[{"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-296":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},1205585,1561,"Chapter 296: Volume Three: Defender of Shunxiang Fortress — Chapter 286: Seeking Aid from Huang Taiji; Yang Sichang Arrives","a-little-soldier-of-the-late-ming-border-army-chapter-296",296,"\u003Cp>Volume Three: Defender of Shunxiang Fortress — Chapter 286: Seeking Aid from Huang Taiji; Yang Sichang Arrives\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The banners of the Qing army already flew over Jinan City, and around the city walls, dense clusters of Qing army tents were likewise spread everywhere, with commoners and valuables being forcibly driven into the camp in an endless stream.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After the Qing army breached Jinan Prefecture, their blades pressed straight toward Xiangzhou, Qingzhou, and the various prefectures, their arrogance knowing no bounds for a time. Yet now a wave of panic was spreading through every camp. A piece of shocking news had already swept through all the camps: the Manchu Plain Red Banner garrisoned at Zhuozhou had been completely annihilated, its Banner Commander Yoto had been beheaded, and his son Luo Luohong had been captured alive.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The ones who broke the Plain Red Banner camp were none other than the Ming Xuan-Da Army. And among them, the main force was their nemesis, Wang Dou's division. No one could dare believe it. After the Battle of Julu, the Xuan-Da Army had fled in disarray; everyone thought they were long past being a concern. No one expected that, all of a sudden, they would give the Qing soldiers such a huge \"pleasant surprise.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Inside the vast main hall of Prince De's mansion, the Manchu Banner Commanders of the Eight Banners and the Mongol Banner Commanders of the Eight Banners sat in gloomy silence. The joy of the previous days had vanished without a trace.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After Dorgon's main Qing force breached Jinan Prefecture and plundered extensively across Shandong, they had already captured over 250,000 people, along with vast amounts of gold, silver, cattle, horses, wealth, and goods. Just as they were in high spirits, the news from Tongzhou struck like a blow to the head, drenching every Banner Commander in a basin of ice water, the chill penetrating to their very bones.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Unthinkable, unbelievable — that was the true feeling of every Qing commander right now. Yet the news was undeniably real, leaving no room for anyone to disbelieve.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just like the men Yoto had sent to Tongzhou to request reinforcements, the riders they had dispatched to Shandong had likewise been intercepted by the Xuan-Da Army's patrol cavalry — some killed, some captured, the message unable to get through. It was only after Heshuote, the Plain Red Banner Jalanggin Zhangjing left to guard Tongzhou, and others sent out another wave of reinforcement riders that this shocking intelligence finally reached the hands of Dorgon and the others.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At first, Dorgon and the others also dared not believe it. Setting aside where the Xuan-Da Army had even emerged from, the Zhuozhou camp had a garrison of eight thousand men, including four thousand bannermen — how could it have been broken in half a day? Moreover, for a Banner Commander to die among the Qing troops that had entered the pass was an event unprecedented since the founding of the Qing state. The blow to army morale and fighting spirit could be called devastating. Even once they returned beyond the pass, no one knew how to explain this to Huang Taiji and the others.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But as wave after wave of reinforcement riders arrived from Tongzhou, and Dorgon's own scouts also obtained some intelligence, they had no choice but to believe it whether they wanted to or not!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After a long silence in the hall, Duoduo, the Banner Commander of the Bordered White Banner, suddenly leapt up: \"At Julu, this prince said it plainly — we could not let the remnants of the Xuan-Da Army go, and even less could we let Wang Dou and the others escape. We should have pursued and struck while we had the advantage. Well? Now see what the consequences are?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He raged for a while, but no one took up his words, so he could only sit back down resentfully.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jirgalang, the Banner Commander of the Manchu Bordered Blue Banner of the Eight Banners, said to Dorgon: \"Generalissimo, the General Who Manifests Martial Valor has died for his country. Once this news reaches them, the Ming army's morale will surely soar. Moreover, our army is laden with heavy baggage and marching slowly. If they surround and attack us, these great armies of ours that have entered the pass, I fear...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His words startled everyone. Indeed, after entering the pass, especially after the Battle of Julu, the hundred thousand Qing soldiers who had entered had suffered casualties as high as over twenty thousand. In particular, the losses among Manchu and Mongol bannermen approached six thousand. Every banner had lost a considerable number of troops, the two White Banners most of all. Deep down, every banner already profoundly feared the Xuan-Da Army, especially Wang Dou's troops, and dreaded fighting them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was only by riding the victorious momentum after the Battle of Julu that they had once again raided and plundered across Shandong.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Now, with news of the Xuan-Da Army suddenly arriving, the Manchu Plain Red Banner annihilated, its Banner Commander dead, and several thousand more bannermen lost — not counting auxiliaries, the sixty thousand combat soldiers who had entered the pass had suffered losses approaching ten thousand. Once this shocking news spread, the sharp edge of these Qing soldiers in Shandong immediately vanished. All that remained was deep, bone-chilling terror. If they had to face the Xuan-Da Army again, regardless of the Manchu Eight Banners, those Mongol Eight Banners, the Outer Domain Mongols, and some of the small subjugated tribes would certainly not dare to fight again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In particular, the remnants of the Plain Red Banner had not a shred of fighting spirit left — this was plainly evident from the way their remaining forces at Tongzhou were desperately pleading for reinforcements. With a terror-stricken army facing Ming troops whose morale blazed like a rainbow, these soldiers who had entered the pass were indeed in grave danger.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing Jirgalang speak thus, the various Mongol Banner Commanders of the Eight Banners all cried out: \"The plunder we seized at Zhuozhou is already lost — must we now abandon the captives and spoils we took in Shandong as well? Did we enter the pass just to make a fruitless trip? Then what did we Great Mongol warriors come inside the pass for?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Indeed, Generalissimo, Prince Yu, you must think of something!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"The warriors of every banner have suffered severe losses. If we have no people and wealth to replenish them, the banners of our Great Qing will be ruined!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Faced with the clamor of the Mongol Eight Banner Commanders, Dorgon's face remained only cold and impassive. After a long while, he said: \"The people and wealth our Great Qing soldiers have captured certainly cannot be abandoned.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He instructed Abatai, the Raoyu Beile of the Bordered White Banner: \"Raoyu Beile, this Generalissimo gives you five thousand elite cavalry. Travel day and night to Tongzhou to rescue the troops there. You must preserve the people and valuables in that area. As for our great banner armies in Shandong, they shall escort the captured population, grain, and provisions and withdraw immediately.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Abatai had been the earliest to cross hands with Wang Dou. Ever since the first year of Chongde, he had regarded Wang Dou as a great enemy of the Qing state, and he was a steady and cautious man by nature. No one had any objection to Dorgon sending him to the rescue, and a swift withdrawal from Shandong also suited everyone's wishes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Dorgon's arrangements were prudent, and no one could find fault with them. Unexpectedly, Dudu, the Banner Commander of the Manchu Bordered Red Banner, suddenly spoke: \"Generalissimo, this general believes that is still not enough. We should also request reinforcements from His Majesty. Only by combining forces with the Two Yellow Banners and the Plain Blue Banner can we safeguard all the wealth our great army has plundered.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Mongol Eight Banner Commanders immediately voiced their approval in a chorus of cheers. Jirgalang, the Bordered Blue Banner Commander, swiftly entered a state of meditative detachment. Only Dorgon and Duoduo had ugly expressions on their faces. For this entry into the pass, Dorgon commanded the Left Wing Army, with Duoduo as his deputy. Yoto had commanded the Right Wing, with Dudu as his deputy. Now that Yoto was dead, Dudu naturally became the de facto commander of the Right Wing Army, his rank equal to Dorgon's.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As for Huang Taiji, when the two wings had entered the pass, he had personally led the Two Yellow Banners, while his son Hooge led the Manchu Plain Blue Banner, to pin down Ming forces outside Shanhai Pass. Although Dudu's proposal was ostensibly made for the good of the army, to Dorgon it was secretly laced with malicious intent. He stared at Dudu, his face ashen.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Dudu ignored him and continued: \"Our great army once attacked and seized Pinggu, opening a route out of the pass. If His Majesty personally leads troops here, our great army can withdraw with even greater composure, exiting via Xifengkou, Qingshankou, Gubeikou, and other places, preserving all the captured people and wealth, and replenishing the lost population and riches of every banner.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Mongol Eight Banner Commanders roared their approval even louder. Jirgalang also slowly nodded. Faced with the boiling tide of opinion, Dorgon pondered for a long time: \"Then let it be as Anping Beile says. Dispatch riders to request reinforcements from His Majesty. For now, our great army — withdraw!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The eighteenth day of the first month, the twelfth year of Chongzhen. Yizhou.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For several li along the banks of the North Yishui River downstream from the city, the dense encampments of the Xuan-Da Army had already spread out. At this moment, flowing in and out of the camp were local officials and gentry from various places who had come to honor the troops. After the victory dispatch had been sent to the capital, the Xuan-Da Army no longer concealed itself, appearing openly and grandly, encamping near Yizhou.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The news of the Xuan-Da Army's great victory spread like wildfire, like a sudden clap of thunder on level ground, shaking the entire region! At first, no one dared believe the news of the great victory, but as it was confirmed through multiple channels, the nearby Yizhou Military Defense Circuit, the Yizhou Assistant Regional Commander, the Laishui Garrison Commander, the Lesser Zhuozhou Garrison Commander, and others all rushed over at top speed to offer their congratulations to the Xuan-Da commanders. Even Zhang Qiping, the Provincial Governor of Baoding, hurried over from Baoding Prefecture nearly two hundred li away, bringing lavish gifts of wealth and goods to express his congratulations and appreciation for the army.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Dou and the others knew perfectly well what was in their minds. The Xuan-Da Army had taken eight thousand heads. Casually distributing a few dozen or a hundred to each of them would give them more than they could ever exhaust. Even for those civil officials and military officers who had lost territory and cities, having these heads in hand could save their own heads!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As for the commoners and gentry of the various departments and counties within a hundred li, they were either genuinely happy and grateful, or they wanted to forge connections with the Xuan-Da commanders who were destined to become renowned across the realm. Thus, this tide-like wave of people coming to curry favor, offer congratulations, and present rewards was entirely understandable.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It seemed they had never in their lives heard so many words of flattery and gratitude. From the sixteenth day of the first month onward, Yang Guozhu and Hu Dawei had been beaming with radiant faces, grinning so wide they could not close their mouths. The wave after wave of visitors also left them stretched impossibly thin.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"The Yizhou Military Defense Circuit, the Yizhou Assistant Regional Commander, the Laishui Garrison Commander, the Zhuozhou Garrison Commander, the Dingxing Garrison Commander, and others may be received. Zhang Qiping, the Provincial Governor of Baoding — not received.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This was the tone set by Wang Dou, and both Yang Guozhu and Hu Dawei agreed with his intent. This man Zhang Qiping — he must die!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For those visiting department magistrates, county magistrates, garrison commanders, and mobile corps commanders, Wang Dou and the others merely had their subordinates receive them. But for the Zijing Pass Assistant Regional Commander and the Yizhou Military Defense Circuit, Wang Dou and the two Regional Commanders received them personally, making the two men feel immensely honored.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After receiving the three hundred heads allotted to him, the Zijing Pass Assistant Regional Commander was moved to tears of gratitude. He called Wang Dou his brother and, when Wang Dou mentioned wanting the rescued commoners to pass through Zijing Pass on their way back to Bao'an Prefecture, he beat his chest and guaranteed Wang Dou there would be absolutely no problem.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With these heads in hand, the Yizhou Military Defense Circuit could already glimpse the position of Baoding Provincial Governor within his reach, and he was extremely satisfied. He had already received word that Yang Sichang, the Minister of Rites, would soon arrive in Yizhou. Under the pretext of honoring the troops or mourning Viceroy Lu, he hurried to the Xuan-Da camp several times a day and even more warmly invited the Xuan-Da commanders to enter the prefectural city to rest and recuperate.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hard as it was to refuse such overwhelming hospitality, Wang Dou and the others did enter the city a few times to attend banquets at the invitation of the Yizhou Military Defense Circuit. But as for entering the city to rest and recuperate, they declined.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After meeting with the Zijing Pass Assistant Regional Commander and the Yizhou Military Defense Circuit, Wang Dou excused himself on the grounds of pressing military affairs and no longer received guests, leaving all visitors to be entertained by his subordinates. At this moment, inside his central command tent, the people he was receiving were two men named Liu Benshen and Wu Daben. These two were no ordinary figures — they were actually a Company Commander and a Platoon Leader of the Embroidered Uniform Guard from Zhending Prefecture. He had never expected that among the commoners he had rescued there would be such personages, which deeply astonished Wang Dou.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What Wang Dou and Liu Benshen discussed, the men of Shunxiang Army did not know. Only Wang Dou's Guard Unit Officer Yang Hu heard the sound of someone prostrating inside the tent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"This humble officer is willing to hold the reins and whip for the General, to labor forever like a beast of burden.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Dou temporarily placed Liu Benshen under the command of Night Scout Company Commander Wen Daxing. Afterward, he summoned Han Chao, the Company Commander of the First Company, and said: \"Brother Han, I intend to secure the position of Laishui Garrison Commander for you. After the battle, you will garrison Laishui. What do you think?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Han Chao pondered: \"The General's meaning is...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He prostrated himself: \"This lowly general accepts the order! I will certainly guard this gateway to Bao'an Prefecture well for the General!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Dou helped him up and instructed: \"Brother Han, your responsibility is great. You must not only manage the Laishui area well and secure the Liujing Fort passage, but also cultivate good relations with the commanders of Zijing Pass and Yizhou, opening more exit routes for the hundreds of thousands of soldiers and civilians of our Bao'an Prefecture.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Han Chao deeply felt the weight of this responsibility. This was the first time the General had dispatched a trusted officer to garrison a city — it was a sign of the General's high regard for him. As for the position of Laishui Garrison Commander, with the General's methods, especially with these military merit heads in hand, it was a trivial matter.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just as Wang Dou was giving Han Chao detailed instructions inside the tent, Guard Unit Officer Yang Hu entered to report: \"General, Military Governor Yang and Military Governor Hu have urgently sent word that the carriage of His Excellency Yang, Minister of Rites, and His Excellency Chen, Viceroy of Xuan-Da, is already not far from Yizhou. They bid us make preparations to receive them.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Dou sneered: \"Yang Sichang, Chen Xinjia — they've finally come!\"\u003C\u002Fp>",2710,"2026-06-03T14:05:36.780Z",1,"Novelzhen Translator","1cf50e8c4e4c1a0648d637767f2b86c4febb8e1d8b8a9eca3120608020ba581f","a-little-soldier-of-the-late-ming-border-army-chapter-297","a-little-soldier-of-the-late-ming-border-army-chapter-295",896,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fa-little-soldier-of-the-late-ming-border-army-cover.jpg"]