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Chapter 632: and title translation, then ===GLOSSARY=== with list of named entities

~7 min read 1,384 words

Chinese

Actually 【3】 is the instruction line? Wait the prompt includes 【3】 Replace:... That's not a line to translate; it's a note. The actual lines start at 【2】 then 【3】 is a note? Actually the prompt:

Chinese

They are all skilled at launching surprise attacks with cavalry.

Chinese

No glossary terms. Translate: "You have no idea when they will come like a swarm of locusts, suddenly flying over." Natural: "You never know when they'll descend like a locust swarm, suddenly appearing out of nowhere." Keep meaning.

Chinese

Hu Bu Gui

Chinese

Chinese

No glossary. Translate: "The only two differences are whether they have families and herds of cattle and sheep following behind, and how many." Natural: "The only difference is whether they have families and herds of livestock trailing behind, and how many."

Chinese

This is their luggage and supplies.

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The size of their baggage train decides whether they will raid the grasslands or lay siege to a city for a protracted fight.

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"What is the situation at Wuyang Pass now?" Chen Wuji asked in a low voice.

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instruction (we skip)

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"Someone, relay the order!" Chen Wuji shouted.

Chinese

Order Chen Baojia to march at forced speed—go as fast as you can—to reinforce the central army and hold Liulin. If you truly cannot hold, withdraw and let the settlement be taken by the Qiang People; don't worry about gains or losses of a single city or piece of land.

Chinese

Just "Yes!" or "Understood!" We'll translate as "Understood!"

Chinese

Chen Wuji has never concerned himself with gains or losses of a single city or piece of land when employing troops.

Chinese

No glossary. Translate: "In his view, annihilating the enemy's manpower is more important than stubbornly defending a city or holding a piece of land."

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"The army will break camp at once and rush to reinforce Wuyang Pass!" Chen Wuji ordered again.

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Hu Bu Gui said, "Commander, the matter of the surrendered troops has not yet been settled…"

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"With the big battle at hand, don't bring up these trivial matters." Chen Wuji said, "The surrendered troops will follow the army; I'll arrange it when I have time."

Chinese

Same as line 12: "……Understood!"

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Hu Bu Gui's lips twitched, but in the end he said nothing more.

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He wanted to say that the newly arrived surrendered troops, unfamiliar with their comrades, would likely struggle to exert their proper combat effectiveness.

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But considering his current status, in front of Chen Wuji he had not even established basic trust, so he simply let the comment drop.

Chinese

At Chen Wuji's order, the army, which had been resting, quickly returned to camp.

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Half an hour later, the army left An Di.

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Chen Wuji's troops had long grown accustomed to this high tempo—fight when told to fight, withdraw when told to withdraw.

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But the surrendered troops were bewildered.

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Even after following the main force out of the camp and already setting out on the campaign, their minds remained in a fog.

Chinese

Just moments ago they had been waiting to split camp; the next moment, urgent bugle calls and war drums suddenly sounded in the camp.

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Immediately thereafter, the soldiers idly watching the camp split rushed into the camp tents—those arming themselves armed, those loading wagons loaded.

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In less than half an hour, the army had finished forming up; the commanders of each unit took roll and immediately deployed troops.

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So: "The speed was so great that they even felt dizzy."

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They had no idea what they were supposed to do next; they could only follow the main force forward, utterly bewildered.

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All along, these surrendered troops were full of various speculations and doubts, yet no one could give a definite answer.

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Only as evening approached and they were about to set up camp did the commanders finally receive the accurate news, which was relayed throughout the army.

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Because of an urgent military situation, they had to break camp immediately, but after dinner they would continue to split camp.

Chinese

This news finally eased the soldiers' anxious hearts a little; their discussion shifted from where they would go to what place had encountered the urgent military situation and what they would attack next.

Chinese

After setting up camp and cooking, Chen Wuji arranged Chen Li and others to reorganize the surrendered troops by lamplight, while he himself gathered with Xu Zengyi and Hu Bu Gui in the Zhongjun Big Tent to discuss how to fight the upcoming battle.

Chinese

"General Hu, you are more familiar with Dingzhou and the Qiang People; why don't you share your thoughts first?" Xu Zengyi said.

Chinese

The frail and gaunt Mr. Xu, after nearly a year of folk remedy recuperation, finally saw his complexion improve.

Chinese

So: "His face gained a touch of ruddiness, and he looked somewhat sturdier."

Chinese

Before, Chen Wuji dared not entrust him with too much, fearing that this talented Poisonist might drop dead at any moment.

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Based on Xu Zengyi's previous physique, Chen Wuji said without exaggeration that he could probably kill him with a single punch.

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Hu Bu Gui clasped his hands toward Chen Wuji, rose, and stared at the leather map for a long time before saying, "Commander, I believe we have not guessed wrong about the Qiang People's purpose in suddenly assaulting Wuyang Pass this time: they are heading for Dingzhou."

Chinese

They have a habit of launching Grass Valley Attacks, but they rarely choose cities, let alone passes. Basically they operate in the countryside, mainly raiding the estates of ordinary folk and wealthy gentry. This time's drastic deviation must hide some other motive.

Chinese

Wuyang Pass lies in a strategic location; it is the western gate of Dingzhou. If Wuyang Pass is breached, the Qiang People will have effectively entered Dingzhou's gate.

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Chen Wuji nodded. "Continue."

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"Commander, I suggest our army no longer needs to go to Wuyang Pass." Hu Bu Gui said.

Chinese

Chen Wuji raised his head. "Just give it up like that?"

Chinese

"Yes, Wuyang Pass definitely cannot withstand the assault of the Qiang People's hundred-thousand-strong army." Hu Bu Gui said.

Chinese

Chen Wuji waved his hand. "After all, it's five hundred soldiers, and the garrison commander is still your old subordinate. We shouldn't hastily assume the pass has fallen; let's send a scout to take a look, then decide."

Chinese

Same as line 12: "……Understood!"

Chinese

Chen Wuji picked up a piece of horse intestine with his chopsticks and said, "Go on with your suggestion."

Chinese

"After entering Wuyang Pass, it's all flat, fertile plains; the Qiang People are skilled horsemen, and our army should not engage them in a decisive battle there." Hu Bu Gui swept his hand across the map, his finger landing on a city named Wuyang, and said, "Our army should station here, to await the enemy exhausted."

Chinese

Chen Wuji slowly chewed, his eyes fixed on the map, and said, "You just said that upon entering Wuyang Pass it's all flat, fertile plains?"

Chinese

"Yes, that place is the most fertile tract of land in Dingzhou; many people in Dingzhou jokingly call it the granary of Dingzhou's people!"

Chinese

"Can we really just give up the granary?" Chen Wuji muttered.

Chinese

Hu Bu Gui nodded. "The granary indeed shouldn't be lightly abandoned, but the terrain there is too flat, ideal for cavalry to gallop. When the Qiang People's hundred-thousand-strong army spreads out, our battle formation would probably not hold."

Chinese

"In war, we shouldn't just hard‑resist!" Chen Wuji said.

Chinese

"The Qiang People always have times to rest, moments of laxity; it's impossible for them to have no blind spots."

Chinese

Hu Bu Gui nodded in agreement, but still advised, "Commander, this is a hundred‑thousand Qiang People, also a hundred‑thousand cavalry; a surprise attack would likely be ineffective. Our forces are less than half the enemy's; Deputy General believes we ought to be more cautious."

"Lao Xu, what do you think?" Chen Wuji lifted the Wine Bowl, looking toward Xu Zengyi.

Xu Zengyi didn't speak, but his gaze never left the map, "I need to think more, is everything marked on the map? Any missing terrain? For example, rivers."

◈

End of Chapter

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