Lady Golden Flower, though Liu Futong’s favorite and a key figure in the coming enthronement ceremony, still had to show Du Zundao ample respect. “Since the Chancellor requests us, it is my honor. Xiao Yi, let’s go together!”

Within Haozhou city, Du Zundao had commandeered two large residences and a grand estate with a Suzhou-style garden outside the east gate. It was in this refined villa that he received Lady Golden Flower and Liu Yi.

Pavilions and towers, streams murmuring, peach blossoms in full bloom, and the lushness of spring—within the estate, there was no sign of the chaos of the times. Occasionally, a few stately and beautiful ladies could be glimpsed.

Lady Golden Flower and Liu Yi never let down their guard. In recent days they had heard many tales of Du Zundao—this Chancellor Du had once drawn his sword and killed a man right in front of Liu Futong and Sheng Wenyu; dealing with two newcomers like themselves would be effortless for him.

Yet the man they finally met was a pale-faced scholar. Chancellor Du received them in a study filled with volumes of history—Records of the Grand Historian, Book of Han, Records of the Three Kingdoms, and Comprehensive Mirror to Aid in Government. “Please, sit. I’ve long heard of Lady Golden Flower’s renown.”

Lady Golden Flower sat without ceremony, bringing Liu Yi with her. “Lady Golden Flower greets the Chancellor. May I ask what urgent business brings us here?”

Du Zundao’s manner seemed gentle, but every word carried weight. “This young man is your strategist, Master Liu? Master Liu, it was I who decided the appointments at the Chuzhou Supreme Marshal’s Office.”

With just those simple words, Lady Golden Flower involuntarily stood up, but before she could speak, Liu Yi interrupted. “Chancellor, my sister and I are determined to take control of the Chaohu navy. These mariners are all her disciples and former subordinates. That’s precisely why the traitor Xu put her in charge—no one should expect us to hand over Chaohu.”

Lady Golden Flower hadn’t expected Liu Yi to challenge Du Zundao so directly at their first meeting. Each of Liu Yi’s words was like a sharpened blade, and she declared resolutely, “Chancellor, we can discuss other matters, but on the subject of Chaohu, there is no room for compromise.”

Du Zundao calmly stated a simple fact. “It seems you’re both quite confident. But let me tell you: in this world, there has never been anyone who wrecked my plans and lived to tell the tale!”