Chapter Six: The Marshal of Chuzhou

Liu Futong had weathered countless storms and escaped death more times than he could count, yet even he was shaken by the news brought by Sheng Wenyu. Since the chaos of the eleventh year of Zhizheng, official ranks across the realm had been steadily diminished. Where once a commander of ten thousand men could command two or three thousand soldiers, now—whether Yuan troops or Red Turban rebels—it was commonplace for such a commander to have fewer than a thousand men under his command, some with as few as three or five hundred. Liu Futong even knew of certain recently surrendered “marshals” in his own ranks who commanded no more than three or four thousand.

But the posts of Provincial Assistant to Government Affairs and Associate of the Privy Council were different. Though these offices, too, had suffered serious degradation—one province often boasting several Chief and Assistant officials, and a Privy Council hosting multiple associates—they remained exceedingly prestigious. To hold even one of these titles meant governing half a province and commanding tens of thousands of armored troops. And now Lady Golden Flower was to hold both.

Sheng Wenyu, who had personally come to Haozhou, was said to be the most senior official among the Red Turban forces of Ruying. He spoke plainly to Liu Futong: “There’s surely something odd about this, but the question is how we should respond. If we act too slowly, this remarkable feat may end up benefiting someone else.”

Haozhou itself was a patchwork of factions; Sheng Wenyu’s “someone else” referred to another major figure in the Ruying Red Turbans, Du Zundao. Once a student at the National Academy under Yuan rule and later a Privy Council clerk, he had abandoned his official post to join the Red Turbans, and thanks to his experience, often managed affairs more gracefully than Liu Futong.

Precisely because Du Zundao handled many matters with such finesse, Liu Futong and Sheng Wenyu—the old hands who had initiated the uprising in Yingzhou—remained allies in the same faction. “We cannot let this achievement slip away to another house. You must talk to Lady Golden Flower. If she’s willing to join us, we can offer her generous terms.”

Sheng Wenyu, however, looked troubled. “Lady Golden Flower’s conditions are so stringent, that’s why I came to Haozhou to consult you, Old Liu!”

Liu Futong replied calmly, “How harsh could her terms be? As long as she’s willing to come over, we can agree to anything.”

Outsiders always seem more capable, and while many elders from the Yingzhou uprising still lacked proper positions in Haozhou, Liu Futong did not view this as a major issue; his only concern was whether Lady Golden Flower would join them.

Faced with the mighty Yuan court as a common enemy, the northern and southern Red Turban factions, though outwardly keeping to themselves and only sparring at the borders, were constantly seeking to undermine each other.

For someone of Lady Golden Flower’s stature to change allegiance was unprecedented; Sheng Wenyu’s description of this as a “remarkable feat” was apt. She had once been the holy maiden of the White Lotus sect and had commanded the Xiangyang Red Turbans. Even though she was now little more than an ornament in the Xu-Song regime, her defection would be a tremendous blow to the Xu-Song Red Turbans and might even trigger a chain reaction.

When it came to negotiations with Lady Golden Flower, Sheng Wenyu was frustrated. “She insists she is the Provincial Assistant to Government Affairs of the Southern Song Huainan Branch, as well as Associate of the Two Huai Privy Council. She only wants to pass through our territory to Chao Lake, not to join us in Haozhou.”

Liu Futong remained composed. “There is indeed a naval force south of Chao Lake. Lady Golden Flower wants this fleet? That won’t do—the Chao Lake fleet will sooner or later fall into our hands!”

That fleet was teetering on the brink. Besieged by Yuan troops for nearly half a year, they faced not only the Yuan but also an even more formidable foe: Zuo Junbi of Luzhou, who, though nominally under the Xu Shouhui Red Turbans, was intent on annexing the Chao Lake fleet and had been pressing them relentlessly, exerting as much pressure as the Yuan army.

Misfortune piled upon misfortune; with Yuan troops and Zuo Junbi attacking from both sides, the Chao Lake fleet was already hard-pressed. Now, Liu Futong’s Haozhou army was marching south into Chuzhou by his orders. With three forces bearing down on them, Liu Futong was receiving numerous letters and gifts from the besieged fleet.

Liu Futong regarded the Chao Lake fleet as meat in his own bowl and would never give it up to Lady Golden Flower.

Sheng Wenyu managed a bitter smile. “I agree, Lady Golden Flower is overreaching. If she’s willing to join us, we can offer her the position of Provincial Left Chancellor or Associate Judge of the Privy Council, but we cannot let her have Chao Lake.”

Liu Futong nodded. “That’s exactly my thought, Old Sheng. How did Lady Golden Flower respond?”

Sheng Wenyu forced another smile. “She said nothing. But one of her marshals interrupted, asking whether Haozhou feared offending the marshals of Haozhou and Chuzhou. Lady Golden Flower has come alone to seek refuge, surely more trustworthy than those three marshals.”

Liu Futong laughed. “Lady Golden Flower does have some talented people under her command, but compared to her, I naturally trust Marshal Guo, Marshal Zhang, and Marshal Zhu more—they are our own!”

Yet Liu Futong’s laughter was somewhat forced; the marshals of Haozhou had grown too powerful to control, a lingering worry for him. Worse still, those marshals were far away in Chuzhou, out of reach for both him and Du Zundao. Sheng Wenyu continued, “I said much the same. But then this young marshal asked if, since Chao Lake could not be given to Lady Golden Flower, perhaps a marshal’s post could be arranged in Chuzhou. Lady Golden Flower only wants an additional marshal’s post in Chuzhou.”

Liu Futong shook his head. “That cannot be agreed to. You go back and tell Lady Golden Flower that since Xu Shouhui has granted her the positions of Provincial Assistant to Government Affairs and Associate of the Two Huai Privy Council, I can do the same.”

If word of Liu Futong’s offer got out, it would surely stir up a tempest. Many veteran Red Turban commanders who joined the uprising in Yingzhou had fought countless battles and endured untold injuries and sacrifices, yet at most held posts as commanders of thousands or hundreds, or perhaps as chief managers or commanders of ten thousand. For Lady Golden Flower to gain two vital positions simply by defecting, without any merit, was unprecedented.

Yet Sheng Wenyu replied to Liu Futong, “This young marshal is no ordinary man, and Lady Golden Flower herself insists on only one marshal’s post in Chuzhou. If we refuse, though it won’t be mutually destructive, negotiations will drag on, and Haozhou will have to help me, Sheng Wenyu, make the decision.”

Liu Futong erupted in anger. “Who leaked the news? How could anyone treat such a matter as a child’s play? Enough! If Lady Golden Flower wants the positions of Provincial Assistant to Government Affairs and Associate of the Two Huai Privy Council, give them to her! If she wants a marshal’s post in Chuzhou, give her that as well!”

Sheng Wenyu was puzzled. “Old Liu, what’s going on?”

Liu Futong lowered his voice. “His Majesty and the Empress Dowager have already set out!”