The August Emperor's compassion roots deep as a thought,
Though lands lie north or south, all people are his own.
A twitch of finger cannot be trusted as it ought,
One move here stirs response there, through the flesh and bone.
They say the northern hounds devour each other's kin,
Like clam and snipe they fight while we the fishers win.
Great states renew their oaths with solemn words again,
Sending spoonfuls of aid to save the starving fin.
Wolf-hearted men show us no grace, no kindly part,
Red-white memorials startle the Emperor's heart.
The Emperor says: 'Go forth! I grant the war's command.'
One minister receives the edict for Huai's strand,
Another leads the troops by Han River's borderland.
Who shares the southwest's care, its burden and its weight?
I have a trusted kinsman in the council's state.
He times each move and still, controls both host and guest,
Beyond the palace gate, the General knows what's best.
Frontier children now sleep on kindling, danger-nigh,
Banners hang still, and crows are tame against the sky.
The General, with feather fan and silken hood,
Will calm the strife with quiet, as a wise man should.
Recent ways of the world surge like a rolling wave,
Scholars bound by desire, their true nature enslaved.
The war's chief instigator burned in lifelong shame,
Yet none had warned beforehand, none had voiced the blame.
High officials lead, and crowds chime in their song,
One echoes first, then others follow all along.
Now mad dogs bark and snarl before the fight begins,
The situation differs from those past war-sins.
We rescue trapped beasts but attract hungry gnats,
Such acts only raise dust, accomplish little that's.
Men of purpose grieve, the army knits its brow,
Leave it untreated, and the tiger's threat stays now.
Treat it and fail, the peach-bugs swarm in greater might,
Win not completely, desperate beasts will take to flight.
Exhaust all means—then who remains to be our friend?
Like black and white stones on a board that has no end.
They hold the belly-ribs, we guard the border's rim,
Nurtured imbalance lets their threatening power brim.
Moreover, they attack while we still hesitate,
The board's configuration changes with each date.
Without a master hand, who can weave order's thread?
Talents are born into the world for cause widespread.
Heaven bestows, God sends down Song's spirit high,
One heart can hold the cosmos, steady earth and sky.
Floating clouds of rank—what are they to discuss?
I wish you soon return to where the roads meet us.
Embrace all wisdom, draw from hearing far and near,
Promote great justice, make the evil miasma clear.
Bear back fair fame to where the unicorn appears,
Alas, I cannot calm this age of strife and tears.
Wu Stream has rocks that tower rugged and austere,
If I could run like Dongguo's hare, I'd serve you here.