[{"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-89":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},1205378,1561,"Chapter 89: Volume Three: Shunxiang Fort Garrison Commander — Chapter Eighty-Nine: Xu Yue'e's Spear Technique","a-little-soldier-of-the-late-ming-border-army-chapter-89",89,"\u003Cp>Volume Three: Shunxiang Fort Garrison Commander — Chapter Eighty-Nine: Xu Yue'e's Spear Technique\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The crowd clustered around Wang Dou and the others as they entered the fort. Inside, the houses were orderly, the mountain-stone streets and lanes spotless, still as neat as before. The military households walking about in the fort were also ruddy-cheeked, their expressions leisurely.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Dou nodded with emotion — this was his true home.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In truth, life for the military households of Jingbian Fort was still peaceful and happy. The fort had public bathhouses and public latrines, maintaining hygiene and cleanliness. It had a stage and temples, so in idle times they could watch plays and worship the gods. Each person had farmland, future tax grain was not heavy, and their family's sons were mostly officers in the various forts. After every seizure of spoils, they brought back large quantities of grain and rice, enough to let their families live well. Especially since this was the place where Wang Dou had risen to prominence, the military households in the fort all had a sense of superiority — this place was the very root of Shunxiang Fort!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The only shortcoming was that the fort lacked a bit of human bustle, its hollowing-out severe. But now that one hundred new military households had been transferred here, it would soon grow lively again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The party arrived at the Company Commander's official hall in front of Jingbian Mound. This was where Wang Dou had lived before; now it was Zhong Diaoyang's office, and he usually lived in the rear residence as well. The few elderly military households and sturdy women who had originally served the Wang household remained in the residence to clean, receiving a fixed monthly stipend of grain.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Looking at the place where he had once lived, Wang Dou was also full of feeling. Fragments of his past life and work here flickered through his mind — he recalled his struggles and efforts at Jingbian Fort back then, building it up brick by brick, tile by tile, from nothing. Thinking and watching, he could not help but grow somewhat entranced.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Han Chao and Han Zhong seemed to share the same sentiment. The two followed behind Wang Dou, also sighing endlessly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Those few elderly military households and sturdy women in the residence were just cleaning. Seeing Wang Dou and the others enter, they were all delighted: \"My lord, you have returned?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Dou smiled and greeted them, then instructed the guards beside him to present some wine, meat, cloth, and silk. They all accepted with surprise and delight. Then they hurriedly said: \"My lord has returned — we must quickly tidy up the rooms so my lord can rest.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After exchanging a few words with them, Wang Dou and the others returned to the main hall.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Dou sat at the head seat. Zhong Diaoyang, Qi Tianliang, Zhong Rong, Han Chao, and Han Zhong sat in two rows to either side below. Old brothers meeting, they had endless words to say.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Han Zhong said to Zhong Diaoyang: \"Old Zhong, you have it easy. Staying here at Jingbian Fort, leisurely every day — not like us few, toiling ourselves half to death all day long.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhong Diaoyang smiled faintly: \"Brother Han the Second, then you stay at Jingbian Fort, and I'll take over leading your picket of troops?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Han Zhong hastily waved his hands: \"No, no, I'd rather stay tired. Staying at Jingbian Fort with nothing to do all day — wouldn't I grow sick from boredom?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Everyone laughed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Dou smiled faintly: \"Soon my cousin will have to toil as well. Once those one hundred military households are transferred here, they must likewise be organized into military units and drilled. There will be no more leisurely days.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Dou said: \"Jingbian Fort must also train one picket of troops, selecting able-bodied men from the newly arrived military households. If the numbers are insufficient, some male laborers will be supplemented from Shunxiang Fort. The three squads of troops originally left at Jingbian Fort can all be appointed as officers.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Dou calculated again and again. After the new military households were transferred to Jingbian Fort, inside and outside the fort there would be over two Company Commander, more than a thousand people. With many household males and a large fort — and it being his own home base — without one picket of troops to guard it, Wang Dou worried for Jingbian Fort's safety. He gritted his teeth and still decided to organize and train one more picket of new troops. That way, counting Shunxiang Fort and Jingbian Fort together, he would have a total of five pickets of new infantry and one cavalry squad — roughly over thirteen hundred troops.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhong Diaoyang was overjoyed and said: \"That is excellent news.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At last he too could lead one picket of over two hundred troops, not merely those three squads of thirty-odd men. Zhong Diaoyang also had ambitions and was naturally unwilling to simply retire at Jingbian Fort.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Dou said: \"This picket of troops at Jingbian Fort must be trained. Any shortfall in grain, rice, weapons, and equipment, I will have Lin Daofu of Shun Fort transfer over.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhong Diaoyang was even more delighted and loudly expressed his thanks.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Next, Zhong Diaoyang and Qi Tianliang reported recent affairs within the fort to Wang Dou. Unlike Zhong Diaoyang, Qi Tianliang was quite content at Jingbian Fort. He had no great ambitions; with his current status and position, he was already satisfied. Although he was literate, his learning was limited. The military-farming registers were all kept by Zhong Rong. When Qi Tianliang had Zhong Rong hand over the registers, Wang Dou smiled faintly at Zhong Rong and said: \"Mr. Zhong, you have worked hard.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhong Rong had remained in the fort all along, assisting Zhong Diaoyang and Qi Tianliang with clerical and documentary affairs. Hearing Wang Dou say this, Zhong Rong hurriedly gave a deep bow: \"My lord's words are too kind. This is but this student's duty.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He looked well. He was the only scholar in Jingbian Fort; both Zhong Diaoyang and Qi Tianliang treated him with great respect. Zhong Rong lived very comfortably in Jingbian Fort.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Dou looked at him. Originally, Zhong Rong was the first scholar to follow him, handling affairs capably, and they had shared hardships together. Unfortunately, his rank was too low — transferring him to Shunxiang Fort would make it impossible for him to command the various clerks there. For now, he was still using Feng Dachang, the head clerk of Shunxiang Fort, quite smoothly. He would consider it later, to see if there was an opportunity to promote him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Dou leafed through the registers. Qi Tianliang, afraid Wang Dou might not recognize his contributions, stood to the side supplementing the details.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>By early August of the eighth year of Chongzhen, the Jingbian Fort military-farming registers recorded over three thousand mu of farmland. The initial fifty-five military households who joined Jingbian Fort in the seventh year of Chongzhen had each been allotted forty mu of land. The thirty-odd military households who joined in early eighth year of Chongzhen had each been allotted twenty mu of farmland. Only the sixty-odd military households who joined in mid-eighth year of Chongzhen had not yet received farmland.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>However, during the time after Wang Dou left, from late eighth year of Chongzhen to early ninth year of Chongzhen, Qi Tianliang had led the fort's military households to newly reclaim over eighteen hundred mu of farmland. The thirty-odd military households who joined in early eighth year of Chongzhen were allotted another twenty mu of farmland, so now they too had forty mu of land to pass down in the family.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Those sixty-odd military households living outside Jingbian Fort who joined in mid-eighth year of Chongzhen were likewise allotted twenty mu of farmland. Now every military household inside and outside Jingbian Fort had farmland to pass down. Everyone rejoiced.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Not only that, Qi Tianliang had also led the fort's military households to restore the livestock farm that had been burned down by roving bandits the previous year. And Jingbian Fort's landmark, the Lanzhou great waterwheel, had likewise been rebuilt.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Looking at the registers, Wang Dou nodded. Qi Tianliang handled affairs capably; the results he produced were all very notable.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He closed the register and said: \"Not bad, Old Brother Qi. You have worked hard. You have done very well.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Qi Tianliang's face bloomed with smiles. He said repeatedly: \"It was my duty, my duty. This is but this humble one's duty, my duty.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Dou said: \"Now another one hundred military households are being transferred to Jingbian Fort. Old Brother Qi, you will have to work hard again, likewise leading them to reclaim new wasteland.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Although the Qing troops would come in the latter half of the year, at least the farmland could be reclaimed first, and planted after the Qing troops withdrew. That was how it was at the frontier passes — after bitter fighting, life still had to go on, always snatching food from the tiger's jaws amid the flash of blades.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Qi Tianliang said: \"My lord, leading the new military households to open wasteland and farm is no problem, only there is no more wasteland around Jingbian Fort that can be reclaimed.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>From the seventh year of Chongzhen to the ninth year of Chongzhen, Jingbian Fort had already reclaimed nearly five thousand mu of wasteland. All the reclaimable land in the surrounding area had been swept clean.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Dou said calmly: \"It's nothing. Just lead the military households and reclaim eastward. If anything comes up, just come and inform me.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Going eastward, that area was already under the jurisdiction of Wubao. There was plenty of wasteland there — rather than letting it lie barren, better to put it to use himself. As for any future conflict between himself and Yang Zhichang, the Garrison Commander of Wubao — what did Wang Dou have to fear?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After the midday banquet, Wang Dou again led everyone on a walk through Jingbian Fort. He also climbed up onto the high mound platform of Jingbian Mound to take a look.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The view from the mound platform was vast. A gentle breeze slowly brushed past, carrying a hint of coolness.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gazing into the distance, there was not the slightest sign of smoke or fire from any of the mound platforms. Yet Wang Dou stared fixedly toward the northeast, lost in thought, silent for a long while.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was now the fourth month of the ninth year of Chongzhen. According to Wang Dou's understanding of history, the Later Jin Khan Huang Taiji should have proclaimed himself emperor by now, right?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>On the sixth day of the third month of the ninth year of Chongzhen, Later Jin changed the Literary Office into the Three Inner Courts. On the eleventh day of the fourth month of the ninth year of Chongzhen, the Later Jin Khan Huang Taiji proclaimed himself emperor, changed the reign title to Chongde, changed the dynastic name to \"Great Qing,\" changed the ethnic name to \"Manchu,\" and set the capital at Shenyang. The enthronement ceremonies lasted over twenty days. The rites largely imitated Han Chinese institutions.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After proclaiming himself emperor, Huang Taiji strictly ordered that the hair, dress, and headwear of the Han people within his territory all conform to the Manchu style.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In his edict, he stated: \"We have read history and know that Emperor Shizong of Jin was truly a worthy ruler. During the time of Emperor Xizong and Wanyan Liang, they entirely abandoned the old institutions of Taizu and Taizong, indulging in pleasure without restraint. When Shizong ascended the throne, fearing his descendants would imitate the Han people, he admonished them not to forget the ancestral ways and to practice riding and archery. Later generations failed to observe this, leading to their demise. Our nation is skilled in riding and archery; in battle we conquer, in attack we seize. In the past, Bakeshi Dahai and others repeatedly urged Us to change Manchu clothing to follow Han institutions. We hold that wide robes and long sashes will surely cause the abandonment of riding and archery. While We live, how could there be any change? We fear that later descendants will forget this, abandon riding and archery, and imitate the Han people — this is cause for deep concern. You all must carefully remember this.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Not long after proclaiming himself emperor, Huang Taiji intensively planned the invasion of the Great Ming. The entire Qing state believed that the Great Ming was now beset with internal troubles, especially with the roving bandits running rampant — this had helped them greatly. If they did not seize this opportunity to invade, when should they? Once the Great Ming caught its breath, there would be no more advantages to exploit.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After the Later Jin rose to power, they had seized vast lands and wealth from the Great Ming, which also fed their greedy mentality.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Huang Taiji once said smugly: \"We now dwell in Shenyang. Did the lands of Liaodong originally belong to us? They were obtained through conquest!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Very soon, a military invasion on the scale of one hundred thousand men would spread across the northern regions of the Great Ming. For this invasion, he had begun preparing two years ago. Relying on his knowledge of history, he had done his utmost to expand his power and make defensive preparations. But whether he could weather this trial when the time came — he himself did not know.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As Wang Dou was lost in thought, Qi Tianliang stepped forward and said: \"My lord, the wind is strong on the mound. Shall we go down?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then, as if offering a treasure, he added: \"The pigs and sheep at the livestock farm outside the fort are raised quite well now. Would my lord like to take a look?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The previous year, that livestock farm beside the Jingbian Fort Hundred-Household Canal had been burned down by roving bandits. After Qi Tianliang led the fort's military households to restore it, they had also roughly built an outer enclosing wall, about one meter high, fencing in the pigsty, fishpond, duck pen, and chicken coop. As for those vegetable plots, they remained outside the enclosing wall.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At present, inside the Jingbian Fort livestock farm, several dozen Jingbian Fort women and some elderly and weak men labored within. There were also some Jingbian Fort children herding ducks and sheep there.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The livestock farm was managed by Madam Tao. Smiling broadly, she led Wang Dou and the others inside. The pigs had long since been fed and were merely resting one by one in the pigsty. Compared to the previous year, these pigs had grown much larger. In a few more months, they would be just right to eat, to reward the officers and soldiers who killed the enemy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Dou nodded repeatedly as he looked. The livestock farm was permeated with a certain smell, quite unpleasant, but for someone like Madam Tao who was long accustomed to it, she felt nothing at all.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At that moment the livestock yard was nearly empty. Madam Tao looked left and right and said, “Those lazy women — who knows where every last one of them has run off to. My lord, allow me to go find them and have them come out to receive you.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Dou smiled faintly. “Never mind. There’s nothing much to do in the afternoon anyway; let them rest.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Dou and his group strolled casually through the livestock yard, commenting on the chickens, ducks, pigs, fish, and so on as they walked. Suddenly a wave of cheers came from the right. Curious, they followed the sound, passed over a slope, and saw on a level patch of ground below several dozen women standing there, every one of them clapping and cheering.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A few of the women even held spears and staffs in their hands. One of them called out to a person in the center, “Yue’e, put some more into it! You’ve already hit seven times — one more thrust and that’ll be eight!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Already hit seven times?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Dou and the others were all astonished. They looked down together and saw a woman standing in the center, holding a long spear in her hands. From the way she stood sideways and raised the spear, it was the standard spearman thrusting technique of the Shunxiang Army.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Looking more closely at the woman’s face and build, they recognized Xu Yue’e. By now the hand gripping her spear was already trembling a little, her face drenched in sweat, her hair disheveled, yet her expression was resolute. She was staring intently at a wooden board twenty paces ahead, on which several positions — eyes, heart, and so on — had been crudely marked with lime.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Abruptly she gave a light shout, charged forward at speed, and when she reached the board she yelled, “Kill!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The long spear in her hands thrust out and accurately pierced the spot marking the heart on the board.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The women in the yard roared with cheers like thunder.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Han Chao said in a deep voice, “Impressive skill!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Han Zhong’s eyes also widened. He said in astonishment, “This woman — she probably has the skill of an upper-middle-grade soldier!”\u003C\u002Fp>",2887,"2026-06-03T14:05:19.908Z",1,"Novelzhen Translator","5747546c6a0ecb8b8bc3f896c9582c425be1f0705828491168ce71719b39fdde","a-little-soldier-of-the-late-ming-border-army-chapter-90","a-little-soldier-of-the-late-ming-border-army-chapter-88",896,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fa-little-soldier-of-the-late-ming-border-army-cover.jpg"]