[{"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-657":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},1205946,1561,"Chapter 657: Chapter: Daning Regional Military Commission, Regional Military Commissioner — 539","a-little-soldier-of-the-late-ming-border-army-chapter-657",657,"\u003Cp>Two days later, in the main hall of the Provincial Governor’s government office of Xuanfu Garrison.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What? Submit a memorial requesting the re-establishment of the Daning Regional Military Commission, and retake all the Great Ming territory from the present border wall all the way to the North Sea?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhu Zhifeng, Provincial Governor of Xuanfu Garrison, stared at Wang Dou, eyes wide: “Requesting the re-establishment of the Daning Regional Military Commission is a good thing, but as this governor recalls, even at its greatest extent, the Daning Regional Military Commission only occupied Monan. Since when did it reach the North Sea?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhu Zhifeng felt somewhat baffled; he distinctly remembered that the Daning Regional Military Commission established in the early Ming, at its northernmost, only reached the Yinshan line. Wang Dou’s words had abruptly expanded it many times over. That territory could be expanded in such a way struck Zhu Zhifeng as most astonishing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The North Sea belongs to our Han lands — this is an indisputable fact.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Dou said with a straight face: “This marquis recalls that in the Han dynasty, Su Wu once herded sheep by the shores of the North Sea, and the Cavalry General Huo Qubing sealed the Wolf Mountain and offered sacrifices, his military edge likewise reaching the shores of the North Sea.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“In the Great Tang, the Anbei Protectorate was established, and in the early years of our dynasty, the great campaigns also struck as far as the North Sea. Ironclad facts prove that from the Han dynasty onward, the North Sea, and all the land stretching south from it, have been the sacred and indivisible territory of our Han people.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Even if those places are not currently in the hands of the imperial court, they have merely been illicitly occupied or temporarily inhabited by successive generations of barbarians since the Han. Once the royal army sets forth, naturally we must settle accounts with them one by one.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“This… this…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhu Zhifeng was still in shock.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He was somewhat unable to keep up with Wang Dou’s train of thought. And besides, weren’t they talking about the Daning Regional Military Commission? How had the conversation veered to the Han and Tang?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He stammered: “Yong… Yongning Marquis, let us set that aside for the moment. Monan is one thing, but Mobei — does our present Great Ming have the capacity to occupy it?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Dou said: “Whether we have the capacity to occupy it or not, there is no rush. First set the tone, then slowly, step by step, recover the old lands.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Those we have the capacity to occupy, we can occupy now. Those we lack the capacity to occupy, we can leave until we have the capacity later.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhu Zhifeng was left speechless, not knowing what to say.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lately he had been quite busy, yet his whole being was filled with passion. Seeing the garrison improve day by day, he felt a great sense of satisfaction in his heart, and his goodwill toward Wang Dou deepened day by day as well — though, of course, on matters of principle he still held firm.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He was aware that the Jingbian Army had expanded to fifty thousand men. For such a vast and formidable military force to sit idle within the garrison was a waste. He had some inkling of the court’s intentions: in the short term, it was impossible for Wang Dou to be ordered to lead troops against the roving bandits or the eastern slaves.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>However, if Wang Dou turned his attention outward from the realm, led troops beyond the frontier, and fought the frontier barbarians to the death, they would be quite happy to see it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And throughout the dynasties, except for the Great Song, which was congenitally deficient, every Han imperial dynasty in its early period had occupied Monan. The Great Ming was no exception.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As for the situation beyond the frontier, one only needed to occupy the Yinshan line, the boundary between desert and grassland, to firmly protect the agricultural core. However, once an imperial dynasty declined, the defense line inevitably had to withdraw inward, and no frontier strategy, however excellent, could reverse the decline.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For several centuries, the Great Ming had suffered severe border troubles. Before the Manchu Qing rose, the Mongols beyond the frontier, over the course of centuries, had raided almost every few years or every decade or so. Especially during the Jiajing reign, the border troubles were extremely grave, and each incursion never numbered fewer than a hundred thousand men.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the past, Zhu Zhifeng’s view had been that the lands beyond the border wall were all barren wasteland, worthless to take. But now his view had gradually shifted. The lands beyond the wall were indeed barren, but it depended on whose hands they were in. Now the garrison farmlands, the various livestock workshops beyond the wall — they were thriving. How many commoners’ livelihoods had they solved?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Especially after the Battle of Jinzhou, the northern barbarian forces beyond the Xuan–Da border wall were weak — it was precisely a golden opportunity to send troops. If they could be driven out, annihilated, then at least the three garrisons of Xuan–Da would be free of border troubles for decades, the common people would enjoy peace, and the dynasty could thereafter concentrate on dealing with the eastern slaves. This was a good thing that would benefit the state and benefit future generations.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Moreover, recovering old territory would also boost morale. He himself, as Provincial Governor, could leave his name in the annals of history. For a scholar-official, such an attraction was unimaginably great.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He made a prompt decision and reached a resolution.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But then he mused: “In this governor’s view, the court will certainly agree to re-establish the Daning Regional Military Commission. However, as for the expenses of the campaign, and the provisions and pay, the court will probably… and, once the memorial is submitted, I fear there will be censorial officials impeaching us for rashly provoking border clashes, worrying about barbarian retaliation, and so on…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Dou said: “As for the provisions and pay for the campaign, we must still strive to secure them. As for the censorial officials’ impeachment, there is no need to pay them any heed… Barbarian retaliation? A joke — do they have the capacity to retaliate?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhu Zhifeng was also full of confidence in the Jingbian Army’s battle strength. He said: “There is no time to lose. Yongning Marquis, let us go at once to find Army Supervisor Du, and also submit a letter to Viceroy Ji.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When the two men hurried to the residence of the garrison eunuch Du Xun, Du Xun was sitting in the main hall counting money. Several chests of gleaming silver coins were placed beside him, and Du Xun was counting them one by one, from time to time listening to the pleasing sound of the coins clinking against each other.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This was Du Xun’s method of dispelling cares when he was vexed and troubled. He had once told his subordinate eunuchs: “Since arriving at Xuanfu Garrison, there has been much bitterness. Only by counting silver coins each day can this servant recover his inner peace.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Dou had dumped all the thankless, offense-courting tasks onto Du Xun. Now the officials, officers, and gentry of the garrison town had shifted the target of their resentment onto Du Xun’s head. In secret, they grumbled and cursed him all day long. Du Xun’s eight generations of ancestors, and every female member of his clan, had been thoroughly reviled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They had also mobilized various forces in the capital to launch all manner of attacks against this damned eunuch. It was solely thanks to Du Xun’s formidable connections and deep network of influence that he had managed to hold on.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Chongzhen Emperor also believed that Du Xun was effective in his duties. That people impeached and attacked him was a good thing — it proved that Du Xun was doing his job. If there were only voices of unanimous praise, that would instead signal a problem. Thus Du Xun’s position as garrison supervisor and army supervisor of Xuanfu Garrison remained quite secure.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing Wang Dou enter, a look of irritation appeared in Du Xun’s eyes. When he saw Zhu Zhifeng as well, he was even more irritated. These two fellows — one sinister, one stubborn — neither was any good.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That Wang Dou in particular bullied others by relying on his power. He himself had been cast in the role of a chamber pot in Xuanfu Garrison. Often, no sooner had one troublesome matter been settled than another came along. It was truly exhausting.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had once said to Wang Dou: “So tiring. This servant quits. That silver, this servant doesn’t want it anymore.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Unexpectedly, that boor Wang Dou immediately turned hostile: “You took my silver, and now you say you’ll quit just like that? That’s impossible.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Du Xun had no choice but to continue playing the role of the chamber pot.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing the two men enter, he cast them a faint glance, then lowered his head and continued counting money, saying lazily: “What business does Yongning Marquis have now? Can’t this servant have a moment’s peace and quiet?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When Wang Dou and the other man explained the purpose of their visit, his eyes lit up and he let out an “Oh.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Very quickly, a joint memorial from Yongning Marquis Wang Dou, Dingxing Count Wang Pu, Viceroy of Xuan–Da Ji Shiwei, Provincial Governor of Xuanfu Garrison Zhu Zhifeng, Garrison Eunuch Du Xun, Provincial Governor of Datong Wei Jingyuan, and others was delivered to the capital, requesting the re-establishment of the Daning Regional Military Commission.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At this time, the Chongzhen Emperor and his ministers were busy brewing the great Kaifeng campaign. The court had also heard that Wang Dou had expanded his army to fifty thousand. From the Emperor down to the Grand Secretaries, each felt increasingly alarmed and wary. It was precisely at this juncture that Wang Dou applied to lead troops on a campaign beyond the frontier. This was a good thing — let his formidable army go wear itself out.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If he succeeded, the three garrisons of Xuan–Da in the Great Ming would be even more secure, and old territory would be regained. If he failed, the losses would be Wang Dou’s and Wang Pu’s own troops.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Besides, campaigning beyond the frontier — how could it be so easy? From the Han and Tang to the Great Ming, how many times had armies been laboriously mobilized, yet still failed to completely wipe out the barbarian forces beyond the frontier? More often than not, they became deeply mired in a quagmire. Wang Dou’s outcome would basically be the same: battered and exhausted, forced to bear the consequences.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seizing this opportunity, the court could transfer troops and generals to annihilate the roving bandits in Henan. Later, once strong armies were trained up unit by unit, they could handle any matter with calm and composure.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Therefore, the court responded with the utmost speed to Wang Dou and the others’ request to re-establish the Daning Regional Military Commission, and even granted Wang Dou the title of Regional Military Commissioner of the Daning Regional Military Commission.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Of course, the provisions, pay, and other expenses for the campaign would need to be raised locally by Xuan–Da. Apart from strong moral support, the court was powerless to provide material aid. Moreover, should there be any possible retaliation from the Tartar slaves, Wang Dou and the others would have to bear full responsibility themselves.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When the memorial reached the capital, it was not that no censorial officials caught wind of it and acted, impeaching Wang Dou and the others for rashly provoking border clashes and enumerating all manner of potential dangers. All such memorials were retained in the palace by the Chongzhen Emperor without response.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the Great Ming nowadays, nothing could be kept secret; it was like a sieve leaking air. Even though Wang Dou and the others’ memorial was not copied into the court gazette, it quickly spread through every quarter of the capital, known in every street and alley, bubbling up into a great clamor.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yongning Marquis is going to lead troops on a campaign beyond the frontier.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even many children in the capital knew this news.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhu Zhifeng was very worried that the leaked news would make the northern barbarians take precautions. Wang Dou did not mind. He said: “We need not worry about the barbarians gathering — we worry about them scattering. It’s even better if they take precautions; we can concentrate and annihilate them in one stroke.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the capital, during recent days, aside from brewing the great central plains campaign, the Minister of Revenue Ni Yuanlu was rigorously cracking down on illegal coinage, laying the foundation for the minting of new coins and the circulation of the coinage laws.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Because the Emperor strongly supported it and the laws were extremely strict, beside each coin-pounding stone mortar, officials from the Ministry of Revenue and the Censorate pounded vast quantities of illegal coins each day. The censors of the Nine Gates also arrested many illegal coin dealers, as well as commoners carrying illegal coins on their persons. They were either exiled to military service or beheaded.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After about a month or so, they felt that the number of commoners turning in illegal coins was gradually dwindling, and the illegal coin dealers they arrested were no longer numerous. However, the court’s strict order was that these coin-pounding officials must collect three to four thousand wen, even five to six thousand wen, of illegal coins each day, with strict supervision.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Therefore, the Ministry of Revenue and Censorate officials beside each coin-pounding stone mortar had no choice but to buy illegal coins themselves to pound. From morning to afternoon, they had to have their clerks hold the coins between mortar and pestle for all to see. Every day, they had to spend two or three taels of silver. Complaints arose on all sides, and attacks against Ni Yuanlu grew even more numerous.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Persisting until the fifth month, the coin-pounding officials of the Ministry of Revenue and the Censorate, by unspoken agreement, declared: “All illegal coins in the capital have been completely confiscated!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Upon receiving this report, Ni Yuanlu was overjoyed. If illegal coins were banned, they could issue fine official coins, and he would not have failed the Emperor’s trust in him. However, before reporting to the Emperor, out of caution, Ni Yuanlu decided to go to the market streets and conduct an incognito personal inspection.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He took a few attendants and went to the Chongwen Street area. Along several li of streets here, there were many money shops, with pearls, jade, and precious wares displayed in rows — this had always been a key place in the capital for exchanging copper cash and silver.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Outside several money shops, people came and went, and business was thriving.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He casually strolled into one shop. Inside, a few small merchants were exchanging copper cash with the shop owner. Suddenly, Ni Yuanlu's heart tightened — he clearly saw a merchant exchange ten taels of silver for twenty-four thousand wen of copper cash.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wasn't the price fixed at one tael of silver for only six hundred wen of copper cash? Apart from those six thousand wen, were the remaining eighteen thousand wen all private coinage? Or were these twenty-four thousand wen of copper cash entirely private coinage?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And the court's crackdown on private coinage had instead driven up its price, so that one tael of silver could now buy two thousand four hundred wen of private coinage?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ni Yuanlu hurried out of the money shop and went on to other establishments. The further he walked, the colder his heart grew. Every single one was the same.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At every place that sold cash, payment was made face to face on the spot. One tael of silver could buy two thousand four hundred wen of copper cash, or two thousand five hundred wen. The lower amounts of one thousand eight or nine hundred wen were either handed over openly, passed secretly under the table, or collected later in a roundabout way. The court strictly cracked down on private coinage — and this was the result?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But why was what had been reported upward completely different from what he saw with his own eyes?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Arriving at a market, Ni Yuanlu saw several Embroidered Uniform Guard standing there, yet right beside them, private coinage trading was blazing like wildfire.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Wasn't it said that all private coinage in the capital had been completely confiscated?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The attendants beside him were dumbstruck.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Staring blankly in that direction, Ni Yuanlu's heart labored to beat. At that moment, the setting sun spread across the horizon like blood, yet Ni Yuanlu's entire body was utterly ice-cold.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Great Ming…\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ni Yuanlu said softly, his voice filled with boundless desolation. (To be continued. Remember our website:)\u003C\u002Fp>",2826,"2026-06-03T14:06:10.567Z",1,"Novelzhen Translator","903fbe90b282109b9478855316c74d27eb84ee4139b3649b50f3f8e8453b52b7","a-little-soldier-of-the-late-ming-border-army-chapter-658","a-little-soldier-of-the-late-ming-border-army-chapter-656",896,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fa-little-soldier-of-the-late-ming-border-army-cover.jpg"]