Chapter 111: On the Brink of Explosion

Xu Tijü could not comprehend He Weiyi’s worry at all. “Prime Minister, if Jianghuai is in turmoil, it will only benefit the court, not harm it!”

In the past, unrest in Jianghuai was catastrophic news for the Yuan dynasty since Jianghuai was the source of war. But now, the situation was entirely different. Jianghuai was nearly all controlled by Zhang Shicheng, Liu Futong, Zhu Yuanzhang, Zhao Junyong, and the Chaohu bandits, with even Yangzhou on the verge of falling.

If these wandering bandits in Jianghuai turned on each other, the court would undoubtedly rejoice, perhaps even use the opportunity to pacify one or two bandit leaders.

Yet He Weiyi’s voice bore a trace of weariness: “If I return north to Jining, these bandits will surely fight amongst themselves. Within three to five months, this will be good for the court. But when the dust settles and a victor emerges, I fear great calamity will befall the court.”

He understood all this clearly. The He family of Jingzhao descended from Kublai Khan’s imperial guards, generations known for unwavering loyalty to the court’s orders. Thus, He Weiyi could only give a bitter smile: “I don’t know which of these Jianghuai bandits will be the last to laugh—Zhang Shicheng, Han Lin’er, Zhao Junyong, or Liu Futong.”

He did not include the Chaohu navy or Liu Yi in this reckoning.

When Zhang Shicheng received the news, he nearly kicked off his shoes in shock. “Prime Minister Taiping is leaving? How can that be? Why choose this critical moment to go?”

Zhang Shicheng was currently residing in the Prince of Zhou’s mansion, a temporary station but the most luxurious in Pingjiang (Suzhou) city, a lavish transformation of Wu Zicheng’s former residence, adorned with countless golden and jade treasures. Upon moving in, he felt utterly reluctant to leave.

Gold and silver jewels, female musicians and jeweled hairpins, qin and chess, calligraphy and painting, swift horses and fancy carriages, pavilions and terraces, carved railings and jade steps—all imaginable luxuries filled the Prince of Zhou’s mansion.

For Zhang Shicheng, a former illicit salt trader, everything he had ever dreamed or imagined was here. Were it not for the news of Taiping’s northward departure, he felt he could live out his days in this mansion without a care.

Originally, Zhang Shicheng had been filled with determination to make a grand conquest. He had secured Changzhou Prefecture, Jiangyin Prefecture, and Pingjiang Circuit. The next steps were to capture Songjiang Prefecture, Jiaxing Circuit, Huzhou Circuit, and Hangzhou Circuit, thereby conquering both Eastern and Western Zhejiang.

The decadent splendor of Pingjiang made Zhang Shicheng nearly lose his bearings. If he could gain control of Eastern and Western Zhejiang, he believed he would have no further ambitions. Songjiang and Hangzhou were even more prosperous than Pingjiang; capturing such prime territories would leave him completely satisfied.

But no one expected that at this critical juncture, He Taiping, left prime minister of Huainan province and head of the Yangzhou Military Council, would suddenly decide to return north to the capital. Though Taiping had achieved almost nothing during his tenure in Yangzhou, and the three rebel forces—including Zhang Shicheng’s—were sweeping through Jiangsu and Zhejiang provinces like a storm, Zhang Shicheng clearly understood what Taiping’s departure signified. “The court no longer wants Jianghuai. What are we to do next?”

Though he had proclaimed himself emperor and donned the dragon robe, Zhang Shicheng’s mindset had not shifted; he still spoke of “the court” as if he remained a Yuan subject. His brother Zhang Shide’s perspective was quite different: “What else can we do? Naturally, seize the opportunity to forge our empire!”

While He Weiyi had accomplished nothing in Yangzhou, his presence there meant the Yuan court would not abandon its southern campaign, continuously dispatching large armies southward.

Though they miraculously defeated Prime Minister Tuo Tuo’s 400,000-strong army beneath Gaoyou City, the word “miracle” implied countless hardships, betrayals, and setbacks—experiences Zhang Shicheng did not wish to endure again.

As long as He Weiyi remained stationed in Yangzhou, it meant the court had not given up on reclaiming Jianghuai and Jiangsu-Zhejiang. Armies under Chahan and Li Siqi could join the Jianghuai battlefield at any time. Thus, Zhu Yuanzhang, Zhang Shicheng, Liu Yi, and the Jiangxi Red Turbans maintained an extremely fragile alliance.

Though this alliance could shatter at any moment and border disputes were countless, as long as He Weiyi held Yangzhou, Zhang Shicheng could confidently manage Eastern and Western Zhejiang. After capturing Pingjiang Circuit, he was fully focused on conquering Songjiang Prefecture. No one expected He Weiyi would leave at this moment.

“Shide, who doesn’t want to build a great empire? But since the court has recalled Prime Minister Taiping, Jianghuai will no doubt be troubled. Zhu Yuanzhang and Liu Yi will surely covet the rich lands of Zhejiang!”

Though Zhang Shicheng had previously agreed with Zhu Yuanzhang to divide the Jiangsu-Zhejiang province and even secretly conspired to eliminate the Chaohu navy together, all such agreements were meaningless. Now that the court had recalled He Weiyi, the situation would surely change dramatically.

But Zhang Shixin was less pessimistic: “Big brother, don’t rush. The Chuzhou Red Turbans and Chaohu navy are not of the same faction. I reckon once He Weiyi leaves, Zhu Yuanzhang and Liu Yi will fight each other first!”

As Zhang Shicheng’s envoy, Zhang Shixin had personally visited Taiping Road and understood well that though the Chuzhou Red Turbans and Chaohu navy flew the same banner, they were bitter enemies. Zhu Yuanzhang intended to use Zhang Shicheng to suppress the Chaohu navy. He believed that after He Weiyi’s recall, the Chuzhou and Chaohu forces would likely annihilate each other, and he could simply watch from the sidelines.

Though Zhang Shicheng had been lost in the splendor of the Prince of Zhou’s mansion, this former salt smuggler had a remarkably sharp intuition. “No matter how much the Chaohu navy stirs trouble, they still carry the dragon and phoenix banner. Besides, they only hold a small territory. How could they challenge Zhu Yuanzhang? I’m sure they will turn to us in the end!”

Though Zhang Shicheng had conquered Jiangyin Prefecture, Pingjiang Circuit, and Changzhou Circuit, and prepared to seize all of Zhejiang, he had just crossed the river and was not yet firmly established. He was a prime target for Zhu Yuanzhang and Liu Yi.

Zhang Shide’s view was similar: “We must be prepared. Songjiang, Huzhou, Hangzhou, and Jiaxing must be taken, but Jiqing and Zhenjiang will surely strike against us. We need a backup plan...”

Before Zhang Shide could finish, Zhang Shicheng suddenly leapt up. “No, Changzhou is in danger!”