Chapter Eighty-Two: Only with Zhang Shicheng Can We Negotiate Properly with the Naval Camp

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The reason why Kang Mao-cai alone could not defect to Zhu Yuan-zhang was, naturally, because Kang Mao-cai commanded a powerful naval force. In another timeline, after Zhao Pu-sheng took away the bulk of the Chaohu navy, Zhu Yuan-zhang relied on Kang Mao-cai’s fleet to withstand Chen You-liang and Zhao Pu-sheng. In this timeline, however, the Chaohu navy was entirely under Liu Yi’s control. Though Zhu Yuan-zhang had tried every means to establish the Zuo Camp navy, it still amounted to a mere hundred men and a handful of small boats—barely worth mentioning.

Kang Mao-cai’s forces were the most formidable naval unit of the Yuan army on the Jiangdong battlefield. If they fell into Zhu Yuan-zhang’s hands, the consequences would be unthinkable. Liu Yi wholeheartedly agreed: “Yes, we must warn Kang Mao-cai. If he chooses to remain loyal to the Yuan to the death, that’s his freedom. But if he wishes to bring destruction upon himself, we won’t be merciful!”

Zhu Yuan-zhang’s thoughts were much the same: “Only by capturing Kang Mao-cai can I avenge the humiliation of losing my wife. You must see to this matter with diligence. Though Kang Mao-cai hails from Huguang, if he comes over, I’ll treat him as a fellow native of Haozhou.”

Within Taiping city and its environs, the troops capable and willing to fight, from marshals to ordinary soldiers, were all sons of Jianghuai. Kang Mao-cai, however, was an exception. He was from Qizhou in the Huguang Province, technically a fellow countryman of Xu Shou-hui and Chen You-liang—a true outsider among the Jianghuai generals.

Nonetheless, for the sake of the navy he commanded, Zhu Yuan-zhang had long made up his mind, and Li Shan-chang fully concurred: “The Marshal speaks truly. All other units can be handed over to the navy, but not Kang Mao-cai’s fleet. The navy already has Ma Shi-xiong; we must have Kang Mao-cai as well!”

The Chaohu navy was the finest naval force in the land, so Liu Yi was determined to recruit Ma Shi-xiong’s Green Army. In fact, Ma Shi-xiong and Chang Shan’s arrival had filled the last gap in the Chaohu navy’s ranks. The Zuo Camp had always been famed for its invincibility on land, so they had to seize Kang Mao-cai’s fleet. Zhu Yuan-zhang stated explicitly, “Tell Kang Mao-cai that if he wishes to die for the Yuan dynasty, I won’t oppose him. But if he tries to betray the light for darkness, I, Zhu Yuan-zhang, will show no mercy!”

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Tang He quickly added, “The Marshal is right. Make it clear to Kang Mao-cai: if he dares to defy Heaven, no one can save him!”

Zhu Yuan-zhang nodded repeatedly. He had swallowed his pride for the sake of the greater good when it came to Ma Shi-xiong, but Kang Mao-cai should not expect such luck.

To kill a man like Kang Mao-cai was nothing. While Zhu Yuan-zhang needed to consider the bigger picture, Liu Yi and the Chaohu navy had their own interests to protect.

The sentiment among the Zuo Camp’s generals was much the same, save for Xu Da, who was forthright: “Everyone speaks well, but the key lies in battlefield victory. If we win honorably, the navy will never surpass us!”

Although the Chaohu navy was rising rapidly, Zhu Yuan-zhang and Liu Yi—one the Marshal of Chuzhou, the other of Chaohu—stood almost as equals. Yet in terms of strength and reputation, Liu Yi lagged behind Zhu Yuan-zhang, who was the undisputed leader of the Red Turbans in Chuzhou.

Moreover, the Chaohu navy boasted a host of fierce warriors. Even if Kang Mao-cai defected, he could never outshine veterans like Zhao Pu-sheng, Li Pu-sheng, Yu Tong-hai, and Liao Yong-an, whereas the Zuo Camp navy was a blank slate; if Kang Mao-cai joined them, he would be their top man, which was far more enticing to him.

Tang He knew Zhu Yuan-zhang disliked Xu Da’s viewpoint: “We’d like a fair contest, but that Liu fellow keeps playing tricks. Now that Zhang Shi-cheng has allied with us, Liu has no choice but to yield!”

Though both Zhu Yuan-zhang and Liu Yi had sent envoys to Gaoyou, Zhang Shi-cheng responded only to the Zuo Camp, refusing even to inform the Chaohu navy of the alliance. It was Zhu Yuan-zhang who insisted that the Gaoyou envoy meet Lady Jin-hua, but even then, it was just a single meeting.

With Zhang Shi-cheng as a powerful ally, Zhu Yuan-zhang was confident: “Old Tang, don’t say that. Marshal Liu is one of our own, no matter what. Zhang Shi-cheng, for all his closeness, is still an outsider. As long as Marshal Liu understands the greater good when it comes to Kang Mao-cai, he’ll surely enjoy riches and honor!”

Everyone understood that, despite Zhu Yuan-zhang’s words, he was preparing to fully cooperate with Zhang Shi-cheng. The meeting between the Gaoyou envoy and Lady Jin-hua was, in fact, a move to suppress the Chaohu navy.

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After Tang He’s rebuke, Xu Da had intended to stay silent, but Zhu Yuan-zhang’s words prompted him to speak: “Marshal, let the disaster of Haozhou be a warning. Some matters must be handled with restraint!”

The bloody feud between Liu Fu-tong and Du Zun-dao had cost the Han Song regime its hard-won capital of Haozhou. If internal strife broke out among the Chuzhou Red Turbans, even with Zhang Shi-cheng as an ally, the Zuo Camp would face chaos. Xu Da thus felt it was wise to leave some room for maneuver.

Zhu Yuan-zhang’s expression darkened immediately, but the phrase “Red Turbans do not fight Red Turbans” had become popular lately, and many echoed Xu Da: “In the past, we had misunderstandings with the navy, but as long as Marshal Zhu and Marshal Liu sit down and talk, every misunderstanding will dissipate!”

“The Marshal said it himself: the navy are our own, while Zhang Shi-cheng, no matter how close, is always an outsider!”

“Red Turbans do not fight Red Turbans—there’s no denying it. If Red Turbans kill Red Turbans, disaster will follow!”

Zhu Yuan-zhang hadn’t expected such intense debate within the Zuo Camp, nor that so many officers favored deeper cooperation. Yet this struck at the heart of his convictions: “I’ll certainly sit down with Marshal Liu, but without Zhang Shi-cheng, how can we negotiate with the navy?”

At this, Zhu Yuan-zhang declared with authority: “Bring the Gaoyou envoy to me. I agree to all the terms Zhang Shi-cheng proposed!”

Zhang Shi-cheng’s strategy was to ask for the moon and settle for less; though both sides were sincere, their demands were worlds apart, and negotiations had stalled. Now, to counter the Chaohu navy, Zhu Yuan-zhang broke the deadlock: “With Zhang Shi-cheng, we can finally sit down and negotiate with the navy!”