[{"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-874":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},1206163,1561,"Chapter 874: Three Sides","a-little-soldier-of-the-late-ming-border-army-chapter-874",874,"\u003Cp>With Leopard Strategy General Gao Shiyin leading the grand flanking strike against the Tatars, he commanded the Vermilion Bird Army’s central encampment and left encampment — one Grade-A encampment and one Grade-B encampment — plus a contingent each of Courser Cavalry and Hunter Cavalry, then the Central Army Cavalry’s right encampment of saber cavalry, along with one Grade-C rear encampment from the army and a portion of artillery and rocket troops, totaling roughly twenty thousand men.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With White Tiger Army Left Encampment Commander Gao Gui leading the grand flanking strike against the roving bandits, he commanded the White Tiger Army’s left encampment — a Grade-B encampment — plus two Grade-C encampments, one forward and one rear, from within the army, the Vermilion Bird Army’s right encampment, and additionally the Central Army Cavalry’s left encampment of saber cavalry, along with a portion of artillery and rocket troops, also totaling roughly twenty thousand men.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Their mission was to circle around and drive straight for the capital; after annihilating the roving bandits inside the city, they would leave a portion of troops to defend it, then close the city gates, while the remainder continued north to strike the roving bandits from the rear in a pincer attack.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This was the General Staff Department’s battle plan: the two hundred thirty thousand troops of the Border Pacification Army and allied forces were divided into six sections. Of these, three sections were relatively tightly integrated; only Sun Sanjie’s rear route and the two grand flanking strikes had larger unpredictable factors, because the distances were too great.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This plan was also the result of planning by Chief of the General Staff Wen Fangliang, Deputy Chiefs Zhong Susu, Zhong Diaoyang, and Gao Shiyin, Senior Staff Officers Qin Yi and Wen Shiyan, and a large group of ordinary staff officers. However, as intelligence on the roving bandits came in, Han Chao believed this proposal might be slightly adjusted.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He said: “Night Scouts have reconnoitered that yesterday the bandit commanders Liu Fangliang and Liu Xiyao already led part of their cavalry to Qinghe Depot. This morning, the bandit chieftain Li Zicheng personally led his main army forward. Intelligence also shows that the roving bandits have sent dispatches to their outer encampment troops stationed at Tongzhou, Liangxiang, Fangshan, Xianghe, and other places, ordering them to arrive in the Qinghe Depot area within three days — that is, before the shen hour on the nineteenth. Any who fail to arrive by that hour will all be executed.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He said: “However, the roving bandits march slowly, dragging their feet; many encampments may still not arrive even after the nineteenth. Intelligence indicates that their cavalry only scouts the left and right front areas around Qinghe Depot, completely ignoring the continuous mountain ridges to their west — perhaps they think our main army cannot form battle formations in that direction.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Han Chao pointed at the sand table and said: “So why should our army flanking the roving bandits wait until the battle begins to move? We can perfectly well set out one or two days early and lie hidden in ambush within the Western Hills beforehand.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pointing at the vast ridges within the Western Hills, Han Chao said: “Especially Cuifeng Mountain — it is only thirty li from the capital. Its eastern face has strange, steep terrain, shrouded by mist, clouds, forests, and trees, but its western and southern faces are gentle, called Pingpo Mountain and Wolong Ridge. Our main army can perfectly well hide within these mountains, and when the moment arrives, immediately strike out for the capital, entering the inner and outer cities through Fuchengmen and Guanganmen respectively.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He said: “By setting out early like this, the main army won’t have to march so urgently, which means we’ll need fewer horses and mules, or we can use the horses and mules to carry more cannonballs and rockets. Being close to the capital also lets us enter the city quickly to annihilate the roving bandits inside, to prevent any mishaps from a long delay.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He said: “This officer also believes that the troops flanking the roving bandits could be somewhat larger. The Central Army’s garrison force, totaling fifty thousand men, is overly abundant in strength; we could draw another ten thousand men to flank the roving bandits. That way, after seizing the capital, we could leave ten thousand men to hold the city, while another twenty thousand advance north — infantry and cavalry combined — and thus intercept more of the roving bandits, especially the roving bandits’ main camp.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Everyone fell into deep thought. Indeed, seeing how the roving bandits were dragging their feet and attending to one thing while neglecting the other, it was indeed possible to ambush and lie hidden early. That way, they would not need so many horses and mules, and they could also deliver more infantry in that direction.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Also, the troops flanking the Tatars could lie hidden early in the Jundou Mountains; that area was a jumble of overlapping ridges and peaks, with plenty of places to conceal troops.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Dou watched the sand table and listened to the discussion. Regarding the flanking strike against the roving bandits, Wang Dou inclined toward Han Chao’s opinion, but regarding the flanking strike against the Tatars, he needed more intelligence.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Although Dorgon had led his main army to Shunyi, and both the roving bandits and the Tatars had fully arrived, with the enemy’s movements on all fronts basically matching the General Staff’s conjectures, for more detailed responses he needed to see the specific deployments of the Tatars and the roving bandits. He decided to observe for one more day, and then the troops flanking the roving bandits could move out first.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Near noon on the seventeenth, Li Zicheng, bringing his various commanders and a vast, mighty column, advanced north. They traveled along the official road, passing the two post stations of Shibeipu and Shuangxianpu, and finally reached Qinghe Depot. They were basically all cavalry; the infantry would only arrive in the days to follow, and the artillery and wagon encampments would probably also arrive by tomorrow.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Their large body of troops passed through Qinghe’s southern town, crossed the Guangji Bridge, and finally reached Qinghe’s northern town.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This town had flourished because of the Qing River and was divided by the Qing River into a southern town and a northern town. Because it lay on the essential route from the capital to Juyong Pass, it had always been extremely busy, like Shadhe Depot and other places. However, at this moment, not a single resident remained in the town. Yesterday, when Liu Zeqing’s defeated troops fled past Qinghe Depot, the residents of the town had all scattered in turmoil, fleeing north into Changping.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When crossing the Guangji Bridge, Liu Fangliang and Liu Xiyao, who were garrisoning the northern town, hurried over to welcome him. This bridge was also a stone arch bridge, also called Qinghe Bridge, built in the fourteenth year of the Yongle reign of the Ming dynasty, and already very ancient. However, the bridge was not long, only thirty paces across.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Upon seeing the two men, Li Zicheng did not bother to rest and immediately asked for frontline battle reports. The two said that the Border Pacification Army’s cavalry had probed Qinghe Depot, but had all been repelled by them, and as their own cavalry increased, the enemy’s probes had become weaker and weaker.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They were garrisoned at Dang’er Ridge and Tangjialing Depot, ten li away. Their own side had attempted to go out and scout, but had likewise been repelled by them. Now the two sides were in a stalemate, neither able to do anything to the other.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Zicheng’s mind relaxed slightly. He had been constantly worried that Qinghe Depot would be taken. From the current situation, both at Changping and here, these were only the Border Pacification Army’s vanguard forces; their main force had probably just arrived or had not yet reached Changping Prefecture. This gave him ample time to prepare.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In his heart, he hesitated slightly, and another thought flashed through his mind: should he concentrate his forces and first devour these Border Pacification Army vanguard units?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But then he rejected the thought. This battlefield was the most suitable for the Great Shun Army. He worried that if he devoured these vanguard units, it might scare off the Border Pacification Army forces that followed. After all, his own main army had not yet fully arrived either. The current situation was the one most in the interest of the Great Shun Army.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Two or three li west of Qinghe Depot was Dongsheng Ridge, three li long from east to west and one li wide from north to south. The ridge was not high, but compared to the empty, flat surrounding wilderness, it offered good visibility. Li Zicheng, bringing his commanders and over a hundred riders of his personal cavalry escort, galloped up Dongsheng Ridge.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He spurred his horse atop the hill and gazed out. Before him stretched a vast plain, the land flat, the trees sparse, with almost no vegetation — only a few scattered trees along either side of the official road.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Looking around in all directions, there were no villages either, because this area was extremely short of water. There was only a Tangjialing Depot ten li away, and then, on the opposite side, that stretch of Dang’er Ridge, which was broader and higher.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He raised his eyes and watched for a while, seeing dozens of cavalry squads galloping back and forth across the plain. Judging by their armor, they were his own cavalry and the Border Pacification Army’s cavalry. He watched them chase each other, coming and going, fighting very fiercely, but after watching for a long time, Li Zicheng saw that their casualties were only a handful.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Nevertheless, Li Zicheng set his mind at ease. It seemed that although the Border Pacification Army was brave, they were not unmanageable.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They could easily defeat Liu Zeqing of the outer encampments, but when facing his own main camp troops, they appeared helpless.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They descended west from Dongsheng Ridge and rode along the banks of the Qing River. This Qing River was an important waterway thirty li north of the capital; it was said to originate from Yimu Spring in Changping Prefecture, then flow past Shuangta Depot, flow southeast to this point, then flow east to join the Sha River, and then enter the Bai River.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Qing River was not wide either, only twenty or thirty paces across, and the water was not deep; one could cross the river very easily by spurring a horse and wading across.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>However, traveling five or six li west from Dongsheng Ridge, lakes and springs gradually increased. One could occasionally see manors built by high officials and nobles, with traces of rice paddies around them. Further on, one saw the vast Fortune Sea, with large and small gardens all around; the most famous were Qinghua Garden and Shao Garden.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>One was built by Li Wei, Marquis of Wuqing and an imperial relative during the Wanli reign; because of its grand scale, it was acclaimed as “the foremost garden in the capital region.” The other was built by Mi Wanzhong, who channeled lake water from outside the eastern wall of Qinghua Garden; it was elegant and beautiful, taking the meaning of “a ladleful of Haidian.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The further west they went, the more gardens clustered together; pavilions, terraces, towers, and waterside halls shimmered in mutual splendor against the lake and mountain scenery.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But at this moment, with cavalry racing about and coarse, wild laughter rising unceasingly, the Shun Army troops advancing north all scrambled to be stationed by the lakeside. The various gardens in particular were their favorite; they galloped back and forth, hoofbeats thundering, and all trace of elegance vanished.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Zicheng remained silent and continued galloping west. Four or five li to the west were Wengshan Lake and West Lake; directly north of Wengshan Lake was Wengshan Hill.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Jin ruler Wanyan Liang had once established the Jinshan Traveling Palace here. Also, the Ming Xiaozong Emperor’s wet nurse, the Sage-Assisting Lady, had built the Yuanjing Temple in front of Wengshan Hill. The Ming Wuzong Emperor had also built a traveling palace by the lakeshore, called “Haoshanyuan.” During the Ming Xizong Emperor’s reign, Wei Zhongxian had seized Haoshanyuan for himself.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The gardens around Wengshan Hill were likewise very numerous. Also, west of Wengshan Hill was Hongshan Hill, and to the southwest was Yuquan Hill. Li Zicheng observed that the terrain in front of Hongshan Hill was gentle, about three or four li long from east to west, and thought to himself that this spot could indeed accommodate quite a few troops, who could then attack the Border Pacification Army’s positions from the left flank.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They spurred their horses past the front of Wengshan Hill and entered the flat plain between Hongshan Hill and Yuquan Hill. The flat area here was three or four li wide from east to west, and also three or four li from north to south.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Zicheng looked at the mountain ridge on the western side; it seemed rather gentle. He said: “Could we gather troops on the flat plain behind this Hongshan Hill, then climb over the ridge and circle around the Baiwang Mountain ahead?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Liu Fangliang said: “This officer once sent scout riders to investigate. It’s very easy — less than two li of climbing, and you enter the valley on the other side of the mountain, then emerge onto the open plain.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Zicheng nodded. There was one more place from which to attack the Border Pacification Army’s flank.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At the shen hour on the seventeenth day of the fourth month, around three to five in the afternoon, the vast and mighty Qing army crossed the Bai River via the pontoon bridge.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Dorgon spurred his horse and stood atop Mount Hunu, a few li from the riverbank, gazing out. The city of Shunyi on the opposite bank was clearly visible before his eyes. He saw that the county seat was not large, its walls roughly four li in circumference. At this moment, the roving bandits inside the city were holed up, not daring to come out, merely watching helplessly as his great army crossed the river.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Earlier, scout riders had reported that when the army’s vanguard arrived, roving bandit cavalry had come out of the city, seemingly intending to burn the pontoon bridge. They had been narrowly and perilously repelled by Suoerhenuo, the Niru Zhangjing of the Gebuxian Camp, which had made Dorgon break out in a cold sweat all over.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Although Suoerhenuo and others reported that there seemed to be another pontoon bridge on the river twenty li upstream from the Bai River, leading to Caohe Camp at the foot of Niulan Mountain opposite, having a bridge directly facing the city versus making a twenty-li detour to cross the Bai River and then marching another twenty li back to the city were two completely different concepts.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Building bridges was very arduous, especially building the kind of bridge that could support heavy cannons weighing several thousand jin. Fortunately, as the main army advanced, everything had still gone smoothly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He looked at the city of Shunyi on the opposite bank. Scout riders reported that the Border Pacification Army had seized Changping City yesterday, but they had not taken Shunyi City, seventy li away, nor had they taken Huairou City, also seventy li away. It seemed they did not want to disperse their forces.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“If you don’t want them, We will take them.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A smile appeared on Dorgon’s face. So far, everything was going smoothly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And at that moment, scout riders came to report that the bandit commander in Shunyi City, Liu Liangzuo, had come out of the city to surrender.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The smile on Dorgon’s face grew even wider.\u003C\u002Fp>",2645,"2026-06-03T14:06:27.906Z",1,"Novelzhen Translator","ec7403a8ba8be618fccd0499ef3209f5f5e7a56a119012006089c3116aab7c43","a-little-soldier-of-the-late-ming-border-army-chapter-875","a-little-soldier-of-the-late-ming-border-army-chapter-873",896,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fa-little-soldier-of-the-late-ming-border-army-cover.jpg"]