[{"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-731":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},1206020,1561,"Chapter 731: Deliberations","a-little-soldier-of-the-late-ming-border-army-chapter-731",731,"\u003Cp>Entering the tenth month, the weather in Xuanfu Garrison grew colder by the day, yet many garrison residents felt no chill in their hearts — mainly because there had been too many stirring events of late. Reports on the great victory beyond the frontier were still ongoing, but for now the writing was chiefly turning to the various military and civil administration conferences the Grand General’s residence had been convening day after day.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Everyone was speculating about the future structure of Xuanfu Garrison — which official would take which post. The Grand General had declared he would develop Monan; how would it be managed going forward?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The newspapers discoursed at length, and among the common people discussion was just as thick as clouds. A fondness for debating state affairs and pointing out the lay of the land was a distinctive trait of Xuanfu Garrison. Elsewhere in the Great Ming, tea houses and wineshops still pasted up strips reading “Do not discuss state affairs,” but here everyone spoke their mind freely.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>All sorts of political-discussion societies kept springing up, and many tea houses and wineshops served as their bases.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>On this point, quite a few shogunate officials could not help feeling worried. They held that when the common folk spouted bombast, and every edict no sooner issued than the streets and lanes buzzed with talk — dissecting the decree like officials, analyzing it article by article, expounding at length on its pros and cons as though they themselves were the officials — this was rather detrimental to official control and moral edification.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Moreover, while the shogunate deliberated great affairs, they too deliberated “great affairs” in the tea houses. Before the shogunate had even fully analyzed a policy, they had already analyzed it eight or nine parts out of ten. This was mainly because the level of learning within the garrison was growing ever higher, each person’s analytical power and judgment ever sharper — and many hands made light work.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If it did not suit the wishes of every side, it would also incur criticism, and they would have to go back and deliberate again — would that not make one fly into a rage out of shame? Zhang Gui, the Commissioner of the Civil Affairs Department, had roared in fury precisely over this.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The emergence of newspapers had strengthened Xuanfu Garrison’s external propaganda offensive and was of great use in edifying the common people. But for the officials within the garrison, it was in truth a mix of joy and worry.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Because at any time, their own deeds and actions might end up in the newspaper. Many commoners also tended to seek out the newspapers to air grievances or lodge reports, and some officials had fallen from power because of it. As a result, for a very long time, all officials and functionaries turned pale with fright the moment they saw an interview from the Times, whether under Wang Dou’s rule or still under the imperial court’s rule at the time.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wu Zhi, Department Magistrate Wu of Yanqing Subprefecture, had fallen victim to this. That day, at the invitation of a few good friends, he had gone to a pleasure house to drink wine and compose poetry — originally a most refined and elegant affair among literati. After all, Du Mu and Su Shi had set immortal examples before them; many exquisite poems and verses had been born within the pleasure houses. Officials and celebrated courtesans were a pair that complemented each other.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Who could have known that, inexplicably, it would end up in the newspaper? And in the mouths of the marketplace, his own conduct was made out to be like visiting a brothel. It even sparked public debate over whether officials ought to visit pleasure houses. Where was old Department Magistrate Wu to put his aged face? From that day on, he never visited a pleasure house again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then there was Gao Shiyin. One day, on a sudden whim, he went to a gambling hall to look around, and he too fell victim just the same.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the past, when Wang Dou had reorganized Xuan Garrison, he had shut down all the gambling halls within the territory, leaving only the brothels, and had instituted a series of regulations — for instance, prostitutes had to hold a license to work and had to go to the Medical and Health Department for regular check-ups to prevent venereal diseases and the like, free of charge.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But after all, gambling is human nature, and before long it sprang back to life, only driven underground and more hidden. So after thinking it over, Wang Dou still opened up the gambling trade, establishing several large gambling halls within the garrison, operated behind the scenes under the control of the Intelligence Department.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They had to pay heavy taxes, and there were also rules against usury and against chopping off hands and feet. Any troublemakers, after being reported to the authorities, were seized and sent to the mines to perform hard labor.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As luck would have it, Gao Shiyin was spotted by a few interviewers. Jiang Hongsheng, a scholar of the newspaper office, for whatever reason, let this piece of news go into the paper as well, tucked into the curiosities column.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After the paper went out, there was not much reaction among the common folk — after all, the Border-Pacifying Army’s image within the garrison was very good, and it was considered fairly normal for an officer to go to a gambling hall to relax. But when Wang Dou saw it, he said one line: “It is still better for military men not to go to gambling halls; the influence is not good.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At this, Gao Shiyin would not stand for it. He sought out Liu Ben, the Commissioner of the Information Department, and shouted his interrogations. The two nearly came to blows, creating a very vile impact.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For a period, the various vexations brought by the newspapers even led some officers and officials under Wang Dou’s rule to demand that the papers be shut down. They held that the pros and cons were hard to weigh, and that it might even harm themselves.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When this reaction reached Wang Dou, Wang Dou only said lightly: “Public opinion is like water. How did Yu the Great control the waters?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He added: “To have thousands upon thousands of common folk censors keeping watch — why not take delight in that?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>However, he also held that for a stretch the Information Department had gone astray. The newspapers under the department were originally sharp tools for edifying the common people, guiding public opinion, paying attention to people’s livelihoods, and supervising officials. Yet for the sake of sales, they had gone out of their way to drag in trifling, trivial matters.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Xuanfu Times was a very serious major newspaper, the model that all parts of the Great Ming about to start newspapers would imitate. How could it be some paparazzi tabloid that pried into people’s private affairs and exclusively probed their personal lives? What business was it of yours if Magistrate Wu went to visit a pleasure house? You’ve made the old gentleman afraid to go and exchange verses with celebrated courtesans ever since — how is that the conduct of a gentleman?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And the matter of Gao Shiyin — if he had violated laws or discipline, the military code had its own procedures for investigation and correction. What business was it to splash it across the newspaper? Instead of handling major matters of people’s livelihood, the rights and wrongs of government affairs, and the supervision of officials, they went after all this messy nonsense — was that not a waste of budget and page space?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thereafter, the Xuanfu Times underwent a round of rectification, completely casting aside those vulgar things and striding toward the high end. As for his subordinates’ worries that public opinion would slip out of control, Wang Dou also dismissed them. What were the Information Department and the newspapers for? They were there precisely to guide public opinion.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The storytellers and opera troupes in every fort and city were also mostly peripheral personnel of the Intelligence Department. There was nothing to worry about when it came to controlling public opinion.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was also a good thing that some officials felt as if sitting on pins and needles. The supervision of public opinion could spur them to treat their own government duties more seriously. After all, the strength of the oversight departments was still limited; more commoners needed to participate, and the more common-folk censors, the better.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For this reason, the circulation of the Xuanfu Times was now larger than ever. People holding newspapers in their hands, discoursing at length in tea houses or at home, had become the norm in Xuanfu Garrison. Current affairs news about the garrison could also be printed and distributed once every one or two days.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This structural conference, it could be said, was followed with the utmost attention by all the residents of Xuanfu Garrison. And it was not only Xuanfu Garrison alone — the officials, troops, and common people of Datong Garrison and Shanxi Garrison were equally concerned.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And so, from the Start of Winter on the fifth day of the tenth month, when Wang Dou led his army back, the broad square outside the Grand General’s residence had been packed with people in groups of threes and fives, seeking news. All manner of voices mingled together; even the soughing cold wind of early winter could not carry away the heat in their hearts.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This was not only outside the Grand General’s residence — even the entire Pailou East Street, the Anyuan Street, and the Hubu Street were all crowded with people in twos and threes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The garrison residents had all managed to learn that this time the Grand General would carry out a thorough reform and finalization of the shogunate, dividing it entirely into three departments: the Military Affairs Department, the Civil Affairs Department, and the Oversight Department. There would also be the Central Army Department directly under Wang Dou, under which would be the Staff, Intelligence, and Foreign Affairs sections. Then each department would be divided into bureaus, each with its own duties — a complete separation of powers.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The newspapers said the same. So who would serve as the chief officer of each department and each bureau became the focus of everyone’s attention. In addition, the establishment of the bank, the assessment of officials, the development of Monan — these many key points drew dense crowds of people who simply gathered outside the General’s residence every day to watch and wait.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The crowds bustled and thronged. Every day, the various officials and commanders attending the conferences strode in with heads high, and came out either pleased or worried. Each time, fierce debate would erupt among the crowds, and the expressions and fragments of the attendees’ bearing also became the focus of everyone’s arguments.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Numerous Times interviewers also gathered outside the gate. Whenever a session ended, they would swarm forward, chasing after interview subjects of value — it was extraordinarily lively.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Their enthusiasm also stirred the interest of ordinary garrison residents. Every day, as soon as they finished their work, they would hurry to the tea houses to listen for news from all sides, and then debate excitedly. Even officials under the imperial court’s rule were the same, not to mention the leisured and moneyed classes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Cross Street of Xuanfu’s garrison city had numerous tea houses and wineshops. In particular, the area along West Shuncheng Street by the north gate was now the main place where garrison residents spent their leisure and amusement. Tea houses of every kind stood thick as a forest, and it was an important venue where people awaited news.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>On the ninth day, the conferences that had lasted several days were about to conclude. That day, the “Floating Cloud Pavilion” tea house by the lake on West Shuncheng Street was packed to bursting. Upstairs and downstairs were crammed with people; all sorts of voices grated on the ear, and wave after wave of excited discussion rang out continuously. Even the tea-serving waiters could not help stopping to listen, forgetting their work.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“… In my humble opinion, of the shogunate’s three departments, Han Chao should be the head of the Military Affairs Department, and Huang Shibian may be the head of the Oversight Department. Although Zhang Gui’s ability is increasingly insufficient, he is, after all, an old hand under the Grand General… Moreover, the Grand General has drawn up a term system — the terms of each bureau chief are counted from the establishment of the shogunate in the twelfth year of Chongzhen. Zhang Gui is not far from his five-year term. The Grand General, mindful of old ties, will surely let Zhang Gui serve out his term in the Civil Affairs Department. The question is whether Ye Xizhi or Zhong Zhengxian will succeed him.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I favor Ye Xizhi; he has made considerable achievements in political affairs. It’s a pity his seniority is shallow… I reckon Zhong Zhengxian will certainly be made one of the vice department heads, and then naturally succeed to Zhang Gui’s position. After all, he is the Grand General’s… and he is exceedingly outstanding in mathematics.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This man’s words met with a host of objections: “In what way is Ye Xizhi’s seniority shallow? He too followed the Grand General early on, and he is also the Young General’s teacher. To succeed Zhang Gui, he is perfectly suitable!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Indeed, how could the Grand General be one to appoint people only from his own circle? I too favor Ye Xizhi!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Brother Sun just now said Huang Shibian would be head of the Oversight Department. On this point, this Yang disagrees. Where would you place Commissioner Chi? Within the Garrison Investigation Bureau, he is the one truly held in high esteem and enjoying great prestige!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Correct. Huang Shibian was originally a subordinate of Chi Dacheng. If he becomes the head of an entire department while Chi Dacheng is still mixing in the Military Affairs Department — that is absolutely impossible! Moreover, Chi Dacheng will certainly be one of the vice heads of the Military Affairs Department. The garrison investigation officers of our Border-Pacifying Army hold high rank and great authority.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You all say Han Chao will be head of the Military Affairs Department. In my humble opinion, Wen Fangliang is the most likely…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Inside the Floating Cloud Pavilion tea house, everyone was talking at once, the discussion exceedingly heated. The tea house contained people of every stripe, which made it all the more lively and drew even more people to come.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just as they were speaking with great delight, suddenly a stir arose downstairs, and a chorus of voices said: “Squire Han has come.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“It is Squire Han.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Brother Han, good day.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“We meet Squire Han again. That day I listened to your lofty discourse and profited greatly; today I shall certainly once more cleanse my ears and listen respectfully.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Amid the hubbub, a rich voice with a Zhending Prefecture accent rang out: “My worthy brothers, you honor me too highly; this Han truly dares not accept it.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then a man of fifty-odd years, his temples slightly graying, with a tall and straight frame, dressed in a squire’s robe, his eyes brimming with wisdom — a distinguished and successful man — entered the tea house beaming all over his face. He held a newspaper in his hand and continuously clasped his hands in salute to the tea patrons who rose to greet him. It was none other than Han Kaizheng’s father, Han Xianwei.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After Father Han had arrived in Xuanfu Garrison, his life was prosperous and stable. He had no fondness for commercial enterprises; what he enjoyed most was discoursing at length with people in tea houses, discussing political affairs.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The atmosphere here was tolerant and had a solid popular base. Moreover, Han Xianwei’s views were nearly always penetrating and insightful, so he had quite a following in the area around the Floating Cloud Pavilion. Many people on this street had even heard his name, and the Information Department had taken notice of him as well. (To be continued..)\u003C\u002Fp>",2707,"2026-06-03T14:06:10.567Z",1,"Novelzhen Translator","d295a59b6cc0e3cb32d9da901511518dc9a32da11c691ed6862f787b7e1d36b2","a-little-soldier-of-the-late-ming-border-army-chapter-732","a-little-soldier-of-the-late-ming-border-army-chapter-730",896,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fa-little-soldier-of-the-late-ming-border-army-cover.jpg"]