Chapter 112: Dispatching the Troops

Though Zhang Shicheng indulged in lavish pleasures upon entering Pingjiang City, at his core he remained the ruthless smuggler who once wiped out an entire family over a few carts of salt. He immediately grasped the true key to victory.

Zhang Shide also came to a realization: “Changzhou absolutely cannot be conceded to Jiqing. If Changzhou falls, Jiangyin will be in danger too!”

Only moments before, he had been fantasizing about sweeping through Zhejiang East and West Routes with unstoppable force, then leveraging the unlimited resources of the entire Jiangsu and Zhejiang provinces to crush the Chuzhou Red Turbans. But Zhu Yuanzhang clearly would not allow them such an opportunity.

Zhang Shixin was still somewhat doubtful: “Zhu Yuanzhang wouldn’t dispatch troops to Changzhou so quickly, would he? His real threat is the Chaohu navy, not us. What would he gain from a mutually devastating fight with us?”

But Zhang Shicheng, embodying the essence of a cunning warlord, said: “As soon as the court recalls Prime Minister Taiping, Zhu Yuanzhang will definitely launch an attack on Changzhou. Both he and Liu Yi fly the dragon and phoenix banners—it’s impossible for him to let us have an advantage now. He will send troops to Changzhou!”

Although Zhu Yuanzhang and Liu Yi appeared locked in bitter enmity, determined to annihilate each other, they maintained a tense but unbroken balance. Both understood clearly that if Zhang Shicheng were allowed to expand unchecked, taking control of Zhejiang East and West Routes and the Chuzhou Red Turbans, their own defeat was inevitable.

With this in mind, Zhang Shicheng immediately made a decision: “Shide, Changzhou is yours! Lead the army there at once. No matter the circumstances, Changzhou must be ours!”

He added: “If Changzhou has already fallen, you are responsible for reclaiming it. If you fail, I will personally do it. I won’t tolerate it—no mere Zhu Yuanzhang can outmatch the forty thousand troops of Prime Minister Tuotu!”

Zhu Yuanzhang’s reaction was much as Zhang Shicheng anticipated, yet he made an unusually bold decision: “Commander Tang, Changzhou is entrusted to you. I know there have been many criticisms lately, but since I’ve placed Changzhou in your hands, I trust you can capture it!”

Though Tang He had always been the one to understand Zhu Yuanzhang’s mind best, at this moment he truly felt a surge of loyalty and determination: “Old Zhu, rest assured—I will help you take Changzhou without fail. There will be no problems. But you’ll need to urge Zhenjiang a little more!”

This time, Zhu Yuanzhang not only entrusted Tang He with the vital mission of taking Changzhou but also transferred several of the most powerful battalion commanders under Tang’s command. Tang He could not refuse to serve loyally.

Still, Tang He knew taking Changzhou would not be easy. Though willing to sacrifice everything, if the Chaohu navy in Zhenjiang didn’t send reinforcements, the whole endeavor might be nothing but a fleeting illusion. Zhu Yuanzhang grasped Tang He’s hand warmly and said, “Commander Tang, you need no further instructions. I’ve already spoken with Chaohu; they will fully cooperate with your assault on Changzhou. They may ask for conditions, but they must support you wholeheartedly!”

Though the Jiqing army had been rapidly expanding its territory through relentless campaigns east and west, Zhu Yuanzhang understood that aside from Zhang Shicheng, no other enemy mattered. He sent Tang He, his trusted comrade, to conquer Changzhou not only because Tang was reliable but for deeper reasons: “Old Tang, fight with all your might. I, Zhu Yuanzhang, and Zhenjiang will be your strongest backing. For every soldier lost, I will replace them. If you cannot advance, I will personally lead troops to support you. Our Chuzhou army will come to the fore, and Zhenjiang will be no exception!”

Zhu Yuanzhang had already prepared to personally campaign for Changzhou. Regardless of Tang He’s success or failure, Zhu knew Changzhou must be taken. If Zhang Shicheng seized the entire Zhejiang East and West Routes, the Chuzhou army would be no match for him. He told Tang He clearly: “Old Tang, you focus on winning on the battlefield. I will handle Zhenjiang and other matters for you!”

He was confident the Chaohu navy would fully mobilize to support Tang He.

Liu Yi would not miss this chance.

His judgment proved remarkably accurate. Though the Chaohu navy had not yet fully secured its footing in Zhenjiang, upon hearing the news that Yuan Ting had recalled He Weiyi, the Chaohu fleet frequently dispatched warships downstream. After receiving Zhu Yuanzhang’s personal letter, Liu Yi explicitly informed Li Shanchang, who had rushed to Zhenjiang: “Mr. Li, rest assured. Before you arrived, I had already ordered Li Pusheng to be on standby. Since you are here, regardless of what Zhu’s letter says, I have instructed him to launch a full-scale eastward offensive immediately!”

Before coming, Li Shanchang had prepared a host of earnest conditions, but no one expected that before even presenting Zhu Yuanzhang’s letter, Liu Yi had already resolved to send troops. Naturally, since Liu Yi was cooperating so fully, he demanded a few more concessions: “Judge Liu, Zhu Tongqian’s demands are not merely for Marshal Li Pusheng to deploy forces!”

The Longfeng Court had recently renamed Jiqing Road as Yingtian Prefecture and established the Jiangnan Mobile Military Council there, appointing Zhu Yuanzhang as “Co-Director of the Mobile Military Council.” Though Zhu was not entirely pleased with this arrangement, he accepted the court’s appointment and stationed the Military Council’s branch office in Zhenjiang, with Liu Yi serving as its judge.

Liu Yi was also dissatisfied with the Longfeng Court’s arrangement. After all, the Mobile Military Council’s hierarchy placed the director at the top, followed by co-directors, deputies, and then judges, making his position somewhat awkward. But the court’s appointments followed the Yuan Dynasty structure—though the titles of co-director and judge seemed like fourth- and fifth-rank officials, they wielded true command authority, often surpassing many second- and third-rank officials.

Thus, Liu Yi had no choice but to accept the somewhat peculiar title of “Judicial Officer of Jiangnan and Other Regions’ Mobile Military Council Zhenjiang Branch,” and he gladly embraced the new appellation “Judge Liu.” “Mr. Li, tell me everything Zhu Tongqian’s letter says,” he said.

Though the letter was from Zhu Yuanzhang himself, Liu Yi’s concern focused solely on the conditions proposed by Zhu and the Jiqing faction. Li Shanchang spoke bluntly: “Zhu Tongqian must now guard Jiqing and cannot lead the campaign personally, so he requests Judge Liu to oversee the Yangtze military affairs. All water fortresses along the route will be defended by the Zhenjiang branch!”