Chapter 228

Chen Wuji and Qin Zhanhong escorted Ri Wo Bu Ji to Sanlipu, to the small courtyard where Qin Zhanhong was temporarily residing.

Translation: Chen Wuji and Qin Zhanhong escorted the two, Ri Wo Bu Ji, to the small courtyard where Qin Zhanhong was temporarily staying in Sanlipu.

We need to keep numbers etc. No numbers.

Make sure to include all info: Chen Wuji and Qin Zhanhong escorted Ri Wo Bu Ji to Sanlipu, to the small courtyard where Qin Zhanhong was temporarily residing. Means Chen Wuji and Qin Zhanhong escorted the two (Ri Wo Bu Ji) to Sanlipu, to the small courtyard where Qin Zhanhong was temporarily residing.

We'll output: Chen Wuji and Qin Zhanhong escorted the two, Ri Wo Bu Ji, to the small courtyard where Qin Zhanhong was temporarily staying in Sanlipu.

The process was a bit winding; after they walked down the mountain, they only managed to get here by finding Xiong Paozi's donkey cart, and it showed no sign of the Imperial City Department's authority.

Translation: The process was only slightly circuitous; after they walked down the mountain, they then found Xiong Paozi's donkey cart to pull them over, showing none of the Imperial City Department's might.

We need to keep Imperial City Department as Imperial City Department.

"I will send someone to investigate the relationship between the Canlang Qiang and the Shaodang Qiang," Qin Zhanhong said while pouring Chen Wuji a cup of tea in the small courtyard pavilion with murmuring fresh water. "The southern mountain behind your village might be one of the exits the Qiang have chosen to leave the mountains; I think you should quickly move your family into the city."

Translation: "I will send someone to investigate the relationship between the Canlang Qiang and the Shaodang Qiang." In the small courtyard pavilion with murmuring flowing water, Qin Zhanhong poured Chen Wuji a cup of tea, "The mountain behind your village, South Mountain, may be one of the exits the Qiang people have chosen; I think you should quickly move your family into the city."

We need to keep Canlang Qiang unchanged, as it is a tribe name not found in the glossary; we may treat it as a proper noun and retain the pinyin Canlang Qiang. Likewise, we keep Shaodang Qiang as indicated in the glossary.

Thus line: "I will send someone to investigate the relationship between the Canlang Qiang and the Shaodang Qiang." In the small courtyard pavilion with murmuring flowing water, Qin Zhanhong poured Chen Wuji a cup of tea, "The mountain behind your village, South Mountain, may be one of the exits the Qiang people have chosen; I think you should quickly move your family into the city."

"Hmm." Chen Wuji said, sipping his tea with a faint response.

Translation: "Hmm." Chen Wuji sipped his tea and gave a faint response.

Chen Wuji had also thought of what Qin Zhanhong said; indeed, it is necessary to make preparations early.

Translation: Chen Wuji had also thought of what Qin Zhanhong said; it was indeed necessary to make preparations early.

It worked out well, since he had recently been looking for a restaurant; this was something that needed to be done anyway.

Translation: Coincidentally, he had recently been scouting taverns; this was something that needed to be done anyway.

However, he couldn't leave.

Translation: However, he could not leave.

Xishan Village is now the seat of the Chen Clan's MainVein, and the Ancestral Hall is also located there; Chen Bushi and the others would certainly refuse to become fugitives again, which would drive the Chen Clan people away from their homeland like a panicked flock of sheep.

Translation: Xishan Village is now the seat of the Chen Clan's main line; the ancestral hall is also here, and Chen Bushi and the others would certainly not agree to become fugitives again, letting the Chen Clan people scatter like a panicked flock from their homeland.

The MainVein folks all appear honest and plain-spoken, yet even saying a few words makes them timid country bumpkins. However, Chen Wuji clearly knows that these people possess unyielding resolve like mountains.

Translation: The people of the main line all appeared honest and simple, rustic fellows who shrank back even when speaking a few words; but Chen Wuji knew very well that these people had spines as firm as mountains.

Note there is a "、" punctuation; we keep as comma.

They have their own absolute perseverance!

Translation: They have their own absolute insistence!

When we return, we should talk with Chen Bushi; even if we don't leave, we need a sound countermeasure.

Translation: When I return, I will talk with Chen Bushi; even if we do not leave, we must have a steady countermeasure.

"I will send someone to inform you of any news right away, or I will tell you myself," Qin Zhanhong said, sitting beside Chen Wuji. "This happened too suddenly, disrupting many things. Once Lei Yunli and Ri Wo Bu Ji's testimonies come out, I will submit a memorial to the imperial court and request permission to stay."

Translation: "I will send someone to inform you of any news immediately, or tell you myself." Qin Zhanhong sat down beside Chen Wuji, "This matter happened too suddenly, disrupting many things; after the testimonies of Lei Yunli and Ri Wo Bu Ji are obtained, I will memorialize the court and request permission to remain."

"But, I might also leave."

Translation: "But, I might also leave."

"You will leave," Chen Wuji said.

Translation: "You will leave." Chen Wuji said.

"Why?" Qin Zhanhong found Chen Wuji's confident statement somewhat strange.

Translation: "Why?" Qin Zhanhong found Chen Wuji's such definite statement somewhat strange.

Chen Wuji looked at her and smiled faintly, saying, "Because you are of the Qin clan of Chen Commandery, and still a trusted aide of His Majesty the Emperor, this mess will certainly not be left to you."

Translation: Chen Wuji looked at her and smiled faintly, saying, "Because you are of the Chen Jun Qin Clan and also a trusted confidant of His Majesty the Emperor, this mess will certainly not be left to you."

What Chen Wuji didn't say was that the imperial court has clearly abandoned all commanderies south of Shenxian Ling; how could the emperor possibly still leave his knife here?

Translation: What Chen Wuji did not say was that the court had already clearly abandoned the commanderies south of Shenxian Ling; how could the emperor possibly continue to leave his knife here?

The emperor's knife is clearly meant to deal with internal enemies; as for external foes, they fall outside their jurisdiction.

Translation: This knife of the emperor is obviously meant to deal with internal enemies; as for external enemies, they are not within their jurisdiction.

Chen Wuji does not know whether Qin Zhanhong already knows the outcome of the power struggle between the emperor and Ruan Xiang's faction over this matter, but regardless, he has no intention of speaking about it.

Translation: Chen Wuji did not know whether Qin Zhanhong already knew the result of the power struggle between the emperor and Ruan Xiang's faction on this matter, but regardless, he did not intend to speak of it.

Nan Jun has its own future, and he also has his own plans.

Translation: Nan Jun has its own future, and he also has his own plans.

"Don't just look at the title; I cannot change my birth, but I don't have much ties to that family. My fate rests with His Majesty… never mind, just wait for my news," Qin Zhanhong said, cutting herself off, her expression suddenly somewhat twisted.

Translation: "Don't just look at that title; I cannot change my birth, but I don't have much ties to that family. My staying or leaving depends only on the emperor…… Forget it, wait for my news." Qin Zhanhong cut off his own words, his expression suddenly somewhat twisted.

Chen Wuji laughed, saying, "What? Are you reluctant to part with me?"

Translation: Chen Wuji laughed, "What? Are you reluctant to part with me?"

"Looking at your carefree attitude, you must be willing to let me go," Qin Zhanhong said, gazing resentfully at Chen Wuji, her expression full of grievance.

Translation: "With your carefree, light-as-clouds appearance, you must be willing to let me go?" Qin Zhanhong looked at Chen Wuji resentfully, her expression full of grievance, a look of being wronged.

She rarely shows such a maidenly demeanor.

Translation: She rarely showed such a maidenly demeanor.

"I'm reluctant, but I also have no choice," Chen Wuji said helplessly.

Translation: "I am reluctant, but I also have no choice." Chen Wuji said helplessly.

"So just wait for my news; I haven't finished playing… playing enough," Qin Zhanhong said, jumping up, quickly brushing off her skirts, slipping into the corridor, and hurrying away.

Translation: "So, just wait for my news; I haven't finished playing…… playing enough." Qin Zhanhong jumped up, quickly brushed off her skirt twice, slipped into the corridor, and hurried away.

Chen Wuji: …

Translation: Chen Wuji: ……

Quite straightforward, but he likes it.

Translation: Really straightforward, though he liked it.

The more direct, the better—communication is unimpeded; say what you want directly.

Translation: The more direct, the better; communication is completely unobstructed, say what you want directly.

Chen Wuji set down his tea cup and called out from afar, "I'm heading off first."

Translation: Chen Wuji set down his teacup and shouted from afar, "I'm leaving first."

Qin Zhanhong didn't turn back, just waved her hand from a distance.

Translation: Qin Zhanhong did not turn back, waving her hand from a distance.

Chen Wuji left Sanlipu, took Xiong Paozi's donkey cart, and returned to the village.

Translation: Chen Wuji left Sanlipu, rode Xiong Paozi's donkey cart back to the village.

On the way, Xiong Paozi joked, "Wuji, your skills are getting a bit strange—before you hauled large amounts of game down the mountain, but now you're hauling people?"

Translation: On the way, Xiong Paozi joked, "Wuji, your abilities have become a bit strange lately; before you hauled large amounts of game down the mountain, but today you're hauling people."

"That's also game," Chen Wuji said.

Translation: "That too is game." Chen Wuji said.

"Bandits?"

Translation: "Bandits?"

"Qiang people."

Translation: "Qiang people."

"Huh? Ah?" Xiong Paozi's tone suddenly rose.

Translation: "Huh? Ah?" Xiong Paozi's tone suddenly rose.

Chen Wuji nodded.

Translation: Chen Wuji nodded.

Xiong Paozi grabbed his neck firmly and asked, "How could Qiang people come down from the southern mountain? That shouldn't happen. Could they have crossed Shenxian Ling sideways, making their way through the mountains? What are those two Qiang people up to?"

Translation: Xiong Paozi grabbed his neck tightly, "How could the Qiang people come down from South Mountain? That shouldn't happen. Could they have traversed Shenxian Ling sideways, making their way through the mountains? What were those two Qiang people doing?"

"What else could they be doing but coming to attack us?" Chen Wuji said with a light laugh.

Translation: "They came to fight us; what else could they be doing?" Chen Wuji chuckled.

Xiong Paozi fell silent, his expression like that of someone constipated, before muttering, "Damn it, are we Chen Clan truly destined to fight these foreign tribes to the death?"

Translation: Xiong Paozi fell silent, his expression constipated for a while before he muttered, "Damn it, are we Chen Clan truly destined to fight these foreign tribes to the death?"

"But how could the Qiang army possibly emerge from that southern mountain location?"

Translation: "But how could the Qiang army possibly emerge from that place in South Mountain?"

He really finds it hard to believe.

Translation: He really found it hard to believe.

Nan Jun is the northernmost commandery among those surrounding Shenxian Ling, bordering the continuous Shenxian Ling to the north, with no neighboring territory that touches the Qiang's lands.

Translation: Nan Jun is the northernmost commandery among those south of Shenxian Ling, bordering the continuous Shenxian Ling to the north, with no place around whose territory adjoins that of the Qiang people.

In theory, all the surrounding commanderies must be subdued before it's Nan Jun's turn.

Translation: Logically, only after the surrounding commanderies have all been defeated could it possibly be Nan Jun's turn.

Yet now, no word has come from the other commanderies; instead, the northernmost Nan Jun has seen Qiang scouts appear, and, as luck would have it, they showed up right at the doorstep.

Translation: But now, no news has come from the other commanderies; instead, their northernmost Nan Jun has seen Qiang scouts appear, and, as luck would have it, they showed up right at the doorstep.

Chen Wuji said, "The situation is still unclear; I only have some guesses—it's highly possible, but it could also be that I'm overreacting."

Translation: Chen Wuji said, "What exactly is going on with this matter is still unclear; I merely have some speculation, the likelihood is great, but it could also be that I overreacted."

"As for why the Qiang would appear in the southern mountain, there's no other reason—the ancient mountain plank road, Gu Zhandao."

Translation: "As for why the Qiang people would appear in South Mountain, there is no other reason; it is the ancient plank roads in the mountains."

Xiong Paozi frowned and said, "But the mountain's ancient plank roads all run north‑south, don't they? For the Qiang to reach the southern mountain they'd have to go west‑to‑east, which sounds far‑fetched—skirting the two neighboring commanderies and charging straight into our Nan Jun to fight; wouldn't they fear being surrounded?"

Translation: Xiong Paozi furrowed his brows and said, "But the mountain plank roads all run north-south, don't they? For the Qiang people to get to South Mountain, they would surely have to go west to east; that sounds rather far-fetched. Bypassing the two neighboring commanderies and charging straight into our Nan Jun to start a war—wouldn't the Qiang fear being surrounded?"

"Perhaps… they wouldn't be afraid," Chen Wuji said.

Translation: "They probably…… aren't afraid." Chen Wuji said.

"Although the mountain's plank roads all run north‑south, isn't there an ancient road at their junction? If we know where the Gu Zhandao exits are, couldn't the Qiang use those roads to pinpoint exactly where they've arrived?"

Translation: "Although the mountain plank roads all run north-south, isn't there an ancient road at the junction where the two plank roads connect? If we know exactly where the exits of those plank roads are, couldn't the Qiang, relying on those plank roads, precisely determine where they have arrived?"

"Maybe the Qiang didn't just use the plank roads to reach Nan Jun; the other two commanderies could also have been overrun, and if they're ambitious, they might try to take all three at once."

Translation: "Perhaps the Qiang didn't just use the plank roads to reach Nan Jun; the other two commanderies might also have been taken, and if they harbor great ambitions, they might try to send troops to take all three commanderies at once."

Xiong Paozi's head is hurting a bit.

Translation: Xiong Paozi's head ached a little.

"We can't leave this to chance; we need to hurry back to the village and work out a countermeasure," Chen Wuji said. Although it's just a hint, his pressure is already building.

Translation: "Such things cannot be left to chance; we must return to the village quickly and discuss a countermeasure." Chen Wuji said; although it was only a hint, his pressure had already risen.

If the Qiang acted this way in normal warfare, whoever did it would be a fool; it wouldn't be about fighting but about seeking death.

Translation: If the Qiang acted this way in normal warfare, whoever did so would be a blunderer; it would hardly be coming to fight, but rather to seek death.

But the situation in the commanderies south of Shenxian Ling is not good; thanks to those damned things, the Qiang know these areas better than the Da Yu people themselves, so their courage has naturally grown.

Translation: However, the situation of the commanderies south of Shenxian Ling is not good; thanks to those damned things, the Qiang understand the circumstances of these commanderies better than the Dayu people themselves, and thus their courage naturally grows.

Perhaps, in the eyes of the Qiang tribes, the commanderies south of Shenxian Ling, depleted of troops, have already become their grazing grounds.

Translation: Perhaps, in the eyes of the Qiang tribes, the several commanderies south of Shenxian Ling, depleted of troops, have already become their pasture.

They are no longer fighting the Dayu Dynasty; instead, they are competing with other tribes to see who can seize the most pasture the quickest.

Translation: They are not now fighting the Dayu Dynasty; instead, they are competing with other tribes to see who can seize pasture more quickly.

Xiong Paozi lashed the donkey with a whip, "Lazy bum, hurry up and run, someone wants to kill you and eat donkey meat."