[{"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-148":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},1205437,1561,"Chapter 148: Execution (Part 1)","a-little-soldier-of-the-late-ming-border-army-chapter-148",148,"\u003Cp>The two companies of troops from Shunxiang Fortress newly transferred into the city marched down the street with uniform steps. They moved in squads, forming orderly marching columns; their iron-netted boots pounded the bluestone main street with a single, uniform roar.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Several of them kept calling out: \"By order of the Garrison Commander, we enter the city to quell unrest. The common people need not panic.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"The Shunxiang army has strict military discipline and will absolutely not harass the common people.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"No pedestrians may pass or linger on the streets. Any who do will be killed without mercy!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"The royal army enters the city, committing no offense against the people...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Countless eyes stared blankly from behind doors at this newly arrived army. Their officers rode horses; the infantry marched in formation, some carrying long spears, some firelocks. Every man was burly, their faces full of fierce vigor. From officers to soldiers, all actually wore iron armor. Such a formidable army filled them with extreme dread.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fortunately, they heard these men were the Garrison Commander's subordinates, entering the city by order to quell unrest, with strict discipline. This set everyone slightly at ease; they only hoped these men would not behave like those mutinous soldiers.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Today's events had been sudden and unforgettable for the soldiers and civilians of the prefectural city. Fortunately, less than two hours after the initial shock, calm had already returned outside. Hearing the loud proclamations outside, everyone felt relieved. The mutinous soldiers had been put down so quickly, and the Garrison Commander had dispatched elite troops into the city. It seemed everyone was safe now.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Unlike the common people, Chi Dengshan, Huang Xianen, and Zheng Yu felt differently. Before the soldiers' pay riot, they had reported sick and stayed home, signaling that this incident had nothing to do with them. They had been full of confidence that events would proceed according to their schemes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Unfortunately, the situation developed entirely beyond their expectations. When they heard that the soldiers demanding pay on the streets had turned into a mob, wantonly looting and killing throughout the prefectural city, their faces went pale, and they felt they were finished.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The few of them gathered in Chi Dengshan's residence, listening to their subordinates continuously report on the unfolding events. Everyone was dumbfounded, at a loss. Finally, they heard wave after wave of firelock shots from outside, along with the panicked cries of mutinous soldiers being killed. Not long after, the streets fell silent. It seemed the several hundred troops Chi Dengshan and his men had painstakingly stirred up had vanished like smoke.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then came the sound of a large force entering the city. Listening to the uniform footsteps outside and the constant proclamations, they could not help peering out the windows. When they saw the martial bearing of the Shunxiang army, they saw despair in each other's eyes. Wang Dou bringing nearly four hundred personal retainers had already struck them as inconceivable. Why did Wang Dou still have so many strong soldiers under his command? They did not understand!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Dou's swift decisiveness and ruthless methods also chilled their hearts. How should this matter be resolved? How should they face Wang Dou?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chi Dengshan gritted his teeth: \"There is no other way. We must hurry to see the Garrison Commander.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The fat on Huang Xianen's face quivered constantly, his eyes full of terror. He shrieked: \"No, I won't go. I don't want to see him!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When the Shunxiang Fortress army entered the city, Department Magistrate Li Zhenping and others dared not open their government office gates. They only watched the commotion outside through door cracks, from windows, and from atop the walls.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Zhenping also strained to peer out through the door crack. Suddenly he heard movement of figures outside, followed by loud banging on the door. Li Zhenping recoiled several steps in fright. The Prefectural Commandant Han Daguan hurried to shield him, shouting: \"Protect His Excellency!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Several militiamen, trembling with fear, shielded Li Zhenping. Han Daguan steeled himself and peered out through the door crack. Suddenly he exclaimed with joy: \"It is the Garrison Commander! The Garrison Commander has come!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Zhenping breathed a sigh of relief: \"Oh, it is the Garrison Commander. Quick, open the gates.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The gates of the department government office swung open. Li Zhenping hastily straightened his attire, trying to make himself appear more dignified, though his still-trembling body betrayed his inner state. Then Li Zhenping saw Wang Dou standing calmly outside the steps, his tall, sturdy frame clad in a suit of iron armor. Beside him were his personal general Han Chao and two other tall officers whom Li Zhenping did not recognize — presumably the Shunxiang Fortress officers who had led troops into the city.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He could already see, outside the department office, rows of burly soldiers in iron armor arrayed in formation on the street. That solemn, imposing air made Li Zhenping and his men tremble with fear. Li Zhenping stared dumbfounded at those troops. He estimated there were several hundred men here, plus the nearly four hundred troops already in the prefectural city. Could it be... could it be that this Wang Dou actually had a thousand personal retainers?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Beside Wang Dou also stood Company Commander Tian Changguo, who had also donned a suit of armor and stood next to Wang Dou. He had completely shed his usual muddled manner; full of vigor, he stood with angry glare and hand on sword, the very picture of loyal devotion. Zhang Gui, too, guarded closely at Wang Dou's side. Only Squad Commander Chi Dengshan and his few associates were nowhere to be seen.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Zhenping tried hard to keep his voice from trembling but could not manage it. He said: \"Wang... Lord Wang, have the mutinous soldiers in the city been pacified?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Dou sighed: \"Villains suddenly stirred up trouble. I have already put it down. However, the common people of the prefectural city have been greatly frightened and have suffered heavy losses.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Dou's response could not be called slow. The unrest had begun at the start of the si hour, and by the start of the wu hour — within a single two-hour period — the prefectural city had already returned to calm. With his troops patrolling the streets in squads, this soldier mutiny had been quelled. Yet trouble had arisen from within; in that short time, Baoan Prefectural City had suffered considerable losses.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was estimated that several dozen shops had been burned or looted, numerous residences had their doors broken down, and the loss of property was unclear. More importantly, civilian deaths numbered over a hundred, and many women had been violated. As Wang Dou had come along, he had seen blood and corpses everywhere on the streets, including the naked bodies of dead women. Along both sides of the streets, many houses had been set ablaze, and columns of smoke still rose. Though the mutiny had been put down, the pain in its aftermath could not be healed in a day or two.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Zhenping sighed as well, saying: \"What crime have the common people of the prefectural city committed, to suffer such calamity?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He suddenly recalled something: \"Lord Wang, after the mutinous soldiers were pacified, where are the remaining ones?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Dou said: \"Of the several hundred mutinous troops, apart from those killed on the spot, the rest have all been captured and escorted to the military camp. I have already ordered an interrogation into the cause of the mutiny and who the ringleaders are. I believe there will be results soon.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Zhenping's spirits lifted: \"Lord Wang, we should go and pacify them as soon as possible, lest they grow resentful and rebel again.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Pacify?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Dou let out a cold laugh. He said flatly: \"Regarding the handling of the mutinous troops, I already have a plan. The Department Magistrate need not worry.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Zhenping was about to ask Wang Dou how he would handle them when Xie Yike arrived with several personal guards. His face showed delight as he reported something in a low voice to Wang Dou.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Dou sneered: \"How dare these rats behave so.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He said to Xie Yike: \"Take men and arrest them. If they dare resist arrest, kill them on the spot!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xie Yike loudly acknowledged the order. With a wave of his hand, he led a dozen or so personal guards and a squad of firelock soldiers, and left with an aggressive, overbearing air.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Zhenping was about to ask Wang Dou whom he was going to arrest when Wang Dou turned to him and said: \"Department Magistrate, let us immediately assemble the soldiers and civilians of the city and gather them outside the southern wall. I have business to attend to.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing Wang Dou's grim expression, Li Zhenping could not help but ask in a cautious tone: \"Lord Wang, what is the meaning of assembling the soldiers and civilians outside the city?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Dou said coldly: \"Soldiers who mutiny are guilty beyond pardon. I will execute all the mutinous troops before the assembled soldiers and civilians, so that they know what consequences await those who rise up in armed rebellion!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Zhenping staggered and nearly lost his footing.\u003C\u002Fp>",1539,"2026-06-03T14:05:19.908Z",1,"Novelzhen Translator","3d6e46f00b5076a132b1277cf7f174e5032ba8952a2765752168dabb1796b4cd","a-little-soldier-of-the-late-ming-border-army-chapter-149","a-little-soldier-of-the-late-ming-border-army-chapter-147",896,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fa-little-soldier-of-the-late-ming-border-army-cover.jpg"]