Chapter 148: with translation of chapter title

Banners fluttered, and the triumphant bugle call sounded long and mighty.

Translation: "Banners fluttered, the triumphant bugle call long and mighty."

Check: banners fluttered, triumphant bugle call, long and mighty—good.

When Chai Rong led the victorious army, escorting large numbers of captives and seized goods, and the troops returned to Chan Prefecture.

Translation: "When Chai Rong led the victorious army, escorting large numbers of captives and seized goods, and the troops returned to Chan Prefecture."

When Chai Rong led the victorious army, escorting large numbers of captives and seized goods, and the troops returned to Chan Prefecture.

The whole of Chan Prefecture city and its surrounding areas were in an uproar.

Translation: "The entire Chan Prefecture City and surrounding areas fell into an uproar."

The populace brought out food and drink, lining the streets to greet them, and their cheers shook the heavens and earth.

Translation: "The people brought out food and drink, lining the roads to welcome them, their cheers shaking heaven and earth."

Word of the great victory at Highflat had already reached them, and the soldiers and civilians of Chan Prefecture shared in the honor.

Translation: "The news of the great victory at Highflat had long been relayed, and the soldiers and civilians of Chan Prefecture shared in the honor."

Check: great victory at Highflat, soldiers and civilians of Chan Prefecture, sharing in the honor.

Especially after learning that their own military governor had personally arrived at the front, and that their subordinate defender Chen had performed the feat of holding up the heavens to protect the army.

Translation: "Especially after learning that their own Military Governor personally came to the front line, and their subordinate Defense Commissioner Chen Wen had achieved the feat of holding up the heavens to guard the army."

Note: the phrase "feat of holding up the heavens to guard the army" means a feat of supporting the heavens and protecting the army.

This pride reached its zenith.

Translation: "This sense of pride reached its peak."

However, Chen Wen did not linger long amid the bustle of Chan Prefecture.

Translation: "However, Chen Wen did not linger long in the bustle of Chan Prefecture City."

After reporting to Chai Rong and paying a brief visit to the prefectural officials,

Translation: "After reporting to Chai Rong and briefly meeting the prefectural officials,"

After reporting to Chai Rong and paying a brief visit to the prefectural officials,

He then took his core officers along with the imperial edicts and seals of honor granted by the court.

Translation: "He then brought his core cadre, along with the imperial edict and seal granted by the Imperial Court."

Under the escort of an elite Jing'an Army unit, he rode nonstop back to his home base.

Translation: "Under the escort of a unit of elite Tranquil Peace Army, he nonstop returned to his foundation land."

Check: "nonstop" means nonstop; "returned to his foundation land" means returned to his home base.

——Linhé, Thus entries: Thus entries: Anping, and Luochuan, the three counties.

Translation: "——Riverside, Thus entries: Thus entries: Anping, Luo River, the three counties."

——Riverside, Thus entries: Thus entries: Anping, Luo River, the three counties.

Compared to the fervor in Chan Prefecture city, the welcome in the three counties was more plain but deeper.

Translation: "Compared to the fervor of Chan Prefecture City, the welcome in the three counties was more simple, yet also deeper."

Upon learning that their commander had not only returned safely but also achieved an extraordinary feat, been ennobled as a marquis, and promoted to defender.

Translation: "Upon learning that the chief official not only returned safely but also achieved an unprecedented feat, was ennobled as a marquis, and promoted to Defense Commissioner."

Still in charge of the locality, the people, clerks, and garrisoned soldiers of the three counties were all overjoyed and inspired.

Translation: "Still holding local authority, the three counties' commoners, clerks, and stationed soldiers all rejoiced."

They cared nothing for the political turmoil at court; they only knew that Commander Chen had brought order and peace.

Translation: "They did not care about the changes in the imperial court; they only knew that this Military Commissioner Chen brought order and peace."

Now he brought them supreme glory, allowing these borderland folk to stand tall.

Translation: "Now it also brought supreme glory, allowing these borderland people to stand tall."

The first thing Chen Wen did upon his return was not to hold a grand celebration, but to fulfill his promises.

Translation: "Chen Wen's first act upon returning was not to hold a grand celebration, but to fulfill his promises."

During the period when the main force of the Jing'an Army was on campaign.

Translation: "During the period when the main force of the Tranquil Peace Army was on campaign."

The garrisoned Zhang Cheng, Zhao Lao Nian, and others strictly followed Chen Wen's pre-departure arrangements, maintaining the locality and organizing production.

Translation: "The stationed Zhang Cheng, Zhao Lao Nian, and others strictly followed Chen Wen's prior deployment, maintaining the locality and organizing production."

After Chen Wen returned, he immediately ordered that part of the court's awarded silks and treasures, as well as large quantities of captured supplies, be distributed without stint.

Note: there is a typo where the second character uses the simplified form instead of the traditional form. We'll translate as given.

Translation: "After Chen Wen returned, he immediately ordered that part of the silk and cloth granted by the Imperial Court, as well as large quantities of seized supplies, be distributed without stint."

Compensation for fallen soldiers was paid in full to their families right away.

Translation: "Compensation for fallen soldiers was paid in full to their families immediately."

And it was promised that their families would be tax-exempt, and their children would be supported by the government until adulthood.

Translation: "And he promised that their families would be exempt from taxes, and their children would be supported by the government office until adulthood."

Wounded soldiers received the best medical care and generous rewards.

Translation: "Wounded soldiers received the best medical treatment and generous rewards."

All soldiers who participated in this expedition were rewarded according to merit, everyone receiving a share, with none left out.

Translation: "All soldiers who participated in this campaign were rewarded according to merit, everyone receiving a share, none omitted."

Even the garrisoned soldiers and the able-bodied youths who helped maintain the locality received part of the funds and grain as a reward.

Translation: "Even the stationed soldiers and the able-bodied youths who helped maintain the locality received part of the provisions as a reward."

These measures, like a warm current, washed away the sorrow brought by war.

Translation: "These measures, like a warm current, washed away the sorrow brought by war."

Furthermore, the character for "trust" was deeply etched into the hearts of every soldier and civilian.

Translation: "Furthermore, the character 'trust' was deeply engraved in the hearts of every soldier and civilian."

Everyone clearly saw that following Chen Wen not only allowed one to gain fame on the battlefield,

Translation: "Everyone clearly saw that following Chen Wen, one could not only gain fame on the battlefield,"

but also to receive the most substantial protection and respect.

Translation: "but also obtain the most substantial security and respect."

The hearts of the army and the people were thus wholly united, as solid as rock.

Translation: "Soldiers' and civilians' hearts thus wholly submitted, as firm as rock."

After stabilizing the people's hearts, Chen Wen immediately devoted all his energy to deepening governance and development in the three counties.

Translation: "After stabilizing the people's hearts, Chen Wen immediately devoted all his energy to deepening governance and development construction in the three counties."

Having earned the title of Defender of Chan Prefecture and the authority to act expediently, he found implementing orders increasingly easy.

Translation: "Holding the title of Chan Prefecture Defense Commissioner and the authority to act on behalf, he found issuing orders more facile."

He first extended the application of "ability endowment" from the military domain more broadly into civil administration.

Translation: "He first extended the application of Ability Granting from the military domain to broader internal affairs construction."

Spring plowing was imminent.

Translation: "Spring plowing was imminent."

Chen Wen personally inspected the fields, and from time to time applied a "broad 2× ability endowment" to experienced old farmers and officials responsible for organizing production.

Translation: "Chen Wen personally inspected the fields, and from time to time applied 'broad 2× Ability Granting' to experienced old farmers and clerks responsible for organizing production."

This did not directly increase their strength, but rather enhanced their focus, judgment, and organizational efficiency.

Translation: "This did not directly increase their strength, but enhanced their focus, judgment, and organizational efficiency."

The old farmers' judgments on soil moisture and seed selection became more precise.

Translation: "The old farmers' judgments on moisture and seed selection became more precise."

The officials' speed in allocating labor and livestock, and distributing tools and seeds, increased while errors decreased.

Translation: "The clerks' speed in allocating human and animal labor and distributing farming tools and seeds increased, with fewer errors."

The overall efficiency and order of the spring plowing far surpassed that of previous years.

Translation: "The overall efficiency and order of spring plowing far surpassed previous years."

In the artificers' camp, Zhao Lao Nian was overjoyed.

Translation: "In the Artisan Camp, Zhao Lao Nian was overjoyed."

Chen Wen not only gave him greater authority and resources, but also frequently applied a "concentrated 4× ability endowment" to him and several master craftsmen.

Translation: "Chen Wen not only gave him greater authority and resources, but also frequently applied 'concentrated 4× Ability Granting' to him and several master artisans."

In this state, Zhao Lao Nian felt his thoughts were clearer than ever before, and long-standing technical problems that had troubled him were readily solved.

Translation: "In this state, Zhao Lao Nian felt his thoughts were unprecedentedly clear, and long-standing technical problems that had troubled him were readily solved."

His understanding and speed of producing the improved agricultural tools and water conservancy facilities designs that Chen Wen provided greatly increased.

Translation: "His understanding and production speed of the improved farming tools and water facility drawings provided by Chen Wen greatly increased."

The efficiency and quality of the artificers' camp surged, producing new curved-plowshares, efficient water wheels, improved looms, and so on.

Translation: "The Artisan Camp's efficiency and quality surged, producing new curved-shaft plows, efficient water wheels, improved looms, and the like."

They began to be produced at an astonishing speed and were distributed for use.

Translation: "They began to be manufactured at astonishing speed and distributed for use."

Projects such as fortifying the city defenses, constructing waterworks, and paving roads were also fully launched.

Translation: "Projects such as city defense reinforcement, water conservancy construction, and road paving were also fully launched."

The laborers and soldiers who received the efficiency boost worked with great vigor, and the project progress advanced by leaps and bounds.

Translation: "The laborers and soldiers who gained the efficiency boost worked with vigor, and the project progress advanced a thousand miles a day."

Chen Wen even attempted, in large projects, to simultaneously apply a "broad 2× endowment" to the foremen of different sections.

Translation: "Chen Wen even attempted, in large projects, to simultaneously apply 'broad 2× Ability Granting' to the foremen of different work sections."

This made the coordination and progress control of the entire project reach an astonishing degree.

Translation: "Thus the coordination and progress control of the entire project reached an unimaginable degree."

At the same time, Chen Wen further deepened military reform, using the battle-hardened veterans of the Jing'an Army as the core, and extensively recruiting captives who had performed outstandingly in battle, as well as itinerant youths who had come seeking fame, to expand the army.

Translation: "At the same time, Chen Wen further deepened military reform, using the veteran Tranquil Peace Army soldiers who had endured blood and fire as the framework, extensively recruiting captives who performed outstandingly in battle and refugee youths who came seeking fame, expanding the army."

The new army was strictly trained according to the Jing'an Army model, and began rotating garrisons at key points in the three counties, while also participating in land reclamation and construction projects, achieving integration of soldier and civilian, self-sufficiency.

Translation: "The new army strictly trained according to the Tranquil Peace Army model, began rotating garrison at key points of the three counties, and participated in military farming and project construction, achieving soldier-civilian integration and self-sufficiency."

Zhang Cheng, Wang Ru, and others took charge of civil affairs, sorting out lawsuits, measuring land, implementing fairer tax policies, encouraging commerce, and attracting itinerants.

Translation: "Zhang Cheng, Wang Ru, and others then oversaw civil affairs, sorted lawsuits, measured land, promoted a fairer tax policy, encouraged trade, and attracted refugees."

Under the indirect assistance of Chen Wen's "ability endowment," the entire administrative system operated with extremely high efficiency, orders flowed smoothly, and governance became remarkably clear.

Translation: "Under the indirect assistance of Chen Wen's Ability Granting, the administrative system's operational efficiency was extremely high, orders flowed smoothly, and officialdom became clear."

Time flew by swiftly amidst the busyness.

Translation: "Time flew swiftly amidst the busyness."

In just a few months, the three counties presented a scene of thriving prosperity.

Translation: "In just a few months, the three counties presented a scene of flourishing prosperity."

In the fields, the seedlings grew vigorously; in the workshops, the ringing sounds never ceased.

Translation: "In the fields, seedlings grew vigorously; in the workshops, the clanging sound never ceased."

At the market, merchants and travelers grew in number; itinerants were settled; the people wore smiles; the troops' morale was high, and their equipment was excellent.

Translation: "At the market, merchants grew more numerous; refugees were settled; the people's faces showed smiles; the army's morale was high, and equipment was excellent."

Chen Wen stood on the newly reinforced walls of LinhÉ County, gazing out over this land brimming with vitality.

Translation: "Chen Wen stood on the newly reinforced city wall of Riverside County, gazing upon this land brimming with vitality."

He could clearly feel that his connection with this land and these people had become even tighter.

In the sea of consciousness, that magnificent Fortune Momentum vortex, with the flourishing development of the three counties, the unity of the people's hearts, and the consolidation of the foundations.

It is steadily and continuously accumulating and growing.

Although it still cannot be actively invoked, its very existence represents an extraordinarily solid foundation and limitless future possibilities.

Here, it is no longer merely the defensive zone he relies on to stand; it has truly become his home, his country.

In this chaotic world, he personally built and swore to defend this foundation land.

The foundation, now eternally solid.