[{"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-190":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},1205479,1561,"Chapter 190: The Chongzhen Emperor","a-little-soldier-of-the-late-ming-border-army-chapter-190",190,"\u003Cp>Wang Dou was greatly startled — the Chongzhen Emperor actually wanted to summon him. The eunuch was a minor eunuch under Wang Chengen, the Supervising Secretary of the Directorate of Ceremonial, leading several Embroidered Uniform Guard on orders to deliver the imperial decree.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At that moment the entire inn was in an uproar, everyone guessing at Wang Dou's identity. The eunuch also carefully sized Wang Dou up from head to toe, secretly marveling — a mere Garrison Commander who hadn't even formally taken office could actually be granted a personal audience by His Majesty. What was Wang Dou's background?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He scrutinized Wang Dou for a long while, then said, \"Garrison Commander Wang, come with us.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Dou said, \"Eunuch, please allow me a moment.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He instructed Xie Yike and the others to wait properly at the inn, then had him bring out two silver ingots totaling one hundred taels. Smiling broadly, he pressed the silver into the eunuch's hands and said in a low voice, \"This silver is a small token of my regard — I hope Eunuch will not find it too meager.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The eunuch was overjoyed. Wang Dou had produced one hundred taels of silver in a single gesture — truly generous. This trip to deliver the decree had been well worth it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chuckling, he put the silver away and said, \"I had long heard that Garrison Commander Wang was bold, generous, loyal, and righteous. Meeting you today, I see your reputation is truly well-deserved. The man surpasses the fame.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Dou followed him out of the inn. A carriage had long been waiting outside. Wang Dou and the eunuch boarded it. Along the way, the eunuch merely instructed Wang Dou on the protocol for the coming audience with His Majesty. Wang Dou quietly asked why the Emperor had summoned him. The eunuch replied, \"That I do not know. However, today His Majesty did summon Viceroy Lu of Xuan-Da.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Dou gave an \"oh\" and sank into thought.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Soon, the carriage arrived outside the Chengtian Gate. Wang Dou and the others dismounted here and entered the imperial city on foot. Finally, Wang Dou entered the heavily guarded imperial palace and waited in a chamber called the Gongmo Room for the Emperor to issue the summons. Here, several more eunuchs instructed Wang Dou on the various protocols for the audience and what he needed to pay attention to.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After an unknown length of time, a eunuch came to summon Wang Dou to the Platform for his audience. Wang Dou hurriedly followed the eunuch, passing through layer upon layer of palace gates until they reached the Yuntai Gate of the Jianji Hall. He performed the grand ritual as he had just been taught, then knelt on the ground to wait.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Inside and outside the hall, many eunuchs and captains were stationed. Wang Dou felt countless pairs of eyes fixed upon him. Then another eunuch came out to deliver the decree, bidding Wang Dou enter the hall.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Dou entered the hall and took a few steps forward. Seeing an imperial throne before him, he knelt and kowtowed, declaring in a clear voice, \"Your subject, Wang Dou, Guard Commander of Baoan Guard, Xuanfu Garrison, kowtows before His Majesty the Emperor. May His Majesty live ten thousand years, ten thousand years, ten thousand ten-thousand years!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For a long while there was no sound. After a considerable pause, a young yet weary voice finally spoke: \"Minister Lu, is this the Wang Dou you spoke of?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Dou heard Lu Xiangsheng's voice ring out: \"In reply to His Majesty, it is indeed he.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The weary voice spoke again: \"Wang Dou, rise and speak.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Dou said, \"I thank His Majesty.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He stood up and furtively swept a glance around him. He saw a young man dressed in a bright yellow dragon robe seated upon the coiled-dragon throne, flanked on both sides by attending eunuchs. Lu Xiangsheng, wearing the official robes of a Vice Minister of War, stood respectfully to one side.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Dou knew that the one seated upon the dragon throne was the reigning Chongzhen Emperor. In that glance just now, he had seen Chongzhen's appearance and was secretly shocked. Lu Xiangsheng, not yet forty, already had graying temples, which had made Wang Dou sigh with emotion. Yet now Wang Dou saw that the Chongzhen Emperor's temples were also graying. He had ascended the throne at seventeen and should still be under thirty now. Yet he looked so aged. His expression carried a bone-deep weariness that emanated from the depths of his heart; he was merely forcing himself to hold on.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chongzhen carefully scrutinized Wang Dou. He opened his mouth and said, \"Wang Dou, your loyalty and courage are commendable. I have heard that in Baoan Department you have been drilling the troops and managing the military farmlands with considerable success. I am greatly comforted.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Dou said, \"This is entirely due to His Majesty's great fortune and the earnest guidance of the Viceroy, the Provincial Governor, and the various senior officials. Your humble subject dares not claim any merit.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing Wang Dou speak thus, Chongzhen was very satisfied. He truly had not expected that Wang Dou came from such a humble military background. He looked Wang Dou over again and again, then said to Lu Xiangsheng, \"For the Xuan Garrison to have such a diligent and loyal officer, Minister Lu, your contribution is immense.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Emperor praising Wang Dou like this made Lu Xiangsheng very happy as well. He said, \"To fulfill one's duty for the country is a subject's fundamental obligation. Your Majesty must not overpraise him, lest Wang Dou develop a complacent heart.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chongzhen nodded slowly. He said, \"I have reviewed the memorials. Minister Lu, in Xuan-Da you have drilled and reorganized the troops, promoted and regulated military farming, and stored up considerable grain. I intend to issue an edict for the Nine Frontier Garrisons to adopt this as their model.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Xiangsheng was overcome with emotion. He knelt and repeatedly kowtowed: \"His Majesty bestows such profound favor. Even if your humble subject were to spill his liver and brains upon the ground, it would not repay one ten-thousandth of Your Majesty's grace.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Dou hurriedly kowtowed behind him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chongzhen was in a very good mood today. He said, \"Minister Lu has traveled far to the capital and endured much hardship. I intend to host a banquet in the Imperial Garden to entertain you.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He glanced at Wang Dou. \"Wang Dou, you shall also attend.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This was a rare honor, a special mark of the Emperor's favor. Lu Xiangsheng again kowtowed repeatedly, his voice choked with emotion: \"Many thanks to His Majesty.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>……\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Chongzhen Emperor proceeded to the Cuihua Garden in the Western Park. As he walked, he conversed with Lu Xiangsheng, while Wang Dou followed respectfully behind.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Dou noticed that Chongzhen walked very slowly — one could describe it as plodding. As he walked, his back was somewhat bent, as if some heavy burden pressed down upon his spine, preventing him from standing straight. At one point, when Lu Xiangsheng mentioned something, Chongzhen grew agitated for a moment and quickened his pace a few steps.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Dou's eyes widened. He noticed the cold wind lifting the hem of Chongzhen's robe, revealing an inner garment — and several patches on it… There were rumors that the Chongzhen Emperor was extremely frugal, and indeed it was so.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Dou had read related historical records. In daily life, whenever Chongzhen's clothes became worn, he had Empress Zhou mend them herself. His meals were coarse tea and plain food. As for his possessions… in the final years of the Great Ming, in order to raise military funds, he even sold his own silver chamber pot. And in terms of diligence in governance, perhaps in the several thousand years of Chinese history, he ranked only behind the Ming founder Zhu Yuanzhang.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A man like this — thinking of the Chongzhen Emperor's fate in history, and then thinking of how after Li Zicheng entered the capital, he extracted tens of millions of taels of silver from the officials and wealthy households of the capital, and how when the Qing troops broke through Jiangnan, the silver plundered from a single landlord or gentry household was also in the tens or hundreds of thousands of taels.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Dou sighed deeply. What a pity.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When they arrived at the Huayuan Pavilion in Cuihua Garden, the Chongzhen Emperor bestowed wine and food upon Lu Xiangsheng and Wang Dou — four small vegetable dishes, a bowl of coarse rice, and a pot of wine. Not a single meat dish. Looking at the Emperor's side, it was exactly the same. Wang Dou held his bowl, staring blankly in a daze.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing Wang Dou's expression, Chongzhen was somewhat puzzled: \"Wang Dou, what is the matter?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Xiangsheng also coughed lightly beside him, hinting that Wang Dou should not lose his composure.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Dou sighed and said, \"Your humble subject was thinking, Your Majesty, you are too hard on yourself. You must take care of the imperial person.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chongzhen looked at Wang Dou in surprise for a long while.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>……\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Emerging from the Imperial Garden, Lu Xiangsheng was still emotionally stirred. The Emperor had comforted and encouraged him generously and had even bestowed wine and food upon him. Lu Xiangsheng felt that even if he were ground to powder, he could never repay His Majesty's recognition and favor. He carefully admonished Wang Dou: \"The sovereign's grace is profound. Since His Majesty regards you so highly, Wang Dou, you must be even more diligent in your duties and not fail this sacred favor.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Dou assented repeatedly. As the two were being led out under the eunuch's guidance, they suddenly saw a young lady in palace attire approaching from the opposite direction, surrounded by several palace maids. Upon seeing this young lady, Lu Xiangsheng hurriedly bowed and said, \"Your humble subject, Viceroy of Xuan-Da Lu Xiangsheng, pays respects to Princess Kunxing.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Dou hurriedly bowed behind him. The young lady was no more than eleven or twelve years old, yet her features were dignified and lovely. Her figure was slender, giving one an impression of frailty. She smiled and returned the courtesy, addressing Viceroy Lu with propriety.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing this young lady and hearing the words Lu Xiangsheng used to greet her, Wang Dou suddenly recalled the identity of this palace-attired maiden — she was the Great Ming's Princess Changping, Zhu Meichuo, currently bearing the title Princess Kunxing. He had heard that this Zhu Meichuo was the Chongzhen Emperor's second daughter. Her mother was Consort Shun. Consort Shun had died of postpartum hemorrhage not long after giving birth to Zhu Meichuo, and she had been raised by Empress Zhou.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In later times, both the Chongzhen Emperor and Princess Changping were tragic figures. After Li Zicheng entered the capital, the Chongzhen Emperor hanged himself, and Zhu Meichuo's left arm was severed. She died weeping blood the year after the Ming's fall. Yet before his eyes now was merely a maiden of golden branch and elegant tresses, a jade-like presence embodying pure virtue.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhu Meichuo exchanged a few words with Lu Xiangsheng, then noticed Wang Dou behind him and said, \"This my lord is…\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Dou stepped forward and said, \"Your humble subject, Wang Dou, Guard Commander of Baoan Guard, Xuanfu Garrison, pays respects to the Princess.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Wang Dou?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhu Meichuo's beautiful eyes turned upon Wang Dou in surprise: \"You are that Wang Dou who slew several tens of slave-bandits in Xuanfu Garrison? Even here within the palace, I have heard my Imperial Father mention your name.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Dou said, \"His Majesty is too kind. Your humble subject is overwhelmed with gratitude.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhu Meichuo asked, \"I have heard that the slave-bandits are utterly fierce and savage. When you fought the bandits, my lord, were you not afraid?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Dou said, \"To slay bandits for the country, I long ago set life and death aside!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhu Meichuo curtsied deeply toward Wang Dou: \"My lord is so loyal and righteous. I am filled with admiration. Please accept my bow.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Dou hurriedly said, \"Princess, you must not do this — it would overwhelm your humble servant.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As Wang Dou and Lu Xiangsheng were leaving, they faintly heard Chongzhen's voice: \"Chuo'er, why have you come?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhu Meichuo said: \"…Imperial Father toils day and night for the altars of state. Your daughter went to the temple today to pray for Imperial Father's blessings and sought…\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>……\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After leaving the palace city, Lu Xiangsheng asked Wang Dou about the matter of assuming his post. Wang Dou told him. Upon hearing that the Liu, the Vice Director of the Bureau of Military Appointments, had deliberately made things difficult, Lu Xiangsheng could not help but fly into a rage. Then he learned the reason — it was because Wang Dou had been unwilling to kneel before that Vice Director. This matter concerned the civil-military strife, and Lu Xiangsheng, being a civil official himself…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He said nothing more, merely comforting Wang Dou: \"This Viceroy has his own calculations on this matter; you need not worry, Wang Dou.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Perhaps Lu Xiangsheng had exerted some influence, for the next day when Wang Dou went to the Ministry of War again, that Vice Director surnamed Liu, though his face remained dark, still processed the relevant procedures for Wang Dou, allowing him to smoothly receive his official uniform, certificate of appointment, seal, and other items. Wang Dou even heard him mutter a few words under his breath: \"A mere Garrison Commander, yet he has Vice Minister Lu backing him and even gains an audience with His Majesty — truly strange.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A few days later, Wang Dou returned to Baoanzhen. By now it was the twelfth month of the tenth year of Chongzhen, not far from the New Year. The three thousand new recruits at Shunxiang Fort had completed their training; each man's bearing had undergone an earth-shaking transformation, from lazy, numb, and emaciated military households into warriors whose every gesture radiated martial valor.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gazing upon these fully trained new recruits, Wang Dou was very satisfied. He calculated that after the New Year, once spring began, it would be time to let them go out and see blood.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Before the New Year, Wang Dou held a grand military parade at Shunxiang Fort. That day, the drill ground was a sea of banners like clouds, and shouts of \"Ten Thousand Victories\" shook heaven and earth. Wang Dou and the other officers drew their swords and pointed them askew as one orderly formation after another marched past before them — those uniform footsteps representing a force, an irresistible, all-conquering force.\u003C\u002Fp>",2450,"2026-06-03T14:05:19.908Z",1,"Novelzhen Translator","cbeef6b2061733db2994c15eaf0adf36b60519ce10adcb14723d97001165be6c","a-little-soldier-of-the-late-ming-border-army-chapter-191","a-little-soldier-of-the-late-ming-border-army-chapter-189",896,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fa-little-soldier-of-the-late-ming-border-army-cover.jpg"]