Chapter Three: Since We Are Here, Let Us Settle In

Fortunately, after Zhang Cheng transmigrated, the body he possessed was still in good condition.

This new body was not only tall and strong but also skilled in horseback archery and combat, even proficient in mounted swordplay and close fighting. Moreover, he held the rank of cavalry commander of a thousand troops. His uncle was Zhang Yan, the deputy commander of Xuanfu. Though this uncle he had acquired would soon fall alongside the loyal minister Lu Xiangsheng in the Battle of Julu, Zhang Yan’s patronage meant that Zhang Cheng’s cavalry unit was essentially his personal retinue. Their training was well maintained, their weapons and equipment adequate—considered excellent among the frontier troops of this era.

Furthermore, the original Zhang Cheng, whose body he had taken over, was an outstanding man. From childhood, he studied diligently and had even passed the preliminary imperial examinations as a student. At seventeen, after his father died and the family fell into hardship, he sought refuge with his uncle Zhang Yan, who was stationed as deputy commander in Xuanfu, and joined the military.

Coming from a military family, his father had also been a scholar, though he never succeeded in attaining official rank. Zhang Yan had intended to support his nephew’s continued studies of the Confucian classics, hoping he would bring honor to the family. However, after his father’s death, Zhang Cheng did not want to live idly at home. He pressured his mother and uncle, even resorting to a hunger strike to prove his resolve, finally gaining their consent to follow his uncle into the border troops.

Fortunately, raised in a military household, he was not only literate but had also trained tirelessly in horsemanship and weaponry, showing remarkable aptitude. By a young age, he was already skilled in mounted archery.

After enlisting, he took part in several battles, earning military merits multiple times. A capable leader who cared deeply for his men, he was beloved by his subordinates and thoroughly supported by his uncle Zhang Yan. As a result, he steadily rose through the ranks to become a cavalry commander of a thousand.

However, the original Zhang Cheng’s only flaw was his impulsive temper. He despised commanders and common soldiers who shirked their duties and often caused trouble, offending many. It was only through Zhang Yan’s protection that he was repeatedly spared from serious consequences.

One day in early July, the eleventh year of the Chongzhen reign, Zhang Cheng was drinking with his subordinate squad leaders in a tavern in town when they encountered an arrogant officer abusing his power. Unable to tolerate such a scoundrel who was good at bullying the innocent but poor at fighting, Zhang Cheng feigned drunkenness, took advantage of the situation to cause a scene, and thoroughly taught the officer a lesson.

Unexpectedly, the officer had powerful connections and reported the incident directly to Zhang Yan. Zhang Yan, who had high hopes for his nephew, originally only intended to sternly reprimand him, hoping Zhang Cheng would learn to temper his temper. But the punishment was too severe, and the original Zhang Cheng was beaten to death!

Thus, this unwitting transmigrant seized the opportunity to inhabit the excellent body and inherit the military post of cavalry commander. It took more than three months to fully recover the body, a testament to how harshly Zhang Yan had struck him.

Those months were the most agonizing days of Zhang Cheng’s life.

At first, he understood nothing of what had happened. Fortunately, having lived two lives, he did not panic but quietly observed and explored this strange new world, pondering silently.

Gradually, fragments of the original owner’s memories resurfaced. From his visiting subordinates, he learned about this world and the man whose body he now inhabited.

During this time, his uncle Zhang Yan kept him at home, tending carefully to this “false nephew,” and had not yet informed his widowed aunt.

Zhang Cheng took advantage of this to subtly extract information about himself from her. Pretending to be confused and forgetful, he often chatted with her, gently probing for all he could learn. Out of concern, she unwittingly shared every detail she knew.

At forty years old before transmigration, Zhang Cheng had long since come to terms with life’s hardships. Though memories of his parents and family haunted him, reality was what it was. Wishing alone was futile.

Now, he had to accept his circumstances, endure the pain of longing silently, and find a way to live strongly.

As his body gradually healed, he felt unusually robust, seemingly brimming with inexhaustible strength. He was not unfamiliar with archery, horsemanship, or battle formations—only his movements were slightly stiff and uncoordinated. Though others advised rest after his severe injury, he paid little heed.

Slowly, he accepted this new reality. After recuperation, he remained in the camp, training daily with his troops to become familiar with them, hoping to alter the outcome of the upcoming Battle of Julu.

He knew that entering the capital’s defense was inevitable. Even knowing it meant death, he had to go. Refusal would be treason, punishable by beheading and possibly implicating his family. He could only adapt, respond to each challenge, and take things step by step.

His greatest wish now was to return alive from Julu, preferably bringing some of his men back with him. That would give him the foundation to survive and establish himself in this world.

At present, his strength was too weak, lacking a solid base. Survival in the cruel world of late Ming was impossible otherwise, let alone changing this hellish reality.

For now, he could only go with the flow, striving to improve the outcome slightly, hoping that one day he would have the power to do what he deemed right.

...

Shortly after noon, from afar, dust stirred as five riders on swift horses galloped toward the hillock.

Soon, Zhang Guangda, leader of the left sentry squad, rode up to Zhang Cheng, dismounted, and reported, “Commander, the vanguard of Minister Lu’s army is less than ten li from here.”

“Good. Order the troops to assemble. We ride out to greet Minister Lu and the generals,” Zhang Cheng said, mounting his horse.

The guards stationed at the mountainside also mounted swiftly, their movements agile and coordinated, riding in formation behind Zhang Cheng as they descended the hill.

Zhang Cheng rode to the side of the official road, waiting for the left sentry’s cavalry to form up.

Soon, all the riders were mounted and in formation, two squads totaling over two hundred elite cavalrymen standing solemnly behind Zhang Cheng. Zhang Guangda remained at his side.

“Order the squads to clear the main road,” Zhang Cheng commanded.

At his order, the cavalry gathered in one place, over two hundred sharp-eyed horsemen standing at attention behind him.

Zhang Cheng instructed Zhang Guangda, “Guangda, when the main army arrives, lead your squad ahead as guides.”

With that, he spurred his horse and led his twenty guards to gallop toward the advancing armies from Xuanfu, Shanxi, and Taiyuan coming to reinforce the capital’s defenses.