Song of Luntai: seeing off General Feng on his western expedition

Song of Luntai: seeing off General Feng on his western expedition

At Luntai's walls the night horns blow,

Atop Luntai's north, the Banner Star falls low.

Last night the war dispatches passed through Quli,

The Chanyu has already reached the western Jinshan peaks.

From the garrison tower, westward the dust and smoke grow black,

The Han troops are encamped north of Luntai's track.

The great commander, standard raised, marches west to war,

At dawn the flutes sound—the great army moves before.

On all sides the war drums surge like a sea of snow,

The three armies roar—the Yin Mountains shake below.

The barbarian frontier's battle spirit masses like clouds,

On the battlefield, white bones entangle grass roots in shrouds.

At Jianhe the wind is fierce, snowflakes broad and wide,

The river ford is frozen—horseshoes slip and slide.

The Vice-Premier labors for the king through bitter toil,

Vowing to repay his lord and pacify the frontier soil.

Since ancient times, who has not seen the records of the past?

Now we see surpassing fame—greater than the first and last.