[{"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-494":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},1205783,1561,"Chapter 494: The Battle Begins","a-little-soldier-of-the-late-ming-border-army-chapter-494",494,"\u003Cp>The Ming army swiftly deployed into formation — men shouting, horses neighing — as officers from every side rushed to their assigned defensive sectors.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>On the Qing side, they too were closely watching the movements of the Border Garrison Army and the others. By now, the Qing troops had already withdrawn to nearly three li from the Ming army, because Jirgalang and the others had all seen the large number of cannons in the Ming formation. Based on experience, that was the artillery fire of the Ming Shenji Battalion, and this distance was safe.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Moreover, Inggūldai had also brought an order from Huang Taiji: to guard against Ming cannons, a large number of gunny sacks and earth baskets must be placed throughout the battle formation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This was the result of Huang Taiji, after seeing Yang Guozhu and the others on Rufeng Mountain use this method to block their own cannon fire from Huangtuling, immediately copying it. Newly rising power blocs are always very adept at learning.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So at this moment, behind the main army of Jirgalang, Hooge, Ajige, and the others, over ten thousand Aha laborers were nervously swinging hoes and pickaxes, filling sacks with earth, transporting them sack by sack, and piling them up at various points throughout the army — especially in front of the several woven-gold dragon banners, where they were stacked densely packed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing this scene, Hooge and Ajige were seething with rage. Their own cavalry grand formation, arrayed in full battle order — turned into what kind of spectacle by being arranged like this?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But Jirgalang and Inggūldai were resolute in this action, and the two of them had no way to object.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Intelligence on the Ming army kept coming in — part of it from scouting riders' reports, but mainly from the intelligence sent back by Dorgon and the others' sentry riders on Huangtuling.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Unlike other Ming armies, when facing the Border Garrison Army, the Qing sentry riders could hardly approach closely. Instead, it was Dorgon and the others up on Huangtuling, looking down from their elevated position and using telescopes, who could see the Border Garrison Army's deployment very clearly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Huang Taiji had also issued strict orders: every Qing unit on Huangtuling must closely coordinate with Jirgalang and the others on the plain, and intelligence sharing was one of those requirements.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"What formation has Wang Dou and his men set up?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After hearing the sentry riders' report, Jirgalang and the others were somewhat baffled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Based on the experience of Jirgalang and each of the others, in past Ming battle formations, the more cowardly ones would have infantry and cavalry alike all huddled inside the wagon fort, letting the Great Qing's iron cavalry besiege them from all sides. The tougher ones, whose cavalry could fight, would mass them at the rear or on the wings. But this — infantry on the wings and cavalry in the center — what kind of battle was this supposed to be?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jirgalang and Hooge also had telescopes. They gazed toward the Ming army's position. From where they stood, Wu Sangui was on the left wing, forming a wagon fort on three sides, with about ten thousand men. To their right was a dense mass of Ningyuan cavalry, together with the Border Garrison Army cavalry, nearly ten thousand men arrayed in a vast cavalry grand formation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Border Garrison Army infantry they were most concerned about was deployed on the right wing, forming a series of concave and convex small formations along some undulating hills and slopes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The intelligence indicated six small formations in front and five small formations behind, arranged in a staggered pattern, with a larger formation further back, and finally the central army at the rear.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then on the far right wing, there were two more large formations, apparently defended by other Ming auxiliary units.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This was the layout of the Border Garrison Army infantry battalions? Hooge and Ajige found it simply laughable. Hooge roared with even wilder laughter: \"What kind of formation is Wang Dou setting up? Their infantry formations are all wide open and empty between them — if our iron cavalry charges in, won't they just be broken?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ajige also said: \"I've heard that in the past, Wang Dou's formations had firearms in front and spearmen behind, relying on sharp firepower to block our iron cavalry's attacks... Of course, that doesn't necessarily mean they could block them. After all, in the past when the Great Qing troops entered the passes to raid, they were always unwilling to incur too many casualties. If they truly wanted to charge, could they really not break through? It would just cost a few more men and horses, that's all.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Now he's abandoning the advantage of his old way of fighting and choosing such a bizarre and strange battle formation...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ajige laughed loudly and concluded: \"He's lost his mind!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Many Qing officers present nodded. Indeed, it was not that the Great Qing's iron cavalry could not break through Wang Dou's battle formations, but that the losses were too great — the gains did not justify the costs.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After all, bandits always value their lives. When casualties exceed a certain number, they become unwilling to fight on. This was also one of the reasons Wang Dou had repeatedly won great victories...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In their view, if one truly resolved to charge the formation, there were plenty of methods to break it open. For example, not long ago, when the Eight Banners attacked the wagon fort of Liaodong Regional Commander Liu Zhaoji, they drove herds of horses to assault the formation and forcibly broke open their wagon fort.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jirgalang narrowed his eyes in deep thought, shook his head, and said: \"Never underestimate Wang Dou's cunning. He has his own reasons for deploying in this manner.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He pondered at length, then said: \"Look at the eleven small formations in front of Wang Dou — each is surrounded on all sides by war wagons, and the distance between each formation is not far. Their muskets are sharp, and they can support each other with fire. Trying to break through each of their individual formations will be very difficult.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hooge and Ajige were unconvinced. Hooge added: \"Their cavalry is massed heavily in the center. Perfect — we can concentrate our elite cavalry and smash their cavalry in one blow. I refuse to believe their cavalry can compare with our Eight Banners' iron cavalry!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jirgalang shook his head: \"Behind their cavalry, there are a large number of red-barbarian cannons, and in front, there are also many rockets. If our elite cavalry charges forward, I fear the losses will be considerable. We must be cautious.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hooge said angrily: \"This won't do, that won't do — Prince Zheng, are you as afraid of the enemy as you are of a tiger, or have you just gone senile?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A cold gleam flashed in Jirgalang's eyes, then he resumed his mild manner and said: \"Prince Su, across from us is the Ming's Border Garrison Army — Wang Dou's subordinates. His Majesty has also issued an edict: when facing Wang Dou's troops, one must be cautious and must not underestimate the enemy or fight recklessly.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Inggūldai also furrowed his brow, inwardly displeased with Hooge's arrogance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But the man was the Great Qing's Crown Prince, whom the Emperor doted on with all his heart. No matter how much Inggūldai disliked it, he would not let it show on his face.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ajige, for his part, was extremely irritated with Jirgalang. This old fool — every word out of his mouth boosted the enemy's morale and undercut their own prestige. If he kept talking like this, what army morale and fighting spirit would be left among their own troops?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Imperial Son-in-Law Buyandai, the lord of the Bordered Red Banner of the Eight Banners Mongols, gazed at the Border Garrison Army across the way, feeling somewhat uneasy at heart.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He suddenly spoke: \"Prince Zheng, aren't our forces a bit too few? The Ming army across from us must have over thirty thousand men, several thousand more. Counting laborers and followers, our Great Qing troops only number a bit over thirty thousand. Are there no reinforcements coming?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jirgalang and Inggūldai both shook their heads. On the surface, Rufeng Mountain, Huangtuling, and the other positions had a total of one hundred twenty thousand troops. But after subtracting about fifty thousand Aha laborers and over ten thousand unarmored bannermen, the elite armored soldiers numbered barely sixty thousand.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And these forces still had to be divided to defend Rufeng Mountain, Huangtuling, Songshan Ridge, Mount Shimen, Shijia Ridge, Mount Zijing, and other positions, as well as Jinchangbao, Shahebao, Dashengbao, and various other places.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The bulk of the Eight Banners Han Army was also still defending the palisade walls along each mountain ridge. The surplus troops that could be drawn out now amounted to only this many. Although more troops could be transferred over, how could they possibly arrive quickly in just a short while?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In truth, Jirgalang now had a thought. At the very start, they had been intimidated by the Ming army's martial appearance. Now he felt that only a portion of them were actually capable of fighting. Given this point, the Great Qing's brave warriors actually had no need to keep defending so many places — they could transfer more troops out for field battle.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Buyandai was disappointed and said: \"What about the cannons? Can the Ujen Cooha artillery battalion at least come?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jirgalang also sighed. Part of Kong Youde and the others' artillery battalion was massed on Rufeng Mountain and Huangtuling, and another part had gone to attack Ma Ke and Tang Tong's troops west of Songshanbao. Even if they wanted to bring the artillery battalion over, those cannons weighed several thousand jin — crossing mountains and ridges, how could they be hauled over so easily?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Especially hauling the cannons from west of Songshanbao — they would also have to guard against Ming army interdiction.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hooge and Ajige both saw the expression on Buyandai's face and looked displeased.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Over thirty thousand men, including more than twenty thousand of the Great Qing's iron cavalry — and in Buyandai's eyes, that was still insufficient strength? Did he not know that just a short while ago, with barely ten thousand men charging the formation, they had routed several of Bai Guangen's wagon forts in a single blow? Bai Guangen's corpse had also just been sent to Huang Taiji at the mountain fortress.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hmph, these Mongols truly feared death and clung to life. No wonder they had become subjects of their own Manchu people.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Infuriatingly, to win them over, they even had to keep sending Manchu women to their tents — even multiple imperial princesses had been thrown in.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hooge thought bitterly: Was this not marriage alliance? Truly a disgrace to Manchu men.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At last, Jirgalang looked at the sky, exhaled, and thought: Begin!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After Wang Dou had finished deploying his formation, the Qing troops remained motionless for a long time. Seeing that it was already noon, Wang Dou ordered the entire army to rest and enjoy their midday meal.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The field kitchen carts of each unit were all gathered behind the central army's grand formation. Cart after cart clustered together, and the mess soldiers made flatbread on the spot. Amid sizzling sounds, large cakes with fragrant aromas were produced one after another — eating just one could fill a man's belly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The mess soldiers also opened the supply wagons, took out ceramic meat jars, scooped out the chopped livestock meat that had been mixed evenly with salt and wheat-flour seasoning inside, and placed it on oil pans to fry lightly. An even richer, thicker fragrance spread out, making those who smelled it salivate.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pot after pot of meat soup was also boiled. Even in the great heat of the day, eating a bowl of steaming hot meat soup was incomparably comforting.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For this battle, the meals for the entire army, from top to bottom, were supplied by Wang Dou — from Wu Sangui's subordinates to the troops of Fu Yingchong, Guo Yingxian, Wang Zheng, Li Yunshu, and others, as well as the civilian laborers behind the central army — every single person had a share. Each person received flatbread and meat soup, plus one piece of jarred meat.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the great heat, cured meat, smoked meat, ham, salted eggs — none of these could keep for long. Air-dried meat was too tough. Apart from freshly slaughtered fresh meat, only ceramic-jarred meat could be preserved for a longer time. That was why the Border Garrison Army carried many ceramic meat jars when on campaign.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Originally, each unit had prepared to eat dry rations or cold cooked rice — even the Shenji Battalion was no exception. Suddenly eating the fresh and delicious fare supplied by the Border Garrison Army, everyone was thoroughly satisfied. The civilian laborers accompanying the army, in particular, were overjoyed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In truth, what Wang Dou gave them was inferior to the treatment of the Border Garrison Army's second-class troops. Moreover, Wang Dou intended to go and demand these provisions back from Hong Chengchou later.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But in these times, with hunger and cold everywhere in the Great Ming, to say nothing of the common people — even the soldiers of the various garrison main battalions often ate their fill one meal and went hungry the next. Even the retainers and personal guards could not be said to eat meat regularly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So everyone was satisfied with the meal before them. Army Supervisor Zhang Ruoqi even thought: \"With provisions so abundant, no wonder every man in the Border Garrison Army is willing to fight to the death!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"The treatment in your Border Garrison Army truly makes one envious.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The one speaking was a Shenjiying Lumi musketeer beside Chen Sheng, named Tian Dayang.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At this moment, Chen Sheng, along with the two Jia-grade companies of the rear battalion’s forward section, was positioned within the large formation on the upper left flank defended by the Shenjiying.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This formation was critically important, so Company Commander Lei Xianbin personally led the officers within his unit, together with Shenjiying Vice General Fu Yingchong’s personal Mobile Corps Commander, to defend this formation together. Chen Sheng and his good friend Ju Yiwu, as marksmen within the unit, naturally accompanied the unit officers and stayed at this spot.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The military formation before them deployed one hundred and forty Shenjiying Frankish gun carriages, which, following the several undulating hillocks, formed a large rectangle — with one hundred gun carriages on the front face and forty gun carriages on the left side.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>About one hundred and fifty paces to the right was a small cart formation of the Jingbian Army’s Jia-grade troops, so naturally no artillery could be placed there — otherwise wouldn’t they be hitting their own men? About two hundred paces to the rear of the formation were friendly cavalry, so naturally there was no need to deploy artillery there either.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And all these gun carriages were hollow in the middle, with tall protective side panels on both sides, so that not only could the gunners take cover from enemy arrows, but musketeers could also fire outward from here.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The deployment of these gun carriages, if situated on a hillock position, placed them at the midpoint of the slope.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Atop the hillocks stood rows of Shenjiying rocket carts. These rocket carts were set up much like mortars. The arrow ports were all mounted high atop the tall war carts, the arrow mouths slanted toward the sky. When fired, they could launch several hundred rockets in a single volley.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Such Shenjiying rocket carts numbered as many as sixty in this army formation. In addition, fifteen large-caliber mortars and thirty small-caliber mortars were deployed, embodying the Shenjiying’s philosophy of fierce firepower when engaging the enemy…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Besides the front face and left side of this military formation, on the right side and rear were arrayed some ordinary Shenjiying war carts.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cart after cart stood on their sides, and on the outer shaft holes facing outward were inserted movable shield boards, painted with fierce beast designs, which had a certain startling effect on enemy warhorses.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And within the military formation, whether outside the gun carriages or the war carts, dense rows of rejection pikes were planted. Apart from fierce horses, ordinary enemy horses dared not approach.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Such was the Shenjiying military formation where Chen Sheng was stationed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Of course, not far below on the left, on a hillock, there was also a small Shenjiying formation deployed, with sixty gun carriages, forty rocket carts, plus five large-caliber mortars and twenty small-caliber mortars.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The remaining Shenjiying forces — two hundred rocket carts, thirty large-caliber mortars, and fifty small-caliber mortars — were deployed in front of the cavalry in the center of the great formation. Large rockets such as the Divine Fire Flying Crows remained unmoved with the central army for the time being.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Shenjiying soldier speaking, Tian Dayang, was not yet thirty, fair-skinned and plump, round and chubby, rather adorable. He wore a cloud-wing helmet and a long crimson surcoat, with two bright red pom-poms at the shoulders. Apart from the helmet, his attire was quite similar to that of the Jingbian Army’s Jia-grade troops.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Of course, the edges of his armor and clothing were trimmed in blue, whereas the Jingbian Army rear-battalion soldiers like Chen Sheng had black velvet trim, and their front openings were fastened with copper buttons — far more heroic-looking than they were.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Moreover, Chen Sheng always felt that the Shenjiying soldiers resembled merchants more than soldiers. Many were listless, slouching when sitting, slouching when standing, their bearing utterly incomparable to the Jingbian Army.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tian Dayang was a warm and friendly person, lacking the arrogance of other Shenjiying soldiers. The moment he saw Chen Sheng and Ju Yiwu standing beside him, he immediately started chattering away nonstop.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chen Sheng and his companion were marksmen within the unit, able to move about freely and seek battle opportunities. They had originally come to this spot to survey the terrain and commit it to memory, but unexpectedly got caught by Tian Dayang and could not break free.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tian Dayang prattled on endlessly, starting by asking the two their names, then moving on to various things he had seen and heard in the capital and Tianjin, and finally talking about how well-behaved his five children were — truly an unstoppable torrent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Amid his chatter, he also mixed in boasting from time to time, proudly mentioning that his ancestors had once been prosperous. Of course, the Tian family had since fallen on hard times, but no matter — with him, Tian Dayang, around, he would surely revive his ancestors’ prestige.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He kept talking even through lunch without stopping, though the topic shifted as he began commenting on the Jingbian Army’s provisions.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He took huge bites of the potted meat, eating it with flatbread and meat broth, truly making his mouth slick with grease, and from time to time he glanced at Chen Sheng’s and Ju Yiwu’s bowls.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As Jia-grade troops, the two naturally had thick and ample portions of meat in their bowls, several times larger than his.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Now that animal husbandry in the Eastern Circuit was flourishing, and in order to secure the logistics and supplies for this great army, apart from the supply battalion, the Shogunate had also mobilized large numbers of merchants from the Eastern Circuit. So even far away in Liaodong, the Jingbian Army could eat meat every day, and as Jia-grade troops, Chen Sheng and the others enjoyed even more generous treatment.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Although Chen Sheng was not good at dealing with others, he felt that Tian Dayang was not a bad person at heart, and the Grand General also encouraged maintaining good relations with friendly forces. Seeing Tian Dayang’s drooling expression, he silently drew his own dismounting knife, cut half the meat in his bowl, and placed it in Tian Dayang’s bowl. Ju Yiwu did the same — cold on the outside but warm at heart, whenever he met a friend he got along with, he would give his all.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tian Dayang was stunned for a moment, then overjoyed. He raised his thumb to the two: “Many thanks, brothers! You two are truly generous. No question — when we get to the capital someday, my treat!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Several other Shenjiying Lumi musketeers nearby, who were also gorging themselves, watched this scene with envy, jealousy, and resentment toward Tian Dayang.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>One equally chubby musketeer burst out laughing: “Tian Dapang, your treat? Haven’t you pawned everything of value already? Your house leaks on all four sides, and you nearly sold your wife — what are you going to treat with?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Having his secrets exposed, Tian Dayang’s face flushed red. He argued: “Haven’t I come out to fight? Once I earn military merit and get the reward silver, I’ll have money.”…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Earn military merit?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Those musketeers burst into laughter again, their tone full of mockery.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tian Dayang looked embarrassed. To be honest, he himself had no confidence whether he could earn military merit, and even if he did, whether he could actually get the reward silver was hard to say.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Having lost face in front of two newly made friends, Tian Dayang was indignant, but then he felt a broad, thick hand pat him on the shoulder.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was Chen Sheng saying to him: “Brother Tian, I believe in you!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A sudden warmth filled Tian Dayang’s heart. He felt that these two newly made friends, though their acquaintance was brief, were completely different from the fair-weather friends he had known before.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He nodded heavily, wolfed down his food, swept his bowl clean, then slapped the bowl onto the ground, picked up the Lumi musket beside him, and murmured: “Treasure, oh treasure, haven’t used you in a long time. I hope you’ll do me proud!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Lumi musket he held was dark and solid, of flintlock design, with a long barrel that could pierce heavy armor at one hundred and fifty paces.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Of course, at such a distance many musketeers could not aim at the enemy, and they generally fired within a hundred paces.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But musket balls were not like arrows — even beyond the range of vision, their power was not to be underestimated. Not seeing the enemy did not mean you could not kill them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Lumi musket in Tian Dayang’s hands was not much different from those of Chen Sheng and his companion. If there was a difference, it was perhaps that his musket had a higher misfire rate, while the misfire rate of Chen Sheng and the others’ flintlock Lumi muskets was only around eight or nine percent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Also, Tian Dayang and the other Shenjiying musketeers did not use fixed paper cartridge ammunition. Instead, they carried multiple canisters on their persons — a priming powder canister, a propellant powder canister, a lead ball pouch, and so on — and also wore a waist saber at their belts.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Although the Eastern Circuit’s fixed paper cartridge ammunition was famous far and wide, the Shenjiying was deeply stagnant, and the relevant officers had never thought to change their long-standing method of warfare. Of course, if they were skilled Lumi musketeers who could expertly load ammunition, their rate of fire would not be slow either.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Looking across the military formation, following the undulating terrain, the formation was now packed with Shenjiying musketeers just like Tian Dayang.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fu Yingchong had led his troops here. Apart from a large number of gunners and rocketeers, his forward battalion had about two thousand pure Lumi musketeers. At this moment, not counting the gunners and archers, those gathered within this formation numbered fifteen hundred musketeers — the strength of two company commanders — together with two Jia-grade companies of the Jingbian Army, totaling over two thousand men.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The mess soldiers collected everyone’s bowls and chopsticks. Chen Sheng and Ju Yiwu stood up, climbed to the top of the hillock behind them, and gazed into the distance at the Qing troops’ movements.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The view from this spot was excellent; they could very clearly see the movements of the Tartar soldiers over there.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And standing on the hillock and looking around, everywhere was dry, undulating yellow earth, the slopes all rather gentle. Of course, there were also certain places where the passage of time had eroded and carved out some gullies and shallow pits.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Is the battle about to begin?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chen Sheng thought silently. He looked into the distance, then looked down not far below at his newly made friend Tian Dayang, who was waving his fists and cheering him on, and thought: “Being able to enter the Eastern Circuit, being able to join the Jingbian Army — this is my good fortune!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He should use the sharp firearm in his hands to fiercely strike the enemy — for his family, for the Grand General, for the people of the Eastern Circuit, and also for the Great Ming.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Suddenly his eyes turned cold: “The Tartars are on the move!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The Qing troops are on the move!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Dou sat on his camp stool and had lunch together with Army Supervisor Zhang Ruoqi, then drew out his telescope and gazed toward the Qing army formation. Hearing the sound of horns from that direction, he saw across the wilderness before him a vast black line spreading toward them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The signalmen on the observation pole carts continuously relayed the movements ahead and the Qing troops’ deployment of forces. It could be seen that their main attack direction was their own cavalry grand formation and the Jingbian Army’s infantry formation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The black line spread over; rolling Qing cavalry could be seen, wave after wave.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Judging by their armor and banners, there were Manchu Plain White Banner, Bordered White Banner, Plain Yellow Banner, Bordered Yellow Banner, Plain Blue Banner, Bordered Blue Banner. There were Mongol Plain Yellow Banner, Plain Red Banner, Bordered Red Banner, as well as some Outer Vassal Mongol troops and certain small tribal troops — the sea of banners seemed boundless…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Through the telescope, the general disposition of the Qing troops could be seen — again the trick of death squads in front, elite troops behind, and light-armored, skilled archer troops on both wings. In particular, their elite cavalry all advanced holding polearms, uniformly long spears and great halberds.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Listening to the violent gasping of Zhang Ruoqi beside him, Wang Dou's eyes grew deep. Whether Later Jin soldiers or Qing soldiers, they all imitated the combat methods of the Jurchen troops. When the Jurchens fought, contemporaries recorded: \"The caitiffs mostly use sharp formations in battle; one formation retreats, another comes again, each formation heavier than the last.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Although the battle strength of the Qing soldiers could not match that of the Jurchen soldiers, if they used armored cavalry to charge in waves, they still could not be underestimated.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>One could clearly see the combat characteristic of the approaching Qing soldiers driving cannon-fodder battle-slaves before them. The first several waves of Qing riders were all tribal soldiers from various tribes, followed by Outer Domain Mongol soldiers, Eight Banner Mongol soldiers, and finally the Manchu soldiers.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Those tribal soldiers, though most bore the title of death soldiers and were well-equipped, were in fact all slave soldiers without the slightest freedom. If they dared to flee, their entire tribe would be exterminated.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Why were the Russians able to conquer Siberia with such meager forces and even extend their reach into the Heilongjiang basin? Because the men of the Dangde had all died off, all thrown away as cannon fodder for the Manchus.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At this moment, Kong Youde and the other Han troops were not present; otherwise, they would certainly have been the first wave forced to the front.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A cold light showed in Wang Dou's eyes. To deal a heavy blow to those Manchu elite riders, they would first have to annihilate the several waves of cannon fodder in front.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Watching the boundless sea of Qing banners approach, Fu Yingchong, the Vice Regional Commander of the Shenji Battalion standing not far from Wang Dou, also let out heavy breaths. His mouth hung wide open, his whole face and body filled with tension.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His twenty-five Great Divine Might General cannons were arrayed upon these hills. Those Shenji Battalion gunners had already loaded the shells and powder and were just waiting to fire. Unlike bombarding fixed targets, this kind of cannon fire required loading shells according to distance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Perhaps many of these gunners had never in their lives seen such a scene. Although their own cannons were concealed behind the mass of cavalry, many still could not suppress their nervousness.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Only Zhao Xuan beside Fu Yingchong wore a disdainful expression; perhaps to him, the scene before them was a mere trifle. His cannon battalion was likewise fully prepared, seventy Hongyi great cannons, including six-pounder and three-pounder guns, each one aimed toward the Qing army, gleaming brightly under the sunlight.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Suddenly, a sharp signal cannon sounded from the opposite side, followed by the sound of \"xiu xiu\" whistling arrows.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That sound was like a shooting star streaking long across the vault of heaven. Following the sound of these whistling arrows, the various woven-gold dragon banners of the Qing banners, which had been lowered and silent, were suddenly raised high. All the Qing riders looked toward the direction of each dragon banner.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Stern voices in the Manchu language rang out from all sides: \"...Officers shall personally hold the banners. In this battle, there is advance and no retreat. If a Squad Commander dies in battle, all four men are to be executed. If a section leader dies in battle, all squad leaders are to be executed. If a company leader dies in battle, all section leaders are to be executed...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The howling voices spread to the front and rear, left and right of the Qing formation. Dense long spears and horse lances were raised high, standing like a forest.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ten thousand horses neighed, like a surging tide of iron steeds. Wave after wave of Qing riders surged endlessly toward the Ming army formation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Watching their ten thousand horses gallop, Lin Jugen merely wore a disdainful cold sneer on his face.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Like him, the Jingbian Army cavalry arrayed in layers likewise stood ready in strict formation. Under the sunlight, each man's expression remained unmoved.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Several paces behind the war wagons, three lines of Jingbian Army second-class arquebusiers were arrayed like long dragons. A dozen or so paces behind the arquebusiers were layers upon layers of pikemen.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>According to wartime regulations, Zhao Rongcheng's horse had already been taken to the unit assembly point.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His squad was arrayed in two ranks. Looking at the brothers beside him, each man's breathing gradually quickened. He consoled them: \"Everyone need not be nervous, just treat it as training. Everyone just remember: if you can bring out thirty to fifty percent of your usual skill, that will be enough.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He gave a special look at Han Kaihui, whose face was stretched taut: \"Relax, nothing will happen!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At that moment, a cannon shot sounded from the central army, and the order came: \"Prepare for battle!\"...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The officers' commands rose one after another: \"Prepare for battle!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The great drum of the central army thundered. The moment the drumbeat fell, Zhao Rongcheng's entire squad, from Squad Commander to common soldier, stepped forward in unison, gripped their weapons tightly, and roared with all their strength: \"Hu!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just like them, the dense ranks of Jingbian Army armored soldiers likewise stepped forward and roared.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The mighty howling sound spread through the Jingbian Army infantry formation, the cavalry formation, and then outward in all directions.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The drum sounded again; the massed troops stepped forward once more and roared again: \"Hu!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This was the Qi Family Army's three drumbeats and three blasts, three shouts and three advances, three roars of the \"hu\" character; the Jingbian Army used it as well.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Not only that, the Jingbian Army also had battle cries of \"Hu, Hu, Hu,\" \"He, He, He,\" \"Sha, Sha, Sha,\" \"Tu, Tu, Tu,\" as well as \"Ten Thousand Victories,\" \"Long Live,\" \"Might and Power,\" and other slogans. The various Ming armies were the same.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After roaring these mighty slogans in unison, and feeling the countless close comrades beside them, it was a kind of power difficult to describe. Amidst this roaring, the somewhat nervous feelings of Han Kaihui and the others seemed to vanish completely.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And at this moment, the Qing riders surging forward like a tide of iron steeds were already not far from the Jingbian Army infantry formation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>On the third day of the eighth month of the fourteenth year of Chongzhen, at the hour of Wu, the battle between the Jingbian Army and the various banners of the Qing state began.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The tide-like Qing cavalry surged forward. In front of them were light cavalry with superb horsemanship, and concealed behind them were Qing death soldiers, both men and horses clad in double armor.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>These death soldiers not only rode heavy horses themselves but also used their weapons to drive herds of horses before them, vainly attempting to use these to break open the Jingbian Army's formations.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>However, those using death soldiers to drive horse herds were mostly aimed at the three or four small formations slightly to the right among the six small formations in front of the Jingbian Army. Because compared to the left side, the terrain there was gentler, suitable for swift and heavy horse charges.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When those light cavalry with superb horsemanship were two or three hundred paces from the Jingbian Army formations, they still performed the maneuver of pulling their horses around in circles, vainly attempting to repeat their old trick, hoping to draw the Jingbian Army into firing cannons and arquebuses, achieving the same effect as when they defeated Bai Guangen.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>However, the six small formations of the Jingbian Army ahead each remained strictly immobile, merely seeming to find their antics laughable.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>All the first-class armored soldiers stood ready in strict formation within the wagon fortifications. These wagon fortifications were slightly shorter left to right and slightly longer front to back, designed to exert the power of flanking fire. In front of each of these six small formations were arrayed five Great General Folangji cannons, and then every two war wagons flanked one cannon, with large shields set up outside. The outer sides of the war wagons were all planted with dense long spears.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The five first-class armored small formations following behind each deployed two Great General Folangji cannons at the front of their formations. The canister shot fired by two cannons could cover a range seventy to eighty meters wide.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Within each formation, whether arquebusiers or pikemen, all had already lowered the iron masks attached to their helmet caps. Especially those pikemen, several rows of whom held Ten-Thousand-Man Destroyers, while the men beside them each held a fire stick, ready at any moment to light them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Qing riders pressed closer and closer; their ferocious expressions could be seen more clearly, yet the Jingbian Army still remained unmoved. Those Qing soldiers had no choice; rolling waves of light cavalry, heavy cavalry, death soldiers, and elite soldiers advanced. In the blink of an eye, the tide-like torrent had already surged before each wagon fortification.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With a ringing clang like a dragon's cry, within each of these small formations, a Squad Commander from the cannon battalion was responsible for directing the artillery. One by one, they drew their battle swords and pointed them obliquely!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Boom, boom, boom, boom, boom!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The thunderous roar of the large Folangji cannons was unceasing. Amidst the deafening cannon fire, each Folangji cannon loaded with canister shot spewed great gouts of fierce smoke and flame forward.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeming to shudder from the force, each of these large Folangji cannons was loaded with at least several hundred lead and iron pellets. The canister shot they fired could reach over two hundred meters in length and thirty to forty meters in width.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The bombardment of five Great General Folangji cannons in each small formation was like the volley of over a thousand arquebuses. Countless pellets swept across; only the screams of men and the neighing of horses could be heard. Large numbers of Qing soldiers and horses, drenched in blood, tumbled and rolled upon the ground. (To be continued.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Continued. 'This text is provided by @XiaoAi332335' If you enjoy this work, welcome to come to ◣the original publisher◥ to cast recommendation votes and monthly tickets. Your support is my greatest motivation.)\u003C\u002Fp>",6085,"2026-06-03T14:05:53.320Z",1,"Novelzhen Translator","156b2c20f8247cc07ad9605e73a36cfbc0e4736f3b1279d55881bef47b62ff6c","a-little-soldier-of-the-late-ming-border-army-chapter-495","a-little-soldier-of-the-late-ming-border-army-chapter-493",896,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fa-little-soldier-of-the-late-ming-border-army-cover.jpg"]