[{"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-426":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},1205715,1561,"Chapter 426: Each Side's Calculations (Part 1)","a-little-soldier-of-the-late-ming-border-army-chapter-426",426,"\u003Cp>Not long after the Chongzhen Emperor enfeoffed Wang Dou as Loyal-and-Brave Count and invested him with the seal of \"General Who Subdues the Caitiffs,\" the news spread like wildfire throughout the northern realm. In particular, the teahouses and wineshops inside and outside the capital were packed to bursting for days on end, filled with people discussing the matter.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Affairs in the capital have always leaked in all directions. Even when the authorities wish to keep some matter secret, it soon spreads through every channel until it is known in every street and alley — the word \"secret\" simply does not apply. Thus the news of Wang Dou's enfeoffment and seal of command spread outward in every direction at lightning speed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>On the twenty-fifth day of the second month of the fourteenth year of the Chongzhen reign, at the parade ground in the northeastern outskirts of Xuanfu garrison city.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xuanfu Garrison was known as \"the foremost of the Nine Garrisons,\" long famed as \"the critical hub of the Nine Frontiers, none surpass Xuanfu.\" Its garrison-city training ground was also renowned. In the Ming dynasty, Xu Wei wrote a song: \"Xuanfu's training ground is famed throughout the land, each peak and crag piercing the clouds. No need for bows and blades to array the tiger-warriors; Heaven itself forges swords and halberds to attend the general.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The reviewing stand of the training ground was built halfway up the mountainside, backed by the vast, rolling mountain range. Below, one could overlook the flat, expansive training ground; in the distance, one could gaze upon the grand and imposing Xuanfu garrison city. It could be said to command every advantage of terrain. Although there was another parade ground not far beyond the southern pass of the garrison city, few officers and commanders of the garrison city were willing to go to such a small venue for drills.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At this moment, the reviewing stand was crowded with officers of every rank, all in helmets and armor, watching the troops drilling below with rapt attention. The training ground resounded with thundering slogans. Great formations of pikemen were practicing column marching and formation thrusting techniques. Large groups of matchlock soldiers were ceaselessly training in marksmanship; gunpowder smoke hung thick in the air, and the roar of musketry was deafening.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Watching the troops drilling below, Yang Guozhu's face showed an expression both gratified and deeply moved. From its inception in the twelfth year of Chongzhen until now, his ten thousand new-model troops had finally been drilled into shape.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>How much blood and toil had he poured into this army? Not only had he invested every bit of the money and grain he received, but every day upon leaving the \"Garrison Command Headquarters,\" he would head straight for the training ground. At times he even ate and slept on the training ground itself. The effort expended on the troops' clothing, food, shelter, and transport was truly beyond reckoning. Fortunately, the army was finally trained.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This army was modeled entirely on Wang Dou's Shunxiang Army. All those enlisted were good, able-bodied young men. Each man was allotted a portion of farmland and could retire after five years, receiving the full fifty mu of land. Those maimed or wounded would be provided for life. The armor, weapons, and all the matchlocks used by the officers and men were all meticulously crafted at his own expense. All these costs meant that the vast amount of silver and valuables he had received in those years was poured entirely into this army.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>To avoid flashiness without substance, the battle-hardened Yang Guozhu also trained the troops through actual combat. He sent this army out in batches to suppress bandits and draw blood, and even led them beyond the passes several times to engage Mongol roving cavalry, tempering their fighting strength to the greatest possible degree. In this way, the army was finally complete.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yang Guozhu divided the new army into three battalions, all infantry. Within the army, he established military judges and morale officers. Veteran soldiers of bloody battles served as squad leaders, file officers, and squad commanders. Company commanders, battalion commanders, and other officers were also appointed. Together with his main-force battalion, the total number of combat troops under his command reached fifteen thousand.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Not only that, but the main-force battalion consisted mostly of veterans of a hundred battles. Thanks to the allocation of a large number of horses and mules, these five thousand veterans were uniformly mounted troops. Although their individual military discipline was not as strict as that of the new army, their fighting strength went without saying.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gazing down at the training ground, not only Yang Guozhu was delighted; the officers around him were all eyebrows dancing and hearts blooming with joy. With a strong army forged, there was no one who was not pleased.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Guo Yingxian, Yang Guozhu's personal general of the central army, grinned from ear to ear and roared with laughter: \"Damn it all, these raw recruits have finally been shaped up... They look passable, but the expense was a bit much...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As soon as Guo Yingxian spoke, the officers around him all chimed in: \"Right, the expense is indeed great. Leaving aside the mounted troops, just the pay for these new soldiers alone costs a solid hundred thousand-plus taels of silver a year. And the matchlocks, gunpowder, and lead balls — every shot fired is money.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Yes, the powder and shot are far too expensive...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yang Guozhu's new army, of course, could not forgo pay like Wang Dou's, nor did they have much in the way of spoils from killing the enemy for the time being. They were paid in full, in hard silver, every single month.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>To prevent officers from embezzling pay or exploiting the soldiers, Yang Guozhu also followed the practice of Qi Jiguang's army, distributing the pay directly into the hands of each individual soldier and issuing it personally. Although some officers were secretly disgruntled, Yang Guozhu persisted. The results were evident: these new troops were well-fed and well-supplied, and their morale was exceedingly high.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The pay for fifteen thousand men was a huge expense, and there were many others, such as the gunpowder and shot for the matchlock soldiers... Yang Guozhu also privately set up a gunpowder factory to manufacture powder specifically.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Dou's method was a saltpeter extraction technique from later ages, simple and cheap. Yang Guozhu, however, could only follow the gunpowder production methods of the Great Ming at that time.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At that time, saltpeter was expensive. During the refining process, large quantities of ash water, gelatin, egg whites, radish, and other substances had to be added to absorb and remove the impurities within — a considerable expense.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This was also why many military commanders of the time were unwilling to use firearms. Aside from quality issues, they required continuous investment. How could that compare to casually summoning some troops and handing them a saber or spear, saving both time and effort? Moreover, raising troops this way was fast and created a great show of force. When others heard you had an army of several hundred thousand, they would be intimidated at once. Even if the troops could not fight, they could still frighten off a great many.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was like Zuo Liangyu, who later boasted an army of a million. In reality, the number of combat-capable troops within it was no more than twenty or thirty thousand, yet the imperial court relied on him as a pillar and had no choice but to tolerate his arrogance and insolence.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The officers were all abuzz with discussion, lamenting how hard it was to maintain an army. The grain and pay provided by the garrison were only so much; sustaining fifteen thousand troops was far too difficult. Somehow, the topic suddenly turned to Wang Dou:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Ah, I wonder how General Wang trains his troops. Half his army are matchlock soldiers — where does his gunpowder come from?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"His army doesn't need to be paid, which saves a great deal of expense. Perhaps all the money is spent on gunpowder research and practice.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"His matchlocks can pierce heavy armor at a hundred paces. Our matchlocks are far inferior. It must be an issue with the powder and shot. Marshal, could we purchase a batch of musket balls from the Eastern Route?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"The Regional Commander has long had this idea, but General Wang is away leading the army, and those people on the Eastern Route cannot make such decisions...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing the officers chattering about Wang Dou, Yang Guozhu felt a complex mix of emotions. His new army also used pre-packaged paper cartridge ammunition, but its power was far inferior to the matchlocks used by the Shunxiang Army. It had to be an issue with the powder and shot.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At the mention of Wang Dou, Guo Yingxian shouted: \"That brother of mine has really stolen the limelight now. I hear he led his troops south and, at Luoyang, sent the bandit Chuang's hundred-thousand-strong army fleeing like dogs. That little brother of mine is truly something else.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At this topic, the officers once again erupted in a flurry of excited discussion, all saying that when Wang Dou returned, he would surely be rewarded with titles and become a high official in the Chief Military Commission.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yang Guozhu suddenly felt somewhat weary. Just as he was about to enter the reviewing building behind him to rest, he suddenly saw a personal guard hurrying over, reporting that someone from his capital residence outside the training ground had important intelligence to report to the Grand Commander.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yang Guozhu sent the guard to bring the man in, wondering to himself: \"What matter is so urgent?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The personnel of that residence were men Yang Guozhu had stationed in the capital specifically to report on various developments there. Their intelligence traveled even faster than the official gazette, much like military dispatches. At that time, all viceroys, provincial governors, and regional commanders did the same.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Soon, the man from the residence entered and reported to Yang Guozhu. He was one of Yang Guozhu's trusted retainers, and the officers on the reviewing stand were all great generals under Yang Guozhu's command. There was no matter that could not be spoken of before them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yang Guozhu's expression was calm at first, but the more he listened, the more moved he became. He questioned the retainer closely, and finally stood stunned for a long while. He rewarded the retainer with a few taels of silver and dismissed him to rest.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The reviewing stand had already erupted into an uproar. The officers clamored: \"Wang Dou won a great victory at Xiangyang, beheaded the bandit Xian, received special imperial commendation, was invested with a seal and enfeoffed as a count, and was even granted an army designation and a battalion name?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Enfeoffed as a count — this favor is far too heavy. The Grand Commander, as General Who Guards the North, has not yet been enfeoffed as a count.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Indeed. The Grand Commander holds the rank of Grand Master for Glorious Happiness and Chief Military Commissioner of the Left. Wang Dou now holds the same. In terms of hereditary official rank, they are already equals!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Not so. Wang Dou bears the seal of General Who Subdues the Caitiffs and serves as Regional Commander of the Xuanfu Garrison Militia, stationed on the Eastern Route. He is still subject to the Grand Commander's authority. The Grand Commander's military authority is still superior.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"The Grand Commander is superior in military rank; Wang Dou is superior in noble status. After being enfeoffed as a count, he is now considered one of the ennobled elite.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Indeed. The court honors noble titles. In all official salutations, when a first-rank official meets a duke, marquis, count, or imperial son-in-law, the first-rank official stands on the right and performs a double bow, while the duke, marquis, count, or imperial son-in-law stands on the left and merely returns the gesture. Wang Dou's status is now esteemed and honored.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Beheading the bandit Xian — this is a world-shaking, extraordinary deed. His Majesty hates the bandit Xian the most. Wang Dou's enfeoffment as a count is both unexpected and yet entirely reasonable...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The officers merely debated. Many wore strange expressions. Wang Dou had been promoted to Chief Military Commissioner of the Left, enfeoffed as a count, and his military strength was considerable. With two powerful regional commanders now in Xuanfu Garrison, could the two tigers coexist peacefully and remain at ease?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Of course, many among them had fought side by side with Wang Dou and shared a deep camaraderie born of battle. Such words were hard to voice, but this thought could be read on many of their faces.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yang Guozhu's expression was also complex. He gazed for a long time in the direction of the Eastern Route, lost in thought: \"Wang Dou... has been enfeoffed as a count.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Only Guo Yingxian was carefree and without so many thoughts. He merely sucked in a breath of cold air: \"That kid, enfeoffed as a count?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He suddenly recalled something and grinned broadly: \"That kid Zhang Guowei, relying on Viceroy Zhang's backing, has been locked in constant strife with Provincial Governor Ji. When Provincial Governor Ji's son-in-law returns, there'll be a fine show to watch.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At the mention of this matter, the officers on the stand all wore expressions of schadenfreude.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After Zhang Fuzhen, the Viceroy of Xuanda, took office, a new official lights three fires. Unexpectedly, each garrison was mired in deep-set inertia, and the feigned compliance and covert defiance of all manner of local powers left Viceroy Zhang exhausted and rushing about in vain, ultimately achieving nothing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Out of respect for Wang Dou, all parties gave face. Provincial Governor Ji, whose prestige had greatly increased, firmly held control over Xuanfu Garrison, preventing Zhang Fuzhen's reach from extending in. Viceroy Zhang, full of grand ambition and eager to accomplish great things to repay the imperial grace, was extremely displeased by Ji Shiwei's attitude.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just then, Zhang Guowei — the Regional Military Commissioner of Xuanfu Garrison, a \"Commission Document Officer,\" one of the local powers of Xuanfu Garrison, and Vice Regional Commander — came over to his side. Zhang Fuzhen was overjoyed and could not help but regard him with special favor, giving him full support in manpower and resources in every way, hoping to achieve the effect of \"buying horse bones with a thousand gold pieces.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With the support of the Viceroy of Xuanda, Zhang Guowei constantly threw obstacles in Provincial Governor Ji's path and gave him dirty looks, venting all his anger toward Wang Dou onto Ji Shiwei's head.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Of course, he was perhaps intimidated by Wang Dou's military strength and power. Even though Wang Dou was away, he dared not do anything to the Eastern Route. However, his subordinates were disappointing, or perhaps they misunderstood the Regional Military Commissioner Zhang's intentions and coveted the Eastern Route's prosperity. A company commander under his command actually led his own troops, under the pretense of bandits, to plunder a fortified village near Baoanzhou.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The development of the affair was highly dramatic. Before the regular Shunxiang Army troops from Baoanzhou could even be mobilized, that company commander was routed by the local garrison farmers defending the village.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This stirred up a hornet's nest. Not only was Ma Guoxi, the Military Defense Circuit Intendant of the Eastern Route, furious, and Ji Shiwei, the Provincial Governor of Xuanfu Garrison, furious, but the Shunxiang Army on the Eastern Route was even more enraged. Thousands of troops assembled, ready to march into the garrison city to demand justice. For a time, the atmosphere in Xuan Garrison was tense.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pretending to be bandits and plundering with troops — no matter where such a matter was brought, Zhang Guowei and his ilk were in the wrong. Besides, was reason not often on the side of power?\u003C\u002Fp>",2645,"2026-06-03T14:05:53.320Z",1,"Novelzhen Translator","56706a6417daf79d97d30fc75ad717cc8b2187eecd7c95428eea8b4a86d99789","a-little-soldier-of-the-late-ming-border-army-chapter-427","a-little-soldier-of-the-late-ming-border-army-chapter-425",896,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fa-little-soldier-of-the-late-ming-border-army-cover.jpg"]