Chapter Fifty-Five: Shao Six

Liu Yi had only spoken offhand, but Lady Golden Flower immediately caught on: “That’s right, why haven’t we seen Commander-in-Chief Du or the two deputy commanders? If they couldn’t come themselves, at the very least they should have sent someone to greet us.” Guo Tianxu, Zhang Tianyou, and Zhu Yuanzhang had gone to great lengths to bring Liu Yi across the river. Now that he had finally arrived, even if they couldn’t come in person, they should have sent gifts and someone to welcome him. Yet here Liu Yi was, about to dine, and there had been not a word from the three commanders of the Marshal’s Mansion. Zhao Pusheng realized this too: “Exactly! Our general is the commander-in-chief’s brother-in-law. At the very least, the proper courtesies should be observed by Du. We need to get to the bottom of this.”

Lady Golden Flower quickly added, “General, this is our territory. Even if Zhu Yuanzhang wants to cause trouble, he’ll have to think twice about where he is!”

The riverbank forts belonged to the Lake Chao Navy, which, after taking over these strongholds, had been recruiting and now had nearly a thousand sailors. Alongside Liu Yi were several thousand armored troops led by Ma Shixiong and Chang Shan. If Zhu Yuanzhang wanted to turn hostile, it would not be easy.

But as soon as she spoke, Sun Yuerong began to understand the difficulties Liu Yi had mentioned on the boat: “It’s not just the river that understands my husband; I can see his hardships as well. Since this is the Guo family’s foundation, my husband naturally wishes only to protect himself. Yet, the more one tries to preserve oneself, the harder it becomes.”

In truth, Sun Yuerong was painting Liu Yi in a noble light. By now, Liu Yi felt utterly at a loss, desperate to find out where the three commanders had gone.

But neither Zhao Pusheng, Li Pusheng, Liao Yong’an, nor Yu Tonghai could explain why none of them had come. Fortunately, the Lake Chao Navy had made friends after joining the Chuzhou Army. Liao Yongzhong soon got wind of the situation from a familiar captain: “The commander-in-chief and the two deputy commanders were originally meant to welcome the general across the river, but for some reason, they suddenly headed toward Jiqing Road!”

Toward Jiqing Road? Liu Yi was instantly alarmed.

“Bring Shao Four and Shao Six here at once!”

Shao Four and Shao Six were commanders under Zhang Tianyou. Shao Six was, in another timeline, Shao Rong, who had achieved great merit in the founding of Ming but ultimately died unknown by the executioner’s blade. In Ming dynasty records, Shao Rong’s name is often omitted or replaced by Xu Da; if mentioned at all, he is referred to only as “Marshal Shao” or “Shao so-and-so,” leading some to lament that “the figure of Marshal Shao Six is now lost to history.”

Yet Shao Rong is an unavoidable figure in the history of Ming’s founding. Some believe he was not only Zhu Yuanzhang’s chief general but even his chief marshal, his status second only to Zhu Yuanzhang and perhaps above that of Xu Da and Tang He. For now, however, Shao Rong was just a commander under Zhang Tianyou. Upon hearing that Liu Yi was urgently seeking him, Shao Rong arrived immediately: “Marshal of Lake Chao, I hear you’re looking for me? My brother’s out.”

Liu Yi was blunt: “Shao Six, tell me the truth. I went to great effort to cross the river, but haven’t seen Commander-in-Chief Du, Deputy Commander Zhang, or Deputy Commander Zhu. Where did they go? If you dare lie, don’t blame me for being ruthless!”

Liu Yi’s words were full of menace, and so were the faces of the Lake Chao Navy officers present. Shao Rong, wise as he was, answered, “The commander-in-chief and Commander Zhang have gone to meet Commander Chen Yexian.”

Liu Yi nearly cursed aloud. “What did you say? Guo Tianxu and Zhang Tianyou have gone to see Chen Yexian?”

Though Shao Rong was a notable figure in the Chuzhou Army, his brother Shao Four often stole the spotlight, so Shao Rong kept a low profile and ranked far below Liu Yi. He could only tell the truth:

“Chen Yexian said that Chen Zhaoxian is willing to hand over his twenty thousand armored troops, so the commander-in-chief and Commander Zhang have gone to take command of them.”

For the Red Turban Army in Chuzhou, good news had come in quick succession: first, Marshal Liu of Lake Chao brought thousands of elite troops across the river, and the navy was preparing to blockade Jiqing City from the water. Meanwhile, Xie Guoxi had once again raised the Dragon and Phoenix banner of the Han-Song Red Turban Army, making the fall of Jiqing City seem imminent.

Under such pressure, Chen Zhaoxian had suddenly offered to surrender all his forces, and his father, Chen Yexian, already in Red Turban custody, promised full cooperation. For Guo Tianxu and Zhang Tianyou, this was a heaven-sent opportunity.

Although Liu Yi’s arrival would certainly shift the balance in Jiangdong, and despite the fact that the Lake Chao Navy was closer to Guo Tianxu and Zhang Tianyou both emotionally and through ties, the navy was ultimately Liu Yi’s and Lady Golden Flower’s private army. Only troops under their direct command could be fully trusted and used at will. Shao Rong revealed Guo Tianxu and Zhang Tianyou’s true thoughts: “My commanders said that since Xie Guoxi has raised the Dragon and Phoenix banner, Chen Zhaoxian has no choice but to surrender. They must seize this opportunity!”

Though Liu Yi had played out countless scenarios in his mind after crossing the river, in this moment he felt as if the sky was falling. “Damn it!”

The first to react was Sun Yuerong, the strategist: “Husband, do you think Commander-in-Chief Du and Commander Zhang are in danger?”

Liu Yi could only force a bitter smile. “If anything, I should thank Lady Ma. Had she not persuaded me to cross the river, I would now be powerless in the north. At least here, I can take some remedial action. This is what I meant when I said I don’t seek total victory—only not to be defeated. But now, not being defeated is a castle in the air, an illusion. The best I can hope for is to avoid utter, irrecoverable disaster.”

Liu Yi’s pessimism made everyone tense. Then Sun Yuerong suddenly asked, “Since Commander Guo and Commander Zhang have gone to accept the surrender, where is Commander Zhu? He didn’t go too, did he? And if he didn’t, why hasn’t he come to see our marshal?”