[{"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-114":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"chinese","A Little Soldier of the Late Ming Border Army",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":21,"novelImage":22},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":16,"translator":17,"content_hash":18},1205403,1561,"Chapter 114: Volume Three: Defender of Shunxiang Fortress, Chapter 113: Follow Me Forward","a-little-soldier-of-the-late-ming-border-army-chapter-114",114,"\u003Cp>Volume Three: Defender of Shunxiang Fortress, Chapter 113: Follow Me Forward\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Bows and arrows loosed in unison; the first wave of arrow rain from several dozen lightly armored, skilled Qing archers was already upon them. Their shots were both accurate and vicious, immediately inflicting eight or nine casualties on the Right Sentinel First Company of the Shunxiang Army.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>These archers darted out from the flanks of the charging dead soldiers to shoot. Due to the angle, those struck were mostly the arquebusiers at the two corners on either side. An arquebusier at the right corner wore a captured Qing iron-plated cotton armor. An arrow struck him in the chest, but blocked by the heart-protecting mirror, though the arrow shattered that steel plate, it did not penetrate his body.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The fatal point was the sharp arrow that struck his right cheek. The force of that arrow was immense; he let out a great cry and was sent sprawling backward onto the ground. Many Qing arrows were soaked in horse dung and contained toxins. With this arrow piercing his face, rescue would be difficult, and his life was likely beyond saving.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>To his right, another soldier screamed and fell backward to the ground. He was struck in the left eye by a sharp arrow. His iron armor was also hit by four arrows; some shattered sections of the iron plates, others pierced through the armor and into his body, though not deeply, leaving some hope for rescue. Regrettably, his left eye was gravely wounded, and saving it would be equally difficult.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>To the left of the arquebusier struck in the right cheek, another arquebusier was also hit by several arrows. Fortunately, he wore a suit of captured Qing chainmail. The chainmail was finely woven, composed of countless small, excellent iron rings. Although the force of these arrows was extremely fierce, knocking him staggering several steps, the chainmail's protection meant the arrows that struck him did not penetrate deeply. Though he appeared to be streaming blood, a rather frightening sight, his wounds were in fact not very serious.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Most of the casualties were the arquebusiers at these two corners. Of the ten arquebusiers stationed at the two corners, five or six were wounded or killed on the spot. Among the fifteen arquebusiers in the frontmost row, many were also struck, resulting in three or four casualties.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>An arquebusier on the right of the front row, just as he fired his arquebus, had several sharp arrows flying toward him. Two arrows flew past his side, but four heavy arrows struck his body, particularly on the right side of his face, which took three sharp arrows, one even embedding in his right temple. He was sent flying to the left, his arquebus flung into the air.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There was also an arquebusier on the left of the front row. After firing his arquebus, he was about to withdraw quickly when the Qing archers loosed their volley. Several arrows struck his back, and one arrow each struck either side of his neck. Though blocked by the iron collar plates of his armor, the sharp arrows still penetrated. He stumbled forward and fell face-first to the ground.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Many Qing arrows also flew toward the spear-and-shield soldiers behind the arquebusiers. However, shielded by their shields and ducking swiftly, most were unharmed. Some had arrows strike their armor, but none were vital wounds. Only one spear-and-shield soldier was struck in the helmet; the sharp arrow barely grazed his scalp, carrying his iron helmet away with it, leaving his hair bun disheveled and loose. This fortunate brother was still in shock.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Qing archery was as vicious, accurate, and forceful as ever, always aiming for the face and eyes. Although every man in the Shunxiang Army's Right Sentinel First Company wore armor, the Qing's first wave of arrow rain still caused eight or nine casualties.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lei Xianbin bellowed, \"Arquebusiers, fall back! Spear-and-shield soldiers, cover them!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>From the adjacent Left Sentinel under Han Zhong, and the Rear Sentinel under Sun Sanjie, similar shouts rang out. As the Qing soldiers closed to forty paces, all the soldiers of the circular formation were already standing alert, ready for battle. Hearing the officers' commands, the arquebusiers at the front of the circular formation withdrew into the formation or ducked behind the spear-and-shield soldiers.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Connected to the front, a portion of the arquebusiers from Han Zhong's Left Sentinel at the two corners, and a portion from Sun Sanjie's Rear Sentinel, likewise hid behind the spear-and-shield soldiers on their side. Although the Qing soldiers had not yet attacked their positions, their archers could already threaten the safety of these arquebusiers.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The spear-and-shield soldiers of the second row of the circular formation advanced a few steps, joining the first row to shield the entire formation tightly. Successive waves of Qing sharp arrows flew in, striking the Shunxiang Army's shields with loud thuds. Occasionally, a soldier was struck by an arrow, letting out a pained, muffled groan.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At this moment, those arquebusiers who had loaded their fixed paper cartridge ammunition also came behind the spear-and-shield soldiers, firing outward through the gaps in the shields. After one row fired, another surged forward.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The deafening roar of the arquebuses made the ears of the spear-and-shield soldiers ring incessantly. The acrid smell of gunpowder smoke from the arquebus fire made them sneeze uncontrollably. Streaks of flame erupted before their eyes from time to time, striking terror into their hearts. Fortunately, the Shunxiang Fortress arquebuses were of excellent quality and posed no risk of bursting, which was some comfort.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In this exchange of fire, both sides suffered casualties. The Shunxiang Fortress arquebusiers, shielded by the shields and having learned caution after yesterday's defense of the city, would aim at one target, fire, and immediately duck back. Thus, the Qing archers inflicted relatively minor damage on them; only five or six were wounded by arrows, mostly struck in the body. Protected by iron armor, plated cotton armor, or chainmail, their wounds were not severe. Only one unlucky soul was struck in the face, screaming as he fell to the ground, and was immediately carried off by medics to see if he could be treated.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In contrast, those Qing archers stood brazenly in the open to shoot, presenting large targets. After the Shunxiang Fortress arquebusiers surged forward and fired two volleys, over a dozen of them screamed and were knocked to the ground. They hastily shrank back behind the charging dead soldiers and Heavy Armor Soldiers, and the Qing arrow offensive greatly weakened.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>By now, the Qing soldiers in the center had already charged close, shouting battle cries. The stirring war drums of the central command within the circular formation sounded, and the spear-and-shield soldiers at the front of the circular formation parted to open a path.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Huang Yujin, the company commander of the Right Sentinel Second Company, drew his long blade and bellowed, \"Soldiers, follow me and slay the foe!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He charged out at the very front. The standard-bearer beside him waved the flag, and his two guards followed closely. The spearmen of the Right Sentinel Second Company, including their squad leaders, numbered thirty combat soldiers. Together with Huang Yujin and his few men, they totaled thirty-five. Shouting fiercely, they brandished their weapons and charged out of the circular formation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Huang Yujin and his men charged at the very front. Behind them came squads of spearmen. After the circular formation split apart, each squad of spearmen, including the squad leader and the company commander directing the fight, consisted of six men, arranged front, rear, left, and right into five squads in five waves.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The soldiers of the Right Sentinel Second Company first clashed with the remaining dead soldier armored horsemen who had charged to the very front, clad in two layers of heavy armor and mostly wielding heavy shields and great blades.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Kill!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The two sides collided, instantly locked in fierce combat.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>From the very start, the battle was incomparably brutal. The screams of both sides rang out incessantly across the battlefield.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A squad leader, brandishing his banner-lance, directed his squad of soldiers to engage an armored horseman wielding a half-moon short-handled axe.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That armored horseman's skill was outstanding. He whirled his heavy shield with such vigor that it seemed impenetrable, and no matter how they tried, several long spears could not get near him. With a thunderous crash, the iron spears thrust by this squad of spearmen were all blocked by his shield. Seizing an opening, he stepped forward and brought his half-moon short-handled axe crashing down heavily onto a Shunxiang soldier's shoulder and chest. The heavy, sharp axe nearly cleaved away a small portion of his torso.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With the horrifying sound of a heavy blade biting into bone, the Shunxiang soldier let out a heart-rending scream of agony, shuddering as he collapsed to his knees. Watching the bloody rain of flesh and shattered bone fly before him, a smug expression appeared on the armored horseman's face. Regrettably, he forgot there were still other opponents. As his great axe cleaved into the Shunxiang Fortress soldier, his own guard was left wide open. Then he heard several loud shouts in Chinese. Though he could not understand the words, he could guess their meaning: \"Kill!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As many as three long spears thrust into the opening at his right flank. The razor-sharp spearheads pierced through the multiple layers of his armor and sank deep into his body. The intense agony made his whole body convulse. He bellowed furiously, about to swing his short-handled axe.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Another great shout rang out, and another long spear came thrusting. With a whoosh, it stabbed into his throat. The spear thrust was so fierce it skewered him and sent him crashing to the ground.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There was also an armored horseman brandishing a fine iron sickle-blade on a birchwood shaft. The sharp, curved tip of his sickle hooked into the neck of a Shunxiang soldier. With a yank of the sickle, blood instantly gushed from the soldier's neck like a fountain. In unbearable agony, the soldier grabbed the sharp blade of the sickle with all his might, heedless of the blood streaming from his own hands.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing the look in that Ming soldier's eyes, fear involuntarily surged in the armored horseman's heart. He desperately tugged at the sickle, but could not pull it free no matter what. The final result was that he was stabbed to death on the ground by the remaining soldiers of that Shunxiang Army squad.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Metal clashed against metal in a brief and brutal encounter. Both the armored horsemen and the Shunxiang Army suffered several dead and wounded on each side. Seeing such a brutal scene, and watching those Ming soldiers once again madly level their spears and charge, many among the Qing soldiers retreated and scattered in fear, even the remaining armored horsemen were no exception.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This niru's dead soldier armored horsemen originally numbered forty, but earlier, while charging the formation, over twenty had already been killed or wounded under the fire of three rows of arquebuses. Furthermore, both of the armored horsemen's company commanders had been shot dead by arquebus fire, along with several squad leaders among the armored horsemen.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It could be said that with such a casualty rate, their courage had long since failed. Had it not been for the encouragement and urging of the niru captain, they would have collapsed long ago. Moreover, with so many low-ranking officers dead or wounded, they had lost all cohesion, and in the melee, most fought as individuals.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And the confidence they originally held in their courage for hand-to-hand combat in field battles, they discovered held not the slightest advantage in the fight against the Shunxiang Army. The Shunxiang soldiers were equally valiant, equally fearless in the face of death. The opponent's courage was in no way inferior to theirs, which caused what little remaining valor they had to vanish like smoke.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Although the Qing soldiers had stricter discipline and formations than the Ming army, in this era, individual martial valor was actually emphasized more, and the Qing soldiers were no exception. In terms of individual combat experience, every one of them was superior to the soldiers of Shunxiang Fortress, but they lacked the Shunxiang Army's intense emphasis on unity and discipline.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Shunxiang Army's formation training was ordinarily brutal. In battle, the Shunxiang Fortress soldiers' coordination and tacit understanding were ingrained into their very bones. They never fought alone; at minimum, a squad would engage different enemies. They thrust their spears in unison, pressing forward irresistibly, indifferent to their own life or death, as if employing a mutually destructive fighting style that rendered whatever martial valor the opponent had useless. In the past, Du Zhen had suffered greatly at the hands of Wang Dou; now it was these Qing soldiers' turn.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Against the Shunxiang Army, unless you were resolved to trade your life for theirs, it was very difficult to break their attack. But this approach was something those Qing soldiers were unwilling to adopt. They were merely bandits; they were quite willing to bully the weak and fear the strong, to seize some wealth and return home to enjoy it, but they were unwilling to leave their lives here.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Shunxiang Army's tactics became more advantageous the larger the scale of the battle. Wang Dou estimated that the Shunxiang Army, not deeply skilled individually but outstanding in group discipline, would likely see five ordinary soldiers unable to defeat three ordinary Qing soldiers. But three hundred Shunxiang Fortress soldiers could fight three hundred Qing soldiers to a standstill. Once the number reached five hundred or a thousand Shunxiang troops, they could probably defeat an equal number of Qing soldiers. The fighting of these past two days had already solidified this confidence in Wang Dou.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Under the Shunxiang Army's assault, the dozen or so armored horsemen at the front were quickly slain or scattered, revealing behind them some cowering lightly armored archers, along with the unarmored Qing soldiers and attendants.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Watching the Shunxiang troops charging toward them with wild cries, their eyes all revealed looks of fear. Even the niru's most elite dead soldier armored horsemen could not stop them, let alone themselves? Soon, their screams rang out continuously, and several more fell under the Shunxiang Army's charging spear thrusts. But at that moment, the niru captain had already led the Heavy Armor Soldiers charging up.\u003C\u002Fp>",2399,"2026-06-03T14:05:19.908Z",1,"Novelzhen Translator","790be91ac5eab4abfc9ff68f0b95ce534bf49aec293367d9622ae8bc0105f1d3","a-little-soldier-of-the-late-ming-border-army-chapter-115","a-little-soldier-of-the-late-ming-border-army-chapter-113",896,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fa-little-soldier-of-the-late-ming-border-army-cover.jpg"]