[{"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-174":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},1205463,1561,"Chapter 174: You Want My Woman?","a-little-soldier-of-the-late-ming-border-army-chapter-174",174,"\u003Cp>Assistant Regional Commander of the Eastern Route Mao Bin arrived. Security Department City Garrison Commander Wang Dou, leading the city’s civil and military officials great and small, respectfully welcomed Mao Bin and his party outside the Chengnan Ying’en Gate. Tian Changguo and Feng Dachang had indeed arranged the reception affairs in perfect order; all the awnings, ceremonial protocols, and drummers were properly prepared, leaving no fault for anyone to find.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Once Mao Bin and his party arrived, they were quite satisfied. This newly appointed Assistant Regional Commander of the Eastern Route was in his early forties, lean and wiry, with especially prominent cheekbones and a pair of narrow, squinting triangular eyes that gave people a sinister feeling.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>On this trip he brought several dozen of his retainers, along with various banner-bearers, signal gunners, golden-banner bearers, wind and drum musicians, and so on — a clamorous display of pomp that showed he was a man who liked to put on airs. Beside him were his Personal Battalion Commander Huang Peng, Acting Garrison Commander Xu Zucheng, Wen Shiyan, Wang Captain, and other officials great and small from the guard city.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Mao Bin put on considerable airs in front of Wang Dou. As Wang Dou introduced the various military and civil officials of the department city, he gave no clear response. Occasionally he grunted to show he had taken note. Only when he saw his own brother-in-law Zhang Xuejiao did a smile appear on his face; he dismounted and spoke with Zhang Xuejiao.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Before the crowd, Zhang Xuejiao wore a rather smug expression.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Dou, without betraying any emotion, welcomed Mao Bin and the others into the department city. Seeing the city so clean it could almost be described as spotless, and not a single refugee or beggar to be seen on the streets — not only was Mao Bin astonished, but even Acting Garrison Commander Xu Zucheng and the others were amazed. Was this still the old Security Department City?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Mao Bin and the others also saw that in many places throughout the streets and alleys, wells were being vigorously dug, and bathhouses and latrines were being built. Wang Dou explained that this was for epidemic prevention: if soldiers and civilians washed their bodies frequently, the spread of various diseases could be effectively prevented.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Captain interjected, “I’m afraid that requires a great deal of money and grain?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Dou said, “When the army and the people work together, there is always a way.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Mao Bin’s eyes flickered; no one knew what he was thinking.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Arriving in front of the Garrison Commander’s residence, Wang Dou said, “My lord has traveled far and must be weary. Your subordinate has already prepared a banquet within the residence to welcome all you lords and wash the dust from your journey.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Mao Bin’s sharp, thin voice rang out: “No hurry.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He said, “This official, favored by His Majesty’s regard, has been appointed Assistant Regional Commander of the Eastern Route, charged with examining the military administration of the route, supervising the various responsible officials in drilling the troops, putting equipment in order, and repairing the city walls. This official is diligent and conscientious. With such heavy responsibilities, how can I rush into feasting, pleasure, and socializing?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Dou said, “My lord speaks rightly.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In truth, local Assistant Regional Commanders like Mao Bin also had the duty of supervising the garrison farmlands of each guard battalion, but much of that authority had already been stripped away by the various route military defense circuits.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Mao Bin said to Wang Dou, “Wang Dou, this general holds you in high regard. You are very capable, and this general greatly appreciates that. However, public affairs are public, and private matters are private. What this general detests most in life are those who bend the law for personal gain. On this inspection tour of the department city, if it is found that under your governance there are failures such as troops not being drilled, city walls not in good repair, or armor, weapons, and equipment not in order — in short, any laxity in defense preparations — this general will deal with all violations of military regulations impartially.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The faces of those behind Wang Dou turned ugly. What was the matter with this man Mao?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Acting Garrison Commander Xu Zucheng furrowed his brow. A dark look flickered across Wang Dou’s face and then vanished. He said calmly, “Assistant Regional Commander Mao, please.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After inspecting every part of the department city, Mao Bin’s expression remained grave. Mao Bin had once accompanied Lu Xiangsheng on an inspection of Shunxiang Fort and knew that Wang Dou had nearly a thousand soldiers and military stalwarts under his command, every one of them fierce and tough, which had left a deep impression on him. Now, seeing the strength under Wang Dou’s command, it was actually far greater than it had been back at Shunxiang Fort.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Dou had deployed three Company Commanders’ worth of troops in the department city. Each soldier was as fierce as a retainer. The fighting strength of just these thousand-odd men surpassed that of the five hundred retainers under Mao Bin’s own command. Mao Bin could not understand how Wang Dou had trained these soldiers, nor where the money and grain to support them came from.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Recalling how every one of those soldiers was fiercely unruly, looking at him with indifferent eyes and only gazing at Wang Dou with fervent zeal, Mao Bin was secretly alarmed. By this stage of the Great Ming’s development, only troops brought power, and only strong, fierce soldiers earned one high regard. Given Wang Dou’s strength, as long as the opportunity ripened, his promotion to Mobile Corps Commander or Assistant Regional Commander was only a matter of time.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>By all reason, Mao Bin ought to be doing his utmost to win Wang Dou over. But his purpose in coming to Security Department City this time was, in fact, to vent his brother-in-law’s grievances. Mao Bin knew that Grand Coordinator Lu Xiangsheng and Military Defense Circuit Ji Shiwei held Wang Dou in considerable esteem, but he himself was Wang Dou’s direct superior — when beating a dog, one must still consider its master’s face, no? If Wang Dou treated his brother-in-law this way and he made no show of his stance, what authority would he have left in this Eastern Route?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With this thought in mind, during the banquet, Mao Bin was rather distracted.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The banquet was set in the Garrison Commander’s residence. Besides the sumptuous food and wine, there was also a theatrical troupe and several delicate, charming official courtesans playing music and instruments nearby. When it came to hospitality, Tian Changguo was indeed an expert. Tian Changguo’s arrangements left this party of visitors to the department city quite satisfied. All present were military officers; once warmed by wine, each man began to cast off all restraint.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Only Mao Bin furrowed his brow. He glanced at those official courtesans, then signaled his Personal Battalion Commander Huang Peng to come over and whispered a few words. Huang Peng understood. He stood up and said with a smile, “Just now, as we entered the Garrison Commander’s residence, we saw two women in the household, exquisitely charming in appearance. The Assistant Regional Commander found them quite appealing. I wonder where Garrison Commander Wang found such official courtesans and female musicians? Truly, you are blessed with no small romantic fortune.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Captain glanced at Wang Dou and laughed, “Even heroes struggle to pass the beauty gate. The Assistant Regional Commander is a man of taste as well.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The men on Assistant Regional Commander Mao’s side all chimed in. In those days, officials giving concubines to one another was actually quite normal, nothing remarkable. In their imagination, Wang Dou would certainly agree gladly — this was a fine opportunity to curry favor with a superior.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet Wang Dou merely sat there with a faint smile, as if he did not understand what everyone was talking about. In truth, he was sneering inwardly. This Mao Bin was nothing but a waste, rising to his position on the merit Wang Dou himself had provided, and now he came to the department city to throw his weight around and even wanted his women?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Those two official courtesans were named Liu Qing and Liu Ji. After Acting Garrison Commander Xu Zucheng had given them to him, Wang Dou had kept them in the residence to serve him; listening to a little tune now and then was a pleasure. His mother, Lady Zhong, was also rather fond of them. She often said, “The little songs those two girls sing are truly lovely.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As for Liu Qing and Liu Ji, they very much liked their current life in the Wang household. The few people in the residence were all easygoing, and they felt relaxed and content — far better than their former life of greeting and sending off guests with forced smiles. So they served with even greater attentiveness, satisfying Wang Dou both in and out of bed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Although in this world giving away concubines and female musicians was perfectly normal, Wang Dou was a man of later times and could not accept this notion. Having come to this world, because of shared hardships, he would only ever feel true love for Xie Yike. Other women could hold no real place in his heart, but as for women who belonged to him, there was no principle by which he would give them away.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He sneered inwardly, but his face was full of smiles, as if he were very pleased by Huang Peng’s remark about his romantic fortune.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing him like this, Acting Garrison Commander Xu Zucheng, who was beside him, quietly prompted him: “Wang Dou, Wang Dou…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He sighed inwardly. Wang Dou was excellent in every way, except he lacked experience in officialdom — he could not even recognize such an obvious hint.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In Xu Zucheng’s view, this Assistant Regional Commander Mao seemed to harbor some prejudice against Wang Dou, which secretly made him anxious. Two mere official courtesans — he himself had given them to Wang Dou in the first place. If Wang Dou passed them on to Assistant Regional Commander Mao, it would be no great matter. If there was a chance to dissolve Assistant Regional Commander Mao’s prejudice against Wang Dou, this would be a small investment yielding great returns.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xu Zucheng knew that both the Grand Coordinator and the Military Defense Circuit held Wang Dou in considerable esteem, but a present official counts for more than a present authority. Assistant Regional Commander Mao was, after all, Wang Dou’s direct superior; currying favor with him could certainly do no wrong.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Dou said, “Your subordinate understands, your subordinate understands.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He stood up and said, “Assistant Regional Commander Mao has traveled far to inspect the department city; your toils are great and your achievements high. Your subordinate toasts the Assistant Regional Commander.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The hall fell silent; only Wang Captain and a few others gloated. This Wang Dou was indeed a blockhead; with an attitude like that, he had given deep offense.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Mao Bin’s face was grim. He stared at Wang Dou and gave a cold, mirthless laugh. “Garrison Commander Wang,” he said, “you are something, aren’t you.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The banquet ended on a sour note. Xu Zucheng looked at Wang Dou and sighed repeatedly: “Wang Dou, you… ah…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Assistant Regional Commander Mao and his party left that very day. On the return journey, Mao Bin asked his Personal Battalion Commander Huang Peng, “When we were leaving, did that Wang Dou present any silver or valuables?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Huang Peng said through gritted teeth, “In reply to my lord, no. Not a single tael of silver.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The two had heard that Wang Dou had originally prepared a generous amount of silver and valuables, but when Assistant Regional Commander Mao demanded those beautiful women and charming concubines at the banquet, he actually turned hostile and in the end gave not a single tael of silver. Thinking of it truly infuriated them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Mao Bin was both shocked and furious: “Fine, this Wang Dou is so arrogant and domineering. No matter what, I am his direct superior. Does he so utterly disregard this general?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Huang Peng said, “My lord, with Wang Dou so domineering, if you do not deal with him, your authority in the Eastern Route will be utterly gone!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Mao Bin’s face was dark. Wang Dou’s utter disregard for him, combined with his brother-in-law’s grievances, made disciplining Wang Dou a necessity. But how to discipline him? Wang Dou had quietly raised so many troops; tampering with his provisions and pay would have little effect. In all other areas, no fault could be found. When it came to disciplining him, there was for the moment no place to start.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Huang Peng said, “My lord, this department city is now prosperous. Wang Dou’s ability to support his troops depends entirely on that.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Mao Bin’s eyes lit up, then dimmed again. Transferring Wang Dou away was a good plan, but with his authority, transferring a Garrison Commander was no easy matter.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The transfer and appointment of Garrison Commanders throughout the Great Ming required the consent and approval of the Military Defense Circuit. The Guard Commander and Assistant Regional Commander of the route only had the power to nominate and recommend. For the appointment of a Guard Commander, the Military Defense Circuit had only the power to nominate; it required the Provincial Governor and the Viceroy’s review, was reported to the Ministry of War for discussion, and finally required the Emperor’s approval.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Dealing with Wang Dou was no simple matter, especially since Wang Dou had the favor of the Eastern Route Military Defense Circuit and the Viceroy of Xuan-Da.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Huang Peng lowered his voice: “My lord, while in the department city, your humble subordinate saw the young lady from the Military Defense Circuit’s residence.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Mao Bin could not help stamping his foot: “Why didn’t you say so earlier? Otherwise this general would have gone to pay a visit long ago.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Huang Peng gave a sly laugh: “My lord may not know, but your humble subordinate has heard privately that the young lady Ji and Wang Dou are rather close. Consider, my lord, if this matter were to reach the Military Defense Circuit’s ears…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Mao Bin’s eyes lit up.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Huang Peng continued: “Your humble subordinate has also heard that the Military Defense Circuit intends to betroth the young lady of the household to Wu Lue, the eldest son of Department Magistrate Wu of Yanqing Department. That Wu Lue has long been smitten with the young lady Ji. If he were to learn of this news…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He gave a sinister laugh.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Mao Bin’s eyes blazed even brighter. He pointed at Huang Peng and laughed heartily: “Brilliant, truly brilliant!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>……\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In Wang Dou’s official residence, Wang Dou sat in his seat pondering. His several trusted aides in the prefectural city — Wen Fangliang, Han Chao, Han Zhong, the granary officer Zhang Gui, and the clerk Feng Dachang — sat below him. Feng Dachang said in a low voice, “My lord, I observed that Assistant Regional Commander Mao looked displeased. After he returns, might he act against you?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Dou sneered. “Mao Bin is nothing but a rat. He only rose to Assistant Regional Commander on the military merits my Shunxiang Fortress handed him. With his own ability, could he even slay ten slave-captives? A rat like that dares to wag his finger at me, Wang Dou, and give me a sour face? What does he think he is!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wen Fangliang also laughed. “The retainers he brought with him are truly laughable — they don’t even measure up to a single squad of ordinary soldiers under my command.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Feng Dachang remained worried. “After all, he is the Eastern Route Assistant Regional Commander, your direct superior…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Dou pondered for a long moment, then said to Han Chao, “Brother Han, dispatch a few Night Scouts to Yongning City. See what the situation is over there. If that Mao character dares to move against me, I’ll make sure he sees how he dies!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Han Chao accepted the order. Han Zhong and Wen Fangliang both whooped and cheered.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The words spoken by everyone present could be called outright treasonous, yet seeing how utterly unconcerned they all looked, Zhang Gui felt a chill in his heart.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He suddenly recalled a past incident and could not help shivering.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>※※※\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Old White Ox:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I was on a business trip yesterday. Today and tomorrow, two updates. Sunday I have to go to a relative’s house for a one-month celebration banquet, so the update situation is unclear. Lastly, I’m going to curse some people out.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A few characters have posted, claiming over and over to speak for the readers. I laugh. What readers can you represent? Those readers who read pirated copies and still spew filth from their mouths? If so, birds of a feather flock together — you can indeed represent them. But such characters, whether a hundred of you, a thousand, ten thousand, in my eyes you are utterly worthless.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>To those who quietly read pirated copies, I say nothing — such is the state of the nation. But to those who read pirated copies and still shout and curse, I say: you are a bunch of cunts. I have absolutely no interest in letting you read my work. The farther you stay from this book, the happier everyone will be. Trying to flaunt your bottom line in front of me — I am not one of those so-called “good-tempered” authors who meekly submit. My dictionary has never contained forbearance or swallowing humiliation. If you come looking for me, you’ve picked the wrong person.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A bunch of grotesque freaks — you don’t like it yet you still read it. Cheap bastards!\u003C\u002Fp>",2976,"2026-06-03T14:05:19.908Z",1,"Novelzhen Translator","ae9ae04c0667550e1bbaf300ecc594a2bb2f1cc5d4561e6ae761a0f1a1b88109","a-little-soldier-of-the-late-ming-border-army-chapter-175","a-little-soldier-of-the-late-ming-border-army-chapter-173",896,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fa-little-soldier-of-the-late-ming-border-army-cover.jpg"]