[{"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-320":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},1205609,1561,"Chapter 320: Volume Three: Shunxiang Fort Garrison Commander, Chapter 309: Observations and Reports","a-little-soldier-of-the-late-ming-border-army-chapter-320",320,"\u003Cp>Volume Three: Shunxiang Fort Garrison Commander, Chapter 309: Observations and Reports\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"March weather changes in a blink — just now the sun was bright and beautiful, and now it's raining...\" Wang Dou stood with his hands clasped behind his back, watching as the drizzle outside the window gradually turned into raindrops the size of soybeans, pelting the roof in waves. Some splashed sharply against the window eaves, occasionally bouncing onto Wang Dou. The wind and rain brought waves of chill. Behind him, a voice spoke, carrying a dark, probing tone: \"I fear the Ji clan's troubles lie not in the near future, but within the walls of their own home...\" \"General, since you returned in triumph to Bao'an Prefecture, your subordinate has detected many hidden spies lurking about. Your name resounds throughout the land, yet you have also made many enemies — first among them the Eastern Slaves. Those slave descendants excel at espionage; they have suffered setbacks at your hands time and again — how could they let it rest? The threat of spies cannot be ignored.\" \"You have performed earth-shattering deeds, drawing the gaze of thousands, yet not all gaze with reverence. As the saying goes, a tree that stands out in the forest will be toppled by the wind; one whose conduct surpasses others will be slandered by the crowd. The world is full of those who ruin more than they accomplish. When the waves of envy surge like the Xiang River, General, you should act as...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The speaker was Liu Benshen, the Embroidered Uniform Guard Company Commander of Zhending Prefecture whom Wang Dou had rescued from Zhuozhou. After Liu expressed his desire to serve Wang Dou, Wang Dou assigned him temporarily to Wen Daxing's command. But Liu Benshen was an ambitious man — how could he be satisfied with his current rank and status? Seizing a free moment, he came to offer counsel to Wang Dou. He had spoken at length with fervent rhetoric, yet Wang Dou remained motionless, hands clasped behind his back, gazing out the window. His towering figure, though dressed only in plain clothes, exuded an extraordinary presence. His imposing back was, in Liu Benshen's eyes, like an insurmountable mountain — to move this mountain, mere words would not suffice. Liu Benshen's mind raced, yet he maintained a respectful demeanor and continued: \"General, your estate grows, your followers increase, but the hearts of men are unfathomable. As power and rank rise, hearts change. If in the future the Eastern Slaves, the roving bandits, or even... the officials seek to win them over with enticements or bribes, can they still maintain their loyalty to you? What if...\" \"Insolence!\" At these words, Wang Dou spun around abruptly and shouted at Liu Benshen: \"Company Commander Liu, do you dare to sow discord between me and my officers? I have shared life and death with every commander — we are as close as flesh and blood. I treat them with sincerity; how could they betray me?\" A thunderclap boomed, and torrential rain poured down in sheets. Beneath the eaves, water cascaded like strings of beaded curtains. Whether awed by the power of heaven and earth or crushed by Wang Dou's imposing presence, Liu Benshen threw himself to the ground, kowtowing repeatedly. \"General, if you treat them with sincerity, the commanders will surely respond with utter devotion. Yet your subordinate, with a heart torn and bleeding, must offer these words from his very core: the hearts of men are hard to fathom. Even if you treat them with the utmost sincerity, it is difficult to guard against one or two scoundrels emerging among them. Those who show loyalty outwardly may encroach from within — I beg you, General, to take precautions early...\" Wang Dou stared at Liu Benshen for a long moment, his expression softening slightly. Liu Benshen continued: \"General, you are revered by the people, yet all things follow the principle of yin and yang. You display the yang side; your subordinate wishes to dwell in the shadows, to become the blade in your hand — to eliminate all who threaten you and all that endangers you, to serve with the labor of a dog or horse, and to avert calamity from within your own walls.\" \"If General does not believe these words from my heart, I am willing to take my own life before you to prove my sincerity.\" At this, Liu Benshen raised his head, his expression resolute, staring unblinkingly at Wang Dou. Wang Dou paced slowly outside the chamber, watching the rainstorm surge in wave after wave beyond the window. After a long pause, he said gently: \"There are many matters to address. Go back and draft a plan and strategy. I shall review it, and then make my decision.\" After Liu Benshen departed, Xie Yike crept forward on tiptoe. He glanced curiously at Liu Benshen's retreating figure and said to Wang Dou: \"General, that Five-Fort Garrison Commander Yang Zhichang has been kneeling outside the residence for a long time. Shall I summon him in?\" Wang Dou nodded thoughtfully. Since returning to Bao'an Prefecture, he had been inundated with visitors offering congratulations day after day. Not only the local gentry and officials of Bao'an Prefecture, but also military officers from all over the Eastern Circuit had come calling, bearing gifts and paying their respects. Even his former superior, Garrison Commander Xu Zucheng of the Bao'an Guard City, now behaved with the utmost deference before him. As for Yang Zhichang, the Five-Fort Garrison Commander of Bao'an Prefecture — he had been at odds with Wang Dou since Wang Dou's days as Fort Master of Jingbian Fort. After Wang Dou became Prefectural Military Commander, Yang had still offered only outward compliance while secretly resisting. But times had changed. Now Wang Dou was Assistant Regional Commander of the Eastern Circuit, having performed astonishing deeds of merit. Dealing with Yang Zhichang would be as easy as crushing an ant. Yang knew the score — he understood resistance was futile and immediately came to offer a humble apology, reminding Wang Dou of men like Jia Duonan, Lu Xianyang, and Zhang Shutang in years past. Such opponents were no longer worth the trouble; a slight punishment would suffice. Wang Dou said coolly: \"Yike, invite Garrison Commander Yang into the hall. I will see him shortly.\" Xie Yike acknowledged the order and strode off. Gazing out the window, Wang Dou sank back into thought. Liu Benshen's counsel today had reminded him: as his fame and power expanded, more and more people with hidden agendas were watching and probing. It was time to establish a corresponding organization and countermeasure. At present, his faction was full of vigor; those harboring disloyal thoughts were surely few. But as the number of officers and scholars around him grew, and as hearts grew more complex, under the coercion or enticement of others, a few traitors could very well emerge. A corresponding surveillance apparatus was urgently needed; clearly, the Night Scouts alone could not meet this demand. Moreover, as his territory expanded and the population increased, with myriad affairs growing complex — military administration, agricultural affairs, commercial institutions, town planning, and so on — the relevant organizations and departments had to be adjusted and put in place one by one. This campaign had also made Wang Dou keenly aware of the power of regulations and discipline. With his methods of troop training, there was no need for so-called famous generals; as the army gradually standardized, it seemed it could already fight wars relying on a staff department. But establishing a staff department required a large number of accurate maps and documents, a great many personnel versed in both civil and military affairs, and a whole range of enemy intelligence for reference. Without precise topographical maps, any so-called staff department would be mere armchair strategizing — plans conjured from thin air, utterly unfeasible. Having reached this stage, he also needed to consider the future strategic direction of this faction, as well as the ideological indoctrination of the entire army: what were they fighting for? Would they grow lax and corrupt after attaining wealth and rank? Regrettably, very few of his subordinate officers possessed both literary talent and military skill. Even his clerks, such as Feng Dachang and others, were mostly pragmatic doers. When it came to strategic planning and political maneuvering, they seemed incapable... Wang Dou pondered deeply for a long while. A pleasant jingling of jade ornaments approached, accompanied by the sound of delicate footsteps — it was Xie Yike and Ji Junjiao arriving together. Xie Yike wore a gentle smile, dressed in the formal attire of a Second-Rank Mandated Lady: a grand red robe and a golden headdress adorned with a gold-thread peacock with outspread tail. As she moved, the pearls and jade trembled lightly, exuding an aura of the most refined opulence. The headdress she wore was no simple ornament — in the Great Ming, only women who had attained the rank of Lady were entitled to wear such a crown. By virtue of her husband's rank, she had been granted the official status of Upper Second Rank. Though she received a stipend, she held no actual authority. Yet in the Great Ming, a realm where ritual reigned supreme, even civil officials such as Department Magistrates and Military Defense Circuit Intendants had to observe the protocol of a subordinate when meeting Xie Yike — more carefully, even, than when meeting Wang Dou himself. A person needs proper style and attire — how true that saying was. Having followed Wang Dou for several years and been enfeoffed as a Mandated Lady, Xie Yike, surrounded by several maidservants, now carried herself with a dignified grace that radiated an irrepressible air of nobility.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The village girl of old had become a poised and noble lady. Ji Junjiao at her side wore a plain white silk dress, its six-panel skirt trailing like the waters of the Xiang River — alluring to the bone. Yet her attire seemed a bit thin. Choosing style over warmth — women from ancient times to the present have never been able to avoid this flaw. Xie Yike kept her gaze straight ahead. Reaching Wang Dou, she curtsied and said: \"Your wife pays her respects to the General.\" All the women behind her curtsied in unison. Wang Dou helped Xie Yike rise and smiled: \"My lady, dressed in such finery — where are you off to?\" Xie Yike replied: \"Your wife has gathered some women of official families, bringing food and clothing. We wish to visit the refugees and commoners at Zhangjia Fort east of the city.\" A warmth filled Wang Dou's heart. This wife of his was always thinking of how to share her husband's burdens. But she was too mindful of propriety, constantly afraid that a single breach of etiquette might tarnish her husband's reputation. Wang Dou did not want her to live so wearily. He glanced out the window — the rain had stopped, sunlight was slowly emerging, and only the accumulated water dripped from the eaves, drop by drop. He said: \"Visiting the commoners is a good deed, but you must mind your health, my lady. Do not exhaust yourself.\" Xie Yike looked at Wang Dou with delight and gave a firm \"Mm.\" In that moment, her true self slipped through, revealing the manner of a young girl — the Xie Yike Wang Dou remembered from years past. Ji Junjiao stood beside Xie Yike, her bright eyes glancing about. As Xie Yike turned away, Ji Junjiao leaned close to Wang Dou's ear: \"I want a son.\" Wang Dou smiled and shook his head: \"Rest assured, a son will come.\" Ji Junjiao covered her mouth and giggled, casting a coy glance at Wang Dou — that soft, alluring charm seemed to pierce straight to the bone. Then she gathered her skirts and hurried a few steps to catch up with Xie Yike. Watching their retreating figures, Wang Dou stretched long and luxuriously. Back in Bao'an Prefecture, surrounded by his beloved wife and children, he had enjoyed several days of ease. Yet this ease was relative — every day brought a tide of visitors. Not only officers from across the Eastern Circuit, but commanders from other circuits also sent men repeatedly to curry favor and forge ties. In particular, many of the local gentry and scholars who had previously stood by watching now seemed to harbor other intentions, coming in droves to pay visits, hoping to secure some official post. The Li family of Xingzhuang even sent intermediaries to propose sending their daughter as a concubine. The myriad affairs were exhausting for anyone else, but Wang Dou felt invigorated — the sweetness of power was intoxicating. \"I am born with a laborer's fate,\" Wang Dou chuckled self-deprecatingly. After resting for a few days and catching his breath, it was time to think carefully about the next steps of development and sort out the priorities of various matters. First, he would go see that Five-Fort Garrison Commander Yang Zhichang. \"Brother Gongfu, the foundation of the General Who Pacifies the State has exceeded both our expectations.\" In an inn within Bao'an Prefecture, Ye Xizhi gazed out the window at the street below and spoke pensively. Qin Yi beside him stared out the window for a long moment and nodded at these words. Their inn was located in Cheng'en Ward, in the southeastern corner of the city. At the street corner ahead stood a large memorial archway. Looking out at the street, merchants gathered in throngs, camels and horses moved in herds, and pedestrians wove back and forth like threads in a loom — bustling beyond measure. From the crowds moving along the street, one could discern clear distinctions: aside from some outside merchants, those dressed neatly, swaggering confidently, and glowing with health were the local military households and some civilian households. Those with cringing expressions, in tattered clothes, yet full of hope, were people from nearby prefectures and counties who had come seeking their fortune. Such people were numerous. When crossing the Yanghe ferry, the two men had encountered large crowds from various regions waiting to cross the river. Their accents were diverse — among them were people from Huailai, from Yanqing, from Changan Station, and even from the Xuanfu Garrison City. Ye Xizhi had inquired about their purpose, and they all clamored to say they were going to Bao'an Prefecture to work. The General Who Pacifies the State was benevolent; there, one could eat one's fill and even save up money and grain to send home. As they spoke of these things, every eye was filled with longing. The term \"dagong\" — working for wages — was, they heard, invented by the General Who Pacifies the State, and it was rather apt. Over the years, as Bao'an Prefecture developed, with stability and freedom from banditry, plus abundant opportunities to earn a living, more and more people from surrounding areas came to Bao'an Prefecture to seek their livelihood. With the news that Wang Dou now guarded the entire Eastern Circuit, the tide of people heading to Bao'an Prefecture had reached its peak.\u003C\u002Fp>",2527,"2026-06-03T14:05:36.780Z",1,"Novelzhen Translator","fddb0d2c241b4429de7709e1f2215e6032ca34e2fe9c42c821bfcaaf0c6705ce","a-little-soldier-of-the-late-ming-border-army-chapter-321","a-little-soldier-of-the-late-ming-border-army-chapter-319",896,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fa-little-soldier-of-the-late-ming-border-army-cover.jpg"]