[{"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-638":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},1205927,1561,"Chapter 638: Dirty Work","a-little-soldier-of-the-late-ming-border-army-chapter-638",638,"\u003Cp>Seeing Du Xun, Wang Dou stood up with a smile: \"Eunuch Du has arrived? Perfect timing — I just received a batch of top-grade tea leaves. Let the two of us enjoy them together.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Du Xun said displeased: \"Tea can wait. The most important thing right now is to talk about money.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He plopped himself down onto a seat: \"Speak — when will the Marquis hand over our family's one hundred fifty thousand taels of silver?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After watching Du Xun for a moment, Wang Dou's face darkened: \"Garrison Supervisor Du, this Marquis promised you silver, so naturally I will not fail to give it. But you have done absolutely nothing, yet you want to take two hundred thousand taels of silver from this Marquis for free — do you not feel even a trace of shame?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Before Du Xun could speak, Wang Dou waved his hand: \"How about this — Xuanzhen is currently undergoing major construction, yet there are still powerful families relying on their influence to coerce the government offices. All these miscellaneous people and matters — you handle them. After all, your official duties are precisely these kinds of things.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He consoled him: \"Rest assured, this Marquis will certainly give you the silver money — paid in installments. You do one task well, and I give you one batch of silver. Absolutely fair, cheating neither old nor young.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Great Ming's garrison eunuchs held considerable power — they could intervene in local military, political, economic, and judicial authority, and could also supervise civil and military officials, dispatch guard battalion troops, and suppress local magnates and powerful households.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just like on the Eastern Route, as various matters proceeded in Xuanzhen, there were naturally those who obstructed and opposed. In awe of Wang Dou's might, they dared not openly oppose, but feigned compliance while secretly defying was unavoidable, and would delay Wang Dou considerably in time and energy. Handing these matters over to Du Xun to handle could not be better.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"What?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Du Xun trembled with rage and slammed the table as he rose: \"The Marquis of Yongning's meaning is to treat our family as a hired laborer and hard-labor convict?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He roared in fury: \"Marquis of Yongning, do you not take this Army Supervisor seriously at all?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Dou gave a cold snort: \"Hmph, there is no free lunch under heaven. You don't work, yet you want to take money? That is impossible!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He said: \"Also, I know you control the Armory Bureau and the Coin Minting Bureau. Go to these two bureaus and take inventory — see what top-grade craftsmen and equipment there are. This Marquis has use for them!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"That is all. Remember — no work, no silver!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Dou tossed out this final line, clasped his hands behind his back, and unhurriedly turned toward the rear hall.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"This despicable scoundrel.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Du Xun stood dumbly for a long time, and finally roared in the direction Wang Dou had departed: \"We agreed on two hundred thousand taels, yet in the end you only give our family fifty thousand taels. The rest to be paid in installments... Marquis of Yongning. What is most important for a man living in this world? Trust and honor, ah.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the second month, there was still quite a chill.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>From Xuanfu's garrison city to the post road on the Eastern Route, dense crowds of busy people filled the way — they carried loads on shoulder poles, pushed small carts, first spreading sand and crushed stone, and in some places even pouring down limewater, then huge stone rollers pressed and rolled over it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The smooth and solid road surface spread day by day, drawing the unanimous attention of all Xuanfu Garrison, high and low. Repairing the official road was a good thing, and what's more, there was full food to eat and wages to earn, so everyone worked with fiery enthusiasm. Among the crowd, besides some able-bodied young men, there were even sturdy women, also straining to carry loads.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Du Xun's face was grim, followed by some junior eunuchs and his personal battalion guards. Before he had even returned to the Southern Pass, he saw one of his trusted confidants coming over with a mournful face, pouring out grievances to Du Xun: \"Eunuch, those powerful households are too outrageous. Their asking price is three times higher than what the government offices offered. This slave tried every argument, but they absolutely refuse to lower it.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the plans of Wang Dou and his people, the newly built official road would connect to the Eastern Route, extending all the way to the front of the three southern gates — Changping Gate, Xuande Gate, and Cheng'an Gate — as well as Anding Gate on the east side of the garrison city. Depending on circumstances, the official road might even extend to Zhangjiakou.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Several main streets within the city would also be repaired and widened — in fact, not widened, but merely restored. Over the years, not only the streets within the city, but many places along the suburban roads had been encroached upon by people, either building houses or digging fields to grow vegetables.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Although the Great Ming was not comparable to the Great Song, which implemented policies requiring the government to hire dancing girls to publicize to the common people and rarely enforced things by compulsion, local powers were quite strong. Especially when many interests had been seized and occupied by powerful clans and great families, carrying out various public projects was no easy matter, and the various compensation amounts were always a difficult problem.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Because the compensation prices were fair, some good-natured and timid common folk were manageable, but there were certain powerful households or cunning people who seized the opportunity to raise their prices. The various people in the garrison city feared Wang Dou, but Du Xun looked like someone easy to deal with, so they would repeatedly pester and entangle endlessly, making Du Xun, who was responsible for this matter, burst with rage.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just as he was about to speak, another person came running: \"Eunuch, Eunuch, the entire household of the Li powerful family has lain down on the street, saying that if we want to tear down their house, we'll have to step over their bodies.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Du Xun's face had been dark all along, and now he exploded: \"Damn it all, every mangy cat and dog is stepping on our family's head. You lot, listen well to our family — take up clubs and sticks, go forward and strike! Any who dare resist, put them all in the cangue for our family. If they don't bring money to ransom themselves, don't expect our family to release them!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"It seems that for the sake of silver, Du Xun has thrown caution to the wind.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Dou took in the entire situation over there. He knew that local power structures were complex and troublesome. Eunuchs — whose function was akin to that of a chamber pot — having Du Xun do these dirty jobs was proving quite effective.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At this moment, Wang Dou was not far from the Yanghe River, accompanied by officials of his shogunate, as well as Xuanfu's Provincial Governor, Zhu Zhifeng.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing the sounds of wailing and shouting from that direction, Zhu Zhifeng was somewhat worried: \"Marquis of Yongning, Garrison Supervisor Du acting like this, could it...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He paused. He deeply understood how troublesome local powers were. In the past, whenever he wanted to rectify the appearance of the streets, he always ended up utterly frustrated and gave up. Du Xun volunteering to take on these dirty and rough tasks rather surprised Provincial Governor Zhu, and inwardly he rather admired him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Only, he worried whether Du Xun's such rough and violent conduct might provoke a popular uprising, or unfavorable public opinion from the gentry and the like.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Dou said: \"Garrison Supervisor Du is upright and loves the people, handles matters fairly — Lord Zhu need not worry.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He changed the subject and continued their earlier conversation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pointing to this stretch of river and gazing at the Yanghe River before them, Wang Dou said: \"This section of terrain is rather high, making it difficult to channel water for farming, but there are many trees, so it can be improved and renovated into a place for the city's common people to take excursions and enjoy the spring greenery. The area around the city's north gate and West Shuncheng Street has many collapsed and ruined houses — most of the buildings are destroyed, yet green paths and fertile fields, elms and willows interspersed, can also be renovated and built into resting places for the common people. After the future renovation of the garrison city is complete, it will certainly be comfortable and clean.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"After the streets and official roads are renovated, dedicated personnel will be appointed to manage them. It will no longer be like in the past — when sunny, dust and sand bury the feet; when overcast, mud and filth fill the roads; and everywhere garbage and foul waste, further avoiding epidemics. The current accumulated abuses of the runner system are too deep to reform quickly, so with dedicated personnel managing, it will certainly make petty criminals vanish, the common people sing praises, and doors need not be shut at night.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Dou concluded.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhu Zhifeng slowly nodded, rather entranced. Administrative achievements were one thing; bringing benefit to the people was also what he yearned for in his heart.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In Wang Dou's shogunate, official roads and streets were always under the responsibility of the Transportation Section of the Civil Affairs Department, while patrol officers, similar to a police system, were under the responsibility of the newly established Patrol and Arrest Department.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>However, under Zhu Zhifeng's strong insistence, the Provincial Governor's government office and other government offices would also establish related agencies to jointly manage them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Dou's plan was that in the future, the garrison city would only station one battalion of the Jingbian Army, while all remaining officers and soldiers would be withdrawn outside the city, to avoid overcrowding within.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Some of the officers and soldiers in the garrison city were a mix of old and weak, with many slick veterans. These people had a shrunken and dispirited bearing, truly disgracing the face of Great Ming soldiers. Moving them outside the city would also raise the caliber of Xuanfu's garrison city.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I have heard that the Marquis of Yongning has had his subordinates develop a kind of perforated coal briquette, called something... honeycomb coal?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhu Zhifeng was also quite interested in one particular rumor.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Dou nodded: \"Exactly. The northern provinces of the Great Ming widely use coal, and Xuanzhen is likewise — smoke and fumes soar to the sky, stove ashes and furnace cinders are everywhere. This honeycomb coal produces little smoke and fire, has ample flame, is simple and easy to make, and convenient to transport. If successful, aside from reducing coal dust, the common people can also gain an additional means of livelihood.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Honeycomb coal — Wang Dou had often seen it in later generations. He knew it was something cheap to produce and convenient to use.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Because he had seen it so much, he also knew the method of making it. Add flammable straw powder and the like, along with coal powder, mix with a certain proportion of yellow earth, add water and stir evenly, then press it out using a honeycomb coal pressing machine, and let it dry — and it's done.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>However, after arriving at the garrison city, he had inadvertently thought of this thing. He had originally assumed it was simple to make, but hadn't realized that in later generations he had only seen the holes without knowing that making these holes was actually a technical task. Without a specialized hole-punching machine, producing honeycomb coal was not easy. The Civil Affairs Department was still researching how to punch holes efficiently.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But since word had already been put out, Wang Dou could only continue speaking of honeycomb coal's low cost, convenience of use, and simplicity of production.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"What is the purpose of reading the sages' books? It is to bring benefit to the nation and one's homeland.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhu Zhifeng's iron-hard face revealed a smile: \"In bringing benefit to the common people, the Marquis of Yongning far surpasses this humble official.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He bowed to Wang Dou. Wang Dou helped him up and said with a slight smile: \"Lord Zhu's words are too weighty. In many matters, this Marquis must also seek much guidance from Lord Zhu.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As the two spoke, in the distance, some powerful households and gentry, merchants and military officers, Confucian academy students and the like secretly looked toward this side, while also gazing at the bustling scene of road construction.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"So much money and grain, just spent for nothing like this — should one say that Wang Dou is foolish, or that he has ulterior motives?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>One person watched, burning with envy, speaking while sighing inwardly — if all this silver and grain expenditure were given to himself, how wonderful that would be.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Buying the hearts of the people, currying favor with the common folk — since ancient times, those who act in such a manner, which one of them has not been a rebellious minister and traitorous scoundrel?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>One man ground his teeth and said: \"The dynasty treats the gentry generously, yet look at Wang Dou — in the Eastern Circuit he forces gentry and commoners alike to pay grain and taxes, provoking both divine and human wrath, truly a disgrace to all scholars. What is even more hateful is that if one does not submit to the tyrant Wang's oppressive might, one cannot even serve as an official or clerk in the garrison forts. This is outright rebellion!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He spoke, but the latter half of his words grew softer and softer, heard only by a few trusted confidants close by.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Looking over the crowd, there were also visitors from outside Xuanfu Garrison, such as members of the Zhang, Shen, Yang, and Li families from Shanxi — families that combined officialdom and commerce.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Dou had openly dispatched troops to search and seize the family fortunes of every great house in Xuan-Da. Although these renowned Shanxi official-merchant families had all abandoned those merchants, to say they could harbor any goodwill toward Wang Dou was impossible; some even hated him to the bone.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At that moment, a voice said: \"Lord Zhang, in the time of the Gao Emperor, there was the strategy of building high walls, storing ample grain, and deferring the claim to kingship. Seeing how Wang Dou manages his affairs, his ambitions are great indeed.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A slightly aged voice said: \"Hmph, Sima Zhao's intent is known to every passerby. Wang Dou harbors the wild ambitions of a wolf; the dynasty is in peril.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"If that is truly so, it is the Great Ming's misfortune. Does Lord Zhang have any good counsel?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"At present, Wang Dou's forces are strong and his military might is difficult to withstand. There is only the path of waiting. We shall quietly bide our time, waiting five years, ten years. The tyrant Wang will eventually have his moment of decline. When that time comes, it will be the day his nine clans are exterminated and his wife and daughters are degraded to harlotry!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That slightly aged voice continued: \"I have heard that Ji Junjiao is deeply favored by that scoundrel Wang Dou? If that day truly comes, even though I am old and Lady Ji is but a fading beauty past her prime, I shall still exert myself to master her, to vent the hatred in my heart!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The bone-deep hatred in his words sent a chill through the hearts of those who heard.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The earlier voice said: \"Lord Zhang's treasured blade has not aged — this junior is in admiration.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>……\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xuanfu Garrison and its surroundings were constantly changing, and of course, Du Xun, who handled the dirty work, drew the resentment of many.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In late February, Wang Dou examined a shiny white, round object in his hand. He flicked it with a finger — ding — and the object in his hand emitted a pleasing ring.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He pinched it between his fingers again, blew a breath across its edge, and held it to his ear to listen. A pleasant humming sound reached his ear. (To be continued. If you enjoy this work, welcome to Qidian () to cast recommendation votes and monthly votes. Your support is my greatest motivation.)\u003C\u002Fp>",2755,"2026-06-03T14:06:10.567Z",1,"Novelzhen Translator","7bb2ced5f104e1cfaaf323e6b2f6db491d28f62dbde77acb454aa82c21bbf003","a-little-soldier-of-the-late-ming-border-army-chapter-639","a-little-soldier-of-the-late-ming-border-army-chapter-637",896,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fa-little-soldier-of-the-late-ming-border-army-cover.jpg"]