Sweep Yuan

Chapter 215 Ye Dui leaves the mountain study

After the start of winter, the chill in Hefei gradually intensifies.

The old trees in the courtyard had lost all their leaves, their bare branches piercing the gray sky. A cold wind swept through the alleyways, swirling up a few fallen leaves that rustled against the closed doors and windows.

Inside Ye Duixin's study, however, the atmosphere was warm and inviting. Beside a She inkstone, a wisp of smoke rose from a small bronze incense burner with a beast-shaped knob, releasing a calming sandalwood fragrance that mingled with the ink scent of the books filling the room.

At his desk, Ye Dui was concentrating on writing, and had just finished writing a few words when the sound of his old servant's slightly hurried footsteps came from outside the door.

"Master, Marshal Shi has arrived at the gate!"

The old servant's voice carried an undisguised mix of alarm and respect, after all, Marshal Shi was the absolute ruler of Hefei and even half of the Jianghuai region.

Upon hearing this, Ye Dui's wrist faltered slightly, and the rich ink almost dripped onto the paper. He hurriedly placed the brush on the jade brush holder, and without bothering to straighten his slightly wrinkled robe, he rushed out to greet him.

Pushing open the courtyard gate, one sees Shishan standing solemnly outside, his face showing no sign of impatience.

Marshal Shi was not wearing full armor today, only a black arrow-sleeved casual robe, with a matching dark patterned cloak over it. His figure was as upright as a pine tree. Although he tried to restrain himself, the imposing aura of someone who had long held a high position still inadvertently revealed itself.

Behind him, thirty guards stood in a line like geese wings, each with sharp eyes and a blade at their waist. They were as silent as mountains, and a chilling aura unique to the battlefield permeated the cold air, making the ordinary alleyway seem like the outside of a military gate.

Ye Dui dared not be negligent and quickly bowed deeply, his tone conveying just the right amount of apology and respect:

"The Marshal himself has graced my humble abode with his presence; I have failed to greet him properly, for this is truly my fault!"

Shi Shan smiled gently, stepped forward, and took Ye Dui's arm, stopping him from continuing to bow. His gaze swept over Ye Dui's shoulder, surveying the quiet yet elegant courtyard, and he said with concern:
"Mr. Liangzhong, there's no need for such formalities. I've been very busy with official duties lately and haven't had time to check on you. Have you been settling in well during your time here?"

Shishan went to great lengths to retain Ye Dui, a great talent.

Not only did he bring forward the construction of the academy, which was originally scheduled to begin next spring, to the end of autumn, urging the site to be leveled, and strongly inviting Ye Dui to serve as the future academy's headmaster, but he also bestowed this residence on the spot and specially found a cook for Ye Dui who could cook Haining hometown dishes.

His respect for the virtuous and talented is evident.

Ye Dui was a sensible man and knew that everything Marshal Shi did was to keep him here. That very day, he asked Shi Shan to send someone to Haining Prefecture to pick up his family, demonstrating with his actions his determination to stay and assist Marshal Shi.

Seeing the Marshal arrive in person, and still speaking of mundane matters of daily life, Ye Dui couldn't help but feel moved. His attitude became even more respectful, and he said:

"I am but a commoner, with little talent and learning. I am deeply grateful for the Marshal's kindness. I can only repay him by doing my utmost, even at the cost of my life."

It was cold outside. After expressing his loyalty, Ye Dui immediately stepped aside to make way, bowed slightly, and gestured for him to proceed, saying:

"It's cold outside. If the Marshal doesn't mind, please come inside to talk."

Shishan nodded, and as he walked inside, he explained naturally:

"I was just at the site selection site of the academy supervising the leveling of the grounds when I realized that I had not heard the esteemed Master's discourse for several days, and I was thinking of him. On a whim, I came to visit without prior notice. I hope the Master will forgive my abruptness."

Ye Dui knew that Shi Shan now controlled several territories and had countless military and political affairs to attend to daily. It was already rare for him to personally oversee the academy's construction, let alone take the time to visit him at his door; this showed extraordinary importance. He quickly followed half a step and replied:
"Marshal, you flatter me. I was just contemplating the current situation in my study today and had some insights that I was about to put into writing for your critique. Your arrival at this time is very timely."

As they spoke, the two had already entered the study.

Ye Dui came from a scholarly family and was well-versed in classics and history. Although he had not lived in Hefei for long, his study was already quite large. The four walls were lined with bookshelves, filled with a vast collection of books, most of which were specially collected and sent to him by Shi Shan, who knew of his love for books.

A large rosewood desk sits by the window, containing only the Four Treasures of the Study, a She inkstone, and a small incense burner.

On the table, a sheet of ribbed paper was laid out, with warm sandalwood paperweights on both sides, and on it was the article that had just been started, the ink still fresh.

"I have heard it said that those who conquer the world must have a certain scale. Han Xin, upon first meeting Emperor Gaozu, plotted the success and failure of Chu and Han; Zhuge Liang, lying in his thatched hut, discussed the tripartite division with Liu Bei. The scale of the Red Flag Battalion today is still—"

Shi Shan's gaze swept over the paper, but he didn't pick it up to examine it closely. He simply paused for a moment to scrutinize the elegant, upright, and powerful handwriting, as if he could glimpse the writer's inner thoughts within it. Then he turned to face Ye Dui, and solemnly bowed with his hands clasped in greeting:
"I come from a military household in Shishan, and my knowledge is limited. I often fail to consider the grand strategy of governing the country. The Chancellor is a learned scholar with profound insight into the world. I hope you will not hesitate to offer your guidance!"

More than ten days ago, Shishan also consulted Ye Dui on this matter. At that time, although Ye Dui had already gained some insights, he felt that his thinking was not yet mature and frankly said that he needed time to reflect. He only discussed some of the Red Flag Battalion's governance with Shishan.

He disliked empty talk, and having given it considerable thought, he no longer hesitated. His gaunt face hardened, and he cut to the chase:

"The Marshal has inquired, how could I not speak frankly? Now my Red Flag Battalion has occupied more than 20 cities in Luzhou, Chuzhou, Haozhou, Xuzhou, and Suzhou, spanning the Yangtze and Huai Rivers. Our prestige is formidable, seemingly like flowers in full bloom and oil on a blazing fire. However, upon closer inspection, there are actually quite a few hidden dangers that we must be aware of."

He paused briefly, organizing his thoughts, his voice steady and clear.

"First, let's discuss Xu and Su prefectures. These two places have suffered from years of war, and their people's strength is almost exhausted. Moreover, they are isolated in the north of the Huai River, far away from our fundamental location of Hefei."

If the Yuan court does not repent and continues to amass a large army, still attempting to win a decisive battle with overwhelming force, the marshal can once again lead his troops north, replicate past victories, and crush the enemy in the field. However—”

Ye Dui changed the subject, his tone becoming more serious, and continued:
"If the Yuan court learns from its mistakes, changes its strategy, and no longer seeks a quick victory, but instead garrisons heavy troops in key surrounding areas, adopts a strategy of defense, advances step by step, and constantly harasses and nibbles away at our territory with small forces, trying its best to disrupt spring planting and autumn harvest, then our situation will be extremely difficult."

If the Marshal cannot make the difficult decision to abandon Xu and Su, he will have to continuously transfer money and grain and replenish young men from his base in the Jianghuai region to make up for the loss of Xu and Su.

Thus, Xu and Su would not only fail to protect Hefei, but would instead become a source of constant drain on the Red Flag Battalion's strength. Prolonged defense of these areas would inevitably leave Luzhou Road completely vulnerable; this is the principle of 'prolonged defense inevitably leads to loss.'"

Shi Shan listened intently, his expression calm, and nodded slightly. He had initially refused to accept Sesame Li's formal allegiance, insisting instead on reforming Sesame Li's military and political affairs within the framework of the Xuzhou Red Turban Army, precisely for this reason. He immediately signaled Ye Dui to continue.

"Further discussion on Haozhou."

Ye Dui was fully engaged and continued his analysis, saying:

"Haozhou is protected by the natural barrier of the Huai River, and further protected by the outer defenses of Wuhe, Huaiyuan, and Dingyuan cities. It seems secure and can temporarily keep enemies at bay. However,"

He then made another turn, paused slightly, and seeing that the stone mountain showed no unusual color, continued:
"Shouchun is a fortified city with deep moats, rugged mountains and rivers, and is located on the upper reaches of the Huai River. If the Yuan court firmly controls Shouchun, it is like a sword hanging over our heads. If we do not take Shouchun, the outer defenses of Haozhou will be weak; if we do take Shouchun, it will not be easy to conquer it with a large army for a long time. Once the war is delayed, it will be easy for the Yuan court to take advantage of us."

"If the Yuan court concentrates its forces and captures just one of our cities, our defenses will crumble, and Haozhou will be in grave danger. We may not be able to rely solely on the natural barrier of the Huai River."

This analysis is incisive and thoroughly exposes the potential crises beneath the current favorable situation.

Shi Shan's eyes showed even greater admiration. To be able to so clearly discern the strength and weakness of a sphere of influence and point out its fatal flaw, Ye Dui truly possessed the talent to govern the world. He was worthy of Shi Shan's sincere friendship and efforts to retain him.

Seeing that Shi Shan was listening attentively without the slightest sign of negligence or displeasure, Ye Dui took the opportunity to present his core judgment after careful consideration, and then said:
"Therefore, in my humble opinion, the place where my Red Flag Battalion is currently located can truly be called an unshakeable foundation. Even if the Yuan court launches a full-scale counterattack and surrounds us from all sides, we can still ensure uninterrupted production and a continuous supply of soldiers and provisions."
In reality, only most of Luzhou Road and a small corner of Chuzhou, which had mountainous terrain to rely on, were truly under its control. The rest were either isolated or in dangerous locations, requiring significant investment or strategic choices.

"Ok!"

Shi Shan nodded heavily, deeply agreeing, and continued:
"What the chief minister said hit the nail on the head. It is easy to break through a city, but difficult to defend it; it is easy to recruit soldiers, but difficult to produce food. In chaotic times, without a stable source of money and food as a foundation, even if one occupies thousands of miles of land, it is nothing more than building a tower on sand or a pavilion in the air, ultimately an illusion."

This is precisely the main reason why, in every major battle, I have striven to concentrate my elite forces, defend against the enemy beyond my borders, seek a decisive battle, and aim to achieve victory in one decisive victory. However,

Shi Shan's voice also lowered, carrying a hint of worry, as he said:
"As the Grand Master said, this strategy can be described as seeking victory in a risky situation. It can be done once or twice, but not a third time. Even if the Yuan court makes a series of foolish moves, there are still many capable and wise people among them. Sooner or later, they will be able to see through the strengths and weaknesses of our Red Flag Battalion."

If they truly adopt the strategy suggested by the Grand Master, stationing heavy troops around the perimeter and gradually eroding our outer territories with a slow, insidious force, then Xu, Su, Hao, and other places may indeed be gained and then lost again. The Grand Master's concerns today are precisely what I, Shi, deeply worry about!

Seeing that Shi Shan not only fully understood but also frankly expressed his unspoken concerns, Ye Dui's last lingering worry dissipated. He first affirmed the objective conditions that enabled the Red Flag Battalion to survive and thrive, concluding:
"Marshal, there is no need for such modesty. My Red Flag Battalion has its own hidden worries, and the Yuan Dynasty also has its difficulties. Today, the world is in turmoil, heroes are rising up, and war is raging everywhere. The Red Flag Battalion's rise in the Jianghuai region is primarily due to your wise and decisive leadership and your brilliant military tactics. However, the most important factor is that the world is already in chaos, and the Yuan Dynasty's forces are scattered in all directions, struggling to cope with various situations, and unable to concentrate their full strength to invade our core territory."

Ishiyama also strongly agreed with this point.

Take the decisive Battle of Xuzhou as an example. If the Yuan court had not been plagued by uprisings of rebel armies in all directions and had been able to mobilize the nation's elite forces, it would not have been difficult to launch several, or even a dozen, encirclement and suppression campaigns of the same scale within a year.

Even if the Red Flag Battalion achieves a Pyrrhic victory or even a great victory each time, the production and lives of the people within its territory will be continuously disrupted and damaged by the war. As time goes on, money and food will gradually be depleted, and the war potential will be exhausted in the successive battles.

If they cannot conquer and stabilize new sources of income and food as a supplement, then defeat is only a matter of time.

Ye Dui's elaborate setup was precisely to introduce the point he emphasized at the beginning of his memorial: "Those who seize the world must have a certain scale." At this moment, his gaze pierced as he looked at the stone mountain, his voice not loud, yet every word carried immense weight:
"Therefore, although the territory currently controlled by my Red Flag Battalion is already quite large and its prestige is considerable, it is still far from laying a solid foundation for achieving hegemony and unifying the world. The next step is to decide where to direct our power and where to expand our territory, which is of paramount importance."

Looking at the big picture, I believe that the Marshal should focus his efforts on expanding in the south, north, and west.

"Your humble servant is not talented enough; may I offer my analysis of the situation on these three sides for the Marshal?"

Ye Dui deliberately avoided mentioning the east because the Red Flag Camp's current territory already belonged to the eastern part of the Yuan Dynasty's territory. East of Chuzhou, only Yangzhou Road remained, with no room for expansion. Moreover, this place had no natural defenses. Moving eastward might be possible, but it would not change the current passive situation and could not be elevated to a strategic level at all.

With the rapid rise of the Red Flag Battalion, the entire world has long deviated from its original historical trajectory and has been completely transformed by Shishan. He now urgently needs this kind of strategic planning that is insightful and has a comprehensive view of the overall situation.

Shi Shan immediately straightened his back, his expression solemn, like a student listening to instruction, and bowed to Ye Dui with his hands clasped, his tone extremely sincere:
"Please speak freely, Master of Ceremonies. Shishan is all ears!"

There were no maps posted or hung in Ye Dui's study, but Ye Dui and Shi Shan, one a strategist with a global vision and the other a commander who had conquered battlefields, each had a vivid picture of the world in their minds. They did not need to draw maps; the terrain and features were self-evident.

Ye Dui cleared his throat slightly and calmly began to speak:

"First, let's talk about the west. To the west of Luzhou Road and Haozhou are Huangzhou Road, Qizhou Road, and Runing Prefecture, all of which are the activity areas of Xu Shouhui and Liu Futong's Red Turban Army."

Given the current situation, the Yuan Dynasty remains a major threat. Even with disagreements, the Red Flag Battalion and the forces of Xu Shouhui and Liu Futong, among others, must coordinate their efforts and join forces to resist the Yuan. Furthermore, these forces have been established for a long time and have deep roots; however, due to successive wars, there has been a surge of refugees, production has stalled, and their funds and supplies are gradually dwindling.

Ye Dui paused for a moment, then gave his conclusion:
"Therefore, there is almost no room for expansion on the westward route. Forcing it would only waste troops and even force them to turn to the Yuan court, which would be extremely unwise. The Red Flag Battalion's current strategic focus is actually only on the south and north."

Following the unprecedented victory at Xuzhou, Shi Shan's civil and military officials had engaged in several small, heated debates regarding the next direction of the advance, with various proposals emerging:
Some advocated taking advantage of the fierce battle between the Yuan army and the Xu Song army in Jiangnan to quickly build up a navy, seize the opportunity to cross the river and take control of Jiqing Road, occupying this strategically important location; others suggested expanding eastward, attacking Huai'an and Yangzhou, and completely cutting off the Yuan court's grain transport lifeline.
Even a few radicals advocated using the momentum of a great victory to cross the Yellow River to the north, strike deep into the heartland, and threaten Dadu (Beijing). Others took a more conservative approach, believing that a large army should be mobilized to the west to break through Shouchun and capture Anfeng Road.

Although Shishan temporarily suppressed the calls from his civil and military officials to start another major battle, citing the need to "consolidate the foundation and digest the spoils of war," he did not do so.

However, he understood that the expansion of emerging forces during their rise was unstoppable. Even he could only suppress them temporarily with his personal prestige. Once the precious period of rest he had gained through negotiations with the Yuan court for "amnesty" was over, the army would inevitably point to a clear direction of advance.

Ishiyama had also struggled with this issue.

Without a doubt, westward expansion has the lowest cost-effectiveness and can be directly rejected; eastward expansion is the easiest, but its strategic value is limited and the backlash is also significant; northward expansion is too risky and almost a fantasy; southward expansion has the greatest potential, and if successful, it would allow control of the wealthy Jiangnan region, but it is also the most difficult.

The navy is still in its infancy and desperately needs warships capable of dominating the rivers. If it cannot destroy the Yuan navy and completely control the Yangtze River waterway, even if it manages to gain a foothold in Jiqing Road, it may still have its connection with the Huai River cut off by the Yuan navy or figures like Fang Guozhen.

At that time, there will be a huge risk of our forces being dispersed and defeated one by one.

Ye Dui's meticulous and progressive analysis was like clearing away the clouds to reveal the sun, giving Shi Shan a clearer and deeper understanding of the overall situation. Most of his previous confusion and hesitation about the strategic direction also dissipated.

Seeing that Shi Shan's gaze was deep and he was clearly digesting his argument, Ye Dui offered a further point of view, saying:

"While the choice between the northern and southern routes may seem difficult, upon closer examination, both offer the potential to unify the country. In fact, given the current geopolitical situation of the Red Flag Battalion, choosing the northern route might actually be less challenging than choosing the southern route."

"Oh?"

This shattered Shi Shan's preconceived notions, since history had "proven" the possibility of unifying the north from the south at the end of the Yuan dynasty. He had subconsciously believed that advancing south to acquire money, grain, and people was the only viable strategy, but upon hearing this, he frowned slightly, leaned forward, and pressed for an answer:
"Please explain in detail, Master!"

Ye Dui's suggestion of a "simplified northern route" was actually a test of Shi Shan's intentions. However, he saw no joy on Shi Shan's face, but rather a more serious and inquisitive expression, and nodded inwardly. He gathered his thoughts and slowly explained his reasoning:
“Starting from the time when Shi Jingtang of the Later Jin Dynasty ceded the Sixteen Prefectures of Yan and Yun, the vast Han lands north of Yan and Yun have been in the hands of foreign tribes for more than four hundred years; and after the Jingkang Incident of the Northern Song Dynasty, the Central Plains were occupied by the Jin Dynasty, which has been more than two hundred years since then.”

Although the world is vast, only a corner of Jiangnan still upholds the Han dynasty's traditions of clothing, etiquette, music, and culture, a legacy inherited from the former Song dynasty.

This statement is certainly an exaggeration. The Mongol Yuan dynasty used a variety of methods, including military, political, and cultural measures, against the former territory of the Southern Song dynasty. If it hadn't been for the short duration (only seventy-three years to date) and the frequent changes in policies, the Jiangnan region would not have been able to "maintain Han Chinese clothing and customs to this day."

But Ye Dui's point was to emphasize the reality of the North and South being separated for hundreds of years and already in opposition—a sense of alienation in terms of region, psychology, and even culture.

The Red Flag Army originated in the Jianghuai region, situated right on the dividing line between North and South. Naturally, it faced two choices: to head north, integrate the power of the Central Plains and even Youyan, and then sweep across the world; or to head south, inherit the legacy of the former Song Dynasty, and eventually unify China.
Behind this choice lie drastically different political paths and foundations of rule.

Attempting to please both sides and attack from both sides will likely result in making enemies on both sides, weakening one's strength and power.

Shi Shan immediately understood the unspoken meaning in Ye Dui's words, but he did not rush to express his choice. Instead, he calmly asked:
"So, in your opinion, how should we proceed on the northern front, and how should we proceed on the southern front? What are the advantages and disadvantages of each?"

Seeing Shi Shan's composure, Ye Dui held him in even higher regard and continued his analysis, saying:

"The reason why I presumptuously suggested that the northern front might be changed is because the Yuan Dynasty's rule was firmly rooted in the north. The interests of its court, its relatives, its main military force, and even most of the Mongol and Semu nobles were all based in the north."

If the war in the north continues to turn against us, and the Yuan court realizes it cannot quickly annihilate our army by force, it is highly likely that it will change its strategy and attempt to appease and control the situation in order to temporarily stabilize the situation, or even use our army to suppress other rebel forces.

Ye Dui's gaze deepened, his tone becoming increasingly seductive as he said:
"If the Marshal can skillfully utilize this point and feign acceptance of the amnesty, he can emulate the old story of Cao Cao, using the name of the court and the power of administrative orders to gain a legitimate claim while simultaneously preserving the real benefits of controlling the region."

In this way, we can use the name of the Yuan court to carry out expansion, integrate northern resources, first pacify the Central Plains, and then conquer the south. With the marshal's great talent and the soldiers' valor, perhaps within five to seven years, the north can be pacified, at which point the abdication and change of dynasty will proceed naturally.

Immediately, Ye Dui changed the subject, pointing out the heavy price that must be paid for this path.

"However, if we follow this strategy, the Marshal will have to abandon the banner of 'expelling the barbarians' when dealing with foreign enemies and will have to launch large-scale attacks on other righteous armies that do not respect the 'court'; internally, he will also have to use iron-fisted methods to eliminate the forces under his rule that strongly oppose compromise."

Furthermore, in order to quickly stabilize the newly conquered northern prefectures and counties and expand its power, the Marshal must sincerely appoint northern scholars and powerful families who are loyal to the Yuan court or at least recognize its legitimacy. Only in this way can the territory be rapidly expanded and the foundation of rule be consolidated.

After explaining the harsh reality behind this seemingly "shortcut," Ye Dui quietly observed Shi Shan's expression. Seeing that his face was calm and his deep eyes showed no emotional fluctuations, Ye Dui couldn't help but sigh again at the young marshal's deep cunning.

Ye Dui paused briefly, then compared the two routes and continued:
"If we take the southern route, we must cross the river as soon as possible and continue to use 'expelling the barbarians' as our banner, abandoning any illusions of compromise with the Yuan court. Once this strategy is implemented, it will surely win over the hearts and minds of the people in Jiangnan and even the whole country who yearn for the former Song Dynasty and are determined to restore China."

However, this strategy also implies fighting on two fronts: a continuous confrontation with the Yuan court and a forceful suppression of local powerful clans. This process will inevitably be more difficult and protracted, potentially taking much longer, and its challenges far outweigh those of choosing the northern front.

The Ye family of Yu'an, Haining, has a history that can be traced back to the reign of Emperor Xizong of Tang nearly five hundred years ago. Passed down through dozens of generations, the family is deeply rooted and powerful. Ye Duineng's concept of suppressing powerful families did not come from books, but rather from his experience observing the rise of the Red Flag Battalion in recent times.

To be honest, Ye Dui was also conflicted. He hoped that his family would prosper even more, but at the same time he was aware of the greedy seizure of local power by powerful families. He also hoped that a strong leader like Shishan could shoulder historical responsibility and sweep away centuries of accumulated problems.

His words were almost a naked test, clearly presenting Shishan with the advantages and disadvantages of the two paths, the costs to be paid, and even the possible shifts in public opinion.

Shi Shan remained silent for a moment, then abruptly stood up, his posture as straight as a spear, his gaze sharp as lightning, and his resolute voice echoed in the study:

"Although I was born in Yidu Road and grew up in the north, as a son of the Han people, I only recognize the legitimate dynasty of China! Now that I have raised the banner of righteousness, I am already irreconcilably opposed to the Yuan Dynasty, and we will fight to the death!"
My mind is made up; there is only one path left: "Expel the barbarians and restore China! I am determined to fully restore the Han people's attire and bring glory back to our land!"

(End of this chapter)