[{"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-415":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},1205704,1561,"Chapter 415: The Death of a Great Bandit","a-little-soldier-of-the-late-ming-border-army-chapter-415",415,"\u003Cp>...Charge through, charge through!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhang Xianzhong frantically spurred his horse, but the startled animal only spun in place, refusing to obey his commands.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Another volley of arquebus fire erupted from the hillside, billowing clouds of white smoke spreading thick and wide. More rebel soldiers and horses toppled to the ground, screams and horse whinnies mingling into one chaotic din. The startled and wounded horses in particular bolted and bucked wildly, adding even greater chaos to the road.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ambushed so suddenly, these fleeing bandits were utterly stunned. The firepower of the Shunxiang Army's bird guns far exceeded anyone's expectations — even at such a distance, their force was so devastating. Not to mention the bandits, even the horses beneath them had never witnessed such a scene; even Zhang Xianzhong's own horse had suddenly panicked.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>On the hillside, the arquebusiers calmly fired in successive ranks. Every one of them remembered the appearance of the rebel Zhang: tall of stature, sallow-faced, with a long beard.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Since the bandits below carried no banners and had fallen into utter disarray, they could not be located at once. But the men spotted several figures among the bandits who looked like women, and recalled that Zhang the Rebel had wives and concubines captured at Xiangyang — perhaps they had already been rescued, and Zhang the Rebel was over there. Many men aimed their arquebuses in that direction. Amid the chaos, Zhang Xianzhong's military advisor Pan Duao and others were struck by bullets and fell from their horses.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>By now, the official road was littered with the corpses of men and horses. Many of the charging cavalry from Zhang's camp could not control their mounts and were tripped up by the dead and wounded horses ahead. Seeing the dire situation, those with quicker wits abandoned the official road and veered their horses into the wheat fields alongside.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gao Shiyin, watching the official road through his telescope the entire time, issued an order: the Vice Battalion Commander by the irrigation canal was to attack.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Spotting the signal flags, that officer immediately led four hundred cavalry and infantry, skirting slightly above the wheat fields, brandishing steel blades as they surged toward the official road.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At last, the bandits recovered from the shock of the assault, only to see cavalry rolling in from the upper right. Cries of alarm rang out: \"Horsemen! Government horsemen are coming!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>By now, Zhang Xianzhong's horse finally obeyed his commands. The sudden ambush — yet another crushing blow beyond the walls of Xiangyang — had cost him who knew how many more men and horses. And still the Shunxiang Army's bird guns kept firing; with every volley, more men and horses collapsed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Glancing again at the Shunxiang cavalry charging from the upper right, and with pursuers still behind him, Zhang Xianzhong's ferocity flared: \"Charge through! You think taking this old man's head is so easy?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Charge through, charge through!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The bandits roared. At this moment of life and death, their own ferocity flared as well. They were all elite cavalry of Zhang's camp, veterans of countless battles, not those green, untested starving conscripts.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They clustered around Zhang Xianzhong, flanking and following him, along with his adopted sons Li Dingguo, Sun Kewang, Liu Wenxiu, and others — all roaring as they spurred their horses, charging forward with desperate resolve.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Shunxiang Army arquebusiers on the hill spotted them as well, one after another shouting: \"Zhang the Rebel is there! Zhang the Rebel is there!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Fire!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The roar of volley fire thundered once more. A large cluster of men before and behind Zhang Xianzhong toppled. In particular, division commander Bai Wenxuan and adopted son Liu Wenxiu were struck, crashing from their horses in disbelief, clutching their wounds and struggling on the ground.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhang Xianzhong turned his head and cried out: \"My son...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sun Kewang roared: \"Father Commander, go! Quickly!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The great mass of men clustered together, charging desperately beyond the range of the Shunxiang Army's fire.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Liu Wenxiu struggled to his knees. All around him lay the corpses of men and horses, along with wounded soldiers groaning in agony; blood flowed everywhere across the road. Gazing in the direction Zhang Xianzhong had fled, he murmured: \"Father Commander... go quickly... don't look back...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Suddenly his eyes widened. Not far to the right front, the Vice Battalion Commander of the Ren Unit had already arrived with his cavalry, rolling forward and swiftly engulfing Zhang Xianzhong and his men.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Liu Wenxiu collapsed to the ground in despair. Before losing consciousness, he seemed to hear a furious roar from the hillside: \"All arquebusiers, mount up! Pursue!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He also faintly heard the thunder of many hooves from behind — likely the pursuing troops from Xiangyang City had arrived...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Ah, this old man is sending off the young — white-haired man burying black-haired sons. Came to take Xiangyang fair and square, and it's turned into this wretched mess. Little Wang'er, Yichun, you tell this old man: why has it come to this?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhang Xianzhong sat astride his horse, speaking in a tone of utter dejection.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In that cavalry clash just now, who knew how many more of his subordinates had died or scattered. In particular, the great generals Ma Wu and Wang Xingguo — known as King Who Sweeps the World and the Three Sparrowhawks — had fallen one after another, dealing Zhang Xianzhong yet more crushing blows. By now, the men still following behind him numbered fewer than three hundred riders, and every one of them was stricken with terror.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Counting his two adopted sons and several great generals, this expedition to Xiangyang could be called a catastrophic loss.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With his elite forces so utterly depleted, he did not know whether he could ever rise again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At this moment, the group had just passed a place called Fenghuang Village. The pursuit had slackened somewhat, but the horses beneath them were all foaming at the mouth; they could only ride at a slow pace. If the horses were run to death, none of them could hope to return to Yicheng.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing Zhang Xianzhong's words, Li Dingguo and Sun Kewang were both speechless. Li Dingguo was known for both courage and cunning; Sun Kewang, though rough-hewn in appearance, was sharp of mind. Yet neither of them understood why this battle had turned out this way.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The blow they had suffered today was unimaginably great. That such a surprise attack would meet with government reinforcements, and even encounter an ambush lying in wait — it was simply beyond belief.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Moreover, this entire operation seemed to have been planned for a long time. The enemy understood them thoroughly, as if someone had been watching their every move from the sidelines.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A chilling, hair-raising sensation crept over them — as though some terrifying enemy had long been fixed upon them, spying from the heavens, just waiting for them to walk into the trap. How else could any of this be explained?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhang Xianzhong shook his head. \"Enough. If you won't say, then forget it. Even if you did, this old man couldn't figure it out either.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Dingguo and Sun Kewang cried out in unison: \"Father Commander!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhang Xianzhong waved his hand and let out a long breath, gazing up at the sky. \"This old man suddenly feels a bit tired of this. Rebellion truly isn't so easy. How about this — our camp has plenty of gold, silver, and valuables, plus woolen goods, donkeys, and horses. We trusted men could load up the gold, silver, and woolens, go to Nanjing, and set up as woolen merchants. Enjoy wealth and comfort, live out the second half of our lives in pleasure. What do you say?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Dingguo and Sun Kewang looked at each other, then both urged: \"A minor setback — why should Father Commander lose heart?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhang Xianzhong suddenly burst into loud laughter. \"A joke, just a joke! This old man has spent his whole life in the rebellion trade. If I went straight, I wouldn't be used to it.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In truth, Zhang Xianzhong, like Li Zicheng, was a man of unyielding temperament. To suddenly encounter a force that seemed beyond human power was bound to bring a moment of despondency. But he quickly recovered. A man who had risen and fallen several times, always looking about with pride and self-regard, possessed something extraordinary.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>By now, the group had reached the Huangjiawan area. They saw forested hills everywhere along the official road, with scattered boulders — yet another stretch of terrain ideal for an ambush.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhang Xianzhong raised his riding crop and laughed. \"Surely there won't be another ambush here. If there is, then that Wang Dou is truly a divine being. This old man has never been able to figure out how Wang Dou knew I was coming to Xiangyang. If he just happened to run into us, then how...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Before he could finish, several sharp cracks rang out. Jets of blood mist burst from his chest, his front and back both pierced clean through. Zhang Xianzhong looked down at his chest, his expression one of utter disbelief. He struggled to cover the wounds, but scalding hot blood kept pouring through his fingers. No matter how he pressed, it was useless.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The crack of Lumi arquebuses sounded again. From behind a boulder in the forested hillside, several more fierce muzzle flashes streaked out, blasting Zhang Xianzhong off his horse.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He landed beneath his horse, already dead, his breath extinguished — only his ox-like eyes still stared wide open.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"No!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Dingguo and Sun Kewang screamed in anguish.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The sudden catastrophe left the remaining bandits dumbstruck. Staring at Zhang Xianzhong's corpse on the ground, they stammered: \"Zhi... Grand Commander...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Suddenly someone shrieked: \"Ambush!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Dingguo and the others looked up in alarm. Sure enough, on the mountainside, dense ranks of Shunxiang Army arquebusiers had appeared once more, leveling their heavy bird guns and aiming at them with cold indifference. Looking again, dust billowed in the distance — from around the bend, who knew how many more cavalry were surging toward them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Split up and flee!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The bandits scattered in a thunderous rout. With Zhang Xianzhong dead, none had the heart to fight on. Every man for himself — escape if you can. Only a small group gathered around Li Dingguo and Sun Kewang. The Regional Commander was dead; the future of Zhang's camp now rested on the two young commanders.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"To Yanjiawan — into the hills!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Dingguo and Sun Kewang made the snap decision. They would no longer follow the official road, lest there be more ambushes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sun Kewang spurred his horse forward, seized the reins of Zhang Xianzhong's black-coated piebald steed, and galloped swiftly away.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Dingguo likewise charged out. Passing Zhang Xianzhong's body, he abruptly grabbed the corpse by the belt. \"We must take Father Commander's remains with us!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But at that moment, the arquebuses on the hill fired in unison. Under the fierce assault of hundreds of firearms, a great swath of bandits and horses below crashed to the ground. Li Dingguo's horse was hit, and he tumbled into the dust. He swiftly leaped onto another riderless horse, but now had no time to attend to Zhang Xianzhong's body. He could only gallop madly after Sun Kewang and the others, racing toward the distant hills opposite.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Dingguo fled at full speed, constantly turning his head to look back, gazing toward the place where his father commander's body lay. Tears welled from his eyes. \"Wang Dou — I will have my revenge!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Is Zhang the Rebel dead?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The long-spear soldiers of the Ji Division below the mountain rode sturdy horses, relentlessly hunting down the remnant bandits of Xian’s camp who were fleeing in all directions.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wen Fangliang led the men of his Company Commander headquarters hurriedly down the mountain. Behind them, squads of Ji Division soldiers bearing firelenses also dashed down the slope, their faces full of anticipation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At last they came before Zhang Xianzhong’s corpse. The crowd gathered around to look. Wen Fangliang scrutinized it carefully, and the more he looked, the brighter his eyes became: “It is the Xian bandit — tall frame, slightly lean, sallow face, long beard. Especially this long beard — it is undoubtedly the Xian bandit.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He burst into loud laughter: “It is indeed the Xian bandit!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The surrounding officers and soldiers erupted in cheers: “The Xian bandit is dead! The Xian bandit is dead!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At that moment Gao Shiyin and Li Guangheng arrived with their troops. When the soldiers under their command heard the cheers, they too broke into jubilation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gao Shiyin and Li Guangheng squeezed in and carefully examined Zhang Xianzhong’s corpse. Gao Shiyin’s expression was somewhat complicated: “Old Wen, you’ve taken the advantage here.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wen Fangliang warmly threw his arm around Gao Shiyin’s shoulder: “Old Gao, killing the Xian bandit is not the merit of my division alone — everyone has a share.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He then threw his arm around Li Guangheng’s shoulder: “Old Li’s side has likewise rendered great and meritorious service.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gao Shiyin’s expression eased slightly. Li Guangheng, however, was somewhat unaccustomed to Wen Fangliang’s warmth; he removed Wen Fangliang’s hand and said, “We are all serving the General — why distinguish between you and me?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His expression turned grave, and he said, “There are still some roving bandits who have fled outside and must be exterminated… otherwise they will surely become a scourge.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wen Fangliang’s expression likewise turned grave, and he said, “It seems several leaders of the Xian camp have also escaped. If we do not capture them, the future trouble will indeed be considerable.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The several men discussed for a while and all decided to first send someone to report the victory to the General, while their several divisions would continue to exterminate the enemy in the field. Only after wiping out all the roving bandits would they return to the General to claim their merits.\u003C\u002Fp>",2316,"2026-06-03T14:05:53.320Z",1,"Novelzhen Translator","ae6019d441d99f5c481cc5f6f758acc84303624629dcd46c24505635dbea0476","a-little-soldier-of-the-late-ming-border-army-chapter-416","a-little-soldier-of-the-late-ming-border-army-chapter-414",896,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fa-little-soldier-of-the-late-ming-border-army-cover.jpg"]