[updated October 2022]
News From Qingzhou, Ambassador Zhao Zong Sent to Dang Xiang, During the Ensuing Battle He Died From Their Arrows
闻 庆 州 赵 纵 使 君 与 党 项 战 中 简 身 死， 辄 书 长 句
将 军 独 乘 铁 骢 马
榆 溪 战 中 金 朴 姑。
死 绥 却 是 古 来 有
骁 将 自 惊 今 日 无。
青 史 文 章 争 点 笔
朱 门 歌 舞 笑 捐 躯。
谁 知 我 亦 轻 生 者
不 得 君 王 丈 二 殳。
Wen Qing Zhou Zhao Zong Shi Jun Yu Dang Xiang Zhan
Zhong Jian Shen Si, Zhe Shu Chang Ju
Jiang jun du sheng tie cong ma
Yu xi zhan zhong jin pu gu.
Si sui que shi gu lai you
Xiao jiang zi jing jin ri wu.
Qing shi wen zhang zheng dian bi
Zhu men ge wu xiao juan qu.
Shei zhi wo yi qing sheng zhe
Bu dei jun wang zhang er shu.
News From Qingzhou, Ambassador Zhao Zong Sent to Dang Xiang, During the Ensuing Battle He Died From Their Arrows
Only the army commander rides in the war chariot, pulled by an armored piebald horse
At the battle of Yu Xi, the ambassador was shot by a gold-tipped arrow.
Since time immemorial, returning combatants were also to die
Today we are without naturally brave commanders.
The best and select writing brushes will write of him in the history books
Behind palace vermilion gates, the song and dance people laugh at them sacrificing their lives.
Who knows, maybe I am also like this man
Will die without the honor of an imperial guard salute.
Notes:
Qingzhou: One of the nine ancient provinces in the area of modern day Qinghai and northwest Sichuan provinces.
Dan Xiang: An ethnic minority region near Qingzhou.
Battle of Yu Xi: Perhaps referring the battle of Gaixia in 202 BC between Liu Bang and Xiang Yu.