[{"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-78":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},1205367,1561,"Chapter 78: Volume Three: Defender of Shunxiang Fort, Chapter Seventy-Eight: Firearm Improvements","a-little-soldier-of-the-late-ming-border-army-chapter-78",78,"\u003Cp>Volume Three: Defender of Shunxiang Fort, Chapter Seventy-Eight: Firearm Improvements\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The seventh day of the twelfth month, eighth year of the Chongzhen reign.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gao Shiyin and Yang Tong traveled from Dongjiazhuang to Shunxiang Fort. After the two received their commissions, Wang Dou hosted a banquet to entertain these two old brothers. In the freezing weather, eating bubbling mutton soup and drinking hot wine was especially comfortable.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>During the banquet, Han Chao and Han Zhong also joined as company. Now that everyone had been promoted, from Platoon Leader to Company Commander and so on, they were naturally overjoyed, and each had plenty to talk about.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gao Shiyin ate meat and drank wine in great mouthfuls. Smiling, he said to Wang Dou, \"I hear your lady is with child? What a coincidence — my old woman is too. All day long she craves sour things, so I'm constantly out hunting for sour dates, grapes, hawthorn berries and the like to give her.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"A few days ago, that woman even dragged me to the City God Temple in the village to worship, burning incense and making vows, saying I've taken too many lives and need to build some hidden virtue for the child. Damned bear.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Dou found this amusing and asked, \"So did you go?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gao Shiyin sighed. \"How could I not? Strange to say, ever since the woman got pregnant, my heart has softened too. When she said it was for the child, I thought the same way. In a daze, I went with her and even kowtowed several times. Thinking back now, it really was strange.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His face had always been full of brutish flesh, occasionally showing his trademark ferocious grin. Now his expression was gentle, which instead made people feel it was bizarre.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Han Zhong shouted, \"Gao Manzi, what hidden virtue can you build? You've killed too many people — no amount of worship will help.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gao Shiyin grew displeased. \"Han Er-leng, what are you saying?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A shadow fell over his face. Han Zhong's words had struck a nerve. In the past, while serving in the garrison troops, he had indeed killed many people — good and bad alike — and had even murdered innocents to claim merit. Whether worshiping the gods could build hidden virtue for him, he truly did not know.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing the atmosphere grow stiff, Yang Tong hurriedly smoothed things over. \"Alright, we're all good brothers. A few careless words — let's not let it turn sour.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He turned to Wang Dou with an apologetic smile. \"My lord, this humble officer and Company Commander Gao intend to open up wasteland at Dongjiazhuang, but we lack plow oxen, farming tools, grain, and rice. I hope my lord can provide some support.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His manner was deferential. Since Wang Dou had taken the post of Defender and been promoted to Battalion Commander, Yang Tong spoke even more cautiously. Now both his front teeth were permanently gone, which made his speech unavoidably a bit whistling. At present, he and Gao Shiyin were at Dongjiazhuang — one managing troops, the other farming the land — and they got along without incident.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After the two of them brought a squad of combat troops to Dongjiazhuang, with the help of several civil clerks, they had also tallied the able-bodied population within the fort and planned to follow the methods Wang Dou had used at Jingbian Fort and Shunxiang Fort — opening up wasteland, organizing and training the able-bodied. However, lacking supplies, the work was very difficult to carry out.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Dou pondered for a long moment, then said, \"Very well. I will allocate fifteen plow oxen and thirty dan of grain and rice from the fort to you. Go and inform Vice Battalion Commander Lin, and that will suffice.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gao Shiyin and Yang Tong were both overjoyed and repeatedly gave thanks. Wang Dou also calculated that once the troops at Shunxiang Fort were trained, he would need to rotate the soldiers within his territory to Shunxiang Fort for drilling. The training of officers at each fort should also be placed on his agenda.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After the banquet, Wang Dou said to Gao Shiyin and Yang Tong, \"Tomorrow is the Laba Festival. You may stay for the Laba Festival before returning.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Both men hastily agreed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>……\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The eighth day of the twelfth month in the eighth year of Chongzhen was a traditional festival of the Great Ming. On this day, every household ate Laba congee, and there was a series of activities such as ancestor worship, honoring the gods, and expelling pestilence. On this day, the entire Shunxiang Fort was on holiday, soldiers and civilians celebrating the festival together.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That day, the whole of Shunxiang Fort was brimming with joy. Near noon, Lady Zhong and Xie Yike, escorted by Zhong Diaoyang, arrived by carriage at Shunxiang Fort. Among the party were also Li Maosen, Wang Tianxue, and others. From now on, they too would forge weapons and research medicine within Shunxiang Fort.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As his control over Shunxiang Fort deepened, Wang Dou also planned to relocate the series of bases from Jingbian Fort to Shunxiang Fort. After all, here there was more manpower, richer supplies, and broader space.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Dou greeted his wife and mother's party in front of the south gate. Hearing that the Defender's wife and the old madam had arrived, Lin Daofu, the Fort Supervisor Chi Dacheng, Clerk Feng Dachang, and several squad commanders all came out of the fort to welcome them. Wang Dou's maternal uncle, Zhong Zhengxian, also stood beaming beside Clerk Feng Dachang.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Soon the carriage halted. Zhong Diaoyang dismounted and lifted the carriage curtain. Xie Yike and Lady Zhong stepped out from within.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xie Yike's small frame wore a bijia vest, while Lady Zhong wore a full beizi robe. Both had their hair in buns, exuding an air of nobility. Looking at the fort before her, Lady Zhong sighed, \"This Shunxiang Fort is indeed much larger than Jingbian Fort. Don't you think so, daughter-in-law?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xie Yike held Lady Zhong's hand and said, \"Mother-in-law speaks truly.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Although she was pregnant, it was not yet visible.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Dou stepped forward, saluted his mother, then smiled at Xie Yike and said, \"Xiuniang, now that you are with child, you must be extremely careful.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xie Yike felt a sweetness in her heart and said softly, \"Brother, I am fine.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lady Zhong looked at Wang Dou and shook her head. \"You've grown thin again.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Dou did not know whether to laugh or cry. \"In Mother's eyes, whenever her son has been away for a time, he is always thin.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Afterward, Wang Dou introduced the people of Shunxiang Fort to Lady Zhong and Xie Yike. Meeting the old madam and the Defender's wife, none dared be remiss, and each came forward to pay respects.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lady Zhong smiled and exchanged pleasantries with everyone. She was an old hand at social interaction. For a time, everyone felt as if bathed in a spring breeze. At the same time, Lady Zhong's face was radiant with pride. In the past, these important figures of Shunxiang Fort would never have looked directly at a lowly woman like her. It was only because of her son that they treated her with such deference.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After everyone in the fort had been introduced one by one, Zhong Zhengxian also stepped forward beaming and called out to Lady Zhong, \"Fourth Sister.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lady Zhong glared at him. \"Little brother, have you been causing trouble for your nephew?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhong Zhengxian was rather afraid of this elder sister. He protested his innocence vehemently. \"Not at all! If you don't believe me, ask Dou'er.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lady Zhong snorted. \"If you have, see if I let you off.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhong Diaoyang stepped forward and saluted Wang Dou. Wang Dou smiled. \"Cousin. You have worked hard with the affairs at Jingbian Fort.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhong Diaoyang saluted solemnly. \"This is within this humble officer's duty. I dare not speak of hardship.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Tianxue and Li Maosen also stepped forward to salute Wang Dou. The Confucian robe on Wang Tianxue was still wrinkled. He wagged his head and said, \"At last we've come to a big city, no longer a poor and remote place. I just wonder how Shunxiang Fort compares to Jingbian Fort.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The group entered the fort. Seeing the state of the streets inside, a look of astonishment appeared in Lady Zhong's eyes. She had been to Shunxiang Fort before. The scene inside now was vastly different from before. The streets were clean and tidy, and the military households were full of spirit. Where was the former scene of garbage strewn everywhere and emaciated military-household beggars all over the streets?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>To have changed so much in such a short time — how could Lady Zhong not be astonished? The accompanying craftsmen like Li Maosen were likewise gaping. They had come from Shunxiang Fort and knew it inside out. For the fort to have undergone such a transformation in so short a time was truly unbelievable.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After entering the Battalion Commander's residence, Wang Dou settled his mother and wife in. Then he took Xie Yike's hand, wanting to listen for the sound of the child in her belly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing her husband so affectionate, Xie Yike felt a bit shy. She said softly, \"Brother, it's not that quick.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Dou laughed. \"I am too impatient.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xie Yike said quietly, \"Brother, do you hope the child will be a boy or a girl?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Dou smiled. \"I will be happy whether boy or girl.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xie Yike, however, looked worried and murmured, \"If it's a girl, that would be terrible.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>……\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the afternoon, Wang Dou took his wife Xie Yike to participate in the celebratory activities held in the fort for the Laba Festival. His mother, Lady Zhong, being tired, rested in the residence.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shunxiang Fort had an old custom of \"swinging.\" Every festival, swing frames were erected inside the fort. Men and women, young and old, could freely join in the swinging activities, and visitors from outside could also participate. This \"swinging\" was novel and distinctive, quite attractive. Participants came in an endless stream.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xie Yike could not help clapping and laughing as she watched, but then she realized her lapse in decorum and glanced at Wang Dou sheepishly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In truth, she was only eighteen this year, and with her small stature, she looked like an underage girl — by later generations' standards, someone born in the nineties, just at the age of carefree joy. Yet now she was about to become a mother. Seeing her expression, Wang Dou only smiled tolerantly, encouraging her to relax.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the afternoon, Wang Dou also led all the officers and soldiers of the Shunxiang Army to watch a performance in front of the Jade Emperor Pavilion stage at the east street entrance of the fort. The theater building had a single-eave roll-shed roof, was three bays wide and two bays deep, and was quite large in area. Whenever there was a festival in the fort, a theater troupe was always invited to perform — a spiritual enjoyment beloved by all the fort's soldiers and civilians.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Shunxiang Army had been drilled relentlessly. Rarely given a full day off, they all brought their wives and families to watch the performance, packing the area in front of the stage so tightly that not a drop of water could trickle through. Though the weather was cold, it could not dampen the crowd's enthusiasm in the slightest.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Dou sat in the front row with Lin Daofu, Chi Dacheng, Zhong Diaoyang, Gao Shiyin, Yang Tong, Han Chao, Han Zhong, and others. Xu Lu and several other old-army squad commanders also sat beside Wang Dou and the others.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing Wang Dou bring Xie Yike, everyone respectfully saluted her, calling her \"Madam.\" Xie Yike meticulously returned every salute. Afterward, Xie Yike sat to one side with the wives of the officers, once again becoming the focus and the object of flattery among the women. However, she had gained some experience with such occasions: speak little, smile often. In this way, she maintained a graceful bearing that none dared underestimate.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At that moment, what was being performed on stage was the local bangzi opera. The singing was sonorous and intense, melodious and lilting, full of flavor. Moreover, the troupe was quite famous in the Bao'an Department area, rousing wave after wave of cheers from the audience. Among them, Gao Shiyin, Han Zhong, and Wen Fangliang shouted the loudest.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That Wen Fangliang truly lived up to his reputation as a romantic fellow — he was handsome, his family was well-off, and now as a Vice Battalion Commander, he drew even more attention from the women around him. Today he had brought out his wife and all five of his concubines, each quite comely, a bevy of beauties that drew many eyes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wen Fangliang owned several hundred mu of good farmland at Shunxiang Fort and kept numerous household slaves; the dozen or so retainers in his unit were all slaves from his own household. This was a common phenomenon at Shunxiang Fort and military forts everywhere — the officers seized large tracts of land precisely to support their household slaves and retainers.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In truth, the several unit commanders at Shunxiang Fort privately disapproved of Wang Dou’s refusal to keep retainers. Though Wang Dou had trained a great many fine soldiers, a single transfer order from above could mean all his work would benefit someone else. Wang Dou had heard plenty of such talk in private, but he only smiled it off. Coming from a later era, he had plenty of ways to solve this problem. Retainers would absolutely never be permitted in his army.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wen Fangliang, now promoted to Vice Battalion Commander, was already qualified to take part in managing various fort affairs. Wang Dou was still considering how to assign him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After the opera ended, everyone dispersed contentedly. Starting tomorrow, the Shunxiang Army would resume its grueling drills, continuing until a few days before the New Year.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>……\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At dusk, Zhong Diaoyang had a conflict with his father Zhong Zhengxian. The reason was that Zhong Diaoyang had heard his father was now living in the battalion commander’s residence; he considered it improper and urged his father to move out. Zhong Zhengxian was naturally furious, but Zhong Diaoyang’s tone was resolute, and father and son quarreled. In the end, Zhong Zhengxian dejectedly moved out and went to stay in the clerks’ quarters.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>From then on, Lady Zhong and Xie Yike lived inside the fort. Wang Dou planned to arrange for them to handle matters of comforting and aiding women and children.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>By this day, with the weather turning cold, the work Lin Daofu had been leading — having the fort’s military households reclaim wasteland — was also drawing to a close.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>From late in the tenth month until now, early in the twelfth month, Lin Daofu had mobilized one hundred thirty plow oxen and nearly a thousand elderly, weak men and women. Working along the perimeter of Shunxiang Fort and the two branches of the Dongfang River, they had reclaimed over three thousand mu of land, sending waves of excitement through Shunxiang Fort.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In this era, country women mostly did not bind their feet. In ordinary times at home, they worked the fields just like the men. They bore hardship and toiled tirelessly; moreover, since they were reclaiming land for themselves and could eat their fill each day from the labor, everyone’s drive was extremely high. In a short time, they had reclaimed these three thousand mu of land — it could be considered a miracle.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Not only that, among the various tracts of wasteland, the military households had also dug over a dozen irrigation wells, providing an excellent foundation for irrigation for the coming spring planting.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Originally, Shunxiang Fort’s entire registered garrison farmland amounted to over seven thousand mu, with over three thousand mu directly subordinate to the fort. However, most of this garrison farmland had fallen into disrepair in its waterworks, and a large portion of the good land had been seized by the officers. The several unit commanders at Shunxiang Fort had each seized at least three hundred mu of good land, making the local garrison farming situation extremely complicated. Wang Dou held little hope for the original garrison farmland and planned, after the newly reclaimed land was ready, to have the fort’s military households start anew.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In Wang Dou’s plan, every military household in the fort would later be allotted new land, each person receiving at least forty to fifty mu. As for their original garrison farmland, that would be dealt with later.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Once spring arrived the following year, each household would draw lots to receive their land, starting with one Company Commander.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In truth, Wang Dou’s garrison farming currently yielded no grain — it was all investment with no harvest in sight, and it seemed to bring him no benefit. But in the long run, this was the best way to settle the soldiers’ hearts. The ancients valued land above all else; only when their families had been allotted land would the fathers, brothers, and sons serving in the army fight to the death to protect this place.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Moreover, in ancient times, the importance of grain and food always ranked first; the way of the merchant was considered the lowest. Only when the local grain supply of Shunxiang Fort could become self-sufficient would Wang Dou cease to worry, and only then would this base area be firmly in his grasp.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For these early-stage investments in garrison farming, Wang Dou could only rack his brains for solutions. Once he weathered this hurdle, things would go smoothly from then on.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>……\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This time, Li Maosen and Wang Tianxue had also come together to Shunxiang Fort. During this period, Wang Tianxue had opened a herbal medicine shop at Jingbian Fort and taken on several herb-gathering apprentices. Wang Dou had him continue opening a medicine shop at Shunxiang Fort and training apprentices.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In Wang Dou’s plan, the army would later need to develop disinfectants, bandages and gauze, surgical instruments for cleaning and suturing wounds, as well as various insect repellents, marching powders, hemostatic medicines, and medicinal liquors and ointments for bruises and fractures. Whatever expenses Wang Tianxue needed, he was to tell Wang Dou directly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As for Li Maosen, his return to Shunxiang Fort this time was a homecoming in glory. Seeing his present circumstances, the craftsmen who had originally been at the fort were all immensely envious.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Dou planned to put Li Maosen in charge of the Shunxiang Fort workshop. Following the Jingbian Fort system, they would provide a basic monthly grain ration, then punish the lazy and reward the diligent, ensuring the manufacturing quality of weapons and armor. On this point, Jingbian Fort already had a mature workshop system, and Li Maosen had spent many days there, so managing it would naturally be a familiar task.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Under the new reward-and-punishment system, the atmosphere in the Shunxiang Fort workshop was quickly transformed, and it became as bustling with activity as the Jingbian Fort workshop.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Maosen assured Wang Dou that as long as there were sufficient raw materials, he could continuously produce qualified firearms and weapons.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Dou did have a way with iron materials — Shunxiang Fort had some iron in stock, and after the New Year, he could also organize manpower to mine at Huiyao Fort.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>However, for the supply of raw materials for gunpowder and saltpeter, Wang Dou was at his wit’s end. Apart from purchasing from outside, there was no other method, and he would inevitably be at the mercy of others. In his vision, he would later need to improve the manufacture of black powder and research granulated black powder, which would require even larger quantities of saltpeter.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But where was the saltpeter? Were there related mineral deposits in Bao’an Department or nearby?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>……\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Deep in thought, Wang Dou watched as Li Maosen clanged away, forging the barrel of a bird gun before him. The Shunxiang Fort workshop’s division of labor was roughly divided into ironwork, woodwork, and gunpowder work. The most critical part of a bird gun was the forging and welding of the barrel. Although Li Maosen was the head craftsman, he often forged bird guns himself and also took part in assembling many of them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Shunxiang Fort workshop had long possessed the relevant barrel-joining beds, handed down from early times, which made it convenient to rivet the barrels. Beside him now lay a finished bird gun, dark and finely made. The external structure of the bird gun was no different from a Western matchlock. However, on a Western matchlock, the serpentine struck from back to front, whereas on the bird gun before him, the serpentine was mounted in reverse, with a shield behind it to prevent the gases produced upon firing from injuring the shooter — this was a reflection of the ingenuity of the Chinese people at the time.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Watching Li Maosen weld the barrel, Wang Dou suddenly said, “Master Craftsman Li, can’t the barrel be forged directly onto a steel mandrel? That way, the barrel would be sturdier and thicker, less prone to bursting, and its power would be greater, wouldn’t it?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Dou had read some historical materials and recalled that Western matchlocks and Japanese teppo were made by directly wrapping red-hot iron around a steel mandrel, then hammering it out layer by layer, requiring no welding. This made the barrel larger and its power greater.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Maosen was taken aback. He pondered carefully for a moment, then said, “Indeed, since there is no need to make and weld a tube, the skill required of the craftsman is lower, and it is less prone to bursting. The barrel is larger, it holds more powder and shot, and the firearm’s power is greater. However, the range of the firearm would be shorter. This humble one estimates its lethality would only be around sixty paces.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Sixty paces…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Dou fell into thought. The Qing soldiers’ infantry bows had a range of exactly sixty paces.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In that case, exchanging fire with Qing soldiers would seem to offer no advantage.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Unless — they had cannons!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>。\u003C\u002Fp>",3701,"2026-06-03T14:05:19.908Z",1,"Novelzhen Translator","a349fcc12604fba9318bb0d746b76564ae871f2019ec57c3c52a9ea2aff3cb6c","a-little-soldier-of-the-late-ming-border-army-chapter-79","a-little-soldier-of-the-late-ming-border-army-chapter-77",896,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fa-little-soldier-of-the-late-ming-border-army-cover.jpg"]