[{"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-427":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},1205716,1561,"Chapter 427: Each Side's Calculations (Part 2)","a-little-soldier-of-the-late-ming-border-army-chapter-427",427,"\u003Cp>When Xuan-Da Viceroy Zhang Fuzhen heard the news, he was both shocked and furious. What kind of men did Zhang Guowei have under his command? Wang Dou himself was someone he still planned to vigorously win over, and your subordinates go robbing in his jurisdiction? Not to mention you're still government troops.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He immediately rushed from Yanghe to Xuanfu Garrison, launching a grand investigation into the matter. The final result: all the mutinous soldiers were executed, and that Company Commander was executed, even though he was Zhang Guowei's own nephew. Zhang Guowei was indeed unaware of the matter, but for lax discipline over his subordinates, he was fined three years' salary and made to compensate the village for its losses.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Provincial Governor Ji gained back a round. With his son-in-law absent, he didn't intend to press the attack relentlessly, and placated the men of the Shunxiang Army. Only then was the matter considered settled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Military Commander Zhang lost face over this affair, and his support for Zhang Guowei greatly diminished. Having achieved nothing since assuming the post of Viceroy, he grew somewhat disheartened and listless.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Privately, however, everyone still felt the matter wasn't completely over. Wang Dou was leading troops abroad — who knew what his reaction would be when he returned?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Everyone knew that besides governing the people with benevolence, Wang Dou was also fiercely protective of his own, ruthless and merciless. This affair wouldn't be settled so easily.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So when Guo Yingxian brought up this matter, all the commanders took schadenfreude in it. They had no goodwill toward Zhang Guowei; it was just that the Grand Commandant was single-mindedly training troops and maintained neutrality in the garrison town.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing everyone's schadenfreude, Yang Guozhu coughed once and said, \"Enough. These matters are not ours to manage. We need only drill the troops and kill rebels for the country.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His ambition surged. With this army of fifteen thousand, in the affairs of the world, much could be accomplished.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>……\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"General Wang has been enfeoffed as a Count?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At this moment, Eastern Assistant Regional Commander Cao Bianjiao, stationed in Zunhua and Yutian, and Wang Tingchen, Regional Commander of Qiantun Guard, also quickly received the news.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After the campaign in the twelfth year of Chongzhen, both were promoted to Right Chief Commissioner, and privately they also received a large share of mules, horses, and silver. After the war, Cao Bianjiao remained garrisoned at Zunhua, and Wang Tingchen stationed at Yutian. The two emulated the Shunxiang Army, each organizing and training a battalion of new troops, with specific methods largely similar to Yang Guozhu's.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Learning that Wang Dou had been enfeoffed as a Count, their feelings were complicated. Zunhua and Yutian were not far apart, and the two soon found an opportunity to meet. Both sighed. Thirty years east of the river, thirty years west; the Mobile Corps Commander of yesteryear had now reached the pinnacle of official rank, becoming a member of the nobility.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet both were on good terms with Wang Dou, and though their hearts were complicated, they still felt happy for him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Wang Dou has been enfeoffed as a Count?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Regional Commander Wang Pu of Datong Garrison, Regional Commander Hu Dawei of Baoding, and the various Regional Commanders of Liaodong Garrison all received the news in turn. None could describe the taste in their hearts. Enfeoffed as a Count. In the Great Ming, for a military officer to rise to Right Chief Commissioner or Left Chief Commissioner, reaching the pinnacle of rank, was relatively easy — but to be enfeoffed as a Count or Marquis, how could that be easy?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That thin layer of membrane was like a natural moat, blocking countless Chief Commissioners of the Great Ming outside.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>……\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Third month of the fourteenth year of Chongzhen. Shengjing, Chongzheng Hall.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After the Later Jin captured Shenyang, they launched large-scale construction there, building the imperial palace. By the first year of Qing Chongde, the palace was completed. Roughly centered on Chongzheng Hall, the central axis ran from the Great Qing Gate to Qingning Palace, dividing the palace into eastern, central, and western routes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chongzheng Hall was where Huang Taiji handled daily court affairs, complemented by buildings such as Feilong Pavilion, Xiangfeng Pavilion, Shishan Study, Xiezhong Study, and Rihua Tower. Before the news of Wang Dou's enfeoffment arrived, he was convening the many ministers of the Eight Banners Manchu, Eight Banners Mongol, and Eight Banners Han Army in the hall to discuss the matter of Jinzhou.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At this time, after two punitive expeditions against Joseon and concluding a \"sovereign-vassal covenant,\" Joseon affairs were settled. In addition, with the Mongol tribes to the west submitting and the north also unified under various miscellaneous Hu tribes, the Qing state could focus solely on the Ming dynasty to the south. For the ambitious Huang Taiji, seizing Jinzhou was merely the first step southward.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He believed that to occupy Liaoxi and seize Shanhai Pass, the first step was to break the Guan-Ning-Jin defense line, and the breakthrough point lay at the strategic choke point of Jinzhou. To achieve this strategy, he proceeded in several steps: first, garrison troops at Yizhou to resolve logistics and fodder. Next, emulating the tactic used at Dalinghe, besiege Jinzhou to serve the purpose of besieging a point to strike the reinforcements...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He could see the importance of Jinzhou, and the Ming court certainly could too. They would surely dispatch heavy troops to aid it, which played right into Huang Taiji's hands. The Ming army would exhaust itself traveling a great distance, its troops and horses weary, while the Qing troops would wait at ease. Moreover, with much open wilderness around Jinzhou, the Eight Banners cavalry held the advantage and could seize the opportunity to annihilate the Ming army.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>To achieve this goal, as early as the twelfth year of Ming Chongzhen, Huang Taiji had ordered Heshuo Prince Rui, Dorgon, to construct a main road from the Liao River to Jinzhou. The following year, the road was completed, and Dorgon began establishing military farms at Yizhou, gradually encircling Jinzhou. Initially, the siege of Jinzhou was ineffective; Huang Taiji, enraged, demoted Dorgon to Commandery Prince and replaced him with Jirgalang.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After Jirgalang arrived, he set up camps on all four sides of Jinzhou city and dug long trenches. By last month, Jinzhou's communications and reinforcements were completely cut off, marking initial strategic success. The Qing court had already received reports that the Ming court was deliberating sending heavy troops to its aid. If they could annihilate all Ming relief forces beneath the city walls, the entire strategy could be achieved.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Of course, Huang Taiji's Jinzhou strategy was not endorsed by all Eight Banners ministers. Some Manchu and Mongol high officials said, \"Those places in Liaoxi are all heavily fortified cities and military forts. Aside from impoverished military households, there's only wasteland — and our Great Qing has plenty of wasteland too. Taking them isn't worth the cost. Better to enter the passes and plunder more wealth and goods.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Among these people were nearly all the Mongol banner lords of the Eight Banners, who were least interested in attacking strong fortresses; plundering more people and wealth was what each favored. Even the banner lords of the Two Yellow Banners, Baiyintu and Ashan, also raised many objections.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>During the court discussion in the great hall, some Manchu and Mongol banner lords again brought up these old arguments. However, many Han ministers believed Huang Taiji showed great foresight and strongly supported the strategy of besieging Jinzhou.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Present in the hall were Censorate Advisory Officials Zhang Cunren, Zu Kefa, Duan Xuekong, Sheng Zhong, and others. They were all Han generals who had surrendered to the Qing after the Battle of Dalinghe. Like Kong Youde, Shang Kexi, Shi Tingzhu, Ma Guangyuan, and others, they were all former Great Ming military officers; at this time, no civil officials had yet surrendered to the Qing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After surrendering, they were treated with courtesy, and each was profoundly grateful to Huang Taiji, continuously offering advice and strategies.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At this moment, Advisory Official Zhang Cunren, formerly a Vice Regional Commander of the Great Ming, stepped forward and said, \"In your servant's observation of today's situation, His Majesty's plan to besiege Jinzhou is truly a flawless strategy. However, raiding territory easily yields profit, while besieging a city is difficult to show quick results and requires protracted endurance. I hope Your Majesty will encourage the morale of the three armies and persist in the siege strategy. At most within a year, at least within a few months, an exploitable opportunity will naturally arise. I humbly wish that Your Majesty will base the strategy on military farming, and also employ Mongols for espionage — this is a tactic of attacking the mind, a method to gain both men and land.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Advisory Official Sheng Zhong likewise stepped forward, concurring with Zhang Cunren's opinion while also putting forward his own suggestion: while maintaining the protracted siege, they could supplement it with psychological warfare to shake the resolve of the defending generals in Jinzhou, Songshan, and other cities, inducing them to collaborate from within and surrender to the Qing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing the Han ministers speak out one after another and His Majesty nodding in approval, Gundai, younger brother of Bordered Yellow Banner Regional Commander Baiyintu and currently serving as General of the State Guard, was displeased. These thrice-turned house slaves, having gained His Majesty's favor, were actually starting to strut before people like himself.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He stepped forward, pointed at Zhang Cunren, and sneered: \"You southern barbarian, what do you understand about fighting wars? Our Manchu warriors are fierce and battle-hardened — do you think you know more than us? If you lot are so formidable, how come you surrendered to our Great Qing?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At these words, the expressions of everyone in the hall changed. Huang Taiji also frowned with displeasure.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhang Cunren's face remained impassive. He said, \"A fine bird chooses the tree to perch on. Precisely because the Southern Court is corrupt, its civil officials without stratagems and its military men without courage, we forsook darkness to seek light and pledged service to the Great Qing.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He kowtowed to Huang Taiji: \"Your humble servant acts purely out of public duty. Aside from Your Majesty, we fear nothing, and whatever views we hold, we shall faithfully report them.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Advisory Official Sheng Zhong likewise said, \"Our Great Qing warriors, in storming cities and defeating foes, beheading generals and seizing banners, indeed lack no men. Yet in offering advice and strategies to Your Majesty, in devising grand plans — these are our strengths.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Huang Taiji sat high upon the dragon throne, coldly watching the strife below. Compared to two years ago, he had grown considerably more obese.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In truth, he had been unwell recently and did not eat much, yet he continued to gain weight. Later generations would analyze that Huang Taiji likely suffered from an endocrine disorder — like some overweight people who gain weight even just drinking water...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At this moment, he waved a hand: \"On the strategy for Jinzhou, I have made my decision. You must all exert your utmost efforts in service of the state's grand design. Henceforth, all ministers and officials shall no longer dispute this matter. Violators will be severely punished.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing Huang Taiji set the tone, all ministers in the hall, whether Manchu, Mongol, or Han, knelt and kowtowed: \"Your slaves obey the decree.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At this time, although the various ministers of the Qing state engaged in internal strife, they were generally united, without too many factional prejudices — this was the advantage of a rising state.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With sovereign and ministers of one mind, what followed was to focus solely on the Jinzhou matter.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After discussing some more frontline affairs, Huang Taiji was about to withdraw from court when suddenly he received news: \"Wang Dou has been enfeoffed as a Count?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>All ministers in the hall, whether Manchu, Mongol, or Han, erupted in uproar.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Dou — everyone in the Qing state, high and low, hated him to the marrow. Because of Wang Dou, the Qing state had suffered grievous losses during that southern raid several years ago. Not counting those miscellaneous Hu auxiliaries, Manchu and Mongol banner troops alone had suffered over ten thousand casualties. Since the rise of the Manchus in the Wanli years, losses had never been so great.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though not without gains — in the campaign of the eleventh year of Chongzhen, Qing troops had carried off two hundred fifty thousand commoners from within the passes, along with incalculable silver, goods, and valuables, replenishing the population losses of each banner. The remaining population also greatly bolstered the manpower the Qing state urgently needed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Overall, after this battle, the combat strength of the Manchu and Mongol banners had declined considerably, because many veteran soldiers with rich combat experience in each banner had died, and the wounded could no longer fight. Though each banner lord vigorously promoted new warriors, within just a few years, soldiers with rich combat experience were not so easily replaced.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Because of the establishment of the Eight Banners Han Army and the vigorous development of firearms, the Qing state's apparent combat strength remained level with before, or even slightly increased. However, this increase was something many Manchu and Mongol banner lords did not wish to see. The rising power of the Han ministers also made each banner lord harbor wariness.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The news about Wang Dou came from the Qing state's intelligence agency, \"Manzi City.\" Qing espionage was always pervasive, with spies either posing as civilians of all kinds, or holding military posts in the Great Ming, or bribing key personnel everywhere with heavy sums. Except for the Eastern Route of Xuanfu Garrison, the details of every key point in the Great Ming were as transparent as glass in the eyes of the Qing state.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Manzi City\" had even ferreted out the news that the Chongzhen Emperor had sent a personal edict to Yang Sichang, ordering Wang Dou to withdraw his troops and march to relieve Jinzhou.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Huang Taiji sneered: \"Promoted to Regional Commander, granted an army designation and battalion name, enfeoffed as a Count and given a seal — such lavish rewards. That Wang Dou is truly the darling of the Southern Court's emperor. Tell me, will Yang Sichang release him?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The ministers in the hall looked at each other. They were not tapeworms in Yang Sichang's stomach — how could they know whether Yang Sichang would release him or not?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was still Beile Abatai of the Rao Yu rank who stepped forward: \"I have heard that Yang Sichang is gravely ill. Among the Southerners, both between civil and military officials, and among military men themselves, the infighting is fierce. Furthermore, Wang Dou has rendered extraordinary merit, and the other generals are surely resentful. In your slave's humble opinion, to avoid conflict among the various generals, the Regional Commander Yang Sichang will certainly release him.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Huang Taiji grunted: \"Intelligence from Manzi City reports that many Ming generals are emulating Wang Dou in training troops — men like Yang Guozhu, Hu Dawei, Cao Bianjiao. Their camps are full of firearms. If they come to reinforce, along with Wang Dou, how should our Great Qing respond?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>,.\u003C\u002Fp>",2539,"2026-06-03T14:05:53.320Z",1,"Novelzhen Translator","b73a1519a8a017141a3ca54135854af78fe068b0465aece41473cf41c421af95","a-little-soldier-of-the-late-ming-border-army-chapter-428","a-little-soldier-of-the-late-ming-border-army-chapter-426",896,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fa-little-soldier-of-the-late-ming-border-army-cover.jpg"]