Don't you see? The Grand Emperor in mourning had not decreed,
Petty men seized the time to steal the state's power indeed.
The Northern Army, a million tigers and panthers strong,
The Son of Heaven himself commanded, no other throng.
One morning, the seal was snatched and given to a private clique,
The awe-stricken court officials, what could they seek?
Foxes hooted, owls screeched, vying for appointments and posts,
Glinting and leaping about, they fawned on each other, these ghosts.
At night they drafted edicts, at morn received official rank,
Surpassing qualifications, skipping order, they never shrank.
Openly in broad daylight they accepted bribes,
Fire pearls piled high on golden plates, inscribing their tribes.
Veteran ministers and elders dared not speak,
Lying by day, weeping tears that streamed down the cheek.
Who pities Dong Xian made one of the Three Dukes?
Hou Jing receiving the Nine Bestowals, lamentable it looks.
The state's merit high, virtue deep and profound,
The heavenly throne is not for mediocre men to confound.
The succeeding emperor, outstanding, a true heroic lord,
In civility like Taizong, in martial might like Gaozu, soared.
Receiving the chart, accepting abdication, he ascended the bright hall,
Banished together to Youzhou, like Gun who died at Yu's call.
The four gates solemn, worthy talents are advanced,
A few gentlemen, not his kin, how could they be his friends?
Court郎官 posts, pure and important, praised by the age,
Sent to wild prefectures, remote lands, pitiful their wage.
Lake waves join the sky, daily churning and leaping,
Savage customs stubborn, miasma and pestilence seeping.
River vapors, mountain malignities, dark as if congealed,
A snake with two heads, never before revealed.
Strange birds cry and call, making people detest,
Swarms of insects fly at night, against lamps they contest.
A great viper's poisonous sting makes limbs decay,
Poison placed in food shatters liver and heart in dismay.
Left and right attendants' orders are deceitful, hard to trust,
Be careful, don't believe rashly, always be cautious and just.
I was once your colleague, feelings overwhelm,
I write down what I saw, not false testimony at the helm.
Alas, for your past deeds, you should be punished well.