Free Web NovelChapter 207: Chapter 183: Vanguard Forces, Army of Ten Thousand
Step 1: Contextual Analysis
Literary genre: This appears to be a Chinese web novel/fantasy fiction, specifically a martial arts or cultivation novel (xianxia/wuxia).
Language style: The writing is descriptive with elements of action and dialogue. It includes some crude language from secondary characters and has typical Chinese web novel narrative patterns.
Tone: The tone is straightforward with some tension, describing a military-like expedition in harsh conditions with instances of crude humor from the soldiers and a serious, disciplined tone from the main characters.
Plot keywords: Military expedition, march, harsh weather, bandits, scouts, discipline, objectification of women, martial skills
Characters:
- Jiang Aotian (蒋傲天): Male, leader of the advance troops, from a martial arts family with good education, disciplined, trying to manage a group of unruly fighters
- Chen Bamei (陈八妹): Female, scout/archer with excellent skills, cold demeanor, highly capable fighter
- Great Village Chief (大寨主): Not present in the scene but mentioned as authority figure
- Various unnamed soldiers/bandits: Crude, undisciplined men focused on money and women
Step 2: Integrated Translation and Polishing
First, I’ll translate the full text while implementing all the rules specified, ensuring I correctly use the glossary terms and maintain the structure.
Let me begin the translation:
The Chapter describes a military expedition led by Jiang Aotian toward Dinghai City. They’re marching under harsh sun conditions with troops that are former bandits and criminals. Jiang tries to motivate them with promises of rewards and women. Chen Bamei serves as a scout. During a rest break, some of the men make crude comments about Chen Bamei when she steps away, but she demonstrates her skills by firing mud pellets at their mouths from a distance, shutting them up and impressing Jiang.
Now for the detailed translation:
The merciless sun beat down brutally on the earth. The prolonged drought had left the roadside vegetation drooping lifelessly. The official road was covered with a thick layer of dust from horse hooves, which would billow skyward at the slightest disturbance.
Jiang Aotian felt like his nostrils were about to be completely clogged with dust.
Add to that his whole body sweating profusely under the scorching sun, mixing with the airborne dust, and his once fair and handsome face had instantly transformed into a dirty mess.
This made Jiang Aotian, who had been pampered since childhood and valued cleanliness, feel utterly miserable and nearly drove him mad.
But military orders couldn’t be defied. As the leader of this advance force, he had to march quickly to clear all obstacles along the way for the main army following behind.
Though he could endure thanks to his strong physical constitution, the people following him were struggling to keep up.
Even though these men were supposedly elites carefully selected from Cyan Cloud Mountain, their quality was inconsistent. Many had previously been notorious bandits. While they excelled at killing, arson, rape, and pillage, they immediately faltered when forced to march properly like a regular army.
Sure enough, after traveling just a few dozen miles, their formation began to fall apart. Though none dared complain openly, inwardly they were grumbling and cursing.
Jiang Aotian could clearly see their resentment, but they were far from the mountain stronghold now, and he needed these men to accomplish their mission. He could only suppress his anger and continuously encourage them.
"Everyone, put in a little more effort! The Great Village Chief said whoever is the first to charge into Dinghai City will be rewarded with a thousand silver coins."
"Besides, Dinghai City is a prosperous place. If we’re the first to break in, won’t we have access to all the money and women we could want?"
"At that time, there will be plenty of untouched young maidens lined up waiting for your favor. Wouldn’t that be wonderful?"
Honestly, for Jiang Aotian, who came from a martial arts family and received an excellent education since childhood, speaking such vulgar words was difficult.
But necessity demanded it. He knew clearly that these men had no ideals to speak of and thought only of money and women all day.
So the cruder his words, the more likely they were to move these men.
Sure enough, after hearing these words, the men all perked up. Some even smacked their lips and snickered, as if already seeing those young maidens before them.
Jiang Aotian secretly sighed in relief, noticing that the cavalry’s pace had quickened considerably.
Just then, a chestnut horse came galloping at high speed from the distance. It turned and merged into the formation, coming alongside Jiang Aotian.
On the horse sat a petite woman with a longbow strapped to her back. Her delicate face wore an expression of cold severity.
"Bamei, how’s the situation ahead?" Jiang Aotian asked.
For this expedition, he and Chen Bamei had been assigned to the same group. He was in charge of the troops’ movement and clearing small forces along the way.
Chen Bamei was responsible for reconnaissance.
The two had clear roles and worked quite well together.
"There’s nothing unusual within at least ten miles ahead," Chen Bamei said flatly.
"Good!"
The troops continued to advance.
By now the sun was directly overhead, the hottest time of day. Under these conditions, not just people but even horses couldn’t endure, so after advancing a few more miles, Jiang Aotian had to find a place to rest.
By this time, all the villages along the way had been abandoned, becoming ghost towns.
Under these circumstances, even getting a drink of water became a luxury, as no one could guarantee the wells in these villages hadn’t been poisoned.
Fortunately, they all carried water flasks and could barely manage.
Still, the heat was truly unbearable.
Even standing in the shade, the waves of heat made it difficult to breathe.
These crude men who lived on the edge of survival paid little attention to propriety. They all removed their upper garments and went bare-chested.
Though Jiang Aotian also felt the heat, his good upbringing prevented him from taking off his clothes. He merely unbuttoned the top few buttons of his collar.
Chen Bamei rested briefly under a large tree in the distance, then coldly said, "I’ll go scout the forest."
With that, she turned and disappeared into the forest within a few leaps.
After she left, several bold men exchanged glances, then started snickering, their eyes full of mischief.
Though they didn’t dare act inappropriately in front of Chen Bamei due to the difference in status, as the only woman in the troop—and a good-looking one at that—it was predictable how these men, whose minds were filled with thoughts of sex, would quietly gossip once she was gone.
A gap-toothed man said in an extremely low voice to the person beside him, "This little woman always has such a cold face, as hard as a stone. Wonder if she’s like that in bed too?"
"That depends on the man’s skill. If it were me, I guarantee I’d make her cry and beg for mercy!" The man next to him responded with a lecherous smile.
But as soon as the words left his mouth, two white flashes suddenly flew toward their faces, striking them squarely in the mouth.
Dirt splattered and blood flew.
It turned out the white flashes were mud pellets.
Though made of mud, they became extremely hard after being dried by fire.
The two men covered their mouths where their front teeth had been knocked out, howling in pain.
The rest fell silent, not daring to say another word.
Seeing this, Jiang Aotian couldn’t help but be inwardly alarmed.
He had previously known only that Chen Bamei was an exceptional archer, but had no idea she could also shoot mud pellets with such precision.
