[{"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-213":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},1205502,1561,"Chapter 213: Changping","a-little-soldier-of-the-late-ming-border-army-chapter-213",213,"\u003Cp>On the eighth day of the tenth month of the eleventh year of Chongzhen. Early morning.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After Xie Yike helped Wang Dou rise and dress, she personally fitted him piece by piece with his armor — the very set Wang Dou had captured from a Qing baiyala soldier in the seventh year of Chongzhen. The armor plates were all forged from fine iron and coated with silver-white lacquer, making the entire suit gleam brilliantly while also protecting against rain and rust.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The heavy sword as well — it too was spoils Wang Dou had seized that year. This was the first glory of Wang Dou's campaigning days, so he had continued using this armor set all along. Only the helmet with its tall lightning-rod spike had been replaced with the standard iron helmet of a Ming officer.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With red-tasseled phoenix wings and full neck-and-throat protection, before donning the iron helmet Wang Dou first put on a warm little woolen cap — standard issue for all officers and soldiers in Wang Dou's army. Finally he threw on a thick woolen overcoat, bright red on the outside.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing Xie Yike's eyes red-rimmed, full of reluctance and worry, Wang Dou embraced her petite, delicate frame and said softly, \"Xiuniang, do not worry. I will return safely.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xie Yike forced a smile and said, \"I believe it. My husband is a good man whom Heaven protects. Xiuniang will look after the children at home and serve mother-in-law well. Husband, set your mind at ease on campaign — do not fret over matters at home.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The two stepped out of the room and saw Ji Junjiao standing quietly outside the door in a pure white sable coat. No one knew how long she had been standing there. Seeing Wang Dou emerge, she gave him a sweet smile and, without a word, joined Xie Yike, one on his left and one on his right, accompanying him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When they reached the main hall, his mother, Lady Zhong, was already seated in the front hall waiting. The two maids Liu Qing and Liu Ji attended behind her, kneading her shoulders and tapping her back, and the table had long been laid with a sumptuous breakfast.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing Wang Dou come out, Lady Zhong's expression was very calm. She said, \"Dou'er, all packed? Let us eat.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Everyone ate breakfast in silence. Lady Zhong and the others escorted Wang Dou out of the residence. Xie Yike was already waiting outside the gate with a troop of personal guards. A crowd had gathered outside the residence — family members of officers and soldiers, military households and gentry from the city, Xie Yike's wife Lady Chu standing quietly among them, and also the young lady of the department magistrate's household.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When Wang Dou emerged, a stir went through the crowd. Yet no one spoke.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As he was about to mount his horse and depart, Wang Dou looked at his mother, now grown old before him, and could no longer suppress the surge of emotion in his heart. He swept back the scarlet cloak behind him, dropped to one knee before his mother, and said in a choked voice, \"Mother, your son is going.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lady Zhong's eyes also reddened. She raised her voice and said, \"Child, just go. Do not waver and dither. These old bones of mine can still hold up. For generations our Wang family has waged war for the Great Ming. Show your manly spirit — do not disgrace the name of our ancestors. Your mother will wait in the residence, hoping for your victorious return.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Dou looked again at Xie Yike and Ji Junjiao. Xie Yike showed only reluctance and worry, but Ji Junjiao smiled sweetly at Wang Dou, her eyes full of encouragement and tender affection.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Dou did not look back again. He mounted and rode away. Xie Yike gazed dazedly as Wang Dou's figure disappeared. Ji Junjiao supported her arm and said, \"Sister, our husband is a great hero, a great champion. Going out on campaign is but a commonplace matter for him. We shall wait quietly in the residence for news of his triumphant return.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xie Yike said, \"Sister, tomorrow I wish to go to Shunbao to see those orphaned children, to share some of our husband's cares.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ji Junjiao said, \"I will go with you, sister.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Dou rode out of the city. A great banner bearing the character \"Wang\" led the way, followed by several dozen sturdy armored standard-bearers and guards. Iron hooves hammered against the bluestone-paved main street with a rumbling din. All along the road, both sides of the street were densely packed with military households and common folk seeing them off. When they saw Wang Dou's great banner approach, everyone saluted in silence, then silently followed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Once outside Baoanzhou city, an immense sea of people — military households and common folk seeing off their own sons and brothers on campaign — stretched beyond the walls. There were military households from the prefectural city, and from every fort within the territory. Officers and soldiers, one after another, bade farewell to their families and headed toward the parade ground.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When they saw Wang Dou's great banner approach, they all looked over with eyes full of reverence. For this campaign, Baoanzhou had mobilized virtually its entire force, marching a thousand li to do battle — all on Wang Dou's single command, and not one person hesitated.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At the grand drill hall southeast of the prefectural city, Garrison Supervisor Chi Dacheng had already arrived with his discipline officers. Then, one after another, officers and soldiers arrived, every man helmeted and armored, forming up in neat ranks on the parade ground. After an indeterminate time, Chi Dacheng said, \"General, the hour has come.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Dou said, \"Call the roll.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chi Dacheng said, \"Your subordinate obeys.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He opened the muster book and in a loud voice called the officers and inspected the troops. One by one, officers mounted the platform to answer and report the soldiers present in their units. From the two company commanders marching with the army, Han Chao and Wen Fangliang, to the artillery squad commander Zhao Xuan directly under the battalion, the supply train squad commander Zhong Diaoyang, the cavalry squad commander Li Guangheng, and the rest — not one was absent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Finally Chi Dacheng reported to Wang Dou: \"General, the campaign force of three thousand five hundred officers and men — all present.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Dou walked to the front of the platform. Below, a dense mass of soldiers — every man gripping his weapon, watching him in silence. Gazing at face after face, so plain and reverent, Wang Dou's heart surged. He abruptly drew his sharp sword and thrust it forward at an angle. Like spring thunder rolling across the land, a heaven-shaking roar rose: \"Ten thousand victories! Ten thousand victories! Ten thousand victories!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Everyone shouted at the top of their lungs. Wave after wave of mighty \"ten thousand victories\" cries echoed inside and outside Baoan city.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Dou bellowed, \"March!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Dou's banner led the way. Behind him came great streams of troops marching in orderly formation. They left the parade ground, and along the official road from Baoanzhou city to the guard city, crowds of well-wishers were already densely packed. As Wang Dou's army approached, firecrackers immediately exploded in a crackling roar, and all manner of gongs and drums sounded in unison. An old man raised his voice: \"We wish the General a victorious return!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A heaven-shaking cheer — every single person shouted loudly to cheer the departing soldiers.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Watching all this, Wang Dou's eyes grew somewhat moist. These people had gathered of their own accord, cheering of their own accord. With soldiers and civilians like this, his years of painstaking effort in Baoanzhou had not been in vain.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He waved silently. One by one, the marching soldiers also held their heads high as they passed through the walls of people on either side.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When they reached the banks of the Yanghe River, Baoanzhou Department Magistrate Li Zhenping was already there with a retinue of officials to see them off. Seeing Wang Dou's great army approach — several thousand uniformly sturdy soldiers, a sea of armor, plus dense ranks of war carts and supply wagons — everyone was visibly moved. Wang Dou was no longer concealing his strength, and all who saw it were astonished.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Zhenping took up a cup of wine and said loudly, \"I wish the General a smooth journey and victorious campaign.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The night before, Li Zhenping had already led the city gentry in hosting a banquet to send Wang Dou off, and now he had come again to see him depart. Wang Dou accepted the cup and drained it in one gulp.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fu Mingqi, the Director of the Baoanzhou Confucian School, also took up a cup of wine and said to Wang Dou, \"My friend, a smooth journey and a successful campaign.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Looking at his old friend, Wang Dou nodded silently, then led his army onward in a rolling tide.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When they reached the guard city, Guard City Garrison Commander Xu Zucheng had also led the city's officials and officers, great and small, outside the walls to wait and see them off. Seeing Wang Dou's army, he too was full of emotion. Wang Dou had originally been his subordinate, and now he was of equal rank with him, and in official post he was even a Mobile Corps Commander of the Great Ming — one grade above him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In his heart he could only sigh at Wang Dou's meteoric official career. Seeing the uniformly fierce soldiers behind Wang Dou, every man's morale high, he did not know how Wang Dou had trained them. Perhaps, when Wang Dou returned from campaign, he ought to seek Wang Dou's advice properly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"General, ahead lies Tumubao.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Night Scout Company Commander Wen Daxing came to report to Wang Dou.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even on the march, Wang Dou had night-scout pickets ranging in all directions, constantly gathering intelligence on what lay ahead.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>By his reckoning they had covered nearly a hundred li today — a good marching result, especially considering every man was fully armored. By Great Ming military law, troops on the march must be fully armored; they could only remove their armor when making camp. So when Wang Dou's entire force marched, every man wore armor.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The armor that Ji Shiwei had approved for Wang Dou the day before had all arrived — five hundred sets of iron armor, plus one thousand sets of cotton armor with iron plates sewn inside. Every set was coated on the outside with red lacquer. Once the soldiers donned them, Wang Dou's army became a vast blaze of dazzling red. Clad in red armor and uniforms, every soldier looked especially spirited. It seemed the Ming army's nicknames \"Red Troops\" and \"Red Registers\" were not casually given.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Dou had already inspected them — this batch of armor was uniformly of excellent quality, absolutely no worry of \"one arrow, two holes.\" He expected that Provincial Governor Ji had to bear considerable pressure to approve this armor for him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With this batch of armor, apart from the supply troops who wore mandarin-duck battle jackets and iron-mesh boots, every battle soldier, artilleryman, and cavalryman was fully armored — some in cotton armor, some in iron armor — and over it all they wore red fleece-lined woolen overcoats. Thick and warm aside, they also made the army look magnificently equipped.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At this pace, Wang Dou estimated they would reach Changping within a few days and rendezvous with the reinforcing guard troops. In truth, Wang Dou felt his army could march even faster, were it not for the artillery and supply trains slowing them down.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Dou used the night scouts as his dagger, Han Chao as the vanguard, his own battalion as the center, and Wen Fangliang as the rear guard. The supply train and artillery train all followed directly behind his central force. The weather in the Great Ming's tenth month was already quite cold; sometimes fine snowflakes drifted down, melting the moment the wind blew, only to freeze the road surface solid.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The roads were not easy to travel. Fortunately, most of the supply and artillery train vehicles were pulled by horses and mules; only the soldiers pushing single-wheel carts had a hard time of it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The carts' own weight, plus several hundred jin of provisions and fodder on top — they had to push them the whole way, which was quite arduous. At least they were all issued gloves and wore the same red fleece-lined woolen overcoats, which was already comfortable compared to other Ming armies.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With these supply and artillery trains, the soldiers' marching speed was unavoidably affected.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Dou saw that evening was approaching, then looked at the map. There was a river ahead. He said, \"No need to enter Tumubao. We will make camp right by this river.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Once Wang Dou's order was passed down, the troops reached the river and immediately set up camp. They dug trenches on the spot, took out tents, laid out camp sectors, and dug drainage ditches and latrines. There were no trees nearby to fell, and Wang Dou would not carry timber or lumber on the march anyway, so no temporary wooden walls were erected around the camp perimeter. They simply assigned night-watch soldiers to patrol along the surrounding trenches and set the night password.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In addition, supply soldiers took out sack after large sack of iron caltrops and scattered them along all critical points around the perimeter.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>These iron caltrops were all manufactured at the Shunxiangbao armory, cast from pig iron. Thanks to molds, they were cast very quickly. The caltrops were like triangular spikes; when thrown on the ground, one point always faced upward, extremely sharp. They were very effective whether against the enemy or for setting up camp. Moreover, they were linked by fine iron chains, making deployment and retrieval very convenient, and they were widely used in the Great Ming army as well.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Shunxiang army had trained many times in field encampment, so setting up camp proceeded in perfect order. Wang Dou ran a strict command; even when marching in interior lines, camp was set up as if in wartime. Very quickly, a well-appointed encampment appeared before everyone's eyes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cooking smoke curled upward as one stove after another was set up. The soldiers, weary after a long day, gathered around the stoves, talking and laughing loudly. In Wang Dou's army, every company commander and squad commander had his own cook and mess, and even within each squad, one soldier doubled as the cook. Eating steaming hot noodles and flatbread, along with some dried meat and the like, everyone's spirits revived.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Dou led his personal guards on an inspection circuit around the camp. The soldiers were in good condition, none suffering any particular discomfort — and even if there were, his army had medical officers with them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Dou made a round of the place where the supply carts and artillery wagons were parked. Those war wagons were all very sturdy; several hundred vehicles had traveled for a day without any trouble. The horse carts and wheelbarrows were fully loaded with provisions and fodder, plus a large quantity of gunpowder and cannonballs, along with other types of supplies, all covered with thick tarpaulins; the horse carts even had canopy covers.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>These provisions and supplies were the lifeline of his army. Wang Dou could well imagine that on campaign, the hardest thing to manage was the supply of provisions and fodder. Given the state of the Great Ming, his army's provisions could only be provided by himself. The provisions he now carried were not enough to feed thirty-five hundred men and horses for a month; for future supplies, he would have to think of more ways on his own.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Dou also inspected the artillery battalion's cannons. Each cannon was covered with a cannon jacket, unafraid of rain or snow. The heaviest of these cannons was no more than four hundred catties, and mules and horses pulled them with ease. The Great Ming's Frankish cannons were like this — mainly light and medium types. Although their power in field battles was somewhat less, they were far more mobile than the red barbarian cannons.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Among the war wagons there was also a command wagon and an observation-pole wagon. The command wagon required two horses to pull it and served as Wang Dou's command vehicle when facing the enemy. As for the observation-pole wagon, it was assembled in wartime from two war wagons, each requiring two horses to pull. But in battle, it could erect a tall observation pole from which one could observe enemy movements over a dozen li around. Even hauling it a thousand li from Baoanzhou was worth it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After making his rounds, Wang Dou returned and summoned the two expedition Company Commanders Han Zhong and Wen Fangliang, several subordinate Squad Commanders, as well as the battalion direct officers Chi Dacheng, Zhong Diaoyang, Zhao Xuan, Li Guangheng, Xie Yike, and others to eat in his main tent. The group gathered around a large pot, eating and chatting as they went, quite lively.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Guangheng only lifted the felt curtain and hurried in after everyone had been eating for a while. Each of the cavalrymen under his command had a horse, and those horses were not easy to care for. The cavalry unit had a dedicated two-hundred-man supply team to manage the army horses, handle fodder, along with several veterinarians and soldiers specially tasked with shoeing and tending hooves.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Those cavalrymen had deep bonds with their horses, so even with dedicated caretakers, each man still went to check on his horse after making camp before feeling at ease. Li Guangheng was the same.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wen Fangliang tossed a piece of dried meat into the pot to boil and ate contentedly with flatbread. Seeing Li Guangheng return, he laughed and said, \"Old Li, if you hadn't come back soon, your son-in-law would have gone looking for you.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Guangheng glared at Wen Fangliang. He had a fiery temper and was rigidly proper by nature, truly a man who could not take a joke. Not to mention that a son-in-law holding higher official rank than his father-in-law was an awkward matter indeed, and Li Guangheng disliked others bringing it up.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>However, Wen Fangliang's official rank and military post were higher than his, and they were before Wang Dou. No matter how fiery Li Guangheng's temper, how could he flare up? He saluted Wang Dou and found a seat.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wen Fangliang was teasing his father-in-law, so as the son-in-law, Han Zhong naturally had to speak up in support. He called out, \"Old Wen, these past few years you've taken quite a few wives and concubines and have even more daughters. As it happens, I've just had a son, so I'll take a bit of a loss — one son of mine can marry three of your daughters.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Everyone burst out laughing. Wen Fangliang and Gao Xun were both handsome men in Wang Dou's army, but unlike Gao Xun's devotion, Wen Fangliang was quite the romantic. He was good-looking, held high rank, had considerable family wealth, and other families' daughters were willing to marry him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Over the years, Wen Fangliang had taken several more concubines and had a whole brood of sons and daughters. Though still young, he already had five sons and three daughters.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wen Fangliang was always at ease. Hearing Han Zhong's words, he did not get angry, only laughed and said, \"Old Han, seeing how fair and tender your son is, looking just like that wife of yours, how could that frame of his handle three women? I, Old Wen, putting forth one daughter to deal with your son will be more than enough.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Han Zhong shouted, \"Then this marriage alliance is settled.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Dou smiled. This was how it was in the Great Ming army — relationships were intricate and interwoven, and intermarriage was very common. Just like that, in the course of conversation, Han Zhong had already become in-laws with Wen Fangliang.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In truth, ever since Wang Dou had his son Wang Zheng, the officers under his command had been probing, intentionally or not, hoping to form marriage ties with Wang Dou. As a man from a later era, Wang Dou rather hoped his son would one day find a girl he himself liked. Though those seeking to connect by marriage were as numerous as clouds, he had not revealed the slightest hint of his intentions.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And as the various commanders under him successively established families, they had already formed a fairly solid interest group among themselves, with intermarriage being one such bond.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Guangheng glanced at Wen Fangliang, his expression softening somewhat. With Company Commander Wen's status and position, his own grandson matching with Wen's daughter was a case of well-matched families — this was a good marriage alliance. That boy Han Zhong could be quite shrewd at times.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yang Tong teased, \"Old Han is in a fine mood. Has your lady been taking such good care of you lately that you're feeling thoroughly comfortable?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The crowd laughed even more uproariously.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Although Wang Dou's army had strict hierarchy, with superior officers holding absolute authority over subordinates and everyone both revering and fearing Wang Dou, at Wang Dou's banquets there was no distinction of rank or status. This was one reason everyone felt relaxed and happy in Wang Dou's presence.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yang Tong was now a subordinate in Han Zhong's unit, but the two could also be considered old brothers from the Fire Road Mound days, and they were at Wang Dou's banquet, so he spoke without much restraint and loudly cracked jokes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Because they were about to go to war, Madam Han, who usually kept Han Zhong on a tight leash, had become uncharacteristically gentle and attentive. She even smiled and let it pass when Han Zhong looked at pretty women on the street, giving Han Zhong several days of good living. Hearing the crowd's wild laughter and teasing, he took it not as shame but as pride and loudly declared, \"Very comfortable indeed. This is what they call a man's good fortune.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The crowd burst into another round of loud laughter. The officers and commanders in Wang Dou's army were mostly rough, uneducated men by origin, and they were especially fond of this kind of topic.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Amid the crowd, Zhong Diaoyang merely listened with a smile to everyone's laughter and noise. Zhao Xuan was a technical talent and had no interest in such bawdy jokes, but he very much enjoyed this atmosphere — it had a feeling of brotherly camaraderie that had never existed in the army before.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Discipline Officer Chi Dacheng sat expressionless, sipping his meat soup intermittently. Unless a matter involved military discipline or law, other things rarely caught his attention.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xie Yike, meanwhile, looked somewhat enviously at Wen Fangliang and Han Zhong. He had married Young Lady Chu, but that young lady was extremely proper and was rigidly conventional in bed as well — in other words, utterly lacking in charm. Sometimes when Xie Yike wanted to try a different position, Young Lady Chu would blush shyly and be embarrassed for ages, never daring to cooperate.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I simply don't have the luck with women, Xie Yike sighed inwardly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sun Sanjie laughed along with everyone. He was always cautious by nature, and though he was big and burly, he had a sissy voice that always made people snicker whenever he opened his mouth. Unless necessary, Sun Sanjie would not easily speak.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Watching everyone's joyful laughter, Wang Dou looked on with a smile. He hoped, he prayed, that in this campaign, all the brothers in his tent could return alive and safe.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>……\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Early the next morning, Wang Dou struck camp and set out. The troops donned helmets and armor, infantry and cavalry advancing together in great strides. Behind the central army camp, numerous supply soldiers labored to push supply wheelbarrows, drive provision horse carts, and the artillery wagons followed in a mighty procession.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The road from Baoanzhou to Changping was generally decent, rarely passing through mountainous areas — it was all plain official highway. The troops passed through Huailai and Yanqing territory, and only when they entered the Juyong Pass area did the road become difficult. However, at the marching speed of the Shunxiang Army, on the fourteenth day of the tenth month of the eleventh year of Chongzhen, all thirty-five hundred soldiers arrived intact beneath the walls of Yong'an City in Changping, with not a single straggler or absentee.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>……\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Changping Garrison was one of the many military garrisons of the Great Ming, primarily responsible for guarding Juyong Pass and the various imperial tombs.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Changping was originally Changping County. With the increase of imperial tombs and the growth of guard battalion personnel, in the first year of the Jingtai era, the Great Ming built Yong'an City eight li east of Changping County and established the Yong'an Battalion. Subsequently, the various mountain tomb guard battalions moved into the city, and later the Changping county government office and the Confucian school and granaries moved in one after another. Not long after, a new city was built south of Yong'an City, and the two cities were linked together to form the new Yong'an City, with a perimeter of ten li and twenty-four paces.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>During the Zhengde era, Changping was elevated to a department, under the jurisdiction of Shuntian Prefecture. In the seventeenth year of the Jiajing era, Gonghua City was built at the Shahe in Changping, measuring two li from north to south and east to west, serving as a temporary palace for the emperor when conducting tomb rituals, and also functioning to protect the capital to the south, guard the tomb chambers to the north, shield the strategic pass of Miyun to the east, and control Juyong to the west.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>During the Wanli era, Changping was elevated to a department, with a Regional Commander and Vice Regional Commander stationed to guard it, along with the establishment of a Changping Military Defense Assistant Commissioner, tomb-guarding eunuchs, and others. In the seventh month of the ninth year of Chongzhen, due to collusion from Duoyan Mongol troops, Yong'an City was breached by Qing troops. The Circuit Inspector Censor Wang Zhaokun, Ministry of Revenue Secretary Wang Yigui, acting department magistrate and Baoding Assistant Prefect Wang Yuzuo, and others died in battle, while Regional Commander Chao Peichang surrendered to the Qing troops.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In light of this, the Great Ming increased the defensive forces on the Nanshan Route of Xuanfu Garrison and in Changping Garrison. As a vital fence guarding the capital and the tombs, since the Qing troops invaded in the ninth month of the eleventh year of Chongzhen, the various garrison relief troops had gathered here in clouds, all under the command and dispatch of the Minister of War, who was temporarily acting as the Viceroy of Xuan-Da, Lu Xiangsheng.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At this moment, outside Yong'an City, banners and pennants spread everywhere, densely packed with army tents. The encampment laid out by tens of thousands of relief troops stretched boundlessly, giving a sense of endlessness.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gazing at the majestic silhouette of Yong'an City on the horizon and the boundless sea of army tents, Wang Dou slowly exhaled. \"We've finally made it.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>※※※\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Old White Ox: The day before yesterday it snowed heavily all day, and yesterday the power didn't go out but the internet did. I finished writing the chapter but couldn't post it — nothing to do but sigh.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The internet is still down even now. This chapter was uploaded from an internet café; I don't know if the network will recover today.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>。\u003C\u002Fp>",4631,"2026-06-03T14:05:36.780Z",1,"Novelzhen Translator","12736d36305022d112f1ffd4ffd041ee068088aa96415180f88e224d7fde1b91","a-little-soldier-of-the-late-ming-border-army-chapter-214","a-little-soldier-of-the-late-ming-border-army-chapter-212",896,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fa-little-soldier-of-the-late-ming-border-army-cover.jpg"]