Chapter 135

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Now we must ensure we keep the quotation marks and punctuation as in Chinese? The instruction: translate faithfully, not add. We should keep the quotation marks as they appear? The source lines have Chinese quotation marks 「」. In English translation we should replace with English quotes? Usually we keep English quotation marks. The instruction didn't specify to keep Chinese quotes; we should translate the content, using English punctuation. So we will use English double quotes.

Now we need to output each line as "【N】 translation". Ensure each translation is on a single line.

Let's craft each translation.

We'll need to be careful with names and titles.

Let's start.

【1】 Translation:

"Your Highness, this plan looks very feasible," Sir Luodelike said cautiously in agreement, "but in a short time, we simply cannot muster many troops to march on Long Stream City. As far as I know, the Stream Region has already issued a conscription order; if my estimate is correct, by the time we ready our forces to attack, they will at least have organized two thousand cavalry and more archers and infantry. Their losses in the south are not great."

Now 【3】:

【236】

Translation: "She merely proposed the plan; it was not an immediate march on the Stream Region. She took fifteen hundred cavalry southward, and at most only eight hundred cavalry returned north with Ke lei duo. The remainder will slowly pass through Rushing Flow City and Twin River City, and must also bring back the wounded and captured goods."

【240】

Now 【4】:

【248】

Translation: "The eight hundred cavalry returning to the North could not possibly be thrown into battle immediately…… They carried a great deal of spoils, having fought heedless of life and death far from home; now that they have returned safely, any normal person would be eager to get back home, and Mei Yi could not possibly detain them to launch another war."

Now 【5】:

【258】

Translation: "It is hard to say how many, after returning home, would still be willing to follow her on further adventures."

Now 【6】:

Translation: "Tonight and tomorrow night, Winter Coming City will hold a banquet to entertain them, but aside from the cavalry lingering at the Winter-avoiding Market's courtesans, most should choose to return to their own homes either tomorrow or the day after, depending mainly on how quickly they can liquidate their spoils and purchase suitable supplies for the journey home."

【266】

Now 【7】:

Translation: "For Mei Yi, if half of the soldiers who fought in the south are willing to re-enlist when she issues a call-up, she would thank heaven and earth. Moreover, even if they return, Mei Yi cannot lead them to attack the Stream Region—the priority of the Great Wall (for Mei Yi, this is still a duty priority) outweighs any other place."

【274】

Now 【8】:

Translation: "Currently, the Stark troops garrisoned in Winter Coming City and the Winter-avoiding Market number less than a thousand, and the vast majority are infantry and archers only capable of defense; while they are more than enough to defend Winter Coming City, leading such a group of infantry on a raid into the horse-friendly Stream Region is practically suicidal."

【282】

Now 【9】:

Translation: "Your Highness, we are not without allies," Sir Meisen Saiwen said, rising to speak, "If Ke lei duo does not object, he can bring your retainers and the cavalry mustered from Geluofuo, Saiwen, and the Starks to march north. We can easily raise another three to four hundred cavalry, and while Ke lei duo marches north, you may also summon the cavalry of Hearth City and Kahuo City in the name of Earl Qiongen and Earl Halang, to have them wait at Black Castle or on the King's Grand Road."

【290】

Now 【11】:

Translation: "If she were in command, she could use her status as a lady to keep the cavalry of diverse origins in check, but if these northern cavalry were placed under the command of a foreigner, great disorder would likely ensue."

【298】

Now 【13】:

Translation: "After Mei Yi pondered, she slowly shook her head, and Sir Meisen Saiwen looked very disappointed."

【306】

Now 【14】:

Translation: "The fighters who battled in the south are not steel; Ke lei duo and they also need rest and cannot be thrown into combat immediately." Mei Yi paced back and forth, unable to find a proper solution."

【314】

Now 【15】:

Translation: "Your Highness, our allies are not limited to Geluofuo and Saiwen; there is also Mandel of White Harbor. You can send ravens to them to request cavalry, ordering them to march north to attack the wildlings. Now, the snow on the northern roads is not yet deep, making it a good opportunity to launch a northern strike."

【322】

Now 【16】:

Translation: "Even if Mandel agreed to send troops to the Great Wall, he would likely not be enthusiastic; when has White Harbor ever suffered a wildling attack? How could they have the resolve to lead northern soldiers in an assault on hundreds of thousands of wildlings?" The cavalry of White Harbor is an option, but best used for the Stream Region, yet Ke lei duo would certainly not be a suitable choice to command the northern army."

【330】

Now 【17】:

Translation: "Your Highness, your concern is not without reason; the matter of the Great Wall is urgent and dangerous. I have received many ravens from the Great Wall, and if it were not for your brother Qiongen persuading the Earl of Noru among the mountain clans to send aid to the Great Wall, the Wall would likely have already fallen to the wildlings." Monk Chai'er responded positively, giving Mei Yi a knowing smile."

【338】

Now 【19】:

Translation: "Taking north the cavalry cobbled together from several clans is a good decision, but who should be the commander?"

【346】

Now 【21】:

Translation: "Unless he volunteers himself, Mei Yi will not choose his commander; otherwise, it would only give him a mistaken impression, affecting their subsequent 'cooperation'."

【354】

Now 【22】:

Translation: "The old sir and her father Lord Eddard are almost the same sort of person—sensitive and proud."

【362】

Now 【23】:

Translation: "The best choice is naturally me." Mei Yi, as if having made up her mind, responded loudly, "I know Qiongen well; I can fully anticipate the tactics he would employ, I can seize the opportunity accurately, launch a nearby strike from Black Castle, and coordinate with Qiongen using cavalry to utterly rout the enemy."

【370】

Now 【24】:

Translation: "Your Highness, we all understand your ability to command cavalry, but Winter Coming City is now at a critical juncture—you cannot leave!" Luor Jie replied."

【378】

Now 【25】:

Translation: "Not bad, Your Highness; if the news is correct, the wildlings beyond the Wall number a hundred thousand in total—five hundred men hoping to win outright is nothing short of Arabian Nights. If you go to the Great Wall, you will inevitably have to repeatedly contend with the enemy—the Great Wall's main task is defense, and defense does not require cavalry—you would only waste your time at the Great Wall. You also know that Bolton is about to land in the North; you would not want, when Bolton attacks Winter Coming City, for you and Qiongen to be far away at the Great Wall, would you?" Luobo Geluofuo advised."

【386】

Now 【26】:

Translation: "No matter how many wildlings there are, as long as they lack organization, to me they are nothing but clay chickens and pottery dogs; as long as I storm the main camp of the King beyond the Wall, the battle will be over, and then I can return— the distance from Winter Coming City to the Great Wall is surely no greater than to Rushing Flow City or Hell's Fortress— to me, the Great Wall is merely a place to go and come back. Let me say, Bolton will soon land in the North, but that is merely the guess of the red-robed woman; even if she happened to guess correctly, soldiers landing from the sea cannot have combat effectiveness without a period of rest, and moreover the troops Bolton brought have already fought hard in the south for nearly two years— how could they possibly go into battle as soon as they return to the North?" Mei Yi felt she was acting poorly, "The defense of Winter Coming City has Sir Luodelike; I have nothing to worry about."

【394】

Now 【27】:

Translation: "She certainly worries, fearing both that when the plan succeeds the old sir will be unable to endure a long march or incapable of rescuing the Great Wall, and that if she herself goes to the Great Wall, the old sir will be too rigid to properly organize the troops and defend Winter Coming City."

【402】

Now 【28】:

Translation: "Aside from the few captains beside her, she feels that among these northerners, no one can truly put her at ease."

【410】

Now 【30】:

Translation: "Your Highness, I thought we had already reached agreement on rescuing the Great Wall. We had previously agreed to dispatch five hundred cavalry to the Great Wall to aid Qiongen, but you will give up going yourself." Sir Luodelike was very unhappy, having completely failed to act in the direction she expected. "The Stark's current great enemy is Bolton and other traitors. As for the wildlings, they lack weapons and organization; as long as the Great Wall has the assistance of the mountain clans, the wildlings simply cannot cross, and even if they unfortunately do, they cannot capture each fortress, posing no real threat to us. If, as you say, Bolton may first go north then south, the wildlings might actually be our aid rather than our trouble."

【418】

Now 【31】:

Translation: "Mei Yi could only sigh, feeling that these nobles probably all think this way: in their eyes, the farms and cottages scattered across the vast North, nestled among mountains and river forests, are not real people, and Winter Coming City has no obligation to protect them, or, for a higher purpose, they can be abandoned at any time."

【426】

Now 【32】:

Translation: "Mei Yi could only secretly curl her lip; although she did not agree, there was no need to refute."

【434】

Now 【33】:

Translation: "After a brief silence of a few breaths, Mei Yi felt she had to resort to showing weakness to achieve her goal."

【442】

Now 【35】:

Translation: "How could I not know that the primary enemy is Bolton?" perhaps yes, perhaps not, "The red-robed woman Melisandre told me that Qiongen might be besieged to death by the enemy..." This was actually the words of the red-robed monk Suoluosi, "I know her words are not trustworthy, but she indeed has some ability. My other brothers are all dead; how could I not worry about the last one?"

【450】

Now 【36】:

Translation: "The senior officials remained silent; Mei Yi could only continue."

【458】

Now 【37】:

Translation: "Yes, I know he is a bastard," Mei Yi felt embarrassed, but she still wished she could shed tears at this moment, though she simply could not, "But he is now my only living brother, and Lord Eddard's only living son; although he has joined the Night's Watch, is it wrong for me to worry about him?" She chose to intensify her tone, "Ke lei duo is not a northerner; he cannot lead the northern cavalry; the knights of White Harbor and others either lack leadership and prestige, or fail to grasp the urgency of Great Wall affairs, or simply do not care about Qiongen's life or death—they don't even know Qiongen—you say, in this situation, how could I be at ease?"

【466】

Now 【38】:

Translation: "Ah, yes!" Monk Chai'er gazed at Mei Yi, then let out a long sigh, "Besides Your Highness herself, who else could bear such a responsibility?"

【482】

Now we need to output each line as "【N】 translation". Ensure each translation is on a single line, no extra lines.

Let's compile.

We'll need to double-check each translation for fidelity, not adding extra info.

Check each line for any missing clauses.

【1】 we have: "Your Highness, this plan looks very feasible," Sir Luodelike said cautiously in agreement, "but in a short time, we simply cannot muster many troops to march on Long Stream City. As far as I know, the Stream Region has already issued a conscription order; if my estimate is correct, by the time we ready our forces to attack, they will at least have organized two thousand cavalry and more archers and infantry. Their losses in the south are not great."

【487】

We kept the quotation marks as English double quotes. Good.

translation: "She merely proposed the plan; it was not an immediate march on the Stream Region. She took fifteen hundred cavalry southward, and at most only eight hundred cavalry returned north with Ke lei duo. The remainder will slowly pass through Rushing Flow City and Twin River City, and must also bring back the wounded and captured goods."

【492】

translation: "The eight hundred cavalry returning to the North could not possibly be thrown into battle immediately…… They carried a great deal of spoils, having fought heedless of life and death far from home; now that they have returned safely, any normal person would be eager to get back home, and Mei Yi could not possibly detain them to launch another war."

【497】

translation: "It is hard to say how many, after returning home, would still be willing to follow her on further adventures."

【502】

translation: "Tonight and tomorrow night, Winter Coming City will hold a banquet to entertain them, but aside from the cavalry lingering at the Winter-avoiding Market's courtesans, most should choose to return to their own homes either tomorrow or the day after, depending mainly on how quickly they can liquidate their spoils and purchase suitable supplies for the journey home."

【507】

translation: "For Mei Yi, if half of the soldiers who fought in the south are willing to re-enlist when she issues a call-up, she would thank heaven and earth. Moreover, even if they return, Mei Yi cannot lead them to attack the Stream Region—the priority of the Great Wall (for Mei Yi, this is still a duty priority) outweighs any other place."

【512】

translation: "Currently, the Stark troops garrisoned in Winter Coming City and the Winter-avoiding Market number less than a thousand, and the vast majority are infantry and archers only capable of defense; while they are more than enough to defend Winter Coming City, leading such a group of infantry on a raid into the horse-friendly Stream Region is practically suicidal."

【517】

translation: "Your Highness, we are not without allies," Sir Meisen Saiwen said, rising to speak, "If Ke lei duo does not object, he can bring your retainers and the cavalry mustered from Geluofuo, Saiwen, and the Starks to march north. We can easily raise another three to four hundred cavalry, and while Ke lei duo marches north, you may also summon the cavalry of Hearth City and Kahuo City in the name of Earl Qiongen and Earl Halang, to have them wait at Black Castle or on the King's Grand Road."

【522】

【526】

translation: "If she were in command, she could use her status as a lady to keep the cavalry of diverse origins in check, but if these northern cavalry were placed under the command of a foreigner, great disorder would likely ensue."

【529】

translation: "After Mei Yi pondered, she slowly shook her head, and Sir Meisen Saiwen looked very disappointed."

【534】

translation: "The fighters who battled in the south are not steel; Ke lei duo and they also need rest and cannot be thrown into combat immediately." Mei Yi paced back and forth, unable to find a proper solution."

【539】

translation: "Your Highness, our allies are not limited to Geluofuo and Saiwen; there is also Mandel of White Harbor. You can send ravens to them to request cavalry, ordering them to march north to attack the wildlings. Now, the snow on the northern roads is not yet deep, making it a good opportunity to launch a northern strike."

【544】

Even if Manderly agreed to send troops to the Wall, he probably wouldn't be enthusiastic—when has White Harbor ever suffered a wildling attack? How could they have the resolve to lead the North's soldiers in an assault on hundreds of thousands of wildlings? White Harbor's cavalry is an option, but best suited for riverine terrain, and Cregan would certainly not be a good choice to lead the northern army.

Your Highness, your concern is not without reason—the matter of the Wall is urgent and dangerous. I have received several ravens from the Wall, and if it weren't for your brother Qiongen persuading Lord Norrey of the mountain clans to send reinforcements to the Wall, the Wall would likely have already fallen to the wildlings. Septon Chayle replied eagerly, giving Meiyī a knowing smile.

【549】

Bringing together cavalry scraped from a few families and marching north is a good decision, but who should be the commander?

Unless he volunteers himself, Meiyī will not choose his commanders; otherwise, it would only give him a wrong impression, affecting their subsequent "cooperation".

The old knight and her father, Lord Àidé, are almost the same type of person—sensitive yet proud.

"The best choice is naturally me." Meiyī sounded resolute, responding loudly, "I know Qiongen well; I can fully anticipate the tactics he would use, I can seize the right moment, strike from near the black castle, and cooperate with Qiongen to use cavalry to utterly crush the enemy."

"Your Highness, we all understand your ability to command cavalry, but Winterfell is now at a critical juncture—you cannot leave!" Luó'ěrjié replied.

"Not bad, Your Highness. If the news is correct, the wildlings beyond the Wall number a hundred thousand in total; for five hundred to win outright would be a fantasy. Once you reach the Wall, you will inevitably have to engage the enemy repeatedly—the Wall's main task is defence, and defence does not require cavalry—so you would only waste your time at the Wall. You also know that Bolton is about to land in the North; you wouldn't want, when Bolton attacks Winterfell, for you and Qiongen to be far away at the Wall, would you?" Luófú Géluófú advised.

"No matter how many wildlings there are, as long as they lack organization, to me they're just clay chickens and rotting dogs; as long as I breach the main camp of the King beyond the Wall, the battle will be over, and then I can return—the distance from Winterfell to the Wall surely isn't greater than to Bēnliúchéng or Hèlúnbǎo, right? To me, the Wall is just a place to go and come back. Let me say, Bolton is about to land in the North soon, but that's merely the Red Woman's guess; even if she happened to guess right, soldiers landing from the sea couldn't have any fighting strength without a period of rest, and moreover the troops Bolton has brought have already been fighting hard in the South for nearly two years—how could they possibly jump into battle the moment they return to the North?" Meiyī felt she was playing the part poorly, "Winterfell's defence has Ser Luódélìkè; I don't need to worry."

She certainly worries—she worries that, when the plan succeeds, the old knight will be unable to march long distances or be fit to relieve the Wall, and she also worries that, if she herself goes to the Wall, the old knight will be too rigid to properly organize Winterfell's troops and defences.

Besides the few captains around her, she feels that among these Northerners, no one can truly put her at ease.

【563】

"Your Highness, I thought we had already reached an agreement on sending reinforcements to the Wall. We had previously agreed to dispatch five hundred cavalry to the Wall to aid Qiongen, but you would abandon going yourself." Ser Luódélìkè was very displeased, acting completely contrary to what she had hoped. "The Stark's greatest enemy now is Bolton and the other rebels. As for the wildlings, they lack equipment and lack organization; with the mountain clans' assistance, the Wall would be impossible for them to cross, and even if they somehow managed to get past, they could not breach each castle to pose a real threat to us. If, as you say, Bolton might strike north then south, the wildlings might actually become our aid rather than our trouble."

Meiyī could only sigh, feeling that these nobles probably all think this way: in their eyes, the farms and homesteads scattered across the vast North, lying between the mountains and in the riverine forests, are not really people, and Winterfell has no obligation to protect them—or, for the sake of a higher purpose, they can be discarded at any time.

Meiyī could only secretly curl her lip; though she did not approve, there was no need to rebut.

After a brief silence of a few breaths, Meiyī felt she had no choice but to resort to showing weakness to achieve her goal.

"How could I not know that the chief enemy is Bolton?" perhaps yes, perhaps no, "The Red Woman Melisandre told me that Qiongen might be besieged to death by the enemy..." This was actually the words of the Red Monk Suǒluósī, "I know her words cannot be trusted, but she indeed has some ability. All my other brothers are dead—how could I rest easy about the last one?"

The senior officials remained silent; Meiyī could only continue.

"Yes, I know he's a bastard," Meiyī felt embarrassed, but she still hoped she could shed tears at this moment—though she could absolutely not do so—"but he is now my only living brother, Lord Àidé's only living son; although he has joined the Night's Watch, is it wrong for me to worry about him?" She chose to intensify her tone, "Cregan is not a Northerner; he cannot lead the northern cavalry; the knights of White Harbor and others either lack leadership and prestige, or fail to grasp the urgency of the Wall's situation, or simply do not care whether Qiongen lives or dies—they don't even know Qiongen—you say, in this situation, how can I put my mind at ease?"

"Ah, yes!" Septon Chayle looked at Meiyī, then let out a long sigh, "Besides Your Highness herself, who else could bear such responsibility?"

Several senior officials stared strangely at the cultivator.

After a long silence, Sir Roderick finally stood up and spoke the words Mei had been awaiting.

"I will lead the cavalry to aid the Wall." Sir Roderick now looked like a great man, "With me here, Qiongen will never fall into trouble!"

Mei let out a long sigh inwardly, suppressing her joy.

"Sir, can you endure such a long journey?" Mei asked doubtfully, "The Wall is far away!"

"Do you think I'm old? My body might be the strongest in Winterfell!" Sir Roderick was furious, his snowy beard trembling. "Moreover, I have served Winterfell for forty years; I think I still carry some prestige in leading troops. I have searched throughout Winterfell and cannot find anyone more suitable than me! I guarantee to Your Highness that I will surely bring the five hundred cavalry to the Wall smoothly. If Qiongen really leads the Mountain Forest clan's army to attack the barbarians, I will give timely support and will certainly do my utmost to protect your remaining brother!" He sighed deeply, "I will surely protect Lord Eddard's last son!"

He spoke those heroic words, but Mei knew he was unhappy. There was nothing to be done about it.

"You're leaving—how will Winterfell's defenses be handled? We need to conscript fighters and train troops." Mei said, feeling her face flush. "If the recruited forces are ready, I will also lead them in a surprise attack on Changxi City."

"The commander of Winterfell's defenses can appoint Hal Morlan," Hal heard, feeling somewhat taken aback, not knowing what to do with the whip in his hand. "Hmph, since he is the interim captain of Winterfell's guard, he should be able to continue learning how to be a good defense commander. Moreover, Luo Erjie can provide assistance to Captain Hal, and the council members can also offer advice."

"Me?" Hal glanced at Roderick, then at Mei.

"Do you think you're just ten years old like them?" Sir Roderick pointed at the children, he was in a bad mood, which is understandable, "Winter has come, you too need to grow up!"

Mei could not refuse Sir Roderick's proposal.

"If your brother Harris were here, this position should be his." Mei told Hal, but she felt that although Hal was younger, he was more suitable than Harris, "After Sir Roderick leads the cavalry away from Winterfell, you will attend the council."

Although the pressure felt great, it was a relief that one trouble had been resolved; Mei now only wanted to walk out of the library, go outside to get some fresh air, and let the cold wind completely blow away the ladylike airs of the Winterfell mistress.