[{"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-464":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},1205753,1561,"Chapter 464: Ningyuan Dispute (Part 2)","a-little-soldier-of-the-late-ming-border-army-chapter-464",464,"\u003Cp>At this thought, Wang Dou laughed heartily and said, “General Wu, a young hero of outstanding talent, your future prospects are truly boundless.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He boldly drank three cups in a row with Wu Sangui, though he couldn’t shake the feeling that Wu Sangui harbored a faint trace of jealousy toward him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Perhaps because Wu came from a great aristocratic lineage with countless connections, yet his achievements fell short of Wang Dou’s, stirring envy in his heart.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But such psychology was extremely subtle, imperceptible to ordinary people.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After Wu Sangui, the various Liaodong generals surged forward one after another, all toasting Wang Dou, turning the once-refined table into a clamorous scene.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Dou refused none of them, and everyone repeatedly praised the Loyal and Brave Count for his heroic spirit and martial bearing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Dou had also gathered intelligence on these Liaodong generals. After they came to the Eastern Route in the thirteenth year of Chongzhen to observe troop training, they had each established morale officers in their armies, but nothing else had changed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Because Liaodong differed from other garrisons — the military households of each fort were all tenants under the various generals, so their loyalty to their commanders went without saying. This was also why the Liao army displayed relatively outstanding combat strength when defending their territory. Of course, that outstanding combat strength, combined with their obedience only to their own commanders, was precisely the origin of the Liaodong military-aristocratic cliques.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Afterward, the various Regional Commanders came one by one to toast Wang Dou — men like Ji Garrison Regional Commander Bai Guangen, Shanhai Pass Regional Commander Ma Ke, and Miyun Regional Commander Tang Tong. On the surface, each man displayed the utmost admiration and reverence for Wang Dou, as if failing to offer a toast would be insufficient to express their respect.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Dou had always understood the psychology of military men and dealt with each in turn. By his impression, Ma Ke was slick, Bai Guangen was arrogant and overbearing, and Tang Tong had something of the pale-faced scholar about him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tang Tong was glib and eloquent, his rhetorical skill on par with Liugou Regional Commander Chen Jiugao and Divine Machine Battalion Forward Division Assistant Regional Commander Fu Yingchong. But according to Wang Dou’s own intelligence, this man was all talk, lacking courage or strategic sense — very timid, though full of cunning schemes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At that great banquet, many drank themselves into a stupor, utterly disregarding the decorum befitting subjects of the throne.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There were no duties that day, and after the feast everyone retired to rest. Yet as they departed, Wang Dou could not help sensing that Ji-Liao Viceroy Hong Chengchou was suppressing a deep, urgent anxiety within.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sure enough, the very next day, Hong Chengchou could wait no longer and summoned all generals and officials to discuss strategy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Eighteenth day of the seventh month, fourteenth year of Chongzhen. At the hour of Chen, precisely, inside the Viceroy’s great hall.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The generals and officials sat in separate ranks. As Ji-Liao Viceroy, Hong Chengchou nominally commanded both the relief army and the Liaodong army. He sat solemnly at the head, with his aides standing in attendance to either side.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the lower left seats: first sat Army Supervisor Wang Chengen; second sat Army Supervisor Zhang Ruoqi. After them sat Liaodong Provincial Governor Qiu Minyang, Military Defense Circuit officials Zhang Dou, Yao Gong, Wang Zhizhen, and Cai Maode, as well as Assistant Prefects Yuan Guodong and Zhu Tingshu, Vice Prefects Zhang Weimin and Yan Jixian, and others.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the lower right seats: Wang Dou, as Loyal and Brave Count, sat in the first position.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After him sat Xuanfu Garrison Regional Commander Yang Guozhu, Ji Garrison Regional Commander Bai Guangen, Liaodong Regional Commander Liu Zhaoji, Shanxi Regional Commander Li Fuming, Datong Regional Commander Wang Pu, Relief-and-Suppression Regional Commander Zuo Guangxian, Shanhai Pass Regional Commander Ma Ke, Eastern Coordination Regional Commander Cao Bianjiao, Qiantun Guard Regional Commander Wang Tingchen, Miyun Regional Commander Tang Tong, Ningyuan Regional Commander Wu Sangui, and others, seated according to rank and status.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Those permitted to attend the Viceroy’s field headquarters council today were, among military officers, at least of Regional Commander rank. Only Divine Machine Battalion Forward Division Assistant Regional Commander Fu Yingchong, due to his special status, was seated last.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Watching the Loyal and Brave Count Wang Dou seated in the high place of honor, what thoughts passed through the minds of the various Regional Commanders — that was impossible to know.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hong Chengchou observed everyone taking their seats. The military men in particular could not help behaving somewhat excessively coarse. He cleared his throat lightly, stroked his beard, and smiled: “The Liaodong war situation tugs at the heart of His Majesty and all the gentlemen of the court and the realm. Now the imperial forces are massed — our Great Ming officers and soldiers in Liaodong exceed two hundred thousand. Moreover, we have the Divine Machine Battalion’s Divine Might Grand General cannons arriving, along with Divine Fire Flying Crows and other superb weapons. We shall certainly deal a great blow to the slaves’ morale!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A roar erupted in the hall as everyone began chattering at once. The Liaodong generals in particular, having suffered enough from the Qing red-barbarian cannons, were overjoyed that their own side now possessed large numbers of red-barbarian cannons as well.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Although those Divine Machine Battalion Divine Might Grand General cannons moved slowly, the cannon battalion had set out early and had long since reached Ningyuan. After these cannons arrived, everyone in Ningyuan, high and low, regarded them as treasures, and the cannoneers were kept well-fed and well-treated. After Fu Yingchong reached Ningyuan, these cannons returned to his command and control.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Moreover, not long before, the Ministry of War had distributed three thousand of the five thousand fine bird guns purchased from the Eastern Route to the various Liaodong armies, along with powerful gunpowder and shot. Equipment on all sides had been considerably strengthened. Now with over a hundred thousand relief troops massed, their odds of victory against the Qing troops at Jinzhou were greatly enhanced.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Most of the equipment mentioned above came from the Divine Machine Battalion’s Forward Division. Being held in such high regard naturally made Fu Yingchong swell with pride, though on the surface he remained impassive, maintaining an air of calm composure.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Our forces now also have the Loyal and Brave Count’s formidable cannon battalion…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hong Chengchou continued his praise, then seeing everyone’s delight, said, “However…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He sighed: “Ever since the rebel slaves garrisoned Yizhou and began besieging Jinzhou, this Viceroy has led the troops in multiple relief attempts. Thanks to His Majesty’s great fortune, the officers and men have fought fiercely to defend and have slain and struck down many bandits. But the slave bandits’ strength is great, and the siege of Jinzhou cannot be lifted for long. Now urgent reports arrive from Songshan, Xingshan, and the other forts: the rebel slaves are massing troops in fierce assaults, pushing forward red-barbarian cannon carts and bombarding ruthlessly. Songshan, Xingshan, and the other forts are in imminent peril!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Dou suddenly understood. This was the reason for Hong Chengchou’s anxiety the day before.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Military Defense Circuit Zhang Dou said worriedly, “The bandit slaves are suddenly attacking Songshan and Jinzhou with such urgency — clearly they mean to force our army to march out as soon as possible. Their intentions are unfathomable.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Military Defense Circuit Yao Gong said, “The slaves are attacking fiercely. The situation at Jinzhou brooks no further delay. The relief army must advance as quickly as possible.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Military Defense Circuit Wang Zhizhen disagreed: “The bandit slaves must have some scheme behind this move. We must deliberate carefully, lest we fall into the enemy’s treacherous trap.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cai Maode said, “The field reports indicate that the slave troops at Songshan, Jinzhou, and the other points are growing more and more numerous. Are they reinforcing?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Everyone tensed. If that were the case, the battles ahead would be far harder to fight.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Dou’s eyes turned even colder. He knew from history that in the Song-Jin campaign, the Qing state would ultimately mass an army of two hundred forty thousand.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In fact, after multiple incursions through the passes to plunder and abduct populations, during the Huang Taiji era their able-bodied population had reached its peak. Strangely, by the time they entered the pass, the Eight Banners’ able-bodied population had instead decreased considerably. Historians estimate that this was likely due to attrition from warfare, epidemics, and other causes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Of course, a large portion of the Qing forces at Song-Jin consisted of unarmored bannermen from the various banners, bondservants, and the like — their combat strength could not match the regular army — but the intimidating momentum they created was still considerable.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He spoke: “At present, what is the total number of slave troops at Songshan and Jinzhou?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>All the Regional Commanders present listened intently. Hong Chengchou merely shook his head: “Scouts give a rough estimate of over eighty thousand already. The exact number is difficult to ascertain.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Dou shook his head inwardly: “In terms of intelligence, the Ming army is sorely lacking.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Army Supervisor Zhang Ruoqi was paying close attention to Hong Chengchou’s expression at the head of the hall. At this moment he cleared his throat lightly, drawing everyone’s attention to himself, and said, “The imperial forces have all arrived. Now Jinzhou is in crisis. Our relief army must advance to Songshan, Jinzhou, and the other points as quickly as possible. If Jinzhou falls to the slave bandits, then all is lost.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At these words, everyone in the hall shared the same worry. They had come as reinforcements. If Jinzhou and the other cities were taken by the Qing troops, then this massive, high-profile relief operation would become a laughingstock. Not only would they gain no merit, they would instead be held at fault. For a moment, many voiced their agreement.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hong Chengchou shook his head: “The disposition of the slave bandits’ forces has not yet been fully ascertained. The situation on all sides remains unclear. How can we advance the army in haste?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Military Defense Circuit officials Zhang Dou, Wang Zhizhen, and Cai Maode all concurred, arguing that war was perilous and they must not act rashly, lest they fall into the enemy’s treacherous trap. They must first investigate everything clearly on all fronts before deciding.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing the endless dispute, Zhang Ruoqi furrowed his brow. He abruptly stood and shouted sternly: “Fearing wolves ahead and tigers behind — cowardly in battle, afraid to fight! May I ask you gentlemen: if we delay and delay in advancing the army, causing Jinzhou to be lost, how will you gentlemen answer to His Majesty? How will you answer to His Excellency Minister Chen of the War Ministry? If you gentlemen cannot decide, then this official shall submit a memorial to the court and let His Majesty make the decision!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With this shout, the atmosphere in the hall instantly grew heavy. The earlier mood of friendliness and ease vanished without a trace.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hong Chengchou’s eyes turned icy. Zhang Ruoqi, a mere Director of the Ministry of War, dared to shout and bellow at a grand frontier official like himself — it was utterly insolent! What was his rank, and what was his own?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But then Hong Chengchou reconsidered. Zhang Ruoqi now served as an imperial army supervisor, representing the will of Minister of War Chen Xinjia, and possibly even the will of the Emperor himself. The words he had just spoken — had the Emperor and the various ministers all reached a consensus? If he himself opposed the court’s position…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As these thoughts flickered through his mind, for a moment he said nothing, appearing as though he, in his position as Regional Commander, was being cowed by a mere minor supervisor like Zhang Ruoqi. Everyone in the hall was astonished, their minds turning to other speculations. Only Wang Chengen, strictly adhering to the principle of not interfering in strategic matters, sat silently with his eyes closed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hong Chengchou looked toward Liaodong Provincial Governor Qiu Minyang. Qiu Minyang gave a slight nod. Hong Chengchou then looked toward Wang Dou.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Not only was Wang Dou the Loyal and Brave Count, a man of exalted status, but his heroic bearing in those days — especially the vivid memory of how he had forced the Qing army to retreat at Tongzhou — had left a deep impression on Hong Chengchou. Thus Wang Dou’s opinion was very important to him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hong Chengchou said gently, “What does the Loyal and Brave Count think?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For a moment, all eyes in the hall converged on Wang Dou. Civil officials devising strategy had always been the Great Ming tradition. Now the Regional Commander did not ask the other Regional Commanders — not even Wu Sangui — but only Wang Dou. This showed how different Wang Dou’s standing was today.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet strategy had always been the weak point of the Great Ming’s military officers. They could fight on the battlefield, but if asked to offer stratagems and propose plans, to draft several strategic options, they could not articulate anything coherent — they had the will but not the ability.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Dou pondered. Judging by the current situation, the Qing had reinforced earlier than in history. The butterfly effect he had set in motion was flapping its wings ever more widely. Indeed, they had to advance, lest Jinzhou be taken ahead of schedule and the great army’s relief mission become an empty exercise.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He said, “Viceroy Hong, gentlemen — in my view, the eastern slaves’ scheme is obvious: they want to force our army to advance so they can achieve some unspeakable objective along the way. Their plan is nothing more than to ambush our relief force while we march in haste. So what? As long as our army proceeds with caution, advances step by step securing each position, and dispatches ample scouts, the chance of falling into an ambush is extremely small. If they come with many troops, we can meet them in a decisive battle. If they come with few, we can turn their own trick against them and crush their morale!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Pu and Fu Yingchong were the first to cheer. Yang Guozhu, Cao Bianjiao, and Wang Tingchen then voiced their agreement. Veteran generals like Liu Zhaoji, Li Fuming, and Zuo Guangxian all nodded, deeming it feasible. This was also a plan that satisfied both sides of the dispute — the best of both worlds.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhang Ruoqi laughed heartily: “Exactly so! The Loyal and Brave Count’s words perfectly accord with my own thinking. Our army must neither advance rashly nor fear to advance. But to immediately set the army in motion and march — that is certain.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He saluted Hong Chengchou and said, “Just now I was a bit impatient, but it was entirely out of public-spiritedness. I earnestly hope Grand Coordinator Hong will not take it to heart.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hong Chengchou smiled faintly. “Having Adjutant Zhang to advise on strategy is a blessing for me and a blessing for the imperial army. How could I take it to heart? Adjutant Zhang, please take the seat of honor.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The two were all harmony again, as if the clash just now had never happened.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thereafter they discussed the army’s departure. Given the current situation, the main danger zone for the imperial army’s march would be the Songshan-Xingshan area beyond Tashan city. According to Hong Chengchou’s arrangement, the Xingshan area had more hilly and precipitous terrain, suitable for infantry battalions and wagon battalions, while the Songshan route was flat, favorable for cavalry movement.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hong Chengchou had long been in Liaodong and understood the local conditions. No one raised objections to this arrangement, but…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Pu and Fu Yingchong could not help glancing at Wang Dou. Back in the capital, the two had already turned pale at Wang Dou’s depiction of the prospect of severed supply lines, and their loose tongues had made Cao Bianjiao and Wang Tingchen worry endlessly about it as well.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Now, seeing that Hong Chengchou still had not brought up the matter of the rear, such as how to arrange the defending troops at Xingshan and other places, and that Wang Dou also sat silent and upright, Wang Pu coughed and finally could not resist raising the issue: “I have one matter to consult Grand Coordinator Hong about. It is said that no stratagem is more vicious than cutting off provisions. If the bandits raid our rear, how can the army guarantee the absolute safety of the supply route?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hong Chengchou’s expression was genial, as if he did not mind Wang Pu’s interruption, but before he could answer, a sarcastic voice rang out: “Does Regional Commander Wang mean that the army should divide its forces after reaching Xingshan?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Pu looked over — it was Shanhai Pass Regional Commander Ma Ke, grinning in a way that made his tone unbearable: “The bandit troops are growing more numerous. If we press forward with wagon battalions and concentrate the entire army, we can still balance defense and offense. If we divide our forces and the bandits defeat us one by one — will Regional Commander Wang bear that responsibility?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Pu fumed inwardly. Damned Ma Ke — yesterday when drinking with me, he was all brother-this and brother-that, and in the blink of an eye he’s turned his face. A petty man!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>On the surface Wang Pu also grinned. He took off his helmet, flicked nonexistent dust from it, tossed the few stray strands of hair that had fallen forward back behind his head, and unhurriedly put his helmet back on. He said, “Regional Commander Ma’s words are improper. I too am considering the army’s safety. How can groundless charges be heaped on my head, Wang Pu? There’s no Qin Hui here!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ma Ke shot to his feet and said darkly, “Wang Pu, are you saying I am Qin Hui?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Pu, relying on his good relations with Wang Dou and the others, was unafraid. He looked askance at Ma Ke: “I never said that. If someone has a guilty conscience, that’s hard to say.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ma Ke was furious. At this point Fu Yingchong said, “Yo, everyone calm down. Regional Commander Wang was thinking of all of us. Without provisions, we’d all be drinking the northwest wind.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The various generals in the hall also urged restraint. Miyun Regional Commander Tang Tong even came over to smooth things over. In the end Ma Ke sat down fuming, though the look he shot Wang Pu still flashed with menace.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Toward the infighting among the military men, all the civil officials turned a blind eye — in fact, they were happy to see it. Army Supervisor Zhang Ruoqi now said, “Just now General Wang Pu raised the matter of the rear supply route. Might I ask whether Grand Coordinator Hong has any relevant arrangements in place?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hong Chengchou stroked his beard and smiled. “Naturally. My proposal is to order Vanguard Right Battalion Assistant Regional Commander Qian Youlu, General Patrol Meritorious Assistant Regional Commander Dou Chenglie, Xingshan Route Vice Regional Commander Zheng Yilin, along with the various assistant regional commanders, mobile corps commanders, and other officers of the Songshan-Xingshan Defense Battalion — such as Xia Chengde, Chi Fenggao, Tong Hanbang, Wang Jiaji, Yu Yingxuan, and the rest — under the supervision of Liaodong Regional Commander Liu Zhaoji, to garrison the various forts at Xingshan. This will surely protect the rear and block the slave-bandit forces from raiding through the open country northwest of Xingshan.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Everyone pondered. Wang Dou shook his head. Too few troops. These battalions mostly numbered one or two thousand men each. Though there were many officers, the total number of soldiers was less than thirty thousand, and they were not strong enough — all local garrison troops, with a portion of camp soldiers. Historically, Hong Chengchou had made the same arrangement, but under the frenzied assault led by Huang Taiji, they had not held out for even half a shichen, and the link between Songshan and Xingshan was immediately severed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhang Ruoqi also saw this point. He frowned and said, “Should we not assign a few of the reinforcing major generals?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That day when Wang Dou spoke with His Majesty, he had been listening at the side and remembered it vividly. He felt the troops protecting the rear were far too few.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Although he urged advancing the army, he was equally concerned about the rear supply route. The instruction from Minister of War Chen Xinjia was for him to cooperate well with the Loyal and Brave Count. Wang Dou was concerned about the rear and wished to leave a strong force to guard it; he naturally had to pay attention to this point — after all, he wanted victory, but even more he did not want defeat!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hong Chengchou was displeased. Having long occupied the position of Grand Coordinator, he was extremely confident in his own strategies. He had led troops in relief several times, mostly without incident, which further bolstered his confidence. In his view, the arrangements at Xingshan and the other places were already sufficient — and Zhang Ruoqi was questioning him in front of everyone?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>On the surface, however, Hong Chengchou remained as genial as ever and patiently explained: “Jinzhou’s defenses are quite solid and not easily shaken. Now the slave-bandits are even more powerful. We should concentrate our forces in one place, defend while also engaging in battle, and thereby achieve our defense. The garrison at Xingshan is sufficient. Songshan and Xingshan are not far apart; if the caitiffs exploit a gap and invade, turning the army back to relieve them should be easy. If we divide our forces everywhere, have you not heard of the disaster at Sarhū?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhang Ruoqi was momentarily speechless. He had little understanding of military matters, and even less of Liaodong’s terrain and war situation — how could he out-argue Hong Chengchou? His goal of urging the army forward had already been achieved, and Hong Chengchou had indeed arranged a large number of garrison troops at Xingshan and other places. Still… he could not help glancing at Wang Dou.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At this moment, Military Defense Circuit Zhang Dou said hesitantly, “Grand Coordinator, should we arrange more garrison troops at Xingshan and the other places? In my humble opinion, the troop strength inside and outside the Xingshan forts is still a bit weak.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hong Chengchou suddenly turned fierce in both voice and expression and roared at him, “I have been Grand Coordinator for twelve years — do I not know whether the troop strength is weak? You are but a bookworm; what do you understand, that you would presume to instruct me?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Although he dared not vent his anger on Zhang Ruoqi, the pent-up fury inside him burst forth all at once onto the head of a subordinate official. His prestige in Liaodong was immense, and he usually treated people gently. Now, suddenly losing his temper, he instantly terrified Zhang Dou into a deathly pallor. Zhang Dou stammered, “Grand Coordinator, calm your anger… I, I…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hong Chengchou continued to roar at him: “Empty talk and pure rhetoric, ignorant of practical affairs — what use do I have for you? Get out!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhang Dou was scared out of his wits. He hurriedly rose and knelt on the ground, kowtowing repeatedly with audible thuds. Blood streamed from his forehead, a shocking sight.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Everyone in the hall was instantly cowed. Even men like Wang Pu were silenced like cicadas in winter, not daring to speak.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhang Ruoqi’s face was grim. Hong Chengchou was killing the chicken to warn the monkey — openly targeting Zhang Dou, but covertly targeting him. When he scolded Zhang Dou as a bookworm, was he not scolding him as well?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Dou coughed and said, “Grand Coordinator Hong, Military Commissioner Zhang’s was an unintentional slip. Do not be overly harsh.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hong Chengchou gave a snort and said to Zhang Dou, “Since the Loyal and Brave Count pleads for you, I shall spare you. Remember to be prudent in speech.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhang Dou scrambled to his feet and said repeatedly, “Yes, yes. I will remember.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He wiped his forehead — his hand was covered in blood. Seeing him like this, every official in the hall felt the sorrow of the fox when the hare dies.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Only Wang Chengen continued to sit upright, as if he had not seen the scene before him at all. (To be continued. If you enjoy this work, welcome to cast recommendation votes and monthly votes. Your support is my greatest motivation.)\u003C\u002Fp>",4101,"2026-06-03T14:05:53.320Z",1,"Novelzhen Translator","e3b33a294b62e065ab2a5c030b83a8f9a4c8bafb7af0bddad50c92f1e99c7cd5","a-little-soldier-of-the-late-ming-border-army-chapter-465","a-little-soldier-of-the-late-ming-border-army-chapter-463",896,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fa-little-soldier-of-the-late-ming-border-army-cover.jpg"]