In youth, at fifteen or twenty years of age
On foot, he seized a Tartar horse to shoot from its stage.
Shot and killed the white-browed tiger of Zhongshan
Would he rank below the Yellow-Whiskered lad of Yexian?
His single self fought across three thousand li
His single sword once held a million troops at bay.
Han soldiers charged swift as thunderbolts
The enemy cavalry fled in fear of caltrops.
Wei Qing's lack of defeat was due to heaven's luck
Li Guang's lack of merit was because his fate was struck.
Since cast aside, he's decayed and aged
Worldly affairs wasted away till his hair turned white, engaged.
In past times, his flying arrow left no eye whole
Today, a willow grows from his left elbow, takes its toll.
By the roadside, he sometimes sells melons like the former Marquis
Before his gate, he learns to plant willows like Master Five Willows, you see.
Vast ancient trees connect to poor lanes
Desolate cold mountains face his empty windowpanes.
He vows to make a spring gush forth at Shule
Not like Yingchuan, who just drowned sorrows in wine, futile.
Below Helan Mountain, battle formations spread like clouds
Urgent dispatches speed back and forth, news of which surrounds.
Imperial envoys recruit youths from the Three Rivers' land
The Emperor's decree sends generals out in five commands.
He tries brushing his iron armor till it's snow-white
Idly wields his precious sword, making star patterns bright.
Wishes for a Yan bow to shoot the enemy's top general
Ashamed to let Yue armor clang against Wu's forces, a disgrace eternal.
Do not scorn the former Governor of Yunzhong, old and past
He can still fight one battle and earn merit to last.