[{"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-31":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},1205320,1561,"Chapter 31: The Inside Man","a-little-soldier-of-the-late-ming-border-army-chapter-31",31,"\u003Cp>Wang Dou had been busy with fort affairs all along; he truly only learned of the Fangjiagou incident last night.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With the Great Ming now plagued by natural and man-made disasters, bandits and outlaws are as numerous as ox hairs everywhere. Within the borders of Baoanzhou Guard alone, several gangs are entrenched. Yet as the saying goes, a rabbit doesn't eat the grass by its burrow, and an eagle doesn't strike the prey beneath its perch. Though the local bandits often commit murder, kidnapping, and plunder, they still observe some bottom lines and scruples. An atrocity like wiping out an entire village is truly shocking to hear.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Dou said in a deep voice, \"What exactly happened? Brother Gao, tell us in detail.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gao Shiyin explained. It turned out that in the Western Hills, at a place near Siqingliang, a bandit gang had taken hold two years ago. This gang was mainly composed of local ruffians and hardened old bandits, along with some routed or mutinous soldiers who joined them. The bandit chief was a man named Qiu Zimao, who, it was said, had actually started out as a militia squad leader.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After Qiu Zimao led this gang to occupy the mountain stronghold, they committed every kind of evil, constantly raiding, killing, and plundering across the region year after year. They would strip every village and stockade they reached of all valuables. Kidnapping for ransom and seizing women were even more commonplace. These men were utterly vicious and brutal, their deeds growing more and more excessive, until now they had actually committed the heinous crime of slaughtering the surrounding villages.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After the Fangjiagou incident, the entire area of Sangganli and Shunxiangbao was shaken. In truth, what happened that night was very simple. Qiu Zimao had taken a fancy to the daughter of a village tithing chief in Fangjiagou and wanted to seize her to be his fortress wife. The tithing chief refused. In a fit of rage, Qiu Zimao ordered the entire village slaughtered. That Qiu Zimao and his men could commit such an utterly inhuman, conscience-defying act — it is an outrage to both gods and men.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After hearing Gao Shiyin's account, everyone present burst into curses. Zhong Rong also said in a trembling voice, \"Robbing some goods and money is one thing, but to slaughter people and butcher an entire village — have these bandits no shred of humanity left?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A sudden sense of crisis gripped everyone. The fort walls of their own stronghold were not yet complete. Although they were confident they could wipe out any bandits that came, the losses within the fort would not be small either. It seemed they had to find a way to finish building the walls as quickly as possible — but where would the money and provisions come from?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Han Chao said, \"These bandits have committed such atrocities, and Fangjiagou falls within the peacekeeping zone of our Dongjiazhuang area. Presumably, the Company Commander will dispatch troops to exterminate them?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Everyone nodded. Wang Dou drank his wine slowly, then suddenly asked, \"Those bandits have been plundering and extorting for years — presumably their stockpile is not small?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Everyone was taken aback for a moment. Gao Shiyin said, \"They're all hardened old bandits. After years of looting and kidnapping everywhere, they've certainly amassed a considerable amount of wealth and goods.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With a loud bang, Wang Dou suddenly slammed his palm onto the table, making the bowls and chopsticks jump. He stood up and said sternly, \"Bandits run rampant through the countryside, utterly devoid of conscience. As a Squad Commander of the Great Ming's official army, how can I sit by and watch outlaws run wild? We must exterminate them to safeguard the peace of this region.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yang Tong's eyes widened. He was the first to catch on, and he shouted, \"Right, right! Kill these bandits and protect the safety of the countryside!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The others caught on as well, each one declaring with righteous fervor, \"Kill the bandits, wipe out the outlaws, eliminate the violent and bring peace to the good, secure the region!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The group resolved to go and exterminate this bandit gang and avenge the villagers of Fangjiagou.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>However, these bandits lived by banditry and were full of cunning tricks. Their location was mountainous, giving them the advantage of terrain. To wipe them out, they would need to conduct a thorough reconnaissance first.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This task fell to the Han Chao brothers and Gao Shiyin. They were originally Night Scouts, so this was exactly what they were best at.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Regarding Wang Dou's instructions, Han Chao and Han Zhong naturally had no objection, and Gao Shiyin was also willing to go.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Time was pressing. After a slight disguise, the three set out that very afternoon.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Two days later, the three returned. Han Chao reported to Wang Dou, \"Chief Wang, we've checked. The bandit gang at Siqingliang numbers around fifty or sixty men. Their stockade is built on a mountaintop, and there's a small pass in front of the stockade. That pass is not worth worrying about; it's the pass on the mountaintop that is more troublesome.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He produced a sketch map, on which the terrain and topography around Siqingliang were drawn. According to Han Chao's explanation, the stockade wall and pass on the mountaintop were indeed quite troublesome. Three sides were steep and difficult to climb; only one slope allowed ascent. If they hurled down rolling stones and logs from above, the attacking side would inevitably suffer heavy casualties.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Dou pondered for a long time. He believed he could take this stockade by leading a few squads of men, but he feared the death toll would be severe, making it not worth the cost. After all, his capital was small and he could not afford attrition. He still needed to think it over carefully.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing Wang Dou deep in thought, the others also furrowed their brows, trying to think of a solution. Gao Shiyin suddenly said, \"Chief Wang, I do have an idea. Perhaps we can try it.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Everyone looked at him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Dou also said, \"Oh? What idea does Brother Gao have? Please, let's hear it.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gao Shiyin said, \"Inside Siqingliang, there's a headman named Mo Tianchong. He used to be a squad leader in the army and was an old acquaintance of mine in the past. I've heard he's long been dissatisfied with the bandit chief Qiu Zimao. Perhaps we can start from there.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Dou gave Gao Shiyin a deep look. \"This method is worth a try. If you can persuade that Mo Tianchong to be our inside man, Brother Gao, you will be credited with a merit.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gao Shiyin cupped his fists and left in high spirits. Han Zhong exclaimed, \"How does that barbarian Gao know that bandit?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yang Tong, Qi Tianliang, and a few others also discussed this, but Wang Dou alone remained silent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Before the others could say much more, a military householder came in to report that Zhang Tanggong from Dongjiazhuang had arrived.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Outside the official hall, Zhang Tanggong was mounted on a horse, flanked by two attendants. He was wrapped up tightly, his hands merely holding the reins.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the cold wind, the three men stood there; both men and horses were exhaling thick white plumes of breath. Zhang Tanggong's face had been chapped into several cracks by the freezing wind. He looked hurried. After seeing Wang Dou, he dispensed with pleasantries and said directly, \"Brother Wang, I've come to notify you. The Company Commander is preparing to dispatch troops to exterminate the bandits at Siqingliang. In three days, bring some men to Dongjiazhuang to rendezvous with us.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Dou asked a few questions. It turned out that after the entire village of Fangjiagou was massacred, the whole Shunxiangbao area was shaken. The Garrison Commander Xu Zhongjun was also furious, because Fangjiagou was considered part of Dongjiazhuang's peacekeeping zone. Therefore, Xu Zhongjun had ordered Zhang Gui to wipe out this bandit gang before the new year.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhang Gui dared not be negligent. After receiving the order, he had been preparing to send troops to Siqingliang. Although Wang Dou's side was a fortified settlement, Wang Dou and his men's reputation for bravery in killing the enemy had already spread far and wide, so Zhang Gui requested that Wang Dou and his men also accompany them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>However, as for Wang Dou's subordinates, Zhang Gui knew they were all recently recruited fort households, so he naturally held no hope for their combat strength. Aside from Wang Dou, Han Chao, and Han Zhong, Zhang Gui did not care how many men Wang Dou would bring, and left it entirely up to Wang Dou himself.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After exchanging a few words, Wang Dou invited Zhang Tanggong into the hall to sit. Zhang Tanggong said, \"No, I must hurry back to the estate to report.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The two men cupped their fists to each other. Zhang Tanggong turned his horse around, cracked his leather whip in the air with a crisp snap, and gave a loud shout: \"Hyah!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The horse's hooves struck the frozen, hard ground, their clatter fading into the distance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Watching the three figures of Zhang Tanggong and his men disappear into the distance, Han Zhong laughed and said, \"Just when we were short of manpower, this opportunity delivers itself.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Everyone burst into laughter.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Two days later, Gao Shiyin returned in delight. He said he had persuaded that Mo Tianchong, who was willing to act as their inside man in the army. However, he had some demands and needed to speak with Wang Dou face to face.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Dou agreed. That night, Wang Dou took the Han Chao brothers and Gao Shiyin to meet Mo Tianchong beside a stretch of woods at the foot of the Western Hills.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At a glance, Mo Tianchong did not look like a good man. He was brawny and barrel-chested, with high cheekbones, thick eyebrows, a protruding chin, and a sallow complexion, wrapped in a large sheepskin coat. It was said he had once been a squad leader in a Ming army combat battalion. For a man like him, who had fallen from being a government soldier to a bandit and had long mixed in bandit dens, he must have been steeped in blood debts.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Dou watched Mo Tianchong as he spoke. Mo Tianchong just rattled off his demands endlessly: \"This humble one is willing to assist the government troops and will no longer follow the bandits hereafter. However, after Siqingliang is taken, this humble one wishes to cut off Qiu Zimao's head. Moreover, of the spoils seized in the stockade, this humble one also wants a half share.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At this point, Mo Tianchong smacked his lips, perhaps recalling his former status.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>From his words, Wang Dou could sense Mo Tianchong's hatred for Qiu Zimao. The matter was simple. In the seventh month, when the Later Jin army invaded various parts of the Great Ming, Mo Tianchong became a routed soldier and took a few men to join Qiu Zimao. At first, Qiu Zimao did rely on him, but later gradually pushed him aside, which made Mo Tianchong secretly resentful. On top of that, not long ago, Mo Tianchong had taken a fancy to a singsong girl, only to have Qiu Zimao snatch her away as well. In his heart, Mo Tianchong had already conceived the intent to kill Qiu Zimao.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Coupled with Qiu Zimao's recent village massacre, Mo Tianchong knew that government troops would certainly come to exterminate them. Why should he stay in the stockade and be buried alongside Qiu Zimao? Better to seize the chance to defect to the government troops as an inside man, use the opportunity to make a profit for himself, and conveniently eliminate Qiu Zimao, his personal enemy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Dou said flatly, \"It is best that you are willing to forsake darkness for light and assist the government troops. As long as you truly render meritorious service, what harm is there in you taking half the spoils? But how exactly do you plan to assist when the time comes?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Mo Tianchong looked at Wang Dou. He had also heard something of the news that Wang Dou and his men had killed ten Later Jin soldiers. Looking at the burly young man before him, he indeed appeared very fierce and formidable.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing Wang Dou say this, Mo Tianchong hesitated slightly. There was something deep and unfathomable about Wang Dou that made him wary. After a moment, he said, \"Is Lord Wang a man of his word? Will he truly be willing to give this humble one half of the spoils when the time comes?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Dou said flatly, \"I am a Squad Commander of the Great Ming's official army — would I deceive you? If you don't trust me, do you not trust Brother Gao here either?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gao Shiyin, standing nearby, said, \"Big Shoulders Mo, you can set your mind at ease a hundred times over. Chief Wang will certainly keep his word when the time comes. I guarantee it — your benefits won't be shortchanged when the time comes!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing Gao Shiyin say this, Mo Tianchong set his mind at ease. Back in the day, he and Gao Shiyin had been in the same battalion; they had fought together, drunk together, and whored together. They could be considered fair-weather friends who had shared life and death. Coupled with the temptation of the gold, silver, and valuables inside the stockade, he gritted his teeth and said, \"Fine, this humble one will trust Lord Wang! My lord, rest assured, there is a small path from the rear mountain that leads directly into the stockade, and the pass on the rear mountain is precisely guarded by this humble one. When the time comes, with this humble one acting as the inside man, the government troops will certainly be able to break through the stronghold.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Dou gave Mo Tianchong a deep look. \"In that case, it's settled!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>※※※\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Old White Ox:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Feeling a bit unwell today, possibly heatstroke. Just one update for today.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Another reply to the book friend of *Just for Fun*: In the Ming dynasty, the range of the arquebus was still quite far. Qi Jiguang's *Record of Military Training* states: whenever an arquebus is used, do not allow early firing when encountering the enemy. Now, when the enemy comes within a hundred paces, listen for the commanding officer to fire one shot, and only then allow firing. All crossbowmen and archers shall wait until the arquebusiers have finished firing and the enemy is within sixty paces before they are permitted to shoot arrows after the guns; without orders, no one is allowed to fire on their own.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Test-firing of the arquebus was also done by setting up a wooden placard five chi high and two chi wide at eighty paces; hitting once in three shots was considered accurate, and hitting seven times in ten shots was considered expert. From this we can see that in the Ming dynasty, the arquebus shot farther than the bow and arrow, and could kill an enemy within a hundred paces. Regarding Eastern and Western firearms, the Ming arquebus had a long range but low power, while the Western arquebus had great power but a short range. Each side had its own strengths and weaknesses; one should not belittle oneself, nor should one be arrogantly self-important. Everything depends on the background of the time.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If the protagonist's army does not encounter enemy troops clad in heavy armor, then of course the longer the range of the arquebus, the better. In the future, when they meet different enemies, there will correspondingly be different changes. I will tell the story in detail as it unfolds. Thank you for your attention.\u003C\u002Fp>",2629,"2026-06-03T14:05:19.908Z",1,"Novelzhen Translator","15369f3619d775c56fb0ef8e57bf825bf3d828a905ed00f28f0174b2cc80d342","a-little-soldier-of-the-late-ming-border-army-chapter-32","a-little-soldier-of-the-late-ming-border-army-chapter-30",896,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fa-little-soldier-of-the-late-ming-border-army-cover.jpg"]