She Who Became the Sun

Narration shifts to Ma Xiuying (Ma), General Ma’s daughter, at Anfeng, the location of the Red Turban base. She hints at the political in-fighting within the Red Turban leadership, as her father’s death was a result of the Prime Minister’s disfavor. She accompanies Guo Tianxu (Little Guo), her betrothed, to a war meeting and is concerned about his ambition to take General Ma’s place. Their conversation is interrupted by a commotion, which turns out to be Zhu Chongba trying and failing to ride a horse. They both perceive Zhu as male. Little Guo is displeased and accuses Zhu of being a fake monk and stealing the horse. Ma Xiuying replies that Zhu is indeed a real monk. Trying to save face, Little Guo gives Zhu a sword and orders her to join the vanguard of the Red Turban military.

At the war meeting, Ma, as a woman, is relegated to serving tea while the Prime Minister, Left Minister Chen, Right Minister Guo (Little Guo’s father), Little Guo, and Commander Sun Meng discuss strategy for the upcoming battle against the Mongols. (The Prince of Radiance is also present, but only as an observer.) Minister Chen and Minister Guo jockey for power through their candidates for the empty general position. The Prime Minister, who currently favors Guo over Chen, opts to promote Little Guo. Ma is suspicious when Chen accepts this but realizes that Chen plans to manipulate Little Guo’s ambition and arrogance for his gain. Ma is unable to warn Little Guo, newly promoted to general, away from announcing his battle strategy, which the Prime Minister dislikes but sardonically allows in a political move like the one that resulted in General Ma’s death.

Meanwhile, a thief, Chang Yuchun, attempts to rob Zhu. She outwits him; he then offers to be her guide in Anfeng in return for her horse, which he can “collect after [she’s] dead” (107). As Chang takes her through the city, they encounter the Prince of Radiance giving a blessing ceremony, accompanied by the Prime Minister. Zhu sees the Prince’s Mandate of Heaven—portrayed as a red flame—for the first time and ponders the upcoming dynastic change. She also realizes that she needs the Red Turban army to achieve her fate of greatness, and therefore also needs to defeat General Ouyang in the upcoming battle.

Camped at the Yao River, Zhu is searching for a solution to the Red Turban victory. As she wanders through the camp, she studies the geography of the nearby lake. Her observations give her an idea, but it’s risky. To aid her in her plan, she visits the Red Turban engineer, Jiao Yu, and requests his assistance in exchange for her horse. He agrees but thinks little of her plan.

Meanwhile, Ouyang and Esen discuss military strategy in their encampment the night before the battle. They decide to split their forces—one group will face the Red Turbans head-on at the single bridge spanning the river, while another group crosses the river downstream and surprise attacks from the flank.

The day of the battle dawns. The two armies face each other, and Zhu faces Ouyang in battle for the first time. Zhu steps forward onto the bridge with the gong Jiao Yu made for her. Disguising her strategy as prayer, she bangs the gong and rallies the Red Turbans, who shout and stomp as they regain morale. The noise and vibrations add to the previous seismic activity Zhu had observed at the lake and cause a landslide and an enormous displacement of water. The 10,000 men fording the river downstream drown, and the Mongol army is forced to retreat.

Ouyang and Esen return to the Prince of Henan’s palace in Anyang. They are greeted by Lord Wang Baoxiang, Esen’s cousin/adopted brother. Wang is the son of the Prince’s sister and was adopted as a second son by the Prince. Wang displays his Nanren heritage openly, which contrasts starkly with his Mongol family. Wang confronts them about the enormous losses during the Yao River battle and informs them that the Prince, Chaghan, has called them for an audience.

Chaghan is greatly displeased by the losses and blames Ouyang, whom he dislikes. Chaghan reminds them of Ouyang’s past: Ouyang’s father rebelled against the Yuan and was “executed by the Great Khan” (129). The Khan “decreed that every Ouyang male to the ninth degree should be put to death, and the women and girls sold into slavery” (129). This order was carried out by Chaghan. Ouyang is the sole survivor of his clan and witnessed their executions. He was castrated and forced to serve Chaghan’s family (i.e., Esen) as a slave. This speech also reminds Ouyang of his objective of avenging his family. His humiliation during Chaghan’s tirade renews his desire to set his vengeance in motion. Esen intervenes. As Chaghan’s favorite, Esen incurs no punishment, and Ouyang is dismissed.

Chaghan’s calm does not last. As the discussion turns toward military strategy, he commands Lord Wang to join Esen as a military commander. Wang refuses, on the grounds that his strength lies in administration. Angrily, Chaghan punishes Wang by calling in Altan; in exchange for military resources from Altan’s family, he gives Altan lands that belong to Wang. As Esen, Wang, and Altan exit the meeting, Altan mocks Wang’s lack of masculinity (by Mongol standards, men are warriors, not scholars) and his Nanren heritage. Esen, witnessing this, would have fought Altan on Wang’s behalf, but Wang simply stalks away.

Days later, Esen visits Wang who informs him that the Zhangs, a Nanren merchant family, have grown in power, and their enterprise is run by a woman. Esen dismisses this and tries to convince Wang to act according to the standards of Mongol masculinity to improve his relationship with Chaghan. Wang rejects this as impossible because of his Nanren heritage and insinuates that Esen’s feelings for Ouyang go beyond what is appropriate for Mongol standards. The narrator says that amorous relationships between men were “not unheard of amongst the Manji, [but] there was little worse for a Mongol’s reputation” (136).

Later, Ouyang visits Wang to request supplies for the upcoming campaign. Their interactions are prickly and colored by their similarities and mutual disdain, but they both simultaneously love and envy Esen because he “had never been betrayed or hurt or shamed for what he was” (139). As Ouyang leaves Wang’s office, he overhears Wang’s subordinates gossiping about the Great Khan’s upcoming Spring Hunt in Hichetu, which Chaghan and his sons will attend, Ouyang feels pulled by his fate toward “an opportunity he wanted, and at the same time it was the very last thing he wanted” (140).

After the Red Turban victory at the Yao River, Zhu is promoted to commander. At the military strategy meeting, the Prime Minister commands her to capture the city of Lu. Later, Zhu encounters Ma attempting to defend an old woman in the market from thugs. Ma is unsuccessful, and Zhu points out that Ma’s kindness and empathy are unusual. They converse and Zhu convinces Ma to teach Zhu how to ride the horse she’s re-acquired from Jiao Yu. Later, Chen seeks out Zhu and gives her his own test: he will provide her with an extra 500 men (for a total of 700) for her mission to capture Lu; if she succeeds, she can keep the plunder and fund the temple she’s ostensibly trying to construct.

During the riding lesson, Zhu tells Ma that she’s not truly siding with Chen. She’s remaining neutral in her way. She also convinces Ma to advise her regarding Lu. On the way to Lu, Yuchun observes Jiao Yu testing a hand cannon he’s creating for Zhu. Jiao Yu is wary of Zhu; as he explains why, they are attacked by bandits. However, the bandit leader calls off the attack upon seeing Zhu. The leader is revealed to be Xu Da; the two reunite joyfully. Though the conflict is resolved peacefully, Jiao Yu remains cautious.

Ouyang visits Esen, who has just returned from training. Ouyang is reminded of an intimate, past incident in which he removed Esen’s armor to treat a battle wound. Afterward, Esen complains about the fact that he still doesn’t have a son; he is considering adoption, which Chaghan opposes. Ouyang muses inwardly that Esen, not the Great Yuan, is his true motivation for success, and suggests that Esen bring Ouyang with him to the Great Khan’s Spring Hunt in Hichetu. Esen agrees enthusiastically.

Later, Ouyang and Shao discuss their plot against the Prince of Henan. Since Ouyang will be with Esen, Shao is left in charge of arrangements in Anyang. They encounter Lord Wang, who demands military aid in rebuilding infrastructure; Ouyang agrees, choosing to pick his battles. Shao chides him for accepting Wang’s rudeness, and the subsequent discussion reveals their differing attitudes regarding their Nanren ethnicity—Shao matter of fact, and Ouyang conflicted.

Outside the city of Lu, Zhu and Xu Da catch up on their years of separation. Zhu requests Xu Da’s aid in her plan to capture Lu. They enter the city disguised as rat catchers, where they encounter and follow the arrival procession of the new governor, Tolochu. Tolochu meets Lady Rui, the Nanren wife of the former governor of Lu, at the governor’s residence. She had been promised that she could remain there, even after Tolochu took over, but he reneges on this and evicts her. Witnessing this exchange, Zhu realizes Lady Rui is pregnant; Zhu sees an opportunity and adjusts her plan to capture Lu.

Zhu sneaks into Lady Rui’s quarters disguised as a maid. When Lady Rui attempts to dismiss her, Zhu’s disguise is knocked askew, revealing her ordination scars. Rui believes her to be a lecherous monk and attacks Zhu with a teapot. Zhu disarms her and offers her a deal: help the Red Turbans capture Lu, and in return, Lu will be Rui’s to govern. Rui is doubtful at first—women openly governing is unheard of—but finally accepts with a deal of her own: Rui will let Lu fall to the Red Turbans only if Zhu kills Tolochu.

Zhu goes to Tolochu’s office, this time in her monk’s garb, planning arson. They fight, and Zhu kills him and escapes outside, where she falls unconscious. She wakes in jail; Lady Rui, now in command of Lu, tries to renege on their deal and has figured out Zhu’s secret. However, before Rui can continue, Xu Da attacks Lu with the Red Turban army. Lady Rui is forced to uphold her alliance with the Red Turban, and Zhu is set free. As Zhu returns to her army, she begins to ponder the Mandate of Heaven in conjunction with her fate of greatness.

Ma witnesses Zhu’s successful return to Anfeng. During the procession, the Prince of Radiance smiles and brings out his red Mandate of Heaven, which fills Ma with foreboding. Later, she confronts Zhu about her motivation for joining the Red Turbans and her ambition. Zhu admits her desire for greatness. Ma privately feels that there’s no point in a woman desiring anything because she is trapped in the roles and expectations that society lays out for her.