[{"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-501":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},1205790,1561,"Chapter 501: Show-Piece Goods","a-little-soldier-of-the-late-ming-border-army-chapter-501",501,"\u003Cp>Rockets flew and struck, yet the Qing cavalry still surged and thundered forward, spread wide apart — squads in groups, hundreds in a wave — flowing like the tide along every slope and hill.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Because they were so widely dispersed, the rocket carts could not block their advance. As the charging enemy drew nearer, armor glinting and weapons dazzling the eye, a stir ran through the Divine Machine Battalion. Their earlier cheer vanished, and fear surged into every man's heart.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The officers and soldiers of the Divine Machine Battalion were all notorious pampered troops who normally never trained. In the past, they would have opened fire long ago. The reason they had held back until now was, first, Lin Jinsi's dispatch of personal guards to enforce discipline with an iron hand, and most importantly, the presence of the two-regiment Jingbian Army within their formation, which gave everyone a faint sense of reassurance and something to lean on.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Not to mention them — in truth, were not many of the Great Ming's frontier armies just the same? Although the Ming army's various wagon battalions were highly equipped with firearms, this also made many officers and men over-rely on their firearms, causing them to lose the nerve for close-quarters hand-to-hand combat. Coupled with a lack of training, the low qualification rate of many firearms, and chaotic firing when facing the enemy, the moment the Qing soldiers closed in and made a slight charge, the whole line would collapse in rout. Bai Guangen's several wagon battalions were a lesson from the past.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That they had held on until now was already an over-performance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lin Jinsi also felt his mouth go dry and bitter. Only Lei Xianbin beside him remained calm in expression. Such a scene was a mere trifle to him; from the time he joined the army until now, he had experienced it who knew how many times.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing the Qing cavalry charge closer and closer, Lei Xianbin at last said in a deep voice, \"Falconets!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lin Jinsi hurriedly roared, \"Falconets, open fire!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The swan-whistle sounded urgently, and cannon fire erupted in a great roar. From the wagon formation of the Divine Machine Battalion, dense clouds of smoke burst forth in billows.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Divine Machine Battalion's battle formation had one hundred gun wagons on its front face and forty gun wagons on its left flank. The cannon firing now were the one hundred wagons on the front face. Although these firearms were of the falconet-style breechloader pattern, they were in fact all \"Caitiff-Destroyer Cannons.\" Each wagon carried roughly three pieces. Made of pure forged iron, the barrels were two chi long and weighed about one hundred jin. They could fire a one-jin lead ball and around one hundred lead pellets or stone grapeshot.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The gunners for each wagon were divided into three squads. Amid the swan-whistles, they could be seen firing squad by squad in rotation. The cannons boomed like thunder, and shot poured out like hailstones. From time to time, Qing men and horses were pierced through, and mists of blood burst up.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet although these cannons seemed powerful, the actual damage they inflicted was slight. The rolling tide of Qing cavalry still surged forward, and the Divine Machine Battalion's wagon formation grew more and more panicked by the moment. These gunners might do well enough firing at leisure from behind city walls or fortifications, but facing the enemy in open battle put far too much pressure on them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Moreover, although falconets had the advantage of rapid loading, inserting the breech chamber demanded equally high precision: the chamber and the mother barrel had to fit tightly together. Otherwise, not only would the shot be fired weakly — a minor matter — but the escaping gas could scald their own men.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As the Qing cavalry pressed closer, mishaps multiplied, and the men grew flustered. The weather was already hot, and now large drops of sweat streamed down the gunners' faces. The thick, drifting gunpowder smoke also made them cough without cease.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Under all these conditions, apart from the three squads that had loaded their ammunition at the very start, the subsequent cannon fire from these Divine Machine Battalion gun wagons became scattered and chaotic, utterly devoid of power.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Amid rolling dust and smoke, large masses of Qing soldiers rapidly closed to within a hundred paces of the wagon formation's front. Many were about to charge up the hill.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Fire grapeshot!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Some officers shouted in desperation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Boom, boom, boom — some of the gun wagons fired grapeshot, spewing out great bursts of flame. Amid the cries of men and horses, some of the Qing cavalry who had charged close were struck by the flying lead pellets. Great mists of blood erupted as they howled and tumbled to the ground.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Open fire with muskets!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The swan-whistles in the central army sounded loudly. Amid the officers' roars, the crack of muskets erupted like popping beans. The musketeers of the Divine Machine Battalion, who had long been at the breaking point, at once swarmed like bees at a hive, leaning over the gun-wagon shields and firing outward with shrieks.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Bang, bang, bang!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Great plumes of white smoke rose, and the thick, sulfurous stench of gunpowder spread. More Qing riders and horses toppled, crashing to the ground in agony, rolling and screaming. But the following masses of Qing cavalry had already charged to within a few dozen paces of the wagon formation's front.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Bowstrings hummed as wave after wave of arrows flew from their cavalry bows. Some men, borrowing the momentum of their horses, continuously hurled javelins, throwing axes, spinning blades, broadswords, and other weapons.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Ah...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Some of the Divine Machine Battalion's musketeers and gunners were struck by arrows or hit by javelins and other missiles.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Although the Qing soldiers' cavalry bows were not as powerful as infantry bows — the arrows were not especially fast and did not fly especially far — each shot was astonishingly accurate, and they seemed entirely unaffected by the jolting of the horses' backs. In particular, their arrowheads were all large and heavy, with blood grooves and a triangular cross-section. Their armor-piercing and bloodletting capability was extremely strong. If a man was hit, he would quickly bleed to death.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Against the Qing army's archery, if one had fine, excellent armor, it was one thing; but if one had no armor, or poor armor...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This was also the reason why the Jingbian Army, despite its sharp muskets and cannons, still wore full armor. Even if the entire army adopted flintlocks with bayonets in the future, as long as the eastern caitiffs had not fully converted to firearms, Wang Dou would not abandon armor.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Regrettably, the armor of the Divine Machine Battalion before them, though it looked gleaming and splendid, was for the most part mere show.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When the Qing army loosed their arrows, the dense ranks of musketeers and gunners on the front wagon line dodged in panic, yet some were still hit. The gunners especially — the gun wagons were open in the center, and though there were shields on both sides, to fire the cannon they had to expose themselves to the threat of the Qing cavalry's bows.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Those who were struck, after a muffled grunt, quickly felt their whole bodies go limp and collapsed weakly to the ground. From their wounds, fresh blood flowed ceaselessly. Their armor had been pierced clean through by the caitiffs' cavalry bows in a single shot. Much of it was outwardly resplendent but inwardly foul — armor of bean-curd dregs.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This kind of armor was utterly detestable. Back in his day, Qi Jiguang had raged: \"...Now our armor, outside it looks new and presentable, but inside the iron leaves, a single piece has several holes. If the rust-eaten remains still hold the shape of iron, that is considered good; the rest are as hollow as a sieve. The enemy's arrows can pierce it, and blades can cleave it...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The armor of many Divine Machine Battalion soldiers was exactly that — pierceable by the enemy's arrows. In peacetime it was undetectable, magnificent beyond compare, but once battle came, its true nature was revealed. It could not even withstand cavalry bows, let alone javelins and throwing axes. And the price of this was paid with their lives.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The rolling tide of Qing cavalry, braving the musket balls and cannon fire, surged forward wave after wave like the tide. They maneuvered their horses with practiced skill, coming and going, going and coming, as if in an endless stream. As they galloped in formation, every hum of the bowstring sent arrows flying like locusts, and javelins rained down.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Divine Machine Battalion's musketeers and gunners on the front of the wagon formation were already in utter chaos. Men were constantly hit by arrows or pierced clean through by javelins and other missiles. Screams never ceased. Their cannon and musket fire became scattered and chaotic. In the exchange of fire with the Qing cavalry, they were actually getting the worst of it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Although the Qing cavalry outside had not yet charged the formation — the nearest caitiff soldiers had only ridden up to a dozen or so paces from the wagons to loose their arrows — the savage and brutal aura about them could still be felt with piercing clarity.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wherever their eyes fell, the venomous look in those eyes seemed utterly devoid of human nature, like snarling, claw-baring human-shaped beasts. The moment their eyes met, the hearts of those Divine Machine Battalion soldiers quailed by three parts. Moreover, the blood-soaked tension of battle made it so that of their own skills, they could not bring even three parts out of ten to bear.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Load powder, load shot, fire fast!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Amid the officers' orders, the musketeers fumbled frantically to load their ammunition. Although they used Lumi muskets — firearms of fine quality — their ammunition was not in pre-measured paper cartridges. The steps were numerous, and in the heat of battle, with life and death before their very eyes, every man's face was sallow, his mouth dry, his heart panicked, and his hands trembling.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Some mixed up the priming powder and the main charge, some forgot to insert the lead ball, some loaded too many balls, some loaded too little powder — all manner of mishaps emerged endlessly. In particular, with the caitiffs' arrows flying in ceaselessly and the men beside them collapsing with shrieks, their minds grew even more distracted and confused.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They were using the three-rank musketeer advance-and-retreat attack tactic, a fire-and-pass tactic that required tight coordination between the front and rear ranks. That tactic had reached its peak during the reign of Emperor Yingzong. But the Divine Machine Battalion had been neglected for so long that, in using the front-rear pass-fire tactic now, every man's ability fell far short of his will. Lin Jinsi understood this as well, so he merely had the musketeers fire in three ranks, advancing and retreating.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>However, the Qing soldiers had not been firing from horseback for long before, under the threat of the arrow storm, everyone lost their heads. Many acted on their own, and the distinction between front and rear ranks vanished — all was chaos.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Many officers shouted themselves hoarse, to no avail.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Ah!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tian Dayang was equally panic-stricken. Watching the Jingbian Army fight with such ease, only now that it was his turn did he realize how terribly difficult it was to earn military merit.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His position was on the forward wing of the wagon formation. Looking into the distance, he saw caitiff soldiers howling across the mountains and plains. They all wore black helmets with red tassels, the sharp spikes atop their helmets standing tall. They wore front-opening cotton armor studded with bosses on the outside; only the color of the armor differed — some blue, some yellow, some blue with red trim.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There were also some caitiff soldiers whose armor was even lighter, seemingly having only the bosses without iron leaves inlaid inside. Most of them carried only short, soft cavalry bows and lacked the great infantry bows.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Some of them also held suluding spears hung with wolf pelts — a weapon similar to the tangba fork. These men wore yellow armor, red armor, or merely fur robes and fox-fur hats; they were likely Mongol caitiff soldiers.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What they shared with the Manchu soldiers was the same crude savagery, their eyes filled with brutality and ferocity. When they howled and charged forward, Tian Dayang dared not even look into their eyes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Their horsemanship was even more superb; they could perform all manner of unimaginable maneuvers on horseback. They galloped up squad by squad, brushing past the chevaux-de-frise in front of the war wagons. Dense volleys of arrows, like pouring rain, fell ceaselessly upon the musketeers and gunners behind the gun wagons and war wagons. From time to time, men groaned and collapsed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Right before his eyes, not far from Tian Dayang, that plump musketeer Zhao Jiafu was struck in the throat by an arrow. Blood spurted out, and he crumpled feebly to the ground. Before the battle, he had even teased Tian Dayang — who could have imagined he would so soon return his soul to Heaven?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There was another musketeer whose throat was slashed by a spinning blade, drawing a mist of blood. He fell to the ground clutching his throat, struggling desperately — surely he would not survive either.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet another gunner had a throwing axe bite deep into his chest. His show-piece armor could not protect him; the wound was cut extremely deep. If not death, then a severe wound.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tian Dayang's scalp tingled, and his hands grew ever more frantic as he loaded his ammunition. He had already fired several shots, though he had no idea if he had killed even one caitiff. In the midst of his panic, he suddenly heard Chen Sheng's voice beside his ear: \"Don't panic. Listen carefully to my commands.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Open the priming pan!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tian Dayang hurriedly did as he was told and opened the priming pan of his Lumi musket.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Pour the priming powder!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tian Dayang hastily took a bamboo tube from his priming flask and poured in the priming powder.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Close the priming pan. Take out the main charge.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Pour in the lead ball, take the ramrod!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Calm your mind and steady your breath, aim at the Tartars!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As Chen Sheng spoke, he aimed his own Lumi musket at a fellow a hundred paces away who carried a suruding, wore wolf pelts, and donned red-se armor. The man was spurring his horse and shouting, directing his subordinates to ride and attack the formation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Like him, his close friend Ju Yiwu likewise took aim at a Tartar officer.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Go to hell!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chen Sheng decisively pulled the trigger. The musket cracked, a man fell — a spurt of blood shot from the fellow's chest, and he tumbled from his horse. A faint sense of release filled Chen Sheng's heart: with a fine weapon in hand, taking an enemy's life was as easy as plucking something from a bag.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A smile spread across Ju Yiwu's face — he had blown the head off the Fende Boshiku he had targeted.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tian Dayang pulled the trigger and let out a gleeful shout: \"Hit!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chen Sheng said, \"Right, just like that — simple, isn't it? Brother Tian, we shall meet again in the capital.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With that, he and Ju Yiwu departed. Each of them had at least five or six arrows stuck in their bodies, yet they paid them no mind. The fine armor of the Jingbian Army had effectively protected their safety.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tian Dayang watched Chen Sheng's retreating figure: \"Brother Chen, we shall meet again in the capital!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He drew a deep breath: \"Open the touch-hole!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>……\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Several thousand Qing cavalry attacking the left wing, organized by company, surged wave after tide-like wave against the frontal wagon formation of the Shenji Battalion. They kept loosing arrows from a distance and shooting at close range — arrows fell like rain. Under the cavalry's assault, the defensive line of that wagon battalion seemed on the verge of collapse.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A large body of cavalry also charged toward the Shenji Battalion's second wagon formation, where they were caught in a pincer between the left wing of the first wagon formation and the front of the second.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Afterward, these cavalry attacked the left wing of the second wagon formation, while smaller bands of horsemen skirted around the hills on the left, intent on threatening the rear wing of the second formation and menacing the central grand formation on the right.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Guo Yingxian led Wang Zheng and Li Yunshu out to engage and drive them off: \"Haha, it's finally my turn!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Arrows flew thick and fast. It seemed the Qing forces had detected the wavering of the Shenji Battalion's wagon formation — its muskets and cannons were completely suppressed by their own side's arrow fire. The Qing light cavalry surged forward in waves to shoot at close range, while their heavy cavalry stirred restlessly in the rear, poised to strike.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The twang of bowstrings sounded without cease, and screams merged into one continuous din. Behind the gun carts, the Shenji Battalion's musketeers and artillerymen were struck by arrows one after another.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Those Qing infantry bows were each large and heavy, and the arrows they loosed carried great force and weight, with even greater accuracy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Shenji Battalion's shoddy, showpiece armor could not even withstand cavalry bows — how could it possibly stop the ferocious and deadly Qing infantry bows?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Not only did the shields of every gun cart bristle with arrows like hedgehogs, but many soldiers who could not react in time were hit — many of them struck by several arrows at once.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Like the cavalry bows, the Qing infantry bow arrows were equally large and heavy, fitted with blood grooves and triangular in shape; the shafts were longer and the heads even larger. Once hit, a man would rapidly bleed to death or lose all fighting capacity.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Amid muffled groans, many Shenji Battalion soldiers were struck by arrows in quick succession. Not a few were hit in the eyes, throat, face, and other vital spots. Even those struck in the arm or thigh — because the arrows penetrated so deeply and the bleeding would not stop — collapsed one after another.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Moreover, their wounds were difficult to stitch closed. If treatment was even slightly delayed, they would lose their lives.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Qing arrow storm descended like a plague of locusts, volley after volley in rapid succession, swift and vicious. Those struck screamed without end, their bodies and the ground soaked in blood. The sight turned the faces of onlookers pale.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing the situation turning dire, many were already preparing to retreat. But within this wagon formation, where could they retreat to? If they did not hold fast to the war wagons, they would meet the same fate as Bai Guangen.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"No retreat! Those who disobey will be executed!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lin Jinsi's personal guards and retainers brandished their blades with desperate fury, bellowing to stop the soldiers from falling back.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet facing the fiendish Tartar soldiers ahead and the lethal rain of arrows, those retreating Shenji Battalion musketeers and artillerymen paid them no heed whatsoever.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Besides, everyone here was of noble descent — you're just borrowing authority to bully others; who's really afraid of whom?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In an instant, the two sides were grappling and shoving together in a tangled, chaotic mess.\u003C\u002Fp>",3246,"2026-06-03T14:05:53.320Z",1,"Novelzhen Translator","7446725225cd40f1c838c9c8f559b8f3a9e311d4a003fbe3175bfeb2a1f59b4c","a-little-soldier-of-the-late-ming-border-army-chapter-502","a-little-soldier-of-the-late-ming-border-army-chapter-500",896,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fa-little-soldier-of-the-late-ming-border-army-cover.jpg"]