[{"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-744":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},1206033,1561,"Chapter 744: On Behalf of the Myriad People of Xuan Garrison, I Express Gratitude","a-little-soldier-of-the-late-ming-border-army-chapter-744",744,"\u003Cp>On the twelfth day of the tenth month of the fifteenth year of Chongzhen, Eternal Peace Marquis Wang Dou, leading the civil and military officials of his shogunate, together with Datong Garrison Regional Commander and Dingxing Count Wang Pu, Xuanda Viceroy Ji Shiwei, Xuanfu Provincial Governor Zhu Zhifeng, Datong Provincial Governor Wei Jingyuan, and Xuanfu Garrison Army Supervisor Du Xun.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Also present were Emubu and others then in the garrison city, who welcomed the party of Imperial Commissioner Li Banghua.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Banghua had imagined all sorts of scenarios for how Wang Dou would treat him upon meeting — a cold reception? A show of force? Swords at his neck? Axes and halberds before him? What he never expected was that the welcoming ceremony would be so grand, giving the Imperial Commissioner full face.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At the initial greeting place, the Hongzi heated post station eight li east of the city, a tall, colorful awning had already been erected, and from there all the way to Andingmen east of the garrison city, and along East Avenue to the Garrison-Suppressing General's residence, the entire route had been cleared — all personnel detoured, leaving space for the Imperial Commissioner's honor guard to advance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Banghua's party could finally walk down the middle of the main road.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He was inwardly satisfied, unaware that the people of Xuanfu Garrison were cursing behind his back — for now even when Wang Dou's own honor guard went out, they never cleared the streets, keeping to the right of their own accord without hindering pedestrians, and the townspeople had grown accustomed to the shogunate's ways.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They never expected that as soon as this demoted capital official arrived, everything would be thrown into chaos, delaying everyone's business — truly a nuisance to the people.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Moreover, if following old precedent, to welcome an Imperial Commissioner, colorful awnings had to be set up along the entire route for several li or more than ten li, the awnings pasted with red silk gauze to serve as places for the Imperial Commissioner to pause, plus fine red silk — the awnings had to be elaborately constructed using the best timber.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This was unavoidably wasteful and did not accord with Li Banghua's frugal Confucian ideals; Wang Dou seemed to think the same, so they only set up a colorful awning at the Hongzi heated post station, with drum and gong troupes lining the route in welcome — one could call it simple yet dignified, solemn without lacking grandeur.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In sum, everything displayed openly was full of stately grandeur. There were none of those petty tricks like covert sabotage — just like his conduct in general, he disdained schemes and intrigues, always using overwhelming, righteous momentum to press upon others.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Banghua stroked his beard and nodded, quite satisfied with Wang Dou's arrangements. At the same time, his heart grew wary — the more Wang Dou was this kind of man, the harder he was to deal with.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After the various officials met and exchanged brief pleasantries, the party set off. All along the way, the thunderous sound of gongs and drums filled the air, and countless men and women, young and old, crowded the roadsides and street edges to watch the excitement.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Setting aside the nuisance to the people for now, everyone still enjoyed watching a lively spectacle.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And by now, the common folk of Xuanfu Garrison had grown accustomed to raising little sun-and-moon flags whenever anything happened; as the honor guard passed, countless small flags could be seen waving. Truly, colored banners fluttered, gongs and drums resounded to the heavens — a scene of jubilant festivity.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Banghua was nearly moved to tears, never expecting the garrison city's commoners to be so loyal to the imperial court. As expected of people from a major place — their quality was different from those in small, backwater areas.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Only the banner bearers in the honor guard holding placards reading \"Silence\" and \"Make Way\" felt somewhat awkward — the scene before them was the complete opposite of what their placards proclaimed. The drummers and gong players in the procession likewise stopped their hands; the surrounding din of gongs and drums was already making their ears ring.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Still, receiving an enthusiastic welcome was better than being cold-shouldered, and they also had a feeling — compared to the fearful kneeling and prostration of common folk, this surrounding clamor felt more novel and comfortable.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Before entering the garrison city, the majestic city walls also made Li Banghua gasp in admiration. \"Among the Nine Frontiers, the strategic hub is Xuanfu\"; \"Lock and Key to the Capital\"; \"Screen and Pillar of the Divine Capital\" — these were not empty phrases.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Originally, each side of the Xuanfu garrison city wall was six li and thirteen paces long, with a circumference of twenty-four li, and it had seven gates and one pass — truly a tiger crouching, a towering array. Now the garrison city was even more bustling; besides the inner city, more and more market towns had gathered outside the walls, giving a sense of teeming, thriving activity.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The three gates — Xuande, Cheng'an, and Gaoyuan — previously blocked for defense purposes were now all open, so that Andingmen to the east, Taixingmen to the west, Changpingmen, Xuandemen, and Cheng'anmen to the south, and Guanglingmen and Gaoyuanmen to the north were all unobstructed, making the flow of people even greater.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet looking at the rows upon rows of shops lining the streets, the broad and immaculate thoroughfares, especially the dense residential quarters and the gathering crowds, Li Banghua inexplicably sighed again. Compared to the prosperity of Xuanfu garrison city, the capital was too decayed — it lacked the aura befitting the nation's capital.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Banghua could find no fault with Wang Dou's welcoming ceremony. His every move was full of respect for the imperial court. Apart from not paving the road with yellow earth or washing the streets with clean water, Wang Dou had done everything he could, giving full face to the court that Li Banghua and his party represented, and he had not slighted him because of court affairs.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A warmth stirred in Li Banghua's heart. He speculated inwardly that perhaps after he had entered the territory, Wang Dou's subordinates had done certain things behind his back, or perhaps military men had narrow vision and limited horizons, only paying attention to matters around the garrison city and neglecting discipline elsewhere.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After all, in the past, the Regional Commanders of each garrison only concerned themselves with matters around the garrison city — who would bother about the conditions of the outlying roads?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Moreover, seeing how clean the garrison city streets were, perhaps Wang Dou worried that paving with yellow earth would instead make them dirty, or that washing the streets with clean water would cause ice to form and become slippery.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Banghua thought to himself in this way.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As he traveled along, besides observing his surroundings, he also paid close attention to observing Wang Dou and his people, probing their attitude toward him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Banghua had seen Wang Dou before in the capital. Now, watching him dressed in a python robe, his bearing ever more imposingly unfathomable, he rode his horse with a faint smile on his face, sometimes speaking with him, sometimes waving to the populace — revealing nothing of his inner thoughts.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Pu, as a count, held honored status and rode his horse beside Wang Dou, yet he paid Li Banghua no attention whatsoever, grinning as he merely imitated Wang Dou's waving, occasionally whispering something into Wang Dou's ear, the two of them revealing knowing smiles.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xuanda Viceroy Ji Shiwei was neither warm nor cold toward him. Army Supervisor Eunuch Du Xun wore an indifferent expression, occasionally tilting his head to gaze at the sky, lost in who knows what thoughts.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Only Xuanfu Provincial Governor Zhu Zhifeng and Datong Provincial Governor Wei Jingyuan wore smiles on their faces, seemingly genuinely delighted by his arrival, and at the same time truly gratified by the courteous reception the Imperial Commissioner's party had received.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The deposed Khagan Emubu, besides showing deference to Wang Dou and the others, also displayed extreme respect toward his party of imperial envoys — this also satisfied Li Banghua; the Great Ming's heavenly might spreading beyond the frontier was a good thing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Looking again at the officers and officials under Wang Dou's command, he could clearly see that these men were cold toward him, mostly just going through the motions. Even when they wore smiles, the smiles were very fake. It seemed his remarks in the court had already offended them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Banghua actually paid close attention to these men, especially their bearing and attire. The clothes they wore were the so-called \"Pacify-the-Frontier garb.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At this moment, the military men among them wore the winter ceremonial uniforms of the Pacify-the-Frontier Army: right-lapelled robes in the yesa style, with fine wool turned over at the lapel edges. On their heads they wore three-peaked winter hats, on their feet felt boots; many also wore cloaks. With swords and blades at their sides, there was a cruel beauty in their dashing appearance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Banghua felt dazed for a moment — as if a great host of Embroidered Uniform Guard stood before him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The civil officials among them, however, wore soft head-wraps and similarly donned close-fitting robes, with short-sleeved greatcloaks over them, and likewise wore swords at their waists. Each one combined scholarly refinement with heroic spirit. Li Banghua murmured in his heart: \"The ancient style of Han and Tang...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had to admit, compared to pure scholar's robes, the civil officials' attire in the Pacify-the-Frontier Army was far more appealing, stirring an impulse to cast aside the brush and take up arms.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even their common soldiers, in their thick, long tunics with gleaming copper studs on the outside, fine iron arm-guards on both arms, and blue greatcoats with fur-lined collars, were kept warm without hindering combat. Matched with their cap-helmets, their movements revealed the bright red of the inner tunic — heroic and dashing, a feast for the eyes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Great Ming attire had already reached its peak in color sensibility; the Pacify-the-Frontier Army had both inherited and enhanced this — truly an army set apart from all others.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With all manner of complicated thoughts, Li Banghua followed Wang Dou and the others into the Garrison-Suppressing General's residence. Upon reaching the main hall, he saw that an incense altar with offerings had already been arranged at the head. Li Banghua walked to the upper center, straightened his face, and shouted: \"An imperial edict! Eternal Peace Marquis, Xuanfu Garrison Regional Commander, Garrison-Suppressing General Wang Dou, receive the edict!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He watched Wang Dou's expression very carefully, and saw Wang Dou kneel and prostrate himself, loudly declaring: \"Your subject, Wang Dou, receives the edict! Long live the Emperor, ten thousand years, ten thousand of ten thousand years!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Banghua's heart relaxed, and he slowly began to read the imperial edict. As those below listened and heard that Wang Dou was appointed Grand General of the Campaign-Against-Captives, appointed Grand Protector of the Anbei Protectorate, and additionally reinstated as Grand Guardian of the Heir Apparent, the expressions of everyone in the hall varied.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The members of the shogunate and the generals of the Pacify-the-Frontier Army looked at each other with joy. Although they had previously honored Wang Dou with the title Grand General, in truth Wang Dou had not yet been a proper Grand General — now the title matched the reality, especially as he had now reached the highest status and position a military man could attain.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xuanda Viceroy Ji Shiwei stroked his beard and smiled. Xuanfu Provincial Governor Zhu Zhifeng and Datong Provincial Governor Wei Jingyuan exchanged a glance, each seeing the wry smile on the other's face.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xuanfu Garrison Army Supervisor Du Xun rolled his eyes and muttered something under his breath.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Pu, standing nearby, wore an expression of extreme envy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Dou received the imperial edict, and Li Banghua continued reading. He summoned Ji Junjiao forward, and indeed Ji Junjiao arrived. She looked straight ahead, her face full of awe-inspiring righteousness, completely different from her usual image — only her innate charm meant that her every movement still carried an indescribable allure.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>None dared look at her too long. Li Banghua also thought to himself: \"A beauty that topples kingdoms — the imperial house does not admit alluring women into the palace; this policy is greatly wise.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With a stern face, he read: \"By the Mandate of Heaven, the Emperor decrees: Whereas Wang-Ji-shi is virtuous, worthy, chaste, gentle, wise, and astute, she is hereby specially appointed as First-Rank Lady of Virtuous Character. Thus decreed.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ji Junjiao's face showed neither joy nor anger as she said in her delicate voice: \"This humble consort thanks His Majesty. Long live the Emperor, ten thousand of ten thousand years.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She took the edict and left. Ji Shiwei watched her departing figure with both surprise and delight. Zhong Zhengxian and Xie Yike looked displeased. The others each harbored their own thoughts. Only Wang Dou stood to the side, still wearing a faint smile on his face.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhu Zhifeng and Wei Jingyuan kept stern faces. What was the court playing at? Although the Eternal Peace Marquis regarded Ji Junjiao as his wife, in the eyes of these scholar-officials, Lady Ji was still a concubine. In the thousands of years of Chinese history, where was the precedent for enfeoffing a concubine? Where had the gentlemen of the Ministry of Rites gone? Utter nonsense!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Banghua inwardly shook his head as well. Quickly skipping over this section, he read out the imperial edict for Han Chao. He also paid close attention to Han Chao's expression, and saw that this trusted senior general of the Eternal Peace Marquis remained impassive, seemingly indifferent to becoming the master of his own garrison — he could not help but feel disappointed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The edicts he carried this time were quite numerous. He read out the rewards one by one. When he reached Wang Pu, he saw this count grin and say: \"Many thanks to the Lord of Ten Thousand Years.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He accepted his reward of one hundred taels of silver, and after stepping down, loudly said to those around him: \"One hundred taels of silver — truly a great sum of money! Look, it's even fine gold-flower silver.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wei Jingyuan and the others looked awkward. Li Banghua's face grew even sterner. The court had indeed handled this matter shabbily.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At last, the imperial edicts were read out one by one. When his hands were empty, Li Banghua felt somewhat lost. It seemed... nothing had changed at all.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The rituals for receiving an imperial commissioner were quite numerous — how to welcome him, how to stand, what to observe when receiving the edict, how to entertain the commissioner afterward, and so on, each with its own set of prescribed procedures. However, Li Banghua was only an incidental commissioner; once Wang Dou and the others had finished receiving the edict, he became the Vice Protector of the Anbei Protectorate.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Aside from his close attendants, the escorting eunuchs and Embroidered Uniform Guard sent by the court to show imperial regard would rest for a few days and then return to the capital. Wang Dou specially had the Civil Affairs Department allocate funds so these men could eat and drink well, and before they left, each was given a ceremonial gratuity.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>According to their rank and status, they received sixty-six silver dollars, eighty-eight silver dollars, or one hundred eighty-eight silver dollars respectively, which left them both startled and delighted. All their pent-up resentment was swept away, and every one of them sang the praises of Marquis Yongning's benevolence and generosity.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The commissioner had finished proclaiming the edict just past the hour of Wei in the afternoon. By rights, Li Banghua should have gone to bathe and change, awaiting the evening welcoming banquet. Yet he set aside rest and first, with meticulous ceremony due a subordinate, paid his respects to Grand Protector Wang Dou. Then, wielding the lingering authority of the imperial commissioner, this army supervisor seemed ready to deliver a lecture right there in the great hall.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>……\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Outside, scattered snowflakes drifted down again, as if the entire garrison city of Xuanfu were shrouded in a hazy, indistinct murk. The chill was quite sharp, yet Li Banghua's heart burned so hot he felt no cold at all, and he swept his piercing gaze over everyone in the hall.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Dou sat high in the main seat upon a great tiger-skin chair, alone, looking down upon all around him. Li Banghua himself sat in the first side seat beside the main seat — as Vice Protector, he was second only to Wang Dou within the Protectorate, ranking ahead of all the officials and officers of the headquarters staff.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The first guest seat was occupied by Count Dingxing, Wang Pu. He was a count, his status more exalted even than that of Left Chief Censor Li Banghua, and since he was considered a guest, he sat in the foremost guest seat.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Below them were Ji Shiwei, Viceroy of Xuan-Da; Zhu Zhifeng, Provincial Governor of Xuanfu; Wei Jingyuan, Provincial Governor of Datong; Du Xun, Army Supervisor of Xuanfu Garrison; and others, all seated in attendance as guests. However, Emubu, who had earlier been enfeoffed as Prince of Shunyi, was not present in the hall now.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Under the current division of the Anbei Protectorate, the military and defense affairs of Xuanfu Garrison fell under the Protectorate's jurisdiction, while the remaining areas fell to the Provincial Governor of Xuanfu, the Army Supervisor of Xuanfu, the Viceroy of Xuan-Da, and so on — roughly the same as the old civil and military posts of the Great Ming frontier garrisons.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was just that Wang Dou's military governance was so formidable that he had stripped away the civil administration from all the former officials.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But in theory, the Provincial Governor of Xuanfu and the Army Supervisor were not subordinates under Wang Dou's command.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The officers of the Jingbian Army and the various members of the headquarters staff were also seated according to rank. Li Banghua studied these men very carefully.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>On the whole, they gave a good impression, especially when matched with the uniforms of the Jingbian Army. Yet upon closer analysis, these men were not really outstanding; many were merely mediocre talents. Compared to the great worthies thronging the imperial court, they fell short by a hundred thousand li. But why was that?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He read the newspapers. Under Wang Dou's governance, the administration was now divided into four departments: the Military Affairs Department, the Civil Affairs Department, the Supervisory Department, and the Central Army Department directly under Wang Dou.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Among the various departments, Han Chao and Wen Fangliang made a favorable impression. Zhong Xiancai also appeared quite refined and quiet, wearing a three-peaked hat and felt boots, a cloak over his yesa robe, a faint smile at the corner of his mouth. Compared to the likes of Gao Shiyin, he was rather pleasing to the eye.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As for the rest…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The military men could be set aside for the moment. But looking at the Civil Affairs Department — was Zhang Gui the sort who could open up farmland and stockpile grain?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhong Rong was originally a minor clerk. Zhong Zhengxian and Tian Changguo were all base and vulgar sorts. That Ye Xi was likewise a minor clerk. Perhaps among the literati under Wang Dou, only Fu Mingqi, formerly the Director of the Confucian School, had a somewhat higher status — yet he too was beneath notice.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet when these people came together, even Governor Zhu Zhifeng, Lord Zhu, could not outmaneuver them. What was the reason?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Moreover, these men still held Great Ming ranks such as Archivist or Department Clerk, yet now they sat as equals with himself. What rank were they, and what rank was he?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Suppressing his displeasure, Li Banghua slowly rose to his feet.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Dou watched him with amusement.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhu Zhifeng and Wei Jingyuan perked up — Lord Li was about to make his move.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The men of the Jingbian Army exchanged glances, wondering what this old fellow was up to.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They saw Li Banghua first bow deeply to Wang Dou. His stern face was filled with the most upright expression as he declared in a ringing voice: \"All along my journey here, I have seen the common people of Xuanzhen living in peace and contentment, free from the scourge of bandits and the suffering of cold and hunger. This is entirely the achievement of Marquis Yongning. On behalf of the ten thousand people of Xuanzhen, I, your subordinate, offer my thanks!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Dou smiled faintly. \"Vice Protector Li is too courteous!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gao Shiyin stared dumbfounded at Zhong Xiancai beside him. What had this old man just said?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A cold snort of laughter came from the guest seat — it was Wang Pu.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Holding his teacup, he grinned and said, \"A horse knows not the length of its own face. You offer thanks on behalf of Xuanzhen's ten thousand people? Are Xuanzhen's ten thousand people willing to let you represent them?\"\u003C\u002Fp>",3531,"2026-06-03T14:06:10.567Z",1,"Novelzhen Translator","dfb5d5d7ae856d5ce5a2d3e17bbb2f68fc68df0ff2da13135aa17f35caf6fa0b","a-little-soldier-of-the-late-ming-border-army-chapter-745","a-little-soldier-of-the-late-ming-border-army-chapter-743",896,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fa-little-soldier-of-the-late-ming-border-army-cover.jpg"]