Chapter 108: Eastern and Western Zhejiang

Although Li Shanchang had been a loyal veteran by his side for many years, Zhu Yuanzhang increasingly felt that his capabilities were lacking, and he was always prone to acting on his own initiative. Consequently, Zhu Yuanzhang let out a cold snort: "What good news? It is clear that he intends to set up his own camp!"

While the Chaohu Navy had effectively become independent, Zhu Yuanzhang acknowledged the existence of the "Chaohu Marshal's Office" but refused to recognize a "Chaohu Grand Marshal's Office," insisting that the Chaohu forces remained a part of the Chuzhou Red Turbans.

However, even before the imperial edicts of the Longfeng regime had been issued, Liu Yi was already making waves by throwing around titles like "Branch Bureau of the Privy Council," "Branch Secretariat," and "Pacification Commissioner’s Marshal Office." If these titles were truly implemented, the Chaohu Navy would likely become lawless, showing absolutely no regard for Zhu Yuanzhang or his power base in Jiqing.

Had he not just captured Jiqing and failed to secure his footing, Zhu Yuanzhang would likely have immediately moved to suppress the Chaohu Navy by force. But prioritizing the big picture did not mean Zhu Yuanzhang would swallow his anger toward his own advisors: "You all need to think hard about how to handle Chaohu. They are our true hidden threat!"

Yet, unlike Zhu Yuanzhang, the civil and military officials present were unwilling to sever ties with Chaohu. Some even felt that Liu Yi and his forces possessed a sense of humanity. Xu Da, in particular, spoke bluntly: "Old Zhu, that is not the right way to put it. If Chaohu truly had no regard for Jiqing, they probably wouldn't have written specifically to consult us. Our enemy is not Chaohu, but Gaoyou!"

Although Chaohu operated as if independent, they were, after all, a part of the Chuzhou Red Turbans and still operated under the Longfeng banner. Zhang Shicheng, to the east, was entirely different. Given the current situation, a clash between Jiqing and Gaoyou was inevitable. Li Shanchang added earnestly: "As detestable as Chaohu may be, their ambitions extend no further than the prefecture of Zhenjiang. Zhang Shicheng, however, is a different story; he wants both the north and south of the Yangtze!"

After crossing the river, Zhang Shicheng had moved with unstoppable momentum across the south. Taking advantage of the decisive battle between the Chuzhou Red Turbans and the Yuan army in Jiangdong, he swept through most of the Changzhou, Jiangyin, and Pingjiang circuits, and was even preparing to seize the entire Zhejiang Province. Meanwhile, Zhang Shicheng’s forces north of the river were also recruiting heavily and accepting defectors, emboldened by their victories in the south.

In the eyes of most generals of the Left Camp, Zhang Shicheng was a far more terrifying opponent than Chaohu. The Chaohu Navy occupied only the city of Zhenjiang, and their territory was limited to the small Dantu County. While they held a small presence in Danyang and Jintan—also part of the Zhenjiang circuit—most of those areas remained under Zhu Yuanzhang’s control. Such an opponent was not worth fearing.

Among them, Tang He understood Zhu Yuanzhang best. Although Tang He did not want to cut ties with Chaohu either, he knew how to appease his leader: "Marshal Liu's actions are indeed improper, but we must not drive him into the arms of Zhang Shicheng. We should grant him a suitable title."

Tang He’s suggestion was well-framed. Furious as he was, Zhu Yuanzhang had to admit that Tang He made a valid point. If Liu Yi and the Chaohu Navy were truly pushed into Zhang Shicheng’s camp, it would be a massive headache, as Zhang Shicheng could then march on Jiqing at any moment. "Fine, when the imperial edict arrives, give him an appropriate title. But while we must offer a sweetener, we must also keep him in check. I only agreed to let Chaohu have Zhenjiang; I never intended to hand over Danyang and Jintan. He must relinquish those naval camps in Danyang and Jintan!"

The relationship between the Chuzhou Red Turbans and the Chaohu Navy could be described as "interlocking like teeth." The Chaohu Navy not only held numerous naval camps and territories in the original Zhenjiang circuit's Danyang and Jintan but also maintained camps in the Jiqing and Taiping circuits. These areas were predominantly controlled by the Chuzhou Red Turbans, so Zhu Yuanzhang had turned a blind eye, but he could not tolerate the Chaohu Navy encroaching upon the entire Zhenjiang circuit.

Yet, this "interlocking" situation was precisely why the Chuzhou officials and generals were reluctant to resort to violence. It was not a bad thing that the Chaohu Navy controlled Zhenjiang; in fact, it was beneficial. As long as Chaohu held Zhenjiang, they would fight Zhang Shicheng with all their might. Furthermore, these naval camps and territories deep within Chuzhou-controlled zones served as hostages. As long as this interlocking status quo was maintained, Chaohu would not dare to break away and act alone.

Under these circumstances, what harm was there in granting Zhenjiang a title like "Branch Secretariat" or "Branch Bureau of the Privy Council"? After all, apart from the waterways, Liu Yi held little more than Dantu County. It was because he understood this logic that Li Shanchang advised: "Marshal, I believe our top priority is to have Chaohu advance eastward with all their strength. Once they are fighting Zhang Shicheng, everything else will be easier to manage!"

Zhu Yuanzhang shook his head repeatedly: "I have already signed a mutual defense pact with Gaoyou; how can I break my word now? Besides, the Yuan Chancellor He Taiping is stationed in Yangzhou, and his massive army could move south at any time. If we kill each other now, wouldn't we just be a laughingstock to the Tatars?"

Although a warlord like Zhu Yuanzhang could flip his position as easily as turning a page, the true reason he dared not break with Zhang Shicheng was the presence of He Taiping, the Left Chancellor of the Huainan Branch Secretariat, in Yangzhou.

Though He Taiping had been idle in Yangzhou, doing virtually nothing, the very title of "Left Chancellor" carried immense weight.

In the Yuan Dynasty, a Branch Secretariat usually did not appoint a Left Chancellor, only Left and Right Vice-Chancellors or Assistant Administrators. A Left Chancellor stationed in a province signified a supreme battlefield commander. In reality, He Taiping was the supreme commander of the entire southeastern theater, yet for reasons no one could fathom, he remained inactive.

As long as He Taiping remained in Yangzhou, Zhu Yuanzhang dared not turn against Zhang Shicheng. Even though He Taiping had only brought a thousand elite personal guards south, there were tens of thousands of elite Yuan troops in the Jining region ready to move south at any time.

Since he dared not break with Zhang Shicheng, Zhu Yuanzhang could only vent his frustration on Liu Yi and the Chaohu Navy, but this was difficult to articulate, leading to the current stalemate.

However, the moment Zhu Yuanzhang mentioned He Taiping, the Chuzhou generals became even more eager to speak up for Liu Yi: "Marshal, our pact with Gaoyou does not prevent Chaohu from launching a major offensive to the east. If Chaohu does not move, those territories to our east and south will surely be swallowed up by Zhang Shicheng!"

This was the greatest point of contention between the Chuzhou officials and Zhu Yuanzhang. Li Shanchang spoke even more bluntly: "Marshal, regardless of what He Taiping intends in Yangzhou, we must seize the circuits of Eastern and Western Zhejiang. They must not be handed to Zhang Shicheng. Even if it causes us some inconvenience, we must let Chaohu lead the vanguard!"

Xu Da, the top general of the Chuzhou army, held the same view: "He is only one He Taiping. Even if he weren't idle in Yangzhou—even if he had a hundred thousand troops at his command—we must still take Eastern and Western Zhejiang. We cannot surrender such prime territory to Zhang Shicheng!"