[{"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-808":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},1206097,1561,"Chapter 808: The Mill","a-little-soldier-of-the-late-ming-border-army-chapter-808",808,"\u003Cp>\"Are we really going to breach it?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>On the slope, Battalion Commander Tian watched as soldiers from the Mountain Patrol Camp climbed over the low wall one by one, locked in fierce combat with the defenders inside, while a steady stream of planks and short ladders kept leaning up from outside, the killing cries shaking the heavens.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A flash of jealous hatred crossed his eyes — that fellow Hu was about to claim merit again. Two days ago, he had already breached this low-wall defense line, winning enormous prestige in the camp and even catching the attention of the Chuang King and others. If he took credit once more this time...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At the same time, a fervent eagerness flickered in his eyes — what if this defense line were breached by himself...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He looked toward the low wall ahead. The fighting there was at its fiercest, but it would not be easy to break through in just a short while.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Suddenly his eyes lit up. The defenders at the pinch point seemed to have thinned out somewhat — perhaps they had rushed to reinforce the first low wall. The defenders there had been few to begin with, and now the frequency of arquebus fire had greatly diminished. If someone provided support and cover for him...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At that thought, he immediately turned toward Old Hu.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A group of Chuang troops crept toward the converging pinch point formed by three terraced cliffs. The slope was now crowded with figures, arquebus balls and feathered arrows whistling, gunsmoke thick in the air, and every part of the low wall a tangled mass of slaughter. So although their group was somewhat larger, it did not seem to draw much attention from the defenders on the wall.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Walking at the very front of this group were some of the famine refugees who had just carried the short ladders. Compared to the ordinary famine refugees who threw dirt sacks, these men were somewhat sturdier in build, had better chances, and each carried a short blade. As long as they survived, they could be selected into the various infantry camps immediately after the battle. Of course, their survival conditions were far more dangerous than those of ordinary famine refugees, since they mostly faced the defenders' arquebus fire, and now they were being forced to the front as human shields.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Behind them came over sixty arquebusiers from the Mountain Patrol Camp, along with more than thirty sword-and-shield men and archers, and then Battalion Commander Tian's forty-plus veteran camp soldiers.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Battalion Commander Tian had concluded that they could attack from the pinch point, break into the defense line from there, and demanded that Old Hu coordinate and provide cover.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Old Hu had initially disagreed, arguing that the pinch point was a critical choke point, and that attacking there would only waste men in vain. But Battalion Commander Tian used a mix of threats and inducements, saying that once they broke in from there, they could flank and envelop the defenders at the first low wall, resolving the stalemate there. Old Hu seemed cowed by his threats, or perhaps tempted by his inducements, and finally agreed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This left Battalion Commander Tian quite satisfied, and his gaze toward Old Hu became somewhat more agreeable. Of course, if great merit were achieved this time, the credit would naturally belong entirely to himself. That fellow Hu could go cool off wherever he pleased. Walking at the rear of the column, his heart burned hot as he imagined the glory after breaching the defense line.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They crept to a point not far from the pinch point. At last they were spotted by some arquebusiers above, and immediately a crackling volley of shots rang out, puffs of white smoke rising. Some soldiers were hit, and several of the famine refugees serving as human shields at the front fell. A few men screamed and tried to flee, only to be mercilessly cut down on the spot by the infantry behind them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Old Hu ordered his arquebusiers to fire in suppression, and his archers to lob shots up at the terraced cliff. The veteran camp soldiers also drew their own bows. They were trained for both mounted and foot combat, equipped with blades, shields, bows, and arrows. Their arrows flew both accurate and deadly. A volley of arrows swept past, and immediately a string of agonized screams rang out from the terraced cliff, the incoming fire from above greatly weakening.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Old Hu stood on the slope watching. Suddenly he spotted something, and a violent jolt of fear seized his heart. An icy chill shot up from the soles of his feet. Without a second thought, he dodged to the side. An arquebus boomed, and a mist of blood burst from the chest of a personal guard behind him, who was hurled backward and went tumbling down the slope.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Old Hu felt his hair stand on end. If not for that dodge just now, he would have been the one hit.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Before he could recover his wits, his personal lieutenant Batiao threw himself forward, knocking him to the ground, and shouted, \"Master Hu, be careful!\" Old Hu heard another gunshot, and the red-tasseled felt hat on Batiao's head was sent flying by an arquebus ball.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As the hat flew off, it carried with it a scattering of loose hair. The arquebus ball had grazed Batiao's scalp; his topknot was blasted loose, and who knew how many strands of hair were severed on the spot.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Old Hu shrieked, \"Sharpshooters! They have sharpshooters!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lying prone on the ground, he felt every hair on his body stand on end, layer after layer of goosebumps rising on his skin. He had nearly died again — this time targeted by those sharpshooters whose fame had by now spread far and wide through every camp.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Old Hu knew those sharpshooters were from the Jingbian Army. Time and again, he had nearly died at the hands of his own side. This undercover work was truly unbearable.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The men around him were equally terrified. Arquebusiers and archers alike fired madly in that direction. After the thick smoke cleared, there was no movement from that side for a long while.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Battalion Commander Tian had also thrown himself prone in fright just now, hiding his body rigidly behind a small earthen cliff slope. Now, seeing Old Hu rise with a hunched waist, unscathed, he felt a secret regret, but also lingering fear. He too had learned firsthand how terrifying those sharpshooters were.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They continued creeping toward the pinch point, driving the famine refugees forward the whole way, hacking down several more along the path. The famine refugees had no choice; some wailed, others advanced with twisted expressions, wondering what sins they had committed in a past life to fall into the hands of these roving bandits.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At last, the group drew closer to the pinch point. They saw some chevaux-de-frise set up at the entrance, and a crouching-tiger cannon emplaced among them. It seemed a few cannoneers were crouching there, but nothing else was clearly visible, as the line of sight was blocked by the cliff slope.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Forward!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Battalion Commander Tian stared fervently at that spot. With a furious roar, he swung his blade and cut down a famine refugee. The remaining veteran camp soldiers also drove the famine refugees forward. Though the refugees had blades in hand, they dared not resist at all. Wailing, they were herded charging toward the crouching-tiger cannon at the pinch point.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A few more arquebuses poked out from the terraced cliff and shot down some famine refugees, but were then suppressed by the arquebusiers and archers below the slope.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Soon the famine refugees charged close. Then they saw one cannoneer raise the smoldering linstock in his hand and touch it to the touchhole. Amid the refugees' terrified, despairing wails, the crouching-tiger cannon erupted with a violent roar, and a great cloud of thick white smoke billowed up.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A fierce burst of flame flared, and a huge wave of grapeshot blasted forth. The slope in front erupted in countless bursts of dust and smoke, great patches of dirt and shredded grass flying everywhere, mists of blood spraying. Twenty or thirty famine refugees collapsed to the ground in a mangled heap of flesh and blood, rolling and howling in agony in every posture imaginable.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Charge!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Battalion Commander Tian's eyes blazed. The government troops had fired their cannon — reloading would not be a quick matter. And now the arquebus fire from the terraced cliff was sparse and scattered. This was the perfect moment! His long blade pointed forward, and his veteran camp soldiers, shielding themselves with their shields, scrambled over one another to rush the pinch point.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Watching those veteran camp soldiers charge wildly with their shields raised, shouting battle cries, and hacking down any famine refugees blocking their path along the way, the Mountain Patrol Camp soldiers grew somewhat indignant. Batiao frowned and said, \"Are they really going to break in? Master Hu, are our brothers' merits just going to be snatched away like this?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Old Hu stared intently in that direction and shook his head. \"I fear it won't be that simple.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A sly expression appeared on his face, and he lowered his voice. \"I've had an uneasy feeling all along. Be ready to pull out at any moment.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Batiao was taken aback, then nodded almost imperceptibly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Battalion Commander Tian watched his men charge closer and closer. Soon they would burst into the pinch point. He could not help but split his wide mouth in a grin. Good! Great merit was within his grasp!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Although most of the combat credit in this battle belonged to the Mountain Patrol Camp, he could claim that he himself had breached the defense line, and that the Mountain Patrol Camp had at most played a supporting role. At this thought, a surge of smug satisfaction welled up in his heart. He glanced back at Old Hu, wanting to see the look on his face.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He saw that Old Hu's expression had indeed changed — but he was staring blankly toward the pinch point.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Battalion Commander Tian looked over in puzzlement, and then his own expression changed as well.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He saw some soldiers appear at the pinch point. The moment they emerged, a cold, icy killing intent seemed to spread through the surrounding air.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>These soldiers held arquebuses in their hands, but their arquebuses had no matchlocks, and were fitted with bayonets at the muzzles, their cold gleam radiating in all directions. They all wore eight-petaled iron-tipped helmets, the red tassels atop them fluttering. They wore fiery red cotton armor, the surface covered with large copper studs, clearly indicating iron plates were riveted inside.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Their expressions were cold and severe, their bodies exuding a heart-stirring aura. They raised their arquebuses and aimed at the charging veteran camp soldiers, their eyes filled with cold, merciless indifference.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Old Hu murmured, \"The Jingbian Army!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Of course he knew this was the Jingbian Army. He could recognize that distinctive air in the bones of the Jingbian Army at a single whiff. Two days ago, when he had attacked the third low-wall defense line, he had been routed by a charge from these very Jingbian troops.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"What is this?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A deep chill rose from the depths of Battalion Commander Tian's heart. Rumor had it that Sun Chuanting had a personal battalion of exceptionally fierce troops. It was also rumored that those personal battalion troops were outfitted as the Jingbian Army. But whether they were the Jingbian Army or under Sun Chuanting's command, for a battle-hardened veteran like himself, he could tell at a single glance whether the men before him had fighting strength.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Extremely dangerous. The men who had appeared before him were extremely dangerous. Battalion Commander Tian's face instantly turned pale. Involuntarily, he looked toward Old Hu. Right — that fellow Hu had quite a few arquebusiers under him. If he ordered his arquebusiers to fire on those soldiers now, there was still time.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just as he looked toward Old Hu, Old Hu also looked back at him. He saw a mocking smile appear on Old Hu's face. Abruptly, Old Hu bellowed at the top of his lungs, \"Retreat! Everyone retreat!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Batiao also immediately shouted, \"All troops retreat!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The two turned and left. The Mountain Patrol Camp soldiers under their command also withdrew like a receding tide, leaving the veteran camp soldiers suddenly stunned and at a loss.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Watching Old Hu's departing figure, Battalion Commander Tian stood frozen for a moment, then let out a heart-rending, lung-splitting howl: \"Hu Tiande!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Retreat!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Arquebus fire rang out in a continuous volley. The veteran camp soldiers, who had been charging wildly and were now suddenly stupefied, collapsed in neat rows. Volley after volley followed, more and more gunsmoke rising. The Jingbian Army at the pinch point fired in waves, advancing squad by squad. After emerging from the pinch point, they spread out to both sides of the slope. Behind them, the shadows of some pikemen also appeared, closing in from both flanks.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gunsmoke hung thick, and agonized screams were unending. The veteran camp soldiers kept falling amid the bursts of flame. Even when some of them brandished their weapons and charged forward, what met them were rows of uniform bayonets, and then they were stabbed to death by a flurry of blades in practiced, coordinated tactics. The sharp triangular bayonets stabbed into their bodies, sending up spurt after spurt of blood mist.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Watching his subordinates being shot dead and stabbed to death one after another, Battalion Commander Tian felt a raging fire surge up in his heart, as if his internal organs were about to be burned to cinders. His eyes splitting with fury, he let out a piercing, savage roar: \"Hu Tiande!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He howled in despair: \"You craven rat! Ah... I'll kill you!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He suddenly yanked a long spear that had been planted on the slope, and with a charging leap, was about to rush down the slope to cut off that fellow Hu.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But at the same moment he lunged, a gunshot rang out, and a spurt of blood shot from the airborne Field Officer Tian. Then he crashed heavily to the ground, rolling all the way down the slope before being stopped by several corpses. One of those corpses still had its eyes open, staring at him with dead-fish eyes, utterly motionless.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Clots of blood kept bubbling from Field Officer Tian's mouth. A huge hole had been torn in his back, and blood flowed ceaselessly from it as well, soaking his entire body in moments. Field Officer Tian struggled to rise, but he could not move at all, and then an uncontrollable, heart-rending howl burst from his lips.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He wailed, his ears filled with the chaotic sound of footsteps and the constant shouts of \"retreat,\" seemingly mixed with that fellow Hu's cries of \"Go, go, go.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In his blurred consciousness, a figure suddenly appeared before his eyes. Field Officer Tian strained to open his eyes wide, yet he could not make out the figure's features no matter how hard he tried. Then a long spear thrust straight down at his head.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Field Officer Tian let out a heart-rending howl. His body twisted, then slowly left the ground — his entire body had been hoisted up on the long spear by a single hand, slowly raised upright. Field Officer Tian struggled ceaselessly, like a lobster skewered on a spit.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With a sudden flick of the long spear, Field Officer Tian's corpse was flung away by this Jingbian Army soldier.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The spearman soldier drew back his long spear and gazed indifferently at the scene before him. Then a trace of pity surfaced on his cold, harsh face.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The corpses before him were even more numerous now, piled layer upon layer across the slope and the road. The very soil of the ground seemed saturated with blood.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fresh army spearmen kept charging out from behind the low wall to pursue and kill, as the tide-like roving bandits were retreating back toward the heights. The fighting on this side had come to another pause, yet looking into the distance, elsewhere along the trench the shouts of killing still shook the heavens. This place was like a meat grinder, seemingly consuming the lives of both sides without end.\u003C\u002Fp>",2721,"2026-06-03T14:06:27.906Z",1,"Novelzhen Translator","19f21e00079cf0c29d20e06526f9ca58648678e8707f4c9b303a87a9e1d91e67","a-little-soldier-of-the-late-ming-border-army-chapter-809","a-little-soldier-of-the-late-ming-border-army-chapter-807",896,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fa-little-soldier-of-the-late-ming-border-army-cover.jpg"]