Chapter 50 - Renegade Traitor (1/2)
Chapter 50 - Renegade Traitor (MTL, not proofread or edited yet)
Translated by Bloodfalcon, Edited by TearsOfLoki
”Yuan Gonglu has sent us 5000-s.h.i.+ of grain and provisions!” Chen Gong reported to Lu Bu.
“Un!” Lu Bu nodded. To be honest, Yuan Gonglu did not want to shorten his own provisions, but Lu Bu already said the advantage and disadvantage of lending him some provisions, so Yuan Gonglu did not dare to not comply with Lu Bu’s request.
“Yuan Gonglu also brought information about Chen Lan and Lei Bo’s hideout!” Chen Gong’s tone started to sound hesitant.
TL: Chen Lan and Lei Bo, both are generals of Yuan Shu, when Yuan Shu declare himself as emperor. Chen Lan and Lei Bo become bandits and plundered Shouchun palace. Lei Bo also known as Lei Bu (which is the way his name written and p.r.o.nounced in this novel, both are correct as stated in kongming.net, which one that you readers prefer? Comment please)
”How?!”Lu Bu inquired.
Chen Gong sighed ” Their hideout’s terrain, I’m afraid that place is not optimal terrain for battle! They can hide in Bagongshan with all of their horses and troops!”
TL: Presently Bagongshan is a district in Huainan, Anhui county. But when in ancient time, it is really a mountain name, so the name is Mount Bagong. Please comment, if you want me to translate it as Bagongshan or Mount Bagong. For this chapter, I will use Bagongshan.
”Bagongshan?!” Lu Bu who started out from Luoyang, up until now, wherever he goes, has always been the plains or prairie in the north. He had never gone south, to Yangzhou. So he does not have any idea about the terrain in the south, let alone about Bagongshan as Chen Gong said.
“Bagongshan’s other name is Shouchun Mountain aka Mt. Beishan! This mountain is the border between north and south, just like the Yellow River, which became the border between north and south. So this Bagongshan has always been a very strategic point since olden times. “Now, Chen Lan and Lei Bo occupied this place. From here, one can see Shouchun entirely; also there is a natural defense that is formed by the terrain. Now Lu Bu, knew why Yuan Shu cannot leave Shouchun even though that city no longer be a habitat for the living anymore.
Yuan Shu actually wanted to leave, but he cannot do that because his actions and movements are restricted and monitored by those two. Once his foot step outside Shouchun, it will be difficult for him to move either way.
“So Lu Bu’s army can be regarded as Yuan Shu’s reinforcement, Even if you, Lu Bu did not come and ask to borrow provisions, Yuan Shu would have definitely senta messenger asking for your help out of fear of these two.”
Lu Bu made an effort to not comment.
If it was a normal adviser, they would have certainly advised Lu Bu to take Shouchun. h.e.l.l, taking Shouchun is a much better deal than attacking Bagongshan. Even if they had no plan to take Shouchun, the best course of action is to leave as soon as possible, leaving Chen Lan and Lei Bo, since they have occupied Bagongshan. Moreover, when we do this, it will be impossible with Old Yuan’s temper for him not to retaliate with all of his might and taking account Lu Bu’s army as Yuan Shu’s opponent, isn’t it the same as asking for death for Yuan Shu’s army/
However Chen Gong was not a normal adviser and Lu Bu was not a normal warlord.
”These two renegades! If this problem cannot be solved now, they will haunt us forever, we can forget them having a lofty ambitions!” Said Lu Bu with indifference, as if Chen Lan and Lei Bo of Bagongshan are fish slated for the chopping block. “Pa.s.s my orders, let the army prepare food in three-s.h.i.+fts, we depart at dawn!”
”Yes!” Chen Gong nodded, he did not want to suggest to make a detour for this not Lu Bu's army style and he cannot persuade Lu Bu. So, what Lu Bu's army need is now is to rest and raise army morale. Tomorrow, Chen Lan and Lei Bo will have a torrent of misfortunes.
A night of rest with three-s.h.i.+ft watch hours, the entire Lu Bu army have started to action. In order to help Lu Bu clean up Chen Lan and Lei Bo, Yuan Shu sent good quality meats and wine.
Liu Mang's camp also received provisions from Yuan Shu. He obtained roast lamb and one big jar of fine wine. If this is for Liu Mang then these food is more than enough with more to spare. But Liu Mang, true to his oath, actually divided those food and wine with his 1000 brothers. A person only gets a small portion of meat. Also the wine, in order to be adequate for 1000 soldiers, Liu Mang mixed it with water so much until there is no more taste. Yuan Shu's wine gift is actually a very good wine, but now no one in Urban Army can taste it.
However tonight turns out to be a very unforgettable night for Urban Army.
“Together, we live or die; together, we share riches and honor, as long as I, Liu Mang, am still standing, I will not make you starve. Brothers we eat!”, then Liu Mang instructed army chef to boil water, in order to make Sheep-bone soup. This meal is very excellent, even though it only served dry rations, eating only a small portion of meat and drinking tasteless wine.
Dawn, it is already fifth watch.
TL: They are using a night.w.a.tch s.h.i.+ft to predict the time, another ancient time
For example:
Definition
yīgēng first of the five night watch periods 19:00-21:00 (old)
sān'gēng third of the five night watch periods 23:00-01:00 (old); midnight
èrgēng second of the five night watch periods 21:00-23:00 (old)
wǔgēng fifth of the five night watch periods 03:00-05:00 (old)