chapter 410

[?]: Mister Kan has successfully infiltrated the Cao camp.

[?]: He had won Cao Cao’s trust after helping the Cao army cross the river.

[?]: Now he’s not just responsible for predicting the weather, but could actually have a hand in the military affairs.

chapter 410 Persistent
(“tied to won’t release”)

[?]: According to him, Cao Cao’s forces in Red Cliff is only about two hundred thousand strong.

[Lü Meng]: Part of it went to Haihun. So their main force has been broken up.

[?]: He also said that Cao Cao has received Huang Gai’s reply and is preparing to collaborate.
[?]: If all goes well, the Cao army will initiate their attack on the day Huang Gai surrenders.
(“if nothing unexpectedly wrong…”)

[Lu Xun]: That means we’re in control of the engagement date.

[LX]: Chief Controller Zhou leads the efforts at Red Cliff while Chief Controller Cheng is in charge of the ground battles…

[?]: Once the easterly wind arrives, the destruction of Red Cliff could also mean cutting off the supply line over land.

[LX]: How does the water quality feel to you two?

[?]: Based on what teacher had taught me, the water feels warmer than yesterday.
[?]: This is the unusual weather that teacher predicted would be coming soon.

[LM]: Okay. Report back to Mister Kan.
[?]: Yessir!

[LM]: Give them a cover story.
(“for them disguise a bit”)

[LM]: You must pull him out of there once the mission succeeds.
[?]: Don’t worry, General!

{sfx: pa. pa. pa}

[?]: Done.

[?]: We’ll head back now, Generals!

[LX]: Chief Controller said that Zhuge Liang has also predicted when the easterly wind will arrive.

[LM]: Yes. I heard that his assassination plot of Cai Mao eliminated Jiangxia’s main opponent…

[LM]: The change of enemy commander will benefit Xiakou’s Liu clan greatly.

[LX]: Who knew Zhuge Liang could still make a killer move when we’ve kept him in the southeast.

[LX]: If we let him return, he will redouble Liu Bei’s strength.

[LM]: Don’t worry, Liu Bei has to go through us if he wants to claim the Jing Province.

[LX]: Haha, true.

[LM]: Everyone, be ready to act at a moment’s notice.
[?]: Yessir.

{Wulin, the headquarter of the Cao army}

[?]: Oh, Mister Kan.

[Kan Ze]: Ah, is Young Master here to see the Prime Minister?

[Cao Pi]: I just arrived and you’re leaving.

[KZ]: Yes, I have deployment orders.

[KZ]: The Prime Minister has given me more secret documents.

[Sima Yi]: Still no moment to spare, Master Kan?

[KZ]: Haha, you are certainly persistent.
(“…bite on won’t release”)

[SMY]: I know you are very busy, teacher, but…

[KZ]: We should put off comparing notes until after the war is over.

[KZ]: Excuse me, Young Master.
[CP]: Yes. The war is more important.

[SMY]: Then, Master Kan…

[SMY]: allow me to walk with you for a while.

[CP]: Cai Mao is dead, so the navy needed a new commander.

[CP]: The naval formation by the new commander, however, is vastly different from before.

[CP]: If our navy has to readjust to the change, we would lose the initiative.

[CP]: Father, should we reevaluate the entire strategy?

[Cao Cao]: Our troops at Red Cliff can wait, but the troops in Haihun won’t survive the severe winter.

[CC]: This attack must proceed no matter what.

[CP]: I think it’s strange that Cai Mao would suddenly abandon his post.

[CP]: Went home merely because a family member was said to have fallen ill?

[CP]: Or did you let him to go, father?

[CC]: Observant. Go on.

[CP]: Given his status in Jing, it’s no surprise for Cai Mao to become a key figure in our navy.

[CP]: But I don’t think he lives up to his fame, and yet…

[CP]: you had some rather high praise for him, father…

[CC]: What else have you observed, Pi-er?
(“-er” a kind of affectionate diminutive reference of someone)

[CP]: Father employs not the questionable, and questions not the employed…

[CP]: I wouldn’t have noticed the subtlety
(“inner intricacy, had [it] not Cai Mao died”)

[CP]: had Cai Mao lived.
(“I wouldn’t have seen [through] the mystery”)

[CP]: Reassigning the commander must be a bait for Liu Bei.

[CP]: Using a sacrifice is Jia Xu’s killer move.

[CC]: Hm. Not bad.

[CC]: Oh Pi-er,

[CC]: Jia Xu is indeed a great teacher for you.

[CC]: But…

[CC]: there is someone close to you that is even stronger.

[CC]: Because soon he will give you an eye-opening experience!

[KZ]: If you have something to say, Zhong Da, just say it.
(Zhong Da is Sima Yi’s courtesy name)

[SMY]: I still believe there will be an easterly wind.

[KZ]: But hasn’t the Prime Minister proceeded according to my plan?

[SMY]: Then let’s skip the idle chat…

[SMY]: Teacher,

[SMY]: here, right here.

[SMY]: I would like to challenge you!
(the dictionary says “compare notes”, but doesn’t sound cool when said with an emphasis; it’s like a verbal duel, but not a “debate” necessarily? any better wording suggestion?)

[KZ]: What?

The ship arrived at the shore to pick up Kan Ze, but he didn’t board on time.

Because… he really wanted to teach that boy in front of him a lesson.