[{"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-562":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},1205851,1561,"Chapter 562: The Great Collapse, The Capture (Part Two)","a-little-soldier-of-the-late-ming-border-army-chapter-562",562,"\u003Cp>Old White Ox: Thank you, friends, for your support. Just one shout brought so many more votes — I'm truly delighted. People say relatives and friends need to visit each other to keep affection alive; could it be that authors and readers also need to shout out to grow closer?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Also: I suddenly got a call from an employee and have to go out to handle something, so the plot isn't finished and can only continue tomorrow. Well, tomorrow at noon, there will be another chapter.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>……\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Fire!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A great cloud of smoke billowed up ahead. Geng Zhongming and the others' arquebusiers launched their third volley. The surging tide of routed soldiers before them left corpses and wounded rolling all over the ground. Many who fled to the sides were still struck down by flanking arquebus fire.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Fire!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Han troops in the rear formation coldly and mercilessly fired their fourth rank volley. Amid the violent roar, wails strung together in an unbroken chain, and groans and howls shook heaven and earth.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Only at this moment did many routed soldiers jolt awake, barely regaining their senses. Under the shouted orders of the rear formation's main army, they either fled in terror to either side or stood rooted to the spot, dumbstruck. Some of their officers seized the chance to regroup them, roaring as they organized a force to meet the attack.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing the tide-like routed soldiers finally halt and form a chaotic battle line up ahead, with many more fleeing to the rear of the great formation, Shang Kexi and the others finally breathed a sigh of relief.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And watching their own troops fall in a vast, meaningless swath, Shi Tingzhu and the others' faces twitched and trembled violently, their hearts aching beyond compare. How many men did a single banner of theirs even have? Even if they won this battle, it would be a long time before they could recover their vitality.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But at least the routed soldiers had finally stopped — a great fortune amid misfortune.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Jingbian Army spearmen and others who had been charging in relentless pursuit received the urgent sound of gongs calling for withdrawal. Military orders were like a mountain collapsing: however unwilling they were at heart, they had to fall back like the tide.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Han Chao and Zhong Xiancai both took in the battle situation ahead. Zhong Xiancai believed they should press on without letup, using the spearmen to once again rout their routed troops, then shatter their arquebus formation and spear formation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhong Xiancai was full of confidence in the Jingbian Army's battle strength. But Han Chao held that the routed troops had already halted, and Kong Youde's arquebus formation was tight and forbidding. With the Jingbian Army spearmen's valor, they could certainly break through, but their own casualties would be grievous — the gain would not be worth the loss.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In war, one must keep a clear head, never letting anger or temporary victory cloud one's judgment. One must win the greatest victory at the smallest cost.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Between the two, Han Chao clearly had greater seniority and prestige. His words were also the prudent counsel of a seasoned strategist. Though anxious about the Grand General's side, Zhong Xiancai still accepted his opinion. Battalion headquarters ordered the gongs sounded to withdraw the troops, pulling the spearmen back and sending the arquebusiers forward.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet as they gazed ahead, both men felt regret and unwillingness. At this moment, or earlier, if only there were a troop type that combined the strengths of both arquebusiers and spearmen — arquebusiers who could fight in close combat like spearmen, and spearmen who could fire from a distance like arquebusiers — then they would not have let this opportunity slip.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In both their minds, unbidden, arose the image of the Grand General wielding a bayoneted firearm. His venerable self, with far-sighted vision, had perhaps long foreseen the situation before them now.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Forward!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"In step... march!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Beneath the bright red, billowing banners, accompanied by rousing drum music, the dense ranks of the Jingbian Army and the Xuanzhen New Army arquebusiers advanced like a wall. After the earlier fighting, the four-rank arquebus formation was somewhat thinner than before, yet they still drew men from the fourth and third ranks to keep the front two or three ranks even.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Amid the officers' shouted commands, the battalion headquarters' drummers beat the march cadence. The troops advanced to the drumbeats. After several paces, the melodious sound of flutes rose, then vertical flutes, horns, and gongs sounded in unison, keeping time with the musical rhythm.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After the Jiajing era, many Ming armies marched to music, using Qi Jiguang's victory songs and other military tunes. Ordinary Ming troops beat one drum roll and advanced ten paces; only the Jingbian Army advanced continuously in step with the drumbeats.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In their army, each squad commander's headquarters had march drums and gongs. The gong was the ancient name for a brass gong, which could be struck together to produce a rousing sound; striking the outer rim with a small stick signaled the withdrawal. At the company commander's command post, there were flutes and suona horns; the suona could produce a sharp swan-like call.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At the battalion headquarters, vertical flutes, reed pipes, and other instruments were all present. The reed pipe was a kind of wind instrument combining the strengths of flute and vertical flute, its tone high and piercing, plaintive and twisting. All the instruments accompanied the drumbeats, producing a soul-shaking sound.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The great army advanced in orderly fashion. Behind the arquebusiers, the artillerymen hurried to keep up, especially those with the smaller breech-loading cannons and the three-pounder red-barbarian cannons.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The heavy six-pounder red-barbarian cannons lagged far behind. On this kind of terrain, artillery was very hard to move, especially when encountering obstacles like field ridges, which required lifting the guns forward.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Some artillery battalion supply soldiers were sorting through the captured Han Eight Banners cannons. Their specifications differed from the Jingbian Army's cannons, so they could not be used for the moment. In particular, the Jingbian Army's gunpowder was very fierce; using too much risked bursting the barrels.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After the spearmen fell back like the tide, they still screened the rear of the arquebusiers and artillery, especially on both flanks. Not far ahead, the great arquebus formations of the Han Army's Bordered Yellow Banner, Plain Yellow Banner, Bordered Blue Banner, and Plain Red Banner were likewise advancing in formation. Their blade and spear troops, however, were mostly massed on the flanks of the arquebusiers, their drums beating just as thunderously.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seizing the opportunity while the Jingbian Army and others withdrew, they let the routed troops pass through harmlessly and form up in a chaotic mass at the rear. The arquebusiers were specially picked out and arrayed in ranks behind the arquebus formation. And because all their light cannons had been lost, they were outmatched in firepower. Geng Zhongming and Shang Kexi urgently devised a plan: the arquebusiers would hold the front, while the spearmen would swiftly attack, hoping to break them from both flanks.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After all, their cold-weapon fighters were numerous, especially if all the routed troops were counted in.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Han Chao spurred his horse forward with the command flag. He looked toward the Xuanzhen New Army on the right flank. Amid the drumbeats, their ranks were somewhat disordered, yet every soldier still marched with intense fervor. After the earlier exhilarating battle, they had perhaps already grasped the true essence of combat, undergoing a transformation from spirit to body, leaping to another level.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They only needed to crush the Han troops before them, and victory on the left flank would be within reach.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Brother Zhao, the arquebusiers need more artillery support, especially on the right flank!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Right, right! If we had more artillery support, our Xuanzhen great army could certainly hold off their flanking attack!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The three Xuanzhen New Army officers beside him also nodded repeatedly. Han Chao's words struck home with them. The Loyal and Brave Count's central army had already issued orders for the remaining Xuanzhen battalion to urgently advance in support. But ahead of the Xuanzhen New Army, even more second-rate Tartar slaves had already gathered — clearly, they had chosen this side as their breakthrough point.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In this battle, their own battalion had fought with distinction, filling them with pride and joy. No doubt, after this battle, a formidable army would surely be born.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Of course, they could not compare to the Jingbian Army. Everyone took the Jingbian Army's victories for granted — it was only natural they fought well; it would be strange if they did not.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even as they spoke, they felt secret gratitude. People said the Jingbian Army was generous to allied forces, and Han Chao, the Mobile Corps Commander before them, was proof enough of that.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Good!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhao Xuan rode abreast with Han Chao, Zhong Xiancai, and the others. He nodded heavily, grinding his teeth.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though the artillery battalion's casualties pained his heart — those gunners, how much of his heart and soul had he poured into them? Yet when artillery fought at close quarters, casualties were unavoidable. Moreover, tempered by the fires of battle, the supply soldiers and apprentices could also grow quickly, becoming an important reserve to replenish the gunners.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He bellowed: \"Push the cannons with all your might! Push them to the very front!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Brothers, put your backs into it!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>All the gunners chanted work songs, straining with every ounce of strength, desperately pushing the cannons forward. Each heavy cannon carved deep tracks across the fields.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Numerous gunners pulled powder-cart and shot-cart, urgently following behind. A great number of cannons, especially the six-pounder red-barbarian cannons, were pushed toward the Xuanzhen New Army's side.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Don't you lot compete with me — let my artillery fire first!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhao Xuan left behind a fierce parting remark, gripping his riding crop, his heart swelling with heroic passion as he spurred his horse on.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Han Chao said solemnly: \"It all depends on you now, Brother Zhao.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhong Xiancai glanced back at the hills behind them, also full of expectation: \"Whether we can quickly shatter the second-rate Tartar slaves' arquebus formation depends on you, little Xuan'er.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhao Xuan spurred his horse away, leaving a muttered complaint hanging in the air: \"Can you not call me little Xuan'er in front of outsiders?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Advance!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The dense military formation advanced. The Jingbian Army and the others were soon not far from the Han Army's rear formation. The artillery battalion's cannons, through the gunners' efforts, were already moving parallel with the arquebusiers. Some cannons had even overtaken the arquebusier ranks, their dark muzzles thrust forward.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>On the Han Army's side, they too urged the advance relentlessly. More and more cold-weapon fighters converged on the flanks.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At last, with a sharp swan-like call, their arquebus formation halted. At the same time, a battle cry that seemed to stop the clouds rang out, and the dense cold-weapon formations charged madly toward the Jingbian Army and the Xuanzhen New Army's flanks.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Ready!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Geng Zhongming, Shang Kexi, and the others watched the Ming arquebus ranks striding toward them with savage expressions. Before they had even reached a hundred paces, they could wait no longer and shouted orders for the arquebusiers to engage. Even if at this distance the effective range and armor-piercing power were weak, they could not afford to care.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Han Army arquebusiers of the four rear banners, following the orders, raised their matchlocks in unison toward the dark mass ahead, every face twisted and taut with tension.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Fire!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The sound of volley fire erupted, smoke billowing. Amid the deafening roar of the arquebuses, some Jingbian Army and Xuanzhen New Army soldiers in the ranks fell. A number of gunners also collapsed in agony.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Front rank fall back, second rank advance!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Geng Zhongming and the others bellowed furiously, then they stared ahead in terror: \"This is bad...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Jingbian Army and the others had already swiftly reached a hundred paces. Their gunners, holding matchlock cords, were touching them to every fire gate. Looking back at their own side, the second-rank arquebusiers had just raised their bird guns.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Boom after boom, the cannons thundered violently. Thick white smoke billowed out. The trajectories of the grapeshot traced surging waves through the vast weeds of the fields. Geng Zhongming and the others' arquebus formation was pierced through in place after place by the Jingbian Army's grapeshot.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Countless clouds of dust exploded from the ground. Within their battle formation, gusts of blood mist swirled amid human-shaped howls and writhing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The cannon fire roared without pause, the flashing muzzle fire linking into a single line. More and more gunpowder smoke spewed forth, forming an ever-thickening belt of white haze. Masses of Jingbian Army gunners bellowed as they bombarded, firing in rotation, ceaselessly loading grapeshot — especially those red-barbarian cannons, all using double charges.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The crack of firearms seemed to explode right before their eyes. The dense, continuous rattle of guns never ceased. Along with the cannon fire, more Han army arquebusiers toppled in neat rows, making their formation even sparser. An indescribable intensity of firepower stunned them senseless in an instant.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Only some of the second-rank arquebusiers of Kong Youde's Plain Red Banner pulled their triggers. Whether the rest fired or not was unknown. More men stood dumbstruck as wooden chickens, then collapsed under the roar of guns and cannons, or fell into utter chaos in their panic.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Without artillery support, under the combined firearms and cannon assault of the Jingbian Army and the others, they had absolutely no power to retaliate. In a short time, the arquebus formation of the rear Han troops was already a complete shambles — there was no talk whatsoever of ranks advancing and falling back.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Especially Shi Tingzhu and the other routed remnants of the original arquebus formation. They had barely managed to form a few ranks behind the rear army formation when the grapeshot came howling at them from the opposite side, blasting some of them to the ground. The bitter memories of before surged into their hearts, and hearing the screams of the many dead and wounded soldiers around them, they instantly collapsed again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They shrieked: \"Defeated! We're defeated!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They scrambled over each other to scatter and flee in all directions, stirring unrest in the arquebus formation ahead. Gripped by terror, many men fled along with them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Gabsihiyan troops keeping the formation in check cut down a few men, then were swallowed by the surging tide of humanity. And at this moment, the cold-weapon troops of the rear army were locked in fierce combat with the Jingbian Army and the others. Seeing the center collapse, they lost their will to fight and fled for their lives with loud cries.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In a short time, the entire Han Eight Banners line collapsed. How immense was a routed army of tens of thousands — all across the mountains and fields were their shouts and wails.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"No!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Geng Zhongming, over a hundred paces behind the arquebus formation, roared: \"No retreat! Keep fighting!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shang Kexi and Ma Guangyuan were also dumbstruck. They truly never imagined that their own four banners would collapse in such a short time. Compared to Shi Tingzhu and the others, these four banners of theirs were even more elite — Kong Youde's arquebusiers had even crossed hands with the Jingbian Army before.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shi Tingzhu stared blankly for a moment, then sighed to the trusted aides beside him: \"It's over. We flee for our lives too!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"No!... Don't...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Kong Youde stood on Yijia Ridge. First he roared in fury, then, seeing the rout was unstoppable — many of the Ujen Cooha gunners on the ridge, heedless of the order to fire, threw off their armor and fled for their own lives — he sat down heavily on the ground, tears streaming down his face, and murmured: \"Why... why is it like this?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"What do we do, Prince Gongshun, what do we do?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Kim Jajeom on the ridge was pale-faced. He came before Kong Youde, his expression trembling, and shouted at Kong Youde in alarm. But Kong Youde's face was ashen. He sat on the ground and uttered not a single word. Eduardo and several Frankish gunners also came before him, shouting anxiously in a mix of foreign and Chinese tongues.\u003C\u002Fp>",2714,"2026-06-03T14:05:53.320Z",1,"Novelzhen Translator","27c7486d177e35fbc019c96f8e50a3d6873cccb8206b03f2b34f6253a1e21ddb","a-little-soldier-of-the-late-ming-border-army-chapter-563","a-little-soldier-of-the-late-ming-border-army-chapter-561",896,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fa-little-soldier-of-the-late-ming-border-army-cover.jpg"]