[{"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-370":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},1205659,1561,"Chapter 370: An Ambush, You Say?","a-little-soldier-of-the-late-ming-border-army-chapter-370",370,"\u003Cp>The skirmish ended in mere moments — of the ten bandit outriders, eight were killed or wounded in the blink of an eye, while Jie Yifeng and his men suffered not a single casualty. The gap in combat strength between the two sides was simply too vast.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Only the one in the white felt hat had some real skill — he was a squad commander from Li Zicheng’s veteran camp, a man who had campaigned with Li Zicheng and others for years, yet he died under an unremarkable hand cannon. Those bandit outriders struck by firearms either died on the spot or succumbed soon after. The ones hit by arrows lay on the ground groaning; after Jie Yifeng and his men swept the battlefield, they gave them a swift end.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This action yielded two prisoners, twelve captured mules and horses, a number of weapons and bows, plus some silver and valuables. Among those ten bandit outriders, however, there was no armor worth taking. Wang Dou had made it clear before this bandit-suppression operation that heads would not be counted for military merit, so Jie Yifeng and his men had no interest in those bandit skulls.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They swept the battlefield quickly, gathered the spoils, tied the two bandit prisoners onto horses with rags stuffed in their mouths, and departed without a sound. Left behind were bodies strewn haphazardly, exposed to the cold wind, their blood slowly congealing until the stench of gore faded considerably.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“By your accent, my lord soldier, are you also from Henan? I wonder — from Henan Prefecture, Kaifeng Prefecture, or perhaps Runing Prefecture?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After galloping hard for over ten li, Jie Yifeng and his men came to a hillside and interrogated the two prisoners they had taken. The captives proved quite straightforward, spilling everything they knew like beans pouring from a pod.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>One of the two was from Lushan in Ruzhou, the other from Lushi in Henan Prefecture; both had joined the peasant army not long ago. Because they had trained in martial arts before and knew how to ride, they held decent standing in Li Zicheng’s peasant army, serving as mounted troops. They had accompanied that veteran-camp rider on this scouting mission, never expecting to run into Jie Yifeng and his men and be completely wiped out.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The ones conducting the interrogation were “Da Ya” and “Er Ya” — they too were from Henan, with similar accents and an understanding of the local situation, making them the most suitable for questioning these two prisoners. While they carried out the interrogation, Jie Yifeng and the others patrolled nearby; Jie Yifeng in particular held a telescope, scanning the surroundings in every direction.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The terrain here was favorable, with an unobstructed view in all four directions. With the telescope in Jie Yifeng’s hands, any movement nearby could be detected at the earliest moment.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Through the interrogation, “Da Ya” and “Er Ya” had already obtained detailed intelligence: the bandits were indeed preparing to ambush the Shunxiang Army near Ruzhou.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In truth, as soon as the Shunxiang Army and Chen Yongfu’s forces had set out from Kaifeng, Li Guo, Liu Fangliang, Hao Yaoqi, and the others at Ruzhou had already received word. The Shunxiang Army’s intelligence security might have been tight, but the various defenses among the government troops in Kaifeng City were riddled with gaping holes, utterly incapable of stopping those bandit spies from prying.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thus Li Guo and Liu Fangliang, who were besieging Ruzhou, had long since laid their ambush plan. A small force would act as bait, while over ten thousand infantry lay in ambush around Xiaotunzhai, and nearly three thousand “cavalry” hid within Mount Shenwu.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They divided the operation into stages: first a small force would lure the enemy, scattering gold, silver, and valuables along the way. If the government troops took the bait and pursued furiously, or fell into chaos scrambling for the treasure, the ten-thousand-plus infantry would suddenly swarm and attack from all sides — by experience, the government troops always suffered crushing defeats at such moments.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Guo and Liu Fangliang, however, were cautious and had prepared a second stage. If the ten-thousand-plus infantry failed to achieve a perfect ambush and were routed, and the government troops continued their pursuit, then the three thousand cavalry would become the decisive force — a ring within a ring, an ambush within an ambush. There was no reason the government troops would not be defeated.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>By their experience, as soon as the government vanguard was broken, the main force behind would lose all heart; this relief expedition for Ruzhou would surely turn into empty talk.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The bandits’ cunning was so vile that Jie Yifeng and the others nearby all drew a cold breath. “Da Ya” and “Er Ya,” who were conducting the interrogation, recorded the information rapidly while exchanging glances.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Of the two bandit prisoners, one was a natural chatterbox. Noticing that “Da Ya” and “Er Ya’s” accents sounded somewhat familiar, he probed with a question.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I am from Zhangde Prefecture.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Da Ya” replied flatly, watching as the “chatterbox” wolfed down his parched grain meal with ravenous bites while mumbling indistinct praise, exclaiming that this ration truly tasted wonderful — compared to the coarse dry buns he gnawed on, one was in heaven and the other in the dirt.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>These two prisoners were so cooperative, spilling everything they knew without any sign of attempting escape, that Da Ya treated them much more gently — he not only adjusted their bindings but also gave them rations and water.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Zhangde Prefecture? A fine place.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The “chatterbox” exclaimed with exaggerated surprise: “This humble one went there once when I was in my teens — the roast chicken and sesame candies there are truly unmatched. Even now I still can’t forget them.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He beamed with an ingratiating smile: “We really are fellow countrymen. They say the world is big, but it’s not so big after all — you run into folks from home everywhere.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Where are you from?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Da Ya” smoked his pipe in silence, then asked the chatterbox a question.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“This humble one is from Lushan. A few months ago, the Dashing King — no, the Dashing Bandit — broke through Lushan. Everything in the city was looted clean. To stay alive, this humble one had no choice but to join the bandits. I had trained in riding too, so I entered the bandit army and was even given some responsibility, assigned to the mounted unit.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“A few months ago… you must have fought quite a few battles since then?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“That’s right — Jiaxian, Yiyang, Baoshan, Yiyang, Lushi, Yongning — this humble one took part in attacking all of them. But seeing how fierce and mighty you soldier lords are, those bandit troops can’t compare in the slightest.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Da Ya” was silent for a moment, then said flatly: “Have you killed anyone? Government soldiers, or ordinary commoners.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The chatterbox froze, studying “Da Ya’s” face carefully, but Da Ya’s expression was blank; he just smoked his pipe in silence.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The chatterbox smiled again: “To be honest, I have killed — government soldiers, women and children, all of them. Ah, killing becomes an addiction. Wealth and women come so easily. When I think back to scratching a living from the dirt in the old days — even if you gave me land now, I couldn’t settle down anymore.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He went on: “It’s not just me — even those able-bodied men among the bandit troops probably couldn’t settle down either. Truth be told, being a bandit is more comfortable than being a commoner. In the old days, those high officials and great households, those official young ladies, wouldn’t even glance at this humble one. But once the city falls, they have to kneel obediently at my feet. Tell them to go east, they wouldn’t dare go west — heh heh…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The chatterbox bared his teeth in a grin, as if savoring the “blissful” life of days past. He stole a furtive glance around, then whispered to Da Ya: “Why not come be a bandit with me, elder brother? We’re from the same home. With your skills, I’ll put in a word for you — you’d surely command several hundred men. Far better than being a common soldier like now.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Da Ya” remained expressionless. He removed his pipe and put it away, took out those two hand cannons, and silently began loading them with powder and shot.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The chatterbox made conversation for the sake of talking: “Elder brother, what kind of firearm is that? Truly formidable — I’ve never seen anything like it among the bandit troops.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Da Ya did not answer. He finished loading the powder, rose silently to his feet, and gazed down the hillside. This place that had once been beautiful was now a scene of utter desolation. He pondered for a long while, then turned back around and aimed one hand cannon at the chatterbox’s body.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The chatterbox froze: “Elder brother, what are you — ?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With a thunderous boom, Da Ya’s hand cannon spat a burst of flame. The “chatterbox” staggered and toppled backward. His body rolled a few times, and when it came to rest on the ground, his eyes were wide open — he was already dead.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Er Ya,” who had been organizing the intelligence nearby, froze and cried out: “Brother…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jie Yifeng and the others were startled and all looked toward “Da Ya.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After shooting the “chatterbox” dead, “Da Ya” took the other hand cannon in his grip and aimed it at the remaining bandit prisoner.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That man scrambled to his knees at once, kowtowing desperately and pleading, shouting over and over: “Don’t kill me, don’t kill me…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A trace of sorrow flickered in “Da Ya’s” eyes. He said: “Brother, in your next life, live in a time of peace and plenty — and don’t become a bandit.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A burst of flame shot forth — he pulled the trigger.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That afternoon, near Changxizhuang, close to the Ruzhou border.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The official road here was not far from the Rushui River, with open ground on all four sides. The fields that had once belonged to the village were long abandoned, even though farming along the river here was convenient. But under years of constant sweeping by soldiers and bandits, the villages and hamlets in the river plains were always the first targets of plunder. To escape all manner of bandit depredations, most of the villagers from these riverside hamlets had long since fled into the mountains.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though life in the wild hill country was far harsher than in the river plains, at least they could survive — hardship was hardship.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The occasional small snowflakes drifting down from the sky did nothing to change the dryness of the yellow earth. The slightest movement of men or horses raised a vast cloud of dust. So as the muffled thunder of hoofbeats rose, the dust on the distant official road spread as if blanketing heaven and earth. Along with the billowing dust, a vast, dark mass of cavalry surged toward the Changxizhuang area.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>These cavalry advanced in tight, severe formation — five riders per rank, ten paces between front and rear, two paces of lateral spacing, twenty-five paces between units. Every rider on horseback wore an eight-panel peaked iron helmet; the soldiers in iron-reinforced cotton armor carried arquebuses on their backs, while those in full iron armor had long spears slotted into their saddle sheaths.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Buffeted by the cold wind, the red tassels on their iron helmets and their vivid scarlet cloaks and greatcoats streamed and snapped with the horses’ movement. And with every man’s armor lacquered red, the whole force was a dazzling blaze of fiery crimson.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At the very front of the cavalry, a great banner bearing the character “Wang” stood out with striking clarity. Nearly a thousand riders surged forward, every face brimming with keen spirit, an indescribable ferocity spreading outward in waves.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Halt the advance!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just as they neared Changxizhuang, a command rang out from beneath the Wang banner, and then the shrill bugle call of the central-army trumpeters sounded. At this signal, shouted orders rose and fell in succession — from Company Commander to Squad Commander, Squad Commander to Platoon Leader, Platoon Leader to Squad Commander — and in moments the transmission was complete. Instantly, the surging cavalry came to a halt.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Report from the outriders!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Several riders came galloping in, reined up beneath the Wang banner, and reported a few words. Beneath the banner, Gao Shiyin rubbed his fleshy, scar-crossed face and said: “Urgent military intelligence from the Night Scout Company Commander?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He said: “Pass the order — the entire army dismounts and rests for one quarter-hour.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A single strike of the bronze gong rang out. The whole army dismounted, sat on the ground to rest, and drank water and ate their rations.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But the Shunxiang Army’s discipline was ironclad — not a single man made a sound. Through these years of military service, adherence to regulations had sunk deep into the marrow of every Shunxiang Army soldier. Even a rough, reckless man like Gao Shiyin now fought by the book.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Moreover, the soldiers under his command — especially those veterans who had enlisted as far back as the ninth year of Chongzhen or even the seventh year — were all quite literate. By the measure of characters they knew, they likely approached the standard of a Licentiate. Even officers like Gao Shiyin, who had been the most unwilling to study, now recognized several hundred, even a thousand characters, and writing their own dispatches was no longer a problem.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At this moment, gathered around Gao Shiyin were also the Zhenfu Officer and Weifu Officer from the Company Commander’s staff, along with several staff advisers and the like. When the Shunxiang Army marched in column formation, these personnel of the Company Commander’s staff were likewise positioned behind Gao Shiyin.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Only the Quartermaster Officer, leading some supply soldiers and driving the baggage carts, was situated at the rear of the main force; however, their wagons would not fall too far behind the main body, at most trailing by a hundred paces.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Not long after, the five Night Scouts under Jie Yifeng, guided by the outriders of Gao Shiyin’s force, appeared within Gao Shiyin’s line of sight. They had seized a great deal of spoils — nearly thirty horses galloping along, kicking up an enormous commotion.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Although each cavalry and infantry unit of the Shunxiang Army had a squad of men serving as scouts and as the vanguard clearing the way for the main force, these amateur scouts could hardly compare with the professional outriders of the Night Scout Company. The urgent military intelligence they brought back must be of great importance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Very quickly, Jie Yifeng and his four men arrived before Gao Shiyin. After saluting, they presented the intelligence they had gathered. Once they had explained in detail and left a copy, they mounted their horses and rode off, racing back toward Jia County.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“These roving bandits have some nerve — they actually intend to ambush my vanguard troops?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gao Shiyin roared in fury. A staff adviser from the Company Commander’s staff fetched a finely crafted oilskin map case, drew out a map from within, and spread it over an earthen mound. Thereupon, all the Squad Commanders in the force, along with the Zhenfu, Weifu, and Quartermaster officers of the staff, gathered around Gao Shiyin, studying the map and discussing the matter.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Zhenfu Officer, Weifu Officer, and others had the authority to voice their opinions and suggestions, but the final decision on military affairs for the unit rested with the unit commander, Gao Shiyin. This map, moreover, was one Gao Shiyin had obtained from the battalion headquarters when he set out on campaign.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wen Daxing’s Night Scout Company had reached Jia County many days before the Shunxiang Army’s main force. The Night Scouts in his unit had already surveyed the terrain from Ruzhou to Jia County and drawn up multiple maps.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“According to the report from the Squad Commander of the Night Scout Company, the bandits have set an ambush at Xiaotunzhai and other places near Ruzhou. They will first use a small force as bait, then attack in full strength with both infantry and cavalry combined — a most vicious scheme. Xiaotunzhai is less than twenty li from our main force; we must make a prompt decision.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The speaker was a staff adviser from the Company Commander’s staff — still a military man, holding the rank of Squad Commander. The staff officers of the Shunxiang Army were mostly of military background, selected from officers and soldiers in each unit who were highly literate, resourceful, and decisive, to serve as staff advisers.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The high literacy rate within the Shunxiang Army meant that the staff advisers in each unit were predominantly military men. Although there were a few civilian scholars among them, they mostly handled clerical copying work, because they had difficulty grasping military affairs, and the Shunxiang Army’s high-intensity combat style was not something they could adapt to in a short time. Thus, these civilian scholars generally found it hard to rise to positions of prominence or gain significant appointments within the army.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“According to the intelligence, the bandits lying in ambush number as many as ten thousand. Should we halt the advance and request reinforcements from General Dingguo?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Halt my ass.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gao Shiyin roared in fury.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Probing the enemy situation and carrying out harassment at the start of battle — this is the role of the vanguard. That is why a main army is always organized with a vanguard. Without a vanguard, an army is like a treasured sword without a point — it has no killing power. Only by equipping a crack vanguard can one be irresistible in attack.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gao Shiyin, having been appointed to the vanguard, was at the height of his ambition and eagerness — how could he shrink back now? So what if the roving bandits set an ambush? He would let them taste what it felt like to spring an ambush only to be slaughtered instead.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>.,\u003C\u002Fp>",3018,"2026-06-03T14:05:36.780Z",1,"Novelzhen Translator","8664191e077b975a7a3807ff141584f9771751726c4dcc2fe42c092fb4f11027","a-little-soldier-of-the-late-ming-border-army-chapter-371","a-little-soldier-of-the-late-ming-border-army-chapter-369",896,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fa-little-soldier-of-the-late-ming-border-army-cover.jpg"]