[{"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-8":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},1205297,1561,"Chapter 8: Who Dares to Go Along?","a-little-soldier-of-the-late-ming-border-army-chapter-8",8,"\u003Cp>Just then, Qi Tianliang suddenly let out a startled cry: \"Government troops are coming.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Everyone looked over, and indeed, several Great Ming soldiers were rushing over from the direction of Julu Post. Judging by their attire, they were all garrison troops from the post.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At their head was a squad leader carrying a small unit banner and spear, wearing old, worn armor, a man in his forties who looked to be a post squad commander. Behind him followed several soldiers in tattered mandarin-duck battle jackets, every one of them tense and glancing nervously about, as if afraid a few Later Jin cavalrymen might burst out from somewhere at any moment.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhong Dayong's face lit up with joy, and he hurried forward to greet them, calling out: \"So it's my brother-in-law! I never expected you'd come to my aid.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That officer was none other than Wang Youjin, squad commander of Julu Post. He was lean and tall, with a pale, greenish complexion that always gave him a somewhat sinister, ambiguous air. His younger sister, of the Wang family, was married to Zhong Dayong, making him Zhong Dayong's elder brother-in-law. Leading a few men to rescue Zhong Dayong now, he could at least be said to have shown some loyalty to family.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Youjin's voice was soft and effeminate: \"We're all one family — why stand on ceremony?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He glanced at the gruesome scene before the post, let out a long breath, and asked: \"The Tatars have gone?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhong Dayong said with relief: \"Gone. But a few common folk had the misfortune to suffer for it.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The two exchanged a few words, and then Zhong Dayong's wife, of the Wang family, also came to see Wang Youjin, addressing him as elder brother. A smile appeared on Wang Youjin's face: \"Third Sister, as long as you're unharmed, that's all that matters.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He asked about what had just happened, and Zhong Dayong told him. Hearing that Wang Dou had shot down a Later Jin heavy-armor soldier with a single arrow, and that the three men in the post had even traded shots with the Later Jin troops, he seemed somewhat surprised. His shadowy, ambiguous gaze swept over Wang Dou and the Han brothers, Han Chao and Han Zhong, and his tone carried unconcealed envy: \"It seems my brother-in-law has some capable men under him.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhong Dayong suppressed the pride in his heart: \"Those three are indeed fierce and brave — it's just that they're usually too rash and impatient.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As he said this, he recalled Wang Dou's insolence toward him that day, and his expression darkened once more.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just then, someone behind Wang Youjin gave a cold snort, and Wang Dou felt a provocative glare aimed straight at him. Wang Dou looked coldly back — it was a man dressed as a night scout behind Wang Youjin. This man was around thirty, his face covered in coarse, bulging flesh, his frame tall and large, stretching his tattered mandarin-duck battle jacket taut. His right hand loosely gripped a saber.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>From memory, Wang Dou knew this man was called Gao Shiyin, one of the two night scouts at Julu Post. He had always been brutal and violent, with a history of killing civilians to pass off as military merit. Wang Dou had suffered bullying at his hands before.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing that this soft-shelled coward before him had actually managed to shoot down a Later Jin heavy-armor soldier, Gao Shiyin did not believe a word of it. If it had been the Han brothers, he might have believed it, but Wang Dou... Gao Shiyin sneered inwardly. He knew Wang Dou well — this soft goods might be tall and burly, but he was a gutless wretch. In the past, he himself had beaten Wang Dou until his teeth littered the ground, and Wang Dou hadn't even had the guts to hit back. He could shoot down a Tatar heavy-armor soldier with one arrow? Who was he trying to fool? At the thought, his hands began to itch again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The men from Julu Post over there had also heard of Wang Dou's \"reputation.\" Hearing Zhong Dayong speak like this, they too began whispering among themselves, their gazes toward Wang Dou full of doubt.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At that moment, Wang Youjin's gaze shifted to the several commoners nearby, and he asked in a low voice: \"What's the story with these refugees?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhong Dayong explained quietly, then said: \"Brother-in-law, a word in private.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He discreetly pulled Wang Youjin aside, and the two murmured a few words. Wang Youjin listened while nodding, his shadowy gaze roving over those commoners. Finally, he chuckled softly: \"Fine. We'll take the heads and split the reward fifty-fifty. Just the thing to exchange for some bounty silver. Who knows, maybe you and I can even get promoted a step.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The old man and the few surviving commoners stood woodenly to one side. Sensing the increasingly obvious hostility from the government soldiers before them, they grew more and more uneasy. It was the old man who spoke first, his voice trembling: \"Gentlemen soldiers, we still need to travel to Weizhou to seek refuge with relatives and friends. If there are no other instructions, we humble folk will take our leave.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At that moment, a glance from Wang Youjin, and Gao Shiyin and several Ming soldiers from Julu Post stepped forward. Every one of them drew their saber, their faces alight with greedy and cruel smiles. Gao Shiyin, in particular, grinned savagely as he advanced on a younger-looking man: \"This big brother here — lend us your head for a bit!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Those commoners instantly burst into terrified wails and tears. They huddled together in fear, never imagining that just after escaping slaughter at the hands of the Later Jin troops, they would now fall victim to the government soldiers' murderous hands. The old man wept and shouted: \"Heaven's light shines bright, Heaven's light shines bright...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing this scene, the men of Jingbian Post all showed expressions of unbearable pity. Every one of them turned their faces away. Han Zhong opened his mouth wide as if to speak, but Han Chao grabbed hold of him and stopped him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Dou felt a chill run through his entire body. He had long known that military discipline in the late Ming had utterly decayed, that killing civilians to pass off as merit was commonplace. There had once been a Ming soldier who earned great respect within the army because he could dress up a woman's corpse to look like a man's. Every time Wang Dou read such historical accounts, he was filled with indignation. He had never imagined that such a heaven-forsaken, conscience-bereft act would openly unfold right before his own eyes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gao Shiyin was just about to grab the young man's topknot when a scornful voice rang out from nearby: \"Got the skill to kill civilians, but no skill to kill Tatars. What kind of trash is that?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gao Shiyin roared: \"Who said that?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He spun around abruptly — and saw Wang Dou staring coldly at him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gao Shiyin stalked over with a savage grin, bellowing: \"You cheap bastard — was that you talking?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He flung his saber to the ground and swung a fist straight at Wang Dou's face. He meant to be arrogant, using his fist instead of a blade, the better to teach this big fool Wang a lesson. But before his fist could reach Wang Dou's face, a fist the size of a dipper was already right in front of his eyes. Gao Shiyin was badly startled and hurriedly blocked while retreating.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The moment he retreated, Wang Dou pressed in relentlessly. Slap, smack — in the blink of an eye, the two were locked in a life-or-death struggle. Having lost the initiative, Gao Shiyin could only keep retreating, barely shielding his face with his arms. Wang Dou pressed step by step, utterly merciless. His fists were fierce and powerful, wide and sweeping, each punch heavy as a thousand catties, beating Gao Shiyin into utter misery. In his heart, he bitterly regretted underestimating this soft-shelled coward.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The scene before them left everyone present dumbstruck. When had they ever witnessed such a perilous, desperate life-or-death fight? The Ming soldiers from Julu Post had long since stopped what they were doing, merely staring blankly at the scene unfolding before them. A chill rose in every man's heart. This Wang... Wang Dou — since when had he become so ferocious?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Suddenly, a muffled grunt — Wang Dou landed a heavy punch square on Gao Shiyin's chest. Gao Shiyin felt a salty taste well up at the corner of his mouth and fought hard to hold it back, barely managing to keep that mouthful of blood from spurting out. But by now, his legs had gone weak, and he could no longer support himself. He crashed heavily to the ground.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The scene was utterly silent. Wang Dou swept his cold gaze around, and not a single man dared meet his eyes. Even the furious rebuke Zhong Dayong had been about to utter shrank back into his belly. When Wang Dou's gaze reached Han Chao, a look of shame flickered across Han Chao's face, and he lowered his head to stare at the tops of his own shoes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Dou said to the old man: \"Old sir, you may go. Be careful on the road.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The old man knelt on the ground and kowtowed heavily, his voice choked with sobs: \"Many thanks, soldier sir. You are a good man — good will surely be repaid to you.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The several of them supported one another and slowly departed, walking farther and farther, until at last only a few faint, barely audible threads of weeping drifted back.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No one dared block the commoners' departure. The post soldiers from Julu Post all stood there awkwardly. Only when the figures of those commoners had vanished from sight did Wang Youjin cough. His expression was dark as he said to Zhong Dayong: \"Dayong, your men are brave enough, but far too disobedient. You, as squad commander, heh heh...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhong Dayong, seeing the heads he had been about to obtain slip away, was already inwardly furious. Hearing Wang Youjin's words, his expression shifted further, until at last he roared in anger: \"Wang Dou, you've got some nerve! Defying me time and again — do you think I dare not punish you? You should know, I am the commander of this post.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Dou said flatly: \"Squad Leader Zhong, aren't you just blaming me for stopping you from killing civilians to pass off as merit? If it's heads you want, I'll go cut down a few Tatars and bring them back.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhong Dayong's face alternated between blue and white. Before he could speak, someone from Julu Post had already rushed to interject: \"You mean you're going to go take the heads of those few Tatars? Hah, what big talk!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Dou knew this man was called Tan Jinrong, also one of the night scouts at Julu Post. He had always been close to Gao Shiyin. With Gao Shiyin having lost face today, Tan Jinrong was naturally feeling displeased. Seizing on Wang Dou's words, he now spoke up with biting sarcasm.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Dou said flatly: \"Even if you hadn't said anything, I was already going to kill Tatars. Who here has the balls to come with me?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ma Ming, who had been silently crouching by his wife's corpse all this while, slowly stood up and said: \"Brother Wang, I'll go with you. Erya is dead — I don't want to live anymore either. I want to kill Tatars, to avenge her.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Dou praised him: \"Good! At last, one man with balls. Who else dares to come along?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Han Zhong suddenly leaped up, shouting: \"I'm going too! Damn it all — what's the point of killing civilians? Killing Tatars, that's real skill. Brother Wang, I'm with you.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Dou said loudly: \"Good! One more stout fellow. Who else?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Han Chao said calmly: \"I'll go as well. Following Brother Wang to kill the enemy — I'll take my lead from him alone.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Dou was even more pleased inwardly. With the Han brothers, Han Chao and Han Zhong, his confidence in slaying those few Later Jin soldiers grew even greater.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Qi Tianliang gritted his teeth: \"I'll go too!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His wife, of the Tao family, looked somewhat worried and tugged at him from the side. Qi Tianliang declared with heroic bravado: \"To hell with it — dying's nothing. Better to fight it out than live like a coward!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Dou said loudly: \"Good! All good brothers of the same post. Let's unite our hearts and strength, and together kill the enemy and earn merit.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The situation before them had taken a sudden, drastic turn. Zhong Dayong and Wang Youjin both stared, dumbfounded — especially Zhong Dayong, who had never imagined that the soldiers in his post would all go over to Wang Dou's side. A surge of anger rose in his heart, but then his thoughts raced: this might not be so bad. If Wang Dou and the others really could take heads and earn merit, the credit would naturally not bypass him. If they failed, then let them die out there — it would save him the trouble, since that big fool Wang was nothing but a menace in the post anyway.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He and Wang Youjin exchanged a glance. Kin indeed — their hearts were linked as if by a single thread of understanding. Wang Youjin gave a slight nod. Zhong Dayong coughed and said in his shrill voice: \"Good! The soldiers' hearts are ready to be used. To kill the realm's enemies — that is the duty of us Great Ming officers and men. If you earn merit, I will certainly petition the higher officers to secure rewards for you. Of course, as squad commander, I have the duty to defend this post and can only wait here quietly for your victorious return.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The remaining Yang Tong hastily said: \"With only Squad Leader Zhong left alone in the entire post, that would be far too thin a defense. The Tatars' situation is still unclear — I will stay in the post and stand guard together with Squad Leader Zhong.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At these words, scornful looks from everyone in Jingbian Post were directed at him. His wife, of the Liu family, also cast him a disappointed glance. Yang Tong forced a smile and turned his head away, not daring to meet anyone's eyes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Dou did not even glance at Yang Tong. He merely looked flatly over at Gao Shiyin. That fellow, after being beaten to the ground by him, was still glaring at him with knitted brows and furious eyes, his fierce gaze blazing. But the man's fighting skills were not bad — he might be useful somewhere.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Dou looked at him sideways and said flatly: \"Gao Shiyin, do you have the guts to come with me and fight for military merit and bounty silver?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gao Shiyin shot Wang Dou a hate-filled glare, but merely kept his face iron-blue and said nothing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Dou snorted disdainfully: \"So you don't dare go. A ball-less waste of space. Apart from throwing your weight around in front of women and children, what other skill do you have?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gao Shiyin glared furiously at Wang Dou, the coarse flesh on his face twitching. He roared: \"You big fool Wang! You dare insult me in front of everyone?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Dou gave a cold snort and could no longer be bothered to spare him a glance. His manner only drove Gao Shiyin into a mad rage; he ground his teeth, wishing he could tear Wang Dou apart alive.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Han Zhong shouted loudly, \"Gao Manzi, come along! Kill the Tatars and trade them for reward silver. By the look of you, you probably haven't had meat for days. With silver in your pocket, you can eat and drink your fill — isn't that good?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After hesitating a moment, he muttered again, \"Damn it, could this fellow really have no balls? Could it really be, as Brother Wang said, that this wretch only dares to kill common folk and doesn't dare to kill Tatars?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>By now Gao Shiyin was already tempted. He had been poor for so long that he was truly afraid of it, and the current military merit rewards were indeed considerable. During this Later Jin incursion, in order to boost Ming army morale, the Great Ming had set a reward of thirty taels of silver per severed head, with all captured horses, cattle, and goods also going to the man himself. Although it was not yet as generous as the fifty taels per head offered in the early and mid-Ming, it had already recovered to the scale of the Jiajing era, enough to tempt many desperate men.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Stung again by Wang Dou and Han Zhong's provocation, he bellowed, \"Who's afraid? When it comes to killing Tatars, who's ever been afraid of anyone?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Dou nodded and said, \"Good. At least you're a man after all.\"\u003C\u002Fp>",2846,"2026-06-03T14:05:19.908Z",1,"Novelzhen Translator","9733d984ac6c547b2963801f9b0e12ad539c02f3b64bc2912d0e8bb6233efd8e","a-little-soldier-of-the-late-ming-border-army-chapter-9","a-little-soldier-of-the-late-ming-border-army-chapter-7",896,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fa-little-soldier-of-the-late-ming-border-army-cover.jpg"]