Chapter 972: and ===GLOSSARY=== sections

Watching one's own soldiers grow up, one by one, is a very fulfilling thing.

Translation: "Watching one's own soldiers grow up one by one is a very fulfilling thing."

We need to keep meaning. Use "Watching one's own soldiers grow one by one is a very fulfilling thing."

There aren't many things that can keep people happy for a long time; this must be one of them.

Translation: "There aren't many things that can keep people happy for a long time; this must be one of them."

Chen Wujì and Chen Lì praised him repeatedly, which actually made Chen Wúyí feel embarrassed, saying, "Lord, I've only just gotten to know those kids; I've become familiar with them, and my speech has become a bit casual."

we already have a messy version. Let's produce the replaced version as described.

Chen Wujì and Chen Lì praised him repeatedly, which actually made Chen Wúyí feel embarrassed, saying, "Lord, I've only just gotten to know those kids; I've become familiar with them, and my speech has become a bit casual."

Translate: "Chen Wuji and Chen Li praised him repeatedly, which actually made Chen Wuyi feel embarrassed, saying, 'Family Head, I've only just gotten to know them; I'm just used to hanging out with those kids, so my speech has become casual.'"

We need to keep quotes. Use double quotes as in Chinese? We'll keep English quotes.

"In major matters those kids are fairly obedient, but in private they act like bandits, hard to discipline. Lately I've felt as if I've aged many years all at once."

Translation: "'In major matters those kids are fairly obedient, but in private they're just like bandits, hard to discipline. These days I feel as if I've suddenly aged many years.'"

Chen Wúyí and Chen Wúshuāng have always been people of few words.

Translation: "Chen Wuyi and Chen Wushuang have always been people of very few words."

Before, he would never have said something like that.

Translation: "Before, he would never have dared to say such a thing."

This is probably the concrete manifestation of growth.

Translation: "This is probably the concrete form of growth."

"Not bad, but don't be arrogant or complacent, and don't stop at just leading ten thousand cavalry!" Chen Wujì looked pleased, gave Chen Wúyí a firm pat on the arm, and said, "Get ready; it'll be a bit cooler this evening, then we march out."

Translation: "'Not bad, but don't be arrogant or complacent, and don't stop at just leading ten thousand cavalry!' Chen Wuji's eyes full of satisfaction, he firmly patted Chen Wuyi's arm, 'Get ready; it'll be a bit cooler this evening, then we march out!'"

"Yes!"

Translation: "'Yes!'"

Chen Wúyí's eyes burned with fervor as he nodded vigorously.

Translation: "Chen Wuyi's eyes burned with fervor as he nodded vigorously."

After arranging everything for the expedition, Chen Wujì hadn't even spoken yet when Huo Sanniang and the others had already gathered in the courtyard.

Translation: "Having arranged all the matters for the march, Chen Wuji had not yet spoken when Huo Sanniang and the others had already gathered in the courtyard."

They didn't see him off with noise; they simply watched silently.

Translation: "They didn't see him off with noise and fuss; they simply watched silently."

"Wujì, be careful; we'll be waiting for you in Xinglin Town."

Translation: "'Wuji, be careful; we'll be waiting for you in Xinglin Zhen.'"

Huo Sanniang handed Chen Wujì a parcel, saying, "Although it's already autumn, the weather is still scorching; Hongdou and I made you two outfits in our spare time—take them with you."

Translation: "Huo Sanniang handed Chen Wuji a parcel, saying, 'Although autumn has begun, the weather is still scorching; Hongdou and I made you two sets of clothes in our spare time—take them with you.'"

Although Chen Wujì now holds the title of Marquis of Zhenyuan, this procedure has remained unchanged.

Translation: "Although Chen Wuji had already been ennobled as Marquis Zhenyuan, this procedure remained unchanged."

It was like this the first time he led troops on a distant campaign, and it remains so today.

Translation: "It was like this the first time he led troops on a distant campaign, and it remains so now."

Given Huo Sanniang's nature, this routine may never change in her lifetime.

Translation: "Given Huo Sanniang's nature, this procedure might never change in her lifetime."

Chen Wujì turned and handed the clothes to Chen Wúshuāng on the side, smiling lightly and saying, "Don't worry; heaven isn't ready to take my life yet, so you should go about your business—no need to worry about me."

Translation: "Chen Wuji turned and handed the clothes to Chen Wushuang on the side, smiling faintly: 'Don't worry; Heaven isn't ready to take my life yet, so you should go about your business—no need to worry about me.'"

"I definitely won't worry—I'm going with my husband!" Qin Zhānghóng said with a chuckle, "As for SanNiang and Hongdou's worries, even if the lord says it, it's pointless; those who ought to worry will still worry. These two keep all their thoughts hidden inside; though they don't speak them out, anyone can see what they're feeling."

Translation: "'I definitely won't worry, anyway I'm going with my husband!' Qin Zhanhong said with a smile, 'As for San Niang and Hongdou's worries, what the husband says is pointless; those who ought to worry will still worry—these two keep everything hidden in their bellies; aside from not speaking it out, anyone can tell.'"

Huo Sanniang gave Qin Zhānghóng a sideways glance and said, "It's just because you have a mouth."

Translation: "Huo Sanniang gave Qin Zhanhong a sideways glance, 'It's just because you have a mouth.'"

Qin Zhānghóng stuck out her tongue, made a face at Huo Sanniang, and said, "Big sister, you're saying I don't understand you? Am I not the one who understands you best?"

Translation: "Qin Zhanhong stuck out her tongue, made a face at Huo Sanniang, and said, 'Big sister, just tell me whether I understand you or not—am I the one who understands you best?'"

Huo Sanniang rolled her eyes speechlessly, merely twitching the corner of her mouth slightly.

Translation: "Huo Sanniang rolled her eyes speechlessly, merely twitching the corner of her mouth slightly."

"Wait a moment!" Yǔ Yànchū suddenly rushed over, saying, "Why can you go with your husband on the campaign? No, I want to go too! Otherwise, otherwise, I'll… I'll throw a tantrum, cry, make a scene, even threaten to hang myself!"

Translation: "'Wait!' Yu Yan Chu suddenly rushed over, 'Why can you follow your husband on campaign? No, I want to go too! Otherwise, otherwise, I'll... I'll throw a tantrum, cry, cause a scene, and even hang myself!'"

"Then go ahead and hang yourself—best if you die, you little wretch, with your tongue sticking out!" Qin Zhānghóng snorted lightly, saying, "Why can I accompany my husband on the campaign? Hey, why don't you see what I do? I'm also a commandant, a commandant!"

Translation: "'Then go hang yourself—best if you die, you little wretch, with your tongue stretched long!' Qin Zhanhong said with a light snort, 'Why can I follow my husband on campaign? Hey, why don't you see what I do? I'm also a Training Officer, a Training Officer!'"

"Even though you're a princess, you can't even grasp such an obvious fact!"

Translation: "'After all, you're a princess; how can you not understand something so obvious?'"

Yǔ Yànchū stared for a moment, then gave Qin Zhānghóng a fierce look, trying to glare her to death with her eyelids, and then coquettishly said to Chen Wujì, "My lord, I'm actually quite capable in combat; why not… give me a commandant's rank as well? I don't ask for anything else—just to be on par with that lowly Qin woman."

Translation: "Yu Yan Chu stared for a moment, then gave Qin Zhanhong a fierce glare, trying to stare her down with her eyelids, and then coquettishly said to Chen Wuji, 'Husband, I'm actually pretty good at fighting too; why not… give me a Training Officer title as well? I don't ask for anything else—just to be on par with that Qin wretch.'"

"Yo yo yo." Qin Zhānghóng called out like summoning a puppy, clicking her tongue, and said, "My dear princess, just from that sentence I finally understand why… never mind, that's a bit hurtful, I won't tell you. In any case, there's no joking in the army—this isn't playing house, it's war."

Translation: "'Yo yo yo.' Qin Zhanhong called out like summoning a puppy, clicked her tongue, and said, 'My Elder Princess, just from that sentence I finally understand why Da Yu… never mind, that's a bit hurtful, I won't tell you. In short, there's no horseplay in the army; this isn't playing house, it's war.'"

"Some things aren't settled just by throwing punches. My position as commandant isn't due to my fighting ability; if it were about brawling, ten of you couldn't match Wanwan, but she isn't a commandant either—she's merely my deputy."

Translation: "'Some things aren't settled just by throwing punches. My Training Officer rank isn't earned just because I can fight; if it came down to brawling, ten of you couldn't match Wanwan, but she isn't a Training Officer either—she's merely my aide.'"

"I'm not going to argue with you about this; don't joke about it, and don't forget what I used to do."

Translation: "'I'm not going to argue with you about this; you really shouldn't joke about it—don't forget what I used to do!'"

Yǔ Yànchū took it in, but still looked pleadingly at Chen Wujì and asked, "My lord, really not possible? I was just asking casually; if not, it's fine. Besides, I promise I have no ulterior motives, nor am I secretly helping my father; I simply want to fight, and I can swear to that."

Translation: "Yu Yan Chu heard that, but still looked pleadingly at Chen Wuji and asked, 'Husband, really not allowed? I'm just asking casually; if not, forget it. By the way, I promise I have no ulterior motives, and I'm not secretly helping my father; I simply want to fight, I can swear on it.'"

"If I harbor any other selfish motives, may heaven strike me down with a thunderbolt right now—charred outside, tender inside, leaving no remains, soul and spirit scattered, utterly annihilated."

Translation: "'If I harbor any other secret motives, let heaven strike me down with a thunderbolt right now—charred outside, tender inside, leaving no bones, no soul, no trace, utterly clean.'"

Before Yǔ Yànchū's guarantee, Chen Wujì had never even considered that possibility.

Translation: "Before Yu Yan Chu's guarantee, Chen Wuji had actually never even considered this point."

However, Chen Wujì truly saw Yǔ Yànchū's enthusiasm for war.

Translation: "However, Chen Wuji could truly see Yu Yan Chu's enthusiasm for war."

This woman has the potential to become a troublemaker; she's fiercely belligerent.

Translation: "This woman has the potential to become a ruffian; she's fiercely warlike."

Even though her demeanor doesn't seem like someone who enjoys fighting.

Translation: "Even though her disposition doesn't look like someone who enjoys fighting."

She merely opposes Qin Zhānghóng; toward others she is actually very polite and quite understanding.

Translation: "She merely opposes Qin Zhanhong head‑on; toward others she is actually very polite and quite understanding."

"Forget it this time; you probably couldn't endure a long-distance cavalry raid," Chen Wujì said.

Translation: "'This time, let it be; you probably couldn't endure a long‑range cavalry raid.' Chen Wuji said."

"Besides, I should also be mindful of my reputation; I can't let the world brand me as cruel and fickle, saying I'm unfilial, making a pampered princess who just married off become a beast of burden, even taking the field."

Translation: "'Besides, I should probably watch my reputation a bit; I can't let the world brand me as brutal and fickle, saying I'm unfilial, making the pampered Elder Princess, just married, toil like an ox and horse, even taking the battlefield.'"

"…All right." Yǔ Yànchū replied sullenly, "I'll obey honestly, but they're not qualified to judge my lord; if this counts as being a beast of burden, then I'm more than happy to do it."

Translation: "'... All right.' Yu Yan Chu replied sullenly, 'I'll obey obediently, but they're not qualified to judge my husband; if this counts as being an ox and horse, then I'm more than happy to do it.'"

Chen Wujì smiled and said, "That's settled then."

Translation: "Chen Wuji smiled and said, 'That's settled then.'"

"……"

Translation: "……"

Before the campaign, Chen Wujì also met Liu Yan and Yǔ Zhūmèi.

Translation: "Before setting out on campaign, Chen Wuji also met Liu Yan and Yu Shumei."

Actually there wasn't much to it; he simply wanted to disgust those two, and in passing tried to pry information from Yǔ Zhūmèi's intelligence network, but to no avail.

Translation: "Actually there was nothing much; it was purely to disgust those two, and incidentally try to pry the intelligence network from Yu Shumei's hands—but there was no result."

Liu Yan knew almost nothing about Yǔ Zhūmèi's intelligence network, while Yǔ Zhūmèi kept deflecting, throwing out one crazy condition after another in a desperate attempt to bargain for her freedom.

Translation: "Liu Yan knew almost nothing about Yu Shumei's intelligence network, while Yu Shumei constantly deflected with talk about left and right, her other conditions spilling out one after another in a frenzy, trying every means to exchange them for her freedom."

Yet whenever the topic turned to the intelligence network she controlled, she never mentioned it at all.

Translation: "But whenever the matter turned to the intelligence network she controlled, she never mentioned it at all."

Chen Wujì didn't obsess over it; after failing to get an answer, he let it go, and upon leaving instructed Xu Zēngyì to check in on them every few days before departing.

Translation: "Chen Wuji didn't become overly obsessed either; since he couldn't get an answer, he gave up, and after leaving he instructed Xu Zengyi to check in on them every few days before departing."

It's no matter if Yǔ Zhūmèi won't open up now; there's no rush for the time being.

Translation: "It doesn't matter that Yu Shumei's mouth can't be pried open now, and there's no rush about it at the moment."

Chen Wujì is very patient; he can wait until she reaches a state of despair.

Translation: "Chen Wuji is very patient; he can wait for a time when her mindset becomes desperate."

And that day shouldn't be too far off.

Translation: "Moreover, that day shouldn't be too far off."

"……"

Translation: "……"

Evening.

Translation: "Evening."

Chen Wujì led 13,000 troops from the Guard Battalion and the Wing Camp out of Xinglin Town to raid the refugee settlement, with Kong Yue and Lord Lu San accompanying the army.

Translation: "Chen Wuji led the Jinwei ying and the Yixiu ying—thirteen thousand strong—out of Xinglin Zhen, rushing toward Liu Min Ji, with Kong Fang and Lord Lu San accompanying the army."

The past few days have seen persistent high heat; daytime marching reduces the horses' stamina significantly, so it's better to set out later and pick up speed.

Translation: "These past days of persistent heat have greatly reduced the endurance of warhorses marching by day; it would be better to set out later and pick up speed."

With about two hours left until full darkness, we can cover roughly 120 li.

Translation: "With about two hours left before total darkness, we can cover a hundred and twenty li."

We'll leave this afternoon; it might be a bit longer than this route, but basically it won't be much longer.