[{"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-732":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},1206021,1561,"Chapter 732: Publication","a-little-soldier-of-the-late-ming-border-army-chapter-732",732,"\u003Cp>Surrounded by the crowd, Han Xianwei took a seat. Those beside him promptly ordered a pot of fine Longjing tea for him, then gathered around in a tight circle, their faces full of eager expectation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A plump tea patron spread out the newspaper in his hands and asked impatiently, \"Squire Han, among the three departments of the Shogunate, which individuals do you consider preeminent?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Looking at the expectant gazes around him, with even people far away pricking up their ears, Han Xianwei smiled. He unhurriedly took a sip of tea and said slowly, \"Gentlemen, in my humble opinion, who serves as department head and who serves as bureau chief is not truly important. What we should care more about is the profound mystery within the Grand General's refinement of the Shogunate!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He spread out the newspaper in his hands and raised his voice: \"The Civil Affairs Bureau originally had sections for agriculture and husbandry, commerce and trade, and factories and mines. Now the bureau has been elevated to a department, with further divisions added. Of particular note, a new Science and Technology Bureau has been established within it. The Military Affairs Department has likewise added a new Military Science Bureau. These two must be similar in concept. What is the meaning behind this?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He said, \"I have heard that under the Logistics Bureau there were men like Lai Yuanlong, Li Maosen, and Li Zhifen, originally clerks and craftsmen. Now they have been separated from the Logistics Bureau and all appointed as chief or deputy chief of the Military Science Bureau. I hear this bureau deals only with documentary planning and the study of science and technology — but what exactly is this 'science and technology'?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He mused, \"I have also heard that the former carpenter Wu Shihuan has entered the Civil Affairs Department's Science and Technology Bureau to hold an important post. The key personnel within the bureau include no small number of people who originally farmed, prospected for minerals, or manufactured devices, and who have become officials solely because they achieved considerable success in agriculture and commerce... It seems the Shogunate greatly needs people who can enhance the people's strength and material resources, those skilled in wondrous crafts and ingenious techniques. If any of you gentlemen possess a specialized skill, you may well go seek a post in the Science and Technology Bureau.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Laughter filled the teahouse. Many people were indeed stirred to consideration. No practical labor required — just calculating and drawing would suffice. Much like the Education Bureau in the Shogunate, it suited everyone's tastes very well.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Many also secretly admired Han Xianwei for opening a new path and pointing directly at what they had overlooked.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then they heard Han Xianwei continue, \"And there is also the newly established Resources Bureau within the Civil Affairs Department...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Waves of clamor rose from below the teahouse, punctuated now and then by bursts of applause. Listening to the sounds below, Xuanfu Provincial Governor Zhu Zhifeng snorted angrily and heavily set down his teacup.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Across from him, Datong Provincial Governor Wei Jingyuan merely smiled faintly. Listening to Han Xianwei's voice below, he sighed, \"There are overlooked worthies among the common folk — truly an incisive analysis.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Worthies my ass!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhu Zhifeng could not help but burst out with a coarse oath. His iron-hard face was full of fury, and he was so angry that his long beard floated up. Blowing at his whiskers and glaring, he said, \"Presumptuously discussing government affairs — where is the dignity of the imperial court?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He spoke with pained vehemence: \"That state affairs have become idle chatter for youngsters is hardly worth mentioning. In any case, the court is also going to establish newspapers everywhere... But what is the Marquis of Yongning up to? The Shogunate was originally meant to assist with essential matters and recruit advisors. It should be founded upon erudition and loyalty. Yet now prospectors, blacksmiths, and toolmakers are all being brought into the administration. Where is the dignity of the imperial court? This is truly overturning all proper order!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The more he spoke, the angrier he became, until finally he slammed his palm hatefully on the table, sending several teapots and teacups clattering and jumping.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After Provincial Governor Zhu took office, he had gone to great lengths to placate Wang Dou, hoping that the Xuanzhen Provincial Governor and Regional Commander could become a model of local civil-military harmony in joint service to the court. Yet many matters were often beyond his control.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Provincial Governor Zhu also greatly appreciated Wang Dou's vigorous development of the people's livelihood within the garrison and his bringing of benefits to the populace. Of course, there were many things he could not bear to see, especially as Wang Dou's prestige grew ever heavier and all affairs within the garrison slid toward a brink beyond his control, leaving him utterly dejected.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Moreover, when word spread that Wang Dou had decided to develop Monan and would vigorously recruit administrative personnel, many officials and clerks within his own system were tempted, which caused Provincial Governor Zhu deep anxiety.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After all, under Wang Dou's governance, the Xuanfu Garrison now offered far fewer opportunities for graft and bribery. The court was also in financial straits, with grain and pay repeatedly delayed, and many clerks' monthly salaries often could not be issued. One could well imagine that when the time came, his staff would all leave for the Shogunate, and even governing would become difficult for him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Looking at Wei Jingyuan, Zhu Zhifeng said sternly, \"The Marquis of Yongning is a military officer. He only has military administrative authority, not the power of civil jurisdiction. Lord Wei, for the sake of the court's great affairs, you and I should go together to admonish him!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wei Jingyuan shook his head: \"The Marquis of Yongning only manages his own garrison farms. When recruiting administrative personnel externally, he does so only under the title of shogunate advisor, which does not violate regulations. Besides, the court has already appointed him Grand Protector of the Anbei Protectorate...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shaking his head, he reflected that although Wang Dou's recruitment of administrative personnel had created treatment tiers of section, division, office, and department, to outsiders these were still shogunate advisor posts, not official positions, and thus did not violate regulations. Now that he had been appointed Grand Protector of the Anbei Protectorate to govern Monan's civil affairs, he was even more justified.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At the same time, he sighed. Given those monthly and annual salary packages, plus the merit-value rewards, he feared that quite a few officials and clerks from Datong Garrison would also run off. He had previously thought that without literati rallying to him, Wang Dou was a threat, but not yet a fatal one to the court. Now it seemed...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Moreover, within his garrison farms and army, there were more and more educated youths, so he had no shortage of talent to employ.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His heart was heavy. The dynasty was tottering in wind and rain, yet he was powerless to act. Truly, his heart ached as if cut by a knife.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhu Zhifeng's expression was also bleak, a feeling of powerlessness welling up in his heart. Suddenly he recalled something and said joyfully, \"The Left Chief Censor, Lord Li Banghua, has already come to the garrison city. Lord Li is of noble character and high prestige. Once he assumes the post of Deputy Protector, he will surely be able to provide good guidance, causing the Marquis of Yongning to see the light and repent, wholeheartedly loyal to the court.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wei Jingyuan remained silent. He too had heard the court news that Li Banghua was coming to Xuanfu Garrison, which was why he had stayed in Xuanfu Garrison to await his arrival.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>However, it was currently fashionable for officials to travel by sedan chair. The journey from the capital to Xuanfu Garrison City was over four hundred li. Li Banghua had begun traveling on the first day of the month, yet even now had still not arrived — his progress was exceedingly slow.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With time to kill, and with Xuanfu Garrison these days filled everywhere with matters of Wang Dou's Shogunate, he also wished to hear the voice of the common people. So he had gone out incognito with Zhu Zhifeng and sat in this teahouse, even dispersing their respective advisors to wait outside the private room.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Regarding Li Banghua's arrival, Wei Jingyuan was not as optimistic as Zhu Zhifeng. He had also heard news from the palace in the capital. On the matter of Wang Dou, the assembled ministers had fiercely debated at the time, with each grand minister uttering astonishing and shocking words.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Banghua himself had even suggested summoning Wang Dou to the capital and placing him under house arrest. It was truly...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His Majesty, fearing only that the Marquis of Yongning might become uneasy, had specially dispatched Li Banghua here, no longer caring in the slightest about his life or death. What use could he be?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He slowly rose and sighed, \"What use is Lord Li's coming? The circumstances, the people's hearts — none of it is on the court's side anymore.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He walked to the entrance and looked down at the crowd below, gathered in small groups, all discussing the Shogunate's affairs. Many faces bore excited smiles; clearly their present lives satisfied them. He said, \"This is a blessing for the people, but it is no blessing for the court.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He said calmly, \"Eating the sovereign's salary, one is loyal in the sovereign's service. We shall do our utmost and leave the rest to fate. Besides, it has not yet reached that point — the Marquis of Yongning is still loyal to the court.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He murmured softly to himself, \"If the cause can still be served...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At these words, a sharp pain suddenly seized his heart — that intensely trembling, excruciating sensation: \"Then we shall repay the nation with our deaths.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Suddenly a clamor arose. Many people on the street were shouting, \"They're coming out, they're coming out...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A great crowd of officials and military officers surged out from the Grand General's residence, every face wreathed in smiles. Outside the gate was a hubbub. The interviewers in the square swarmed forward, and several more chased out from inside — they were people who had been permitted to attend the meeting and enter the Grand General's residence.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Minister Han, Minister Zhang, say a few words.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Vice Minister Zhong, what are your views on the future of the Finance Bureau?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The people surrounded by the interviewers all wore reserved expressions. They knew that their remarks were very likely to appear in the newspapers, so they were all extremely cautious in their wording.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They had experienced this kind of scene several times before, and had progressed from novelty to ease — they were no longer the bumpkins they once were.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhong Rong was of course very happy to become Vice Minister of the Civil Affairs Department, and at the same time deeply felt the weight of his responsibilities.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He thought for a moment and said solemnly, \"Thanks to the Grand General's great favor, I have been appointed Vice Minister while also being put in charge of Finance Bureau matters. I deeply feel the weight of this responsibility and will certainly exert my utmost efforts to manage the entire administration's purse strings well for the Grand General.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The surrounding interviewers pressed with questions while scribbling rapidly on stiff cardboard with pencils. The crowd watching from a distance likewise craned their necks, some even paying attention to the shape of Zhong Rong's mouth as he spoke.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just then, a short, plump ball of flesh \"rolled\" out — it was Li Zhifen, the newly appointed deputy chief of the Military Science Bureau under the Military Affairs Department. He immediately drew the attention of many interviewers, and a crowd surrounded him, calling out, \"Deputy Chief Li, say a few words.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Yes, say a few words.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing that no one was paying attention to him, Zhong Rong seized the chance to slip away. Facing interviewers always made him feel uneasy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Zhifen said cheerfully, \"Alright, alright.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He walked with his short, stocky gait and said, \"Let me think a bit.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He appeared to be pondering, but walked faster and faster, and in the blink of an eye, the man had vanished.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>On the tenth day of the tenth month of the fifteenth year of the Chongzhen reign, the Xuanfu Times devoted a very large layout to comprehensively publishing the Shogunate's current organizational structure. The department was the highest unit, under which were bureaus, under bureaus were divisions, and under divisions were sections. Their treatment tiers were section, division, office, and department, each further divided into principal and deputy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was noteworthy that Li Daji, having rendered outstanding merit in saltpeter production, was directly promoted by Wang Dou to deputy chief of the Military Science Bureau, enjoying deputy office-level treatment, which also demonstrated Wang Dou's resolve in military industrial research and development.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The entire Shogunate was divided into three departments: the Military Affairs Department, the Civil Affairs Department, and the Supervisory Department, along with the Central Army Department directly under Wang Dou.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Among these, Han Chao served as Minister of the Military Affairs Department, with Sun Sanjie, Qi Tianliang, and Lin Daofu as vice ministers. Their primary responsibilities were overseeing the entire army's training, equipment, organization, recruitment, ranks, pay and provisions, as well as military research, and so on.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhang Gui served as Minister of the Civil Affairs Department, with Zhong Rong, Zhong Zhengxian, and Tian Changguo as vice ministers. Their primary responsibilities were overseeing the entire administration's finances, auditing, public security, commerce and trade, urban construction, industry and mining, water conservancy, transportation, agriculture and husbandry, education, and so on.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chi Dacheng served as Minister of the Supervisory Department, with Liu Benshen and others as vice ministers. Also, Ye Xi was honorably promoted to Director of the Shogunate Secretariat Office, with Ren Jiang Hongsheng and others as deputy directors, taking over the affairs originally handled by Zhong Zhengxian.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhong Zhengxian, on the other hand, mainly handled auditing within the Ministry of Civil Affairs. He was outstanding in arithmetic, and in that position, he made the best use of his talents.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Under Wang Dou's direct jurisdiction, there were the Staff Department, the Intelligence Department, the Foreign Affairs Department, the Pacification Commission, and the Indoctrination Department. The two major academies, military and civil, were also temporarily placed under the Central Army Department.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After Chi Dacheng was reassigned as head of the Supervisory Department, the Pacification Commission was taken over by his old subordinate Huang Shibian. Wen Daxing continued unchanged as the chief officer of the Intelligence Department. Wen Fangliang served as head of the Staff Department, with Zhong Xiancai, Zhong Diaoyang, and Gao Shiyin as the three deputy heads.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Staff Department wielded immense power; it was the only department within the Jingbian Army that could issue orders for mobilization, operations, or full-army deployment. The Military Administration Department did not have this authority.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Comparing the two, the Staff Department was like the current imperial Ministry of War, while the Military Administration Department was like the current Five Chief Military Commissions. This also marked the complete separation of training troops and commanding troops within the Jingbian Army.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Of course, Wang Dou's Military Administration Department was not an empty title like the Five Chief Military Commissions; it had clearly defined powers and responsibilities, and a very real necessity for its authority and establishment.\u003C\u002Fp>",2584,"2026-06-03T14:06:10.567Z",1,"Novelzhen Translator","20ba2f0553eebfbb3d1af7a61d9d0ba42404c0d53f845523377af1a7e206aa5d","a-little-soldier-of-the-late-ming-border-army-chapter-733","a-little-soldier-of-the-late-ming-border-army-chapter-731",896,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fa-little-soldier-of-the-late-ming-border-army-cover.jpg"]