[{"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-61":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},1205350,1561,"Chapter 61: Wind and Rain","a-little-soldier-of-the-late-ming-border-army-chapter-61",61,"\u003Cp>Jia Duonan and the others looked terrible. Having just heard Wang Dou's words, they knew that hoping to recover their military household population from Wang Dou's hands was wishful thinking, and they lacked the military force to do so. They could only pin their hopes on Lin Daofu. All of them said, \"We beg my lord Lin to see justice done for us.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lin Daofu had also been studying Wang Dou for a long moment. \"Squad Commander Wang, the fact that you have taken in fugitive soldiers from other forts is undeniable. What do you have to say for yourself?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Dou gave a cold laugh. \"All I know is that they are now military households of my Jingbian Fort. Anyone who thinks they can seize people from my hands can forget it.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lin Daofu furrowed his brow. Wang Dou was stubborn, and there was nothing he could do about it. Although he was a Vice Battalion Commander, not many in Shunxiang Fort bought his account. But Wang Dou publicly slapping his face sent rage shooting straight to his head. He barked, \"Wang Dou, are you defying your superior officer's orders?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Dou cupped his fist. \"My lord Lin, this humble officer dares to ask: these village heads and the others demand I return the people and military households, but what about the account of them leading men here to attack my Jingbian Fort?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jia Duonan was taken aback. \"Wang Dou, if I want to demand back my military household population, naturally I must bring men with me. How can that be considered attacking a garrison fort?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Dou said, \"If you wished to demand back military households, you could have come to discuss it with me. Why mobilize a force and come in such numbers, every man bearing a sharp blade? How is that any different from bandits?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jia Duonan was greatly alarmed. He pointed at Wang Dou and stammered, \"You... you are slandering me with blood.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Xianyang and Zhang Shutang were also greatly alarmed. If Wang Dou framed it that way, the matter became serious. They too pointed at Wang Dou and shouted. Behind Wang Dou, Gao Shiyin, Han Zhong, and the others refused to show weakness and shouted back in abuse. Instantly the crowd erupted into a chaotic quarrel, on the verge of coming to blows.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing this situation, Lin Daofu felt a headache coming on. The matter was growing more and more complicated. He was merely a military man; where would he find the energy to manage such affairs? He shouted for everyone to stop and looked at Chi Dacheng beside him. \"My lord Chi, what do you make of this matter?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chi Dacheng had been listening the entire time. Now he gave a cold snort and said, \"Fellow officers bearing arms and brawling among themselves is no small crime. This garrison judge shall take them all back to Shunxiang Fort. After detailed interrogation, right and wrong shall be determined!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Everyone was startled. This Chi Dacheng was notoriously known as \"Skinflayer Chi,\" a man of the most rigid and merciless character. If they were taken back to the garrison court by him, even if they didn't die, they'd shed a layer of skin.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jia Duonan and his companions looked at each other. If they went to the garrison court, the matter would exceed their original calculations. Jia Duonan hurriedly said, \"Going to the garrison court, I think, is unnecessary. How about this: we are all colleagues. We three forts will take a step back first. As long as Squad Commander Wang gives us some compensation for the people who fled, this matter can be considered settled. As their parent-officials, now that those military households have come to Jingbian Fort, as long as they live well, how could we possibly be unwilling?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lin Daofu nodded as well. He said to Wang Dou, \"Squad Commander Wang, what do you think of this proposal? After all, those military households all fled from their forts. Just give Village Head Jia and the others some compensation, and this matter ends here. Among colleagues, harmony should be prized above all!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Dou sneered and said nothing. Over on the other side, Jia Duonan and his companions had already begun calculating rapidly in their minds, thinking about how much compensation and benefit they would demand from Wang Dou shortly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing them quiet down, Lin Daofu was quite satisfied. He rubbed his face and looked toward Chi Dacheng. \"My lord Chi, what is your opinion?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chi Dacheng gave a cold snort. \"How they compensate and reconcile is not within the scope of this official's authority. However, their bearing arms and brawling as colleagues is a violation of military discipline and law. This garrison judge shall certainly take them back to the garrison court for interrogation and investigation, and then determine each person's crime!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jia Duonan and his companions gaped, mouths wide open. This Chi Dacheng was simply too rigid. Wang Dou also shot Chi Dacheng a look of surprise.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lin Daofu furrowed his brow. Before it had been Wang Dou who was stubborn; now it was Chi Dacheng's turn. Dealing with people like this made Lin Daofu feel especially exhausted.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The atmosphere on the scene deadlocked. Suddenly, the sound of hoofbeats was heard again, and then another dozen or so riders came galloping up. Wang Dou and the others looked over: it was Zhang Gui, the Company Commander Officer of Dongjiazhuang, and Xu Lu, a trusted confidant of Xu Zhongjun and a Company Commander of Shunxiang Fort, each leading a few attendants, urgently spurring their horses forward.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhang Gui and Xu Lu arrived before everyone. The first thing they saw on the field were the Jingbian Fort soldiers still standing in formation, stern and upright. Seeing that kind of military bearing and equipment, both men sucked in a breath of cold air. They looked at those soldiers, then looked at Wang Dou, expressions of shock appearing in their eyes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The situation took a sudden turn. With the arrival of these two, Jia Duonan and his companions led the military households of the three forts away. They received no compensation whatsoever. When Xu Lu came, he brought a verbal order from Xu Zhongjun: having heard that the military households of the three forts had gathered a mob to harass Jingbian Fort, they were to disperse immediately. Otherwise, they would be dealt with at once by military law.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xu Lu's tone was stern. At this point, no matter how unwilling Jia Duonan and his companions were, they had no choice but to leave. Each man left with his head hanging and spirits crushed; this trip had truly been a huge loss. Lin Daofu saw that the reconciliation agreement he had painstakingly brokered between Wang Dou and Jia Duonan's group had been rendered void by a single written order from Xu Zhongjun. Feeling his authority swept to the ground, he too left with a dark face.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Only Chi Dacheng still insisted on having Wang Dou and Jia Duonan's group prosecuted. But under Xu Lu's shouted command, declaring that this matter was to end here and no further trouble was to arise, and emphasizing that this was my lord Xu's intent, he could only heave a long sigh and mutter to himself, \"In an army, law is supreme. Without military discipline and military law, how can it be called an army?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At that moment, he felt a sense of loneliness and desolation. No one paid him any attention; only Wang Dou glanced at him, taking note of this man.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For the arrival of Xu Lu and Zhang Gui, Wang Dou was naturally extremely grateful, and he welcomed the two into the fort to entertain them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Looking at the conditions inside the fort, Zhang Gui could only sigh in admiration. However, his expression was somewhat troubled. After taking his seat in the official hall, he heaved a long sigh toward Wang Dou and said, \"Brother Wang, your talent goes without saying, but a tall tree catches the wind. It's still better to keep a low profile!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Dou smiled bitterly. The tree wishes to be still, but the wind does not cease. Could he keep a low profile?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Speaking of the matter just now, it turned out that after Zhang Gui had heard about the incident at Jingbian Fort, he had immediately informed the Garrison Commander of Shunxiang Fort, Xu Zhongjun, and Xu Zhongjun had then sent Xu Lu to deliver the order.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Dou rose again to thank the two men. Zhang Gui merely waved his hand dismissively, saying that Wang Dou was his subordinate — if he didn't help him, who would he help? Wang Dou was still grateful to have a superior officer like Zhang Gui. He then asked Xu Lu about Xu Zhongjun's condition. Xu Lu's tiger-like eyes brimmed with tears as he sighed, \"My lord Xu truly is beyond saving this time!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His tone was low and heavy: \"...I fear it is a matter of these very days...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Dou could feel the terror in Xu Lu's voice. As Xu Zhongjun's trusted personal general, Xu Lu had always commanded Xu Zhongjun's company of retainers. After Xu Zhongjun passed, what would become of men like them?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Dou's heart also felt a touch of desolation. In his heart, he had always been full of gratitude toward Xu Zhongjun. Xu Zhongjun had shown him the grace of recognition and appreciation. This final time, he was still helping him. This grace, this sentiment — it was a pity he would find it hard to repay.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xu Lu's expression was solemn as he said, \"Barring the unexpected, after my lord Xu passes, it will be that Du Zhen who takes over. I have received word that Du Zhen has declared you are far too arrogant and unruly, and that he wants to suppress your spirit. Brother Wang, you must be careful. It seems that Du Zhen will make trouble for you in the future.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Also...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xu Lu pondered: \"I suspect that today's affair with Jia Duonan and the others was also orchestrated by Du Zhen and his people.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After seeing off Zhang Gui and Xu Lu's group, Wang Dou felt for the first time that his future was somewhat unpredictable. Although he had some troops under his command, which would make Du Zhen somewhat wary of him, if in the future he had a superior officer like that constantly watching him, these days would likely be hard to endure.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>On the eighth day of the eighth month, Wang Dou returned to the Wang family residence. After greeting his mother, Lady Zhong sighed to Wang Dou, \"Dou'er, go see your uncle. He, ah...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Dou went to the study and saw Zhong Zhengxian pacing anxiously back and forth inside the room. When he saw Wang Dou, he came up to him and actually began to cry. He wailed, \"Dou'er, my own nephew by blood, you must see justice done for your uncle!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Dou said calmly, \"Uncle, what is the matter? Sit down and speak.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhong Zhengxian's voice was choked with sobs. Under his explanation, Wang Dou finally understood. It turned out that in the seventh month, the appointment documents from within the department had come down. Zhong Zhengxian had been promoted to Jail Warden and transferred to serve at Shunxiang Fort. Promoted from Assistant Jail Warden straight to Jail Warden, and transferred to serve at a new large fort — Zhong Zhengxian had been bursting with pride, thinking he could now spread his wings. Unexpectedly, just a few days after arriving at Shunxiang Fort, his full-hearted enthusiasm had instantly turned to nothing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>From the very day he took office, several clerks in the fort had been cold toward him, treating him with indifference. This made the warm and effusive man restless and uneasy; his days were hard to bear.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhong Zhengxian had originally thought this was due to unfamiliarity among colleagues. Unexpectedly, after these past few days, everyone had become even more brazen. Not only did the Head Clerk Feng Dachang casually rebuke him at every turn, even mixing in insults and abuse, but even Han Yu, a Jail Warden of the same rank, glared at him sideways and found fault with everything. And several lower-ranking petty clerks, such as the Clerk Guo Zhongju and the Assistant Jail Warden Wang Zhong, also did not take him seriously, speaking with yin-yang sarcasm and cold mockery all day long. How was he supposed to live like this?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhong Zhengxian could now be said to be living each day as if it were a year.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhong Zhengxian sobbed to Wang Dou, \"These people have gone too far, typical petty men! Dou'er, you are now a Squad Commander and on good terms with the various lords of Shunxiang Fort. Why not have you step forward and give those petty men a taste of their own medicine? They clearly know your uncle is your man, yet they still dare treat me like this. This is not taking you seriously! If we don't deal with them, where is the face of our Wang family? Dou'er, your uncle here has an idea...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Dou listened with furrowed brow as Zhong Zhengxian chattered on incessantly. He suddenly barked, \"Enough!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhong Zhengxian was startled. He looked at Wang Dou and for a moment was speechless.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Dou paced back and forth in the room several times with his hands behind his back. He said calmly, \"Uncle, how about this: I will still find a way to transfer you back to Jingbian Fort. Do you think that would be acceptable?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhong Zhengxian said in a low voice, \"Jingbian Fort is so small, a poor alley and a shabby house, I...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He glanced at Wang Dou's expression and said quietly, \"Fine, whatever Dou'er says, we'll do. Only, it lets those bastards off too easy.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Looking at Zhong Zhengxian before him, Wang Dou sighed. All this transferring back and forth — who knew whose face he'd have to go and read next time.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Dou temporarily had Zhong Zhengxian take leave and stay inside Jingbian Fort. Over the following days, things inside and outside Jingbian Fort seemed to quiet down as well.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Soon it was the autumn equinox, and the military households of Jingbian Fort were already busy with autumn sowing and planting.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>However, during these days, some bandits had suddenly flowed into various parts of Baoanzhou. They moved in groups of three or five, or in bands of several dozen to over a hundred, simply plundering everywhere in Baoanzhou. Every fort was on alert. Wang Dou also ordered Jingbian Fort to tighten its defenses; even the military households going out to farm carried blades and spears with them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Dou also ordered Han Chao to lead the night scouts to investigate where these bandits had come from.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>On the sixteenth day of the eighth month, shocking news suddenly arrived: Xu Zhongjun, the Garrison Commander of Shunxiang Fort, had died of illness.\u003C\u002Fp>",2503,"2026-06-03T14:05:19.908Z",1,"Novelzhen Translator","799a777db0a780c6e972c586d62c91929acc099cea138c2c02b0f1b3e1484549","a-little-soldier-of-the-late-ming-border-army-chapter-62","a-little-soldier-of-the-late-ming-border-army-chapter-60",896,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fa-little-soldier-of-the-late-ming-border-army-cover.jpg"]