Chapter 333: with translation of chapter title

At night, the sky had a light breeze.

At night, the sky had a light breeze.

Suddenly, a long dragon of torches appeared on the empty street.

Translation: "On the deserted, empty street, a long dragon of torches suddenly appeared." Keep meaning.

They charged straight at the Cao family's estate, situated at the northwest corner of Yunan City and spanning dozens of mu.

Translation: "They rushed at great speed straight toward the Cao family residence located in the northwest corner of Yunan City, which occupied dozens of mu of land."

It was said that the Cao family's residence had been laid out by a feng shui expert, forming an auspicious pattern that could bring ennoblement and high office, like a fish leaping over the dragon gate.

Translation: "It was heard that this Cao family residence had been chosen by a feng shui master years ago, forming a pattern capable of bestowing marquis and premiership, a fish-leaping-over-the-dragon-gate arrangement."

The Cao family's wealth and prominence are now plain to see; other details, however, remain unknown for the time being.

Translation: "The Cao family's great wealth and nobility are now plainly visible; as for other matters, they remain unknown for the time being."

If all goes well, they should be able to attain ennoblement and high office elsewhere.

Translation: "If things go smoothly, they should be able to achieve marquis and premiership elsewhere."

At the street corner, Qian Fugui gripped a broadsword, his expression cold as he issued the military command.

Translation: "At the street corner, Qian Fugui gripped a broadsword, his expression cold as he issued the military order."

"Form ranks, block the doors, set fire!"

Translation: "\"Form ranks, block the doors, set fire! \""

In front of Chen Wujì, Qian Fugui was usually a chatterbox, spilling out both useful and useless words, yet when he gave the military order he was terse and severe, afraid to utter an extra word.

The blazing torches quickly split into several groups, blocking the front, rear, and side gates of the Cao residence.

Translation: "The blazing torches quickly split into several groups, blocking the front, rear, and side gates of the Cao residence."

Almost without delay, as soon as the formation was set, bundles of firewood were thrown over the high wall.

Translation: "Hardly a moment passed after the formation was set, bundles of firewood were hurled over the high wall."

Each soldier carried two bundles of firewood—enough to warm all the Cao family members and make them feel the heat of a tropical climate even in this hot summer.

Translation: "Each soldier carried two bundles of firewood, a quantity that should have been enough to warm all the Cao family members, making them feel the heat of a tropical climate even in this hot summer."

Wu Buyou led the Tianchi Gate garrison troops to guard the rear; they would act as a mobile force, ready to reinforce any gate that came under pressure.

Translation: "Wu Bu Yong led the Tianchi Pass provincial troops to guard the rear; they would act as a mobile reserve, ready to reinforce any gate that came under pressure."

Besides Wu Buyou, Chen Wujì also left Chen Baojia and Chen Wuyin's two units as reserves.

Translation: "Such a rear guard, Chen Wuji retained not only Wu Bu Yong but also two units led by Chen Baojia and Chen Wu Yin."

They were respectively ambushed on the necessary routes to the Cao residence, guarding against possible reinforcements that might appear at any time.

Translation: "They were respectively ambushed on the necessary routes to the Cao residence, guarding against possible reinforcements that might appear at any moment."

After the Battle of Immortal Ridge, Chen Wujì rewarded the troops and reorganized the existing forces, appointing Chen Baojia, Chen Wuyin, Qian Yong, and Wu Buyou as brigade commanders to lead the Chen clan troops, the Qian family retainers, and the Tianchi Gate garrison troops respectively.

Translation: "After the battle at Shenxian Ling, Chen Wuji rewarded the troops and also reorganized the existing forces, appointing Chen Baojia, Chen Wu Yin, Qian Yong, and Wu Bu Yong as brigade commanders, respectively leading the Chen clan troops, the Qian family retainers, and the Tianchi Pass provincial troops."

Chen Wujì did not disband them; each brigade's strength varied, some exceeding the court's establishment, others severely lacking—for example, the Xiong Paozi and Wu Buyou units each had only about two hundred.

Translation: "Chen Wuji did not disband them; each brigade's strength varied, some exceeding the court's establishment, others severely lacking—for example, the units of Xiong Paozi and Wu Bu Yong each had only about two hundred men."

Chen Wujì did not participate in the fighting on either side.

Translation: "Chen Wuji did not participate in the fighting on either side."

He, accompanied by his personal guards and Xu Zengyi, took command of the over three hundred garrison troops who had just surrendered the previous night, personally defending the city tower.

Translation: "He brought his personal guards and Xu Zengyi, taking command of the over three hundred provincial troops who had just surrendered the previous night, personally holding the city tower."

Tonight's battle is directed solely at the Cao family.

Translation: "Tonight's battle is directed solely at the Cao family."

But at the same time, it could also be a linked scheme.

Translation: "But at the same time, it could also be a linked scheme."

Among the local strongmen of Yunan, aside from the Cao family, all the others keep their household troops and retainers in estates outside the city; no one does it like the Cao family.

Translation: "In Yunan, aside from the Cao family, all the other local strongmen kept their household troops and retainers in villas outside the city; no one else did it like the Cao family."

If they hear the news and come to reinforce the Cao family, this newly surrendered garrison force will act as actors, letting a group in at the right moment to close the gate and beat the dog.

Translation: "If they heard the news and came to aid the Cao family, these newly surrendered provincial troops would act as actors, letting a group in at the right moment to close the gate and beat the dog."

Besides that, Chen Wujì is using his twenty-eight personal guards to lure this corrupt garrison force, sorting out the good from the bad among them.

Translation: "Besides this, Chen Wuji used his twenty-eight personal guards to fish out the corrupt provincial troops, separating the good from the bad among them."

Thirty against over three hundred—this is a risky move.

Translation: "Thirty against over three hundred—this is a risky move."

But Chen Wujì really does not want to waste this opportunity.

Translation: "But Chen Wuji truly did not want to waste this opportunity."

After considering that he should have a reliable way out, Chen Wujì decided to take a gamble, pushing hard to advance the chaotic situation in Yunan City, striving for a brief stability.

Translation: "After considering that he should have a reliable way out, Chen Wuji decided to take a gamble, pushing hard to advance the chaotic situation in Yunan City, striving for a brief stability."

He has very little time left; he must stabilize the situation in a short period.

Translation: "The time left for him is very limited; he must stabilize the situation in a short period."

The troops from Hezhou might arrive at any time.

Translation: "The troops from Hezhou might arrive at any time."

The vanguard of the Qiang people was wiped out, but no one knows whether they have any further troops.

Translation: "The vanguard of the Qiang people was wiped out, but no one knows whether they still have follow-up forces."

These two situations might possibly result in troops suddenly appearing at the city walls tomorrow.

Translation: "These two factors might possibly bring troops suddenly to the city walls tomorrow."

The Chen family has already put up all their wealth for this high-stakes gamble; unless they truly reach the point of having no mountains or water left, Chen Wujì really does not want to become an outlaw.

Translation: "The Chen family has staked all its wealth on this grand gamble; unless truly reduced to utter desperation, Chen Wuji really does not want to become an outlaw."

Especially becoming an outlaw after a defeat is far from what he wishes.

Translation: "Especially becoming an outlaw after a defeat is far from his wish."

"In your eyes, this should count as a small scene, right?" Chen Wujì stood on the city wall, blowing the late wind with a dry heat, and asked casually.

Translation: "\"In your view, sir, this should count as a small scene, right? \" Chen Wuji asked casually while standing on the city wall, blowing the hot evening breeze."

He was a bit nervous and needed to find a topic.

Translation: "He felt a bit nervous and needed to find a topic."

The moonlight was bright, but this extremely yin and soft light could not calm Chen Wujì's heart at all.

Translation: "The moonlight was pure and clear, yet this extremely yin and soft light could not calm Chen Wuji's heart at all."

"Not small." Xu Zengyi shook his head, stepped back a pace and stood together with Chen Wujì, saying, "Although the forces committed in this battle are not many on either side, the variables are truly too many."

Translation: "\"Not small. \" Xu Zengyi shook his head, stepped back a pace to stand beside Chen Wuji, \"Although the forces committed in this battle are not many on either side, the variables are truly too many. \"

Chen Wujì suddenly laughed, "How come this sounds so familiar to me?"

Translation: "Chen Wuji suddenly laughed, \"How come this sounds so familiar to me? \""

"We said that on Immortal Ridge," Xu Zengyi said with a light smile.

Translation: "\"We said that on Shenxian Ling, \" Xu Zengyi replied with a light smile."

Chen Wujì nodded, "Although that battle had some deviations, we really fought beautifully. Afterwards I repeatedly pondered it, and I have some doubts whether that achievement was truly my own; I feel dazed, and the victory feels unreal."

Translation: "Chen Wuji nodded, \"Although that battle had some deviations, we indeed fought very handsomely. Afterwards I repeatedly pondered it, doubting whether the victory was truly my own achievement; it felt hazy, the win not quite real. \"

"Captain, haven't you read the history of the Chen clan?" Xu Zengyi asked.

Translation: "\"Have you, as commandant, not read the history of the Chen clan? \" Xu Zengyi asked."

Chen Wujì shook his head, "I've never seen this book."

Translation: "Chen Wuji shook his head, \"I've never seen this book. \""

"I happen to have read it; the Chen clan has had countless examples of desperate counterattacks," Xu Zengyi said.

Translation: "\"I happen to have read it; the Chen clan has had countless examples of desperate counterattacks, \" Xu Zengyi said."

"It's a pity that after Emperor Yu established his dynasty, these books would be only in the hands of military specialists, and one wouldn't dare to openly take them out to read; they could only be hidden secretly."

Translation: "\"It's a pity that after Da Yu established the court, these books likely ended up only in the hands of military families, and they dare not openly display them, only able to hide them secretly. \""

"Strange, why don't we have them in our own family?" Chen Wujì asked doubtfully.

Translation: "\"Strange, why don't we have them in our own family? \" Chen Wuji asked doubtfully."

Xu Zengyi chuckled, "Captain, you're probably asking the wrong person; I really don't know about this."

Translation: "Xu Zengyi chuckled, \"Commandant, you're asking the wrong person; I really don't know about this. \""

A personal guard suddenly walked over, "Master, the county magistrate has arrived."

Translation: "A personal guard suddenly approached, \"Master, the county magistrate has come. \""

"You even stopped the county magistrate?"

Translation: "\"You even blocked the county magistrate? \""

The guard hastily shook his head, "I merely saw him coming from afar; I came specially to report to the master."

Translation: "The guard hastily shook his head, \"I merely saw him from afar coming over, and came specially to report to the master. \""

"Don't worry about it; if he wants to come, let him come." Chen Wujì said.

Translation: "\"Never mind; if he wants to come, let him come. \" Chen Wuji said."

"Here!"

Translation: "\"Here! \""

Not long after, Qin Feng strode onto the city wall with his left hand holding wine and his right hand holding a sword, his posture graceful.

Translation: "Not long after, Qin Feng strode onto the city wall with a wine cup in his left hand and a sword in his right, his posture swaying."

This guy, no matter the time, always looks like a carefree idler who drinks wine, admires flowers and moon, idly wields his sword to visit red tents and flirt with courtesans, completely lacking any official dignity.

Translation: "This fellow, no matter when, always looks like a carefree drinker who enjoys wine beneath flowers and moon, idly teasing courtesans with his sword, utterly lacking any official dignity."

"Brother Wujì, today is good for drinking; how about two cups?" Qin Feng laughed freely, lifted his wine jar, and without waiting for Chen Wujì to refuse, he produced three wine cups.

Translation: "\"Brother Wuji, today is good for drinking; how about two cups? \" Qin Feng laughed freely, lifted his wine jug, then without waiting for Chen Wuji's refusal, produced three cups."

He placed the cups one by one on the city wall, then with a slap opened the wine jar, letting the wine pour down like a waterfall three thousand feet.

Translation: "He placed the cups one by one on the city wall, then with a slap opened the jug, letting the wine pour down like a waterfall three thousand feet."

"I have long heard of Lord Xu's refined name, but never met him; only recently did I happen to learn of it, and suddenly I realized. The person I have admired all along has actually been right under my nose." Qin Feng held a bowl of wine and handed it to Xu Zengyi.

Translation: "\"I have long heard of Lord Xu's refined name but never met him; only recently did I learn of it and suddenly awaken. It turns out the person I admire has been right under my nose. \" Qin Feng held out a bowl of wine and offered it to Xu Zengyi."

"Brother Wujì, please step aside for a moment; I must first offer this bowl of wine to Lord Xu. I deeply regret the path Lord Xu took to arrive."

Translation: "\"Brother Wuji, step aside a bit; this bowl of wine I must first offer to Lord Xu. Lord Xu's journey here, I, Qin, deeply regret. \""

Xu Zengyi's gaze suddenly turned dangerous.

Translation: "Xu Zengyi's gaze suddenly turned dangerous."

He looked at Qin Feng with a half-smile, stared for a moment, then slowly took the cup, saying, "My humble name shouldn't be that famous, should it?"

Translation: "He curled his lips with a half-smile, stared at Qin Feng for a moment, then slowly took the cup, \"My humble name shouldn't be that famous, should it? \""

Those who do not know Mr. Xu will naturally see him as merely an ordinary man who makes a living pounding coffins, but those who know him will find that every detail of him leaves a trace. Qin Feng said sentimentally, raising his wine cup and lightly tapping its rim against Xu Zengyi's.

I had long known that Mr. Xu, hiding his name and living incognito, was living in Yunan City; this Yunan county is neither big nor small, and finding someone hiding their name is not easy.

But since you, Mr. Xu, have come forward, it was easy for me to guess.