Chapter 119: The Beauty

At present, Dashitie Muer was completely without troops. Although he knew that the barbarian Haiya and the Chaohu Navy behind him harbored ill intentions, he had no forces to deploy. To salvage this dire situation, he was prepared to do whatever it took.

Not to mention cooperating with the Chaohu Navy, even if the chief culprits Han Lin’er and Xu Shouhui sought to surrender, Dashitie Muer would readily accept. Moreover, the Chaohu Navy and Liu Yi, the judge of the academy, were “not without faults,” but merely “forced into coercion.” Whether it was surrender or cooperation, it was a perfect solution. He could easily turn a blind eye; as long as the Chaohu Navy engaged Zhang Shicheng and Yang Wanzhe fiercely in Songjiang Prefecture, he would even be willing to petition on Liu Yi’s behalf for commendation.

Guo Yuyu, however, was somewhat dissatisfied. “Only a thousand spearmen? That won’t do. At least fifteen hundred are needed to ensure a coordinated land and water advance with absolute confidence!”

Although Liu Yi had not disclosed the specific plan, as his confidante, Guo Yuyu had a general understanding. She knew Liu Yi intended to take Songjiang Prefecture via the Yangtze River, while Haiya the barbarian planned to pass through Hangjia. With fifteen hundred troops, the Chaohu Navy’s chances of capturing Songjiang Prefecture would increase by thirty percent.

For the current Chaohu Navy, fifteen hundred troops would not be crippling, especially since many were former Yuan prisoners unwilling to surrender. Success in this endeavor could skyrocket their fortunes. Haiya smiled, saying, “I knew this matter had to be discussed with you, madam. Then we shall see how Zhang Shicheng deals with a coordinated land and water assault!”

Regardless of whether the Chaohu Navy launched operations in Songjiang Prefecture, Zhang Shide was already overwhelmed. “Wasn’t it said that the Chaohu Navy and the Chuzhou Red Turbans were bitter enemies, always ready to clash? So why did Liu Yi rush out as soon as the fighting began?”

Zhang Shide felt confident against Tang He, but once the Chaohu Navy from Zhenjiang appeared, the situation reversed. Tang He’s forces only had a few small boats, whereas the Chaohu Navy was the strongest fleet on the Yangtze. This alone was enough to give Zhang Shide a headache, not to mention Liu Yi’s competent land forces.

Tang He’s troops were initially retreating, but once Liu Yi’s battle flag was raised, the Red Turbans’ morale soared. They regrouped and even dared to counterattack. If the struggle continued, a stalemate was likely.

Yet Zhang’s general Li Bosheng was optimistic. “No worries. Judging by the current situation, the Chaohu Navy will soon withdraw. As long as Liu Yi pulls back, Jiqing won’t be a threat.”

Li Bosheng had come to understand the situation. The reason Zhu Yuanzhang struggled despite all his efforts to subdue Liu Yi and the Chaohu Navy was not because Liu Yi possessed extraordinary abilities, but because the Chuzhou Red Turbans depended heavily on the Chaohu Navy. The Battle of Changzhou had almost crippled the Red Turbans due to the lack of full support from the Chaohu Navy. Although Liu Yi’s personal campaign had changed the tide, Li Bosheng believed Liu Yi would not risk the entire Chaohu Navy, given his conflict with Zhu Yuanzhang.

Once the Chaohu Navy withdrew, the situation would shift again. If they could not handle a united Chaohu Navy and Chuzhou Red Turbans, surely dealing with Zhu Yuanzhang alone would be no problem. But Zhang Shide had a different view: “I know Liu Yi’s campaign won’t last long; he will eventually return to Zhenjiang. But can we place all our hopes on the Chaohu Navy doing nothing? At this critical moment, if Chaohu suddenly attacks, are we just to wait for death?”

Li Bosheng found Zhang Shide’s words reasonable. Though everyone expected conflict between Liu Yi and Zhu Yuanzhang, currently neither could do without the other. This was Zhang Shicheng’s dilemma: pressing Zhu Yuanzhang might force Liu Yi out, but pushing Liu Yi too hard would likewise provoke Zhu Yuanzhang. So he concluded, “It seems the key to victory between us and Zhu Yuanzhang is Zhenjiang. If we win over Zhenjiang, all problems can be solved!”

Li Bosheng thought he had struck upon a brilliant idea, but Zhang Shide frowned. “Win over Zhenjiang? With what? Should we just give Changzhou and Jiangyin to Zhenjiang?”

Only then did Li Bosheng and Zhang Shixin realize that although Zhang Shicheng’s faction fundamentally conflicted with Zhu Yuanzhang’s, there was also little room for reconciliation with the Chaohu Navy in Zhenjiang. The Chaohu Navy controlled only a small territory and could not completely sever ties with Zhu Yuanzhang’s forces on Jiqing Road. To expand, they had to seize land eastward from Zhang Shicheng’s faction.

If Liu Yi found the chance, he would surely launch a strong attack eastward on Changzhou and Jiangyin. Li Bosheng was troubled. “Then what do we do? Just let Liu Yi take advantage of us?”

Zhang Shide steadied himself. “He won’t get away with taking advantage so easily. Now that Changzhou is in our hands, no one will wrest it away!”

At this moment, Zhu Yuanzhang was furious. “Is our Chuzhou so helpless without the navy? Marshal Tang is an experienced veteran; why did he retreat so easily? Even if he loses, he should have fallen back to Yingtian, not called for aid from Zhenjiang!”

Although Tang He was no longer on the battlefield, someone spoke up in his defense. “Marshal Tang suffered setbacks at Changzhou this time, but he acted according to Master Tongqian’s instructions and preserved his troops.”

“To act according to Master Tongqian’s instructions” was an irrefutable argument, and “preserving the troops” was indisputable as well. Tang He had many flaws, but Zhu Yuanzhang could never find fault with him on these points. “Yes, Marshal Tang did preserve the troops and followed my orders. Some setbacks are nothing. By the way, where is Judge Liu now?”

“Judge Liu, after helping Marshal Tang regroup the troops, has decided to return to Zhenjiang. What are Master Tongqian’s instructions?”

Everyone expected Zhu Yuanzhang to fly into a rage upon hearing this, but instead, his reaction was unusually calm. “Send him a few of the finest beauties and tell him I intend to reclaim Changzhou Prefecture!”