Chapter 939

Whether Chen Wuji's temper is good or not is a matter that remains to be debated.

Translation: "Whether Chen Wuji's temper is good or not is a matter that remains to be debated."

We need to keep it concise but faithful. Let's produce: "Whether Chen Wuji's temper is good or not is a matter that remains to be debated."

Whether Chen Wuji's temper is good or not is a matter that remains to be debated.

But Kong Fang knew that the first task Chen Wuji entrusted to him had to be done well; otherwise, this Regional Commander's temper would surely be bad.

Translation: "But Kong Fang knew that the first task Chen Wuji entrusted to him had to be done well; otherwise, this Regional Commander's temper would surely be bad."

But Kong Fang knew that the first task Chen Wuji entrusted to him had to be done well; otherwise, this Regional Commander's temper would surely be bad.

If the Regional Commander's temper is bad, his future prospects won't be good.

Translation: "If the Regional Commander's temper is bad, then his future prospects won't be good."

Then, the answer is left with only the last one.

Translation: "Then, the answer leaves only the last one."

Better: "So, the answer is left with only the last one."

His friends need to contribute something!

Translation: "His friends need to contribute something!"

After the banquet, Kong Fang hurried back to the small courtyard prepared for him by Chen Wuji, picked up his brush, and began writing letters to his close friends one by one.

Translation: "After the banquet, Kong Fang immediately returned to the small courtyard Chen Wuji had prepared for him, picked up a brush, and began writing letters to his close friends one by one."

He started with the person he had known the longest.

Translation: "He started with the person he had known the longest."

These people he knew best; he understood their temperaments and dispositions, knew exactly what they wanted most, and could easily handle them.

Translation: "He knew these people best, understood their temperaments and dispositions, knew exactly what they wanted most, and could easily handle them."

After writing three letters in one breath, Kong Fang's speed finally slowed down.

Translation: "After writing three letters in one breath, Kong Fang's speed then slowed down."

This time, he did not immediately start writing letters; instead, he first wrote a list on the side.

This time, he did not immediately begin writing letters; instead, he first wrote a list beside him.

Translation: "This time, he did not immediately set to writing a letter, but first wrote a list beside him."

Then he slowly selected from the list, writing letters one by one from easiest to hardest.

Translation: "Then he slowly selected from the list, writing letters one by one from easiest to hardest."

……

Translation: "……" (ellipsis). Keep as is.

The war in Nan'yue Command was paused in a very strange manner.

Translation: "The war in Nanyue Jun was paused in a very strange manner."

The court troops stationed in Yan Province, due to internal problems, had no intention of moving south at all.

Translation: "The Court Army stationed in Yan Zhou, due to internal problems, had no intention of moving south at all."

And Chen Wuji, in Xinglin Town, had no intention of moving north either.

Translation: "And Chen Wuji in Xinglin Zhen also had no intention of moving north."

The two sides, separated by Ansei and Fengxian Provinces, stared at each other across the provinces like a pair of deeply introverted lovers gazing across a river.

Translation: "The two sides stared at each other across An Sai and Feng Xian Zhou, like a pair of lovers with deeply repressed emotions gazing across a river."

They were too introverted, each waiting for the other to make the first move.

Translation: "They were too repressed, each waiting for the other to give a response first."

But this development frightened the prefects of Ansei and Fengxian Provinces.

Translation: "But this situation frightened the Inspectors of An Sai Zhou and Feng Xian Zhou."

The pressure of a pincer attack by over six hundred thousand troops was more terrifying than Mount Tai pressing down.

Translation: "The pressure of the over six-hundred-thousand-strong armies' northern and southern pincer attack was more terrifying than Mount Tai pressing down."

The Refugee Settlement.

Translation: "Liu Min Ji." (Just the name)

A small town originally built by refugees, which, due to its special location, gradually developed into a small city.

Translation: "A settlement initially built by refugees, which, due to its special location, gradually developed into a small town."

At that moment, in an inn at the Refugee Settlement, the burly prefect of Ansei Province, Wang Yu, ushered in a pale, clean‑shaven, slender middle‑aged man whose eyes always seemed to carry a smile.

Translation: "At that moment, in an inn in Liu Min Ji, the burly Inspector of An Sai Zhou, Wang Yu, ushered in a middle-aged man with a pale, beardless face, a slender build, and the perpetual hint of a smile at the corners of his eyes into his room."

The table in the room was already set with several small dishes and a pot of fine wine.

Translation: "On the table in the room were already prepared several small dishes and a pot of fine wine."

The dishes were all clear‑stewed then chilled, lightly drizzled with sauce, served as cold plates, along with two plates of fruit desserts.

Translation: "The dishes were all clear stews that had been chilled, lightly drizzled with sauce, making cold plates, along with two plates of fruit snacks."

"Brother Qingming, I've finally been able to welcome you. If you hadn't come, I would have had to personally march to Fengxian Province to see you." Wang Yu raised his hand in a gesturing invitation and joked with a bitter smile.

Translation: "\"Brother Qingming, I've finally managed to have you come; if you hadn't come, I would have had to personally go to Feng Xian Zhou to see you. \" Wang Yu raised his hand in a gesture of invitation, gave a wry smile, and joked."

The visitor was none other than the newly appointed prefect of Fengxian Province from the previous year, Guo Shenghan, whose courtesy name was Qingming.

Translation: "The visitor was none other than the newly appointed Inspector of Feng Xian Zhou from the year before last, Guo Shuhan, whose courtesy name is Qingming."

Few people would use such an ancestral‑memorial festival as a character in their name, but Guo Shenghan deliberately went against the grain.

Translation: "Few people would take such an ancestor‑worship festival as their courtesy name, but Guo Shuhan deliberately went against the grain."

The two took their seats as host and guest. Guo Shenghan casually plucked a grape, tossed it into his mouth, then flicked his robe aside so he could sit cross‑legged comfortably, and said, "Brother Ningyuan, why rush? There's no point in being anxious about things right now."

Translation: "The two took their seats as host and guest; Guo Shuhan casually plucked a grape, tossed it into his mouth, then swept his robe aside so he could sit cross‑legged comfortably, and said: \"Brother Ningyuan, why be anxious? At present, nothing helps by being anxious. \""

Wang Yu clapped his hands and said, "How can I not be worried? Behind me is that fierce devil Chen Wuji—if his troops enter my territory, what good will come of it? You can indeed stay calm; the court's southern forces, no matter their status, will not give you trouble if you cooperate willingly. But can I expect the same?"

Translation: "Wang Yu slapped his hand and said: \"How can I not be anxious? Behind me is none other than the fearsome Chen Wuji; if his troops enter my territory, what good would I have? You can indeed stay calm—whatever the identity of the Court Army marching south, as long as you cooperate willingly, they will surely not make things difficult for you. But me—can it be the same? \""

Guo Shenghan glanced at Wang Yu and said, "Don't give me that act. We've known each other for years—you should know what kind of person I am. If they move south, they'll surely make things difficult for me; if they don't, I'll make things difficult for them. This pack of nation‑wasting parasites deserves to die."

Translation: "Guo Shuhan glanced at Wang Yu and said: \"Don't give me that act; we've been friends for years—you should know what kind of person I am. If they march south, they will surely make things difficult for me; if they don't, I will make things difficult for them. This pack of nation‑wrecking, people‑harming worms deserves to die! \"

Wang Yu repeatedly pressed his hands down, saying, "Hold on, don't say those useless angry words."

Translation: "Wang Yu repeatedly raised his hand to press down, saying: \"Hold your tongue, don't speak those useless angry words. \""

"It's not empty talk; it's the truth!"

Translation: "\"They're not angry words, they're the truth! \"

"Alright, alright, I can't argue with you—let's have a drink to cool our tempers and figure out what to do about this."

Translation: "\"Alright, alright, I can't argue with you; let's drink a cup to quell the fire and discuss properly what we should do about this. \""

"Let's have a drink!"

Translation: "\"Let's have a drink! \"

The two sipped their wine.

Translation: "The two took a sip of wine."

Wang Yu rose to pour the wine and said, "Chen Wuji seems lately to have designs on moving north—this fellow… I really don't know how to put it; he's nothing short of a heaven‑defying locust, utterly reckless and mad."

Translation: "Wang Yu rose to pour wine, saying as he did: \"Chen Wuji lately seems to have intentions of moving north; this fellow… I really don't know how to put it—he is simply a heaven‑destroying locust, utterly reckless. \"

"What happened? Why isn't there a word about it in the letter?" Guo Shenghan's face grew stern.

Translation: "\"What happened? Why wasn't a word mentioned in the letter? \" Guo Shuhan's face grew stern."

Wang Yu waved his hand and said, "I only found out a few days ago that those rascals, busy fleeing, didn't even think of me, the prefect."

Translation: "Wang Yu waved his hand and said: \"I too only learned of this recently; those rascals, busy fleeing, didn't even think of me, their Inspector. \"

"What occurred?" Guo Shenghan pressed further.

Translation: "\"What exactly happened? \" Guo Shuhan pressed again."

"Chen Wuji sent troops not to besiege cities or seize strongholds, but to grab grain—he's kidnapping my Ansei peasants," Wang Yu exclaimed angrily. "Ordinary people's grain seems untouched; they coax and deceive the folk into leaving, then forcibly seize the grain of the wealthy and powerful."

Translation: "\"Chen Wuji sent troops not to attack cities or seize strongholds, but to hell with it, he's seizing grain and kidnapping my An Sai Zhou civilians. \" Wang Yu exclaimed angrily, \"The ordinary people's grain seems untouched; they coax and deceive the folk into being abducted, while forcibly reaping the grain of the wealthy and powerful. \"

"Now he's even taken over two counties; when the magistrates saw Chen Wuji's army marching north, they dared not file reports and fled with their people in haste!"

Translation: "\"Now he has also taken over two counties; when the magistrates of those two counties saw Chen Wuji's great army marching north, they dared not file reports, hastily taking their people and fleeing! \"

"Those two counties alone should have at least two or three thousand troops, yet they didn't even give me a hint before fleeing like that!" Wang Yu said, his cheeks trembling with rage as he spoke.

Translation: "\"Those two counties alone surely have at least two or three thousand troops, yet they didn't even let out a fart for me before just running away! \" As Wang Yu spoke, the flab on his cheeks trembled with rage."

Guo Shenghan narrowed his eyes, gulped down the wine in his cup with a soft "slurp," set the cup gently on the table, tapped it lightly, and said, "Chen Wuji is even seizing the people's grain; it looks like his army is running short of supplies."

Translation: "Guo Shuhan narrowed his eyes, gulped down the wine in his cup with a slurp, slowly set the cup on the table, tapped it lightly, and said: \"Chen Wuji is even seizing the people's grain; it looks like his army is short on food. \"

"Hah, they say he's robbing the rich to help the poor, and I've heard he treats ordinary folk very well. He promised my Ansei peasants that if they went to the southern commandery, each household would receive land per person—three mu each—and he'd even send troops to escort them south." Wang Yu shook his head.

Translation: "\"Hah, they say he's robbing the rich to help the poor, and I've heard he treats ordinary people extremely well. He promised my An Sai Zhou civilians that if they went to Nan Jun, each household would receive land per person—three mu per person—and he even dispatched troops to escort them south. \" Wang Yu shook his head and said."

Guo Shenghan was unimpressed, replying, "That's just a tactic to win people's hearts."

Translation: "Guo Shuhan was not convinced: \"It's merely a tactic to buy people's hearts. \""

Although the Chen clan once held the most illustrious military pedigree, their fortunes have since declined; today the Chens are no different from common folk—indeed, they could be said to have risen from the ranks of ordinary people, a background that makes them especially close to the suffering masses of the world.

Translation: "Although the Chen clan once was the most illustrious military family, after all its fortunes have declined; today's Chen clan is no different from ordinary people—one could say they walked out of the common folk—and this identity makes them more approachable to the world's suffering, cold‑stricken masses."

Wang Yu waved his hand to cut off Guo Shenghan's words and said urgently, "Brother Qingming, what Chen Wuji does doesn't matter right now; this isn't the time to discuss it. All I know is that his troops are strong and his horses sturdy—I can't beat him. What should we do?"

Translation: "Wang Yu waved his hand to cut off Guo Shuhan's words, speaking urgently: \"Brother Qingming, whatever Chen Wuji does is irrelevant; we're not the ones to discuss this now. I now know one thing: this fellow's troops are strong and his horses sturdy—I can't beat him; what should we do? \""

"Since he raised his banner, he's won every battle, and his methods are ruthless. I've thought through everything I could, and victory seems impossible. We need to decide what to do now—if we continue serving as ministers of the Great Yu, we must find a way to get the Yan Province army to move south."

Translation: "\"Since he raised his troops, he's won battle after battle, and his methods are ruthless; I've thought through everything I could think of, and victory is impossible! Now we must decide what to do—if we continue to serve as subjects of Da Yu, we must find a way to make the Court Army in Yan Zhou march south. \""

Guo Shenghan nodded and said, "Then let's rebel!"

Translation: "Guo Shuhan nodded: \"Then let's rebel! \"

"Ah? Ah!" Wang Yu gasped in shock, his plump face instantly paling a little.

Translation: "\"Ah? Ah! \" Wang Yu exclaimed in shock twice, his plump face instantly paling a bit."

He pulled out a handkerchief to wipe the slight sweat from his face, then asked anxiously, "Are you really serious about this? I've heard this before, but I always thought you weren't serious. Now that you say it, I'm feeling terribly uneasy."

Translation: "He took out a handkerchief to wipe the little sweat on his face, then asked doubtfully: \"Are you really serious about this? I've heard this before, but I always thought you weren't serious. Now that you say it, I feel terribly anxious. \"

"The emperor has been taken hostage; the state of Great Yu is no longer a state. I refuse to throw in my lot with those parasites!" Guo Shenghan said, his expression firm and his voice low. "If I had to choose between Chen Wuji and those parasites, in my eyes Chen Wuji is the more pleasing option."

Translation: "\"The emperor is held hostage, Da Yu is no longer a state; I don't want to collude with those worms! \" Guo Shuhan said with a firm expression, his voice low: \"If I had to choose between Chen Wuji and those worms, in my eyes Chen Wuji is the more pleasing option. \"

"……Let me think about it." Wang Yu sighed.

Translation: "\"……Let me think about it. \" Wang Yu sighed and said."

Guo Shuhan nodded, not urging, throwing grapes one by one into his mouth, patiently waiting for Wang Yu's answer.