[{"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-637":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},1205926,1561,"Chapter 637: Self-Immolation","a-little-soldier-of-the-late-ming-border-army-chapter-637",637,"\u003Cp>In the fifteenth year of Chongzhen, late in the first month.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cao Bianjiao and Wang Tingchen’s grand army entered Weihui Prefecture. Ravaged by hunger and cold, the soldiers under their command either plundered with ever greater abandon or steadily deserted in droves. Already, officials and officers along the route had impeached the two men’s subordinates for looting villagers and killing commoners.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That day the army reached the walls of Zhangde Prefecture, and what they obtained fell far short of what the two had hoped for.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The grain, fodder, and beans provided by the local government offices, together with what they purchased themselves, could not sustain them for more than a few days. After all, the two men’s combined force numbered over ten thousand troops, with many warhorses and mules among them, and their consumption was enormous.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just like the officials and officers everywhere along the route, the Prefect of Zhangde and the local garrison commander fawned over the two men to their faces, their words obsequious and their expressions exceedingly courteous. Yet the moment grain and fodder were mentioned, they instantly wailed ceaselessly of their hardships, either evading responsibility with every excuse face to face, or outwardly complying while secretly defying them behind their backs.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Looking at the paltry ten dan of grain and fodder supplied by the Prefect of Zhangde, Wang Tingchen could no longer contain the fury in his heart. He erupted in a savage beating, thrashing the Prefect and the local Assistant Regional Commander until they shrieked like slaughtered pigs.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After the incident, the two would certainly submit memorials of impeachment, but Cao Bianjiao and Wang Tingchen could no longer care. All along the way, the memorials the two had written impeaching local officials and officers, or the memorials impeaching the two of them, had probably already piled high on the Chongzhen Emperor’s desk — one more or one less mattered little.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet such post-incident legal battles did nothing to resolve the predicament before their eyes. The two also began to understand, to some degree, why Wang Dou was so domineering, acting with utter ruthlessness wherever he went. Without ruthlessness, one likely could accomplish nothing at all.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Tingchen’s outburst was not without results. Afterwards, the local grain and fodder supply from Zhangde Prefecture increased from ten dan to two hundred dan. Strictly speaking, however, for an army of over ten thousand men and horses to eat their fill, this grain and fodder would only last two or three days. Still, having some was better than having none.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That day, the army reached the banks of the Qingshui River and crossed it. On the opposite side lay the prefectural seat of Weihui. By now the army was not far from Kaifeng Prefecture; they needed only to pass through a few more departments and counties, cross the Yellow River, and they would arrive beneath the walls of Kaifeng.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gazing at the river waters, both men felt their hearts surge with emotion. At this moment their appearance was disheveled — hair matted, beards unkempt, armor and clothing filthy. Without stating their own identities, no outsider would ever know they were Counts; they would only take them for refugees.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Young General Cao, let us make camp.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Very well, Brother Wang.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Neither held much hope for the upcoming visit to the prefectural seat of Weihui. Better to eat early and rest.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just as the army was about to light fires and prepare meals, suddenly a personal officer came bounding over in jubilation to report: outside the camp, a merchant of the Eastern Route sought an audience, accompanied by an enormous wagon train fully laden with grain and fodder, as well as pigs, sheep, fine wine, and various goods. The entire camp was in an uproar.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Quickly, invite him in — no, let us go out to welcome him...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cao Bianjiao and Wang Tingchen were both deeply stirred. Throughout their march, they had received tremendous aid from the Eastern Route merchants and were filled with gratitude. Now, with another large shipment of grain and fodder delivered, this was truly sending charcoal in a snowstorm.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The two men reached the camp gate, which was already packed with people, all pointing and exclaiming excitedly. Sure enough, outside the gate were numerous carts, heaped with grain, rice, and bean fodder. Some carts carried wine jars, or had pigs and sheep tied to them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Amid the crowd of soldiers and laborers stood a slightly plump merchant, a faint smile on his face.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This shipment of grain and fodder exceeded two thousand dan. Eaten sparingly, it was enough to sustain the army for many days. Having gone so long without a full meal, Cao Bianjiao and Wang Tingchen could no longer bother to maintain any pretense of restraint before an outsider; they wolfed down the food ravenously.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The merchant sat quietly to one side, watching the two men — noble Counts, yet their hair disheveled and faces caked with grime, as if they were starving ghosts reborn. A look of pity crossed his face, and he sighed heavily.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Finally full, Cao Bianjiao only then remembered that he had not yet asked the name of the man before him — an extreme discourtesy. He hastily apologized and, clasping his fists, said, \"This Count has been remiss. I have yet to ask this shopkeeper his honored name?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The merchant gave his name: his surname was Sun, a native of Baoanzhou. He had answered the Shogunate’s call to venture out and open trade routes — though in secret, this also served to gather intelligence, something he naturally would not disclose to outsiders.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He sighed and said, \"Disaster and famine are everywhere, soldiers rampaging and the world in chaos. It is hard for merchants to travel.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>According to him, the Great Ming of the present grew ever more lawless along the roads. Bandits and robbers along the way were as numerous as ox hairs. Even villagers who had fortified their stockades for self-defense, if they saw profit to be made, could transform in an instant into highway robbers. In some places, for the sake of a few pieces of dry ration, certain villagers would not hesitate to kill passing women, children, and travelers.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>People’s hearts had changed. In chaotic times, unless a merchant possessed considerable wealth and military force, he simply dared not travel long distances. This was also why the Eastern Route Escort Agencies grew ever more prosperous: many merchant caravans needed escort, and many retired soldiers joined them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet now famine was everywhere, and refugees were everywhere, gathering in bands of thousands or tens of thousands. Even if a caravan had escorts, faced with a tide of starving refugees, a handful of guards were utterly useless — unless troops were dispatched to escort them, which for most merchant caravans was impossible.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Moreover, government troops everywhere, as well as government office runners, local militias, and civil defense corps, were equally rapacious as wolves and tigers. Extorting money was the least of it; it was common for them to slaughter an entire merchant caravan and make off with the carts and goods together.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That was one aspect. For the Eastern Route merchants, there was also...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The merchant surnamed Sun sighed, \"Late last year, various regions began to show veiled hostility toward our Eastern Route, and Weihui Prefecture was no exception. Commerce became even more...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He sighed, recalling how in Weihui Prefecture he had routinely cultivated ties with the officials, performed good deeds, and accumulated virtue, earning the title of the Great Philanthropist Sun. But now the winds had shifted. Inside and outside the prefectural city, people openly declared that he hoarded goods to corner the market, that he was in truth a profiteer. Already, starving residents of the city eyed him covetously, wanting to storm his rice shops and other stores.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He grew agitated and cried out in righteous indignation, \"I cannot understand. Everything the Grand General has done has been for the country and for the people. Why do the court and the country treat him so?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cao Bianjiao sighed. \"To accomplish anything, one inevitably cuts off others' sources of profit. Many people hate the Marquis of Yongning to the marrow of their bones.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Tingchen raged, \"Who has shown disrespect to Shopkeeper Sun? Tell me, and I will take some men into Weihui City and hack them to pieces! Old Wang’s heart is burning with fury right now.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The merchant surnamed Sun said gratefully, \"I am indebted to the Count of Ningnan for his concern. This matter has already passed. Lacking military support from outside, the Grand General has ordered all merchants abroad to withdraw entirely and focus on managing Shanxi, Xuan-Da, and other areas... I have already transferred all my shops within the city and exchanged them for this grain and rice, which I have brought to the army camp.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cao Bianjiao and Wang Tingchen were both deeply moved. Cao Bianjiao stood up. \"This grain and rice... Shopkeeper Sun, let Cao say this plainly: for every sheng of grain and rice, Brother Wang and I will pay double the market price. How could we let Shopkeeper Sun suffer a loss?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Tingchen hastily added, \"Yes, yes, we must pay more silver. Our camp may not have much grain and fodder, but silver we still have.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The merchant surnamed Sun cupped his hands and said, \"The two Counts need not do so. You, my lords, wage war for the nation. I, a humble man, cannot take to the battlefield to kill the enemy; I have only this trifling token of my regard. Furthermore, I am merely following orders. When I return to Xuanzhen, the Shogunate will pay me for the provisions and reward my merits. I truly dare not accept silver from the Counts again.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He rose and solemnly performed a bow. \"It is not far from here to Kaifeng Prefecture. Once you reach Kaifeng City, I imagine Regional Commander Chen Yongfu will provide you with some convenience, and your days will be somewhat easier.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He hesitated briefly, then still said, \"However, I have heard that Regional Commander Chen’s own situation in Kaifeng Prefecture is not good at present. The newly appointed Provincial Governor Gao keeps him tightly suppressed. The two Counts should be prepared.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He made a bow with clasped hands. \"Take care!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Take care.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Watching his departing figure, Cao Bianjiao and Wang Tingchen both stood there in a daze.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Late in the first month. Henan, Ye County.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ye County had long been known as the capital of rock salt, yet at this moment, the air above the entire city shook with the roar of battle. Countless roving bandits were swarming the walls like ants.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A vast, sky-covering tide of people surrounded the modest county seat of Ye so tightly that not a drop of water could leak through. The main force among the besieging tide was those attached starving refugees, and those leading the frontal assaults were, in particular, the coerced elderly, weak, women, and children.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The refugees’ assaults came in multiple waves; as one wave ceased, another attacked. Wielding simple weapons, they assaulted day and night without respite.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Behind these refugees stretched a vast, orderly sea of infantry in battle formation, each man gripping a long spear. Over the many days of siege warfare, they had sortied only a handful of times. Behind them, the cavalry units and the veteran elite riders of the Old Camp had not stirred in the slightest.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Within the elite cavalry formation, a great banner bearing the character \"Chuang,\" large as a bushel, snapped and danced in the wind. Beneath that endlessly churning banner, a middle-aged man with a high-bridged nose and deep-set eyes — resembling a Semu people — wearing a felt hat, an arrow-patterned robe, and a cloak, sat quietly astride his horse. This was Li Chuang.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Behind him were the literati Song Xiance, Niu Jinxing, Li Yan, and others, as well as the Chuang camp generals Liu Zongmin, Gao Yigong, Yuan Zongdi, and the rest.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the fourteenth year of Chongzhen, the Chuang army had suffered a great defeat at Luoyang, yet in a short time it had risen again, its momentum even stronger. To be honest, even Li Zicheng himself found it unexpected. He told his subordinates, \"The people’s hearts are with me, not with the Ming.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Now gazing at the city, Li Zicheng was filled with soaring ambition, yet his heart also brimmed with hatred.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The defending commander of Ye County was Vice Regional Commander Liu Guoneng. Liu Guoneng had once sworn brotherhood with Li Zicheng and Luo Rucai, styling himself \"Chuang Tatian\" — the Sky-Collapsing Dashing King.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Later, Liu Guoneng surrendered to the government forces, and Li Zicheng and the others hated him bitterly for it. Thus, after failing to take Kaifeng and turning to capture Xuzhou, Tongxu, Weishi, Weichuan, Yanling, Linying, Changge, Xinzheng, and other cities, they immediately wheeled their troops and marched on Ye County.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Looking at the city before him, Li Zicheng calculated in his mind: Ye County had been besieged for many days, and its defenders were exhausted. It seemed the city could be taken today. He was also very eager to see what expression Liu Guoneng would wear when captured and brought before him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Driving the refugees to assault the city — neither Li Zicheng, nor his subordinate generals, nor the literati like Niu Jinxing took any issue with it. Only Li Yan showed a faint trace of being unable to bear it, though he said nothing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At the hour of Wei, an earth-shaking, sky-covering cheer rose from below the walls: \"The city is breached! The city is breached!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Zicheng looked over, could not help but burst into loud laughter, and shouted, \"Enter the city!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Chuang cavalry swarmed into the city. Wailing cries within the city walls never ceased; men and women staggered and fled like ants. Amid the cluster of generals, staff officers, and elite cavalry, Li Zicheng spurred his horse into the city.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After entering the city, corpses and bloodstains filled every street and alley, and the thick stench of blood hung in the air. Li Zicheng had seen such scenes many times and paid them no mind. What concerned him most was the whereabouts of Liu Guoneng.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>However, reports came from every commander: on the city walls and at every gate, the traitor Liu Guoneng was nowhere to be seen. Li Zicheng thought for a moment. \"Go to his residence.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The group arrived at the general's mansion. The main gate stood wide open. Looking inside, it was utterly empty. Division commander Yuan Zongdi entered first. A short while later, he came out, his expression strange.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Zicheng frowned. \"Brother Yuan, what is it? Did Liu Guoneng escape?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yuan Zongdi said in a low voice, \"The Chuang King will understand once he enters and sees for himself.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The group followed Li Zicheng into the main hall, and all of them could not help but freeze. Inside the hall lay two corpses. One was a woman's body, her face blue-purple, her tongue protruding — she had apparently died by hanging herself. She was Liu Guoneng's wife.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Beside the woman's corpse lay a large man in armor, a wound still visible on his neck, a pool of blood beneath him. In his right hand, he still tightly gripped a bloodstained sharp sword.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Between the two bodies, a child of about seven or eight lingered, unwilling to leave. One moment he pushed at his mother's corpse, the next he shook his father's corpse, weeping mournfully, calling out again and again: \"Papa, Mama.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing Li Zicheng and the others enter, he looked over timidly, his two small hands clutching tightly at the clothes on his father's and mother's bodies.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Zicheng halted in his steps. He stretched out his hand and sighed. \"Liu… Brother Liu, why did you have to do this?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He stepped forward, picked up the child, and placed him on his knee, saying gently, \"What is your name?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Fu'er.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Zicheng said, \"I will take you in and raise you. From now on, you are my son.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But the child struggled with all his might, ran back to his parents' corpses, and said timidly, \"Fu'er will not follow a rebel.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Zicheng froze, then flew into a rage and bellowed, \"What did you say?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The generals beside him were also furious. Only Niu Jinxing, Li Yan, and a few others trembled, staring at the little child, unable to believe their own eyes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The child, seeing all these grown men glaring at him like ferocious demons, was so frightened that tears nearly streamed down. Yet still, he clutched tightly at the clothes on his father's and mother's bodies and, timidly, in a childish voice, insisted: \"Fu'er will not follow a rebel.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then, in one motion, he drew a small dagger from his waist and slashed it across his own neck. Blood instantly spurted out. He struggled, then collapsed between his father and mother.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"This… this…\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The scene before them sent a chill surging up the spines of Li Zicheng and the others. Niu Jinxing, Li Yan, and a few others in particular rushed forward several steps, then stopped, stunned.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The stench of blood spread. Looking at the three corpses on the floor, everyone in the hall fell silent at last.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>People of the time lamented: \"The entire family of Liu Guoneng died in loyalty — truly a deed to endure a thousand ages. The most extraordinary of all: an eight-year-old child cutting his own throat, a thing never recorded in the histories.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The fifteenth year of Chongzhen, early second month.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Inside the great hall, Wang Dou was leafing through a document. Zhong Zhengxian, the chief clerk of documents from the staff office of the shogunate, stood waiting in attendance beside him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After reading it carefully, Wang Dou nodded, signed the word \"Approved\" in two bold, forceful characters that carried considerable masterly style, then stamped his great seal.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Because the various officers of the shogunate handled all specific matters, a large part of Wang Dou's daily business consisted of signing and stamping. The two characters for \"Approved\" could be said to flow from his brush with practiced ease.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After Zhong Zhengxian left, Wang Dou stretched lazily and paced back and forth in the great hall, slowly making his way to the bookshelf to see if he might find a history book to read.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As the government office of a garrison Regional Commander and also the residence of the Marquis of Yongning, Wang Dou's great hall was imposing and spacious, with a huge painted mural and several tall standing screens. A particularly distinctive feature was the row of antique redwood curio shelves lining the north wall, filled with neatly arranged books and scrolls.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As a government office, near the great hall there were naturally the second hall, the third hall, and various public offices where the shogunate staff conducted their business. But Wang Dou rarely went strolling through those places; aside from imposing unnecessary pressure on his subordinates, there was no other benefit.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Whenever he had leisure time, he would read.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As he was searching, a guard came to report: Du Xun, the garrison eunuch of Xuanfu Garrison, sought an audience.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Very soon, Du Xun came in with furrowed brows. The moment he saw Wang Dou, he said in an agitated rush, \"Marquis of Yongning, where are the silver taels you promised me? So far, only fifty thousand taels have been delivered — where have the other one hundred fifty thousand taels gone?\" (To be continued.)\u003C\u002Fp>",3257,"2026-06-03T14:06:10.567Z",1,"Novelzhen Translator","7e470256a3a24e89abe488ce8b0308ea302cd29a004e36fdfd327df1ca4d388b","a-little-soldier-of-the-late-ming-border-army-chapter-638","a-little-soldier-of-the-late-ming-border-army-chapter-636",896,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fa-little-soldier-of-the-late-ming-border-army-cover.jpg"]