Chapter Sixty-Six: Feint to the East, Strike to the West

Liu Yi believed that, according to precedent, the Chuzhou Grand Marshal’s Office should have three or four marshals. Now that Guo Tianxu was dead and Zhang Tianyou gravely injured, it was only natural to appoint one or two new marshals. In truth, there was no such “precedent.” The office had three marshals only due to the circumstances of the time, and Liu Yi’s own appointment as an “additional marshal” had also been dictated by necessity. But now, with Liu Yi voicing this notion, everyone found it reasonable.

In another timeline, after Guo Tianxu and Zhang Tianyou’s deaths, Zhu Yuanzhang, as the only remaining marshal, logically inherited all of Guo Zixing’s legacy and stood alone at the helm. Though he pushed Guo Tianxu’s younger brother, Guo Tianjue, into the position of deputy, Guo Tianjue was marshal in name only. Once Zhu Yuanzhang had firmly established himself in Jiqing City, he did not hesitate to eliminate Guo Tianjue under the pretext of “colluding with Zhang Shicheng.”

But now, aside from Zhu Yuanzhang, the Chuzhou Grand Marshal’s Office still had Liu Yi as an “additional marshal.” Although the Chaohu navy was far weaker than Zhu Yuanzhang’s forces, the Red Turbans of Chuzhou could not do without Liu Yi and the Chaohu navy. Thus, Liu Yi had, for the time being, secured a seat alongside Zhu Yuanzhang at the table of power.

Liu Yi knew full well, however, that he was in no position to stand on equal footing with Zhu Yuanzhang. In terms of strength, seniority, and prestige, he could not compare. His sole advantage might be that he was Guo Zixing’s son-in-law, while Zhu Yuanzhang was only an adopted son-in-law, but this advantage paled in the face of Zhu Yuanzhang’s power and achievements.

He had to bring in allies if he was to contend with Zhu Yuanzhang, and the proposal to appoint one or two more marshals was a stratagem—at the very least, it would muddy the waters.

Zhu Yuanzhang immediately saw through Liu Yi’s plan, but Liu Yi’s scheme was open for all to see, and the several Commanders of Ten Thousand present from the Left Battalion were now eager for promotion.

Since Liu Yi had openly called for new marshals, these commanders all felt qualified by merit and experience. Moreover, they believed Zhu Yuanzhang would support them; after all, adding someone from the Left Battalion to the Marshal’s Office would give them another vote in council. Zhu Yuanzhang, not wishing to oppose them openly, said, “Marshal Liu speaks with the wisdom of age. We’ll do as he suggests—let’s discuss who is most suitable to join the Marshal’s Office. But let’s not be hasty; our immediate priority is to hold the line and ensure nothing goes amiss!”

Yet, after seeing Liu Yi and Lady Golden Flower off, Zhu Yuanzhang changed his tune. He told his commanders privately, “Liu Yi is setting a trap for me! It’s true we need to send one or two from our Left Battalion into the Marshal’s Office, but whom among you is the most suitable? There’s no way to settle this fairly. We can’t let Liu Yi dictate the terms. You must listen to me—I guarantee you’ll all get your chance to enter the Marshal’s Office!”

In truth, Zhu Yuanzhang would have nominated Tang He if he could choose one, for Tang He was absolutely loyal to him and a highly capable officer, though better suited to commanding a hundred or a thousand than ten thousand. If Tang He entered the Marshal’s Office and proved indecisive, Zhu Yuanzhang had a hundred ways to keep him in line.

But today, Tang He had been the first to fall back in defeat, driven off by the long-spearmen, leaving over a hundred wounded and even losing his banner. If Zhu Yuanzhang nominated Tang He now, there would be uproar within the Left Battalion. For the time being, he could not find a better candidate.

Even so, Zhu Yuanzhang had his response ready: “Once the situation stabilizes, I’ll make it clear to Marshal Liu that whether we appoint one or two more marshals, they must come from our own Left Battalion. If we don’t agree, no one else enters the Marshal’s Office. We have every right to insist on this. Just trust my arrangements, and you’ll all have your turn in the Marshal’s Office!”

This declaration won unanimous approval throughout the Left Battalion. Everyone believed that the Red Turbans’ march to the gates of Jiqing City was chiefly the work of the Left Battalion—one could even say that Guo Zixing’s legacy had been won by their hands.

In the past, out of respect for Guo Zixing, none dared cross the old marshal. Now that Guo Tianxu was gone, the Red Turbans of Chuzhou ought to be led by the Left Battalion. They were already considering whom to send into the Marshal’s Office first and whom to advance in the second round. Of course, Zhu Yuanzhang himself would be Grand Marshal.

Tang He, who understood Zhu Yuanzhang best, added, “Every word the marshal speaks is precious. Whoever enters the Marshal’s Office must be one of our own brothers from the Left Battalion. We owe it all to the marshal’s guidance. But as for Marshal Liu, we’ll need to offer him some benefit, or there’ll be no peace.”

At this, Zhu Yuanzhang burst into laughter. “Commander Tang is absolutely right. Help me think—do we have any beauties in the Left Battalion suitable for Marshal Liu?”

With this, everyone grew spirited. Many of them had only married after capturing Heyang, but these commanders were never short of women. In no time, they began plotting on Liu Yi’s behalf: “Since Marshal Liu doesn’t like official ladies, let’s find him a tiger-girl from a military family. Whose daughter or sister is particularly fair?”

“No, no, Marshal Liu said he doesn’t like official ladies, but that doesn’t mean he dislikes noble maidens!”

“That’s right—how could I forget? We can’t just follow Marshal Liu’s wishes. We need to choose someone he can’t refuse!”

“Exactly! As long as Marshal Liu can’t refuse, we can arrange things as we see fit!”

Now, Zhu Yuanzhang and the Left Battalion were most concerned with placing their own people in the Marshal’s Office, yet they had overlooked the most crucial matter of all.

That was the two to three thousand elite soldiers left behind by Guo Tianxu and Zhang Tianyou!

Liu Yi’s proposal to add more marshals was, in fact, a move to seize more power before Zhu Yuanzhang could react. The troops left by Guo Tianxu and Zhang Tianyou would not all go to Liu Yi and the Chaohu navy, but at the very least, he must ensure an even division.