[{"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-401":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},1205690,1561,"Chapter 401: Eliminating Traitors","a-little-soldier-of-the-late-ming-border-army-chapter-401",401,"\u003Cp>Hearing Niu Jinxing's words, Li Zicheng and the others all felt their spirits lift, but Yuan Zongdi said, \"Our righteous army did once make contact with Luo and Liu, yet those two men maintained an ambiguous stance, and we had no certain assurance of making them submit.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Niu Jinxing laughed and said, \"Those two must be waiting to sell themselves for the highest price. But now is different from the past; given the current situation, as long as our righteous army offers generous terms, they will surely be tempted.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He said to Li Zicheng, \"Chuang Wang, your student is willing to write a letter, reasoning with them and appealing to their emotions, to make those two men act as internal agents and deliver the city, sharing in the great enterprise.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Zicheng was very pleased, and he said, \"If those two are willing to act as internal agents, I, Li Zicheng, will certainly treat them generously.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He mused and said, \"This is the first plan to break the city. If it fails, we will follow Mr. Song's strategy of besieging Wei to rescue Zhao. We'll besiege the city with heavy troops and dispatch forces to raid Kaifeng and Ruzhou. Kaifeng's defenses are empty; perhaps we can take it in one swift assault. If they turn back to reinforce, we can ambush them on the road. Even if the ambush fails, it will still reduce Luoyang's defensive strength.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Everyone in the hall said, \"Chuang Wang has brilliant insight.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This was the final resort. If these two plans failed, the hundreds of thousands of Chuang troops besieging Luoyang would have no choice but to withdraw.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That night before sleeping, Li Zicheng felt he could not set his mind at ease. Gazing at Lady Gao sleeping beside him, he lay awake for a long time, scenes of the past surfacing in his mind one after another. He sighed inwardly. Judging by today's battle, if not for Wang Dou and the Shunxiang Army, Luoyang would already have been taken.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After thinking for who knows how long, Li Zicheng sank into a deep sleep. In his dream, he saw his great army sweeping into the city in majestic force, with countless Luoyang commoners lining both sides of the streets to welcome him. Riding a tall, large horse, he led the righteous army to break open Prince Fu's mansion, the government offices' granaries and underground vaults, seizing tens of thousands of dan of grain and hundreds of thousands of taels of gold and silver, then setting fire to Prince Fu's mansion and all the government offices.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Inside the Ying'en Temple, he even captured Prince Fu, Zhu Changxun, who was too fat to flee in time, along with Lu Weiqi, Wang Yinchang, Kang Menghui, and other Luoyang officials. He tried and executed them before the Duke of Zhou Temple. In that moment, countless soldiers and civilians cheered for him, and he seemed to stand at the pinnacle of the world.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He further dreamed that after Luoyang was taken, how furious the Great Ming Emperor would be, and how terrified the officials everywhere would become.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In this joyful dream, there was no Wang Dou.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>On the fifteenth day of the first month of the fourteenth year of Chongzhen, after the Chuang army's failed assault on the thirteenth, they had been inactive for two days, merely besieging Luoyang without attacking, occasionally sending a few bandit riders to flaunt their might and shoot a few arrows up at the walls.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At first, the officers and soldiers on the walls fired back a few times, but eventually they could not even be bothered to retaliate, lazily ignoring the bandit riders outside the city. The soldiers and civilians within the city were all discussing that the roving bandits were about to withdraw; after all, with the Shunxiang Army in Luoyang, those roving bandits could not possibly fight their way in.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Since they could not break in, the daily consumption of food for men and fodder for horses for the one or two hundred thousand roving bandits outside the city was an astronomical figure. Even if they had plundered every department and county in Henan Prefecture, the required provisions and forage could not sustain their consumption.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A withdrawal in the coming days was inevitable. As for where they would withdraw to, that was not something anyone here cared about.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In this atmosphere, the soldiers and civilians of Luoyang grew even more relaxed, and many gentry resumed their former lives of extravagant feasting and pleasure.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That afternoon, Mobile Corps Commanders Liu Jianyi and Luo Tai emerged from the Provincial Administration Commissioner's office. Before returning to their respective camps, Liu Jianyi invited Luo Tai to sit for a while at his barracks. Luo Tai gladly agreed. Since the Chuang army was no longer attacking the city, related defense matters could simply be left to their subordinates to handle.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There were barracks inside all four gates of Luoyang, indistinguishable from the civilian houses in the city, with only a low enclosing wall. In the past, they were used by the Luoyang garrison troops for defense and lodging. After Liu Jianyi and the others came as reinforcements from Kaifeng, those barracks were naturally commandeered by these camp soldiers.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The local troops found their own houses to live in. The Shunxiang Army, who had also come as reinforcements, were likewise assigned some civilian houses and temples near the city gates to stay in.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As a Mobile Corps Commander, Liu Jianyi naturally occupied the largest courtyard in the barracks, with some of his retainers living in the nearby rooms. However, at this moment, aside from a few relevant patrol personnel, the barracks were completely quiet; even in broad daylight, everyone was snoring loudly in their sleep.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The previous days of defending the city had been grueling. To guard against the Chuang army's assaults, for days everyone had eaten and slept on the city walls day and night, which was extremely hard to endure in the depths of winter. Now that the military situation had slackened somewhat, wouldn't these soldier lords seize the time to catch up on rest, so they would have the energy to properly enjoy the Lantern Festival tonight?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Entering the room, they had their retainers light the heated wall, prepared a few small dishes and several pots of fine wine, and after dismissing all attendants, Liu Jianyi and Luo Tai began to eat and drink heartily. As they ate and chatted, they talked about the roving bandits outside the city, the hardships of their long journey from Kaifeng to reinforce, and even more about Chen Yongfu's petty man's sudden rise, Wang Dou's domineering rudeness, and the unfair treatment from their superiors.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The more they talked, the angrier they became, especially Luo Tai, whose face turned livid. He cursed fiercely, \"Damn it, we're both reinforcement troops, yet Wang Dou and Chen Yongfu are looked upon favorably by Prince Fu, Wang Yinchang, and the others. And us? We suffer bullying from Chen Yongfu and his ilk, yet no one speaks a single word for us. Brother Liu, tell me, is this fair or not?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Liu Jianyi cast a sidelong glance at Luo Tai and said, \"Unfair treatment is one thing, Brother Luo, but haven't you noticed something far more serious?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Luo Tai said, \"Brother Liu, speak plainly. You know I trust your wisdom and counsel the most.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Liu Jianyi sighed and said, \"In the great defensive battles of the past few days, our subordinates have suffered heavy losses, yet Wang Yinchang has not replenished our troops or provisions. For those of us who lead soldiers, our only asset is the troops in our hands. Without soldiers, who would look us straight in the eye? That Wang Dou is so arrogant precisely because he relies on the powerful army under his command.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Luo Tai was jolted into alarm, cold sweat instantly streaming down his back. He said, \"Brother Liu speaks the truth. In these past days of siege battles, my subordinates' casualties are nearing thirty percent. If we keep fighting, the soldiers in my hands will be wiped out. Without soldiers, not to mention Chen Yongfu trampling on us even more, even the Company Commanders and Squad Commanders under us would likely refuse to submit and stir up trouble.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Liu Jianyi said in a sinister tone, \"So, we must think of a way.\" Luo Tai trembled. The two exchanged a glance, each seeing in the other's eyes a tacit understanding.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Luo Tai abruptly poured a cup of wine down his throat, his eyes blazing red, and said in a low voice, \"Brother Liu, tell me, will the Chuang army outside the city attack again?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Liu Jianyi said with certainty, \"It is inevitable. Chuang Wang has plotted for Luoyang for a long time; how could he give up so easily? After a few days of rest and reorganization, there will surely be several bloody battles!\" Luo Tai made up his mind and said in a low voice, \"If the two of us go over to Chuang Wang now, what status and treatment would the righteous army give us?\" Liu Jianyi chuckled darkly for a moment, then drew a letter from his bosom and said, \"Brother Luo, take a look at this.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Luo Tai took it in surprise. The moment he looked at it, he nearly cried out. He hurriedly glanced left and right and said in a barely audible voice, \"Where did Brother Liu get this letter? This is a letter from Niu Jinxing, the strategist under Chuang Wang?\" Liu Jianyi merely chuckled darkly and said, \"Brother Luo need not concern himself with where this letter came from. Just read carefully what is written inside.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With trembling hands, Luo Tai opened the letter and read it. Although he was not very literate, he could still understand the meaning of this letter. The more he read, the more delighted he became, and he said repeatedly, \"Chuang Wang is truly generous, giving us the treatment of his veteran camps, equal standing with generals like Liu Fangliang and Li Guo, priority in replenishing troops and provisions after the city is taken, and also... giving us a troop command quota of ten thousand?\" He was overjoyed beyond measure: \"Even Wang Shaoyu, the Regional Commander of Henan, does not have so many troops under his command.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Liu Jianyi laughed and said, \"Chuang Wang is a man who does great things. A mere ten thousand troop quota is naturally nothing to him.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Luo Tai rubbed his hands together and said, \"Let's do it. If they are not benevolent, we need not be righteous. Since Wang Yinchang and the others do not hold us in any regard, we will switch our allegiance to an enlightened master.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A fierce light showed in his eyes: \"When Luoyang is taken in the coming days, heh heh.\" Liu Jianyi smiled darkly, stuffed the letter into the stove fire on the table, watched it slowly turn to ashes, and then said unhurriedly, \"Brother Luo, for our righteous army to take the city, coordinating from within and without requires detailed planning.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Luo Tai said, \"Whatever Brother Liu says, I will do. I, your brother, will follow your lead in everything.\" Liu Jianyi said, \"Good. If we rise up, can you persuade the officers under your command? They must be absolutely reliable; no word can leak out.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Luo Tai patted his chest and said, \"Brother, you can rest assured. They eat my grain and draw my pay; they all obey me.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In truth, Liu Jianyi and Luo Tai, as Mobile Corps Commanders, each had fewer than two thousand troops under their command, but all were mercenaries from a motley assortment of backgrounds, not necessarily natives of Henan. In terms of fighting ability, they were stronger than guard battalion troops. However, in the late Ming, camp soldiers followed whoever fed them; whoever gave them provisions and pay, they would sell their lives for, switching camps without any pressure, and among them were a great many army riffraff.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As their direct superior, if Luo Tai said they were going to join the bandits, nine out of ten of the officers under his command would follow. Not to mention that the man controlling the several hundred retainers under him was his own nephew, so obeying orders to rise up would be even less of a problem. For Luo Tai, as long as these retainers followed at his side, whether the rest of the camp soldiers obeyed or not did not matter.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Liu Jianyi's slender fingers tapped lightly on the table: \"Tonight I will send trusted men secretly down the city wall to arrange a rendezvous at the east and south gates at the hour of Zi, with three circles of the gate lanterns as the signal. When the hour of Zi arrives, we will open the city gates and let the righteous army in. At the same time, my troops will set fires throughout the city to cause chaos. Once the great army enters the city, the great deed will be settled!\" His face lit up: \"Tonight is the night of the Lantern Festival. The city's officers and commoners will be off guard; they will absolutely never imagine that we will rise up and open the gates.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He laughed sinisterly again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Imagining that scene, Luo Tai also grinned savagely, his expression already somewhat impatient.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Liu Jianyi then carefully instructed him that he absolutely must not give anything away, especially in front of the Shunxiang Army officers in the city. Luo Tai, knowing the gravity of the matter, also patted his chest to assure Liu Jianyi he could be ten thousand times at ease.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Liu Jianyi finally stood up: \"Time is pressing. We act tonight. The two of us must make every preparation.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They exchanged a glance and both nodded heavily.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At the hour of Yin, inside the North Gate Pass.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Before the sand table, Chen Yongfu roared like thunder: \"Vile wretches! These two vile wretches! I will certainly hack off the heads of those two traitors, Liu Jianyi and Luo Tai!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Dou said, \"They thought they acted with such secrecy that no one knew...\" He smiled disdainfully, a cold glint flashing through his eyes: \"My Night Scouts have been closely monitoring these individuals inside and outside the city all along. Just last night, Liu Jianyi sent men down the wall to enter the bandit camp under cover of darkness. I have already learned the full details of their secret plot.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Dou said, \"According to my Night Scouts' reconnaissance, it is not only the two traitors Liu Jianyi and Luo Tai. Company Commander Tian Wenzong and Yang Hebian under Wang Shaoyu, along with Squad Commander Li Huajie and others, are all preparing to surrender to the bandit Li and open the city gates tonight as internal agents.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chen Yongfu ground his teeth and said, \"Excellent.\" A trace of an inexplicable gleam flashed through his eyes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Dou's tone was very calm: \"Traitors like Liu Jianyi are a minor matter. Tonight we will strike first and sweep them away in one fell swoop. Commander Chen, the time has come. The bandits are weary, their morale is shaken; it is time to deal with the roving bandits outside the city.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As he said this, Wang Dou cast his gaze toward Jianshan west of Luoyang. The Night Scouts had already clearly determined that the majority of the Chuang army's provisions and forage were stockpiled there.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Dou pointed at the sand table and said, \"Tonight our troops will move on two fronts. First, we will eliminate the traitors like Liu Jianyi within the city. At the same time, we will dispatch troops for a night raid to cut off their supplies. If successful, the bandits will surely be thrown into panic, and their morale will waver further. Tomorrow we will muster the entire army and force a decisive field battle with the bandits, crushing them in one stroke!\"\u003C\u002Fp>",2659,"2026-06-03T14:05:53.320Z",1,"Novelzhen Translator","426351f85caa5e8c32c0710d3e8030e6030c50c70a72134cdb69fb0d9147b4ae","a-little-soldier-of-the-late-ming-border-army-chapter-402","a-little-soldier-of-the-late-ming-border-army-chapter-400",896,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fa-little-soldier-of-the-late-ming-border-army-cover.jpg"]