Chapter Fifty-Seven: Reinforcements

Where has Zhu Yuanzhang gone?

If Sun Yue Rong hadn’t brought it up, Liu Yi might have forgotten this detail entirely. “Where did Marshal Zhu go? How is it that as soon as I crossed the river, all three marshals of our headquarters disappeared?”

Since no one present could explain where Guo Tianxu and Zhang Tianyou had gone, they naturally had no clue about Zhu Yuanzhang’s whereabouts either. Liu Yi could only lament the terrifying inertia of history.

He had originally planned to proceed steadily after crossing the river, taking each step as it came, but due to his unexpected presence, the storm erupted ahead of schedule.

Lady Golden Flower spoke sharply, “Find out immediately where Marshal Zhu has gone. No matter the price, even if it costs lives, we must learn his whereabouts.”

Everyone knew they had to uncover Zhu Yuanzhang’s location, or else the Chaohu Navy would face a monumental crisis. At that moment, Shao Rong suddenly spoke, “I believe I know where Marshal Zhu went!”

Liu Yi hadn’t expected Shao Rong to be so capable. No wonder the Ming authorities constantly tried to erase Shao Rong’s existence, but always had to mention his name. Without Marshal Shao Six, there might never have been a founding Ming dynasty. “Shao Six, if you handle this well, I’ll guarantee your future as Marshal Shao Six!”

Liu Yi’s promise was almost getting something for nothing, but the Chaohu Navy officers took it seriously. Several eyed him with envy, and Zhao Pusheng declared loudly, “Shao Six, this is your chance—can you seize it?”

Shao Rong laughed, “Yesterday, a few brothers from the Left Camp came to drink with me. They said Marshal Zhu had connected with Xie Guoxi’s Long Spear Army, and Xie Guoxi is willing to work with Marshal Zhu. I reckon Marshal Zhu went today to accept their surrender!”

Xie Guoxi’s Long Spear Army had wavered for a long time. Recently, they flew the ‘Dragon and Phoenix’ banner of the Han-Song court, but operated completely independently from the Chuzhou Red Turbans.

Because of this, Zhu Yuanzhang surely knew there was a trap in Xie Guoxi’s ‘submission,’ but he still jumped into the pit. Liu Yi muttered bitterly, “All three marshals are muddled. I crossed the river to join the great cause, not to fight for power. If any misfortune befalls them, the Chuzhou Red Turbans will be in serious trouble!”

Lady Golden Flower remained calm. “All three marshals are heroes who have survived countless battles. They must have brought elite troops and should be safe.”

Shao Rong continued, “Marshal Liu, speed is crucial. Since you’re concerned for their safety, you should deploy troops quickly. I’m willing to be your vanguard!”

Liu Yi asked, “How did Marshal Zhang react when he left?”

Shao Rong hadn’t expected the question, but responded promptly, “Marshal Liu, when Marshal Zhang left, he was calm. He told me how to respond if ambushed by enemy troops.”

Liu Yi nodded. “The immediate priority is to deal with Xie Guoxi.”

“Xie Guoxi’s Long Spear Army?”

Over the past months, Xie Guoxi’s Long Spear Army had been indecisive, sometimes using the ‘Dragon and Phoenix’ banner of the Han-Song Red Turbans, sometimes the Yuan dynasty’s ‘Zhizheng’ banner. They’d only had small-scale clashes with the Red Turbans, often retreating when they encountered them.

Lady Golden Flower voiced the Chaohu Navy officers’ concerns directly. “Marshal Liu, Chen Yexian and Chen Zhaoxian are the real threats to Chuzhou, aren’t they?”

Liu Yi replied decisively, “Xie Guoxi has been holding back for months; this time, his strike will be thunderous. Marshal Zhu is likely to suffer. Though I’ve always had disagreements with Marshal Zhu, I’ll personally go rescue him this time.”

Shao Rong grew anxious. “Marshal Liu, what about Guo Tianxu and our leader Zhang Tianyou?”

Liu Yi was clear. “Marshal Zhao Pusheng! I entrust Marshal Du and Vice Marshal Zhang to you. Ensure their absolute safety! Father-in-law, please go with Marshal Zhao Pusheng.”

Zhao Pusheng responded at once. “Rest assured, great general. Marshal Du and Vice Marshal Zhang are in my care; I guarantee their safety! But Ma Wanhou will accompany me—how many troops will you take to support Marshal Zhu?”

Liu Yi answered, “Quality matters more than quantity, and Marshal Zhu commands strong, battle-tested troops. He shouldn’t suffer much. I’ll take my personal company of a thousand.”

Liu Yi’s personal company was now led by Du Yishan. However, since Du Yishan was Du Zundao’s nephew, he had changed his name to Du Guanshan to avoid suspicion. It was a thin disguise, but even Liu Futong of Haozhou pretended not to notice, and everyone else followed suit.

Du Yishan’s company was well-organized, with six hundred infantry and nearly a hundred cavalry, and they had already crossed the river in advance, ready for battle.

Though Ma Shixiong and the Qing Army of Changshan were veteran soldiers who’d fought for years north of the river and wanted to make a strong debut for Liu Yi, it wasn’t easy to throw thousands into battle immediately after crossing. Unfamiliar with the south, Liu Yi preferred to take only his personal company to support Zhu Yuanzhang.

Lady Golden Flower thought this too risky. “Just your personal company? That’s thin defenses. I’ll go with you!”

Liu Yi didn’t object, but continued issuing orders. “I say again: this battle doesn’t need a perfect victory—only that we do not lose!”

Though the situation had erupted unexpectedly, the mood below was jubilant.

Sun Yue Rong suddenly understood the meaning of her conversation with Liu Yi on the boat.

After spending time together, she felt she understood her husband inside and out—now she realized she had underestimated him. He was destined for greatness.

If it weren’t for Sister Yun Yu, her husband would have claimed the Guo family’s legacy long ago. Yet he sighed repeatedly on the boat, showing he was truly a man of deep feeling.

Sun Yue Rong, without realizing it, found herself once again overestimating Liu Yi. She even felt it was perfectly reasonable for him to take only his personal company and Lady Golden Flower to support Zhu Yuanzhang.

Lady Golden Flower’s insight was sharper than Sun Yue Rong’s. She brought her own personal company to join Liu Yi. “Yi, is it rash for us to go support Marshal Zhu like this?”

Though Liu Yi and Lady Golden Flower hadn’t seen each other for half a month, he understood her instantly. “But we must go. If Marshal Zhu returns in defeat, the situation in the south will be impossible to manage.”

Lady Golden Flower pressed further. “So you mean Marshal Zhu must not come to harm?”

Liu Yi lowered his voice. “Marshal Zhu himself is battle-hardened and commands countless elite troops. He should be safe. But precisely because of that, I must go support Marshal Sun.”