[{"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-541":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},1205830,1561,"Chapter 541: Artillery Duel Across the River (Part 1)","a-little-soldier-of-the-late-ming-border-army-chapter-541",541,"\u003Cp>At the hour of Chen, Wang Dou's central army and infantry battalion were not far southwest of Mount Shuangzi.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He rode in a towering command chariot, with his great banner before him; not far behind stood a twenty-meter-tall observation-pole wagon, followed by one great drum wagon after another.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He gazed out the window — through the figures of the stalwart guard-battalion riders beside him, the forms of his infantry battalion soldiers flickered in and out of view. They were marching in great strides; though every man was drenched in sweat, their morale remained high, and the hands gripping their weapons showed not the slightest tremor.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Although each man's armor was not heavy — the full set weighed only about thirty jin, and once distributed across the whole body it felt even lighter — after all, this was a long-distance forced march. Having covered several tens of li, the toil was plain to imagine.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet they persevered. The soldiers' expressions were resolute; they simply strode forward. The morale officers of each unit kept shouting encouragement from the side, and every time they received a full-throated response.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing their spirited, vigorous bearing, Wang Dou felt gratified at heart — this was truly his own army.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In truth, when they had set out from camp, Wang Dou had also wanted to march on foot with the soldiers, to show that he led by example. He also had the thought of seizing the chance to move about and see whether his physical strength and endurance had declined; ever since his status had risen, he spent his days either riding a horse or sitting in a carriage, and even his walking had grown less and less.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But his subordinates earnestly dissuaded him, saying that only if the Grand General sat securely within his carriage, with no hint of danger, could they set their minds at ease and march to battle.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They further said that given the Grand General's status, if he walked on foot alongside common soldiers, it would inevitably detract from his dignity.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Dou had no choice but to let it go. How could he not understand the national customs of this age? So long as those in high positions were not excessively extravagant, the more magnificent and imposing their daily living and attire, the more their subordinates took pride in it. If you dressed and lived shabbily, your subordinates would instead feel it damaged their face.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>An obvious example: after Wang Dou's great banner and command chariot, in their magnificence and imposing grandeur, firmly overshadowed all the other armies, every man in the Jingbian Army, from generals to soldiers, felt his face aglow with honor.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In this age, being approachable and mingling with the soldiers was not welcomed. The subordinates followed you into deadly struggle and battle — was it not in the hope that one day they too could enjoy such honor and glory?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>** is the engine that drives humanity forward. Well, every gain must come with a loss.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Only, at times he sighed with emotion that the life of ordinary people was growing ever more distant from him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As the great army advanced, night scouts came galloping back one after another, relaying battle reports from the front.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Amid rolling dust and smoke, yet another night scout came racing in at full gallop, reined to an urgent halt beside the command chariot, and loudly reported: \"Reporting to the Grand General: the rebel slaves have ceased crossing the river and are frantically digging trenches three li from the north bank. The rebel slaves at Maojiagou have already withdrawn. Troops at Mount Shuangzi have increased. At Assistant Regional Commander Han's position on the north bank, the slave cavalry are attacking with utmost ferocity!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Dou immediately looked toward the sand table inside the chariot.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His command chariot, drawn by four large horses, was solidly built on the outside and could withstand heavy Hongyi cannons. The interior was spacious and comfortable, furnished with a sand table, and on one inner wall hung a map. At this moment, several key staff officers of the central battalion, such as Qin Yi and others, were also inside the command chariot.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chi Dacheng, Wen Daxing, and Zhong Diaoyang were also standing by the guardrail.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The platform of this command chariot stood three meters high, offering a vast field of vision and thorough protection — truly essential equipment for a great commander on campaign.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wen Daxing said delightedly, \"The rebel slaves cannot cross the river — our army has won the first victory. This is all thanks to the Grand General's merit!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The several staff officers beside him were likewise full of cheerful talk and laughter. Qin Yi kept his eyes fixed on the sand table; no matter when he sat, he was always like an erect green pine.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He then said thoughtfully, \"The rebel slaves, blocked and repulsed, have fallen back. Once the infantry battalions of the various garrisons arrive, we can fully sweep the enemy on the south bank! However, the slave rebels digging trenches three li from the north bank is disadvantageous to our forces. If the various garrisons cross the river, the troops and horses will have no room to deploy, and the rebel slaves will strike us mid-crossing. The ground on the north bank requires at least five li of buffer.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhong Diaoyang also studied the sand table and said steadily, \"Ten li would be best.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Dou nodded slowly. In truth, the optimal strategy for this battle was to confront the Qing army across the Nüer River. But if they could not exert enough pressure, they would probably be unable to draw the Qing main force to the north bank of the Nüer River. Falling back to the next best option, they could only fight their way across to the north bank of the Nüer River.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Of course, if the Qing main force massed on the north bank, the Ming army need only hold the south bank. Depending on the battlefield situation, the Jingbian Army's staff officers had already drawn up numerous plans. However, seizing some strongpoints on the north bank was essential; thus, they could advance to attack and withdraw to defend, holding the advantage in both strategy and tactics.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Now, having caught the Qing army off guard, the initial phase of the plan had already been achieved. The defending troops at Maojiagou had already withdrawn, and Han Chao had also seized a ridge on the north bank of the Nüer River. The moment had come to expand the gains, capture Mount Shuangzi, and attempt to enlarge the buffer zone on the north bank.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He fixed his sharp gaze on several key points on the sand table and issued a succession of orders: \"Order: Zhong Xiancai to lead the Jia-grade troops and immediately reinforce Han Chao's unit. Zhao Xuan's artillery battalion to provide covering fire. The small folangji cannons in that battalion are to cross the river at once and assist in defending the ridge. The key points on the north bank must not be lost under any circumstances!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>According to intelligence, several pontoon bridges on both banks of the Nüer River — especially the large pontoon bridge near Mount Shuangzi — had already been destroyed, and under the threat of Ming artillery fire, they could not be repaired. At this moment, the Qing army had already ceased crossing the river, so the cannons could be freed up to give full support to Han Chao on the opposite bank.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Moreover, the Nüer River was not wide; the river's breadth was no more than one or two hundred meters. Hongyi heavy cannons set up on the south bank were sufficient to cover the opposite bank.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Of course, if the main army crossed the river, the heavy cannons would likewise need to be pushed across. But to expand the buffer zone, infantry, cavalry, and artillery had to coordinate with one another. At this moment, the infantry battalions of the other garrisons had not yet arrived. If the Jingbian Army crossed in full strength to expand the gains, there was the worry of being too isolated and weak.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Dou's orders were swiftly relayed by Zhong Diaoyang, who dispatched orderlies from the command camp to race to the front lines.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Dou listened intently. Earlier, the rumble of cannons had still been roaring from the direction of the Nüer River, but now the reports had grown much sparser. Clearly, the Qing cavalry's assault on Han Chao's ridge had slackened. Yet this present quiet was the brewing of the next great battle.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He asked, \"Where have the Shenji Battalion's firearms and cannons reached?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wen Daxing, responsible for intelligence, immediately answered, \"The scout riders report back that they have already reached Gujiazhuang.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Dou frowned. At the Shenji Battalion's speed, they would at the earliest reach the front lines by the hour of Si.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And for the assault on Mount Shuangzi — because the ridge's defensive lines were now full of trenches everywhere, and many sections were further protected with sandbags and earth-filled baskets — the bombardment effect of the Hongyi heavy cannons might be poor. They needed the Shenji Battalion's mortars and rockets. Until those arrived, the offensive could not easily be launched.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Because he maintained close contact with Yang Guozhu and the others pressing on from the rear, Wang Dou knew that Yang Guozhu's infantry formation was a little over two li from him, and Wang Pu's infantry formation was about three-plus li away. And those were their new armies; those old-style garrison troops were even farther behind, and on the march, they could hardly be said to maintain any formation at all.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The same went even more for Shanxi Regional Commander Li Fuming, Mobile Corps Regional Commander of Reinforcement Zuo Guangxian, and the infantry of Ji Garrison.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In terms of physical strength and endurance, those new armies did not necessarily surpass the garrison troops. It was just that their discipline was relatively better, so they could persevere and keep coming. On the march, the difference between the two became apparent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In particular, Yang Guozhu's new army performed well, but they still could not compare to the Jingbian Army. In physical strength alone, they were greatly inferior.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After all, the Jingbian Army's food, provisions, and training were the most rational and the most outstanding of this age.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As for the Shenji Battalion…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They lagged far behind. Dragging their ponderous, heavy cannons forward was one reason.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Advancing west from Songshanbao, although the terrain was undulating and the great army could not always travel by the official roads, under years of drought the open wilderness everywhere was flat and dry. Apart from nearby garrison villages, there were few obstacles like fields, ditches, or trenches, and the ground was still easy to traverse.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But heavy cannons were, after all, difficult to move. A difference of a thousand jin lighter or a thousand jin heavier, when rolling over the road surface, made an enormous difference in speed. Especially the Shenji Battalion's Shenwei Grand General Cannons, which were even heavier, and their four-wheeled carriages were harder to move than two-wheeled gun carriages.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Dou knew that Fu Yingchong, in striving to put on a good showing, was doing his utmost, and urging him on was useless. He could only sigh that the tempo of warfare in this age was far too slow.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He rose and walked to the guardrail at the front of the chariot, the various officers and officials following at his sides as before.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gazing out over the mountains and rivers, this land of Liaoxi held an extra air of bleak desolation compared to inside the passes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Looking further at the great earth ahead, countless soldiers were locked in deadly combat in that very direction. The sounds of muskets and cannons, the shouts of killing, could faintly be heard.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Dou's heart grew calm and steady. He issued another order: \"Order the infantry battalion: advance at full speed.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Advance at full speed!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The officers at every level passed Wang Dou's order down layer by layer. The weary soldiers let out a great roar and broke into a uniform, orderly trot as a body.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The entire battle formation was like undulating waves; the swaying iron helmets and the gleaming long spears and bird guns shone with dazzling brilliance under the morning sun.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When Wang Dou led the infantry battalion to arrive, the south bank of the Nüer River erupted in a tide-like cheer. The remaining Qing troops on the south bank had lost all will to fight; some withdrew toward the Mount Shuangzi area, while others simply retreated across the river via some pontoon bridges. Some Ming cavalry were spiritedly pursuing and cutting them down.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Traces of battle were everywhere: abandoned weapons and banners could be seen at every turn, blood was spattered all around, and there were headless corpses of Qing soldiers.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Heads were precious. For many Ming soldiers, taking heads was the first priority. Some Ming cavalry from friendly garrisons even waded deep into the river to haul up the bodies of drowned Qing soldiers.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just as Wang Dou arrived, he could still hear the booming of cannons from the bank, the crackling of muskets from the opposite side, mingled with the roaring of folangji cannons firing grapeshot.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Qing cavalry on the opposite bank were attacking the ridge held by Han Chao in wave after wave, but because of reinforcements from Zhong Xiancai and the bombardment from the Jingbian Army's artillery battalion not far from the small pontoon bridge on the south bank, the ridge on the opposite bank remained firmly in Han Chao's hands.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Moreover, Zhao Xuan urgently hauled his cannons over to support that artillery position. The Qing troops on the opposite bank saw it clearly, and with Wang Dou’s infantry battalion also arriving, they finally withdrew in frustration.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Presumably, the Qing cavalry on the opposite bank had already figured things out: their heavy artillery and baggage had not arrived, and if they tried to storm the mountain ridge or cross to this bank for a major battle with the Ming army, it would only be a futile waste of men and horses.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So they only had a few roving cavalrymen circling the mountain’s edge. Because the Jingbian Army’s artillery battalion on the south bank occasionally fired a few shells, they did not dare to get too close.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Dou gazed toward the north bank. At that moment over there, clusters of Qing army banners were gathering. As horns sounded, Qing cavalry kept arriving to join the assembly. Looking far across the north bank, cavalry were massed layer upon layer — it was impossible to tell how many Eight Banners reinforcements had already arrived.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Would the main Qing force converge on the north bank?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Dou lowered his telescope and thought again, “The Eight Banners have a great number of cavalry and hold the tactical advantage. Had this battle not caught them off guard, we could never have achieved such results. Even now, Twin Peaks Mountain is still occupied by the Qing army.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He looked toward Twin Peaks Mountain. On its eastern side, all the way to some ridges of Rufeng Mountain, and also across what seemed to be the northern part of the mountain, quite a few Qing cavalry were arrayed. And a steady stream of Qing riders was still crossing the Nü’er River at the northern end of Rufeng Mountain, rushing to reinforce Twin Peaks Mountain.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Once the infantry battalions of the various garrisons had gathered and the Shenji Battalion’s artillery had arrived, a great battle would be fought around Twin Peaks Mountain, and even on both banks of the Nü’er River.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When Wang Dou arrived, Zhao Xuan had his central army command set up an artillery position near the large pontoon bridge on the left, establishing sandbag protective ramparts to guard against the Han Eight Banners’ red-barbarian cannon fire.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He himself hurried over at once to receive Wang Dou, chattering away as he boasted about how devastating his own artillery battalion had just been, and lavishly praised the effectiveness of the silk-wrapped powder charges.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Dou, however, could tell that his real intention was not the wine but something else — namely, to get more funding allocated to him. (To be continued.)\u003C\u002Fp>",2713,"2026-06-03T14:05:53.320Z",1,"Novelzhen Translator","6e1a07fb9361bf50816dc2b5cd81315b821db7d5aa54e1f434bc96492e7fe187","a-little-soldier-of-the-late-ming-border-army-chapter-542","a-little-soldier-of-the-late-ming-border-army-chapter-540",896,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fa-little-soldier-of-the-late-ming-border-army-cover.jpg"]