[{"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-249":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},1205538,1561,"Chapter 249: Gao Qiqian's Attempt to Win Him Over","a-little-soldier-of-the-late-ming-border-army-chapter-249",249,"\u003Cp>Zhending Prefecture lies south of present-day Zhengding County in Hebei. Also called Changshan, it is traditionally held to be the hometown of Zhao Zilong. During the Ming dynasty, it was known alongside the capital and Baoding as one of the \"Three Great Northern Garrison Towns.\" Before Shijiazhuang rose to prominence, this was always a flourishing great city in central Hebei, giving rise to the old saying, \"The dazzling Zhending Prefecture, the splendid Taiyuan City.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Hutuo River flows less than two li south of the city. The land within its borders is fertile and its transport links convenient, making it a renowned city through the ages. By the time Wang Dou, Lu Xiangsheng, and the others reached the city of Zhending Prefecture, the area outside the walls was already densely packed with banners, tents, and encampments. Gao Qiqian had arrived a step earlier with nearly thirty thousand Guan-Ning troops at Zhending Prefecture, and they had already occupied all the suitable camping ground. Especially along both banks of the Hutuo River, the encampments stretched as far as the eye could see.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Dou, Lu Xiangsheng, and the others had no choice but to set up camp further downstream along the Hutuo River, adjacent to the Guan-Ning army's encampment. After a long period of bustling activity, Army Supervisor-in-Chief Gao Qiqian, along with the Provincial Governor of Zhending and others, jointly sent an invitation requesting Lu Xiangsheng and the various Xuan-Da officers to enter the city for a discussion.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Xiangsheng led Regional Commander Hu Dawei of Shanxi Garrison, Regional Commander Yang Guozhu of Xuanfu Garrison, Assistant Regional Commander Zhang Yan of Xuanfu Garrison, Mobile Corps Commander Wang Dou of Xuanfu Garrison, along with each man's personal officers and guards. The grand procession arrived outside the eastern city gate of Zhending Prefecture.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For several hundred paces along the official road in front of the city gate, the area was already crowded with soldiers and civilians who had gathered to watch. Gao Qiqian, leading the various Guan-Ning regional commanders and officers, together with the Zhending Provincial Governor, was waiting outside the city gate to welcome them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When Lu Xiangsheng, Wang Dou, and the others arrived, it immediately caused a stir. Countless commoners surged forward, pointing at Wang Dou and the others and cheering.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Look, that is Viceroy Lu, who won the great victory at Dingzhou.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Look, that is Wang Dou, who has won battle after battle, a brave warrior whose valor surpasses the whole army... so young...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Those are the officers of Shanxi Garrison and Xuanfu Garrison, every one of them so majestic...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"With these brave warriors here, we need not fear the Tartars.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cheer after cheer rang out, as countless commoners of Zhending shouted joyfully toward the Xuan-Da officers. Their thinking was very simple: whoever could kill Tartars, not harass the common people, and protect their safety, they would sincerely cheer for them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Xiangsheng, his face full of smiles, cupped his hands repeatedly toward the commoners from horseback, his spirits soaring.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The other officers also held their heads high and chests out. Wang Dou glanced at Zhang Yan, the Assistant Regional Commander of Xuanfu beside him, and at Guo Yingxian, the personal officer of Yang Guozhu's central army, and saw that they all wore expressions of solemn might. Even Guo Yingxian, ordinarily a carefree and casual man, was exceptionally stern at this moment.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Beneath the stone plaque reading \"Three Passes Garrison Town,\" seeing that Lu Xiangsheng and the others were not far off, Gao Qiqian and the Zhending Provincial Governor already came forward to greet them, all smiles. Gao Qiqian still wore his gold-inlaid three-peaked hat, a brocade robe, and a fine jade belt at his waist. He strode over with a powerful, vigorous gait; were it not for his pale, beardless face, an outsider would surely take him for a fierce general.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>From a distance, he laughed loudly at Lu Xiangsheng, his shrill voice ringing out: \"Viceroy Lu's martial might is awe-inspiring. The great victory at Dingzhou has stirred the court and the common people, boosting the morale and fighting spirit of our Great Ming. I congratulate Viceroy Lu on this happy occasion.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Xiangsheng smiled faintly: \"Supervisor-in-Chief Gao is too kind.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Watching Gao Qiqian grin so broadly he could barely close his mouth, Lu Xiangsheng felt deeply gratified. Back when Gao Qiqian had split his forces from his own, could he have imagined a day like this? He himself had won successive great victories, while Gao Qiqian had repeatedly fought without success. Meeting today, Lu Xiangsheng felt he had greatly vented the frustration in his heart.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gao Qiqian exchanged a few pleasantries with Lu Xiangsheng, inquiring after his well-being with earnest solicitude. He then introduced him to the Zhending Provincial Governor and the various local gentry and officials within the city, and everyone fawned over him for a good while. Afterward, Gao Qiqian's eyes lit up, and he strode over toward Wang Dou, laughing in his shrill voice: \"This must be General Wang, whose valor surpasses the whole army? Even here in the army, I have heard of General Wang's great name.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He cordially took Wang Dou's hand and looked him up and down, praising him: \"What a fine fellow. No wonder you have repeatedly routed the caitiff bandits and earned the praise of His Majesty.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Dou felt countless gazes from all around fall upon him. Being held by the hand like this by Gao Qiqian, whose palm was damp and slippery, gave Wang Dou the sensation of goosebumps rising. Without betraying his feelings, he pulled his hand free, smiled, and saluted: \"Supervisor Gao flatters me. This humble officer pays his respects.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gao Qiqian warmly helped Wang Dou up: \"General Wang need not perform such a grand salute. Please rise.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He grabbed Wang Dou's hand again and said, laughing, to the Guan-Ning officers behind him who were continuously sizing Wang Dou up: \"General Wang's fame has spread rapidly. Back in Changping, I unfortunately had no chance to make his acquaintance. Today is the perfect opportunity to introduce him to all you officers.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He introduced them one by one. Wang Dou continuously clasped his fist in greeting to those regional commanders and officers. Back in Changping, these officers had not even glanced at Wang Dou, but now they regarded him with considerable gravity. This was naturally because Wang Dou had achieved successive military merits and great victories, been commended by imperial decree, and praised as one whose valor surpassed the whole army. Moreover, with Gao Qiqian personally making the introductions, at a different time, the treatment he received could be said to be as far apart as heaven and earth.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>However, during the introductions, each man's expression was different. Bai Guangen, Regional Commander of Ji Garrison, grunted \"Hmm\" at Wang Dou and said with a forced, mirthless smile: \"Truly a young hero. General Wang's name has truly been thunder in our ears these days.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tang Tong, Regional Commander of Miyun, laughed: \"As the rear waves of the Yangtze push on the front waves, with a hero like General Wang here, we are getting old.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Tingchen, Regional Commander of Qiantun Guard, cast a sidelong glance at Wang Dou. Cao Bianjiao, Regional Commander of Yutian, though he laughed heartily at Wang Dou, clearly revealed a look of unwilling submission in his eyes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Only Ma Ke, Regional Commander of Shanhai Pass, was full of unceasing praise for Wang Dou.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After making the rounds, Wang Dou felt a sense of oppression in his heart. These Guan-Ning officers were all far too steeped in lethargy and arrogance. Even Wang Tingchen, Regional Commander of Qiantun Guard, and Cao Bianjiao, Regional Commander of Yutian — though historically these two men were worthy of his respect — their expressions clearly showed they were unwilling to accept him and were unfriendly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In terms of being easy to get along with, among the regional commanders Wang Dou had met, Wang Pu, Regional Commander of Datong Garrison, and Ma Ke, Regional Commander of Shanhai Pass, were the best, yet these two were famously known as \"fleeing generals.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Xiangsheng watched as Gao Qiqian openly curried favor with his beloved general in front of everyone, and a look of displeasure appeared in his eyes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After Gao Qiqian, the Zhending Provincial Governor and his entourage also heaped continuous praise upon Wang Dou.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When it was finally over, it seemed Gao Qiqian intended for Wang Dou to follow behind him. Lu Xiangsheng stepped forward without betraying his feelings, and Wang Dou seized the opportunity to withdraw behind Yang Guozhu. Yang Guozhu turned his head and gave Wang Dou an appreciative look.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After the pleasantries, everyone entered the city. Zhending had always been known as the \"dazzling Zhending Prefecture.\" Even in the chaotic last years of the Ming, the city was still bustling, with all manner of shops gathered together. Everywhere on the streets were tall signboards and shop curtains. The streets leading to the Provincial Governor's government office were already packed with commoners who had gathered to cheer and welcome them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>These people had all gathered spontaneously. Seeing how popular Lu Xiangsheng and the others were, a cold glint flashed through Gao Qiqian's eyes, but then he was all smiles again as he pointed out the sights of the city to Lu Xiangsheng.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The welcoming banquet was held in the main hall of the Provincial Governor's office. As the ornate lanterns were first lit, the feast was extraordinarily sumptuous. The Xuan-Da officers ate and drank with abandon. At the table, people continuously came to toast Wang Dou. Only Lu Xiangsheng, thinking of the disaster victims gathered outside the city — many commoners who could not even get a full meal — felt that this banquet was excessively lavish, and he wore a look of distinct displeasure.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>According to Gao Qiqian's wishes, this banquet was to continue late into the night. However, Lu Xiangsheng had no heart for eating. Seeing that the Xuan-Da officers had eaten and drunk their fill, he promptly led everyone back to camp.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That night, a group of messengers silently entered Wang Dou's encampment.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After Wang Dou had Xie Yike see off Gao Qiqian's trusted messenger, he turned back and sneered. Who did Gao Qiqian think he was, coming to win him over, hinting that he should abandon Lu Xiangsheng and throw in his lot with his faction? Would he covet Gao Qiqian's silver and wealth? If he had no money or provisions, he would just go and seize them from the Qing troops. Why would he need anything from Gao Qiqian?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Standing in the cold night, Wang Dou recalled the historical records about Gao Qiqian. He had started as a eunuch in the Directorate of Ceremonial, but was squeezed out by the powerful eunuch Wei Zhongxian and transferred to sweep floors in the Directorate of Palace Maintenance. After Wei Zhongxian was eliminated, Gao Qiqian, along with Cao Huachun, Wang Dehua, and others, deeply enjoyed the favor of the Chongzhen Emperor and was appointed as the eunuch in charge of the seal. In the fifth year of Chongzhen's reign, he began supervising the army in Dengzhou, and later went to Ningyuan and Jinzhou as army supervisor.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gao Qiqian claimed to understand military affairs and be versed in strategy, but in reality, he was a coward who dared not fight, only cutting off the heads of the dead to falsely claim merit. Looking at the results of his tenure, he was a textbook example of a worthless scoundrel who spoiled more than he accomplished. In the seventeenth year of Chongzhen's reign, as Li Zicheng approached the capital, Gao Qiqian abandoned his pass on the road to Ningyuan and fled. During the Southern Ming's Prince of Fu's reign, he was summoned to be the Regional Commander of the Capital Training Divisions, and later he also surrendered to the Qing state.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Dou sneered unceasingly. Was such a wretch worth throwing in his lot with? Recalling Gao Qiqian's cold, sweaty palm during the day, Wang Dou felt a wave of revulsion.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Dou actually held no prejudice against eunuchs. Among eunuchs, he greatly admired figures like the senior eunuch Wang Chengen. In contrast, he felt only contempt for the likes of Gao Qiqian and Du Xun. Though he, Wang Dou, was a man of no great talent, he still disdained to associate with their kind.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The problems of the late Ming were systemic. The imperial clan, the literati, the military men, the eunuchs, the merchants — all these major social strata bore inescapable responsibility for the fall of the Ming. Regardless of which stratum, Wang Dou admired anyone who served the country loyally; conversely, he held in contempt anyone who did not.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He would rather hold the bridle for a hero than act as father to a coward.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Of course, his refusal tonight had been rather tactful; he had merely excused himself by saying he belonged to Viceroy Lu's command and could not leave his post without a transfer order from the Ministry of War. But even saying so, he imagined that once Gao Qiqian learned of his refusal, he would hate him to the marrow of his bones.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Dou was unconcerned. Confront soldiers with generals, and stem water with earth — he would deal with whatever came.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sure enough, the next day, when Lu Xiangsheng again summoned the various Xuan-Da officers into the city to discuss strategy, Wang Dou keenly perceived that although Gao Qiqian still smiled broadly at him, a cold, sinister glint was faintly hidden in his eyes. Wang Dou smiled calmly and did not flinch from meeting his gaze, which seemed to surprise Gao Qiqian somewhat.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That day's council yielded no results. Lu Xiangsheng proposed combining forces to strike out, to bolster their momentum. Gao Qiqian, however, argued that after Viceroy Lu's successive great victories, the caitiff bandits were already terrified, and this was precisely the time to divide their forces for a pincer attack and expand the fruits of victory. He insisted that each lead his own army and advance to meet the enemy on separate routes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The council broke up in discord. During the meeting, Lu Xiangsheng raised the issue of provisions and pay for the Xuan-Da army. The Zhending Provincial Governor merely brushed it off, citing tight prefectural funds and grain supplies and claiming they were diligently working to raise them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Back at the Xuan-Da encampment, Lu Xiangsheng was quite worried. Although the army carried provisions, they were only enough for half a month. If a man takes no thought for what is distant, he will find sorrow near at hand. Once these provisions were used up, how would the problem of feeding this ten-thousand-strong army be solved? He absolutely could not let the soldiers fight on empty stomachs again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Xiangsheng pondered deeply within his tent, while the various Xuan-Da officers below also furrowed their brows. Could it be that the provisions problem would regress to the situation they had faced back in Changping?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Dou looked at the frowning men in the tent, sighed inwardly, stood up, and said to Lu Xiangsheng: \"Viceroy, regarding the provisions problem, this humble officer can resolve a portion of it.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He said: \"This humble officer has a batch of provisions stored within Xingtang County in Zhending Prefecture, estimated at four thousand dan. Combined with the provisions currently held by the army, it would be enough to feed the entire army for over a month!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hu Dawei, Yang Guozhu, and the others were both surprised and delighted, their gazes all turning toward Wang Dou. Back when they were at Baoding Prefecture, Wang Dou had said he had provisions stored within Baoding Prefecture; they had not expected that within Zhending Prefecture, he also had stores of grain.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Xiangsheng stared blankly at Wang Dou for a long moment. While his heart was filled with surprise and joy, a feeling also arose that Wang Dou was profoundly unfathomable. Time and again, he had ingenious and clever methods to resolve the army's difficulties.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>An even deeper thought surfaced in Lu Xiangsheng's mind: \"Could it be that Wang Dou is so far-sighted and meticulous that he foresaw this campaign long ago and thus made early preparations?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Could he possess the ability to foresee the future?\"\u003C\u002Fp>",2713,"2026-06-03T14:05:36.780Z",1,"Novelzhen Translator","d78eaa7d8b94866489a0c89bd644a4faf60881bf16d055892025dca942bf0685","a-little-soldier-of-the-late-ming-border-army-chapter-250","a-little-soldier-of-the-late-ming-border-army-chapter-248",896,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fa-little-soldier-of-the-late-ming-border-army-cover.jpg"]