Chapter Eleven: Du Yishan

A superior always hopes his subordinates and allies are both capable and united, yet Guo’s army was so overwhelmingly competent and cohesive that not even a needle could be wedged into Haozhou—this was a source of vexation for both Liu Futong and Du Zundao. In stark contrast, Lady Jinhua was a complete outsider to the Han-Song regime, with an unremarkable record and little connection to either the Chaohu navy or Guo’s forces. Assigning her to capture Chaohu was, therefore, the ideal choice.

For this reason, Du Zundao even offered Lady Jinhua some pointed advice: “Grand Marshals Guo, Zhang, and Zhu of Chuzhou are pillars of our Song. After you seize Chaohu, you must work closely with them, and proceed swiftly across the river to take Jiqing!”

Lady Jinhua and Liu Yi immediately sensed the plan was set in motion. Liu Yi seized the opportunity: “Prime Minister, once we take Jinling, what should our next step be? Should we advance east along the river to Jiangzhou, Changzhou, and Suzhou, or strike first at Hangzhou and Jiaxing, or perhaps move upriver?”

Du Zundao had mulled over this question countless times and already had a comprehensive plan: “Once Jinling is recovered, our first priority must be to relocate the capital. If we can establish our nation there, we can hold the river line, advancing and retreating at will. Alas, our Song still has too many peasants for this to be easily achieved, and so my ambitions may be for naught…”

Though he lamented, Du Zundao, long suppressed by veterans like Liu Futong and Sheng Wenyu, could not contain himself once he began: “Once Jinling falls, we must press our advantage and immediately take Zhenjiang, Changzhou, Suzhou, and Songjiang. Hangzhou and Jiaxing will fall into our hands in due course…”

As he spoke of strategy in the south, Du Zundao became even more animated: “Jiangxi can wait, for it’s Xu Shouhui’s stronghold of many years. Before fully securing the south, we must not act rashly there. But if we consolidate eastern and western Zhejiang, then we can advance upriver!”

Lady Jinhua and Liu Yi made excellent listeners, nodding in agreement and voicing their approval, prompting Du Zundao to elaborate even further. When he finally paused, they began to ask about specific details, drawing him out: “Marshal Jinhua, General Xiao Liu, once His Majesty’s enthronement ceremony concludes, you must make haste for the south.”

Among the Red Turban commanders, only Du Zundao advocated an all-out southern campaign, and so he placed great hopes on Lady Jinhua and Liu Yi: “In the past, General Xiang Puliang commanded only a few hundred veterans, yet he took Jiangzhou and Rao-Xin, then captured Hangzhou and Quzhou, and campaigned in Changzhou and Jiangyin. Now, with the elite forces of Chuzhou and Chaohu at our disposal, the south is nearly ours. I already have plans: once Jinling is taken, we shall rename it Yingtian Prefecture…”

Liu Yi knew that the “Xiang Puliang” Du Zundao referred to was a general under Xu Shouhui and Peng Yingyu. Though little known in other histories due to his early death, he was a formidable figure.

In the twelfth year of Zhizheng, Xiang Puliang led his men from Hubei on a campaign into Jiangsu and Zhejiang. With only a few hundred loyal White Lotus followers and several thousand conscripted, starving peasants, he advanced like a rolling snowball—gaining strength with each victory. He first captured Jiujiang and Nankang, then swiftly took Raozhou, Xinzhou, Wuyuan, and Huizhou.

While the Yuan army concentrated its main force to counterattack Jiangxi, Xiang Puliang struck where they least expected, breaking through Yuling Pass and then capturing Hangzhou and Quzhou. His rapid maneuvers soon took Guangde, Changzhou, Yixing, and Danyang. Though he ultimately fell short at the final battle of Jiqing and perished, in a single year he had seized more than forty key cities and destroyed at least one hundred thousand of the enemy’s main force.

Xiang Puliang’s brilliant campaign convinced Du Zundao that the southern strategy was ideal. Thus, not only did he personally see Lady Jinhua off, but he also assigned Du Yishan, a commander of a thousand, to accompany her south to Chaohu: “Yishan, do your utmost this time—don’t bring disgrace to our Du family. Marshal Jinhua, when dealing with Guo Tianshu, let Yishan handle the introductions.”

Though not yet twenty, Du Yishan had sharp eyes, steady steps, and spoke with clarity—a shrewd and capable young officer. “Marshal Jinhua, General Xiao Liu, as for Chaohu, let me take care of Guo Tianshu and Zhang Tianyou. They’re old friends of mine.”

For reasons she could not name, Lady Jinhua suddenly recalled Liu Yi’s earlier advice: “And what about Deputy Marshal Zhu Yuanzhang—how will you handle him?”

Du Yishan replied with composure, “Deputy Marshal Zhu is indeed a challenge, but since my uncle assigned us to Chaohu, it shouldn’t be a problem. Still, to deal with Zhu Yuanzhang, it’s best to let Grand Marshals Guo and Zhang take the lead. Leave that to me.”

As Du Zundao’s nephew—though only a kinsman, not a direct descendant—he naturally ranked above Du’s adopted sons, and had even led the central army’s hundred-household unit.

If Du Zundao had not placed such importance on the southern campaign, he would never have sent Du Yishan south.

Du Yishan brought three hundred troops. Even in the former Yuan regular army, three hundred men could barely make up a thousand-strong unit, but given the current chaos, three hundred well-equipped soldiers constituted a formidable force, and these men—complete with armor, weapons, and supplies—were elite among the Haozhou Red Turbans.

Yet Lady Jinhua originally had only about a hundred troops, and those hastily assembled. Du Yishan had no hesitation in seizing command.

Though he treated Lady Jinhua with some courtesy, Du Yishan barely acknowledged Liu Yi, let alone the lower officers Huo Qiu and Wen Qing: “Captain Huo, Captain Wen, matters like these will be your responsibility from now on. Fail, and don’t blame me for being harsh.”

He was a precocious young man, clearly aiming to sideline both Lady Jinhua and Liu Yi. At this, Lady Jinhua had to intervene: “Commander Du, you may handle Grand Marshal Guo and Deputy Marshal Zhu, but when it comes to household affairs, my brother will have the final say. Otherwise, we will appeal to His Majesty for judgment!”

Du Yishan had arrived intending to assert his authority, but did not expect Lady Jinhua to threaten a court appeal at once.

Everyone understood that Emperor Han Liner was little more than a figurehead, but his enthronement was still the immediate concern for the entire Ru-Ying Red Turban army. Any public quarrel before the throne would only end in mutual destruction. Thus, Du Yishan could only snap his riding crop: “Lady Jinhua, I urge you to think carefully. If you ruin my uncle’s plans, don’t blame me for being severe!”

Yet, as he was halfway through his gesture, a deep voice sounded—it was Liu Futong: “Du Yishan, His Majesty’s enthronement is the nation’s highest priority. If you act wantonly under Du Zundao’s name, I, Liu, will enforce military law.”

At this rebuke, Du Yishan instantly withdrew his riding crop and hurried to stand aside.