[{"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-806":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},1206095,1561,"Chapter 806: Purgatory","a-little-soldier-of-the-late-ming-border-army-chapter-806",806,"\u003Cp>Every time the various battalions returned from an assault, losing ten to twenty percent, or even twenty to thirty percent of their strength per wave, was perfectly normal. Moreover, the opposing defensive line formed its own integrated system, with each part mutually connected. Sometimes when the fighting reached a fever pitch, the defenders from the second or third low walls would rush out in support, their pikemen charging in massed formation, and it was common for one's own side to carelessly lose over half its force. Many camps, after withdrawing their troops at dusk, found the casualties within their ranks shocking and horrifying.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The fighting was brutal, the losses among the various battalions were immense, the battle situation was bleak, and no hope of victory could be seen. Many camps seethed with resentment. Apart from intensifying suppression, the old camp could only agree to replenish their ranks with some of the famine soldiers who had performed well recently.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Mountain Patrol Camp was no different. After the previous two days of battle, their camp had also been replenished with many men and horses, expanding their total strength from four thousand to five thousand. After today, they would likely need at least another thousand men to fill the gaps, but the more new recruits they had, the lower the camp's combat effectiveness became.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Having one's own side be too strong isn't a good thing either.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Old Hu muttered a complaint in his heart. He knew the New Army opposite had been drilled by the Jingbian Army. Though they were merely a pale imitation, the fact that a newly formed army could firmly block three hundred thousand roving bandits before the trench was still something to be proud of. Yet with the battle so deadlocked, it was a torment for spies like himself. Every assault always gave him a feeling of slaughtering his own kind.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Forget it, just muddle along. Old Hu no longer knew what the meaning of his existence was now, or what value there was in being an undercover agent. Anyway, just drifting along would do.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just as he was about to arrange the next wave of men to attack, footsteps suddenly sounded. A fierce, brutish man stormed down from the plateau in a rage, followed by several tough old-camp soldiers. It was the Battalion Commander of the Rear Camp's Tian unit, who had been transferred here this afternoon to oversee the Mountain Patrol Camp's assault on Jia-5.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Everyone looked over. Old Hu shifted his gaze and chuckled, \"So it's Master Tian. What brings you down here?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Battalion Commander Tian waved his hand dismissively. \"Spare me that crap.\" His gaze fixed on Old Hu, his tone turning grim. \"Hu Tiande, why have you returned in another great defeat? Time and again you fear battle and evade combat, losing troops and officers. What punishment do you deserve?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Evade your mother's hairy ass!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Old Hu suddenly roared, his expression ferocious and terrifying, as if he wanted to devour someone alive. \"Do you know who was the first to breach the low wall along these twenty-plus li of trench? It was me! Do you know who was summoned to camp by General Zhi and personally praised as the bravest of the three armies? It was me! I fight bloody battles on the field, strive with valor, spare no effort unto death, ready to wrap my corpse in horsehide... You petty wretch, hiding up on the plateau, not daring to fire a single arrow, and you come to accuse me? I **** your mother!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Old Hu's torrent of furious curses, like a sudden storm, left Battalion Commander Tian gaping and speechless, his face alternating between pale and flushed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The two had formed a grudge back during the grain raids. Although they had smoothed things over afterward, both harbored hatred in their hearts. After Battalion Commander Tian was transferred to oversee the battle, he had constantly glared and scowled at Old Hu, making Old Hu extremely dissatisfied. Coupled with the frustration of the grinding battle, he now erupted without restraint.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Daring to speak of me, the Battalion Commander, like that? I'll hack you down!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Battalion Commander Tian had never been cursed out like this before. Unable to save face, he flew into a rage from shame and, with a jerk, drew his own saber.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Old Hu reacted with lightning speed, fiercely drawing his own waist saber as well. \"You want to hack me? I'll hack you first!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The sound of clashing steel rang out continuously. Kong San and the others around Old Hu drew their weapons one after another. The soldiers on the platform also raised their arquebuses with a roar, decisively aiming them at Battalion Commander Tian and his men. Archers swiftly pulled arrows from their quivers, nocking them to their bows one after another.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing every one of them with blades drawn and arrows nocked, the old-camp soldiers beside Battalion Commander Tian were so frightened they hurriedly drew their own weapons, pointing them warily at each person. The atmosphere instantly dropped to a freezing point; even under the blazing sun, it made one's whole body feel dark, gloomy, and cold, without the slightest warmth.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As if noticing something happening here, the Mountain Patrol Camp soldiers on several platforms along the plateau slope erupted in an uproar, and some officers rushed over one after another.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Only then did Battalion Commander Tian jolt awake to what was happening. Astonished by the Mountain Patrol Camp's huge reaction, he was also terrified by his own weakness and isolation, and even more enraged that Old Hu and his men dared to draw blades on him. Shocked and furious, he said in disbelief, \"Surnamed Hu, what are you doing? Are you rebelling?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Kong San said coldly, \"Battalion Commander Tian, regarding the rights and wrongs, the black and white of this matter, this Commandant believes it best to report to General Zhi and let him preside over justice!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Battalion Commander Tian's face was ashen. He sneered grimly, fire blazing in his eyes. \"Fine, very fine, extremely fine.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Intense venomous hatred showed in his eyes. The old-camp soldiers beside him looked at each other in dismay. This matter had gotten out of hand. If it reached General Zhi, none of them would likely come out well.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Today's incident clearly showed Battalion Commander Tian was in the wrong. The Mountain Patrol Camp's fierce bravery was evident to all. You could nurse a private grudge in private, but once it blew up, it couldn't be brought to the table.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If handled poorly, this could even ignite the conflict between the outer camps and the old camp. With the recent battles going poorly, the outer camps were already seething with resentment, especially against the old camp, as could be seen from the fury blazing in these soldiers' eyes. If that happened, their crime would be grave indeed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They hurriedly signaled Battalion Commander Tian with their eyes, hoping he would find a way to back down gracefully. But Battalion Commander Tian only stared fixedly at Old Hu, an indescribable sense of humiliation in his heart. He was from the old camp; why should he bow his head to this bandit? He had already bowed once during the grain raid. Must he bow again? No, he was unwilling.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Old Hu also stared coldly at him. Suddenly, he burst out laughing, sheathed his blade, and said with a savage grin, \"Tian Fukui, you say I fear battle and evade combat? I'll personally go oversee the battle right now. Do you dare follow?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Battalion Commander Tian was stunned. Kong San also looked at Old Hu. Old Hu nodded at him, and Kong San immediately understood his meaning. His eyelids lowered slightly, and he said quietly, \"Take care of yourself.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then he looked at Batiao. \"Batiao, protect Master Hu well.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Batiao nodded firmly, his cold, sharp gaze sweeping over Battalion Commander Tian.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Battalion Commander Tian was riding a tiger and couldn't dismount. To be honest, he didn't want to face those New Army troops, but seeing the mocking look in Old Hu's eyes, he felt an unbearable tightness in his chest. He stared death at Old Hu, as if wanting to swallow him alive. Finally, he gritted his teeth and said hoarsely, \"Fine, let's see what skill you, surnamed Hu, really have.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A large body of troops moved along the mountain path toward the plateau trench. The scorching sun beat fiercely down on the yellow earth, unbearably oppressive. Their clothing and armor were soaked through with sweat in no time. This damned weather baked the ground until white smoke rose everywhere; people felt they were about to be roasted.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In such weather, it was easy to suffer heatstroke, faint, become severely dehydrated, or contract some epidemic disease. The defenders had purchased large quantities of the Jingbian Army's heatstroke-prevention pills and heat-relief pills, so they were fine. On the Chuang camp's side, however, people died every day under the unbearable heat.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Under the blazing sun, everyone felt dizzy and lightheaded, as if they might collapse at any moment. But no one dared speak. They hurried down the mountain path, their footsteps thundering and kicking up great clouds of dust.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This wave of attacking Mountain Patrol Camp soldiers numbered over six hundred. Including the famine refugees, there were over eleven hundred. Within them were also the hundred elite mounted arquebusiers Old Hu had brought.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Mountain Patrol Camp was no ordinary outfit. It had a thousand mounted troops, though calling them a cavalry unit—calling them mounted infantry on mules would be more accurate. Only three hundred riders possessed warhorses, forming the core of the Mountain Patrol Camp and considered Old Hu and his men's personal cavalry. It was organized with one hundred archer-swordsmen and two hundred arquebusiers. For this assault, Old Hu had personally led one hundred arquebusiers out.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This wave of troops also included fifty old-camp soldiers led by Battalion Commander Tian. A Battalion Commander in the Chuang camp was equivalent to a Squad Commander in the Ming army, generally commanding two to three hundred men. Battalion Commander Tian had five cavalry squads under him, each with fifty men, totaling two hundred and fifty riders. Each man had two horses, all warhorses—a strength the outer camps truly could not match.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>However, for this battle supervision, he had only brought fifty men. It wasn't that they didn't want to bring more, but bringing too many would mean they couldn't squeeze into the slope later.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They also did not ride horses. Each man had to go to the opposite plateau slope to oversee the battle, and this terrain was unsuitable for riding.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The column descended in silence, the atmosphere oppressive. In front were the swordsmen, shieldmen, and cold-weapon fighters; in the middle, the famine refugees; behind them, the archers and firearms troops, along with the mounted personal arquebusiers led by Old Hu. Battalion Commander Tian led the old-camp soldiers at the very rear.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He saw smoke of battle rising everywhere in the trench; clearly, fierce fighting raged along other sections of the defense line. From time to time, the shriek of cannon fire could be heard. From here, he could also see the defenders on the opposite plateau slope arrayed in strict formation, ready for battle. Thinking of the brutal combat he was about to face, Battalion Commander Tian's heart clenched involuntarily. An indescribable fear welled up inside him, as if something terrible was about to happen.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He looked ahead again. That figure he loathed was walking casually, looking completely unperturbed, chatting with the trusted officers beside him as he went. Watching him filled Tian with venomous hatred and bitter resentment.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Soon the column reached the bottom of the trench. The troops ahead became hesitant and congested, and the sounds of people vomiting and wailing drifted back. The old-camp soldiers roared and urged them on, but the path here narrowed, and there was no other passage to take. Unless the people ahead finished crossing, Battalion Commander Tian and his men could only fret anxiously at the rear.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Soon Battalion Commander Tian understood why the men ahead were hesitating. Before them lay a trench of blood. Whether it was trench water or human blood surging, it stretched up to a man's waist. Some corpses remained submerged within, each bloated and bleached white by the bloody water. The yellow earth and wild grass on both sides of the trench were a deep black, clearly dyed that color by the blood.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A thick, heavy smell of blood wafted from the trench, making one's stomach churn repeatedly. Especially after climbing the slope, a powerful stench of rotting corpses assaulted the face, so strong one could barely open one's eyes. Everywhere lay broken blades, spears, and shattered shields. Corpses in various postures littered the slope and the small paths.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They lay there baking under the sun, scattered in disorder, their dead-fish eyes staring blankly, their bodies emitting a nauseating odor. Some abandoned equipment burned in the flames. This scene before them was like entering a purgatory of asuras.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Too many people had died, and the Chuang camp's attack frequency was too high. Each time, the defenders only had time to retrieve and pull back their own comrades who had sallied out and might be wounded or dead, then do a rough cleanup. The actual task of collecting the battlefield corpses would wait until the day's fighting ended completely at dusk, when civilian laborers would come to handle it. They often worked by torchlight, busy until midnight.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Every wave of bandit attacks always left several hundred dead before the low-wall defense line, especially the famine refugees among them, nearly half of whom would die. Then, after a full day, or even after several waves, this was the brutal scene before one's eyes. The blood flowing from the corpses had dyed the soil on the slope red.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Some famine refugees began to wail. They seemed to foresee their own fate, hesitating and refusing to advance, relying entirely on the foot soldiers beside them who whipped and urged them on. Many foot soldiers also remained silent. They were no better off than the famine refugees; their endurance had reached its limit as well.\u003C\u002Fp>",2364,"2026-06-03T14:06:27.906Z",1,"Novelzhen Translator","2df4805f83f59d5e38d27a34652c22553ad73b14e1c35bbbbf7657ef136fc3d2","a-little-soldier-of-the-late-ming-border-army-chapter-807","a-little-soldier-of-the-late-ming-border-army-chapter-805",896,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fa-little-soldier-of-the-late-ming-border-army-cover.jpg"]