Chapter Five: Li Yan and Lady Red

Indeed, this is Li Yan, a general under Li Zicheng's banner.

Li Yan was originally named Li Xin, a native of Qi County in Kaifeng Prefecture, Henan. He was a successful candidate in the imperial examination during the Dingmao year of the Tianqi era. His father, Li Jingbai, served as the governor of Shandong, but in the early Chongzhen period, he was implicated in the Wei Zhongxian scandal and sentenced to three years of imprisonment with exile as a commoner. From that point, the Li family fell from their position as a leading official household, yet they remained one of the most prominent gentry and wealthy families in Qi County.

Li Yan’s success in the examinations was akin to being a top scorer in a county-level imperial exam in later times, a testament to his scholarly prowess. But his talents were not confined to the literary realm; he was equally skilled in martial matters. Generous and straightforward by nature, with a strong sense of chivalry and righteousness, he was widely renowned as a young hero of great promise.

However, such a scion of a noble family did not live in a favorable era. The thirteenth year of Chongzhen was marked by relentless drought and locust plagues, a time of continuous calamities.

The decay of water conservancy systems, coupled with countless natural disasters, dealt a devastating blow to the agricultural output of Qi County. Beyond the natural catastrophes, human mismanagement compounded the suffering. Harsh taxes in Henan remained unrelenting, and land consolidation intensified ruthlessly. Consequently, famine-stricken peasants were everywhere, their cries filling the fields and villages.

In this grim context, the magnanimous Li Yan naturally took it upon himself to use his family wealth to aid the starving populace. He even personally petitioned the county magistrate to relieve the harsh taxes. Yet, at a time when the central government was embroiled in the Songjin campaign, and local finances were under strict scrutiny, any attempt to waive taxes would almost certainly cost the official his position. Unsurprisingly, the county magistrate refused outright.

Hearing this, Li Yan was filled with righteous indignation and openly reprimanded the magistrate, thereby alienating him. Forced to rely on his own resources, Li Yan continued to provide relief to the famine victims. But the Li family was already in decline, and their remaining wealth was barely a drop in the ocean. Unyielding, Li Yan sought to rally other local gentry to join in relief efforts. Yet this act only highlighted the coldness and selfishness of the local elites, earning him many enemies.

Meanwhile, the rebel army led by the Red Maiden, rising from Jigong Mountain in Henan, arrived at Qi County. Hearing of Li Yan’s reputation, they raided his estate and captured him, hoping to recruit him into their rebellion.

Li Yan, a scholar of high standing, naturally refused to join and fled. But upon returning to the county seat, he was met with distrust. Having already offended many through his relief efforts, the resentful county magistrate accused him of treason and had him imprisoned.

Ultimately, it was the Red Maiden who led her troops to attack Qi County. With the support of the starving peasants inside, she broke the siege and freed Li Yan.

After his release, Li Yan’s worldview underwent a profound change. He resolved to rebel. Soon after, he met Niu Jinxing, another disillusioned scholar. Sharing similar frustrations, Niu planned to join the rebellion as a subordinate commander. The two quickly found common cause and, bearing the prestige of their scholarly status, pledged allegiance to Li Zicheng.

It was then that Li Xin adopted the new name Li Yan to signify his determined break with the past.

Now, Li Zicheng commands a million-strong force in Henan, winning battle after battle and even capturing the great city of Luoyang, establishing offices and minting currency—a sign of his burgeoning dominion as a powerful ruler. Li Yan, having joined two years earlier as a minor scholar, has proven himself no ordinary man. He commands a contingent largely composed of men from Qi County, rising to the rank of a prominent general under Li Zicheng.

Beside Li Yan stands a woman dressed in a form-fitting short robe. Her beauty is striking, her figure alluringly curved, yet her presence commands such respect that none of the men in the room dare meet her gaze.

This woman is none other than the Red Maiden, also a commander under the rebel forces.

In fact, the Red Maiden commands even greater reverence throughout Dongming County than Li Yan. She is a veteran rebel leader, renowned for her formidable martial skills.

Among the rebel forces, there are those who fancy themselves gallant and dashing. These men, willing to risk everything to rebel, possess both sharp minds and deft combat abilities.

Yet within the ranks, no one has come close enough to the Red Maiden to breach her personal space. Those who have attempted it have either been killed or maimed. Should anyone try to force themselves upon her, they would face not only her own prowess but also the protection of her elite warriors—a female guard of three hundred hardened women bound by shared hardship.

With such strength and authority, it is no wonder the Red Maiden commands widespread respect.

However, this time, the Red Maiden was somewhat surprised by Li Yan’s arrival.

Dispatched northeast by Li Zicheng, she had felt somewhat sidelined. As a woman, she abhorred the looting and pillaging so common among male soldiers. Her own troops maintained strict discipline regarding women and propriety.

But things were different around Li Zicheng. Aside from his old, trusted officers—whom he kept a tight rein on—the so-called righteous army that followed him was lax in discipline. While outright looting was rare, the troops often took what they wanted without paying, engaging in countless petty crimes.

Other allied rebel forces, like those under Yuan Shizhong, being locals, at least refrained from wanton slaughter or rape, usually contenting themselves with seizing supplies. But Luo Rucai was a different matter. He was a man enamored with beauty and concubines, capricious and undisciplined. Under his command, abuses and crimes were frequent.

For these reasons, the Red Maiden disliked operating within the main camp alongside the allied forces. She found an excuse to lead her troops northeast. At this time, with the rebel army advancing victoriously, taking cities and spoils, Kaifeng appeared ripe for the taking. Luo Rucai, Yuan Shizhong, and others, wary of sharing the spoils, preferred not to have another contender and allowed the Red Maiden to go her own way.

Yet Li Yan’s arrival with troops in Dongming County gave the Red Maiden pause.

There had been rumors that she had taken a liking to Li Yan and that was why she had attacked Qi County to rescue him. In truth, though brave and capable in battle, the Red Maiden lacked strategic vision, much like many bandit commanders—her tactics were opportunistic, striking wherever success seemed achievable.

At the time, her forces had already penetrated Li Yan’s estate, with their sights set on Qi County’s seat. Would she really avoid attacking Qi County just to avoid suspicion?

Afterward, Li Yan and Niu Jinxing, leveraging their status as scholars, gained Li Zicheng’s favor, further separating their paths from the Red Maiden’s.

The Red Maiden, fiercely independent, naturally had little interaction with Li Yan near Li Zicheng.

Until now, their encounters had been few. As for any whispered romantic feelings that history might hint at, for the moment, they had only just begun cooperating without further developments.

With everyone assembled, Li Yan cleared his throat, nodded toward the Red Maiden, and addressed the group: “Friends, I have gathered you here today because of the Shandong government troops. Our mission is to prevent the enemy from Shandong from crossing Dongming and reinforcing the city of Kaifeng. Besides that, before the army marches out, I intend to organize and strengthen our forces.”

The Red Maiden gave a slight nod, acknowledging his words.

But just as Li Yan began, a stout military officer with a prominent belly and sleep crust in his eyes snorted coldly. Flicking the sleep away, he cleared his throat, drawing everyone’s attention.