Sweep Yuan

Chapter 15 A Small Thief with Big Ambitions

With war and chaos looming, Chengezhuang was caught in the middle of it all. They couldn't flee with their entire clan, nor did they want to be wiped out. So they had to find a way out for themselves and their clan.

Chen Yingqi's initial confrontation with Shishan was merely a struggle for control of the narrative, aiming to overcome the immediate crisis at a lower cost.

But Shishan didn't play by the rules; he left when the negotiations failed.

After all, Shishan had a choice; if the Chen family didn't cooperate, there were always the Wang and Li families willing to cooperate, but the Chen family had no choice.

After dismissing the servants, Chen Yingqi approached Shi Shan, who stood with his hands behind his back, and respectfully bowed, saying:
“This old man is ignorant and unaware that disaster is imminent. I humbly request the commander to guide the Chen family through this predicament.”

Shi Shan didn't mind Chen Yingqi deliberately referring to himself as a commander of a thousand men. He returned to the main seat with an air of authority, sized up the Chen father and son, and asked:
"If Marshal Li were to remain trapped in Xuzhou and Xiaoxian, waiting for the imperial army to come and annihilate him, how long would it take for the Red Turban Army in Xuzhou to be wiped out?"

"this?"

Could it be that this fellow is in the rebel camp but his heart is with the government army, secretly sending messages to the authorities?

However, Chengezhuang is too close to Xuzhou City. Even if the message is successfully delivered and the government troops arrive in time, the Chen family will be torn to pieces by the raging waves of battle between the government and the bandits.

Chen Yingqi was unsure of Shi Shan's true intentions and hesitated to speak.

Chen Cheng, not yet old, still possessed a certain sharpness in his heart. Seeing his father remain silent for a long time, he couldn't help but answer:

"It will take anywhere from three months to a little over a month. We will rely on the people to defend this isolated city. We don't care how capable you are; we only care when the court has the time to deal with Xuzhou."

Chen Cheng's comedic timing was excellent, and Shi Shan praised him, saying:
“Well said! Unfortunately, Marshal Li has great ambitions and will not be confined to a lonely city. To be honest, we came here to scout ahead for the army. The Marshal will be reorganizing the troops soon to continue the advance.”

Chen Cheng was about to argue, based on the situation in the surrounding prefectures of Xuzhou, that the Red Turban Army had no chance of launching an attack in the short term, when Shi Shan suddenly changed the subject.

"If the Red Turban Army were to attack and seize territory, the manpower and resources of Xiao County and Xuzhou alone would certainly not be enough. Once the army sets out—"

Shi Shan stopped halfway through his sentence and looked at Chen Cheng with a half-smile.

Xuzhou had suffered from banditry in recent years, and the Chen father and son had seen the scale of government troops suppressing bandits before. They quickly understood what Shishan was going to say, and their faces turned pale instantly.

If the Red Turban Army were to requisition grain and supplies, how would the Chen family resist?
If they don't honestly contribute grain and men, they'll be wiped out by the bandits; but if they cooperate with the bandits, who can guarantee that they won't incite the lower-class farmers who have received a share of the spoils to slaughter their own families?

Seeing that Chen Yingqi and Chen Cheng understood what he meant, Shi Shan softened his tone and smiled:
"Please rest assured, Marshal Li and the other generals are all locals of Xuzhou and value their hometown. Even if they conscript men and collect grain, there will be a limit. Since Chairman Chen has already promised to pay the grain, I believe the Marshal will not force the Chen family to be wiped out."

The traitors who wreak havoc on the countryside are the ones who value their hometown the most.
The Chen father and son naturally did not believe Shi Shan's nonsense, and sure enough, the latter changed the subject again.

"But I wonder how you will treat those who have betrayed us when the government troops you have been eagerly awaiting return?"

"what!"

During the Mongol conquest of the country, they often used civilians as cannon fodder to fill trenches and attack cities. Even after they had secured their rule, it was common for government troops to kill innocent people and claim credit for their achievements.

Even if the government troops are disciplined and do not kill innocent civilians, when the imperial army attacks Xuzhou, will they feel guilty about forcing people like the Chen family, who have paid taxes and labor for the rebel army, to attack the city and fill the moats?
Chen Yingqi knew that in the face of such a disaster, his small family and clan had no chance to plead their case to either the officials or the rebels. He was so frightened that his face turned ashen and he could barely speak.

"Is there...is there any way to save it?"

"Yes!" Shi Shan's answer was very affirmative, but what he said next made the Chen father and son even more desperate.

“Right now, tie me and Lao Sun up, then kill all the Red Turban Army soldiers outside the village. Then, hurry up and find the government in Pizhou or Suzhou, and use the heads of us bandits to bring wealth and honor to the Chen family, no, to the head of the village.”

Chen Yingqi and his son exchanged a glance. If they had the courage and boldness, they wouldn't have knowingly sent wine and food to "reward" the troops when they knew that Shishan only had so few people.

Moreover, what terrible idea did Shishan come up with?
Catching Shi and Sun, who walked right into the trap, wouldn't be difficult. But killing all the Red Turban soldiers outside was out of the question. If even one or two escaped, they could just wait for the Red Turban soldiers in Xuzhou to retaliate!

Moreover, even if the Red Turban Army outside the village were wiped out, given the nature of the Yuan Dynasty's officialdom, no real wealth or power would fall into the Chen family's hands.

As the saying goes, "You can run away but you can't hide." The imperial court is too far away, but Xuzhou is too close. If we really offend the Red Turban Army in Xuzhou to such an extent, where can so many members of the Chen family run to?

Thinking of this, Chen Yingqi completely lost his spirit, his face turned extremely ugly, and his tone became weak.

"Commander Shi, please stop frightening this old man. We are a kind and honest family, how could we dare to do such a foolish thing?"

"If that's the case, I do have a way to survive even if it means death."

Shi Shan again only spoke halfway through his sentence, clearly waiting for the Chen father and son to express their opinion.

The fate of the clan rested on the other party's decision. Chen Yingqi disregarded his pride and immediately pulled Chen Cheng to prostrate himself in worship.

"Please, Commander Qian, save my Chen clan!"

Shi Shan sat at the head of the table and received a proper bow from the Chen father and son before speaking:

"What does the old president think of me?"

"The commander is no ordinary man. Forgive my poor eyesight, but I really cannot see his true abilities."

Chen Yingqi is 62 years old this year. When his family was well-off in his early years, he traveled to some places and met many talented young people. However, none of the talented people he has met in his life are as "unconventional" as the person in front of him.

Shi Shan was not only well-mannered and eloquent, but also possessed a strong self-confidence that emanated from within. He dared to go to Chengezhuang to "recruit soldiers" with only about twenty poorly equipped soldiers, and even dared to venture deep into the village to intimidate everyone.

What's even more remarkable is that this person is so young yet so shameless, which is quite rare. He dares to eat and take things for free when he has nothing of his own, and even shamelessly promises to protect the Chen family in the future.

This statement is absolutely not meant to be derogatory; in chaotic times, only those who are thick-skinned and ruthless can stand firm.

Such a person is far beyond the comprehension of a mere club president like him.

Based on Shi Shan's words and actions, Chen Yingqi was reminded that a thousand years ago, Xuzhou had also produced a hero who acted with extreme confidence.

Back then, Emperor Gaozu of Han, who was just a minor official, attended Lu Gong's housewarming banquet empty-handed, yet loudly proclaimed "ten thousand coins as a congratulatory gift." How similar is he to the person before us?
"Haha, to be honest, I also think I'm no ordinary person."

Shi Shan spoke arrogantly, yet his expression showed no sign of unease.

"In chaotic times, no one can live. The Chen family is bound to suffer this calamity. Why not gamble on me, an extraordinary person?"

(End of this chapter)