[{"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-548":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},1205837,1561,"Chapter 548: Beside the Xiaoling River (Part 2)","a-little-soldier-of-the-late-ming-border-army-chapter-548",548,"\u003Cp>The battle at Shuangzi Mountain had reached a stalemate. Blocked by the Jingbian Army's artillery fire, the Qing forces could not cross the river for a long time. An artillery duel between the two sides was imminent. At this critical moment, the Ming army only needed to stop the enemy reinforcements from crossing the river to achieve victory.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the central army's main formation, Hong Chengchou, Zhang Ruoqi, and the others all wore hesitant expressions. In an artillery duel, could the Jingbian Army's artillery battalion gain the upper hand? After all, the Qing army's nearly one hundred Shenwei Grand General cannons exerted immense pressure on the Ming forces.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Qing ruler and his ministers on Mount Rufeng were equally tense. Could the artillery battalion they had spent a fortune to build achieve the desired results?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Watching the massive artillery group being hauled up on the opposite bank, it seemed the Uzhen Hachao Artillery Battalion was about to enter within one li and open fire on them. Zhao Xuan's expression grew stern. He was indifferent to external affairs, but whenever it involved artillery matters, he became exceptionally serious and could devote his entire energy with single-minded focus.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His subordinates suggested opening fire while the enemy was still advancing, but Zhao Xuan rejected the idea. He wanted to wait until all the Qing cannons had been hauled up and were in the very moment of being set up, then open fire and deliver a thunderous assault, crushing Kong Youde's artillery battalion in one fell swoop under a storm of bombardment.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At that moment, on the opposite bank, Kong Youde could not dispel the worry in his heart. Watching the Jingbian Army's artillery group already arrayed in full battle readiness, their dark, dense muzzles pointed squarely at his side.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Since several years ago, the Jingbian Army's firearm and cannon units had gained widespread notoriety, exerting immense psychological pressure on the Qing forces. In previous battles, their own cannons had held the range advantage, and so they had suppressed the Jingbian Army's artillery positions, preventing them from raising their heads.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But now that both sides were within each other's range, could they win? Kong Youde was not confident!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Still, he remained quite self-assured. His Uzhen Hachao Artillery Battalion possessed the most elite gunners of the former Great Ming, the most powerful artillery group in both the Ming and Qing states, and a large number of Portuguese gunners. I do not believe I will lose to the Jingbian Army's artillery battalion!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He passed down the order: \"The army shall advance bravely. Those who dare to fight will all be richly rewarded. Any who dare retreat will all be executed!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Those Han army gunners also knew there was no retreat. Ahead, Kong Youde with a ferocious face was overseeing the formation; behind, the Manchu and Mongol army formations were supervising; and off to the side, the Qing Emperor was watching from the mountain. Driven by fear, they too threw caution to the wind, each one letting out beast-like howls as they hauled the cannons, desperately accelerating their advance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Beneath a bright red banner of sun, moon, and surging waves, Zhao Xuan put down his spyglass and gave a cold snort inwardly. As expected, the Uzhen Hachao Artillery Battalion on the opposite side was already frantically setting up their cannons within the range predicted by his own observation officers. The distance between the two artillery positions was exactly one li.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He watched the large number of laborers on the opposite side, under the direction of their gunners, desperately unhitching the oxen and turning the cannons around. Compared to the Shenji Battalion, these Han army gunners were indeed well-trained; the setting up of their artillery formation could be described as swift.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But their Shenwei Grand General cannons were heavy, and in the midst of such chaos, how could they be set up so easily?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In Zhao Xuan's eyes, their cannon setup speed was far inferior to that of the Jingbian Army, and it appeared particularly chaotic, with large groups of oxen and horses, gunners, and cannons all scattered and clustered into piles.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He saw that behind the opposing artillery formation stretched the continuous Han Eight Banners army formations, all of them waiting—waiting for the artillery bombardment to gain the upper hand so they could seize the opportunity to cross the river.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The fierce sun once again blazed upon the earth. Zhao Xuan took a deep breath. I firmly believe that our Jingbian Army's artillery battalion is invincible under heaven!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His face darkened, and he abruptly issued the command: \"Thirty-six cannons, test fire!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Test fire!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>All the artillery battalion soldiers responded in unison with a resounding shout. Their expressions were resolute, and their voices were like rolling thunder, reverberating across this stretch of sky and earth.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>On the fourteenth day of the eighth month of the fourteenth year of the Great Ming's Chongzhen reign, at the hour of Wei, the Jingbian Army Artillery Battalion of the Great Ming and the Uzhen Hachao Artillery Battalion of the Qing state began their duel. The sheer number of their cannons and the breadth of their heavy artillery were rare even on a global scale at this time.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhao Xuan's eighty-five cannons were arrayed in a single line, set up on the raised riverbank. A red-barbarian six-pounder cannon positioned in the center let out a thunderous roar.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A heavy solid iron ball erupted from the muzzle, carrying with it a great plume of gunpowder smoke. It traced a long arc across the sky and slammed heavily beside a group of bondservants on the opposite bank, drawing a burst of shrieks from them that then abruptly ceased, silenced by the impact.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhao Xuan withdrew his gaze from the mounted cannon sight and issued another command: \"Target distance ahead, three hundred and thirty-five paces!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Three hundred and thirty-five paces!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>All the officers roared in unison. The numerous cannons creaked and groaned as the adjusters behind the cannons frantically turned the spiral iron handles at the breech.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The previous cannonball had landed too far forward; those red-barbarian six-pounders needed their elevation lowered. Of course, this only applied to the red-barbarian six-pounders. The angle adjustment and elevation for the three-pounders and the Grand General Frankish cannons differed from the six-pounders, and the amount of gunpowder used also differed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhao Xuan watched anxiously as his subordinates made adjustments. Through his spyglass, the enemy was likewise frantically setting up their cannons.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Although the initiative lay with his side, Zhao Xuan still felt anxious. Such was his temperament; his emotions often showed plainly on his face.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Adjustment complete!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Adjustment complete!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Finally, the squad leaders of each cannon all loudly reported!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhao Xuan looked at the opposing artillery formation and shouted a succession of commands: \"Artillery battalion, prepare for volley fire! Target distance, three hundred and thirty-five paces!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The officers' responses rose and fell: \"Prepare for volley fire! Target distance, three hundred and thirty-five paces!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Bombard!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhao Xuan suddenly drew his sharp sword and screamed in a voice that would terrify women and children.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Fire!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Fire!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Fire!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Boom!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A fierce blaze erupted from the muzzle of a red-barbarian six-pounder. As a great plume of dense smoke spewed forth, a heavy solid iron ball roared away.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The immense recoil sent the two-wheeled gun carriage, along with the cannon barrel atop it, hurtling backward.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>To the left and right of this cannon, thunderous roars likewise sounded continuously, and great plumes of gunpowder smoke spewed from the muzzles of each cannon.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The continuous, deafening roar of cannon fire seemed to make the very ground tremble violently.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In front of the long artillery line, great plumes of white smoke billowed up. Viewed from afar, a long and dense belt of gunpowder smoke slowly rose into the air.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Volley fire again!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Bombardment without cease, fire ten rounds in succession!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This time, Zhao Xuan did not dare to be careless. As the cannons roared, he hurriedly plugged his ears with earplugs, while straining to look toward the opposite bank and issuing further commands!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The large group of Jingbian Army gunners, wearing their helmet-like caps, forcefully reset the cannons, then swabbed the bores, cleaned the cannons, and loaded the ammunition once more.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Bombard!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Fire!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Fire!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Again came the deafening roar of cannon fire. Eighty-five cannons once more spewed fierce smoke forward...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Master, danger!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Set up the cannons, return fire...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Oh, Lord, I simply cannot believe my eyes. Why does the Ming army on the opposite bank have such fierce cannon fire? Am I not in the seventeenth century?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"...Hurry up and set up the cannons, you damned yellow-skinned monkeys...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Phil, oh, my poor Phil, where has your head gone?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Ah, Philip...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"The Jingbian Army cannons are firing again!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Amid the screams, the Jingbian Army artillery on the opposite bank roared to life, hundreds of iron balls large and small howling over. They were already using grapeshot; though not as precisely placed as solid shot, it won by sheer terrifying momentum — bouncing and tumbling chaotically, it dealt savage damage. Moreover, the Qing artillery formation was not yet set up, and from the moment the Jingbian Army opened fire, they had been in constant disarray.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shells shrieked, and everywhere rose piercing wails. A five-jin iron ball came roaring through, passing amid a cluster of gunners fleeing like headless flies. Clumps of flesh and blood burst one after another. A gunner of the Ujen Cooha stared in disbelief at his own empty right shoulder — there, the ghastly white stump of broken bone was blindingly stark.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Looking at the shreds of flesh still clinging to it, the blood gushing in spurts, he suddenly let out a cry of anguish that seemed to rend heaven and earth.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Not far from this Ujen Cooha gunner, a Portuguese man with a full beard was crawling along the ground.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His lower body was already gone; a great mass of nauseating entrails had spilled out, trailing a long line behind him. Some unknowable force sustained his crawling across the ground, but the indescribable agony made the veins on his forehead bulge. He stared fixedly in one direction, his throat making rasping sounds.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Oh, Filipe, my poor Filipe. I was wrong. I should never have brought you to China. We should have stayed forever in Macao…\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Behind an earth cart, Eduardo huddled into a ball, watching the half-bodied Portuguese man, watching him persist in crawling toward him. His scalp tingled with horror, and at the same time, he sobbed uncontrollably.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Not far from the earth cart, in a pool of fresh blood, a headless corpse lay sprawled. From the uniform on its body, one could likewise tell: he was a Portuguese.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In this short span of time, the Jingbian Army's artillery had brought Eduardo from brimming confidence to a state of blank-eyed stupor, all confidence utterly gone.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Because Kong Youde's Han troops had not yet finished setting up their artillery formation when they suffered the Jingbian Army artillery battalion's thunderous strike. Thereafter, they remained in a position of only taking hits without being able to retaliate. The Jingbian guns fired fast, with extremely short intervals; wave after wave of iron balls filled the sky, striking almost the same position.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The moment one left the cover of earth carts and other shelters, one risked being swept away by a multitude of iron balls.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Earlier, Eduardo had still been shouting and roaring, ordering the battalion's gunners to set up the cannons and return fire. Yet under the enemy's artillery, the gunners were quickly shattered into rout, like ants on a hot pan. Even the Portuguese gunner Filipe standing beside him had his head carried away by a bounding iron ball. This made Eduardo no longer dare to move recklessly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Looking around, all was a scene of frantic flight. As dense iron balls bounced and rolled across the ground, oxen and horses screamed, conscript laborers and bondservants wailed in chaos. The Jingbian Army artillery battalion fired volley after volley, inflicting heavy panic and casualties upon the Ujen Cooha artillery camp.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The artillery camp had already lost all command. Kong Youde, sheltering behind an earth cart, had shouted himself hoarse, yet no one heeded his orders. His earlier command — \"Any who dare retreat will all be executed\" — had already become a joke.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His personal guards held him back desperately, refusing to let him leave the cover of the earth cart.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Set up the guns and return fire!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Kong Youde was burning with impatience. He violently shook off his guards' grip and was about to charge out from behind the earth cart to organize a counterattack.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Master, don't!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The roar of cannons from the opposite bank was deafening. A sharp, fierce whistling rose, and in the sky on that side, several hundred more solid iron balls came howling over.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With a thunderous boom, a three-jin iron ball happened to strike an ammunition cart not far behind a Divine Might Grand General cannon.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Perhaps the cannonball was still scalding hot when it arrived; the gunpowder on the ammunition cart ignited and exploded. Instantly, it blasted down a great swath — whether the gunners and bondservants running and shrieking wildly, or the Han soldiers shrewdly sheltering behind certain earth carts or shield carts.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even the Divine Might Grand General cannon ahead had most of its rear wheels and carriage destroyed by the blast; the heavy barrel toppled over with a crash.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Watching the enormous cloud of smoke and fire erupt a few dozen paces away, the scene of devastation all around, the many soldiers groaning on the ground, Kong Youde finally halted his steps. His eyes stared fixedly, the veins on his forehead bulging, his hands trembling. Suddenly, he roared toward the opposite bank: \"Why? Why have their cannons fired so long without a single barrel bursting?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He raged: \"Where is the justice of Heaven?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Behind the artillery formation, Shang Kexi, Geng Zhongming, and the others were dumbstruck. Many soldiers were also vigorously rubbing their eyes. They could not believe that the Ujen Cooha camp, possessing so many heavy cannons, was being subjected to a one-sided slaughter when facing the Jingbian Army artillery battalion!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Being slaughtered!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Satisfying! Enjoy yourselves!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Watching the carnage on the opposite side, Zhao Xuan burst into loud laughter. Looking at the proud, heroic expressions on the gunners around him, he continued his command: \"Hit them hard! Do not stop the bombardment — fire ten rounds in succession!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"No — fire fifteen rounds in succession!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Boom! Boom!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Several explosive reports rang out as a storm of lead balls swept across the pontoon bridge. Several hundred Han troops of the Bordered Blue Banner had been detected trying to sneak across the river while both sides were engaged in the artillery duel. Several of the Jingbian Army's six-pounder red-barbarian cannons near the large pontoon bridge urgently switched to canister shot.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After the thick white smoke cleared, the metal rainstorm had burst from the cannon muzzles in a frenzied rush. Mist of blood sprayed violently; wave after wave of Bordered Blue Banner Han troops toppled onto the pontoon bridge or plunged directly into the river.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The remaining Han troops, hearts trembling with terror, fled back howling.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Dou lowered his telescope and smiled faintly. Beside him, Zhong Diaoyang praised: \"Brother Zhao's artillery battalion achieves extraordinary merit time and again.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Dou said: \"Zhao Xuan is single-minded, devoted solely to artillery and war wagons. Placing him in the artillery battalion was the right decision.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He asked: \"How is Company Commander Yang's injury?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhong Diaoyang's face showed a look of sorrow: \"I'm afraid…\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Dou's hand trembled slightly. After a long moment, he said calmly: \"Take me to see him.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The artillery duel was so lopsided that on Mount Rufeng, Huang Taiji's face was ashen. Behind him, his ministers Ying'erdai and others could not believe their own eyes; many were making motions of rubbing their eyes. After a long while, Huang Taiji sighed: \"Let Kong Youde and the others withdraw. Continuing this artillery duel is meaningless.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After a pause, he added: \"Have the artillery camp laborers provide cover; the gunners are to leave first.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At the central army position, Hong Chengchou and Zhang Ruoqi were both anxiously following the artillery duel. Upon receiving the scouts' report, Hong Chengchou let out a breath of relief and thought: \"The Loyal and Brave Count truly rose to prominence through firearms and cannons. In firearms and arquebus duels against the slaves, he has never suffered a single defeat!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At the same time, a doubt stirred in his mind: Why could the Jingbian Army's cannons fire continuously for so long?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What secret did the Jingbian Army possess — a secret they had not even disclosed to the Firearms Division?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Beside him, Zhang Ruoqi, upon receiving news of the Jingbian Army artillery battalion's great victory, regained his swaggering, animated manner. He laughed heartily: \"The slave camp's artillery has suffered heavy damage. News of this victory truly stirs the hearts of men!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hong Chengchou smiled slightly: \"What Army Supervisor Zhang says is quite true.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The fierce battle at Mount Shuangzi and Yangxing Ridge raged on until the hour of Wei. Because the bulk of the Qing reinforcements could never manage to cross the river, the defenders of Mount Shuangzi could not hold out. Finally, at mid-Wei, Mount Shuangzi changed hands and was seized by the Ming army.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ming troops surged like a tide up the ridge, cheering. Meanwhile, on the southern bank of the Xiaoling River, under Hong Chengchou's repeated urgings and the prodding of Liaodong Provincial Governor Qiu Minyang, by the hour of Si, Ma Ke's division, Tang Tong's division, and the others had no choice but to cease their dawdling and begin crossing the river in force.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Looking at the northern bank of the Xiaoling River, aside from the Manchu and Mongol Plain Red Banner and Bordered Red Banner troops originally besieging the city, along with some Outer-Fan Mongol troops, the vast expanse of banners where the Manchu-Mongol cavalry had earlier been arrayed was now empty.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tang Tong let out a breath of relief. The Tatar main force had left — that was good. Judging by the situation, they could now cross the river. He looked around at his officers and men; all had composed expressions, showing not the slightest trace of urgency.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Looking further at Tang Zong and his other commanders, they too sat steadily on their horses, with the demeanor of men who would not change color even if Mount Tai collapsed before them. Tang Tong nodded approvingly. He swept back his cape, thrust his hand forward, and said sternly: \"By Viceroy Hong's order — my Miyun Army, cross the river!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tang Zong and the others dismounted as one, dropped to one knee, clasped their fists, and roared in unison: \"Your generals receive the order!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tang Tong kept his face stern, watching as Tang Zong and the others rose without hesitation and strode away with heads high. After a moment's thought, he added one more line: \"Exercise utmost caution — advance step by step and fortify as you go!\"\u003C\u002Fp>",3175,"2026-06-03T14:05:53.320Z",1,"Novelzhen Translator","54236e2c26bc5f8b4597ce9b33df6c1d58052372a372be595852fe70f1c9afd4","a-little-soldier-of-the-late-ming-border-army-chapter-549","a-little-soldier-of-the-late-ming-border-army-chapter-547",896,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fa-little-soldier-of-the-late-ming-border-army-cover.jpg"]