[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-a-little-soldier-of-the-late-ming-border-army":3,"chapter-a-little-soldier-of-the-late-ming-border-army-a-little-soldier-of-the-late-ming-border-army-chapter-1":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"chinese","A Little Soldier of the Late Ming Border Army",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":18,"prevChapterSlug":19,"totalChapters":20,"novelImage":21},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":12,"translator":16,"content_hash":17},1205290,1561,"Chapter 1: Fire-Road Watchtower","a-little-soldier-of-the-late-ming-border-army-chapter-1",1,"\u003Cp>The wind howled past, whipping up a cloud of dust and making the clothes on his body snap noisily.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With a splash, Wang Dou lifted a bucket of water from the river, shattering the calm of the shimmering surface. He set the bucket carefully on the bank, then casually washed his face; the cool river water refreshed his spirit. After straightening up, Wang Dou let out a long breath, gazed into the distance, and his eyes narrowed habitually.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The scenery before him was vastly different from the delicate beauty of the Jiangnan region — faintly outlined mountain ranges, a vast and boundless land, sparse trees scattered across the plain, and faintly visible forts and villages. Stretching his gaze as far as it would go, it always gave one a feeling of desolation and immensity.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This was Xuanfu Garrison, the landscape of the Great Ming's northern borderlands.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"It's been sixteen days since I came to this world? Time flies so fast.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Dou thought silently to himself.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Indeed, although the body of this Wang Dou before him belonged to a man of the Ming dynasty, the spirit and soul within this frame were not of this world, but came from a history teacher in his thirties living in the 21st century of a later era. Simply put, Wang Dou had crossed through time and possessed this body. The process was utterly baffling and the specifics beyond investigation; in any case, the Wang Dou of the later era had taken over the body of an ordinary watchtower soldier in the Great Ming.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>By coincidence, the original owner of this body was also named Wang Dou, though there was a slight difference: the Dou in this Great Ming Wang Dou's name was the dou meaning a measuring dipper, while the Dou in the later-era Wang Dou's name was the dou meaning struggle. Though both were pronounced Dou, their meanings were completely different.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Dou could not explain the baffling thing that had happened to him, nor did he have the chance to find anyone who could resolve his confusion; he could only keep it silently in his heart. Of course, anyone to whom such a strange event occurred would feel terror and fear, and Wang Dou was no exception. Fortunately, even in the later era, Wang Dou had been a steady-minded person with a fairly strong inner constitution. In just a few short days, he had accepted what had happened to him and began to carefully ponder how he should proceed in the future.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When Wang Dou possessed the body, he likewise took over its memories and thoughts, which spared him a great deal of unnecessary trouble. From the memories in his mind, combined with his own quiet observations over these days, he had roughly understood his current identity and circumstances.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had arrived in this world on the twenty-eighth day of the seventh month of the seventh year of the Chongzhen reign. In the blink of an eye, over ten days had passed, and it was now the thirteenth day of the eighth month. His location was in the area of Baoanzhou on the eastern route of the Huailong Circuit in Xuanfu Garrison. His status was that of an ordinary watchtower soldier at Jingbian Watchtower under the jurisdiction of Dongjiazhuang in Shunxiang Fort. At home, he had an elderly mother and a wife not yet formally wed — her status was that of a child bride.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This world's Wang Dou was twenty-two years old, far younger than the later-era Wang Dou, and his body was tall and robust. Not only was he proficient in fist and foot techniques, he was also skilled in using weapons like the long spear and the great bow, which heartened the later-era Wang Dou, who had perpetually been in a state of sub-health. Regrettably, however, although this Ming-dynasty Wang Dou was tall and brawny, his character was simple-minded, cowardly, and timid. He was often bullied and dared not resist, causing the Wang Dou who now possessed his body and memories to lament his misfortune and rage at his failure to fight back!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>However, since Wang Dou's character in the later era was cautious and calm, after possessing the body he did not rashly do anything out of line. Instead, he observed his surroundings with a cold eye while simultaneously recalling the late-Ming history he knew.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the later era, Wang Dou had taught middle-school history somewhere in Fujian. He was personally well-versed in late-Ming history and also had deep attainments in geography, particularly in the geography of Hebei and Shanxi. As far as he knew, this period of late-Ming history could be described as beset by internal strife and external threats. Decades of unending calamities had spawned endless waves of roving bandits and warfare, until the last vestiges of vitality were drained from this nation. In the end, this colossal empire collapsed with a thunderous crash, and the fruits of victory were stolen by foreign races.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>An era of utter chaos, where it was better to be a dog in times of peace than a man in times of turmoil. Human life was no more than weeds; even as a soldier, his own life was equally precarious. The more he understood this period of history, the more Wang Dou worried about his future survival.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sometimes in the dead of night, Wang Dou would think of his parents, his wife, and his daughter from the later era. Realizing that he would never see them again in this life, a dull ache would inevitably throb in his heart. Yet deep within, Wang Dou still felt a faint trace of excitement about coming to this world. In the later era, he had been a man unwilling to accept mediocrity; his lust for power was great. Unfortunately, fate had played tricks on him, and he had never had the opportunity to rise and stand out. Perhaps in this era, he could have a different life trajectory.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But ideals are one thing, and reality is always cruel. At present, he was merely an insignificant soldier at a fire-road watchtower. His previous reputation for cowardice meant anyone could walk all over him. Although after the possession Wang Dou had become much more sullen and silent, looking like someone not to be trifled with, until he actually did something concrete, others still treated him as invisible. The hard and dirty work in the watchtower was still the first to be assigned to him — for example, the current daily task of fetching water from several li away.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Years of drought had dried up the well inside Jingbian Watchtower where Wang Dou was stationed. The daily water needs of the several watchtower soldiers and their families thus fell on his shoulders. Just fetching water required him to make several round trips each day between this river and the fire-road watchtower.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The locals called this river the Dongfang River. Originating from the high mountains south of Baoanzhou, it flowed through the territories of Huiyao Fort, Shunxiang Fort, and Dongjiazhuang, then continued for another ten li before merging into the later-era famous Sanggan River, which at this time was called the Hun River.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Looking out, the waters of the Dongfang River were clear, and its banks were mostly grassy and lined with green trees. But beyond the riverbanks on both sides, there were vast stretches of dry land. The slightest gust of wind would occasionally whip up clouds of dust. On either side of the river lay some fields belonging to garrison troops or civilian households. The river meandered northwest, nourishing and irrigating these lands along its course. However, due to years of drought, the water level of this river had already dropped considerably, exposing many shoals.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Dou withdrew his gaze and calculated that after carrying this load of water, today's water quota would be complete, and he could relax a little.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At this moment, he was wearing a tattered red padded coat, its originally bright color almost completely faded away. The red felt military hat on his head was nearly half-collapsed, and on his feet were a pair of equally worn-out red padded shoes. This was the standard-issue uniform of the Great Ming army that he wore: the mandarin-duck battle coat.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>By old regulation, Great Ming soldiers' mandarin-duck battle coats were to be reissued every three years. However, at this time, the battle uniforms of many Great Ming frontier troops had probably not been replaced in ten years. The uniform on Wang Dou's body was likewise ragged and tattered, but though it had many patches, it was washed and starched very clean. This was all thanks to his child bride at home, Xie Xiuniang; her virtue and diligence went without saying.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At Wang Dou's waist hung a wooden identification tag proving his identity. The front was engraved with six characters: \"Watchtower Soldier Guard Wang Dou.\" The left side was engraved with the characters \"Baoan Guard, Brave Character, No. 845.\" The back was engraved with the words: \"All watchtower soldier guards shall wear this tag. Those without a tag shall be punished according to law. Borrowers and lenders shall share the same crime.\" This was Wang Dou's crucial proof of garrison duty at Jingbian Watchtower; losing it would be a major crime.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Beside the water buckets lay his long spear. Wang Dou picked up the spear, and a feeling of flesh-and-blood connection surged through his heart. In these precarious times, this long spear was his greatest guarantee of survival. Holding the spear in his left hand, he bent down to lift the water buckets with his shoulder pole, habitually and vigilantly scanning his surroundings. Wang Dou could not afford to be careless. Although the main force of the Later Jin army had mostly moved toward the Datong area, there were still small bands of roving cavalry active around Baoanzhou and Huailai Guard; he had to be careful not to run into them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>On the seventh day of the seventh month last month, after leading his army to conquer the Mongol Chahar tribe, the Later Jin Khan Huang Taiji — whom the Ming people called Huang Taiji — used the pretext that Ming border generals had harassed his territory, killed his people, and harbored fugitives. He led tens of thousands of troops to break through at Shangfang Fort and enter the pass. They then plundered extensively within Xuanfu Garrison, advancing to besiege the garrison city. The defending troops of Xuanfu City fired cannons and drove them back, and Huang Taiji withdrew toward the Datong area. When news of the Later Jin army's incursion arrived, the Great Ming was shaken. On the ninth day, the capital was placed under martial law. Simultaneously, the Ministry of War urgently ordered Baoding Regional Commander Chen Hongfan to defend Juyong Pass and Provincial Governor Ding Kuichu to defend Zijing Pass, to prevent the Later Jin army from entering the capital region.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>On the twenty-third day of the seventh month, five days before Wang Dou arrived in this world, the Later Jin central army captured Baoanzhou. Countless soldiers and civilians were killed or wounded, and Department Magistrate Yan Shengdou committed suicide to preserve his integrity. Afterward, the Later Jin central army, under the leadership of Ajige, withdrew toward Datong to rendezvous with Huang Taiji. When Wang Dou arrived in this world, the entire Baoanzhou area was still a scene of devastation. Based on Wang Dou's understanding of history, although the bulk of the Later Jin army should currently be rampaging in the Datong area, they would not fully withdraw beyond the frontier until the intercalary eighth month. He still had to be careful.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Carrying the water on his shoulder pole, Wang Dou walked eastward. His physique could well be described as tiger-backed and bear-waisted; even carrying two heavy buckets of water for several li, he still felt no strain at all.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The entire way was flat land. Looking around, the terrain was open and the soil quality was fairly good. This Baoanzhou was the later-era Zhuolu County, though the current Baoanzhou was much larger than the later-era Zhuolu County. Places that in later times belonged to Huailai County — such as Xinbao'an, Dongbali, Xibali, Shacheng, and Sangyuan — were all at this time important fortified towns and villages under Baoanzhou Guard.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The environment in this area of Baoanzhou was superior, known for the saying: \"For a thousand li along the Sanggan, only Zhuolu is rich.\" The lands along the banks of the Sanggan River and the Yang River were fertile and easy to irrigate; here, one could even grow rice. Particularly on the south bank of the Sanggan River, where river channels and irrigation canals were widespread, it was an important garrison farm area for Xuanfu Garrison. To protect this key garrison farm region from incursions, a dense network of fire-road watchtowers had been built in this area.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>However, in the area around Shunxiang Fort, since it was already close to hilly and mountainous terrain, irrigation was not very convenient. Moreover, with the increasingly large-scale droughts in recent times, except for the fields near the rivers and canals, Wang Dou saw that many originally fine fields had been abandoned and gone to waste.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After walking another li or so, he saw in the distance a tall fire-road watchtower standing majestically on a slightly raised knoll. The watchtower body was over ten meters high, its overall shape an inverted dipper. He could faintly make out the lookout hall, the lamp pole, and the military banner on top. Around the watchtower was a horse corral wall over thirty meters long, and beyond the wall was a moat. That was Jingbian Watchtower, one of the four fire-road watchtowers under the jurisdiction of Dongjiazhuang in Shunxiang Fort. It housed seven defending soldiers, and Wang Dou was one of its watchtower soldiers.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Great Ming built watchtowers and platforms extensively across the Nine Frontier Garrisons. Generally, there was one watchtower every three li and one platform every five li. In some critical locations, a watchtower was even built every single li. Those near the frontier were called border watchtowers, while those in the interior were called fire-road watchtowers or fire-relay watchtowers. Each watchtower was guarded by five or seven men. Within the entire Baoan Guard territory, there were over forty watchtowers and platforms of various kinds.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Jingbian Watchtower where Wang Dou was stationed was merely an ordinary smoke-signal watchtower, so the entire watchtower body was constructed of rammed earth and not faced with brick. If it were brick-faced, it would be called a tower platform, and the surrounding horse corral wall could reach over one hundred meters long, with a deeper outer moat. However, building a single tower platform required at least fifty-eight thousand gray bricks and nearly one hundred shi of white lime. Given the Great Ming's financial resources, they could only build platforms in important locations.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing that he was about to arrive home, Wang Dou felt joy in his heart and involuntarily quickened his pace. Soon, he reached the moat outside the perimeter wall of Jingbian Watchtower. This wall was about four meters high, with a main gate set in the south. The gate plaque bore the three large characters \"Jingbian Watchtower.\" Above the gate was a suspended tower, which housed defensive weapons like rolling stones and controlled a drawbridge. In normal times, the soldiers of Jingbian Watchtower had to rely on this drawbridge to enter and exit.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Dou carefully avoided several hidden pitfall traps beside the moat, came before the main gate, and shouted up at the suspended tower: \"I'm back! Lower the drawbridge!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He shouted several times. After a long while, a head lazily poked out from the suspended tower. Seeing it was Wang Dou, the man laughed: \"Big Fool Wang is back? You fetch water pretty fast. Did you run into any Tatars on the road?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Dou knew this man was called Yang Tong, a sycophant who usually followed Squad Leader Zhong Dayong around, bullying others by flaunting his master's authority, and from time to time took pleasure in mocking Wang Dou. Wang Dou had never had a good impression of him. He ignored him and merely shouted: \"Lower the drawbridge, quick!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yang Tong's attempt at humor fell flat, and he cursed: \"Damn it, what's your hurry? I'm lowering the drawbridge right now, aren't I?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Grumbling and cursing, he lowered the drawbridge, then shouted into the walled compound: \"Big Fool Wang is back, open the gate.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Quickly, the drawbridge was lowered, and then the main gate beneath the suspended tower opened as well. A clamor of male and female voices drifted out, and several heads appeared within his line of sight, all looking at Wang Dou and laughing. One man even yelled: \"Big Fool Wang is back? Didn't get captured by the Tatars?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Dou, carrying the water on his pole, stepped onto the drawbridge. The two heavy wooden buckets made the planks beneath his feet creak and groan. His face dark, he ignored those people and walked straight into the walled compound.\u003C\u002Fp>",2845,"2026-06-03T14:05:19.908Z","Novelzhen Translator","f8df99283357398224eb0d0c61a29c9374ae39ca3699043ba923c31a3f750886","a-little-soldier-of-the-late-ming-border-army-chapter-2",null,896,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fa-little-soldier-of-the-late-ming-border-army-cover.jpg"]