Chapter 226

Without me, you are nothing.

Translation: 【Without me, you are nothing】. Keep brackets? The Chinese line includes 【】. Should we keep them? The instruction: translate faithfully, keep same meaning, same information. The brackets are part of the text? They are likely emphasis marks. We should keep them as they are part of the line. So output: 【Without me, you are nothing】.

Without me, you all are nothing.

=> 【Without me, you all are nothing】.

Without me, this world...... is nothing.

=> 【Without me, this world...... is nothing】. Keep ellipsis.

This is precisely Du Shanu's unique arrogance.

=> This is precisely the arrogance unique to Du Shanü.

Yet oddly, when she speaks these words, whether in the past or present, nobody can doubt them.

=> But strangely, when she says these words, whether in the past or now, no one can fail to be convinced.

The only difference is that the former Du Shanu relied on the martial power of the Primordial War Crossbow.

=> The only difference is that the former Du Shanü relied on the martial power of the Yuan Chong Nu.

Primordial War Crossbow

Thus line 6: The only difference is that the former Du Shanü relied on the martial power of the Primordial War Crossbow.

But after a night of sweeping clearance, she now relies on Du Shanu's unmatched character and thunderous tactics.

=> But now, after a night of sweeping clearance, she relies on Du Shanü's incomparable temperament and thunderous methods.

If Yu Lue doesn't want to submit, then there's no need to submit.

=> Yu Lve doesn't want to submit, so there's no need to submit.

If Ouyang Yan has his own thoughts, then let him have his own thoughts.

=> Ouyang Yan has his own thoughts, so let him have his own thoughts.

The two brothers were separated to different places, each holding the other hostage, each restraining the other.

=> The two brothers were separated into two places, each holding the other hostage, each restraining the other.

When no one had time to react, it seemed as if everything had already quietly settled into dust......

=> When no one had time to react, it seemed as if everything had already quietly settled into dust......

No, no!

=> No, no!

Ouyang Yan's already ashen face showed a hint of astonishment.

=> Ouyang Yan's face, already ashen as lime, showed a hint of astonishment.

No! Of course not!

=> No! Of course not!

How could everything possibly settle into dust?

=> How could everything possibly settle into dust?

This is completely different from what he originally imagined!

=> All of this is nothing like what he originally thought!

Ouyang Yan shuffled forward with hurried steps, rushed to Yu Lue's side, and interjected:

=> Ouyang Yan shuffled forward with hurried steps, quickly arriving beside Yu Lve, and interjected:

"Master, I truly haven't embezzled even a single copper coin......"

=> "My lord, in truth I really haven't embezzled a single copper coin......"

"I, I'm still useful! Spare me this once, and I can procure fine horses from the Great Qu Yue state for you! The horses of the southern frontier differ from those of the northern territories; though they aren't skilled at galloping charges nor particularly formidable, they excel at mountain terrain tactics......"

=> "I, I am still useful! Spare me this once, and I can procure fine horses from the Great Qu Yue State for you! The horses of the Southern Border and the Northern Territory differ; though they are not skilled at galloping charges nor particularly formidable, they excel at mountain terrain tactics......"

"I truly haven't embezzled...... I have good horses......"

=> "I truly haven't embezzled...... I have fine horses......"

Perhaps it's because last night's shock is still before my eyes, and I've been awake all night.

=> Perhaps it's because last night's shock is still before my eyes, and also because I've been awake all night.

Ouyang Yan clearly shows signs of mental fatigue; when he rambles, he can't help but get things mixed up.

=> Ouyang Yan clearly is somewhat mentally fatigued; when he rambles on, he can't help but get his words mixed up.

On Yu Lue's usually calm face, a hint of impatience appeared; he bowed again and clasped his fists, clearly unwilling to give up, wanting to interrupt once more to share what he had witnessed in Tancheng.

=> On Yu Lve's usually calm face, a hint of impatience appeared; he bowed again, clasping his fists, clearly unwilling to give up, wanting to interrupt once more to relate what he had seen and heard in Tancheng.

Both of them have lost yesterday's cluelessness, instead showing an eager rush to be first.

=> Both no longer had yesterday's recklessness; instead, they bore an air of eager competition.

However, by now, everything is already too late.

=> However, by now, everything is already too late.

Du Shanu is no longer merely annoyed with a certain person......

=> Du Shanü is no longer merely annoyed with a certain person......

but after this incident, she no longer feels any sense of belonging to the entire city of Cang Cheng.

=> but after this incident, she no longer harbors any sense of belonging to the entire Cang Cheng.

Whether it's Yu Lue's outside observations or Ouyang Yan's horse gang behind him.

=> Whether it's Yu Lve's outside reports or Ouyang Yan's horse gang behind him.

She actually......

=> She actually......

are no longer prepared to be used.

=> are no longer prepared to be used.

Yu Lue's investigative skill is indeed formidable, but gathering information is no ordinary task, and opportunities in battle are fleeting!

=> Yu Lve's talent for investigation is indeed formidable, but gathering information is no ordinary matter, and military opportunities are even more fleeting!

With his secretive nature, if we employ him, who knows whether he'll later reveal only half of any important information while hiding the other half?

=> With his secretive nature, if we employ him, who knows whether he'll later reveal only half of any important information while hiding the other half?

As for Ouyang Yan, the southern frontier mountain horses are indeed attractive.

=> As for Ouyang Yan, the Southern Border mountain horses are indeed genuinely attractive.

But this fellow can turn into a white-eyed wolf right under her nose, and transporting horses is a more important matter—who knows if he'll cause trouble again?

=> Yet this person, right under her nose, could turn into a white-eyed wolf; transporting horses is a more important matter—what if something else goes awry?

She had exhausted herself in the front, sending any good thing to Cang Cheng, only to find in the end that she was merely raising white-eyed wolves......

=> She had exhausted herself in the front, sending any good things to Cang Cheng, only to find in the end that she was merely raising white-eyed wolves......

Whoever took her place couldn't bear this resentment.

=> Whoever took her place couldn't swallow this anger.

Now Du Shanu doesn't merely suspect them; she's grown paranoid to the point of secretly wanting to abandon this city.

=> Now Du Shanü is not merely suspicious of them; she has become paranoid to the point of secretly wanting to abandon this city.

But abandoning a city is easy; retaking it is another matter entirely.

=> But abandoning a city is easy; retaking one is how difficult?

Therefore, when the argument between the two before her reaches its peak and her slight impatience reaches its height, what she actually thinks is——

=> Therefore, when the argument between the two before her reached its loudest, and her faint impatience peaked, what she actually thought was——

If only Chinu and Afang were here.

=> If Chinu and Afang were here, that would be great.

If Chinu and Afang were present, the situation would certainly not have developed to the point of arousing her suspicion, and they would surely be able to tell her many truths.

=> If Chinu and Afang were here, the situation would certainly not have developed to the point of arousing her suspicion, and they would surely be able to tell her many truths.

For example, how should other lords act when faced with such a situation?

=> For example, how should other lords act when faced with such a situation?

How should one handle prisoners, and how win over the remaining hearts?

=> How to handle prisoners, how to win over the remaining hearts?

For example, she has now torn away the last fig leaf, and the scene has become utterly embarrassing......

=> For example, she has now torn open the last fig leaf, and the scene has become utterly embarrassing......

If she were to dispose of that entire batch of old-timers, where should she go to find someone to take over Cang Cheng?

=> If she finishes dealing with that batch of old-timers, where should she go to find someone to take over Cang Cheng?

When the three of them gather, no matter the size of the matter, after a bit of muttering they will surely come up with an idea.

=> Three people gathered together, no matter the size of the matter, after a bit of murmuring, they will surely come up with an idea.

Even if they can't devise a plan, she can laugh and say, "If the sky falls, let Afang bear it first."

=> Even if they can't devise an idea, she could laugh and say, "If the sky falls, let Afang bear it first."

Afterward, Chinu will surely echo her words, and Afang will surely sigh hopelessly.

=> Afterwards, Chinu will surely echo her words, and Afang will surely sigh helplessly, weary of life.

Then, after the three have laughed, quarreled, and made a fuss, they can still settle the matter clearly.

=> Then, after the three have laughed, quarreled, and made a fuss, they can still settle the matter clearly.

Where else could it be that the more one investigates the affair, the larger it grows, while the more one probes the heart, the colder it becomes?

=> Where could it be like now, where investigating matters only makes them bigger, and probing hearts only makes them colder?

If it weren't for Yu Yi'ai still being in this city, she couldn't just abandon a mess and walk away; Du Shanu would likely immediately mount her horse and return to Dun City!

=> If it weren't for Yu Yiai still being in this city, she couldn't just abandon a mess and walk away; Du Shanü would likely immediately mount her horse and ride back to Dun Cheng!

Why bother worrying about Ouyang Yan's petty thoughts, or Yu Lue's belated submission!

=> Why bother managing Ouyang Yan's little thoughts, or Yu Lve's belated submission!

They still haven't realized that she has already decided not to use them anymore!

=> They still haven't realized, even now, that she has resolved never to use them again!

Du Shanu ignored the two's bickering, turned her gaze away, and happened to see the young clerk leading people out of the storeroom after finishing the inventory.

=> Du Shanü ignored the two's bickering, turned her gaze away, and happened to see the young clerk leading people out from the storeroom after finishing the inventory.

At first glance, Du Shanu noticed that the young man had a well-proportioned face and slender eyes.

=> At first glance, Du Shanü noticed that this person had a well-proportioned face and slender eyes.

But upon this sudden look, his face is indeed......

=> But upon this sudden look, that person's face, indeed......

...... indeed still very much like a great Tibetan fox transformed into human form!

=>...... indeed still very much like a great Tibetan fox transformed into human form!

Du Shanu was amused by her own inappropriate association, her gloom slightly lifted, and she waved at him.

=> Du Shanü was amused by her own untimely association for a moment, her gloom slightly eased, and she waved at the person.

That young clerk then came forward proper and proper, stopping seven paces before her, and bowed with clasped hands.

=> The young clerk then came forward proper and proper, stopping seven steps before her, bowing with clasped hands.

As for why it is beyond seven steps...

It's only natural, since within seven paces Yu Lve and Ouyang Yan are still secretly competing!

Du Shanü asked:

Has anything improper been found in the treasury?

The young clerk replied respectfully:

Your Highness, I have just roughly checked the treasury's actual silver against the ledger total. Although the ledger shows a myriad of complicated debts, after my count and calculation, the actual silver in the treasury matches the county's ledger exactly, with no missing or shortfall.

From this, we can refute the speculation that the silver was embezzled. I surmise that the so-called merchant loans probably never actually had any silver entered into the accounts at all; from beginning to end, they were merely empty loan entries......

Empty loan entries?

That is, they didn't actually owe that much money, but forged IOUs to pretend they owed that much?

Why would that be?

In a breath, just a breath, Du Shanü shifted her gaze.

In the next instant, Ouyang Yan, who had been trying to explain but kept being interrupted, finally couldn't help but burst into tears again:

I, I really didn't owe any debt, never did.

I knew I was dull and talentless, only somewhat useful in accounting, so I thought to first put some silver on the books as empty entries, and later just find a way to clear those silver accounts, then it would be me, it would be me......

The courtyard fell into dead silence; Ouyang Yan was embarrassed to the extreme, but finally gritted his teeth and spoke the latter half:

My, my merit.

Earlier, the Two Rivers Circuit suffered floods, crops were damaged, storehouses ruined, and the Chief Commander crossbow couldn't be sold abroad; making three thousand taels of silver in this situation was as hard as climbing to heaven, yet moving three thousand taels on the books was comparatively easy.

I originally had a bewildered mind, thinking of borrowing and repaying falsely—borrow three thousand taels, repay three thousand taels, and that would be my profit of three thousand taels......

Pfft.

Someone in the courtyard chuckled secretly, but the young clerk turned and glared back at them.

At this moment, Du Shanü no longer cared to discern who was laughing.

Who could have imagined that she had spent the night angry, annoyed, and even had murderous intent arise several times......

But in the end, Ouyang Yan actually 'emptied' so much of the ledger funds because of his greed for merit and rash advance?

Greedy for merit and rashly advancing, utterly foolish—just three thousand taels made him lose her trust.

Isn't this enough to be laughed at?

Coincidentally, the people sent by Afang are still right before our eyes.

If this news were to be spread back......

Not to mention this year; I fear that for years, even decades to come, even Yu Baobao will be forced by Chinu and others to have their head pressed down and be laughed at!

?? Fact proves that stupidity is more deadly than malice......