Chapter 32: with translation of chapter title

Qing soldiers saw their commander flee and had already lost the will to resist.

Translation: Qing Army soldiers, seeing their commander flee, had long lost any will to resist.

had long lost the will to resist

They discarded helmets and armor, scattered in flight, even pushing and trampling each other, with countless numbers crushed by their own comrades or horse hooves.

Translation: They discarded helmets and armor, fled in all directions, even pushing and trampling each other, with countless numbers trampled to death by their own comrades and horse hooves.

Defeat collapsed like a mountain!

Translation: The army collapsed like a falling mountain!

Jia Jing was not far from Ji Du; moreover, the Qing camp was full of obstacles at that time, so Ji Du could not quickly break out of the encirclement.

Translation: Jia Jing was not far from Ji Du to begin with, and moreover, the Qing camp was full of obstructions at this time, so Ji Du could not quickly break out of the encirclement.

In just a moment, Jia Jing caught up from behind; seeing his personal guards being slaughtered one by one, Ji Du realized he could not escape!

Translation: In just a moment, Jia Jing caught up behind him, and seeing his personal guards being slaughtered one by one, Ji Du knew he could not escape!

"I surrender!"

Translation: "I surrender!"

Ji Du shouted loudly, begging for mercy.

Translation: Ji Du shouted loudly! Wanting to beg for mercy.

In response came a black spear‑light of extreme speed!

Translation: In response came a black spear-light of extreme speed!

Ji Du sensed the breath of death; countless thoughts flashed through his mind in an instant, he turned to dodge, but there was no way to evade!

Translation: Ji Du sensed the aura of death, countless thoughts flashed through his mind in an instant, he turned to dodge, but there was no way to dodge!

He felt everything before him spinning, heaven and earth inverted, even seeing his own headless body.

Translation: He felt everything before him rolling over, heaven and earth inverted, and he even saw his own headless body.

There was also a Han junior officer staring coldly at him, his spear dripping fresh red blood.

Translation: Moreover, a Han Army junior officer stared at him coldly, fresh red blood dripping from the spear in his hand.

Heaven and earth fell into endless darkness.

Translation: Heaven and earth fell into endless darkness.

Ji Du died!

Translation: Ji Du died!

Beheaded by Jia Jing's spear!

Translation: Beheaded by Jia Jing's spear!

He died a miserable death!

Translation: He died a miserable death!

Seeing their commander dead, the Qing troops' morale plummeted to the bottom, and they no longer had any thought of resistance.

Translation: And seeing their commander dead, the Qing Army's morale plummeted to rock bottom, with no thought of resistance.

Some fled in panic, while others knelt on the spot to surrender.

Translation: Some fled in panic, while others knelt on the spot to surrender!

"Kill!" After killing Ji Du, Jia Jing did not stop; he continued leading the Han cavalry in the assault.

Translation: "Kill!" After killing Ji Du, Jia Jing did not halt his steps, but continued leading the Han Army cavalry in the charge!

Although the situation was already decided and only mopping‑up remained, Jia Jing would not let his guard down.

Translation: Although the overall situation was already decided, and what followed were merely mopping-up operations, Jia Jing would not let his guard down.

Countless Qing troops fled, but the Han sword did not cease; only the corpses of the Qing could serve as the best sacrifice for the innocent Han civilians slaughtered.

Translation: Countless Qing troops were fleeing, but the Han Army's slaughter did not cease; only the corpses of the Qing could serve as the finest offering for the innocent Han civilians slaughtered unjustly!

After an hour,

Translation: After an hour,

The battle gradually ceased; at least there was no sound of resistance left in the Qing main camp.

Translation: only then did the battle gradually cease, at least within the Qing Main Camp there was no longer any sound of resistance.

Only scattered fleeing Qing troops were being pursued by Zhu Que's forces.

Translation: Only scattered fleeing Qing troops were being pursued by the army led by Zhu Que.

Jia Jing led his men silently through the blood‑stained camp, his face showing nothing but endless coldness.

Translation: Jia Jing led his men silently through the camp dyed red with blood, his face showing nothing but endless coldness.

"General, our forces suffered over a thousand casualties! The enemy lost more than fifteen thousand killed, over eight thousand surrendered, the rest scattered, and General Zhu Que is now encircling and chasing them."

Translation: "General, our forces suffered over a thousand casualties! The enemy lost over fifteen thousand killed, over eight thousand surrendered, the rest fled, and General Zhu Que is now leading men to encircle and pursue them."

After cleaning the battlefield, Han Qi came to report the casualties to Jia Jing, his tone somewhat excited.

Translation: After Han Qi finished cleaning the battlefield, he came to report the battle losses to Jia Jing, his tone somewhat excited.

In his view, inflicting over a thousand losses while defeating an enemy of thirty thousand and annihilating more than fifteen thousand

Translation: In his view, being able to inflict over a thousand casualties while defeating an enemy force of thirty thousand and annihilating over fifteen thousand of them,

was simply more glorious than the great victory outside Jinzhou against Fei Yanggu.

Translation: was nothing short of a victory more glorious than the great defeat of Fei Yanggu outside Jinzhou City.

This is because the battle outside Jinzhou against Fei Yanggu was a face‑to‑face field engagement.

Translation: This is because the war outside Jinzhou City against Fei Yanggu was a face-to-face field battle.

Whereas this battle was a night surprise attack, unexpected, and with Jia Jing leading the Xuanjia Army in the charge, which greatly reduced Han casualties.

Translation: Whereas this battle was a nighttime surprise attack, unexpected, and with Jia Jing leading the Xuanjia Army in the vanguard, it greatly reduced the Han Army's casualties.

"Hmm!" Jia Jing replied, indicating he understood.

Translation: "Mm!" Jia Jing replied with an affirmative sound to indicate he understood!

He did not consider this a great victory.

Translation: He did not consider this a great victory.

Know that the Xuanjia Army is a formidable force capable of destroying ten thousand with three thousand.

Translation: You must know that the Xuanjia Army is a formidable force of three thousand capable of routing a hundred thousand.

Moreover, there is no need to mention his personal martial prowess and the advantage of the night ambush.

Translation: Not to mention his martial prowess bolstering them, and the advantage of the nighttime surprise attack.

One could say this battle had favorable timing and harmony, while the terrain offered no advantage to either side.

Translation: One could say this battle had favorable timing and harmony on our side, while neither side held geographical advantage.

Therefore, victory was foreseeable.

Translation: Therefore, victory was foreseeable.

Yet it was unexpected that the Han forces still suffered over a thousand casualties; these Han cavalry were still somewhat weak against the Tartars.

Translation: Yet it was unexpected that the Han Army still suffered over a thousand casualties; these Han cavalry were still somewhat weak against the Tatars.

Fortunately, after this battle the surviving Han cavalry gained several degrees of bravery and confidence.

Translation: Fortunately, after this battle, the surviving Han cavalry all gained a bit more valor and confidence.

Believe that if he leads them to win a few more battles, they will become true elite cavalry.

Translation: Believe that as long as I lead them to win a few more battles, they will become true elite cavalry.

"General, how should we handle the prisoners?" Han Qi asked.

Translation: "General, how should we handle the prisoners?" Han Qi asked.

Although Jia Jing had said in Zuohua City that he would kill all invading enemies and use their heads to honor the spirits of the dead,

Translation: Although Jia Jing had said in Zunhua City that he would slaughter all invading enemy troops and use their heads to sacrifice to the departed souls,

after all there were still over eight thousand Qing prisoners who had surrendered,

Translation: but after all, there were still over eight thousand Qing Army prisoners who had surrendered,

if they were all killed, there would likely be criticism at court.

Translation: if they were all killed, there would likely be objections at court.

The Han dynasty had never before carried out such a large‑scale slaughter of surrendering troops; some scholars and guardians of the Dao would probably condemn Jia Jing.

Translation: The Han Dynasty had never before seen such a large-scale slaughter of surrenderers! Some literati and Daoist guardians would probably criticize Jia Jing.

"This battle needs no prisoners!"

Translation: "This battle needs no prisoners!"

"Cut off their heads to sacrifice to the souls of our Han people wronged! Defend the honor of our Han!"

Translation: "Chop off their heads to offer as sacrifice for the grievous souls of our Da Han people! Defend the glory of our Da Han!"

"Forge the fame of our Han army with their blood! Let no foreign tribe dare to invade our borders again!"

Translation: "Forge the prestige of our Han Army with their blood! Let those foreign tribes henceforth never dare to invade our territory!"

"Kill!"

Translation: "Kill!"

Jia Jing's words echoed between heaven and earth; this time he wants to use iron‑blooded means to intimidate all foreign peoples.

Translation: Jia Jing's words echoed between heaven and earth; this time he intends to let his iron-blooded methods intimidate all foreign peoples.

He wants to warn all foreign peoples that the Central Plains will never allow them to encroach!

Translation: He wishes thereby to warn all foreign peoples that the Central Plains will never allow them to lay hands upon it!

Han people must not be humiliated!

Translation: The Han must not be insulted!

…………

Translation: …………

Shenzheng City,

Translation: Shenjing City,

Because of the Qing's sudden invasion, the atmosphere in Shenzheng City also became tense.

Translation: due to the Qing Army's sudden invasion, the atmosphere in Shenjing City also became tense.

From civil and military officials to royal relatives, down to the common folk, everyone felt a sense of fear.

Translation: From civil and military officials, royal relatives, down to the common folk, everyone felt a degree of fear!

After all, the Qing this time crossed the Great Wall and marched straight toward the capital, coming dangerously close.

Translation: After all, this time the Qing Army crossed the Great Wall and marched straight toward the capital, coming too close to them!

They also feared the Qing would march straight in, reach the walls of Shenzheng City, and even breach the capital.

Translation: They also worried that the Qing Army would advance unimpeded, reach the walls of Shenjing City, and even breach the capital.

Then the Han would be on the brink of extinction!

Translation: Then the Da Han Empire would be not far from destruction!

Many civil and military officials had already begun secretly preparing an escape route.

Translation: Many civil and military officials had even secretly begun preparing escape routes!

I heard even the retired emperor in the palace wants to go on a southern tour!

Emperor Jing Sheng ordered the Nine Gates tightly shut, and the Ti cavalry patrolled nonstop all day, fearing Qing Army spies might slip in.

But soon Shenjing lifted the martial law, and everyone felt relieved.

Early August,

From the northwest came an urgent dispatch: Piao Yao, the Middle Colonel, led Jia Jing with the Da Han Empire Iron Cavalry, launched a night raid on the camp, and utterly crushed the Qing Left Route Army of 30,000, annihilating them!

Ten days later, mid‑August,

Again from the northwest came a report: Piao Yao, the Middle Colonel, led Jia Jing with the Da Han Empire Iron Cavalry, fought a field battle outside Miyun City against over 10,000 Qing Right Route vanguard, greatly defeated them and killed countless enemies!

A few days later, on August 21,

Yet another report from the northwest: Piao Yao, the Middle Colonel, led the Da Han Empire Iron Cavalry in a ploy to lure the enemy deep, and utterly destroyed over 30,000 Qing Right Route troops!

By the end of August, the remaining Zhong Lu force of over 20,000 was also besieged by Jia Jing's army inside Jizhou City; the lone fortress was doomed to fall.

Three successive inspiring victory reports arrived, restoring the bustle in Shenjing.

The court, to soothe the people and boost morale, widely publicized the reports throughout the city.

Throughout August, the only topic in Shenjing was Jia Jing.

In just one month, the name became almost known to every household in Shenjing.

Everyone knew that the Rong Guogong household had produced another invincible great general.

The Manchu bandits he killed in a month had already exceeded 80,000, and counting the earlier defeats at Jinzhou City and Fei Yanggu, the total surpassed 110,000.

The Qing's 150,000‑strong army this time was more than half annihilated by him alone.

Some in Shenjing called Jia Jing the "Da Han Champion Marquis"!

At first, a surrender faction in the court did not believe Jia Jing could achieve such results; they thought the Qing army of ten thousand could not be defeated and could never suffer repeated defeats at the hands of the Han Army.

Only after frontline intelligence gradually confirmed that the heads of over ten thousand Qing soldiers and the skulls of Qing commanders such as Fei Yanggu and Ji Du were sealed and sent to Shenjing did the entire court truly fall silent.

As a result, Jia Jing was ennobled again, his title raised to First Rank Count and his official rank to Senior Fourth Rank.

Such a young Senior Fourth Rank senior military officer made the whole court take notice.

It is said that Emperor Jing Sheng originally intended to confer a marquisate on Jia Jing, but ministers' remonstrances blocked it!

Yet everyone knows that granting a marquisate is only a matter of time, for the current Qing commander, the Kangxi Emperor's eldest son Yin Ti, has already been surrounded by Jia Jing.

Once the final 20,000 Qing troops are completely defeated and the Qing crown prince captured, the road to a marquisate will be unimpeded.

Being ennobled as a marquis at twenty years old for military merit is a case only seen in Da Han's founding era.

This is truly unbelievable!

………