[{"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-780":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},1206069,1561,"Chapter 780: The Time Has Come","a-little-soldier-of-the-late-ming-border-army-chapter-780",780,"\u003Cp>A crowd across the way was clamoring, standing in a chaotic jumble. As for their formation, they were far inferior to Old Hu’s side. Yet they had their own advantage — those with horses numbered over four hundred, and many could shoot arrows both mounted and on foot. No wonder they were so arrogant.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Moreover, that \"Sky-Piercing Shooter\" was originally from the army. After the Ming army's great defeat at Zhuxian Town, many men under Zuo Liangyu, Yang Dezheng, Fang Guoan, and others scattered. They lingered among the common folk and became bands of bandits and thieves.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Those who originally had horses were especially devastating. Often just a few mounted soldiers could sweep through and coerce several hundred people.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This \"Sky-Piercing Shooter\" had once been a retainer under Fang Guoan. When the rout happened, he had several dozen men around him, every one of them mounted.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They stayed in the Chenliu, Lanyang, and Qixian areas to plunder, accepting surrenders and recruiting traitors. So far, they had built a mounted force of over four hundred, making them a major power in Kaifeng Prefecture. Even the government troops in the prefectural city had to treat them with special regard.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In every time of war or chaos, women and children are always the first victims. After being captured or coerced, they either suffer endless defilement, or are killed or eaten. The \"Sky-Piercing Shooter\" and his ilk were among those villains, and the women they tortured to death were beyond counting.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But now \"business\" took priority. Whether it was \"Sky-Piercing Shooter\" or other powers, they all tried their best to keep the \"goods\" intact and undamaged. On the eve of transport, they would even give the women emergency supplemental nourishment to make their complexions look better, so they would fetch a good price.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Since last year, the \"business\" of trafficking women and children had become prevalent in Kaifeng Prefecture. They were shipped continuously across the Yellow River to the other bank, and then exchanged through the Sanjin Trading Houses for large quantities of grain, cloth, ironware, and even the arms and munitions each party needed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Women and children who were worthless in the past were now each worth a great deal of money, especially the healthy ones with whole bodies.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Kaifeng Prefectural City had now become an important \"business distribution center.\" Even Grand Coordinator Hou Xun, after arriving in Kaifeng, had joined the ranks of \"doing business.\" Now the women inside the city were gradually dwindling, and children were even rarer. They were continuously rounded up and transported to Xuanfu and Monan.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Sky-Piercing Shooter\" was extremely keen on \"doing business.\" Now in their stronghold, apart from the twelve chiefs who still had wives and women, all the subordinates who had wives, daughters, or children had sold every last one of them clean away. Even \"Sky-Piercing Shooter\" and the others were considering whether to sell their own wives and daughters.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After all, given their status, why would they ever worry about lacking a stronghold wife? They were just tired of playing with them anyway. Time to swap in a new batch of women.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Leave the little ladies behind.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The large and small lackeys across the way roared in unison. They knew that inside and outside the old stronghold of the \"Mountain Patrol Army,\" many soldiers had women. This time they had fought a big battle with \"Sky-Collapsing\" from Weishi and captured quite a few women and children.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If they could seize these women and children, they themselves might get one or two to share, play with for ten days or half a month, and then sell them off. Why not take the pleasure?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They clamored loudly. Although there were many old and weak among the crowd, and many did not even have a single spear, only brandishing wooden clubs or hoes, their numbers were large, and their noise was considerable.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Damn it, they've come to rob me, their own grandfather.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Old Hu roared in fury. Having been the chief for many months, he had cultivated an air of authority. The \"Mountain Patrol Army\" men behind him were also filled with righteous indignation. These damned \"Sky-Piercing Shooter\" scum had come to snatch food from a tiger's mouth. They had to be shown a thing or two.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Kong San and Huang Weijie were also watching intently. These elite operatives of the Intelligence Division had undergone training in all aspects, military common sense being just one of them. One look told them the other side was merely a rabble. Defeating their infantry would be easy; the hard part was that the enemy's mounted troops would not be easy to handle.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They quickly conferred and deployed the troops. Huang Weijie led several hundred infantry as the rear formation, shielding the baggage and the women and children. Kong San went to the front formation to command personally: those two squads of matchlock soldiers, plus one squad of archers and two squads of saber-and-shield men, totaling two hundred fifty men as the front-line elite, with the remaining pikemen arrayed in several ranks.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Finally, Old Hu's cavalry formed the central army, arrayed in a relatively orderly battle formation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After nearly half a year of training, the men under the three, originally mostly famine refugees and displaced people, had become fairly presentable. At least during gang fights their ranks were orderly, and they knew how to form up and fight. So every time they encountered a rabble of bandits and horse thieves who only knew how to charge in a swarm, they were ever-victorious.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Of course, they were not a regular army after all. Apart from the signal to beat the gongs and withdraw, they understood no other banners, signals, drums, or music. So they basically relied on shouting to fight. Now Kong San also needed to stay at the front to direct them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Batiao, protect Master Hu well, understand?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Before heading to the front formation, Kong San gave instructions to the cavalry commander of the personal guard — a fierce-looking young man riding a fat black horse.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His original name was unverifiable. He had been a horse bandit before, with few evil deeds. He was skilled with a thick-backed saber and could shoot arrows with either hand. Once, Kong San saved his life, and from then on he was utterly loyal to him. Early in the year, after an evaluation, he was even developed into a peripheral operative of the Intelligence Division.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He led that fifty-man personal cavalry troop, which served as the shared guard of the three chiefs.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Second Chief, rest assured, this humble one will certainly protect the Great Chief!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Batiao grinned savagely at the opposite side, a bloodthirsty gleam flashing in his eyes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Don't worry about me. Rather, Master Kong, you be more careful at the front.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Old Hu waved his hand dismissively. Although he had been forcibly dragged to Henan by Kong San and Huang Weijie back then, full of reluctance, after these months he had deeply come to love this life of licking blood from a knife's edge. It was too thrilling.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And before, he was just a common soldier, despised and scorned. Now, several thousand people in the entire stronghold watched his every expression. It was too glorious. And when he charged at the very front during battle, with the brothers behind him roaring as they followed — that feeling made his blood boil.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Perhaps this was the ideal life in his heart.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He seemed to have thrown himself into the role. Only in his midnight dreams would he recall his wife, his unborn child, and his life back in Xuanfu Garrison.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And over these months, he had more or less developed a bond with Kong San and the others. When he spoke now, his tone could not help but carry a note of concern.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Kong San nodded, quickly brought a few personal guards to the front formation, and roared: \"Reward the brave, behead the cowardly. No advancing and then retreating. Kill every last bandit across the way! Mountain Patrol Army, advance!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The entire battle formation roared in unison. Unlike those village braves and stronghold men who both farmed and fought, their Mountain Patrol Army made a living by suppressing bandits and \"collecting protection fees.\" Every month they went out to fight several times. Having fought and killed so much, the whole stronghold, top to bottom, possessed a rather fierce and murderous air.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Moreover, after every battle, the three chiefs could indeed reward the meritorious and behead the retreating, which greatly boosted morale. They counted as a paramilitary group, not your common bandits.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They roared rhythmically, advancing across the parched yellow-earth ground. And now the saber-and-shield men were in front, the pikemen behind, densely shielded. Sharp spear points merely extended through the gaps. Seen from afar, it resembled a giant turtle formation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>On the other side, \"Sky-Piercing Shooter\" and his men sucked in a breath of cold air. \"Sky-Piercing Shooter\" was a middle-aged man with a face full of knife scars. He muttered, \"This 'Earth-Stomping Dragon's' troops have quite the proper look. Which camp did they come from?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Still, he was not overly worried. After all, his own forces were more numerous. He barked an order: \"Beat the drums, all troops charge!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Immediately, the drummer beside him struck the great drum.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Sky-Piercing Shooter's\" subordinates also had only two signals: one for advance, one for beating the gongs to withdraw. Anything more complex, his men did not understand. In truth, \"Sky-Piercing Shooter\" did not understand either, because back when he was in Fang Guoan's garrison, they also fought in a swarm.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Kill!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As the drums sounded, the several thousand large and small lackeys on this side howled together. Except for the mounted troops who stayed put, everyone else brandished weapons of every shape and color and charged toward Old Hu's side.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Their formation was chaotic, with no front or rear ranks. And among those in front, some had shields, some did not. They were indeed a rabble.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But relying on their numbers, \"Sky-Piercing Shooter\" had previously crushed many surrounding powers. After all, in these times even fighting armies rarely emphasized formations, let alone civilian bandit forces.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Mountain Patrol Army had stopped early. Under Kong San's shouted orders, the two squads of matchlock soldiers and that squad of archers moved out to fight, quickly arriving in front of the formation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Their two squads of matchlock soldiers stood in two ranks, that squad of archers stood in one rank, and behind them were the saber-and-shield men, with dense spears still protruding through the gaps between shields.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Light the match cords, front rank matchlock soldiers kneel...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Kong San gave orders calmly. The Mountain Patrol Army's matchlock soldiers, because the calibers of their matchlocks were not uniform, did not use fixed paper cartridges. But with Huang Weijie in charge of logistics, the concept of fixed cartridges could not possibly be absent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So, as in many Ming armies, he had the soldiers use bamboo or copper tubes. Each tube, according to the specifics of his own matchlock, held a fixed powder charge, with the priming powder for the touchhole and the main charge kept separate. Each soldier also had a lead ball pouch full of shot. After long training, each man could use it proficiently.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Of course, gunpowder was also an expensive item for the Mountain Patrol Army. Usually in ordinary training, they mostly practiced with empty matchlocks or used sand and earth for live practice.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Immediately, the men in each squad responsible for lighting rushed forward with fire pots and swiftly lit each soldier's match cord. The Mountain Patrol Army could not compare to the Jingbian Army, where every matchlock soldier had a fire striker.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then the matchlock soldiers in front, with a whoosh, knelt down in unison. The matchlock soldiers behind them aimed their pieces, while also having to watch the burning match head and pay attention to the priming powder, fearing a sudden gust of wind might blow the priming powder away.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Their matchlocks, of course, could not possibly have self-closing touchhole covers. In windy weather, matchlocks often misfired.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The troops on \"Sky-Piercing Shooter's\" side, several thousand men, still charged forward howling. Those in front had also seen the matchlock squad on the Mountain Patrol Army's side, but they were not very worried. Generally, in local areas, few could manufacture matchlocks themselves; they all came from the government.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And the firearms made by the government were of terrible quality. Not only did they easily burst their barrels, but many firearms often failed to fire when battle came. Also, in ordinary gang fights, even if the opponent had matchlocks or three-eyed guns, when these several thousand men charged, the enemy often could not keep their nerve and fired wildly before entering range.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So even when they saw the bird guns of the Mountain Patrol Army, those who were howling kept howling; at most, some instinctively raised their shields in front of them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Without an order, no firing! Anyone who disobeys will be executed!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Kong San watched coldly as the dark mass of people surged toward him. The personal guards beside him repeated his order over and over. The gun soldiers in the second row were also aiming with total concentration — even when beads of sweat dripped down, no one wiped them away. The Mountain Patrol Army’s discipline was extremely strict: if they said behead, they meant behead.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Fire!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Watching the people ahead charge into a hundred paces, eighty paces, seventy paces, Kong San finally let out a furious roar.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The sound of the bird guns firing in unison, streams of scorching flame bursting forth, followed by thick white smoke billowing up.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Of the fifty bird guns, except for about ten that failed to fire, the rest all spewed great plumes of white smoke. Nearly twenty of She Potian’s men burst into mist of blood; some had their shields shattered, and then the shot struck the bodies behind them. Screaming, they tumbled to the ground.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Second row, fall back! First row, rise!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Fire!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Again the sound of volley fire. This time more people fell to the ground, and those who were hit rolled on the earth, shrieking in agony. Never mind that these men had no armor — even with armor, at close range it would be hard to stop the power of the guns. After all, though these bird guns could not compare to those of the Border Pacification Army, they were still relatively well-made and quite powerful.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Moreover, many of the dead and wounded were among the fiercer men in the crowd. Watching their miserable howls and suffering, the courage of many around them instantly drained away.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After the two rows of gun soldiers finished firing, they immediately fell back and returned to the formation. The sound of ramrods swishing filled the air as they nervously reloaded their lead balls and powder.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Bows, shoot!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>*Swoosh swoosh swoosh swoosh…*\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Another shower of arrows. Amid the sound of arrows tearing through the air, more of She Potian’s men were shot down, especially those without shields.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though the power of the bows was not as great as the bird guns, they won out in speed. In that short distance, some men had already loosed several arrows.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And after the fierce hammering of the bird guns and bows, those men of She Potian all cried out in terror. Most of their courage had vanished; they were either looking left and right in panic, or crowding and shoving to flee to the rear.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then the chaotic crowd surged and pressed up to the front of the Mountain Patrol Army’s battle formation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Thrust!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The blade-and-shield soldiers raised their shields, and through the gaps between them, dense long spears flicked in and out, stabbing forth continuously.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Every time their long spears thrust and retracted, they brought out a mist of blood. Horrible howls rose unceasingly. These long spears stabbed wildly — into the faces of She Potian’s men in front, or into their throats, or into their chests, or into their bellies and waists.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Being stabbed by a long spear was by no means a pleasant sensation. Those men either shuddered and collapsed paralyzed to the ground, or screamed themselves hoarse. If their internal organs were pierced, the pain was so great they rolled on the ground, wishing they could die on the spot.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Most of these men of She Potian were either famine victims or refugees. In the past, relying on numbers, they had only ever fought winning battles. When had they ever seen such a vicious formation, such a brutal scene? Watching blood spray wildly and the miserable howls around them ring out without end, they collapsed, howling as they fled only to the left, right, and rear.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As for some hardened bandits or tougher men, they had either been shot dead at the very start by the bird guns and bows, or now died under the chaotic spears. The courage of a lone brute, when facing a disciplined battle formation, was utterly powerless — even a half-baked formation like that of the Mountain Patrol Army.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Watching his infantry be routed in a single clash by the Mountain Patrol Army, She Potian’s face turned ashen. He thought to himself, “In the end, I still have to rely on my own cavalry!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He bellowed: “Brothers, we cannot let the name of our Potian Camp be dragged down! All of you, charge with me!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His cavalry force of over four hundred men — every one a hardened bandit and vicious outlaw, hands steeped in blood, inured to life and death. Hearing their grand chief’s order, they clamored and roared in fury. Their horses’ hooves kicked up a huge cloud of dust as they charged toward the flank of the Mountain Patrol Army.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Watching several hundred riders come surging over, their horses’ hooves pounding and shaking the ground with considerable momentum, Old Hu burst out laughing: “Finally it’s this old man’s turn! Brothers, charge with me!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The cavalry under his command also roared in unison and drew their sabers.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And unlike She Potian’s disorderly swarm, the Mountain Patrol Army’s cavalry also emphasized formation. That squad of personal guards in particular usually trained even more in coordination.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Now they were arrayed ten men per row, five rows in total, all horse pressed against horse. The first two rows even used long spears, just like the riding wall of the Feather Cavalry. The remaining cavalrymen all stayed behind, with some scattered to the left and right. Though their numbers were slightly fewer than She Potian’s side, their awe-inspiring might far exceeded them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Kill!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Old Hu roared, charging at the very front. The Mountain Patrol Army’s cavalry also roared in fury and charged out together…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hahahaha, picking a fight with this old man — that fellow Qian picked the wrong man!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As he rode back, Old Hu was bursting with pride. The result was no surprise: She Potian’s scattered stragglers, facing Old Hu’s cavalry, were utterly routed. Over fifty were killed or wounded on the spot, and more than a hundred riders surrendered.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She Potian fled in disgrace, abandoning his baggage, and with the remnants of his cavalry slunk back to his lair. He could not even bother with the fleeing infantry who had scattered on foot, allowing Old Hu to capture and accept the surrender of over five hundred more.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Returning in great victory, the whole army was jubilant. Hearing his words, a chorus of howls of “Grand Chief is mighty!” rang out, making Old Hu even more delighted. He looked left and right, brimming with swagger.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Of course, Old Hu had been wounded again — a slash on his left arm. Fortunately it did not injure the bone, and he paid it no mind.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Kong San and Huang Weijie asked after him with concern. Seeing he was fine, they set their minds at ease. With constant campaigning, getting wounded was unavoidable. Even the two of them, over these past few months, had suffered numerous wounds large and small and had long grown accustomed to it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The king sends me to patrol the mountain, yo…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The loud and clear “military song” rang out again. The men of the Mountain Patrol Army, laden with spoils of war, headed jubilantly back toward their fort.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Their stronghold was called Daan Fort, located between the Guo River and Zaolin River. The surrounding land was flat and fertile, and irrigation was convenient — it was a rather fine piece of territory.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But in the present state of the world, whether the land was fertile or not, whether irrigation was convenient or not, no longer held any meaning, because very few dared to settle down and farm with peace of mind.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After all, bandits gathered thickly all around, and refugees and famine victims emerged in endless waves. You planted the fields, and when harvest came, they would come to plunder. The forces that came grew stronger wave by wave, their numbers larger wave by wave. Who could guarantee that they could surely protect their grain, wealth, and property?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This was the tragedy of a chaotic world — you could not even farm in peace if you wanted to.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was not without precedent. The predecessor of Daan Fort had been a faction whose chief recruited refugees to farm, and he had a considerable reputation for virtue in the region. Yet in the seventh month of last year, they were overrun by a wave of refugees. The granaries were looted clean, and the remaining fort inhabitants became part of that refugee band.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Because of this lesson, even Kong San and Huang Weijie did not dare let the fort inhabitants farm. They made their living by “trafficking people,” “weapons processing,” “collecting protection fees,” and the like.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The group traveled back, the whole way lined with desolate, abandoned villages utterly devoid of human presence. Kong San and Huang Weijie furrowed their brows and shook their heads with sighs. Old Hu, however, paid it no mind, and none of the Mountain Patrol Army men thought anything was amiss. In a chaotic world, was it not always thus?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At this moment, the three — Old Hu and the others — rode at the very front. Even the eight squad leaders and their personal guards had fallen back by several horse-lengths. After all, some secrets were not for even them to hear.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Watching Old Hu, who was swaying his head and humming a little tune, thoroughly enjoying himself, Kong San suddenly said flatly, “The time has come.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Huang Weijie nodded. Old Hu was taken aback: “What time has come?” (To be continued…)\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>〖∷Fast Updates∷∷Plain Text∷〗\u003C\u002Fp>",3768,"2026-06-03T14:06:10.567Z",1,"Novelzhen Translator","cf8e97fad905536aff62313530777e1af26100b2a22172a3b926d34313efffd0","a-little-soldier-of-the-late-ming-border-army-chapter-781","a-little-soldier-of-the-late-ming-border-army-chapter-779",896,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fa-little-soldier-of-the-late-ming-border-army-cover.jpg"]