[{"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-132":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},1205421,1561,"Chapter 132: Victory Report Hearsay, Lu Xiangsheng (Part 2, Section 1)","a-little-soldier-of-the-late-ming-border-army-chapter-132",132,"\u003Cp>After an unknown length of time, a personal attendant of Garrison Commander Li Yi'an came out and summoned Wang Dou into the rear hall.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Dou followed him in. Just as they reached the study, he saw Vice Guard Commander Wen Shiyan and Wang Captain emerging, their faces full of delight. Upon seeing Wang Dou, Wang Captain smiled and nodded; Wen Shiyan merely cast him an indifferent glance before striding away.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Dou watched their retreating figures for a moment, then, urged by the attendant, entered the study, where he saw Garrison Commander Li Yi'an and Drill Officer Xu Zucheng seated.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing Wang Dou, Li Yi'an smiled and beckoned: \"Wang Dou, come here.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Dou stepped forward and saluted. Li Yi'an pointed to an empty chair on the right: \"Wang Dou, sit.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Dou saluted and sat down. He saw Xu Zucheng seated to the lower left of Li Yi'an, his head bowed in thought the whole time, his expression a mix of joy and anger — altogether very complicated.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Yi'an sat on a brocade couch at the head, a thin satin quilt covering his waist and legs. Coughing lightly from time to time, he spoke gently: \"Wang Dou, your prefectural city officers and men have rendered great merit this time. We have discussed it; once the Ministry of War's rewards come down, Lord Xu may be transferred into the guard city, and in a couple of years, he will succeed me in this seat...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xu Zucheng interjected: \"De-gong, you are still hale and hearty; why speak of succession?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Yi'an said: \"Zhongxuan, I know my own condition. I fear I have not many years left.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xu Zucheng shed tears: \"De-gong, please do not say such things...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Yi'an waved his hand: \"Zhongxuan, hear me out.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He continued to Wang Dou: \"When the Ministry of War's rewards come down, I expect you may be promoted two substantive ranks, which would make your official title Vice Guard Commander. Lord Xu is strongly recommending you as the Drill Commander of the prefectural city. I have discussed it with several lords and also find you very suitable.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Dou hastily bowed in thanks. Li Yi'an kindly bade him rise, then his face showed a troubled expression: \"However, there is one matter I must discuss with you.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He glanced at Xu Zucheng. Xu Zucheng understood. He cleared his throat and said: \"Wang Dou, it is like this. This time our prefectural city officers and men took two hundred and eighty-one heads. But our Bao'an Department and Guard are one entity; we cannot let the Department monopolize the credit. Yet the guard city soldiers have not a single head to their name, have they? That would not sound good if word got out. Therefore, regarding the distribution of heads, our discussion concluded that the prefectural city shall keep one hundred and twenty heads, and the remaining one hundred and sixty-one shall be distributed at the discretion of the Garrison Commander.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Dou was taken aback and for a moment could not speak. He had not expected that after taking only two hundred and eighty-one heads, so much trouble would arise.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing Wang Dou silent, Xu Zucheng thought he was unwilling and earnestly said: \"Wang Dou, we made this decision for your own good. Think about it: you are only twenty-four this year. If your merit is too great and your promotion too swift, it may not be a good thing. Rest assured, we will do our utmost to secure the Drill Officer post in Bao'an Prefectural City for you.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Dou inquired and learned that of the prefectural city's one hundred and twenty heads, eighty would be credited to him. According to the Great Ming military merit system, a commanding officer — a Squad Commander or Company Commander leading three to five hundred officers and men — whose subordinates take ten slave-bandit heads is promoted one substantive rank; for every additional ten heads, one more rank is added, up to a total of three ranks: two substantive ranks and one acting rank, plus rewards of silver and cloth.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In other words, Wang Dou only needed twenty or thirty heads to be promoted two or three ranks in succession. With eighty heads credited to him, this merit was already extremely dazzling.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>According to Xu Zucheng, with the great merit of eighty heads, even though Wang Dou was young and of shallow seniority, he could at minimum be substantively appointed Vice Guard Commander of Bao'an Guard. And among the Great Ming guard battalions, which Vice Guard Commander was under forty? When Wang Dou's reward came down, a twenty-four-year-old Vice Guard Commander would probably be the only one in the entire Eastern Route of Xuanfu Garrison, and would still invite suspicion of being a tall tree that catches the wind.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Yi'an sighed: \"Although the guard city has one hundred and sixty-one heads, during this slave-bandit incursion, I have not heard of any other Eastern Route officers making gains. Only our Bao'an Department and Guard have taken so many. What will the other military forts and guard battalions think? I fear our guard city can only keep sixty-one heads, and the remaining one hundred heads will be snatched away by the Eastern Route Mobile Corps Commander and Assistant Regional Commander.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xu Zucheng said angrily: \"Those bastards. They dare not kill the bandits themselves, but they are quite skilled at seizing others' merit.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Leaving aside Xu Zucheng's indignation, Li Yi'an's words struck Wang Dou like a flash of insight, opening another door in his mind and making his gaze extend beyond Bao'an Department and Guard to a broader world. The Great Ming was vast; Bao'an Guard was not the only place.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Moreover, judging from the words of Li Yi'an, Xu Zucheng, and the others, after intense struggle, they had already reached mutual compromise and cooperation. Xu Zucheng had yielded a portion of the heads so that Li Yi'an, Wen Shiyan, and Wang Captain could jointly support his entry into the guard city. And if Wang Dou cooperated, the seat in Bao'an Prefectural City would be his.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At least their manner of eating was not too unsightly; they were letting him eat a share of the meat too.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Dou made a prompt decision. He bowed in thanks: \"The Garrison Commander and the Drill Officer show such heartfelt concern; your subordinate feels only gratitude and admiration. How could I have any objection?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He sighed: \"It is only that during this slave-bandit incursion, my Shunxiang Fort fought fiercely against the enemy, high and low. Many soldiers and civilians lost their families and homes, and can only hope to gain some military merit in exchange for reward silver as consolation. With the forts destroyed and the need to provide for the entire fort, your subordinate is anxious day and night, yet helpless.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At this point, tears streamed down his face.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Garrison Commander Li Yi'an, seeing Wang Dou so sensible and tactful, nodded repeatedly. He sighed: \"The soldiers of Shun Fort have rendered great service to the nation; I am aware of it. Shun Fort is destroyed, and they are all soldiers and civilians under my jurisdiction — how could I not be worried? Although the guard city is in difficult straits now, this old man has decided to allocate one thousand dan of grain to console the fallen and wounded soldiers of Shun Fort. And for some of the lost equipment, I will also replenish it.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He said to Xu Zucheng: \"Zhongxuan, I know you face difficulties, but Lord Wang has had it far from easy. As his superior, you should also allocate five hundred dan of grain.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xu Zucheng said: \"It is only right. De-gong, rest assured, once your subordinate returns, I will immediately allocate grain for Shun Fort.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After Xu Zucheng and Wang Dou left, a sturdy figure entered the study.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Garrison Commander Li Yi'an kept his eyes closed on the brocade couch for a long moment, then opened them and said: \"My son, what do you make of that Wang Dou?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Shouqin said: \"Though this man is young, he is no simple character.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Yi'an shook his head slightly. He rose from the brocade couch; Li Shouqin hurried forward to support him. Li Yi'an walked a few tottering steps within the study, then stopped and looked straight at Li Shouqin: \"My son, remember this: this man assesses the times and adapts, yet he is outwardly respectful but inwardly proud, unruly and hard to tame. He cannot be coerced by force, only bound by grace and favor. You must associate with him often and do not be stingy with wealth and goods.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Shouqin said: \"Your son will remember. But there is one thing your son does not understand: Shunxiang Fort had a paper strength of only a little over three hundred men. How did he take so many heads?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Yi'an said: \"The heads are certainly genuine.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He mused: \"I have heard that Wang Dou has been drilling and training militia in Shunxiang Fort. Perhaps you could go and see when you have time.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Shouqin nodded, then added: \"Father, Wen Shiyan and Wang Captain show you less and less respect by the day. Is that also the reason you are helping Xu Zucheng into the guard city?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Yi'an snorted: \"Wen Shiyan and Wang Captain, those two rats... It is only a pity their wings are growing full, and your father's days are numbered.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He said: \"Xu Zucheng's foundation in the guard city is still shallow. To secure this seat in the future, he can only draw you to his side, which will make your days easier. And having the prefectural city controlled by Wang Dou is better than it falling into the hands of Wen Shiyan and Wang Captain.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He said: \"I only lament that your father's time is short. I can only arrange things for you thus.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Shouqin's tears gushed forth like a spring. He clasped Li Yi'an's legs and sobbed: \"Father...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Yi'an stroked Li Shouqin's head, his eyes showing tender affection: \"My son, do not weep.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He murmured: \"I have always felt guilt toward your mother. After all these decades, I can finally go down to keep her company.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His gaze turned eastward: \"The victory report should reach the route city tomorrow. When Army Supervisor Ji receives the news, how much joy will he feel, I wonder.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>On the afternoon of the twenty-fifth day of the seventh month of the ninth year of Chongzhen, because of the great victory at Bao'an Department and Guard, with a total of two hundred and eighty-one slave-bandit heads taken, Garrison Commander Li Yi'an sent a flying dispatch to Yongning Assistant Regional Commander Zhang Guowei to report the victory. Zhang Guowei was both astonished and delighted, and very soon, he too sent a flying dispatch to Huailai Army Supervisor Ji Shiwei to report the victory.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The victory report traveled from Bao'an Prefectural City to the guard city, then to Yongning City, and then to Huailai City. Although going directly from Bao'an Guard City to Huailai City is closer than going to Yongning City, the Eastern Route Assistant Regional Commander oversees six garrisons including Bao'an Guard City, and this victory-reporting procedure cannot be reversed; otherwise, the consequences are severe.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The twenty-sixth day of the seventh month of the ninth year of Chongzhen, Huailai City.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Looking at the victory report transmitted from Bao'an Guard in his hand, Huailong Army Supervisor Circuit Intendant Ji Shiwei tugged at his three long strands of beard, too astonished to speak. He was both shocked and delighted, torn between hope and fear, desperately wanting the report to be true, yet worried that his subordinates were falsifying military merit or killing civilians to pass off as merit.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But in his heart, Ji Shiwei fervently hoped this victory report was true. Two hundred and eighty-one heads taken — what enormous military merit that was!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>According to the Great Ming regulations on frontier defense merit and culpability, garrison circuit supervising officers and military officers, whenever Qing troops or Mongol troops crossed the border, if ten or more men and women of the population under their jurisdiction were killed or captured, or thirty or more head of livestock taken, they would all be impeached and punished. Who knew how many commoners of the various Eastern Route forts under his jurisdiction had been captured during this Qing incursion, or how many head of livestock had been seized?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The scene of His Majesty's thunderous rage after the Later Jin incursion in the seventh year of Chongzhen was still vivid in his mind. How many heads had rolled then, how many official posts stripped? Even the Regional Commanders and Provincial Governors of the three garrisons were replaced. At that time, it was only because of a victory report from Bao'an Guard that he himself had escaped dismissal from office and the fate of becoming a prisoner.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Although the Qing troops had withdrawn a few days ago, Ji Shiwei was still worried about how to survive the post-battle impeachment. He had not expected this timely help; this victory report from Bao'an Guard truly came at just the right moment.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Standing beside Ji Shiwei were Baoding Prefectural Assistant Prefect Feng Shilei, Eastern Route Mobile Corps Commander Mao Bin, and Huailai Garrison Commander Huang Changyi, who was craning his neck and peeking around beside the two.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ji Shiwei pondered for a long while, then said to Feng Shilei beside him: \"Lord Feng, do you think this victory report is genuine?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Looking at the victory dispatch, Feng Shilei was also extremely astonished. He said: \"Two years ago, Bao'an Guard sent a victory dispatch claiming they had taken ten slave heads. At that time, it was verified as true. But this taking of two hundred and eighty-one heads...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He shook his head: \"Why not summon the Yongning Assistant Regional Commander and the Bao'an Garrison Commander to inquire?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ji Shiwei gritted his teeth: \"The matter is of great importance. This official will go personally to Bao'an Guard to inspect and verify.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>……\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>On the twenty-ninth day of the seventh month in the ninth year of the Chongzhen reign, because of the great victory in which heads were taken on the eastern route of the Huailong Circuit in the Xuanfu Garrison, the Huailai Military Garrison Commander Ji Shiwei raced on horseback to the garrison city to report the victory to Provincial Governor Chen Xinjia.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>。\u003C\u002Fp>",2408,"2026-06-03T14:05:19.908Z",1,"Novelzhen Translator","3a197bd91d70871f416da664908e2cd3bdb8ae5b9407e6e5668a868e046da52f","a-little-soldier-of-the-late-ming-border-army-chapter-133","a-little-soldier-of-the-late-ming-border-army-chapter-131",896,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fa-little-soldier-of-the-late-ming-border-army-cover.jpg"]