[{"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-53":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},1205342,1561,"Chapter 53: Brawl at the Livestock Market","a-little-soldier-of-the-late-ming-border-army-chapter-53",53,"\u003Cp>Yang Dongmin was talking with Wang Dou and his companions over there, while Li Tianxu and Li Tiancheng watched the situation unfold and sensed something was off; the two exchanged puzzled glances.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After a short while, Yang Dongmin rode over with his retainers. Li Tianxu hurriedly bowed and fawned, asking, \"My Lord Yang, have the identities of those military ruffians all been verified?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yang Dongmin said flatly, \"I already have a clear grasp of the matter. You wait here. I will go report to His Excellency.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yang Dongmin returned to that cavalry unit, and after a moment he came back and said, \"The matter is now clear. What you alleged just now is pure fabrication. Do not make trouble here. Disperse, all of you.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Tianxu was stunned; he had not expected things to turn out this way. Anxiously he said, \"My Lord Yang, Wanshenghe truly did deliberately disrupt the market, and even brought in those military ruffians to commit assault and injury. This is absolutely an ironclad fact.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yang Dongmin barked sharply, \"Insolence! How dare you speak to this official in such a manner. Li Tianxu, your Li family's several rice shops have been driving up prices all along — do not think I am unaware. If you say one more word, you will all be handed over for legal prosecution.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Tianxu was about to speak further when Yang Dongmin shot him a cold look. \"Li Tianxu, do not assume that just because your Li family has good relations with the Department Magistrate, our lord would not dare to move against you.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cold sweat instantly streamed down Li Tianxu's back. Lately the open and covert strife between the Defense Commander and the Department Magistrate had naturally reached their ears. He could not understand how this Wanshenghe rice shop had gotten entangled in the affair. With the higher-ups locked in struggle, small fry like them could not bear the strain — better to leave at once.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The two men withdrew their men resentfully. As they departed, Li Tianxu shot Wang Dou and his companions a venomous glare.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The street was crowded with onlookers. No one had expected this outcome. Everyone was buzzing with discussion, their eyes fixed on Wang Dou and his group.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Among the crowd of onlookers, standing at a distance, were several men dressed as merchants. Watching Li Tianxu and his men withdraw, one portly merchant said thoughtfully, \"I never imagined that Wanshenghe had dealings with the Defense Commander. This is important news. We must not act rashly; we need to investigate thoroughly before making any decision!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The several merchants beside him all nodded, praising his words as the counsel of a prudent man.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Inside the Wanshenghe rice shop, Zheng Jinglun, Madam Zheng, and the others were naturally overjoyed. Zheng Jinglun was just about to come out and cozy up to Yang Dongmin when Yang Dongmin had already ridden up before Wang Dou and said, \"Squad Commander Wang, His Excellency Xu wishes to see you. Come with me.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Dou dared not delay and hurriedly brought Han Chao and the others to follow Yang Dongmin over.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When they reached the troop of soldiers, there in the center, mounted upon a warhorse, sat a man wearing commandery attire, aged around forty-five or forty-six. His official robe was embroidered with the tiger-and-leopard pattern of a senior fourth-rank military officer. His temples were slightly graying, his nose broad and large, his face fleshy and heavy-jowled, with a square, country-shaped face that looked quite imposing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Dou knew this man was the Defense Commander of Baoanzhou City, Xu Zucheng. He hurriedly led Han Chao and the others forward to kowtow and bow to Xu Zucheng.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xu Zucheng scrutinized Wang Dou and his companions carefully and nodded repeatedly. \"Truly fierce and rugged — real men!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His voice was booming and resonant, full of vigor.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After praising them, he bade Wang Dou and the others rise.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He did not ask about the earlier incident, but simply said, \"I have heard from Garrison Commander Xu Zhongjun of Shun Fort that you, Wang Dou, are not only formidable in killing the enemy, but also highly effective in military farming. An impressive young man.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Dou hurriedly said, \"This is all thanks to Garrison Commander Xu's concern and generous regard that such results have been achieved. Your subordinates dare not claim credit.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xu Zucheng nodded with even greater satisfaction.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seated on his horse, he carefully studied Wang Dou, and the more he looked, the more pleased he became. In truth, he had always held a favorable impression of Wang Dou. The previous year, when the Later Jin army invaded and the Defense Commander of Baoanzhou City died in battle alongside the Department Magistrate, Xu Zucheng had set his sights on that post. However, at the time there were many contenders, and even though Xu Zucheng was on good terms with Li Yi'an, the Garrison Commander of Baoan Guard, obtaining the position had been far from easy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Back then, Xu Zucheng was merely the Defense Commander of Shunxiang Fort, with a hereditary rank of Battalion Commander, while his strongest rival at the time, Yang Zhichang, the Garrison Commander of the Five Forts, already held the titular rank of Assistant Guard Commander. By all appearances, the Defense Commander post could hardly have fallen to him, Xu Zucheng.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was precisely because Wang Dou and his men had rendered meritorious service in beheading Later Jin soldiers — that final push — that he, Xu Zucheng, had ultimately secured the Defense Commander position. If one calculated carefully, it all came down to the achievements of Wang Dou and his men. From that moment on, Xu Zucheng had held Wang Dou in appreciative regard.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Now, seeing that Wang Dou's speech was proper and that he did not claim credit or act arrogantly, Xu Zucheng nodded even more. Everyone hopes to have a loyal and valiant officer under their command.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Afterward, Xu Zucheng sighed and spoke again of Xu Zhongjun, expressing an indescribable regret for this former trusted subordinate of his. He said, \"Jiande handled affairs with a certain sharp drive. It is a pity his fortune is thin, and now he is gravely ill. Truly a shame.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Dou merely sighed along with him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xu Zucheng shook his head and asked Wang Dou what business had brought him to the prefectural city. Wang Dou told him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When it came up that his Jingbian Fort needed some physicians, Xu Zucheng thought for a moment, then summoned his retainer squad officer Yang Dongmin and instructed him to accompany Wang Dou on a trip to the Medical Office.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This Yang Dongmin was in his thirties, with a brawny build and a very solid frame — clearly a professional officer forged by daily training. Retainers like him were different from ordinary soldiers: their daily pay and rations were ample, their equipment good, and they had always served as the main combat strength of the various Ming commanders, their fighting capacity not weak at all.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yang Dongmin had previously been a Company Commander at Shunxiang Fort, serving as a squad officer leading one of Xu Zucheng's retainer squads of over fifty men. After Xu Zucheng was promoted to Assistant Guard Commander, Yang Dongmin was likewise promoted to Vice Battalion Commander, and now commanded over a hundred of Xu Zucheng's retainers stationed within the prefectural city.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>These hundred-odd men constituted the most critical fighting strength among Baoanzhou's thousand-plus government troops.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>……\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xu Zucheng praised and encouraged Wang Dou a few more times, then led his troops away. Wang Dou and his companions returned to the Wanshenghe rice shop for a short while before setting off with Yang Dongmin and his men for the Medical Office.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Medical Office was also located within the department government compound. The Great Ming established Medical Offices and Bureaus in every prefecture, department, and county, under which operated a Public Benefit Pharmacy. In normal times, it diagnosed and sold medicine to commoners, and also managed the storage of medicinal supplies and the preparation of patent medicines.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Soldiers, civilians, artisans, and the impoverished within the department and county could ordinarily seek medical treatment and medicine at the Public Benefit Pharmacy. When epidemics broke out, the Public Benefit Pharmacy was also required to provide free medicine. By now, however, most of the Public Benefit Pharmacies across the Great Ming existed in name only — either having physicians but no medicine, or with their premises dilapidated.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The group entered the rundown Medical Office. Inside, only one Medical Clerk, Wang Biao, was on duty; as for the rest of the physicians, no one knew where they had gone.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the Great Ming, Medical Clerks were generally appointed to a post but given no salary; they had to find their own means for daily sustenance. However, as government physicians, their medical skills were excellent, and by practicing medicine and selling remedies in ordinary times, they could still make a living.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing that Wang Dou and his companions had been personally brought by Yang Dongmin, the trusted general of the Defense Commander, Wang Biao naturally dared not be negligent. Moreover, when Wang Dou slipped a tael of silver into his hand, Wang Biao's expression grew even more amiable.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After Wang Dou made his request, Wang Biao's face showed difficulty. He pondered for a long while, then sighed, \"The prefectural city, no matter how you put it, is still a major city. That Jingbian Fort is merely a rural village garrison. To be honest, I fear no one would be willing to go there. However, I, your elder brother, can try to think of a way. Perhaps there is one person who could be dispatched.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The matter was thus settled. Seeing that the business was concluded, Yang Dongmin prepared to take his leave. Wang Dou hurriedly pressed five taels of silver into his hand, and gave one tael of silver each to the several personal attendants behind him. Yang Dongmin's expression grew even more cordial. He tossed the silver in his hand and laughed, \"Brother Wang is a straightforward man. Next time you come to the prefectural city on business, just come find your elder brother for a drink. I'd still like to ask Brother Wang for a few pointers.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing that things had gone smoothly, Wang Dou was also inwardly delighted. He laughed and said, \"When the time comes, I will inevitably have to trouble you, elder brother.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>……\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Early the next morning, after spending the night at Wanshenghe, Wang Dou and his companions set out for home.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Traveling with them were Zheng Jinglun and his people. He had several shop assistants escorting forty dan of rice and grain to Jingbian Fort. Sack after sack of grain and rice filled several carts and horses.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After the events of the previous day, bystanders now regarded him with a degree of awe, assuming he had some connection with Defense Commander Xu. Not only did no one come to harass the shop anymore, but even the proprietors of the neighboring shops wore much warmer expressions when they saw him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zheng Jinglun was a shrewd merchant and naturally understood that the current situation was entirely due to Wang Dou and his companions. He made a prompt decision and gifted Jingbian Fort forty dan of rice and grain, not accepting a single copper coin. His calculations were excellent: by doing this, he could not only build good relations with Wang Dou, but might also, through Wang Dou, establish a connection with Defense Commander Xu.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As for Zheng Jinglun's kind gesture, Wang Dou naturally accepted it without the slightest politeness.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And that fellow Gao Shiyin truly lived up to his reputation as a veteran of the pleasure quarters. Just one night spent at Wanshenghe, and he had already become intimately familiar with Madam Zheng's third younger sister, Zheng Xiaoyun, making the young lady immensely cheerful. At parting, she was still somewhat reluctant to see him go and agreed to Gao Shiyin's request that she visit Jingbian Fort when she had the time.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The trip had gone smoothly, and everything that needed to be done had been accomplished. Everyone was in high spirits. Han Zhong was even laughing and joking loudly with Gao Shiyin.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Traveling with the group was also a middle-aged scholar, whose head was as large as a dou measure. The Confucian robe on his body was wrinkled and grimy, and when he spoke, he was always bobbing his head. This middle-aged scholar was the Medical Office physician Wang Tianxue. The man's medical skill was decent, but he was lazy and gluttonous, with a particular fondness for the contents of a cup. While other physicians worked hard to go out and earn money to support their families, he just muddled along. The moment he had a bit of money, he would drink it all away, showing not the slightest concern for his wife and children at home — a fact that greatly displeased his wife, Madam Sun.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This time, when Medical Clerk Wang Biao of the Medical Office dispatched him to Jingbian Fort, Wang Tianxue was naturally extremely displeased. He refused on the spot: \"This student, as a dignified medical officer, how can I go to such a remote and rustic place? That would be a disgrace to refinement — absolutely not!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Biao had his own methods. He took Wang Dou to find Wang Tianxue's wife, Madam Sun, and promised her a monthly salary of one tael and five qian of silver, plus five dou of rice. If Wang Tianxue was willing to set out immediately, he would also receive five taels of silver as a resettlement allowance. Hearing such generous terms, Madam Sun agreed at once.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After a bout of shrewish scolding directed at her husband, Wang Tianxue, who had a touch of the henpecked about him, coupled with Wang Dou's promise to supply him with wine daily, had no choice but to come along with Wang Dou.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At this moment, he was riding a scrawny mule, looking at the surrounding scenery and bobbing his head as he sighed, \"Just look at this impoverished backwater — the official roads in disrepair, not even a wineshop to be found. To think that I, Wang Tianxue, have fallen to such a state. Truly, Heaven envies talent and disgraces refinement.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Han Zhong called out, \"Mr. Wang, you get drunk every day and don't even support your wife and children — that is the true disgrace to refinement.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Everyone burst out laughing. Although this trip had only yielded a single wine-bibbing physician, at least from now on, the soldiers and civilians within the fort would have some assurance when going into battle or falling ill. Everyone was still in good spirits.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Tianxue said nothing. Clearly, Han Zhong's words had made him lose face. After a long pause, he finally muttered under his breath, \"How can a sparrow understand the ambitions of a swan? Rustic village boors, vulgar in speech — I do not deign to engage with them.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>……\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The group crossed the Dongfang River and saw from afar the great waterwheel standing grandly on the riverbank. Zheng Jinglun and Wang Tianxue were both startled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Tianxue just stared wide-eyed, while Zheng Jinglun sighed, \"In such a short time, my lord Wang's fortified village has achieved so much — truly rare.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As they traveled on and saw field after field along the riverbank canals, Zheng Jinglun could only marvel. Hearing this, Wang Dou was also very pleased — this fortified village had absorbed so much of his heart and effort, and receiving others' praise and recognition, it would be false to say he was not happy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When they neared the Hundred-Household Canal livestock farm and saw the rows of pigsties and chicken runs, Zheng Jinglun sighed again. Wang Tianxue and the other workers also watched with curiosity.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Suddenly Wang Dou saw a large crowd gathered over by the pigsties, with shouts and curses ringing out continuously from within. He did not know what had happened there.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"What's going on?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Han Zhong called out in surprise.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>From a distance they could see a large crowd of Jingbian Fort military households watching. When they saw Wang Dou and his party return, they were overjoyed and rushed over. One man shouted, \"My lord, trouble! That young Lady Xu has gotten into a fight with several women, and now each side has gathered a crowd — they're about to start an armed brawl.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>※※※\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Old White Ox: There will be another chapter tonight, posted before midnight.\u003C\u002Fp>",2758,"2026-06-03T14:05:19.908Z",1,"Novelzhen Translator","694b9f87bc68a5440c5b35480bde52e9334980e85b9441f7198b420fcbb22095","a-little-soldier-of-the-late-ming-border-army-chapter-54","a-little-soldier-of-the-late-ming-border-army-chapter-52",896,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fa-little-soldier-of-the-late-ming-border-army-cover.jpg"]