[{"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-350":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},1205639,1561,"Chapter 350: Killing Two Birds with One Stone","a-little-soldier-of-the-late-ming-border-army-chapter-350",350,"\u003Cp>The affairs of the Eastern Route of Xuanfu Garrison finally reached the ears of Huang Taiji in Shengjing. After Wang Dou’s purge, the local spy and intelligence networks were completely smashed. Their Qing state also lost a source of smuggled supplies.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Huang Taiji only regretted that future reconnaissance against Wang Dou would be more difficult; as for losing one smuggling channel, he felt no particular regret. Across the Nine Frontiers of the Ming, there were plenty of men whose hearts inclined toward the Great Qing — losing the Eastern Route alone did not harm the greater situation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What shook him was Wang Dou’s method: cutting through the tangled mess with a sharp knife, seizing control of the entire Eastern Route so swiftly. It further confirmed the assessment he had made of Wang Dou back in Pinggu: “This man Wang Dou truly possesses the ambition of a ruthless hegemon.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With Wang Dou controlling the Eastern Route, his power would grow even greater in the future. The Great Qing would likely suffer much hardship and shed much blood at this man’s hands — a troublesome adversary.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At this time, the Mongol tribes beyond the frontier near the Eastern Route were mainly the Tumed Right Banner, a vassal Mongol tribe of the Qing, along with a portion of the Kharchin tribe. During the campaign of the eleventh year of Chongzhen, most of them had clashed with Wang Dou; their hearts still pounded with fear, and “fearing him like a tiger” was an apt description.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After Wang Dou garrisoned the Eastern Route, they had already sent successive pleas for aid to Shengjing, hoping Huang Taiji would increase troop strength on those grasslands to guard against a possible future attack by Wang Dou beyond the frontier. After receiving word that Wang Dou had launched a bloody purge in the Eastern Route and eliminated many merchants who traded with them, many timid tribes had already been moving for days, trying to put as much distance as possible between themselves and the forts of the Eastern Route.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Setting aside this series of reactions from the outside world, a few days after Wang Dou’s crackdown, Han Chao hurried from far-off Laishui to Yongning City.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing his despondent expression, Wang Dou could understand his feelings. Han Chao was a novice in matters of the heart, and it was highly likely that Wan Meier was his first love. The taste of first love is never forgotten.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Moreover, Han Chao might harbor guilt deep inside, believing that if not for him, Wan Meier might not have betrayed the country and gone over to the enemy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Although Wang Dou believed the connection between those things had absolutely nothing to do with Han Chao, seeing Han Chao’s downcast look, he still felt it necessary to counsel him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>To everyone’s consolation, Han Chao remained silent, then asked woodenly, “General, Wan Meier… how will she be dealt with?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The nearby Zhenfu official Chi Dacheng said coldly, “Wan Meier abetted evildoers and willingly served as a spy for the Eastern slaves. Even if handed over to the proper authorities, according to the law, she should be executed by slow slicing.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Han Chao trembled slightly and saluted Wang Dou. “General, your subordinate wishes to see her.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Dou glanced at him and nodded. Everything that needed to be extracted had been. Through the interrogation of Wan Meier, Zeng Fuyang, and the others, the Intelligence Service had followed the vine to the melon and unearthed a large number of hidden Qing spies in the Eastern Route. Even if not completely annihilated, their vitality was severely damaged, and they would be hard-pressed to accomplish anything in the short term.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>All the confessions had been recorded; Wan Meier was merely awaiting final disposition.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When Wang Dou saw Han Chao again, his expression was wooden, and his hands were still stained with some fresh blood.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xie Yike came to Wang Dou’s side and whispered a few words in his ear. Wang Dou nodded, indicating he understood. Not long after, Chi Dacheng stormed over furiously, saluted Wang Dou, and said, “General, Garrison Commander Han privately executed the spy Wan Meier. This official proposes that Garrison Commander Han be punished.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Han Chao knelt before Wang Dou without uttering a word. Wang Dou shook his head. He had guessed Han Chao’s intention the moment Han Chao asked to see Wan Meier. After all, she was the woman he had once loved; giving her a quick end while visiting her in prison was also meant to spare her the suffering of slow slicing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing Han Chao’s utterly despondent state, Wang Dou gave a long sigh and said, “Han Chao privately executed a criminal spy. He is demoted one rank, to serve as Garrison Commander of Laishui County, remaining at his original post to atone for his crime through meritorious service. As for the woman Wan Meier… let it be said that she could not withstand the torture and died on the spot.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Han Chao choked out, “Thank you, General.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gao Shiyin muttered, “Is a mere woman worth all this?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No one knew how long Han Chao wept, but when he rose to his feet, he had regained his usual composure. Presumably, this psychological hurdle had been overcome.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Dou inquired about his affairs in Laishui. As early as the third month, Han Chao had led a force to Laishui. Although his unit numbered less than a thousand men, given the combat strength of the Shunxiang Army, this force was more than sufficient to garrison Laishui.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>According to Wang Dou’s relevant intelligence, as well as the monthly official dispatches from the Zhenfu Bureau officers placed beside Han Chao, Han Chao’s force was warmly welcomed by the local gentry, military households, and commoners alike. After all, the Shunxiang Army’s military discipline was strict and they absolutely never harassed the people. The unit’s outstanding combat strength also deterred bandits large and small from appearing within the territory.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The military provisions for Han Chao’s unit were supplied by Wang Dou, so there was no need to levy taxes on the local populace, lightening their burden. Han Chao’s mission also did not require organizing soldiers and civilians to reclaim land; merely providing a favorable environment was enough, and naturally large numbers of commoners would be willing to migrate there, creating prosperity within the territory.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The County Magistrate of Laishui had already earned a reputation for “outstanding governance” because of this. Since there was no conflict of interest with the local gentry, and the unit could protect the territory and pacify the people, Han Chao’s unit in Laishui could be called a model of harmonious civil-military relations.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Many people tried vigorously to win over this army. The newly appointed Viceroy of Baoding, Yang Wenyue, repeatedly showed goodwill toward Han Chao, intending to take Han Chao as his trusted subordinate.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>According to the intelligence Wang Dou received, despite the many “sugar-coated bullets,” Han Chao’s loyalty to him and to the Shunxiang Army had not wavered in the slightest. This secretly gratified Wang Dou — indeed, the old brothers who had followed him from the very beginning could resist all kinds of temptations.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Of course, the families of the Shunxiang Army troops stationed outside all resided in the Eastern Route, and their material supplies were also the responsibility of Wang Dou — this was also one of the important reasons ensuring their loyalty.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Han Chao recounted his experiences over the past months in Laishui in full detail, saying, “Your subordinate has already taken control of all key locations in Laishui and has also established good relations with the commanders at Zijing Pass and Yizhou.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He pondered for a long moment, then said, “The Eastern Route is now vigorously opening up farmland. Over the past months, the number of refugees flowing into Laishui has gradually increased. Could we emulate the Eastern Route’s policies in Laishui?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Dou said, “Not necessary. You, Han Chao, need only guard the territory, control key locations, and build ties with local officials and commanders. If you discover heroic and outstanding individuals, you may send them to the Eastern Route to be trained together in the future, to become soldiers of the army.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Dou’s thinking was that, apart from the Eastern Route itself, in the future when officers and troops were stationed elsewhere, they should control key locations, build ties with local gentry and officials, and safeguard the peace within the territory. They need not interfere in local civil administration, operating instead in a proxy fashion — though, of course, casually suppressing bandits to generate wealth was permissible.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This would reduce resistance from local gentry and powerful families, and like a rolling snowball, bring more and more key areas of the Great Ming into his own hands. In the future, once his power grew and he took over these places, implementing civil administration locally would be a matter of course.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Almost all the merchants and students in every city had been brought under control. Under the labels of Qing spy and colluding with the enemy by supplying them, many people were utterly terrified.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After the joint official report from Wang Dou and the Military Defense Circuit Intendant Ma Guolei was submitted, the disposition of these people began in succession. Wang Dou’s principle was to wipe out the powerful families of the Eastern Route entirely. Even if these people had not been bought by the Qing as spies, most had participated in smuggling beyond the frontier.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After all, smuggling beyond the frontier was impossible without a certain degree of wealth and influence; only the local powerful families had that capability. These powerful families, in turn, had close ties with local officials and military leaders. In particular, the merchant forces under the names of Zhang Wanshan, Chen Enchong, Song Jiaxuan, and others monopolized the majority of industries throughout the Eastern Route.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>These people all had to be uprooted completely. There were also some local gentry and powerful clans that needed to be dealt with. As for the remaining scholars and merchants, although they had committed misdeeds such as tax evasion and shifting land taxes onto others, looking at the current situation across the Great Ming, such crimes were relatively “mild” and these people belonged to the category that could be won over.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After all, smuggling beyond the frontier was impossible without a certain degree of wealth and influence; only the local powerful families had that capability. These powerful families, in turn, had close ties with local officials and military leaders. In particular, the merchant forces under the names of Zhang Wanshan, Chen Enchong, Song Jiaxuan, and others monopolized the majority of industries throughout the Eastern Route.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>These people all had to be uprooted completely. There were also some local gentry and powerful clans that needed to be dealt with. As for the remaining scholars and merchants, although they had committed misdeeds such as tax evasion and shifting land taxes onto others, looking at the current situation across the Great Ming, such crimes were relatively “mild” and these people belonged to the category that could be won over.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Especially in this instance of imposing levies and controlling the markets, many merchants and students could be considered coerced. These people could likewise be turned to his own use. For those merchants, once it was verified that they had not participated in smuggling or colluding with the enemy, after a series of fines proportionate to their wealth, they were given back their freedom. The gentry and scholars with assets were likewise fined and also given their freedom, and the charges against them were canceled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Having survived the calamity, these people were overjoyed. Upon hearing that the General’s Mansion was pardoning their crimes, removing the labels of spy and colluding with the enemy, and releasing them on the spot, many people wailed aloud. They knelt in droves before the General’s Mansion, thanking the State-Stabilizing General for his benevolence.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Dou also made a decision: for those merchants and students who had been beaten to death or injured during the crackdown that day, if they did not belong to the powerful families, a certain amount of compensation would be given, and their crimes would no longer be pursued. Once the news spread, the Eastern Route was filled with voices praising the General’s benevolence.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the future, many of these scholars and students would enter the private administration or the forts and villages to serve as clerks. Wang Dou was surprised to discover that these people were more diligent and more loyal than those who had come earlier. In the future, whenever any war of public opinion arose, they would be filled with righteous indignation, fearlessly charging to the front lines in the first wave, fighting valiantly for Wang Dou with their pens.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It seemed that after the thunderbolt measures on the twentieth, the number of literati and scholars rushing toward the Eastern Route also increased, providing the urgently needed clerical talent for the establishment of Wang Dou’s various forts and villages.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>On the first day of the eighth month of the twelfth year of Chongzhen, in the garrison city at the Viceroy’s Mansion, the capital and various regions were still studying how to handle the Eastern Route affair. The State-Stabilizing General’s Mansion and the Military Defense Circuit had already jointly issued a proclamation, summoning all the gentry and merchants of the Eastern Route (excluding the convicted powerful families) to discuss affairs and study the governance of the Eastern Route.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Dou’s thunderbolt measures had just passed, and now he was summoning them to discuss matters. Those who received the invitation were all uneasy, wondering what the State-Stabilizing General had in store next.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But whether merchant or gentry, upon receiving the notice, they all swiftly gathered in Yongning City. Merchants and gentry from Huailai, Yongning, Yanqing, Baoanzhou, and other places converged. Even many merchants from outside the territory rushed over. Yongning City bustled with activity, a medley of accents intermingling.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The sound of acquaintances greeting one another was incessant. Many people inquired of each other: what would the discussion at the General’s Mansion be about later?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At that moment, inside the watchtower of the General’s Mansion, Wang Dou gazed thoughtfully at the cloud-like throng of merchants and gentry on the street. The sheer number of merchants and gentry coming to Yongning exceeded his expectations; it seemed he had not invited this many people. This showed that the literati and merchants of the late Ming were, in truth, a pack of ungrateful wretches who would follow whoever fed them, fence-sitters who bullied the weak and feared the strong. He had frightened them with slaughter, and under that tough stance, these people had come running. This was good as well — the more participants, the easier it would be to govern the Eastern Route in the future.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had already swung the big stick; next it was time to offer the carrot. Giving them a certain path to wealth would both align these gentry and merchants with himself and strengthen his management over them — truly killing two birds with one stone.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Music.\u003C\u002Fp>",2514,"2026-06-03T14:05:36.780Z",1,"Novelzhen Translator","df31a4c2c313c30351a39c87d0e467d07c0ba4de6c95d375c0aabacd12def37f","a-little-soldier-of-the-late-ming-border-army-chapter-351","a-little-soldier-of-the-late-ming-border-army-chapter-349",896,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fa-little-soldier-of-the-late-ming-border-army-cover.jpg"]