Guide to the South, Book One: The Setting Sun

Resisting foreign invaders has never been one person’s duty alone. Just as Wen Tianxiang led his troops in a fierce battle against the Yuan army, the pirate Fang Kui and Su Zhe, a powerful local from Liuqiu (Taiwan), came forward to sound him out. Wen Tianxiang had looked down on these rebel forces, but under the influence of Wen Zhong’s memories, he accepted the Su and Fang families’ offer of mutual support. On the newly reclaimed lands, local notables doubted how long the Fujian Governor-General’s Office could survive and refused to serve as officials. With no other choice, Wen Tianxiang tried out the new policies from Wen Zhong’s memories, letting the people elect village chiefs and officials at the village level. Since the gentry went out of their way to avoid being branded as rebels, the “election” proved surprisingly successful. The Pohu Army, reorganized by Wen Tianxiang according to Wen Zhong’s memories, joined forces with Lady Xu’s and Chen Diaoyan’s troops from the Fujian resistance, as well as the East China Sea pirates. Before the main Yuan forces could arrive, they attacked Quanzhou, securing a foothold for the Fujian Governor-General’s Office under Wen Tianxiang’s command. Sodu, a fierce general of the Northern Yuan, led his troops in an attack and put Chaozhou to the sword. As the Yuan army and the various rebel forces reached a stalemate, the maritime Song court, which had long avoided battle, finally made the right move. Under General Zhang Shijie’s command, two hundred thousand Song troops landed again and cut off Sodu’s retreat. The Yuan army suffered a crushing defeat. Just as the heroes prepared to deliver the final blow to Sodu, the remnant Song court, seeking to eliminate dissent before it could take root, quietly turned its hand against Wen Tianxiang.