[{"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-385":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},1205674,1561,"Chapter 385: I Talk to You About Loyalty, You Talk to Me About Money","a-little-soldier-of-the-late-ming-border-army-chapter-385",385,"\u003Cp>On the east side of the South Pass stood the drill ground, the Shan-Shaan Temple, the Wind-Cloud-Thunder-Rain Mountain-River Altar, and other structures. This was the outskirts of Luoyang, dense with every kind of alley, lane, and house, but once Li Zicheng’s great army arrived, all these buildings would likely be destroyed in the flames of war.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Refugees gathered in great numbers between the city wall and the outer suburbs, scattered through every main street and alley. In the freezing cold, many of the disaster victims froze or starved to death, and in the streets and lanes people selling their children never ceased. When they saw this troop of men and horses passing by, every face remained numb.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Dou watched in silence, listening to Chen Yongfu’s angry curses and complaints. Suddenly he said, “Squeezing out rivals and scrambling for profit is one thing, but, Military Governor Chen, you must also guard against their wolfish ambition — beware of them surrendering to the enemy and turning traitor…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chen Yongfu started. He swept a glance around them and said quietly, “They wouldn’t. Could they really be so utterly deranged…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Dou said, “Military Governor Chen, you have been in Henan a long time and served alongside Wang Shaoyu, Liu Jianyi, and the rest. You know how they usually conduct themselves. They embezzle rations and pay, treat the troops harshly, and morale among their men has long been unstable. Moreover, people like them are timid as mice; when they face the bandits, I fear they have no stomach for a fight. In many Henan prefectures there have been cases of officers and soldiers acting as inside collaborators. The Luoyang affair is something we must guard against.” Chen Yongfu sucked in a cold breath, his expression one of disbelief, but Wang Dou knew the historical reason Li Zicheng took Luoyang. Liu Jianyi and Luo Tai surrendered to Li Zicheng. The troops under Regional Commander Wang Shaoyu mutinied and opened the city gates. Otherwise, given the resistance the Luoyang soldiers and civilians originally put up, with the Prince of Fu also recruiting death-sworn warriors to fight bitterly, Luoyang — no matter what — could have held out for several months without a problem.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing Chen Yongfu’s expression, Wang Dou knew this was no small matter, and it was only natural that Chen Yongfu could not believe it. Wang Dou was merely giving him a hint of the truth. As for Liu Jianyi and the others, he would have his own night-scout retainers keep them under strict surveillance. Calamity rising from within the walls had always been the most hateful thing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Soon the party reached the East Pass, temporarily garrisoned by Liu Jianyi, who also guarded the Changchun Gate on Luoyang’s eastern side. Wang Dou and his men had no intention of entering the pass. They crossed the Xie River via the East Pass Great Stone Bridge and headed toward the area around the Ying’en Temple.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This East Pass Great Stone Bridge, also called the Huang Gong Guangji Bridge, spanned the Xie River. It was a five-arch stone bridge a hundred meters long, said to have been funded and built during the Jiajing reign by the Directorate of Ceremonial eunuch Huang Jin, and it was a vital passageway for entering Luoyang from the east. Going north from the East Pass Great Stone Bridge, one soon reached the Ying’en Temple.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This Ying’en Temple, also called the Great Eastern Temple, was built by the Prince of Fu, Zhu Changxun, for his birth mother, Imperial Consort Zheng. Historically, after Li Zicheng took Luoyang, the Prince of Fu fled from the Prince of Fu’s mansion and hid in the Ying’en Temple. He was later discovered and dragged out by the peasant army and executed in front of the Duke of Zhou Temple.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The East Pass area was thick with famous sites and temples — Longzheng Red Cherry, Tongtuo Evening Rain, Reining-in-the-Horse to Hear the Wind, the Shrine of the Three Worthies, Jia Yi’s Memorial, the Temple of the Luo River Goddess, the Medicine King Temple, the Mount Tai Temple, the Ancient Tang Temple, the Ying’en Temple, the Three-Well Grotto, the Cloud-Stream Monastery, and so on — too many to count.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The main force of Wang Dou and Chen Yongfu was encamped ten li north of the Ying’en Temple, in the area of Jinggou and Xu Village, which already counted as the outskirts of Luoyang.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Chuang army had swept through the departmental and county towns around Luoyang, and their scout riders were constantly active in the Luoyang periphery, which stirred panic among the local commoners. Apart from a scattered few, the inhabitants of Xu Village and other places had already fled into Luoyang city. This actually made it convenient for the Shunxiang Army and the Vanguard Battalion to set up camp; in the freezing cold they did not need to pitch camp in open country.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After returning to his encampment, that very afternoon Wang Dou led his various commanders on a circuit around the camp perimeter, carefully examining the surrounding terrain. He even rode twenty li east to the White Horse Temple and made a tour, paying his respects at this “ancestral” site of Buddhism. It was a pity the temple was dilapidated; apart from the refugees clustered around, not a single sightseer was to be seen.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>On the morning of the eleventh, Army Intendant Wang Yinchang and the Prefect of Henan Prefecture, Kang Mengshuan, indeed came to the Shunxiang Army camp. They brought some wine and meat as a token of appreciation. What was unexpected was that the leader of the group was none other than the former Minister of War, Lü Weiqi, who had been living in seclusion in Luoyang.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This Lü Weiqi was a native of Xin’an County in Henan Prefecture. In the early Chongzhen years he had served as Minister of War in Nanjing but was dismissed for failing to suppress the bandits. After returning to live in Luoyang, he established the “Yiluo Society,” recruited disciples widely, wrote books, and advanced his theories. Among the Luoyang gentry, he was considered a man of considerable prestige.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Historically, when Li Zicheng attacked Luoyang, Lü Weiqi also rushed about everywhere, beating the drum and shouting slogans for Luoyang’s defense. After Luoyang fell, Lü Weiqi stretched out his neck and accepted death at the Duke of Zhou Temple in Luoyang. The world judged that he did not disgrace the great moral integrity, and he is remembered as one of the renowned Neo-Confucian scholars of the Chongzhen reign.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After Lü Weiqi and his party were ushered into the main hall, Chen Yongfu’s expression remained agitated; only Wang Dou’s face was calm. Clearly, Lü Weiqi had come primarily for Wang Dou. After some pleasantries, he vigorously affirmed Wang Dou’s heart of loyalty and service to the country — knowing full well the roving bandits were powerful, yet still coming to Luoyang’s aid without hesitation; it was truly rare and commendable.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Dou said evenly, “As early as when I was in Kaifeng, I promised Provincial Governor Li that since I had accepted his money and grain, I would properly handle what I agreed to do.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>However, Your Excellency Lü, Your Excellency Wang, I have now arrived in Luoyang. This supply of provisions and fodder — please make it up in full as quickly as possible. The troops cannot fight on empty stomachs. The fifty thousand taels of reward money promised by the Luoyang gentry — please also arrange payment as soon as possible.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In Wang Dou’s negotiations with the Henan Provincial Governor Li Vanguard Commander, for Wang Dou to remain in Henan, Li Vanguard Commander was to provide one hundred thousand taels of silver and twenty thousand dan of grain. Li Vanguard Commander had already given thirty thousand taels of silver and ten thousand dan of grain. The silver could wait, but the grain could not be cut off for a single day.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In truth, Wang Dou had considerable provisions and fodder stored in Kaifeng and in Ruzhou, and after the great battle at Ruzhou he had also reaped a considerable harvest. However, Wang Dou had no intention of transporting provisions from those two places. He had also made arrangements in Luoyang early on; merchants from the eastern route had purchased several thousand dan of grain for him, but these supplies Wang Dou would not touch unless it came to the most critical moment.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In any case, Li Vanguard Commander owed him quite a lot, and it had also been explicitly stated that once the Shunxiang Army reached Luoyang, the remaining grain could be drawn from local Luoyang supplies. So Wang Dou brought up this matter the moment he opened his mouth. He was not going to let his soldiers go hungry just for a few kind words from Lü Weiqi and the others.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Furthermore, as early as when he was in Ruzhou, the Luoyang gentry and officials, in order to get Wang Dou to come sooner, had offered to give fifty thousand taels of silver as a special reward, and he brought this up as well.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lü Weiqi and Wang Yinchang and the others were slightly embarrassed. Here I am talking to you about ideals, about loyalty and righteousness, and you talk to me about money, about silver — isn’t that a bit vulgar? The present atmosphere was hardly the right moment to discuss such things.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chen Yongfu sat without saying a word. Ever since he had marched out from Kaifeng, he had cooperated seamlessly with Wang Dou along the way. When Wang Dou received grain, it was as good as him receiving grain, because the entire journey he had been eating Wang Dou’s provisions. Provisions and fodder were a critical military matter, so naturally he would not object to Wang Dou’s words, and he secretly admired Wang Dou for discussing the matter of provisions without the slightest hesitation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Army Intendant Wang Yinchang said, “General, rest assured. Although the Luoyang treasury is empty and funds and grain are tight, in the matter of provisions I will certainly find ways and means to spare the troops from hunger and cold. In recent days, I have already gone with His Excellency Lü to seek an audience with the Prince of Fu, hoping His Highness the Prince of Fu can provide some provisions, fodder, silver, and funds to relieve the crisis at hand in Luoyang…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Dou said flatly, “Inside Luoyang city there is not only the Prince of Fu; there are also very many officials, wealthy households, and great families. The city does not belong to the Prince of Fu alone; it also belongs to the gentry and the common people. Supplying provisions and fodder, rewarding the troops — everyone must contribute. Only when the soldiers are well fed and well paid can they kill the bandits. When the nest is overturned, can any egg remain intact? The tragedy of Yongning City cannot be allowed to repeat itself in Luoyang…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lü Weiqi and Wang Yinchang coughed. The two exchanged a glance, astonished by Wang Dou’s glib tongue — especially Lü Weiqi, who looked Wang Dou over again and again in surprise. At the same time, they felt a touch of sorrow in their hearts. In days past, if Wang Dou had spoken to them in such a tone, he would have long since been beaten out with clubs or impeached and punished.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But times now were not the same as before. Now, not only toward Wang Dou, but even toward Liu Jianyi and the others guarding the city, they dared not let their tone be the slightest bit harsh, for fear of stirring up a mutiny, or even worse, that in desperation those men might go over to the roving bandits — then all would be lost.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>From everyone’s experience, Wang Dou’s army was fierce in battle; if any disturbance broke out, the destructive power would also be terrifying. More importantly, they could not bear the consequences of Wang Dou leaving in dissatisfaction, for that would mean Luoyang city would be hard to defend. And if Luoyang city could not be defended, these officials and gentry would likewise be hard-pressed to survive.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Perhaps, this time, everyone would have to suffer some financial loss…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lü Weiqi had long heard of Wang Dou’s reputation. The battle of Ruzhou had truly proven his strength. When he entered the military camp, he had also carefully observed Wang Dou’s troops, and indeed they were an army of tigers and wolves. With such an army assisting in the defense of Luoyang, Luoyang would certainly be absolutely safe.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He said, “In the matter of provisions, fodder, and rewards, General Wang need not worry. This old man will also contact the gentry within the city, so that every man contributes to the defense of the city…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He changed the subject and said, “In the battle of Ruzhou, General Wang and Regional Commander Chen won a great victory over the enemy. When the news arrived, the soldiers and civilians of Luoyang were roused. In General Wang’s view, with the roving bandits now invading Luoyang, what are the odds of successfully defending the city?” Wang Dou said, “The roving bandits are a rabble. Even with a hundred thousand of them, under the thunderous strike of my Shunxiang Army, the only outcome is to be scattered like ash and smoke. Your Excellencies need not worry…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The powerful confidence in Wang Dou’s tone made Lü Weiqi and Wang Yinchang beam with delight. Both said, “That is good, that is good.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Yinchang went further: “To be trapped defending an isolated city is a major taboo in military strategy. In my opinion, since Vice Regional Commander Chen and General Wang possess outstanding combat strength, would it not be better to take the initiative and strike out, dispatch troops to Yongning, and deal a painful blow to the bandits’ arrogance?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Dou said, “There is a saying: worry not that the bandits gather, only that they scatter. At present, the roving bandits are spread across Yongning, Yiyang, Xin’an, Lushi, and other places. If we strike the bandits at Yongning, the rest will scatter and flee into the surrounding countryside, which will only increase the harm. Therefore, in my humble opinion, it is better to wait quietly for the roving bandits to converge and attack the city. Once their troops are weary, our forces will then strike with thunderous force, and we can certainly defeat Li Chuang and the other bandits in one sweep, leaving no future trouble…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Dou had already discussed this clearly with the commanders of the Shunxiang Army. In this campaign against the roving bandits, they would first use the strong walls of Luoyang to wear down the Chuang army’s spirit and strength. Once their morale was sapped, they would then use cavalry to sever their supply lines, launch fierce penetrating assaults, and strike at their central army headquarters, routing Li Zicheng’s veteran camp and horse troops in one blow. In this way, the hundred thousand roving bandits would certainly collapse.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>How could they do as Wang Yinchang suggested, fighting place by place, one after another? How long would that take? If the Chuang army retreated, would he have to follow them all the way? By late in the first month at the latest, Wang Dou would leave Luoyang. He would not stay long in this place.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Yinchang stroked his beard with a contemplative air, but inwardly he was displeased. Devising strategy and overall plans was originally the business of us civil officials, yet this Wang Dou had flatly rejected his proposal, giving him no face at all.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There was another thing that made him uncomfortable: the rough outline Wang Dou had just casually put forward was far superior to his own. Among military men, those with a mind as clear as his were rare, and this was another thing about Wang Dou that secretly astonished Wang Yinchang.\u003C\u002Fp>",2655,"2026-06-03T14:05:36.780Z",1,"Novelzhen Translator","32049f5d559f51483103f96dbb9a5172c54221aefe8062fb8ca031a299dc48b3","a-little-soldier-of-the-late-ming-border-army-chapter-386","a-little-soldier-of-the-late-ming-border-army-chapter-384",896,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fa-little-soldier-of-the-late-ming-border-army-cover.jpg"]