[{"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-308":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},1205597,1561,"Chapter 308: Wait at Ease for the Weary; His Majesty's Heavenly Might","a-little-soldier-of-the-late-ming-border-army-chapter-308",308,"\u003Cp>Cao Bianjiao and Wang Tingchen, hearing that Huang Taiji had personally come to Lizhou, both fell into some panic. They looked toward Wang Dou: \"General Wang, what should we do?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Dou questioned the messenger closely and learned that the Tongzhou great camp had not yet collapsed under Huang Taiji's fierce assault. It was just that the troops had no will to fight, and Chen Xinjia had led Yang Guozhu and Hu Dawei to withdraw into Tongzhou city. Only Hong Chengchou and Sun Chuanting remained on the east bank of the Chaobai River, likewise keeping their camp tightly shut and not daring to give battle.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Dou and the other two breathed a sigh of relief — it was good that the Tongzhou great camp had not crumbled. Thinking it over, Ming troops were poor at field battles, but defending cities and fortifications was still decent. It would not be so easy for Huang Taiji to break through the camp.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>However, from the messenger's tone the situation was far from optimistic. The area around Tongzhou was now entirely Qing cavalry territory, and even the grain route from the capital to Tongzhou had been cut. If Wang Dou and the others did not return to relieve them and drive off Huang Taiji, no one knew how long the Ming troops at Tongzhou could hold out.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Dou pondered for a good while, then summoned Wen Daxing and quietly instructed him to look after the messenger carefully. He needed to discuss military affairs thoroughly with the two army commanders.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wen Daxing glanced at Wang Dou, then led the messenger away.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The several officers inside sat in gloomy silence. Cao Bianjiao suddenly stood up: \"The Viceroy has given his order. General Wang, shall we return at once to relieve them?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Dou sat steady and said: \"Commander Cao, the slave-chief's intent is already clear. This is a tactic of besieging a point to strike the reinforcements. If we rush back to relieve them, our men and horses will be exhausted, while the slave troops wait at ease for the weary. When we are halfway there, they will mass and attack — the consequences would be unthinkable.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Moreover, if we leave, what of the hundred thousand common people of Pinggu? Shall we sit by and watch them fall into enemy hands again?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>To Wang Dou's surprise, Huang Taiji had also entered the passes. It seemed history had changed somewhat. That fellow was a master of military maneuvers; he himself had to be cautious.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Huang Taiji was using an open stratagem, but his scheme might work on others — it would not work on him. He wanted to use the tactic of besieging a point to strike the reinforcements, but Wang Dou would not fall for it. In any case, the Ming troops at Tongzhou were numerous; even if they could not fight in the field, holding the city firmly should be no problem.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His own army of over ten thousand was stalled beneath a fortified city. As long as they blunted the enemy's edge at Pinggu, the foe would have no choice but to withdraw in frustration, and both Pinggu and Tongzhou would be preserved.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Tingchen agreed with Wang Dou's view: \"Xiang Zhuang performed the sword dance with his eyes on the Duke of Pei. The slave-chief Hong Tai has his sights set on our Pinggu army. We must be on guard.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Dou said: \"Commander Wang is learned and erudite — this junior officer admires that. That is precisely the principle.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cao Bianjiao's expression shifted through several changes, and finally he sighed: \"For the hundred thousand common people of Pinggu, we shall remain to defend the city.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Tingchen seemed to have something difficult to say: \"But Viceroy Chen sent a messenger to seek aid. When we meet the various Viceroys in the future, how will we explain ourselves?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The men in the room fell silent for a good while. Cao Bianjiao, Wang Tingchen, and the others all looked toward Wang Dou. Wang Dou raised his head and said flatly: \"Messenger? What messenger? This junior officer has seen none. Most likely they encountered slave cavalry on the road and have already perished.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A chill ran through Cao Bianjiao and Wang Tingchen. Their faces pale, they nodded forcefully.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Commanders, defending the city is of no benefit. It seems our army must still fight a field battle in the open and defeat the invading Eastern Slave army in a fair and square engagement.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At that moment, Wang Dou, Cao Bianjiao, and the others stood outside Pinggu's southern Guanlan Gate. After inspecting the entire county seat, Wang Dou had reached this conclusion.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cao Bianjiao and Wang Tingchen, their expressions grave, also slowly nodded.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pinggu was a small county with earthen walls, its circumference no more than six hundred zhang. The walls were two zhang and five chi high, with four corner towers, each having a barbican. Along all four sides of the city was a moat, three zhang and five chi wide and over one zhang deep.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Such a small county with earthen walls, long since crumbling with age, could hardly hold many men. Moreover, if they adopted a passive defense, the captured common people gathered on the banks of the Leshui River outside the city's eastern Jiepan Gate were in danger of being seized back by the Qing troops. Then Wang Dou would have come to Pinggu for nothing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"If we fight a field battle in the open, the area from the western Ying'en Gate to the Cuoshui River, and the area from the southern Guanlan Gate to the Leshui River, are neither of them ideal ground for open battle.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cao Bianjiao, long a military man, quickly reached this conclusion.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Dou nodded. Pinggu county seat was wedged between two rivers. Ying'en Gate and Guanlan Gate were each less than two li from the riverbanks. That narrow strip of land between them could not possibly accommodate the vast formations of tens of thousands of troops from both sides, let alone the army tents already packed outside.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"The slaves will come from the west or the south. They cannot possibly fight a great battle north or east of the city. If both sides are to fight, it can only be in the Daxing Village area on the west bank of the Cuoshui River, or in the Xindian and Zhaozhuang area on the south bank of the Leshui River.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Tingchen made this judgment.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Dou and Cao Bianjiao both agreed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cao Bianjiao added: \"This commander inclines toward a decisive battle with the slaves in the Xindian area. East of Xindian is Panshan Mountain, whose peaks are steep and perilous, rarely trodden by man. To the north is the Leshui River. If our army forms up backed by mountain and facing water, it will be even more favorable for victory!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Tingchen mused: \"If the slaves want to fight us at Daxing Village...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cao Bianjiao cut in decisively: \"Then we will not fight. We need only hold the banks of the Cuoshui and Leshui Rivers, and the slaves will not advance an inch. The common people and goods are concentrated east of the city. They will have no choice but to fight us in the Xindian area.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Dou nodded. Cao Bianjiao truly lived up to his fame as a renowned general. In just a few moments, he had identified their side's most favorable advantage. The officers of the Great Ming were not incapable of fighting.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The strategy was set. The three men suddenly found they had nothing more to say.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Walking along the edge of Pinggu's moat, elms and willows numbered in the tens of thousands. It was already the third month of the lunar calendar; spring had only just arrived. The ice and snow on the moat and the surrounding Leshui and Cuoshui rivers had already melted away, and the willows were beginning to put forth tender new shoots.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Spring has come.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Dou was somewhat lost in thought. He had gone to war in the tenth month of last year, and without realizing it, he had been away from home for nearly half a year. How he longed for home.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Tingchen muttered: \"We just don't know how many troops the slave-chief has brought.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cao Bianjiao said resolutely: \"No matter how many slave cavalry come, this commander will not act as he did at Julu.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He said: \"The slaves are not three-headed, six-armed monsters. As long as our Great Ming officers and troops dare to fight, I do not believe they will fight to the death without retreating.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Dou extended his hand: \"It is a great honor to fight alongside you two commanders!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cao Bianjiao and Wang Tingchen extended their hands and placed them on top, laughing heartily as well: \"To be able to fight the slaves shoulder to shoulder with General Wang is truly one of life's great pleasures!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The fifth day of the second month, the twelfth year of Chongzhen. Afternoon. Tongzhou.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>From Tongzhou city all the way to the river plain on the east bank of the Chaobai River, dense clusters of Ming army camps and fortifications were spread everywhere. Nearly a hundred thousand Ming troops occupied a great deal of camp space. However, compared to a few days earlier, the Ming camps on the east bank of the Chaobai had greatly diminished. Only Hong Chengchou and Sun Chuanting, leading the bulk of the Qin troops and a portion of the Xuan-Da troops, still had their camp pitched there.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>About ten li from Hong Chengchou's and the others' camp, in the lower reaches of the Chaobai River, dense Qing army tents likewise filled the area. Banners of flying dragons on blue fields, flying dragons on yellow fields, flying dragons on yellow fields bordered in red — most of the fluttering banners were those of the Qing's Plain Yellow Banner, Bordered Yellow Banner, and Plain Blue Banner.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>However, at that moment many of the Qing camps were largely empty of men and horses, because the greater part of them had followed their emperor, Huang Taiji, to make a show of might before the Ming army's fortifications.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing the great formation of Qing troops rolling toward them, every man in the Ming camp was extremely tense and on strict alert. Fortunately, each camp was equipped with large numbers of cannons and fire lances. Those Qing troops did not dare to press too close. They halted two li outside the camp.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hong Chengchou and Sun Chuanting stood on a watchtower gazing out. The two estimated that the troops accompanying the slave-chief Hong Tai numbered over twenty thousand. They had formed a vast, boundless formation; the men, horses, and banners seemed to stretch beyond the edge of sight. Watching the imposing might of the Qing troops, the Ming soldiers beside them all breathed in heavy, ragged gasps.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Those Qing troops had not stood still for long when a tremendous roar burst from within their formation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Long live His Majesty!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Amidst the mountain- and sea-sweeping cheers of the Qing troops, a great yellow dragon canopy was raised high and slowly advanced before the host. Huang Taiji wore a flying-dragon gilt armor. Densely surrounded by Bayara soldiers and the even more elite Gebu Xixian Chao Ha soldiers, he came to the front of the army formation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His frame was stout and fat, and with the heavy armor he wore, the fine steed beneath him seemed barely able to catch its breath. Behind his horse followed a host of princes, dukes, and ministers of the Three Banners, as well as the various banner lords like Duo'er Xiang who had brought their troops to join him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The north wind made Huang Taiji's great yellow dragon canopy snap and flutter. He raised his hand. All around him were soldiers, subjects, and ministers cheering him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Long live! Long live! Long live!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Every Qing soldier raised his weapon and shouted himself hoarse toward Huang Taiji. Their mountain-toppling, sea-overturning cries of \"Long live!\" rose wave upon wave. This display of martial spirit and might made the Ming soldiers on the fortifications tremble involuntarily.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Watching Huang Taiji's figure, Duo'er Xiang's eyes revealed a look of terror and jealousy, but that expression flickered and vanished in an instant. He respectfully urged his horse forward and spoke in a loud voice: \"His Majesty's heavenly might — wherever the blade points, the Ming caitiffs scatter at the mere rumor!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"His Majesty's heavenly might!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The surrounding ministers and generals all chanted in unison.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Huang Taiji laughed heartily. This Duo'er Xiang was notoriously unruly and hard to control. Coming to Tongzhou this time, he had brought only a thousand troops, many of whom were not even armored soldiers. His disloyal heart was laid bare for all to see. Not only that, but Duo Feng, Ji'er Halang, Du Du, and the others had likewise brought only a little over a thousand troops each. The various Mongol banner lords of the Eight Banners had brought even fewer. When their various banners converged at Tongzhou, their troops numbered less than ten thousand.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It seemed these banner lords had already developed treacherous intentions. If he did not overawe them, would they still see him as their emperor? At this moment, every expression was within his sight. It seemed that under the shock and awe of his military might, they were already filled with fear and reverence.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Watching a foreign emperor flaunt his might and parade his troops within Great Ming territory, Hong Chengchou and Sun Chuanting atop the watchtower were both choked with indignation. Sun Chuanting said, “Teacher, allow your student to lead a force out of camp and strike down the slave-chief’s arrogance.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hong Chengchou’s expression was grave: “Baigu, the slave-chief’s power is immense. Do not rush into reckless battle and underestimate the enemy. Prudently guarding our camp is the better course.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sun Chuanting knew Hong Chengchou’s words were prudent, but watching Huang Taiji flaunt his might, the anger in his heart was extremely hard to swallow. He sighed, “Looking at the tens of thousands of government troops in our Tongzhou, every one of them turns pale at the mention of the slaves. Is there truly no one in all of Great Ming, high or low, who dares to fight the slave soldiers?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hong Chengchou also sighed. He recalled a matter and said, “Chen Fangyuan has already sent men to Pinggu to request reinforcements. Counting the days, it has been three. Why has there been no movement from Wang Dou and the others?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He pondered: “Could it be that the envoy seeking aid has already been intercepted by the slave soldiers?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sun Chuanting also concentrated and thought carefully. Suddenly he said, “Teacher, your student observes that Wang Dou has the gaze of a hawk and the watch of a wolf — his mind is exceedingly deep.”\u003C\u002Fp>",2476,"2026-06-03T14:05:36.780Z",1,"Novelzhen Translator","c7d6f4bd6a50710a5301c0fd6523bac45a618055ed70fcb6b822277ca1c3ae4b","a-little-soldier-of-the-late-ming-border-army-chapter-309","a-little-soldier-of-the-late-ming-border-army-chapter-307",896,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fa-little-soldier-of-the-late-ming-border-army-cover.jpg"]