[{"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-302":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},1205591,1561,"Chapter 302: Combining Forces to March to Battle","a-little-soldier-of-the-late-ming-border-army-chapter-302",302,"\u003Cp>The twenty-sixth day of the first month of the twelfth year of Chongzhen, early morning.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After a grand campaign departure ceremony, over twenty thousand men of the Xuan-Da Army, plus thirty thousand of the Guan-Ning Army, and fifty thousand reinforcements from the Shaanxi Three-Frontier Garrison — though this was only the nominal figure, in reality barely over thirty thousand, with a large number of supply troops among them — the Ming army, nearly a hundred thousand strong, advanced in a vast, mighty column toward Tongzhou.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This was only the number on the official troop registers; accompanying them were vast numbers of civilian laborers transporting provisions and supplies, forming an ocean of troops stretching beyond the horizon.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His Majesty ardently hoped to ride the keen edge of the Zhuozhou victory and sweep away the invading slave soldiers in one stroke. The commanders, Hong Chengchou and Chen Xinjia, were likewise brimming with confidence, hoping to achieve great merit and repay the Emperor's profound expectations. Although the campaigning troops were combined into one route, they were led in two divisions: Chen Xinjia commanded the Xuan-Da Army and the Guan-Ning Army; Hong Chengchou and Sun Chuanting commanded the Shaanxi Qin Army that had come to the Emperor's aid. Specific battle operations were to be jointly planned and discussed by the two men.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Before the campaign, they had already received enemy intelligence: the remnants of the Plain Red Banner far away in Tongzhou, with the assistance of nearly ten thousand elite cavalry sent as reinforcements from Shandong, had already taken their plundered wealth and captives and were rapidly moving toward Pinggu.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It could be confirmed that the Qing reinforcement troops dispatched from Shandong were led by Abatai, the Raoyu Beile of the Bordered White Banner. They apparently set out from Jinan on the seventeenth and, by the twenty-second, reached the enemy camp at Tongzhou, joined forces with the Plain Red Banner remnants, and together withdrew toward Pinggu. Escorting the captives and wealth, after several days of forced marching, they had already reached the outskirts of Pinggu.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing of the speed of Abatai's reinforcements, the Ming officers could not help but look at each other in shock. From Jinan to Tongzhou was over a thousand li — they arrived in six days? It was truly astonishing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Dou was not surprised. The Qing army's mobility was exceptionally outstanding in the late Ming period. Liu Yazhou wrote in *Jiashen Revisited*: \"The Eight Banner army was like an arrow leaving the bowstring, thrusting toward Shanhai Pass at a speed of two hundred li per day, equivalent to the Red Army's forced crossing of the Dadu River. But after Li Zicheng left Beijing, he dawdled. Beijing is just over four hundred li from Shanhai Pass, yet the Dashun army took eight days, averaging thirty to forty li per day. As a result, they reached Shanhai Pass at roughly the same time as the Qing army. Had Li Zicheng arrived one day earlier, the Battle of Shanhai Pass would not have ended as it did.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Two hundred li per day already exceeded the marching speed of the U.S. military in Iraq. Although this came at the cost of exhausting large numbers of horses to death, the Qing troops' rapid march capability was undeniable.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>According to enemy intelligence, there was also Dorgon's main force in Shandong. Escorting their plundered captives and wealth, they were already nearing the Tianjin area. From Jinan to Tianjin was over seven hundred li. Even if they set out on the seventeenth, they could reach Tianjin in eleven days, covering fifty to sixty li per day, aided by the Grand Canal.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As for which of the two enemy forces to strike, both Chen Xinjia and Hong Chengchou were inclined to first attack the enemy at Pinggu, rescue the captured commoners there, and then wait at ease to deal with Dorgon's arriving main force. To be prudent, they also consulted Yang Guozhu, Hu Dawei, and Wang Dou of the Xuan-Da Army, and the three men shared the same opinion.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With the strategy set, the great army set out in a mighty column. The nearly hundred li from the capital to Tongzhou was crisscrossed with fields and canals, unsuitable for cavalry operations. Although they encountered harassment from Qing cavalry along the way — attacks on some grain-transporting laborers, the burning and looting of some supplies, causing a degree of panic among the troops — overall the march proceeded smoothly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After two days of marching, the army streamed continuously into the Tongzhou area and smoothly recovered the empty city. Chen Xinjia promptly reported the victory to the capital. To demonstrate their resolve for the campaign, Chen Xinjia and Hong Chengchou did not encamp within Tongzhou city but pitched camp on the eastern bank of the Chaobai River, with over a hundred li of open plain stretching ahead between Tongzhou and Pinggu.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>On the evening of the twenty-eighth, Chen Xinjia and Hong Chengchou summoned the various generals for a council of war.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When Wang Dou arrived at Chen Xinjia's central command tent, it was already full of armored officers from the various garrisons, but the atmosphere inside was not particularly good. The Guan-Ning officers all cast sidelong glances at the Xuan-Da officers, their expressions a mix of envy and jealousy, with a faint undercurrent of resentment.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They clearly blamed Yang Guozhu, Hu Dawei, Wang Dou, and the others for not coming to their rescue and relief after their defeat and collapse at Julu, and at the same time were intensely jealous of the Zhuozhou victory Wang Dou and the others had achieved.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even on the Xuan-Da side, those Xuan-Da Mobile Corps Commanders and Assistant Regional Commanders who had earlier split off from Lu Xiangsheng in the eastern suburbs of the capital and come under Chen Xinjia's command were also extremely envious of Wang Dou. Many of them laughed hollowly and spoke in sarcastic, barbed tones. In particular, Mobile Corps Commanders Li Jianming and Wen Hui of Xuanfu Garrison wore expressions of extreme defiance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There were also men like Regional Commander He Renlong, who had come as reinforcements from the Shaanxi Three-Frontier Garrison, cursing and grumbling.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The campaigning troops were numerous, and the provisions required were astronomical in quantity. Yet the capital region was devastated, making the supply of provisions extremely difficult. Tongzhou had originally been the distribution center for imperial grain transport to the capital, but after the city was breached, the various canal-transport granaries had either been completely looted by the Qing army or simply destroyed. The provisions that could be supplied were scant. Including the civilian laborers, feeding this hundred-thousand-strong army became a serious problem.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With more monks than porridge, Chen Xinjia prioritized the limited provisions allocated by the Ministry of Revenue to the Xuan-Da troops, which provoked widespread discontent among the rest of the army. The Guan-Ning Army's treatment was second only to the Xuan-Da Army's, so they were relatively fine. But He Renlong and the other Shaanxi Three-Frontier troops received only a small amount of provisions; everyone was cursing loudly and full of grievances.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Dou had always operated on the principle of not relying on others for provisions, so from Yizhou to the capital, his army had carried a month's worth of supplies with it. But seeing the atmosphere in the tent, he felt inwardly worried. This campaign had many troops and many generals, but their hearts were not united; he feared the situation would not be so optimistic.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Dou seemed to be given the cold shoulder inside the tent. The various officers in the tent divided into three groups, the three Regional Commanders each standing with their own group. After exchanging initial greetings, they hardly spoke.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>On the Xuan-Da side, although Yang Guozhu and Hu Dawei were cordial to Wang Dou, the Assistant Regional Commanders and Mobile Corps Commanders within the two garrisons only exchanged polite pleasantries with him, or expressed admiration in exaggerated tones, yet their expressions and mannerisms deliberately or unconsciously kept a distance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Only a mediocre man is free from envy — Wang Dou let them be.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fortunately, Yang Guozhu's central-army personal general Guo Yingxian and Hu Dawei's central-army personal general Hu Zichen were very warm toward Wang Dou, giving him some inner comfort. He and these two generals had shared life-and-death dependence and forged a comrade's bond through fighting side by side in bloody battle.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just as Wang Dou was observing coldly from the sidelines, over on the Guan-Ning side, Yutian Regional Commander Cao Bianjiao and Qiantunwei Regional Commander Wang Tingchen came over, each followed by a retinue of armored officers.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Although the two were Regional Commanders, they did not hold seal-granted titles, so both paid their respects to Yang Guozhu and Hu Dawei with the ceremony due to superior officers. Yang Guozhu in particular, as the Zhenshuo General of Xuanfu Garrison, held the highest and most honored status among all the Regional Commanders in the tent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After saluting, Cao Bianjiao and Wang Tingchen exchanged pleasantries with Yang Guozhu and Hu Dawei with smiles. Cao Bianjiao's face, in particular, bore a faint look of shame, clearly feeling guilt and remorse over having held his troops back and not coming to the rescue at Julu.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yang Guozhu and Hu Dawei, having climbed to the position of Regional Commander, were both old hands who had grown shrewd with age; naturally they showed no unusual reaction and chatted cheerfully with Cao Bianjiao and Wang Tingchen. After some small talk, Cao Bianjiao suddenly turned his eyes to Wang Dou and said with a smile, \"General Wang, your valor surpasses the entire army. Following Military Governor Yang and Military Governor Hu to the great victory at Zhuozhou, this military governor is truly filled with admiration.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Tingchen also called out from the side, \"General Wang, you've trained such fine soldiers — when you have time, you must instruct those worthless subordinates of mine.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Everyone in the tent pricked up their ears. Yang Guozhu felt his face greatly honored and also chuckled heartily.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Dou smiled faintly and said, \"The two military governors overpraise me. It is I, your humble subordinate, who should seek instruction from you both.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing that Wang Dou was neither arrogant nor impetuous, Cao Bianjiao admired him even more and introduced him to his subordinates. Accompanying Cao Bianjiao into the guard were one central-army Assistant Regional Commander and two Mobile Corps Commanders. Among them, a Mobile Corps Commander named Yang Shaofan caught Wang Dou's attention. This man was not old, only twenty-four or twenty-five, as young as Wang Dou himself.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He spoke with a Liaodong accent, wore a well-fitted suit of iron armor, and had a slender build. An outer cloak draped over him further set off his handsome, jade-like face and imposing bearing. When he saluted Wang Dou, he wore a gentle, genial smile that made people warm to him at first sight.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet Wang Dou always felt this man was not simple — he seemed to be someone who hid his depths well, a man of considerable shrewdness. Cao Bianjiao was quite fond of Yang Shaofan and briefly introduced him to Wang Dou. It turned out that Yang Shaofan had once been a subordinate of his uncle Cao Wenzhao, rising through accumulated merit to Mobile Corps Commander, and only later followed him, Cao Bianjiao.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After saluting Wang Dou, Yang Shaofan quietly withdrew behind Cao Bianjiao, merely sizing Wang Dou up with his eyes from time to time.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Amidst the exchanging of pleasantries, the third drum roll suddenly sounded. The generals hurriedly took their places, dividing left and right. The Xuan-Da generals lined up on the left side, with Xuanfu Garrison Regional Commander Yang Guozhu at the very head. Wang Dou and the other garrison officers stood behind Yang Guozhu. Next was Shanxi Garrison Regional Commander Hu Dawei, and finally the Guan-Ning officers. As for He Renlong and the other Shaanxi Three-Frontier garrison officers, they lined up on the right side of the great tent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Your Excellencies, your humble subordinate is willing to lead the troops as vanguard, take Pinggu, and slaughter every last Tartar soldier inside, leaving not a scrap of armor behind!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chen Xinjia and Hong Chengchou sat side by side before that enormous iron desk, but Chen Xinjia sat on the left side and Hong Chengchou on the right. Both men possessed Imperial Swords bestowed by the Emperor, each encased in a yellow satin dragon-embroidered sheath and suspended on the screen behind the desk.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sun Chuanting sat in the seat on the left below the desk. After leading his reinforcement army to the capital, he had not been permitted to enter the city for an audience with His Majesty. His expression was sullen and angry, the sharpness in his eyes even more intense. Sitting in his place, his gaze slowly swept across the tent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After a round of military intelligence discussion, Shaanxi Regional Commander He Renlong was the first to request battle. Following him, the various Shaanxi generals all clamored to fight. The Guan-Ning generals were not to be outdone, vying to lead the troops. Over there were only a few thousand Tartar soldiers but a vast amount of gold, silver, and valuables — who wouldn't want to go? In the Battle of Zhuozhou, Yang Guozhu and the Xuan-Da Army had made a killing, and they were already envious beyond measure.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The troops' morale was usable. Hong Chengchou and Chen Xinjia exchanged smiles, greatly satisfied, and Sun Chuanting nodded repeatedly as well.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chen Xinjia stroked his beard and smiled, the very picture of a man with a well-thought-out plan. The Xuan-Da Army had already achieved enough merit; if they achieved more, the allied armies would turn green with envy. After the Zhuozhou victory, the Ming army's keen spirit was soaring. Pinggu held a mere few thousand Qing soldiers — let the Qin Army and the Guan-Ning Army take this military glory. Surely those terror-stricken Qing troops would be swept away in a single stroke.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hong Chengchou deferred to Chen Xinjia to speak. Hong Chengchou's posture greatly pleased Chen Xinjia, who, with a magnanimous air, let Hong Chengchou deliver the instructions and make the decisions.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hong Chengchou was secretly delighted. He stood up, gave a light cough, and swept a commanding gaze over the generals in the tent. Then, in his official speech tinged with a Fujian accent, he said: \"The eastern slaves have invaded, and the common people wallow in misery. Every subject of our Great Ming gnashes his teeth in hatred. By the grace of our ancestors' spirits, His Majesty's great fortune, and the strategic planning of the court ministers, our Great Ming's government troops were able to achieve the victory at Zhuozhou. The slave rebels are already terror-stricken. The slaves at Pinggu number only a few thousand. This is the moment to achieve complete success in one battle — to repay the Emperor's grace above and rescue the common people below rests upon this fight!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After delivering his commanding speech, he proceeded to arrange the battle operations. Shaanxi Regional Commander He Renlong would lead his own troops as the vanguard, with Shanhai Pass Regional Commander Ma Ke in support. The remaining Shaanxi and Guan-Ning generals would slowly press forward. As for the Xuan-Da troops, they would remain behind to guard Tongzhou, serve as the rear guard for the main army, and simultaneously guard against any enemy reinforcements that might appear from the Tianjin area.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing that Hong Chengchou's arrangements were methodical and well-ordered, Chen Xinjia nodded in approval. Hong Chengchou's disposition was very steady. With so many troops pressing forward and advancing step by step, there was no reason they could not take Pinggu with its few thousand Qing soldiers. Even if the enemy fled, so much the better — the government troops could easily rescue those hundred thousand commoners and seize the valuables and supplies the enemy had plundered.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After making his arrangements, seeing that Chen Xinjia had no objections, Hong Chengchou smilingly consulted Sun Chuanting, asking if he had any opinions.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sun Chuanting rose to his feet and said sternly, \"In tomorrow's battle, every general must unite heart and effort. Should there be any who fear death and shirk from battle, this governor will show no leniency!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Qin Army generals still held this Provincial Governor in awe and all roared their acceptance of the order; only the Guan-Ning generals curled their lips in secret.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He Renlong received the vanguard command arrow and bellowed, \"Donkey balls! Those few thousand Tartar heads at Pinggu — this old man is set on taking them!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But then he added, \"Your Excellencies, as the saying goes, the Emperor doesn't send out hungry soldiers. The brothers in the army can't fight on empty stomachs.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hong Chengchou turned to Chen Xinjia and probed, \"Lord Chen, what do you think?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The army's provisions, allocated from the Ministry of Revenue to the troops, were all distributed uniformly by Chen Xinjia. At this moment, he smiled and said, \"The officers and men are going to kill rebels for the nation — how could this Viceroy bear to let them endure hunger and cold? Even though provisions are difficult, this Viceroy will find ways and means to supply full rations to General He, General Ma, and the other units going into battle.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing Chen Xinjia say this, Hong Chengchou set his mind at ease and declared, \"For tomorrow's campaign, this Viceroy will personally pour wine and bid farewell to General He and General Ma as they set out!\"\u003C\u002Fp>",2914,"2026-06-03T14:05:36.780Z",1,"Novelzhen Translator","11f3b4856a7972da17db13a16c9c178a0041ea783b2698f24857dbafe43fd5cd","a-little-soldier-of-the-late-ming-border-army-chapter-303","a-little-soldier-of-the-late-ming-border-army-chapter-301",896,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fa-little-soldier-of-the-late-ming-border-army-cover.jpg"]