[{"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-812":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},1206101,1561,"Chapter 812: The South Gate","a-little-soldier-of-the-late-ming-border-army-chapter-812",812,"\u003Cp>When Li Zicheng crossed the Distant Watch Gully, behind him, besides cheering soldiers, were crowds of people as busy as ants — a great mass of famine refugees waving hoes, widening and broadening the road on this side of the gully to ease the passage of the camp’s baggage train.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No matter how the fighting went in the days to come, both sides of the gully gained many more broad thoroughfares from then on.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Entering Nanyuan, Li Zicheng was filled with a thousand emotions; he was no stranger to this place, also called Linzhiyuan — it was here that Sun Chuanting had routed him so utterly that he fled into the Shangluo Mountains with only eighteen riders.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The tableland before him was flat and broad, stretching several dozen li north to south, and five li west from Distant Watch Gully lay the Forbidden Gully. Li Zicheng was naturally extremely concerned about the Ming army’s defenses at the Forbidden Gully, so after climbing up from the gully he led his men west toward it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Scattered across Nanyuan were some local garrison villages and hamlets, which had served as key Ming defensive positions during the great battle a few days earlier but had now all been abandoned.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Meeting no resistance along the way, Li Zicheng and his party soon reached the edge of the Forbidden Gully. Gazing at the deep ravine before them, Li Zicheng and his men were speechless for a long while.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was both deep and wide, the gully walls steep, with virtually no road descending from the tableland. Along the tableland’s edge stood many tall fire-beacon mounds, faced with brick and stone, extremely sturdy. Not only that, these fire-beacon mounds were connected by walls to the fortifications below — it would be more fitting to call them enemy watchtowers than mere fire-beacon mounds.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And after those walls linked up with the fortifications, they snaked upward, all the way to Tongluochuan on the opposite side, where there was likewise a series of fire-beacon mounds. That meant that if one attacked a fire-beacon mound, the defenders on Tongluochuan could come to its aid via the walls. It was an entirely different matter from those isolated fire-beacon mounds across the Distant Watch Gully.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And there were twelve such integrated fire-beacon mounds and fortifications on both banks of the Forbidden Gully — these were the so-called Twelve Linked Fortresses.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Nor was that all. Shaanxi’s terrain is such that the rivers have scoured the plains into gullies, ridges, and loess knolls, and the edges of Nanyuan were thick with such gullies, ridges, and knolls. Those fire-beacon mounds were mostly built atop the ridges and knolls, and the broken, fragmented terrain made movement extremely difficult. In such terrain, never mind attacking — just reaching the foot of a fire-beacon mound was a feat in itself.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Looking at the crisscrossing gullies and ravines around each fire-beacon mound, they were countless times more formidable than any man-dug trench.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gazing further into the distance, the Forbidden Gully, with its long, perilous valley, twisted and turned mightily, connecting to the Qinling Mountains in the south and to the city fortifications in the north. The valley floor, several dozen li long, completely severed the east-west passage. Not only Li Zicheng — every general of the Chuang camp wore a grim expression. This Forbidden Gully was many times harder to assault than the Distant Watch Gully.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gu Junen’s excitement and smugness after seizing the Distant Watch Gully gradually faded. Looking at the uncertain, clouded faces around him, he forced a smile and said, “In former times, the Tang general Tian Lingzi garrisoned Tongguan with a hundred thousand troops, yet Huang Chao still slipped across the Forbidden Gully, circled to the West Pass, and ultimately seized the city, driving straight on to Chang’an. Your servant’s research indicates that Huang Chao circled from Shimen Pass to Tongluochuan and then climbed straight up onto Xiyuan. This student believes we might go and have a look at that spot.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Zicheng nodded. That was all they could do. They rode along the gully’s edge, from time to time encountering a fire-beacon mound. But seeing the strict, vigilant guard on the mounds atop the ridges and knolls — where, besides arquebusiers, quite a few small cannons and large muskets were mounted — Li Zicheng and his party dared not approach too close.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They spurred their horses and rode several dozen li. As the Forbidden Gully was nearing its end, a tall, imposing city appeared before them. About two li across from them was the Lower South Gate of Tongguan Fortress, also called the “Welcoming the Sun Gate,” where the ground was flat and open. But the walls there were also extremely high and thick, estimated to reach four zhang, with every kind of bastion towering along them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Zicheng reined in his horse and gazed out. The walls snaked across the open plain. Northeast from the Lower South Gate lay the Upper South Gate, where the ground was slightly higher, the walls there still largely part of Mount Qilin. And about two li southeast of the Upper South Gate was a rather high tableland, its position commanding — it seemed one could look down from that height upon the entire Tongguan fortress.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>On that tableland stood a fort: Taojiazhuang Fort.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sun Chuanting, it seemed, also understood this fort’s importance. All the other forts across Nanyuan had been abandoned; only Taojiazhuang was instead heavily garrisoned.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Looking at the distant high, thick walls, the strict and vigilant guard, and the defenders’ soaring morale, a chill ran through Li Zicheng’s heart, and a restlessness rose from within. But then he consoled himself: compared to the bitter offensive and defensive battles of the previous days, this place was already far better — at least here he could bring into play the human-wave tactics he was best at.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He calculated inwardly: attacking only the Lower South Gate would make it hard to fully exploit his numerical advantage; the Upper South Gate must be assaulted simultaneously. Though the terrain there was more perilous, it was still better than attacking the East Gate or the Distant Watch Gully.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Of course, Taojiazhuang Fort would have to be taken first; otherwise, an assault on the Upper South Gate would be caught in a pincer between the defenders of Taojiazhuang and those of the Upper South Gate.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet the restlessness in his heart lingered. Thinking back on the tenacity of the Distant Watch Gully defenders these past days and the uncertainty of the future, Li Zicheng hoped — could it be as Gu Junen had said, that there was a gap in the Ming defensive line, and that like Huang Chao he could slip across the Forbidden Gully, circle to the West Pass, and finally seize the city?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So after gazing at the city walls for a while, they came again to the tableland’s edge and looked down below.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Below them was a river valley. The waters of the Forbidden Gully and the Tong Gully merged to form the Tong River, which then flowed toward the South Water Pass. The river valley was not wide — only about a hundred-plus paces. Looking down from the tableland, the valley floor was both deep and narrow. The towering city wall descended westward from the Lower South Gate down the tableland, connected to the South Water Pass gate tower, then continued westward to link up with Mount Fenghuang.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then the wall wound southward along Mount Fenghuang for about two li, at its southernmost tip a tall, thick, solid tower-platform: that was Shimen Pass.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shimen Pass, together with the northernmost fire-beacon mounds of Tongluochuan, formed a narrow jaw, creating a tight defensive line…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Slip through here?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The hearts of Li Zicheng and his men sank steadily colder.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Never mind that taking Shimen Pass would be no easy task — even if by luck some men and horses got through, they would be enveloped and pincered by the defenders on the rear flank of Tongluochuan and on Xiyuan.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Moreover, the walls of Shimen Pass were part of the entire Tongguan fortress complex; it would be all too easy for the defenders to shift troops and redeploy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Zicheng remained speechless for a long time. The strict, vigilant defensive line before him was like a wall of bronze and iron, blocking all his ambitions.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was not only the perilous terrain and the solid defenses — most crucial was the defenders’ morale and confidence. It seemed the withdrawal from Distant Watch Gully had been merely part of their overall plan: contracting the defensive line, concentrating their forces. If battle were joined again, the process would perhaps be even more brutal, more protracted, more agonizing than the fighting at Distant Watch Gully.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And Li Zicheng was growing ever less confident that he could win, still less did he know how long he would have to grind on here once battle resumed. After all, Tongguan was not like the isolated cities he had taken in the past — they had all of Shaanxi backing them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>To fight or not to fight? The question, somewhat forgotten over the past two days, surfaced again unbidden in Li Zicheng’s mind.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Behind him, the generals were likewise silent. After a long while, Li Guo muttered, “What the hell is there left to fight for? Against a defensive line like this, are we supposed to lose another tens of thousands of men like at Distant Watch Gully?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Liu Xiyao said quietly, “It might be even more than that.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gu Junen wanted to say something, but looking at the faces of the assembled generals, in the end he could not utter a word.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>On the road back to camp, the entire party was silent. After a long while, Li Zicheng asked Gao Yigong, “How goes the fighting on Brother Liu’s route?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gao Yigong shook his head and sighed. “They reached Shangzhou and then could advance no further. The roads there are all small paths, hard to travel and even harder to fight on. Shangzhou is built between Mount Donglong and Mount Jinfeng, with the Dan River circling the city as a moat — hard to besiege, harder still to assault. Scouts report that Shaanxi Provincial Governor Feng Shikong is defending the city to the death. Brother Liu and the others have no strength left to advance.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gao Yigong oversaw the Old Camp troops and also managed the scouts. They were now separated from Liu Fangliang’s route only by the Qinling Mountains. Large bodies of troops could not easily cross, especially with baggage, but small parties of scouts could still get through without trouble.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Zicheng sighed. The generals remained silent. The last hope was severed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After returning to the Old Camp, Li Zicheng summoned Liu Zongmin alone. He asked, “Jiexuan, we are old brothers. Tell me your honest heart: should we still fight for this Tongguan city or not?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Liu Zongmin said, “Chuang Wang, if you insist on fighting, Old Liu here has nothing to say — I’ll certainly back you. But if you ask me, our righteous army is not skilled at storming strongholds; it’s best we fight on the move.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He went on, “If you really want to deal with Sun Chuanting, why waste time and effort battering against his stout walls? Think of Cao Wang… Taking Shaanxi sooner or later doesn’t matter — the place isn’t going anywhere. He can’t run away.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The bandit stream crossed the Distant Watch Gully in an endless flow, and within days would assault Tongguan Fortress and the Forbidden Gully. Sun Chuanting dared not be negligent. He again closely inspected the city and gully defenses, boosting everyone’s morale.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>On the afternoon of the thirteenth, he once more summoned all his generals to his field headquarters for a council. At the meeting, Sun Chuanting declared with firm resolve, “No matter how long we must hold, the bandits shall not set one foot past Tongguan Fortress. The city stands, we stand; the city falls, we fall. This Viceroy will share life and death with all you generals here!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Victory!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Whether officers of the local new army or of the Jingbian Army, all were fired with fervent zeal; they raised their fists and roared as one.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Men like Guyuan Regional Commander Zheng Jiadong also waved their fists with ferocious expressions. Under the new defensive arrangements, the bulk of their forces had been assigned to Xiyuan; in the brutal, bitter fighting to come, the new army would be thrown into the fray — this had restored no small measure of their confidence.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After the council dispersed, the Jingbian Army officers returned to their respective camps. Wu Zhengchun and Gao Xun walked together, talking about something, while Li Zhengjing walked with Zhao Rongcheng.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhao Rongcheng touched his face thoughtfully and said, “Viceroy Sun’s resolve is immense. It seems we’ll be staying here at Tongguan for quite some time.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Zhengjing said, “Of course. Viceroy Sun cannot retreat, and neither can we. Never mind for the elders of Shaanxi — just consider that Viceroy Sun borrowed several million taels of silver from the Grand General. If he is defeated, who’s going to repay that silver?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Behind them followed Squad Commanders Luo Liangzuo, Lai Dexiang, Chen Sheng, Han Kaihui, and others. Hearing Li Zhengjing’s words, every face showed keen interest — this kind of inside information was known only to senior officers like Li Zhengjing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Han Kaihui said, “Old Squad Commander, was it really several million taels of silver?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Zhengjing burst out laughing. “Of course it was…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He launched into an endless boast. Wen Shiyan listened nearby with a faint smile, casting a thoughtful glance beyond the city walls. If the bandits were to besiege the city for a long time, perhaps…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>On the fourteenth day of the fifth month, Li Zicheng suddenly held a grand reward ceremony for the three armies on Nanyuan, especially honoring those of merit. For their bravery and outstanding performance in battle, the Mountain Patrol Camp was specially rewarded with a thousand mules and horses and five thousand taels of gold and silver. Old Hu was also promoted from Martial Might General of the fifth rank to Resolute and Gallant General of the fourth rank.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And amid the white-tasseled black-banner flags fluttering thickly all around, within the layers of fierce cavalry encircling them, Old Hu also saw, for the first time up close, Li Chuang and his men, as well as the officers and generals beside him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But he had no time to think further. The joy of promotion and riches made him kowtow heavily: \"Many thanks to the Chuang King, many thanks to the Chuang King. This humble one will surely spare no effort in devotion and serve until death.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Guo beside Li Zicheng burst out laughing: \"Earth-Dragon Stomper, it seems you'll soon be able to enter the Old Camp.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Old Hu's face bloomed with laughter. He said, \"It all relies on the cultivation of the General of the System.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After bestowing rewards upon the officers and men, Li Zicheng stepped forward. He opened his mouth, his expression somewhat complicated. Finally, he spoke: \"Our Changyi Prefecture council has resolved to withdraw from Tongguan, shift into Henan, and besiege Kaifeng!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Chuang soldiers and officers around him were stunned for a moment, then an overwhelming roar of cheers erupted. They had long wanted to leave this cursed place.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Amid the crowd's cheering, Gu Junen's face was pale, his expression desolate. Niu Jinxing wore a slight smile, a hint of smugness flickering in his eyes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After the announcement, Li Zicheng and the others could not help but look toward the direction of Tongguan. It was this very place that had blocked their advance into Shaanxi.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Homeland, oh homeland. You exist only in dreams.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>……\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"The roving bandits have withdrawn?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>From late April to mid-May, this great battle had the entire Great Ming's attention, and Wang Dou was no exception. He also received the news the fastest. When the victory report reached Guihua City, he let out a huge sigh of relief and laughed, \"At least this investment wasn't wasted. It seems Sun Chuanting does have some skill after all.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>While delighted, he also felt some regret. Due to time, distance, provisions supply, and the potential issue of court suspicion over privately deploying troops, he had only been observing this campaign.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>However, the greatest factor in exterminating roving bandits is not fearing their gathering but fearing their dispersal. If Li Zicheng had besieged Tongguan for a long time, it might have stirred his mind to consider whether to take a gamble. But Li Zicheng left quickly, so Wang Dou let the matter drop. Perhaps the Chuang bandit was simply not fated to die at this time.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing Wang Dou's delight, his subordinates also beamed with joy. Zhong Susu smiled and said, \"As long as Viceroy Sun can hold out until next year, our Protectorate will be able to advance or retreat freely.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Dou nodded. According to intelligence, Li Zicheng had abandoned a hundred thousand famine victims and then led his troops to withdraw toward Kaifengfu, his great army tightly encircling Kaifeng City, once again playing the game of besieging a point to strike at reinforcements. The Staff Department's opinion was to hope that Sun Chuanting could, as much as possible, reorganize military preparedness in Shaanxi and increase his strength. Even if he were to march out of the pass, he should advance cautiously and consolidate positions, managing places like Luoyang as much as possible to solve the supply route problem.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet after this great victory, Sun Chuanting's prestige only grew higher. The Emperor would certainly not sit idly by and watch Kaifeng City fall. With the Great Ming having no other usable troops, besides transferring Sun Chuanting out of the pass, where else could relief forces come from?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Moreover, Sun Chuanting's character was sharp and stubborn, somewhat self-willed, and not a man of great patience. With Kaifeng in crisis, first, one feared he could not withstand the pressure from the court; second, one feared he might be dizzied by the fruits of victory, his self-confidence swelling, and rashly march out of the pass, causing a great disaster.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But under the current circumstances, Sun Chuanting should be able to tie down Li Zicheng for a period of time.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Not long ago, Wang Dou had also received news that the former Grand Tutor and Minister of War, Sun Chengzong, had passed away, dying a natural death. The court posthumously honored him as Grand Preceptor, with the posthumous name Wenzheng.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Upon receiving the news, Wang Dou felt some emotion. This outcome for Sun Chengzong was far better than the ending in history. Recalling his past interactions and experiences with Sun Chengzong, he decided to have the Foreign Affairs Department send personnel to Gaoyang to offer condolences, and at the same time pay respects again to the officers and soldiers who had died in battle at Julu.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>……\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>News of the great victory at Tongguan flew everywhere. When the victory report reached the capital, the capital seethed with excitement. The Chongzhen Emperor was even more overjoyed. He laughed heartily and said, \"Sun Chuanting has not failed Our expectations. Indeed, he can be entrusted with great responsibilities.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sun Chuanting had been \"acting outrageously\" in Shaanxi, and memorials impeaching him had piled up like mountains. It had always been the Emperor who withstood the pressure and held them without issuing a response. Now that the victory report had arrived, the Chongzhen Emperor deeply felt his own insight in recognizing talent. In his excitement, he immediately ordered an imperial decree of commendation and presented the victory at the Imperial Ancestral Temple.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Of course, those famine victims afflicted by the roving bandits would need the Shaanxi local authorities to figure out how to resettle on their own.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Under the great victory, the hundred officials likewise sent congratulatory memorials like clouds. At this moment, no one spoke of Sun Chuanting's faults anymore. However, some began to talk about how the Chuang bandits were again besieging Kaifeng, strongly advocating that Sun's forces march out of the pass as soon as possible to lift the siege of Kaifeng, with officials of Shaanxi origin being particularly numerous.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Chongzhen Emperor was also somewhat tempted, but he also knew that the new army in Shaanxi had just been trained and could not be moved lightly; they should act with caution.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Minister of War, Chen Xinjia, also strongly advocated that Sun Chuanting must not move lightly. He laid out the stakes, pointing out that if Sun Chuanting remained stationary in Shaanxi, the roving bandits would have worries about their rear whether they went north or south. If Sun's forces left Tongguan and advanced alone deep into enemy territory, should anything unforeseen happen, the consequences would be unimaginable.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He accused those Shaanxi-origin officials clamoring for Sun's forces to march out of using their neighbor's field as a drain. Many court officials agreed with Chen Xinjia's view.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Under this severe division, the Chongzhen Emperor grew even more hesitant. Although he harbored the fantasy that once Sun's forces marched out, they could annihilate the roving bandits in one sweep, he also knew that the roving bandits were currently too powerful to defeat and that more time should be given for Sun Chuanting to train troops, store provisions, and strengthen his power.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At the same time, someone impeached the Regional Commander Hou Xun, stating that since arriving in Kaifeng he had accomplished nothing, feared the enemy, and avoided battle, resulting in the roving bandits besieging Kaifeng again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thinking of Regional Commander Hou Xun, the Chongzhen Emperor also felt some resentment: \"An incompetent fool!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The reason the Chongzhen Emperor had appointed Hou Xun was, first, because Hou Xun was a native of Guide Prefecture in Henan and had a relatively good understanding of the situation there; second, because Hou Xun had shown kindness to Zuo Liangyu and could thus win over Zuo Liangyu's forces, which at the time were numerous and powerful.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Now that Zuo Liangyu was dead and the Bandit-Suppressing Garrison had vanished into smoke, after Hou Xun arrived in Kaifeng, he had only submitted one strategic memorial, advocating that the various viceroys and governors of Shaanxi, Baoding, Shandong, Fengyang, Huguang, and Huaixu should firmly defend their own territories, cutting off the bandits' escape routes, while he himself sat in command at Kaifeng, acting as circumstances dictated, ideally starving the roving bandits to death in Henan.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The memorial sounded good, but in essence it was a rehash of Yang Sichang's \"Ten-Sided Net.\" Nor would the roving bandits, as Hou Xun imagined, simply squat in Henan and starve of their own accord.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Moreover, this memorial also revealed Hou Xun's selfish motives. If the various territorial viceroys and governors failed in their defensive blocking, they would inevitably become scapegoats for him, Hou Xun. This further displeased the Chongzhen Emperor, who considered Hou Xun a crafty fellow who had failed his heavy trust.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hou Xun had been in Kaifeng for some time now. Not only had he accomplished nothing so far, but he had also allowed Kaifeng to be besieged again, which made the Chongzhen Emperor increasingly dissatisfied with Hou Xun.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Some court officials believed that Sun Chuanting should replace Hou Xun as Regional Commander, taking overall command of military affairs in Baoding, Shandong, Hebei, and other areas, and comprehensively controlling the bandit suppression campaign. The Chongzhen Emperor was somewhat tempted. He desperately needed a capable minister to serve as Regional Commander and organize effective blockades and extermination.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sun Chuanting appeared at a glance to be far stronger than that incompetent Hou Xun, especially after the news of the great victory at Tongguan arrived.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>However, he still restrained himself. At this moment, Kaifeng was besieged again. With a powerful enemy at hand, replacing Hou Xun would only cause unnecessary turmoil in Kaifengfu. To replace Hou Xun, it would only happen after Sun Chuanting's forces were ready and had lifted the siege of Kaifeng.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Kaifeng had to be relieved, but the Great Ming had no troops available. The Chongzhen Emperor thought it over and, besides issuing an edict for Sun Chuanting to intensify troop training, could only instruct Henan and other areas to organize local militias, granting amnesty and recording merits for landlord armed forces that had fortified their own stockades, hoping these forces could somehow help lift the siege of Kaifeng.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At this time, local bandits were rising everywhere in Henan. For instance, Liu Hongqi held Runing, Han Jiadi held Xuzhou, Li Jiyu held Dengfeng, Li Hao held Yuzhou, and Liu Xuan held Xiangcheng, each controlling several hundred li and commanding over a hundred thousand followers apiece. The total number of men and horses was not to be underestimated.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Chongzhen Emperor granted all those willing to accept amnesty the rank of Vice Regional Commander. In his imperial edict, he stated: \"The people of the local stockades have banded together to resist the bandits and defend their localities, a course far from their original intent. A special decree is hereby issued, dispatching officials to proclaim and instruct: pardon crimes and record merits. Whoever can capture and behead a false official shall be granted a post; whoever can seize bandits shall be given rewards; whoever can recover a city and present captives shall receive extraordinary promotion. The rest of their followers shall be organized into local militia, all to be trained together.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He also promulgated a reward schedule: whoever could capture Li Zicheng would be rewarded with ten thousand taels of silver and enfeoffed as a Marquis. Whoever could capture a subordinate of Li Zicheng would be rewarded with five thousand taels of silver, an official post of the highest rank, and hereditary privilege.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He further announced the exemption of land tax for five prefectures in Henan for three years, to embody the court's benevolent will.\u003C\u002Fp>",4316,"2026-06-03T14:06:27.906Z",1,"Novelzhen Translator","ecec4f84b907542929eea1cb18cf15428d1282b9e985619f0b7b655ffd871cc0","a-little-soldier-of-the-late-ming-border-army-chapter-813","a-little-soldier-of-the-late-ming-border-army-chapter-811",896,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fa-little-soldier-of-the-late-ming-border-army-cover.jpg"]