[{"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-143":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},1205432,1561,"Chapter 143: Gift of Women, and the Department Magistrate","a-little-soldier-of-the-late-ming-border-army-chapter-143",143,"\u003Cp>Wang Dou and Xu Zucheng walked hand in hand up into the drum tower. Looking out through the window, the whole of Baoanzhou city lay before their eyes. Gazing as far as they could, to the east they could faintly make out the Yang River winding like a jade belt. Not far to the south lay the Sanggan River, several li beyond the city’s southern edge, flowing slowly eastward to merge into the Yang River.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The land around Baoanzhou city stretched flat and open on all sides; only a few li to the north began the vast mountainous region of Mount Jiming, Yao’er Ridge, and the like that separated it from Xuanhua. Across the flat plains in every direction, military forts and garrison farms clustered thick as stars — a fine place, Wang Dou said to himself. The thought that this land would henceforth be under his jurisdiction made heroic pride surge once more in his heart.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Inside the drum tower, everything had been decorated anew. Not only was there a theatrical troupe playing wind and string music, but several sweet-voiced government courtesans were singing little ditties to the accompaniment of brocade zithers and silver psalteries. A prefectural city truly was different — when had Wang Dou and his men ever seen such languorous, sensual refinement back at Shunxiang Fort?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Watching those government courtesans in their revealing dress, each casting coquettish glances his way, Xie Yike, standing behind Wang Dou, was already staring so hard his eyes seemed about to pop out. These women, with their alluring charms and flirtatious posturing, hit Xie Yike with overwhelming force. After all, he was only a lad of seventeen, full of hot blood and vigor, and utterly unable to withstand such temptations.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Han Chao too was red to the ears. The moment he met those women’s eyes, his face flushed as crimson as a ripe peach, and he lowered his head, not daring to meet their gaze.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Only Wang Dou remained perfectly composed. He was, after all, a man who had seen the world; in later ages he had witnessed scenes a hundred times more revealing than this. He merely cast a faintly appreciative, art-appraising glance over the several government courtesans, then shifted his gaze elsewhere.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xie Yike was still staring dumbly at those courtesans, his eyes utterly motionless, as if his soul had fled his body.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Dou shot him a glare, but he remained oblivious. Wang Dou looked at Han Chao and shook his head. These two — neither of them had taken a wife. They ought to be married off as soon as possible. Wine and women wear down a man’s spirit; the land of tenderness has ever been the grave of heroes. A man of steel, eroded by wine and women, will turn into a feeble, useless fellow. Once they had wives, it might settle their restless hearts a little.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The military officers came up one after another, and everyone took their seats according to rank and precedence. Xu Zucheng occupied the host’s seat; Wang Dou took the seat of the guest of honor. Tian Changguo and Zhang Gui shared the same table with them. The remaining officers were seated at separate tables according to their rank.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The banquet was lively, and the dishes were exceedingly sumptuous. Looking at such fare, one could hardly imagine that most of the soldiers and civilians inside and outside the city did not have enough to eat.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xu Zucheng offered a toast, and everyone roared their approval. Next came the theatrical performance, and then the several government courtesans came forward to press wine upon the guests. Flushed with drink and warm with wine, the officers all began to cast off restraint, some jesting flirtatiously with the courtesans, some taking small liberties, every one of them beside himself with delight.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Company Commander Tian Changguo beside Wang Dou was no exception. Where now was that half-asleep, half-awake look of his? He was brimming with energy, his two bulging eyes shining with piercing brightness. When a government courtesan came swaying over to urge wine on him, he seized the chance to stroke her soft, fair little hand, chuckling lewdly as he asked, “My little darling, what’s your name? Tsk, tsk, just look at this hand — so fine and smooth.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Squad Commander Huang Xianen at the next table went even further: he had a voluptuous courtesan in his arms, her full figure pressed tightly against his corpulent body, as she tipped a cup of wine into his mouth. Huang Xianen grabbed the courtesan and kissed her, mumbling indistinctly, “My beauty, you truly know how to please a man.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The voluptuous courtesan giggled and coyly pretended to resist.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>All the officers laughed and made a racket, praising Huang Xianen as a true stout fellow. Xu Zucheng watched and roared with laughter too, as if thoroughly accustomed to such scenes. Two courtesans were at his side, attending him with meticulous care.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Dou watched with a faint smile, slowly drinking his own wine. Two voluptuous courtesans were also attending him — only Wang Dou and Xu Zucheng at the banquet received such treatment — but Wang Dou did not let his hands wander, nor did he drink very much.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xu Zucheng glanced at Wang Dou. “Wang Dou, do these women not suit your taste? A man who does not sow his wild oats while young wastes his youth. Don’t be so rigid — don’t do yourself an injustice.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Company Commander Tian Changguo wagged his head and chimed in, “Exactly, my lord. These women are the finest beauties in the prefectural city. My lord must not let the chance slip by.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He cast a covetous glance at the two women beside Wang Dou and swallowed a mouthful of saliva. Both government courtesans were around sixteen or seventeen years old, the most outstanding in looks among the several courtesans. Yet such women were not for Tian Changguo to enjoy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Squad Commander Chi Dengshan sat to one side; he too had barely touched the wine in his cup. He was paying close attention to Wang Dou’s expression. Now he smiled and said, “The Garrison Commander is a hero of majestic and extraordinary caliber. I fear these common, painted women cannot catch his lordship’s eye.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing Chi Dengshan say this, one of the courtesans beside Wang Dou looked at him with a mixture of pique and reproach. The other cast him a sidelong glance and leaned against him, her expression hovering between a smile and something unreadable. Of the two women, she was the more outstanding in beauty, with a full figure and an age of about seventeen.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Dou smiled and rose to his feet. “I have been promoted and shown great favor by Lord Xu. Having just arrived to take up my post in the prefectural city, I shall need the support and assistance of all my colleagues in the days ahead. Come, come — let us all drink!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Everyone roared their approval and surged forward one after another to toast Wang Dou. Wang Dou refused none of them, downing cup after cup, drawing wave after wave of cheers, all exclaiming that Wang Dou had a boundless capacity for liquor.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the end, Wang Dou had no idea how many cups he had drunk. Yet the more he drank, the brighter his eyes became, though a faint bluish-green tinge could be seen suffusing his face.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xie Yike and Han Chao were also pressed with many toasts. Han Chao managed well enough, but Xie Yike once again drank himself into a stupor, throwing his arms around some person or other and calling him “brother” over and over.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>……\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After the banquet ended, according to custom, a newly appointed officer, weary from the saddle and the journey, was allowed three days’ rest before summoning his subordinates to discuss official business.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The various military officers dispersed. Wang Dou ordered Han Chao to see to the proper settling of the Shunxiang Fort troops they had brought. Zhang Gui eagerly led Han Chao toward the military encampment, while Xu Zucheng summoned Wang Dou to the Garrison Commander’s official residence.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This Garrison Commander’s residence was where the city’s military officers conducted their deliberations. Behind the residence lay the private family compound, with its pavilions, terraces, halls, garden paths, and courtyards — a vast expanse. When Wang Dou had previously accompanied Zhang Gui to pay his respects to Xu Zucheng, he had been astonished by the luxury here. Now this entire compound belonged to him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xu Zucheng was being transferred to the guard city; his baggage had long since been packed, and his family had already been moved away. After meeting Wang Dou today and handing over various matters, he too would be leaving. He gazed at the residence before him, his face showing considerable emotion. He had lived here for two years, and now he was finally leaving. Yet since it was a promotion, though his expression was wistful, he could not conceal his delight.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He said, “Wang Dou, from now on, this prefectural city, this residence — I entrust them to you. For now, the mansion is rather bare; you’ll have to make do.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He recalled something. “Ah, yes — those two women who attended you just now. I found them quite clever, so I have already redeemed them and had their names struck from the registers. I give them to you, to warm your feet and cover your quilt, to listen to a tune now and then in your idle hours and dispel boredom. If the household lacks serving maids or old matrons, you can gradually acquire them yourself.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Dou was about to say something, but Xu Zucheng waved his hand, signaling that the matter was not to be discussed further. His expression grew solemn. “Wang Dou, in taking charge of the prefectural city, the burden on your shoulders is heavy. A prefectural city is a place of strategic importance — drilling troops, repairing city walls, collecting garrison grain taxes. None of these are trivial matters.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He continued, “The Military Intendant has already approved that if you open up wasteland in the prefectural city, you may be granted a three-year exemption from grain taxes. However, the collection of garrison grain taxes from all parts of the prefectural city must not fall short by a single tael. If your grain tax collection is successful and you produce results, then I will be in a position to speak well of you up in the guard city.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Great Ming evaluated frontier commanders by eight criteria: amassing coin and grain, repairing strategic passes, drilling troops and horses, putting equipment in order, opening up military farms, regulating the salt laws, procuring border horses, and dispersing rebel factions. Frontier commanders were judged thus, and the court’s requirements for Guard and Garrison Commander officers placed even greater weight on military farming and grain tax delivery. The more seed-silver paid in taxes, the more outstanding one’s administrative achievements.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xu Zucheng had just been newly transferred into the guard city and naturally hoped to produce some results, so as to secure his own succession to the Garrison Commander post. Wang Dou’s performance over the years had greatly exceeded his expectations, and his hopes for Wang Dou had grown heavier and higher.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Dou said with grave earnestness, “I shall certainly exert myself to the utmost and not fail your lordship’s great expectations!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xu Zucheng nodded with satisfaction. “Wang Dou, I have high hopes for you.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Dou, however, fell into deep thought. Although over the years he had slowly accumulated some strength by relying on tax exemptions for wasteland, those wild lands would eventually all be opened up, and tax grain would one day have to be collected. The tax grain of the Great Ming guard-battalion system grew heavier by the day. Those crushing burdens would all press down on his shoulders in the future. When that time came, how should he face it?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As he pondered this, Xu Zucheng spoke to him again. “After you assume the post of Garrison Commander, you must remember not to be overly rigid. This prefectural city is not like Shunxiang Fort; both the people and the affairs here are far more complicated. And there is that Company Commander Tian Changguo — he can be considered an old hand in the prefectural city. You should look after him a little.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>……\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The twelfth day of the tenth month of the ninth year of the Chongzhen reign. Early morning.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sunlight streamed in through the window. Judging by the brilliant sunshine outside, it was another clear, fine day.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Dou awoke. Two women were tightly entwined around him — the very two government courtesans Xu Zucheng had sent over the day before. Extricating himself from the tangle of limbs and bodies, he gazed at the two women on the bed and sank into thought. Xu Zucheng had specifically redeemed them and struck their names from the registers to give to him. What was the meaning behind that? And what of his mention yesterday of Company Commander Tian Changguo — what was his relationship with Xu Zucheng?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yesterday afternoon, Xu Zucheng had already departed for the guard city. Wang Dou and a group of officers had gone outside the city to see him off. Before leaving, Xu Zucheng had delivered these two women to the residence. When they attended him last night, Wang Dou discovered that both women were virgins and well-versed in the arts of service. From their bodies, Wang Dou derived great pleasure.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Of course, Wang Dou’s feelings for Xie Xiuniang were not something any other woman could replace. But Xie Xiuniang was frail of body and could not withstand vigorous lovemaking; Wang Dou had never been able to fully satisfy himself. After his entanglement with these two women, Wang Dou rose from bed feeling, on the contrary, clear-headed and refreshed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He shook his head with a self-mocking smile and walked out of the room.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Near noon, a guard came to report that the Department Magistrate, His Honor Li, had sent someone with an invitation card, requesting Wang Dou to come to his residence for a banquet. The Department Magistrate, together with all the civil clerks and local gentry of the city, wished to hold a welcoming feast for the newly appointed Garrison Commander, Lord Wang, and to observe the proper courtesies between colleagues.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Dou knew that coming to the prefectural city, he could not avoid dealing with the civil officials and petty clerks within the city. He thought to himself, “Very well, I shall go and meet them.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At the Garrison Commander’s residence, Wang Dou’s personal guards, along with Xie Yike leading a squad of night scouts, all lodged together within the compound. After receiving the notice, Han Chao quickly came over from the military encampment. Xie Yike, however, was dead asleep and could not be roused. Only after being called again and again did he stumble over, bleary-eyed and yawning incessantly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing his state, Wang Dou frowned. “Look at yourself — what a sight. The moment you arrive in the prefectural city, you become this dissolute. Had I known it would be like this, I would never have brought you along in the first place.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xie Yike had always been deeply in awe of Wang Dou, his brother-in-law. He hurriedly pulled himself together and set about preparing for Wang Dou’s departure.\u003C\u002Fp>",2570,"2026-06-03T14:05:19.908Z",1,"Novelzhen Translator","7a553bfb4ccf1cd723ecf3ee120f4902bd636f10bc5e8870a192581e7ca27cbe","a-little-soldier-of-the-late-ming-border-army-chapter-144","a-little-soldier-of-the-late-ming-border-army-chapter-142",896,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fa-little-soldier-of-the-late-ming-border-army-cover.jpg"]