[{"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-375":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},1205664,1561,"Chapter 375: Chen Yongfu Wants to Earn Merit","a-little-soldier-of-the-late-ming-border-army-chapter-375",375,"\u003Cp>Just as the main forces of Wang Dou and Chen Yongfu reached Ruzhou, a light snow fell from the sky, but it did not last long and soon dispersed, leaving only dense, red-tinged clouds covering the sky.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Aside from lowering the temperature somewhat, this snowfall had no effect on the march of the Shunxiang Army and the Vanguard Battalion. In the northern lands, winter roads never turn muddy; after a light frost or snow, the roads actually freeze harder and become easier to traverse. Of course, besides the great enemy of cold, the road surface also becomes somewhat slicker, so one must travel with care.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing that the main government forces had arrived, Ruzhou Department Magistrate Qian Zuozheng was overjoyed and again led the local gentry ten li outside the city to welcome them. By the time Wang Dou and the others arrived, they were all shivering in a huddle in the cold wind.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet upon seeing the arriving relief troops, they were so astonished they forgot the cold. Iron hooves thundered, and a dense, dark mass of superbly equipped cavalry, likely numbering several thousand, pressed forward. Behind the cavalry followed tightly packed ranks of heavy-armored infantry. And behind the infantry and cavalry stretched an endless train of supply wagons and draft animals.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The ten Hongyi cannons accompanying the government troops made Qian Zuozheng and the others stare dumbfounded. Even Kaifeng and Luoyang cities had only a few such cannons — yet these government troops actually had ten? When Chen Yongfu gave a wry smile and explained that these Hongyi great guns all belonged to the Shunxiang Army of Xuanfu Garrison, Qian Zuozheng cast an even more incredulous look at Wang Dou.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He was no longer unfamiliar with Wang Dou's troops; he had already seen the Shunxiang Army's vanguard under Gao Shiyin. Those soldiers riding fine horses, wearing iron helmets and iron armor with cloaks draped over the outside — Qian Zuozheng considered them the finest elite troops he had ever seen in his life.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He seemed to have heard the name Shunxiang Army before; back then the official gazettes had stirred up a great clamor about them, reporting they had slain countless Eastern slaves. He had heard that the Shunxiang Army's Regional Commander Wang Dou was now an Assistant Regional Commander. In Qian Zuozheng's understanding, these vanguard troops must be the most elite part of the Shunxiang Army.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Only now, seeing this, did he realize his mistake. That Wang Dou actually had six or seven times as many such elite troops. A mere Assistant Regional Commander, with nearly ten thousand soldiers under arms, and he even possessed ten Hongyi great guns — it truly exceeded anything Qian Zuozheng could have imagined.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was only when he saw Chen Yongfu's Vanguard Battalion that he found some of the familiar feel of government troops. These soldiers were naturally far more elite than his own prefectural troops, but unfortunately, compared to the Shunxiang Army, they still fell far too short. Qian Zuozheng shook his head to himself: the government troops of the Ming interior simply could not compare to the elite forces of the Nine Frontier Garrisons.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Still, with Wang Dou and the others arrived, Qian Zuozheng was extremely pleased. Tens of thousands of roving bandits had been besieging Ruzhou for over half a month, and Qian Zuozheng felt the strain of defending the city keenly. Now that relief troops had arrived, and with the elite Shunxiang Army among them, he was far more confident of repelling the roving bandits.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The strict military discipline Gao Shiyin and the others had maintained over the past two days had given Qian Zuozheng great confidence. Coupled with Chen Yongfu's presence, Qian Zuozheng also wished to win over Wang Dou to fight the enemy with full commitment. So, contrary to his usual manner, he warmly invited Wang Dou, Chen Yongfu, and the other national troops to garrison inside the city.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Apart from requesting that the department magistrate supply the army with provisions and fodder, Wang Dou politely declined his invitation, which surprised Qian Zuozheng considerably. However, at Chen Yongfu's subtle prompting, Wang Dou did agree to Qian Zuozheng and the others' request for a welcoming banquet.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The great army arrived outside the east gate of Ruzhou city. One could see that Ruzhou was a large prefecture, its city walls very tall and very thick. According to Qian Zuozheng's introduction, the entire Ruzhou city wall had a circumference of over nine li, stood two zhang and six chi high, and was brick on the outside with rammed earth within.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>On the east, south, and north sides of the city there were moats, each one zhang and two chi wide and one zhang and eight chi deep. However, only the east moat had water; the south and north moats were dry. The west side of the city was naturally protected by a river the locals called the Xi'er River. The city had four gates, each built with a barbican.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>One could see the traces of the fierce battlefield this place had been: the ground everywhere was covered with dried, blackened bloodstains, and outside the city lay the charred wreckage of burned houses. South of the city there had originally been a southern suburb, a major thoroughfare on the road from Nanyang to Luoyang, which in former days had been quite prosperous — but now it was all destroyed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Everyone sighed endlessly. Wang Dou observed very carefully. Inwardly, he actually admired Qian Zuozheng. Historically, this man had been capable both in attack and defense. When tens of thousands of peasant troops assaulted the city, he had held out stubbornly for over a month, until in the end fierce winds arose, cannons exploded and towers burned, the city fell, and Qian Zuozheng died.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>While Wang Dou and Chen Yongfu entered the city, the Shunxiang Army and the Vanguard Battalion set up camp west of the city.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The roving bandits had already withdrawn to a place twenty li west of the city. The night scouts had ascertained that the area west of Ruzhou city — Shanghe, Qili, and Gazhuang — lay close to the Ru River. The several villages there had already been abandoned and made a good place to encamp; that area was also somewhat closer to the bandit encampment.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>……\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In former days, Ruzhou city had been quite prosperous, with seventy-two streets large and small crisscrossing one another. In particular, the Central Avenue was three li long and six zhang wide, running straight through the entire city and serving as the vital link between the east and west gates. In the past, both sides had been lined with shops row upon row, bustling with extraordinary activity, and the Ruzhou department government office was located there.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But after suffering the bandit siege, the city was a scene of desolation everywhere, and every place was filled with panicked, uncertain crowds. Seeing Wang Dou and the others enter, they all whispered among themselves.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When the relief troops arrived, Department Magistrate Qian Zuozheng and the others had made a show of strength, particularly playing up the grand feat of Gao Shiyin's unit routing over ten thousand bandits with just a thousand men. After half a month of siege and the repeated repulse of relief forces, the city's residents had already fallen into despair; now hope rekindled in their eyes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After the welcoming banquet and the midday feast, Wang Dou and Chen Yongfu returned to their encampment, having secured Qian Zuozheng's promise to provide five thousand dan of provisions and fodder. Furthermore, the local gentry assured Wang Dou and the others that as long as the government troops could repel the roving bandits, they were willing to pool thirty thousand taels of silver to reward the great army.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With the cities of Henan Prefecture falling one after another, the tragic fates of the gentry within had been heard by the gentry and officials of Ruzhou. If the city fell, they would have nothing left, so now they displayed a rare generosity. Chen Yongfu made an impassioned speech to them, pounding his chest and guaranteeing that his and the Pacifying General's great army would certainly inflict a crushing defeat on the roving bandits, and that they need not worry — earning unanimous praise from the crowd.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Amid the toasts and cheerful talk at the banquet, Chen Yongfu ate and drank until he was somewhat tipsy; only Wang Dou remained clear-headed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The various battalions had already finished setting up camp, divided into several locations. Chen Yongfu's troops encamped in the Shanghe area, as close to the city as possible. Wang Dou's Shunxiang Army encamped in the Shilizhuang and Qilizhuang area, positioned on the outer perimeter. Wang Dou's central command post was located in a large residence in Qilizhuang — the property of some local gentry, though no one knew which.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When Wang Dou returned to his command post, he heard Gao Shiyin's boisterous laughter coming from within. After Wang Dou had arrived at Ruzhou, Gao Shiyin had also brought his unit's officers and men to join up and encamp with the main army, deployed around Shilizhuang. At this moment, gathered around Gao Shiyin were Wen Fangliang, Li Guangheng, Wen Daxing, Zhao Xuan, Sun Sanjie, and others, listening as Gao Shiyin vividly recounted the events of that day's battle.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wen Fangliang was heard to say with unconcealed envy, \"Old Gao, you've really rendered great merit this time…\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xie Yike, beside Wang Dou, bellowed: \"The Pacifying General has arrived.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Immediately, everyone turned around, iron armor clanking and clattering in unison. Each man saluted Wang Dou with solemn respect: \"We greet the General.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Dou said, \"Rise, all commanders.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Another clanking and clattering of armor plates.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Dou walked over to Gao Shiyin with a smile and clapped him on the shoulder: \"Brother Gao, well fought.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gao Shiyin was actually not much shorter than Wang Dou — a very burly fellow. With his iron armor, his face full of tough flesh, and his thoroughly ferocious, villainous look, he, along with Han Zhong and the current New Army Company Commander Shen Shiqi, had in the past been secretly nicknamed the Three Uglies or the Three Brutes of the Shunxiang Army — though of course Han Zhong was no longer here.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Being praised and clapped on the shoulder like this by Wang Dou, Gao Shiyin immediately beamed with delight, splitting his wide mouth into a grin.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Afterward, Wang Dou sat down, and Gao Shiyin respectfully took a seat at his lower side, reporting the details of the battle to Wang Dou in as quiet a voice as he could manage.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Dou listened very carefully and said, \"The merits of the officers and men who distinguished themselves must be verified meticulously. Do not omit a single person, nor stint a single person.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He asked, \"What are the casualties among the officers and men?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gao Shiyin said, \"Thirteen men were wounded; among them, one is more seriously injured.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Dou said, \"Have the medical officers take good care of the wounded. Once they recover, these soldiers will become the fiercest warriors in our army.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gao Shiyin said, \"General, rest assured, your subordinate visits them every day.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>According to what Gao Shiyin said, in that day's battle, although the roving bandits were a motley mob and were utterly outmatched when the iron-armored pikemen of his unit formed ranks and charged, they had numbers after all. Dense thickets of long spears thrust at them, and inevitably some soldiers were stabbed. Even with iron armor protecting them, some injuries were unavoidable.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In particular, one soldier had been stabbed by a long spear that slipped through a gap in his armor and pierced his chest, suffering a severe wound.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>According to Shunxiang Army regulations, the visitation order for wounded soldiers was: squad officer once a day, Squad Commander once every two days, Company Commander once every three days. However, Gao Shiyin led his troops with considerable dedication and visited the wounded soldiers every day.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For battle-hardened officers like them, wounded soldiers were more precious; after recovering, these veterans would radiate even more formidable fighting strength.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Dou said, \"Good!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He said, \"The brothers haven't eaten yet. Serve the meal.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Everyone burst into hearty laughter. Before going into the city for the welcoming banquet, Wang Dou had made it clear he would return to have the midday meal with all the commanders, so everyone had been waiting for Wang Dou to come back to eat. To them, every mealtime shared with Wang Dou was something to be treasured, because the atmosphere evoked nostalgia.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Inside the great hall, several long tables were pushed together, and on top were placed several large pots filled with bubbling, boiling chunks of meat. Wang Dou sat at the head, and the commanders sat in two rows on either side. Before each person were several large flatbreads and a bowl of meat broth. Eating the flatbreads with the meat broth in the cold weather was a kind of enjoyment.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Before going into battle, each man could drink a little wine, but of course they could not toast each other with large bowls. Each merely took a small sip, eating and chatting as they went, talking and laughing with spirited ease.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Dou picked up a piece of meat and ate it slowly, saying with a smile to Sun Sanjie, \"Brother Sun, the Ruzhou Department Magistrate has agreed to supply five thousand dan of provisions and fodder. If we repel the roving bandits, the local gentry are also willing to contribute thirty thousand taels of silver to reward the army.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The commanders broke into cheers and whoops. For the Shunxiang Army, they feared nothing except a shortage of provisions and fodder. As long as they had provisions and fodder, the Shunxiang Army feared no enemy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sun Sanjie hastily set down his bowl and chopsticks: \"Your subordinate will go and transport the provisions and fodder at once.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Dou said, \"No rush. Eat first, then go. They won't dare withhold the grain.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Dou suddenly felt that being a guest army was not bad at all. Fires were springing up everywhere across Henan; with strong troops in his hands, all sides had much to ask of him, and no one dared refuse the price he set for aid. Playing the role of a mercenary army was rather interesting.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wen Fangliang, though the most handsome officer in the Shunxiang Army, ate with little refinement. He devoured his flatbread in huge mouthfuls and said to Wang Dou, \"General, Brother Gao's battle proves the roving bandits cannot withstand a single blow. We've also figured out their tactics. Should we launch the entire army in the next few days and strike those roving bandits a hard blow to lift the siege of Ruzhou?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Dou said, \"No rush.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He smiled and said, \"Vice Regional Commander Chen is quite envious of our Shunxiang Army's battle record. We can't hog all the merit and leave our friendly forces with none.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He said, \"When I returned at noon, Vice Regional Commander Chen told me that he hopes his Vanguard Battalion can take the lead against the Ruzhou bandits. Since Vice Regional Commander Chen says so, let him have his wish. We can take this chance to see how the interior government troops fight, and also get a clearer look at the roving bandits' methods of warfare. When the moment is right, we'll sweep them away in one stroke.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Everyone burst into laughter.\u003C\u002Fp>",2580,"2026-06-03T14:05:36.780Z",1,"Novelzhen Translator","455d7cd2e4e9124460b4e314e522716cdcd346e468e544639f276c12ab958921","a-little-soldier-of-the-late-ming-border-army-chapter-376","a-little-soldier-of-the-late-ming-border-army-chapter-374",896,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fa-little-soldier-of-the-late-ming-border-army-cover.jpg"]