In Shang there was a Yangcheng post station,
Its name shared with Yang, the Daozhou official.
Lord Yang has long passed away,
Moved, my tears freely flow.
In the past, he served parents with filial care,
His conduct matched Zengzi and Min Ziqian.
Orphaned young, he cherished his brothers,
Brothers harmonious and gentle.
One evening apart unseen,
Felt like three years of worry.
He vowed never to marry,
Sharing quilt and mat for life.
His brother-in-law died in another county,
Left bones with none to retrieve.
He sent the youngest brother to go,
He and the second brother stayed.
Parting in the end unmet,
Three men journeyed far together.
Together bore the foreign bones,
Returned to bury in homeland.
He dwelled in Xiayi, tranquil,
Townsfolk lived without deceit.
Villagers vied in merits,
Came to ask of worse or better.
Official punishment, a day's shame,
His flaw, a lifelong disgrace.
He gave no leftover cloth,
People themselves stole no ox.
Asked how he achieved this,
Loyalty and trust, first self-cultivation.
Words spoken followed reason,
Ignored factions and foes.
Fame spread gradually,
Officials gathered like clouds.
Youth learned from him,
Elders roamed with him.
Coming and going, news spread,
County magistrates and nobles.
His name fell from ministers' lips,
Surged like waves pushing boats.
The emperor heard of it,
Edicts sent, repeatedly seeking.
The letter wished to meet,
Like a drought-land dragon yearning.
What to hold as gift?
Silk rolls with jade orbs.
What to drive as carriage?
Four horses pull fine shafts.
He held Boyi's integrity,
Served Yin, not Zhou.
I am a Tang commoner,
Tilling Tang's fields.
I hear the emperor recalls,
How dare I act freely?
Came as Remonstrance Counselor,
Morning and night served the crown.
Subtly mended shallow customs,
Quietly offered wise plans.
Divine healer speaks no method,
People's ills secretly healed.
Monthly took counselor's salary,
Brothers gathered to discuss.
All said beyond relatives,
Wine disperses present sorrow.
He said, without you all,
How gain such fine schemes?
Leftover funds bought wine,
Guests came, toasting each other.
Sunset, no thought for food,
Deep spring, still worn fur coat.
People's hearts full of sorrow,
My joy alone, carefree.
Zhenyuan year nears end,
Court holds crooked hooks.
Stormy tides rush fierce,
Sun and moon entwined tight.
Teeth and jaws scheme cunning,
Grains secretly grow pests.
Is none there to speak?
Meat-eaters choke its throat.
Is none there to act?
Power's handle grips its leash.
Nose again blocked by influence,
Cannot tell fragrance from stink.
He though not openly remonstrated,
Anxious as bearing a tumor.
Flying memorials eight or nine sent,
All like pearls cast into dark.
Blazing sun nearing fierceness,
Piled firewood, none pulls it out.
He then led his subordinates,
Decisive remonstrance, like revenge.
Outside Yan Ying Palace gate,
Knocked the gate, still kowtowed.
And said if matters don't cease,
His remonstrance won't rest.
The emperor knew unstoppable,
Ordered fine words to reply.
Demoted to minor office,
Made him a useless appendage.
Treacherous hearts displeased,
Struck and sharpened spears.
Ended sent to Daozhou,
Heaven's way, vast and remote.
Thus made the silent ones,
Instead see speech as fault.
Tongue and lips sit turned to wood,
Eagles and hawks become doves.
Avoiding power like tigers,
Wearing official hat like monkey.
Those who once clung to me,
Poets called good matches.
Privately came to shake hands,
Fearful as falling into ditch.
Saw me off not past door,
Decided not to look back.
Only the Imperial College students,
Each brought grain and provisions.
All said, 'You leave now,'
'I too go to wild borders.'
He bid students farewell,
Step by step, halted carriage.
Living beings cannot part,
Walking past Min and Ou.
As teacher gained such respect,
Does this make a worthy man?
Daozhou heard he came,
Danced and sang with joy.
Once he lived in Xiayi,
Familiar with folk like gulls.
Now as prefect himself,
Would he still beat drums?
Harsh laws ceased a while,
Teaching transformed the land.
Southern miasma couldn't age him,
Flourishing prime suddenly autumn.
Birds wept for Yang Zhen,
No son mourned Deng You.
Only his disciples left,
Planted pines and catalpas.
Now passing this post station,
Like mourning at Miluo's isle.
Temple officials avoid Yang Hu's name,
Why not this station match?
I wish to avoid his name,
Call it 'Avoid-Worthy Post.'
This name holds deep meaning,
Obscuring worthies, heaven blames.
I hear the Mysterious Origin's teaching,
Sun and moon dark in deepest gloom.
Those shrouded in dark obscurity,
Forever prisoners of shadow.