[{"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-708":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},1205997,1561,"Chapter 708: Suicide","a-little-soldier-of-the-late-ming-border-army-chapter-708",708,"\u003Cp>The bandit forces surged forward like a tide. In the blink of an eye, the New Army's battle formation was shattered. Exhausted and suffering heavy casualties, they could no longer maintain their fighting strength.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Amid the chaos, Tang Ting'e, Tang Yanji, and Tang Zhengjing had no time to attend to the body of their fellow townsman Tang Yanfu. They hastily grabbed their own packs and mingled with a dozen or so New Army soldiers, fighting desperately to break out. No one could clearly tell direction; they only knew to charge, to charge with all their might, hoping to burst through the bandit encirclement.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They fought and charged with desperate fury. By now friend and foe were intermingled. The bandits' organizational strength was not high, and many were still disorganized starving civilians. Though their numbers were great, gaps were also plentiful. The possibility of breaking through was not nonexistent; what was terrifying were their mounted troops.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Historically, the Chuang Army's method was: \"When a city is about to fall, ten thousand infantry surround the ramparts while cavalry patrol the outskirts — not a single person escapes.\" Often, not one commoner from a besieged city could flee.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tang Ting'e and the others saw that among their camp brothers, even if many cut down the infantry bandits before them, when bandit riders wielding swift swords and bows came galloping, they fell one after another. They could form ranks to resist the enemy, but scattered and fleeing, they were often no match for these mounted troops.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This was also why earlier Cao Bianjiao dared not let the infantry scatter to break out. On open plains, when infantry encountered cavalry without formation, the outcome was often utterly horrifying. Human legs could not outrun the pursuit of horse legs.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The men around them constantly scattered, then they met new brothers, then scattered again. By the time Tang Ting'e and the other two had fled to the end, the New Army soldiers around them were no longer the original group.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After another wave of desperate fighting, Tang Ting'e discovered with anguish that Coal-Black Tang Zhengjing was also gone.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Clip-clop, clip-clop...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The life-reaping sound of hoofbeats never ceased. Bandit riders covered the wilderness, relentlessly hunting down these Ming troops who had broken out, along with their own foot soldiers and starving civilians. Though scattered in patches east and west, the dense, dark mass of humanity — the moment they spotted government troops breaking out somewhere — would surge forward in groups, shouting and giving chase.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Many Ming soldiers fought until their strength was spent. In the end, they could only collapse to the ground and resign themselves to fate. Still others, amid the surrounding shouts of \"Surrender!\", sobbed and cast aside their weapons, throwing themselves to the earth. The moment the formation crumbled, many lost their conviction as well, only numbly awaiting their destiny.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Perhaps because Tang Ting'e and his group were fleeing toward Bozhou, the intercepting bandit soldiers and riders were not as dense as those on the Xiayi side. They fought and charged for who knows how long, and the flow of men ahead grew sparser and sparser. After fleeing several more li, a stretch of woods appeared ahead, surrounded by tall wild grass that rose past a man's waist. Tang Ting'e and the others were overjoyed. They desperately shook off a pursuing wave of foot bandits behind them and slipped into the woods. A few spearmen even set up an ambush.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The wave of bandits outside arrived. Amid loud shouts, about a hundred or more bandit soldiers pushed into the woods. The few spearmen suddenly burst forth, stabbing several dead in quick succession. The bandits, terrified, cried out in alarm and fled frantically back out of the woods. The remaining men hesitated for a while, but in the end did not pursue inside. They merely set a fire outside, shouting as they chased after Ming troops in other directions.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tang Ting'e and the others dared not linger long. After hiding briefly in the woods, they fled outward again. Along the way, more men scattered; occasionally some Ming soldiers joined them. They constantly hid — by the riverbank, in the thick grass, within the woods — these were all their hiding places. The bandit infantry grew fewer, but while they hid, the death-knell hoofbeats of the bandits still rang in their ears from time to time. Beyond the range of the massed foot soldiers, the open plain swarmed with marauding bandit cavalry.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the afternoon, they hid within a stretch of ruins. This had originally been a village, but now only broken houses and crumbling walls remained. Only on the collapsed memorial archway at the village entrance could one faintly make out three large characters: Da Zhu Village.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They hid in the Dragon King Temple at the village's northwest corner. Here too, only broken walls and shattered tiles remained. Watching the bandit hoofbeats continue unceasingly, with search party after search party galloping past near the village, every man secretly burned with anxiety.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At this moment, Tang Ting'e had about seven men around him. Including himself, they had three firelocks, three long spears, and one waist saber. The man with the waist saber was a firelock soldier, but at some point, the firelock in his hands had disappeared.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>These seven men were also split between Yutian Garrison and Zunhua Garrison, and belonged to different battalion commanders. In terms of military rank, however, Squad Leader Tang Ting'e was the highest. Everyone instinctively looked to him as their leader.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>By now, every man's face was sallow. Each bore numerous wounds, and prolonged bleeding had made their bodies weaker and weaker. Tang Yanji had been viciously slashed across the left shoulder and back by a bandit. The bandage wrapping the wound was already soaked through with blood. He had even lost consciousness for a spell earlier, and upon waking felt only an intense dryness in his throat.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But he remained silent. One hand gripped his long spear tightly; the other, trembling, fumbled out his coconut-shell ladle, yet he could not manage to bring it to his lips. It was only with Tang Ting'e's help that he drank a few mouthfuls of water. Then he pulled dried, hard cooked horse meat from his bosom and chewed it forcefully.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The men around him were also silently eating parched rice and horse meat. It was Tang Ting'e who finally spoke, though he found his own voice terribly hoarse: \"I went to scout just now... not far west of the village, there's a river. The river is about a hundred paces wide... but the water is deep. Wading across won't be easy. But if we don't cross the river, to get far from the bandits, we'll have to take a long detour...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Silence still surrounded him. After a long while, the firelock soldier holding the waist saber spoke. His voice was indistinct, the result of too much blood loss and exhaustion: \"Whatever Squad Leader Tang says, we'll do... To be honest, surviving until now, I've already come out ahead. I just hope the Grand Commander can escape, so my old father can receive the pension...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tang Ting'e checked his firelock, then blew the match cord back to a glow, and said: \"Fine. Then we cross the river...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The remaining two firelock soldiers also made their preparations. While in hiding, they had all extinguished their match cords. But rising from a hiding place, surrounded by lurking dangers, clutching an empty gun offered no sense of security. Even if the firelight let the bandits spot them, they could no longer care.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just as the group was about to move, Tang Yanji, who had been forcefully swallowing the horse meat in his mouth, suddenly said: \"Bandits coming!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Everyone started. Again they heard hoofbeats. They saw a dozen or so riders heading straight for the ruins from the east. One of the riders even stopped, touched the ground, and his voice carried clearly even from this distance: \"...Donkey-balls, there's blood. There must be government troops in the village...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then another voice, seemingly with a Shanxi accent, rang out: \"Let's go, grab a few alive. If King Chuang sees them, he'll surely be pleased...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They drew their swift swords one after another, reining their horses to charge this way. What was more terrifying was that not far behind these bandit riders, a large force of bandit foot soldiers was also charging over — likely no fewer than three or four hundred men.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Go! Head for the river!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tang Ting'e and his seven men rushed out of the ruined temple in haste, dashing urgently toward the river. Behind them, the bandits raised a cheer. Those foot bandits also quickened their pace, catching up.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Thud, thud, thud...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hoofbeats pounded the ground like heavy drums. A dozen or so swift bandit horses had already encircled them. Tang Ting'e suddenly turned back, raised the firelock in his hands, and with a thunderous boom, white smoke billowed from the muzzle. A bandit rider tumbled off in agony, groaning piteously on the ground.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Beside him, Tang Yanji also thrust fiercely with his spear. A long blade swept through the air from the side. Fresh blood splattered as a bandit was stabbed off his horse by him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Two more gunshots rang out. One firelock soldier hit a bandit in the chest. The other hit a bandit's horse. The horse gave a mournful neigh and bolted far away at full speed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A tearing whistle through the air — a javelin came hurtling. The firelock soldier who had shot the bandit in the chest had no time to dodge. The javelin pierced through his chest and out his body. Beside the other firelock soldier, a bandit rider's swift horse swept past. That firelock soldier tried to raise his empty gun to parry, but from excessive blood loss, his body was already weak and strengthless. The bandit's saber slashed across his neck, and a great spray of blood gushed forth.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>However, the moment the two sides clashed, four or five of the dozen bandit riders fell. Even though only three or four men remained on the Ming side, the bandits dared not approach closely. They only kept their distance, drawing bows to shoot an arrow now and then, or hurling a javelin or the like.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The foot bandits behind them — many also hesitated and slowed their steps. Toward these New Army soldiers, whether mounted or on foot, every man in the bandit camps was truly terrified to the marrow of their bones.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They only shouted for surrender from afar. Yet when Tang Ting'e and the others fled, they pursued closely again. The remaining bandit riders either controlled their horses to follow at a tantalizing distance, or charged behind the foot bandits, shouting and urging them on from the rear.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Their footsteps were as heavy as a thousand catties. Tang Ting'e and his few companions ran stumbling and staggering. Already one long-spearman had thrown himself to the ground, his strength spent unto death. Seeing only three Ming soldiers left, the shouts of surrender from behind grew even louder.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"New Army brothers, surrender! King Chuang won't kill you.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"That's right, we won't kill you.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Another man shouted: \"We're all sons of poor families. Why toil and sell your lives for those rotten officials?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The firelock soldier with the waist saber followed behind Tang Ting'e. Listening, a divine light flashed in his eyes. Gasping for breath, he said: \"Surrender? I am a soldier of the government army. How can I surrender to bandits?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He gave a great roar: \"Better death than surrender to bandits!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Unwilling to flee any longer, he raised the waist saber in his hands and suddenly whirled around to charge back. In the blink of an eye, he was swallowed up by the tide of foot bandits.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tang Ting'e bit his lower lip. Gritting his teeth, he pulled Tang Yanji and just ran, ran with all his might. Earlier, when several bandits had drawn near, he had fiercely swept and parried with the firelock in his hands. Though it had checked their advance, the firelock had been battered apart and rendered useless, so he had to discard it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pulling Tang Yanji by the hand, he saw it — the river was almost within reach. But ahead appeared a ditch. The terrain on the other side of the ditch was much higher than here. Originally there had been a few planks across the ditch, but now they were long broken and impassable. And this side was overgrown with weeds and thick brambles. This was the only path leading to the river.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The shouts of the bandits behind them grew angrier and more urgent. Especially those bandit riders — originally they had been somewhat toying with them, like cats with mice. They had not expected to run into this kind of place, this kind of terrain, where everyone was jammed together, and even dispersing to outflank was impossible. Seeing the two New Army soldiers about to escape, they quickened their pace even more to catch up.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Get up!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With a mighty heave, Tang Ting'e boosted Tang Yanji's body up onto the ditch bank. In a low voice, he said: \"Forgive your elder brother for not taking good care of you all.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He turned around and fiercely yanked open the pack wrapped around his waist. A \"Ten-Thousand-Man Foe\" appeared in his hand. This Ten-Thousand-Man Foe used the Jingbian Army's new gunpowder formula, immensely powerful. With a flick of the fire striker in his other hand, he touched it to the bomb — instantly the fuse hissed and ignited, sparks flying in all directions.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The large mass of bandit soldiers that had just rushed to the forefront immediately halted. Their faces turned ashen white. Pair after pair of eyes stared fixedly, deathly, at the Ten-Thousand-Man Foe in Tang Ting'e's hands. Many involuntarily stepped backward, or tried to hide behind their comrades' bodies.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tang Ting'e gazed quietly at the bandits before him. Mother, little sister, little brother, and his pregnant wife — scene after scene flickered through his heart. Finally, they settled upon the words of the Teacher, reverberating like a great bronze bell: \"The physical form has its end; the nature-spirit is imperishable.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tang Ting'e roared: \"Long live the Great Ming!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And just like that, he charged into the crowd. The Ten-Thousand-Man Foe exploded violently. A mist of blood and white smoke billowed up.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Brother Ting'e...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tang Yanji cried out. He fled with desperate fury, forgetting everything. He fell, then scrambled up again. An arrow struck him in the back, yet still he charged on. Roaring, he leaped into the river waters...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Many years later, the story of those few Ming soldiers still spread throughout this region. No one knows when it began, but a temple appeared by the riverbank. Villagers and nearby commoners came in a steady stream to offer incense. The temple was not large. Sometimes the incense fires burned brightly, sometimes more faintly, but they never went out.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Across the vast open plain, corpses lay piled layer upon layer everywhere. Among these dead were Ming soldiers, Chuang Army soldiers, men from the Ge-Zuo and other camps, along with all manner of dead horses and severed limbs, shattered shield-carts and equipment, tattered and broken banners and weapons — all lying crisscrossed and haphazard, steeped in pools of blood.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Blood mixed with mud formed dark-red rivulets, winding and crawling like earthworms. The blood flowing from the dead submerged the war boots of Li Zicheng and his men. They moved continuously across the battlefield, watching the warriors of the roving camp, searching back and forth over the corpse-strewn field, rounding up wounded Ming soldiers, as well as weapons and supplies.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The formidable combat strength of the New Army left a deep impression on Li Zicheng and the others, so every family and every camp hoped to collect some New Army soldiers who could not escape — even the wounded were fought over.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For this purpose, they transferred precious army physicians and healers to treat those dazed and numb Ming wounded soldiers first, giving them the same treatment as the cavalry veterans of the camp's old battalion. As for the wounded foot soldiers and famine refugees of each family — that depended on their luck.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Although these wounded men all remained silent, neither agreeing to surrender nor refusing, Li Zicheng and the others did not mind. They did not understand the loyalty and righteousness in those hearts, but each of them believed that, with the battle fought to this point, the New Army had already done all it could. To stay alive and switch masters was only natural.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Besides, in the roving camps, surrendered government troops were by no means few. The backbone of Li Zicheng's own old camp was frontier army mutineers and surrendered soldiers. In the past, the main force of Gao Yingxiang's and Ma Shouying's bands had likewise been \"surrendered barbarian and Han soldiers.\" Many roving-camp commanders were themselves once part of the government army. So Li Zicheng and the others believed that these wounded soldiers would eventually surrender.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The New Army's firelocks were also what everyone craved. In the past, after a battle, the Chuang camp submitted war spoils with horses and mules first, bows, powder, and lead firearms second, silks and cloth third, and pearls and jade last. This time, firelocks came first. The roving bandits searched the field everywhere, and Li Zicheng issued a strict order: anyone who dared to hide a firelock or its parts would be sliced to death.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As they moved around, the sights everywhere on the battlefield chilled every man's heart.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He Jin, the Left Golden King, clicked his tongue and said, \"I've seen plenty of dead men, but a battle this brutal — this is the first time.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As he spoke, his face was all smiles and delight.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>From the outbreak of this battle to its end, although each family had suffered no small number of casualties, the good thing was that most of the dead were worthless famine refugees, along with the infantry who had been spent as cannon fodder. After this brutal winnowing, they could freely select large numbers of foot soldiers from the refugees, then plunder horses and mules everywhere and likewise select large numbers of cavalry from the foot soldiers. Each camp's fighting strength would recover very quickly — not to mention the rich outcome of this battle.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Niu Jinxing watched, his face carrying an expression of vented hatred. Stroking his beard, he said, \"A pity — we still haven't found the body of the Ming court's Jingnan Count. Cao Bianjiao may have escaped.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ge Liyan cursed furiously, \"It's all that Wang Tingchen's fault! He charged in at the last moment — Cao Bianjiao was probably extracted by him.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The men of the Chuang camp frowned slightly. Was He Yilong blaming Li Guo for failing to block the outer perimeter?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Zicheng smiled faintly. \"It doesn't matter. The New Army of Cao Bianjiao's and Wang Tingchen's two garrisons has been annihilated. Even if they fled with remnant troops, they are not worth worrying about.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The group walked on and finally stopped at one spot. Here, corpses were piled layer upon layer. In the midst of the bodies, a general stood gripping a great blade, his angry eyes wide open, his body covered with countless wounds yet still upright and un-fallen. A wounded warhorse whinnied mournfully, nuzzling the general's corpse with its head. The horse was covered in scars, shivering uncontrollably, and clearly would not live either.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Someone in the Chuang camp recognized the general's body and said, \"That's Vice General Sun Xiezhong of the Zunhua Garrison New Army camp. I didn't expect him to die here.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The men of the roving camp sighed. \"A pity — a true brave man. Not worth it.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He Jin, however, stared at the horse and shook his head. \"A pity — a fine horse.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Suddenly, a body in the pile of corpses stirred, and then a Ming soldier slowly crawled up. His face and whole body were covered in blood; even his eyeballs, rolling back and forth, were red. He first looked around a few times, and when he saw Vice General Sun's corpse, he let out several loud wails, then forcefully raised the waist saber in his hand.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He stared at the people before him with bitter hatred. Blood seeped from the corner of his lips. He swayed unsteadily, yet struggled with all his might to stand firm. Hoarse sounds came from his throat, but he could not utter a single complete sentence. The onlookers could only faintly make out a few words within: \"...kill the bandits...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A personal guard beside Li Zicheng stepped forward and said loudly, \"Brother, surrender. Follow the Chuang King, and there's a future ahead.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Ming soldier let out a hoarse roar and suddenly lunged at the personal guard. The guard easily sidestepped, then slashed his blade across the Ming soldier's throat. He came back cursing, \"Ungrateful wretch!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The men of the roving camp remarked, \"Foolish. He had a chance to live and didn't take it.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sun Kewang and He Yilong beside him were talking and laughing loudly, pointing and gesturing. Only Li Dingguo nearby let out a heavy breath and turned his head away.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At that moment, a relay rider galloped up and shouted, \"Reporting to the Chuang King and all the chiefs — at the Guandi Temple over by Lijialou, the brothers have it completely surrounded. It seems there's a high official inside.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Zicheng and the others grew interested. \"Let's go take a look,\" he said.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The temple was quite large, but extremely dilapidated, full of drafts and leaks everywhere; even the door plaque was gone. This village stood at the key junction between Xiayi and Yongcheng. It had once been extraordinarily prosperous — one could tell from the seven or eight temples large and small inside and outside the village. Without considerable wealth, it would have been impossible to build so many temples.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But everything had turned to bubbles and shadows. The entire village was now broken walls and ruined foundations. The Guandi Temple before them had rafters so decayed they were about to collapse.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Go to hell, you bullet-eating roving bandit.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A dark, burly arquebusier had just fired and killed a roving bandit when there seemed to be more movement at a gap in the wall to the left.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The arquebusier was still looking outward, but his eyeballs swiveled to their extreme limit. He suddenly swung his firelock around, and the heavy butt smashed down hard on the bandit's head as it poked through. Bits and pieces of skull flew everywhere, accompanied by muffled groans and miserable howls of extreme agony from outside.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The roving bandits outside no longer dared to try forcing their way in. They simply surrounded the place tightly, shouting ceaselessly for surrender, interspersed with threats: \"If you don't surrender, we'll set fire!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Follow the Chuang King and conquer the realm — don't sell your lives for that rotten government!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"That rotten government...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xiao Mingfeng, the morale officer of the Yutian Garrison New Army camp, murmured, \"The government is rotten. And the Chuang bandits are any better?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He looked around inside the temple. Twenty-some wounded soldiers lay utterly exhausted. Few could still move. The roving bandits outside were wary of collateral damage and had not stormed in, but they would eventually lose patience. If they truly attacked, they would not care about lives. And how could he himself fall into the hands of roving bandits?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Looking at the firewood and straw scattered everywhere in the temple, a resolution formed in his heart.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He looked at everyone in the temple and spoke slowly. He was severely wounded; even opening his mouth was an effort. With all his strength, he said, \"You have all fought to this point, and every one of you has done your duty with a clear conscience. I, Xiao, am unwilling to surrender to the bandits, nor to fall into their hands. I am resolved to set this temple alight, to fulfill my loyalty and righteousness! Whether you stay or surrender now, I leave to each of you to decide.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The temple fell silent for a moment. A few Ming soldiers slowly crawled toward the outside. The rest only watched numbly. After those few went out, a clamor of noise and delight erupted outside, and the calls for surrender grew even louder.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Looking at those who remained in the temple, Xiao Mingfeng felt both comfort and a hidden grief. He watched the dark, burly arquebusier limp over and, without any ceremony, plop himself down right beside him. Smiling, the man cupped his fist and said, \"I still don't know my brother's honored name.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The dark, burly arquebusier said, \"My name's Tang Zhengjing. Folks back home all call me Coal-Blackie.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xiao Mingfeng said, \"Little brother, aren't you afraid?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tang Zhengjing said, \"I was afraid at first. But with so many people keeping me company, when I see King Yama, I won't be afraid anymore.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xiao Mingfeng laughed heartily. \"Well said, well said! With all these loyal and brave soldiers as company, the road to the Yellow Springs won't be lonely.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He took out his fire striker, blew on it sharply, and tossed it onto the pile of straw and firewood beneath him. At once, the dry kindling crackled and burst into flames.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xiao Mingfeng laughed loudly and cried out, \"A true man wraps his corpse in horsehide, dies in battle on the sand — a death where it belongs. What joy, what joy!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He raised his voice in song: \"The August Ming reigns supreme, its virtue reaching back to Yu and Tang. The rivers are clear and the seas calm, goods plentiful and the people at peace. Might extends to the barbarian tribes, grace covers the Rong and Qiang...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Amid the raging inferno, everyone in the temple sang along with his loud song. The flames grew fiercer, until at last the entire temple was shrouded in fire and smoke.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The roving bandits besieging the place outside watched all this, dumbstruck. Many felt their hearts nearly leap out of their chests. They watched the temple crackle and burn, until flames shot skyward and thick smoke billowed — and still they just stared stupidly, not knowing to take a single step back...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When word of this reached the court, Xiao Mingfeng was posthumously promoted to Vice Regional Military Commissioner, granted an official burial with sacrifices, and his descendants were given the hereditary rank of Assistant Guard Commander. The imperial decree read: \"Loyal ministers and martyrs shall be enshrined in temples and offered sacrifices; loyal and valiant officers and soldiers shall be enshrined alongside them.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Zicheng and the others halted abruptly. They had just arrived when they witnessed this scene of such tragic heroism. Li Zicheng's face was ashen. He murmured, \"The New Army... the court's New Army...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He shouted harshly, \"Why won't they surrender?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He Yilong also cried out in shock, \"Madmen! Cao Bianjiao's subordinates are full of madmen.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ma Shouying's face was pale. He murmured, \"Good thing we've already wiped them out. If they had been at Kaifeng, this war... there would have been no point in fighting it.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Dingguo clenched his fists tightly. For the first time, he wondered whether following his adoptive father to raise an army all those years ago had been right or wrong.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The commanders of the roving camp reined in their horses and stood still, every one of them chilled to the heart. Just then, another relay rider came up and reported loudly: \"We've captured Yang Shaofan, the Vice General of the Yutian Garrison New Army.\" (To be continued...)\u003C\u002Fp>",4619,"2026-06-03T14:06:10.567Z",1,"Novelzhen Translator","e348943c56a366a54ff3e6725afc55259421dc29bd3a3ea262eb0d72487663d8","a-little-soldier-of-the-late-ming-border-army-chapter-709","a-little-soldier-of-the-late-ming-border-army-chapter-707",896,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fa-little-soldier-of-the-late-ming-border-army-cover.jpg"]