[{"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-468":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},1205757,1561,"Chapter 468: Deployment at Changling Mountain","a-little-soldier-of-the-late-ming-border-army-chapter-468",468,"\u003Cp>Yang Guozhu hurried to just north of Xingshan, where the army of Liaodong Regional Commander Liu Zhaoji was already locked in a bloody battle with tens of thousands of Qing cavalry.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After being ambushed, he knew he could not let his troops rout, or the entire army would be annihilated. He personally led cavalry to cover the rear, letting the wagon corps slowly withdraw beyond the range of the red-barbarian cannons, then formed a tight wagon fortification, with infantry and cavalry alike sheltering inside.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Qing cavalry attacked from all sides, and just when the situation grew desperate, Yang Guozhu arrived and immediately went to the rescue.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He met the enemy with a tightly disciplined cavalry formation, and had the infantry that had caught up form another wagon fortification near Liu Zhaoji's camp, so the two could fight with mutual support.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Qing cavalry numbered over thirty thousand. Seeing Yang Guozhu's formation, they still attempted to attack, but their warhorses were not blindfolded. Like Liu Zhaoji's war wagons, Yang Guozhu's wagons also had long spears planted in front; when the wagons were drawn up together, the dense forest of spear points was like a hedgehog, and the Qing horses dared not approach.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yang Guozhu's new army fired several volleys, and Liu Zhaoji's wagon camp also opened up with cannons and muskets, striking from the flank. After some of the attacking Qing cavalry fell, they immediately retreated and attacked no more.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>By this time the main Ming force was not far away. After a standoff, seeing that the Ming army's coordination was tight and that these were not the He Renlong and Ma Ke of old, with no advantage to be gained, the Qing army did not dare linger.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So around the hour of You that day, large masses of Qing troops, using great numbers of oxen and horses to haul their cannons, slowly withdrew toward Songshan. This ambush battle thus ended, and afterward both sides claimed victory, which we shall not dwell on.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After securing the position and taking a headcount, Liu Zhaoji was somewhat dejected. In that brief engagement, his own troops had suffered over a thousand casualties; combined with the earlier wagon battle, total casualties approached two thousand, with nearly a thousand dead, and many war wagons destroyed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And the later casualties had been entirely unnecessary. Ah, never pursue a desperate enemy. He was a veteran of many battles — how could he have forgotten even this? He could only blame himself for being too eager for merit, the Liaodong Regional Commander thought to himself.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fortunately, although he had lost some men and horses and several dozen war wagons, the four hundred-plus Tartar heads he had taken were still in hand.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That was what mattered most. Compared to the Ming army's past record against the Qing, this still counted as a great victory. Of course, one should not compare it to the Jingbian Army — those were monsters who could take thousands of heads. But with these heads, his position as Liaodong Regional Commander was secure, and the battle honors would serve him for a lifetime.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Liu Zhaoji also hoped Yang Guozhu would cover for him, so it could be said that this was not an ambush he walked into, and that the army's casualties were all caused by the fierce assault of the slave army. The ferocity of the battle could be seen from these severed heads. To show his sincerity, Liu Zhaoji could share some of the heads with Yang Guozhu.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing the hopeful look in his eyes, Yang Guozhu could only sigh deeply and agree to cover for him, and declined the heads.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That day, Liaodong Regional Commander Liu Zhaoji sent a flying dispatch reporting a great victory, with Xuanfu Regional Commander Yang Guozhu concurring. At this time the main army had passed Lianshan and was nearing Tashan. Hearing that Xingshan had been relieved and that the vanguard under Liu Zhaoji had taken over four hundred heads, the whole army was elated.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ji-Liao Viceroy Hong Chengchou, Army Supervisor Zhang Ruoqi, Army Supervisor Wang Chengen, and the others looked at each other overjoyed. The various Regional Commanders and senior generals accompanying the army were equally delighted. A great victory in the first battle — this was an auspicious omen. And taking over four hundred heads surpassed the earlier great victory at Ningyuan.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In their eagerness, and with Xingshan in Ming hands making the route safe, the next day Hong Chengchou, Zhang Ruoqi, Wang Chengen, Liaodong Provincial Governor Qiu Minyang, and numerous military defense officials, along with the various Regional Commanders, all led their guard battalions and subordinate cavalry, hurrying to Xingshan Fort. There they indeed saw the severed heads taken by the Liaodong Regional Commander, and everyone exulted.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After Army Supervisor Wang Chengen verified them, he immediately recorded great merit for Liu Zhaoji, and together with Ji-Liao Viceroy Hong Chengchou and Army Supervisor Zhang Ruoqi, sent a flying dispatch to the capital reporting the victory.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When the victory report reached the capital, the city boiled with excitement. The Chongzhen Emperor was overjoyed and immediately promoted Liu Zhaoji to Acting Chief Commissioner-in-Chief, with the Ministry of War to deliberate further rewards after the campaign. Yang Guozhu, for his meritorious support, likewise received an imperial decree of commendation and other rewards.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In truth, there were questions about this battle. When Liaodong Regional Commander Liu Zhaoji arrived at Xingshan, he reported that the Tartar bandits' Bordered Red Banner and Bordered White Banner numbered no more than ten thousand, with only a few thousand armored slaves among them. How then did he later come under attack by thirty thousand Tartar bandits? Was there a suspicion of underestimating the enemy and rashly seeking battle?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But Hong Chengchou and Wang Chengen both believed that in the first battle, a great victory to boost army morale was paramount; everything else was trivial detail. Zhang Ruoqi also believed that a flying victory report to bring a smile to His Majesty's face was more important than anything. With tacit understanding on all sides, though Liu Zhaoji had minor faults, everyone glossed over them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hong Chengchou even praised Liu Zhaoji with warm words, promising to immediately replenish his lost troops and horses, and that all officers and men with merit in this battle would be recorded in the register one by one, while the fallen would receive generous compensation. This comforted Liu Zhaoji — Lord Hong had never been so kindly toward him before.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At this time, the Ming cavalry were all massed at Xingshan, and the infantry and baggage train were also advancing in great strides. Intelligence arrived that the Tartar bandits were still fiercely assaulting Songshan, and the situation was critical.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>From Xingshan to Songshan was only twenty li. Liaodong Regional Commander Liu Zhaoji volunteered to lead the main army to the rescue again. But after Liu Zhaoji had taken over four hundred heads, the other generals were envious and all wished to be the vanguard, so the turn was no longer his.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After careful consideration, Hong Chengchou dispatched Shanxi Regional Commander Li Fuming and Ningyuan Regional Commander Wu Sangui to lead their elite cavalry to the rescue, enjoining them not to underestimate the enemy or advance rashly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The two reached Songshan that very day and fought a bloody battle with the Qing troops besieging the city, taking several dozen heads, lifting the siege of Songshan, and sending a flying dispatch reporting a great victory.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Their field reports stated: The treacherous slaves were cunning. As the relief force advanced from Xingshan to Songshan, their army set an ambush on the eastern ridge of the southern hills at Jinzhou, and also hid elite cavalry on the northern ridge of Songshan to lure the Ming army out to battle. But the imperial army did not take the bait, and the Tartar bandits, finding no opening, withdrew to Rufeng Mountain.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The field reports stated that the imperial army also observed the Tartar bandits densely encamped in the Huangtuling area northeast of Songshan, digging deep trenches to cut off the imperial army's route to the strategic point of Xiaolinghe. On the Maojiagou ridge northwest of Xingshan near the Nu'er River, a large force of eastern slaves was likewise stationed. On Rufeng Mountain, linked camps spread densely. The main road from Songshan to Jinzhou was swarming with slave cavalry — their momentum was truly rampant.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>On the twenty-fourth day of the seventh month of the fourteenth year of Chongzhen — already the eighth month by later reckoning — the blazing sun still scorched. That day, Ji-Liao Viceroy Hong Chengchou, leading all the officials, generals, and army supervisors, braved the blistering heat to patrol inside and outside Xingshan Fort.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After Wang Dou's reminder, all the officials and generals, including Hong Chengchou, agreed that Changling Mountain north of Xingshan was extremely important, and so this ridge became the focal point of their inspection.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Changling Mountain lay northwest of Xingshan, about ten li from Xingshan Fort. To its west stretched range upon range of mountains, winding all the way to the south bank of the Nu'er River.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Changling Mountain was not high in elevation, with gentle slopes, but below it lay flat plains, and a main road from Xingshan to Songshan passed by. There were few trees on the mountain, mostly wild grass and bare earth. At the top stood an abandoned beacon tower, originally a watch post for beacon troops, with a small path leading from the main road below straight up to the tower.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>By the time everyone climbed Changling Mountain, they were all drenched in sweat. Though Hong Chengchou was likewise soaked, he still maintained his refined and courteous bearing. Standing beside the beacon tower, he gazed into the distance and sighed: \"This place is indeed critical. If a force were stationed here, it could coordinate north and south, preventing the Tartar bandits from outflanking us and cutting us off with encirclement trenches.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhang Ruoqi also nodded: \"Changling Mountain supports Songshan Fort to the north and echoes Xingshan Fort to the south, controlling the vital route between Songshan and Xingshan. Its position is truly important. Any stronghold built here must be made impregnable.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He looked toward the northeastern foot of the mountain, where a river emerged from the cluster of peaks, and his eyes lit up: \"There is a river here — the garrison's water supply is solved. We can build a firm walled stronghold!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At this moment Wang Dou was also on the mountaintop, flanked by the generals of the Jingbian Army: Right Camp Grand General Zhong Xiancai, Rear Camp Grand General Han Chao, and Central Army Grand General Zhong Diaoyang stood in silence. Artillery Camp Grand General Zhao Xuan and Baggage Camp Grand General Sun Sanjie murmured quietly to each other, while Cavalry Camp Grand General Li Guangheng and Scout Camp Grand General Wen Daxing argued sporadically about something.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In addition, Xuanfu Regional Commander Yang Guozhu, Datong Regional Commander Wang Pu, Jizhen Regional Commander Bai Guangen, Liaodong Regional Commander Liu Zhaoji, Mobile Corps Regional Commander Zuo Guangxian, Shanhai Pass Regional Commander Ma Ke, Eastern Coordination Regional Commander Cao Bianjiao, Qiantun Garrison Regional Commander Wang Tingchen, Miyun Regional Commander Tang Tong, and Deputy Commander Fu Yingchong of the Shenji Battalion's Forward Camp, among others, all led their subordinate officers of Mobile Corps Commander rank and above to accompany them...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Along with everyone's personal guards, the mountaintop was filled with armored and helmeted officers and guards.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Beside Wang Dou were also some army staff advisors. Standing on the summit and gazing out over the wilderness, the land stretched vast and boundless, with plains and rolling hills. Looking out, Xingshan Fort lay on the hilly plains to the south. About five li directly from Changling Mountain, beyond the flatland, lay a stretch of high ground that blocked the view; otherwise one might have glimpsed the great sea to the east.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Turning back to look west, range upon rolling range of mountains stood towering, crisscrossed with ravines, like the Loess Plateau, full of the weight of ages.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>How many great events had unfolded on this land before him, from ancient times to the present? Wang Dou's heart surged with emotion. At that moment, hearing Zhang Ruoqi's words, he said: \"Lord Supervisor Zhang is quite right. This Count's intention is also to establish a tough stronghold here, defended by my Baggage Camp troops. If the slave bandits attack, we will make sure they leave with more than they bargained for, shedding rivers of blood and tears.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After climbing the ridge and surveying the surroundings, he had already formed his own plan.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He now expounded his view: the northwest face of Changling Mountain was steep and abutted the mountain cluster, crisscrossed with ravines — difficult for anyone but the nimble to climb, let alone a large army assaulting it. The key defensive fronts were the northeast and southeast faces.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>These two faces had gentle slopes where even horses could charge straight up. The northeast face, in particular, was close to the river, which would supply the garrison's drinking water, making it even more important.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was foreseeable that if the Qing army attacked, they would certainly launch a major assault from these two directions. Therefore, Wang Dou's plan was to emulate the battle of Julu years ago: dig trenches and build walls, then deploy cannons and muskets to create a defense line of interlocking fields of fire. Wooden palisades and stockades would not be used, except perhaps at the core area on the summit.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He led the group to observe: \"On the southeast and northeast faces of this mountain, there are paths leading straight to the summit. Therefore, we can set up low walls and trenches layer by layer along these paths and at choke points.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In Wang Dou's plan, the distance from the northeast to the southeast of Changling Mountain was about four li. From the mountainside to the summit, there must be at least several lines of low walls. The walls need not be high — chest-high on a soldier would suffice, so musketeers could aim and fire at the enemy. Of course, the low walls could be built thick and sturdy, at least enough to withstand cannon bombardment.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The trenches, however, could be dug deeper — at least one zhang deep and one zhang wide. In effect, combined with the low wall, this would reach four meters in height, rivaling the walls of an ordinary castle.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Each line of low walls would not be far apart, and following the mountain's contours, each successive wall would in fact be considerably higher than the one before it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Marksmen behind the walls could easily aim at the enemy without risk of firing on their own soldiers' heads. In this way, upper and lower positions would support each other, forming a three-dimensional net of firepower bombardment. The domain of Six Zero Novels has been changed to\u003C\u002Fp>",2481,"2026-06-03T14:05:53.320Z",1,"Novelzhen Translator","c3ecfef9602edd6b7aa7cc2b1277851c3176d1ee2effed7edeff4ccb938bece2","a-little-soldier-of-the-late-ming-border-army-chapter-469","a-little-soldier-of-the-late-ming-border-army-chapter-467",896,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fa-little-soldier-of-the-late-ming-border-army-cover.jpg"]