[{"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-473":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},1205762,1561,"Chapter 473: The Battle of Huangtuling (Part One)","a-little-soldier-of-the-late-ming-border-army-chapter-473",473,"\u003Cp>After the Ming army set up camp, they likewise dug deep trenches around the perimeter and erected wooden palisades.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Songshan and Rufeng Mountain were thick with the clouds of war; from the peaks to the foothills, banners and flags spread everywhere, saturated with the dense atmosphere of the battlefield.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That day, aside from some scout riders from both sides venturing out to spy and chasing each other north and south, little else occurred — both armies were making tense preparations for the coming battle.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Night slowly descended, and the armies on both sides began lighting fires to cook. In every major Ming encampment, large contingents of auxiliary soldiers, logistics troops, and mess soldiers carried their water buckets on shoulder poles to wherever water sources could be found. There were no large rivers near Songshan Fort, but since it lay in low-lying terrain, groundwater was still abundant; as long as one dug wells deep enough, water could be drawn.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For the moment, grain and fodder were still manageable, but the drinking water problem for an army of over a hundred thousand could not be sustained indefinitely — they had to seize nearby river zones.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Amid the shouting of men and neighing of horses, every place bustled with activity. Besides those fetching water and cooking, huge wagon trains continuously hauled grain from places like Xingshan to the Songshan main camp.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The daily grain and fodder supply for the frontline army was an astronomical figure, so along the roads from south to north, civilian grain porters and soldiers from every logistics battalion streamed in an endless line.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Among those transporting grain were also the logistics troops of the Jingbian Army’s supply battalion. By military arrangement, part of them guarded Changling Mountain, while another part kept hauling grain and all kinds of other supplies. Generally, grain and fodder were first moved to Changling Mountain, then gradually transferred onward to the Songshan main camp.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Dou stood quietly, watching the military camps everywhere first seethe with clamor and bustle, then, as dusk drew near, each camp sounded gongs and blew horns, fired cannons and beat drums — night patrols, night watchwords, lanterns and fires, open and hidden posts were all set in turn. The camps gradually quieted, until only the steady sound of night-watch clappers and drums came through.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Finally, the hanging lanterns in each camp lit up one by one. On both sides, Ming and Qing alike, their encampments were dotted with specks of lamplight. As the sky grew darker, the blaze of lights seemed ever brighter, and from the area around Songshan Fort to the top of Rufeng Mountain, it formed a sea of lights, making Wang Dou feel as if he had been transported to the Chongqing of a later age.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Dou wore helmet and armor, a cloak draped over his shoulders, his face expressionless. No one knew what he was thinking.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Behind him, Guard Commander and Central Army Officer Zhong Diaoyang, Right Battalion Grand Commander Zhong Xiancai, Rear Battalion Grand Commander Han Chao, Artillery Battalion Grand Commander Zhao Xuan, Cavalry Battalion Grand Commander Li Guangheng, and Scout Battalion Grand Commander Wen Daxing all stood in full helmet and armor, equally silent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Only Supply Battalion Grand Commander Sun Sanjie, who was at Changling Mountain at that moment, was not by Wang Dou’s side.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Behind each battalion grand commander stood their respective company commanders, also standing solemnly, gazing out wherever Wang Dou gazed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At last, Zhong Xiancai looked at Wang Dou and could not help asking, “Grand Commander, what are you thinking about?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Dou turned his head, saw Zhong Xiancai’s two large round eyes fixed steadily on him, smiled, and said, “I was thinking that between heaven and earth, human culture and history easily change, but mountains, rivers, the cosmos, and the starry sky remain eternally unchanged. In comparison, human life is too fragile, too brief.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhong Xiancai said with veneration, “What the Grand Commander says is too profound. Xiancai does not understand.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Han Chao said in a deep voice, “The Grand Commander is right. Precisely because of this, we must use our bodies, capable of great deeds, to do something meaningful. Only thus will we not have wasted this life!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Dou looked at Han Chao with approval. This former night scout, one of the old hands from Jingbian Outpost, had grown ever more mature and steady, and had developed his own thoughts and aspirations. He clapped Han Chao on the shoulder and laughed heartily: “General Han speaks reason. Precisely because life is short, we must think about how to live it more brilliantly.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Dou looked toward Zhao Xuan and the others and asked with a smile, “And you? What ideals do you have?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhao Xuan pondered and said, “This general wants nothing else — only that in the years to come, our artillery battalion might possess cannons capable of devastating several dozen li.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Guangheng said, “This general hopes that one day, with a hundred thousand cavalry, we shall campaign south and north, and taking the heads of enemy chieftains will be as easy as reaching into a bag.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wen Daxing, that rough and bold leader of night scouts, also set forth his ideal: “This general hopes that the night scouts under my command will one day reach the great sea to the east, the grasslands to the north, the desert to the west, and the jungles to the south — that our footprints may tread across a thousand mountains and ten thousand ravines.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhong Diaoyang said in a deep voice, “May all under heaven enjoy peace, and the common people live in happiness.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xie Yike suddenly shouted, “I want to be my night scout forever.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Everyone laughed together, and Wang Dou also looked at Xie Yike, shaking his head in amused exasperation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Finally, Wang Dou looked at Zhong Xiancai and said, “And you, Xiancai? What ideal do you have?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhong Xiancai pondered for a long while, then at last raised his head to look at Wang Dou and said, “Grand Commander, this general is willing to follow under your banner, campaigning south and north, until forever.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Dou nodded solemnly, then looked at everyone and said with a slight smile, “We shall. We will all see things through from beginning to end.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He sized up Zhong Xiancai for a moment and laughed, “Xiancai, people say you are especially fond of cleanliness, and it certainly seems true — have you just bathed?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhong Xiancai said sheepishly, “I hadn’t bathed in two days and was starting to smell, so this general drew some water and washed up.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The others clicked their tongues: “Only two days without a bath and you can’t stand it? People like us go seven or eight days, even a month without washing — how do we survive?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Everyone teased Zhong Xiancai. Being out on campaign was indeed nothing like the Eastern Route encampment; using water was extremely inconvenient. And in this sweltering heat, while wearing armor, everyone usually reeked heavily of sweat. But the men were long accustomed to campaigning and paid it no mind. Only Zhong Xiancai would go to any lengths to bathe every day or two, which had become a running joke among them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Moreover, Zhong Xiancai had many inexplicable quirks. Fortunately, after years of contact with him, everyone had grown used to it — who didn’t have a few eccentricities?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>By reckoning, Zhong Xiancai was already in his twenties. He had married early, but his wife, née Sun, had never borne him any children. Zhong Xiancai was unwilling to take a concubine, yet he had adopted quite a number of foster sons and daughters.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After a bout of laughter and banter, Wang Dou glanced at the sky and said, “Let’s go — into Songshan city.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The great army was massed at Songshan Fort. The Viceroy of Ji-Liao, Hong Chengchou, had summoned all the generals to the Viceroy’s headquarters for a council of war, set for the hour of xu. This military council was solemn and on a grand scale; under each Regional Commander, officers of company commander rank and above were all to attend.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Dou’s camp lay two li east of Songshan Fort. Adjacent to his camp were those of Datong Regional Commander Wang Pu, Xuanfu Garrison Regional Commander Yang Guozhu, and Deputy Commander of the Shenji Battalion’s Forward Camp Fu Yingchong, among others.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Viceroy’s headquarters was set inside Songshan Fort. Wang Dou left Central Army Grand Commander Zhong Diaoyang to guard the camp, then took his battalion grand commanders, his company commanders, and his guard battalion troops — the whole party rumbled off toward the south gate of Songshan Fort.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After the new battalion system was established, the officers under each battalion had changed somewhat. For example, under Han Chao were company commanders Lei Xianbin, Huang Yujin, Tian Zhijue, and Xie Shangbiao; under Zhong Xiancai were company commanders Yin Yijin, Tian Qiming, Yang Guodong, and Gao Gui.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lei Xianbin and Huang Yujin had originally been squad officers under Han Chao; now both had become company commanders, and were once again under Han Chao’s command.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As for Tian Qiming and Tian Zhijue, both had originally been retainers under Baoanzhou city Company Commander Tian Changguo. Tian Qiming had even been the squad leader of the retainers within Tian Zhijue’s unit. Now the two sat as equals — much like Wen Daxing and Wen Fangliang.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xie Shangbiao had once been the superior of Wu Zhengchun, Shen Shiqi, and Zhong Xiancai. Now they had all become Mobile Corps Commanders and Garrison Commanders, while Xie Shangbiao was still a company commander — and had become Zhong Xiancai’s subordinate. The strangeness of worldly affairs was never more so than this.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>However, “the able rise, the mediocre fall” was the principle of the Jingbian Army; seniority alone was not the measure.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When the several company commanders met, they could not resist poking fun at one another, joking and laughing as they followed behind their respective battalion commanders, riding toward Songshan Fort.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>One could see that every Ming army camp was under strict martial law, with patrol soldiers ceaselessly moving about. Very soon, Wang Dou and his party arrived before Songshan Fort.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Songshan had originally been merely a post station. After the Liaodong crisis erupted, the fort had been built ever larger and ever more solid, yet it still had only a single gate — the south gate.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At this time, the defending officers of Songshan were Songshan Vice Regional Commander Xia Chengde, Songshan Mobile Corps Assistant Regional Commander Liu Zhengjie, Songshan Assistant Regional Commander Fan Chenggong, City Garrison Commander Shang Yudi, City Defense Mobile Corps Commander Ge Chaozhong, as well as Ningqian Circuit Military Intendant Zhang Dou, Jin-You Grain Administration Assistant Prefect Zhu Tingti, and others.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Now, additionally, the Viceroy of Ji-Liao, Hong Chengchou, had taken up residence, accompanied by the army supervisors, various military intendants, and his personal battalion troops. A city that was not large to begin with was crammed to bursting.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When Wang Dou and his party reached the south gate of Songshan, they encountered the great generals Wang Pu, Yang Guozhu, and Fu Yingchong. Behind them, too, were gathered a throng of helmeted and armored officers. Upon meeting, they inevitably exchanged pleasantries, then proceeded together. Along the way, the Deputy Commander of the Shenji Battalion’s Forward Camp kept complaining to Wang Dou about the drinking water problem.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The group entered the fort. Songshan Fort was built on low-lying ground, so it was still cool in summer. Like other Ming military forts, its style was plain and massive. Inside the fort, the barracks, granaries, fodder yards, armories, and horse grounds were the key points. Facing the south gate, artillery pieces were densely arrayed, among them several Hongyi cannons.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Because Songshan Fort had been bombarded by the Qing army’s Hongyi cannons for many months — and the south gate in particular had been the main focus of attack — the walls and gate towers were scarred everywhere, bearing the repeated marks of gunpowder smoke and battle.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Viceroy’s headquarters was in the former Military Intendant’s residence, near the eastern side of the city. The party entered the compound.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The main hall of the headquarters was spacious. As soon as one stepped onto the floor paved with blue stone slabs, a wave of coolness rushed to meet them, refreshing everyone’s spirits.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chairs were arranged both at the head and along both sides below, with several screens as well. The personal guards of Hong Chengchou’s Viceroy’s Personal Battalion led everyone to their seats one by one.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In succession, Ji Garrison Regional Commander Bai Guangen, Shanxi Regional Commander Li Fuming, Reinforcement-and-Pacification Regional Commander Zuo Guangxian, Shanhai Pass Regional Commander Ma Ke, Miyun Regional Commander Tang Tong, and Ningyuan Regional Commander Wu Sangui arrived, each bringing a huge retinue of officers. When the Regional Commanders met, there was another round of pleasantries and banter.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Dou still sat in the first seat on the right, followed by Yang Guozhu, Bai Guangen, Li Fuming, and the others seated in order. The remaining Vice Regional Commanders, Assistant Regional Commanders, and Mobile Corps Commanders under each man had no seats; they stood behind their respective Regional Commanders — to say nothing of the Garrison Commanders and Company Commanders. Only Fu Yingchong, representing the Shenji Battalion, occupied a seat at the very last place.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For this relief expedition, how many Vice Regional Commanders, Assistant Regional Commanders, Mobile Corps Commanders, and Company Commanders were there under each man? Adding the local Liaodong officers, they numbered several hundred in all. As everyone took their seats and filed in, even the spacious hall seemed to grow cramped; wherever one looked, it was a solid mass of helmeted and armored officers.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Not until the hour of xu did the clamorous hall fall quiet. Army Supervisor Zhang Ruoqi, Army Supervisor Wang Chengen, Liaodong Provincial Governor Qiu Minyang, and numerous military intendants, assistant prefects, vice prefects, and other civil officials followed behind the Viceroy of Ji-Liao, Hong Chengchou, emerging from behind the screen.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>One could see that Hong Chengchou was in excellent spirits; his refined face was full of smiles. He greeted the assembled generals warmly, and after taking his seat, he ordered his attendants to bring out several hundred Wu-style fans, giving one to every officer in the hall. He also had iced melons and fruits served, so that every Regional Commander and military intendant had a share.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This is something wonderful — eating a chilled melon when the summer heat makes you parched and restless is truly a pleasure.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Right now the Regional Commanders were noisily devouring melons without pause; rough fellows like Bai Guangen, Li Fuming, and Zuo Guangxian even ate the rind clean.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Watching the Regional Commanders eat melons, the officers standing behind each of them could only look on with envy and longing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After finishing the melons, Hong Chengchou’s expression turned stern, and he began to discuss official business.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>……\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…The situation with the slave-bandits is already very clear: they intend to rely on mountain defiles, trenches, and walls to wear down our army’s fighting strength and edge. Therefore, we must not let them lead us by the nose.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Qing army’s fortifications at various points on Mount Rufeng had already been roughly scouted by the Ming army. Although the Qing picket riders were extremely diligent in intercepting the Ming army’s Night Scouts, they forgot that the Jingbian Army’s Night Scouts are widely equipped with keen tools like the thousand-li lens.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The thousand-li lens of this time, of course, cannot compare to those of later ages and cannot magnify many times over, but large targets several li away can still be seen clearly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Under the Qing army’s tight surveillance, although the Ming picket riders could not get very close, the Jingbian Army’s Night Scouts still managed to make out their rough layout. On such a vital matter, Wang Dou naturally did not keep it to himself but generously shared it with every Regional Commander. …\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>According to the Night Scouts’ reconnaissance, the Qing army’s earthen walls and trench lines were mainly concentrated at various points on Mount Rufeng and Huangtuling, mostly of the two-trench-three-wall type, laid out layer upon layer along each mountain ridge.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The trenches were much the same as Wang Dou’s trenches, all containing traps and sharp spikes inside — on this point the Ming and Qing armies were largely alike.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Their earthen and stone walls were certainly not the low walls of Wang Dou’s type, but a kind of stockade wall, similar to a small city wall, about one zhang high. Where the mountain ridges were gentle, the stockade walls were tall, like city walls, allowing men to mount them and fight, and were provided with multiple stockade gates.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At critical points the stockade walls were somewhat shorter, reaching a man’s chest, and were mainly used for garrison patrols.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This kind of stockade wall could be considered the main wall; in front of the main wall a deep trench was dug, so that the stockade wall was in fact over one zhang to over two zhang high.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In front of this stockade wall and trench, at intervals, two smaller trenches were also dug. These two trenches were somewhat shallower, about eight chi deep; behind the trenches either low walls were set up, or chevaux-de-frise were placed along the edges and wooden stakes driven in. On the stakes ropes were tied, and bells hung from the ropes; large dogs were posted beside the bells — this was to prevent anyone from raiding the camp or trenches at night.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Mount Rufeng and Huangtuling are both made up of many large and small ridges; along every ridge there were quite a number of earthen walls and trenches. The Qing army set up defense in depth — even if you took one ridge, you would still have to face another ridge, and before you could close in on the main peak, who knew what bitter fighting awaited.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This was only Mount Rufeng and Huangtuling; in fact, the Qing had also set up defense lines in many other places, such as Songshan Ridge and Maojia Ridge. These places were, on one hand, right at their bedside, and on the other, key points for entering Jinzhou — not to mention what arrangements the Qing had made beyond the Nüer River.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After everyone shared intelligence, they all felt that the caitiff-bandits’ defenses were tight and thorough, and that to fight through to Jinzhou and break the siege would be extremely, extremely difficult.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet the siege of Jinzhou had to be lifted. The focus of the debate among them was: should they attack Mount Rufeng first or Huangtuling first?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The divergence of views here was represented by General Who Subdues the Caitiffs, Wang Dou, and Ningyuan Regional Commander Wu Sangui, respectively.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wu Sangui held that Jinzhou was in imminent danger, so naturally they must attack Mount Rufeng first and open the main route into Jinzhou.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His view received strong support from Ji Town Regional Commander Bai Guangen, Shanhai Pass Regional Commander Ma Ke, Miyun Regional Commander Tang Tong, as well as Liaodong Grand General Zu Dale, Songshan Vice Regional Commander Xia Chengde, Mobile Corps Assistant Regional Commander Liu Zhengjie, and other officers of the Liaodong faction.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Dou opposed this; he believed the Qing army’s defenses on Mount Rufeng were strict and dense, and that the Qing’s scheme was precisely to use mountain defiles, trenches, and walls to wear down the Ming army’s edge — they must not fall for their treacherous plan.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He held that Jinzhou was not in danger and there was no great need to rush to break the siege; the urgent task was first to clear the threats on Songshan’s periphery, such as Huangtuling to the east and Songshan Ridge to the southeast. Clearing these two places would, in the near term, relieve the threat to Songshan, and in the longer term, allow them to press toward the Xiao Ling River, seize Xiao Ling River Fort, and follow the river course to attack the eastern side of Jinzhou. (To be continued. If you enjoy this work, welcome to come to (.) and cast recommendation votes and monthly votes — your support is my greatest motivation.)\u003C\u002Fp>",3372,"2026-06-03T14:05:53.320Z",1,"Novelzhen Translator","79d7eb61aefe83dfa5e5bca93bd112b0421d9cb94c56ca1b55aa905e2a0c5d00","a-little-soldier-of-the-late-ming-border-army-chapter-474","a-little-soldier-of-the-late-ming-border-army-chapter-472",896,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fa-little-soldier-of-the-late-ming-border-army-cover.jpg"]