Da Tang Shuang Long Zhuan Book 59: Chapter 12: Coming Home, Coming Home

Book 59: Chapter 12: Coming Home, Coming Home

Kou Zhong ascended to the commander-in-chief seat.

Except for Gao Zhandao, Niu Fengyi, Bu Tianzhi, Ma Chang, Zuo Xiaoyou and the others who were unable to attend because they were on duty outside, all the important figures of the Shao Shuai Army were a.s.sembled in one hall, the Song Family Army was represented by Song Lu.

Occupying the right seats were, in order, Song Lu, Xu Xingzhi, Chen Changlin, Bai Wenyuan, and Jiao Hongjin; sitting on the left seats, Xuan Yong occupied the first seat, followed by Chen Laomou, Ba Yegang, Bing Yuanzhen, Ren Meimei, and the others.

Everyone held their breath and calmed their qi, aware that something unusual was happening.

Kou Zhong was dying to ask Song Lu about Song Zhi, but the time and place were not appropriate, without any better option he temporarily put it aside. He greeted everybody, one by one in a cordial manner.

When he explained the current situation and the changes clearly, everybody, none was not emotionally moved.

Kou Zhong concluded, “Ziling went to Luoyang to convey to Li s.h.i.+min my wish to lead the army on the decisive battle against the Xieli-led outside tribes’ main forces at the Guanzhong Plain. Based on Li s.h.i.+min’s conduct, plus with Ziling speaking on my behalf, there shouldn’t be any problem.”

The crowd burst into a commotion. They have been following Kou Zhong through disaster and calamity, they had ample confidence in Kou Zhong, moreover, Kou Zhong had the record of defeating Xieli in the Battle of the Rus.h.i.+ng Wolf Plain, hence no one thought that Kou Zhong was speaking conceited nonsense.

Fiddling with his beard, Song Lu smiled and said, “This battle will make Shaoshuai‘s name remain for all eternity, your military glory will be written in history for hundreds of generations without going out. Not only will it crush Xieli’s coveting heart for the Central Earth, but at the same time, it will also subdue and intimidate the glaring-like-a-tiger-watching-its-prey Tongyehu of the Western Regions.”

Emotionally moved, Ba Yegang said, “In the world, only Shaoshuai has such a heroic pa.s.sion and magnificent feat. We pledge our lives to follow left and right, to make an all-out effort.”

Everyone stood up and vowed in one voice, the atmosphere was blazing hot.

When everyone was seated again, Chen Laomou let out a long laughter and said, “Heaven responds to people, people respond to Heaven, Man and Heaven interacts with each other. Shaoshuai and Xiao Ling accidentally and timely destroyed the firearms storehouse before Li Jiancheng moved out the firearms. If in the course of events there was a supernatural help, it is indeed a gargantuan lucky omen, to Jiancheng’s side however, it is a great ill omen!”

Everyone agreed.

Kou Zhong cheerfully said, “This could also prove that Li s.h.i.+min is the Son of Heaven ordained by heaven. The saying that has been circulating in Jianghu, ‘Duke Yang Treasure, Treasured Jade Annulus of He Clan, obtaining one of the two can unify the world’, it seems indeed belong to Laotianye’s imperial decree. Because Ziling and I obtained both, yet it’s too late to go too far, I have no choice but to let Li kid inherit the blessing [orig. favor from the emperor or high official]. Ha! Am I making any sense?”

Xu Xingzhi spoke cheerfully, “As long as it’s Shaoshuai’s golden mouth saying it, not only it makes sense, but it’s also the natural order of things.” [Translator’s note: play on words, sense/reason – dao li, natural order – tian li (heaven’s law, same ‘li’ character).]

Laughing involuntarily, Kou Zhong said, “Xingzhi is certainly my good confidant.”

Xuan Yong said, “The operation of sneaking into the Pa.s.s is under Ma Chang Jiangjun’s command, it should be completed in a short period of time. We are gathered here waiting respectfully for Shaoshuai‘s instructions.”

Ren Meimei’s female voice said, “Since the Mandate of Heaven is on our side, no matter what Shaoshuai says, the final victory should always be ours.”

Everyone burst into laughter.

The theory of ghosts and G.o.ds was deeply rooted in the people’s hearts. Since lucky omen frequently appeared, naturally everybody’s confidence was increased many times over, their morale was greatly aroused.

Kou Zhong said, “On Ma Chang’s side, we have Lei Dage, this Jianghu veteran with a wide face – providing support, even more, he obtained the local worm Huanghe Bang making arrangement at his request, there shouldn’t be any problems.”

After a pause, he asked, “Is there any good news on the Flying Horse Ranch’s side?”

Xu Xingzhi replied, “We have just received Shang Changzhu’s letter via flying horse yesterday, five thousand high-quality war horses that have been through improved and rigorous training are being s.h.i.+pped via the waterway to Liangdu. Bu Zhen [subduing/garrison (general)] is in charge of the supply of s.h.i.+ps.”

Greatly delighted, Kou Zhong said, “Unexpectedly there are as many as five thousand horses, it is greatly beyond my expectation.”

Song Lu said, “On Lingnan’s side, the matter has been resolved without a hitch, Shaoshuai can move an army and send a general with peace of mind, no need to be distracted.”

Inside the hall, only Kou Zhong understood the meaning behind Song Lu’s words. It referred to Song Zhi has been handled properly by Song Que, he could not cause trouble.

Feeling joy on top of joy, Kou Zhong laughed and said, “The top priority job at this moment is to gather the troops and the fleet in Liangdu, so that they can be quickly mobilized, to depart for Guanzhong via the waterway. We need quality over quant.i.ty, the chosen soldiers for this battle will not only have to be elite troops with long experience in battle formation, they must also have outstanding courage, and skillful in horsemans.h.i.+p.”

Xu Xingzhi proposed, “On the troops’ aspect, we could have Xuan Zhen handling it with full authority.”

Kou Zhong had extreme confidence toward his insight, he spoke cheerfully, “We’ll decide it that way then, the rest of us will unite in common effort from the side.”

Everyone’s eyes fell on Song Lu.

Song Lu spoke slyly, “On the Song Family’s side, we have no problem even more. In fact, we have already taken appropriate steps in this matter. We only need to transfer the troops to Liangdu.”

Kou Zhong asked, “In Lu Shu’s estimate, how many men will we be able to use?”

Song Lu replied, “We rely mainly on cavalry, the number of men suitable to partic.i.p.ate could reach up to 40,000 to 50,000.”

Very happy, Kou Zhong said, “With the addition of Ol’ Die’s Jianghuai elite troops with rich experience in combat, we can form an elite division of one hundred thousand elite cavalry. If the Li Tang side can supply one hundred thousand more elite troops, our military strength will total 200,000. Although the other side’s military strength reaches several hundreds of thousands, at the end of the day, they still belong to different ethnic groups, which will give us the possibility of driving a wedge between them and splitting them apart. Coupled with my familiarity with their combat style and the focus of their strategies, my grasp of the geographical terrain is even farther beyond their reach. Moreover, all along the enemy is toiling their army in a military expedition, penetrating deep into our territory, comparing various merits and drawbacks factor, we are increasing, the other side diminis.h.i.+ng, the two sides’ strengths pull into a tie. The rest depends on whether he, Xieli is outstanding, or me, Kou Zhong is brilliant. Ha!”

Everyone shouted in unison, their voices shook the beams, the morale was high.

After everybody calmed down, Kou Zhong issued his order, “Xuan Zhen received my handed-down teaching in tactics, when all the three sides’ main forces are a.s.sembled in Liangdu, it will be time for Xuan Zhen to conduct the drill, to practice the techniques of cavalry warfare on the plains. On the equipment, Chen Gong will invest his effort in thinking about it, to plan and prepare. On the army provisions and supply of material, I have to trouble Lu Shu. Be sure to preserve and nurture your spirit, from top to bottom we are of one mind, everybody must realize that facing an attack from Xieli is related to the honor and disgrace, disaster and happiness of the common people under the heavens. When the outside tribes’ allied armies go down south, it will be the moment for us to revive the Central Earth, to completely wash away our former disgrace.”

The crowd of generals thundered their promise.

The two s.h.i.+ps slowly reached the sh.o.r.e.

To Xu Ziling’s surprise, on board was not only Shan Wanjing, there were also Ba Fenghan, w.a.n.g Xuanshu and nearly fifty Flying Clouds Guard martial art masters.

Li Jing, husband and wife, and Xu Ziling leaped onto the bow of the Dongming flags.h.i.+p, Ba Fenghan stepped out to meet them, he laughed and said, “How did this happen? Unexpectedly Ziling has Li Da Jiangjun [great general] personally escorting you back to Liangdu.”

Following behind him, Shan Wanjing cheerfully said, “Let’s go inside the cabin and talk in details.”

In the cabin, they sat down on the hosts and guests’ seats, respectively. Ba Feng said, “We intercepted Gongzhu one step ahead of Yang WenGan, and secretly hid ourselves on the boat, waiting for Yang WenGan to come and walk right into the trap. As expected, two nights later, on the waterway about ten li from Kaifeng, they used speedboats and fire-arrows to ambush us. We delivered a frontal a.s.sault. From several hundred of a.s.sailants, the damage and broken were more than half. At that time the situation was chaotic, whether Yang WenGan was buried in the muddy river or not, n.o.body knew for sure.”

Ba Fenghan described the situation at that time in his usual sketching-in-light-shades style, but Xu Ziling could imagine how intense the battle was. Moreover, just now they also noticed that there were many traces of destruction and fire remaining on the Dongming flags.h.i.+p.

After Xu Ziling explained the changes in the situation clearly, Ba Fenghan’s pair of tiger-eyes lit up immediately. Letting out a long laughter, he said, “Oh, Bi Xuan! Chang’an is a good place for us to fight for the third time. I will make you regret your long and arduous journey [orig. long mountains, far away rivers] to come to Chang’an.”

Song Lu waited for Kou Zhong explaining everything to the crowd of generals clearly before signaling him to the inner hall to speak. He also sent his men to fetch a package wrapped in brocade cloth and handed it over to Kou Zhong. He smiled and said, “Yuzhi specially sent someone to deliver this gift for you, I don’t know what’s inside.”

Kou Zhong held it in his hand; it felt soft in his hands, warm feeling welled up in his heart. He hurriedly opened the brocade cloth. Appearing before his eyes was a note with two lines of lucid and elegant characters written on it.

‘Let us gather the thorn-ferns, let us gather the thorn-ferns. The thorn-ferns are now springing up. When shall we return? When shall we return? It will be late in the [next] year’. [See note at the end of this chapter.]

Kou Zhong read it carefully twice; scratching his head, he said, “Please forgive me for my lack of knowledge [orig. of humble talent and shallow learning]. These four seem-to-be-prose, seem-to-be-poetry – thing, how should I explain? Lu Shu, would you, the Senior, please give me directions?”

Song Lu blurted out laughing; he leaned over the small table to take a look, and said, “Yuzhi quoted this from the ‘Gathering the Fern’ section of the Minor Odes of the Book of Songs, widely known throughout all ages. The entire section is divided into six stanzas, the first three stanzas are talking about the pain of leaving home as a soldier to go far away and stationed for a long time outside, and then the next two stanzas narrate the situation in the army, the last stanza talks about the miserable plight on the way home.”

Kou Zhonghu’s tiger-body shook, it was only then did he deeply feel and understand Song Yuzhi’s loathing-war state of mind. He sighed and said, “The meaning of these four sentences ...”

Song Lu explained, “These four sentences are the first four lines at the beginning of the poem. The royal fern’s [osmunda regalis] common name is Chaocai [lit. nest vegetable], only edible when it first grew. The four sentences’ meaning is that even if the fern is continuously being plucked, it will continue to grow, which will make people continuously think of going home. However, one year pa.s.sed in the twinkling of an eye, yet there is still no time to return home.”

Kou Zhong nearly shed tears, he stroked the fragrant note, unable to say anything.

Song Lu understood his mood, he said, “Yuzhi’s former disagreement with you has been fully resolved, it is a good thing, you should be happy. As long as Shaoshuai proceed according to plan, when the hot summer comes, won’t you be able to see Yuzhi? This package looks like a set of clothes, Yuzhi ought to be personally sewing it for you.”

Kou Zhong fought hard to suppress the stirred-up emotion in his heart, he picked up the fragrant note first, placed it on the side table, and then opened the package to take a look. Unexpectedly it was a complete outfit, including a red headband, a big round-necked, short-sleeved light blue-green outer cape, a white pleated gown, black leather girdle and black soft leather boots. Looking at it all, momentarily he could only stare blankly.

Song Lu cheerfully said, “Yuzhi really gave thought to you, she prepared everything properly for you from head to toe.”

Choked with emotion, Kou Zhong said, “I will wear this outfit to enter Chang’an.”

Changing the subject, Song Lu said, “Dage asked me to express his regret to you for what happened with ErGe. Furthermore, he guarantees that no similar accidents would happen again.”

Worried, Kou Zhong asked, “How did Fazhu deal with Zhi Shu?”

Song Lu replied, “If based on Dage’s former temperament, it would be difficult for ErGe to escape death. Fortunately, after seeing Fan Zhaizhu, Dage’s heart is clearly softened, when he saw ErGe honestly confessing his guilt, presently he only forbade ErGe to leave his residence and stripped him of his military power.”

Remembering Chuchu, Kou Zhong said, “I have one more thing to ask Lu Shu for help, I hope Yuzhi will show understanding.”

“Speak up!” Song Lu said.

Kou Zhong told Song Lu everything, not concealing anything at all, about the rise and fall of the terrain [idiom] of his relations.h.i.+p with Chuchu.

Song Lu smiled and said, “Don’t worry, I believe Yuzhi will not have any objections to this. I will write a letter on your behalf to let her know clearly about this matter.”

This moment, Xu Xingzhi came to report, “The wars.h.i.+p to Liyang is awaiting orders at the pier, Shaoshuai please rise your honored self.”

The wars.h.i.+p sailed through Kaifeng.

Ba Fenghan pushed the door and walked in. Xu Ziling, who was sitting in meditation, got out of bed to greet him, he said, “It’s daybreak! Time flies so fast.”

Ba Fenghan looked out the window and said, “Just pa.s.sed Kaifeng, we can reach Liangzhou by noon.”

Finished speaking, he sat down. With a smile on his face, he said, “What did Meiren’er Gongzhu [beautiful princess] talk to you about?”

Xu Ziling sat down on the other side, across a small table. Laughing in spite of himself, he said, “Meiren’er Gongzhu? Ha! Meiren’er Gongzhu.”

Ba Fenghan said, “This is called those who handle cinnabar are stained red; those who work with ink are stained black [idiom: you are the product of your environment]. Hanging around you guys too much, the tone of my voice is more like you, only I don’t know if it is good or bad?”

Xu Ziling said, “Naturally it’s good. While you are in a good mood, I have a question I want to ask you.”

Astonished, Ba Fenghan said, “I am listening with respectful attention.”

Xu Ziling said, “You, LaoGe challenged Bi Xuan, this matter is very easy to understand. However, we then are going face the allied armies beyond the Great Wall head-on. You are, after all, still a Tujue. I wonder if there will be conflicts in your heart?”

Ba Fenghan smiled and said, “Turns out it is that kind of a question! In this aspect, Kou Zhong has a little bit more understanding of me. Even within the Tujue, there are different tribes and systems. I belong to one of the small tribes of the Rouran tribe, which was swallowed by the Tujue during your Central Earth’s Emperor Wenxuan of Qi of the Northern Dynasties and Emperor Jing of Liang of the Southern Dynasties. Although it was a.s.similated by the Tujue, but toward the brutal Tujue, all along we still have a deep hatred, only we dare to be angry but do not dare to say anything, everything is hidden at the bottom of our heart. Also, when I was a teenager, the Tujue, headed by Xieli, made my family bankrupt and the people dead, dest.i.tute and homeless, and I was reduced to become a horse thief. I can no longer restrain my hatred toward the Tujue. Although other people see me as a Tujue, I just consider myself as a wanderer without any roots. This time being able to fight side by side with you against Xieli has been the dream and cherished desire that I have since I was a child. Now Ziling should not worry for me about what people I belong to.”

Xu Ziling said, “Thank you very much you are willing to tell me candidly. Was it also the same reason that prompted you to finally break up with Badai’er?”

Ba Fenghan’s pair of eyes emitted melancholy expression, he nodded and said, “From the beginning, my relations.h.i.+p with her is destined not to have a good outcome. There was a time when I mistakenly thought that the love between a man and a woman could transcend the hatred between ethnic groups and family clans, who would have thought that this kind of carved-in-bones-and-engraved-in-the-heart [idiom: unforgettable] blood enmity is like a maggot attached to a bone, not only it is engraved in the heart, but also flowing in the blood. The most terrible thing is that neither of us can completely change ourselves for the other’s sake. Because the love that starts out of hatred will end in hatred.”

“Didn’t you go to see Badai’er?” Xu Ziling asked.

Ba Fenghan said, “I let her know that I still have her in my heart. I also let her know the cruel reality that we cannot live together, so that she can have a little better life. Ay! What else can I do?”

Inside a wing room of the Zongguan mansion of the City of Liyang.

Finished listening to Kou Zhong, Du Fuwei knitted his brows and said, “From military strategy perspective, a bit more pleasant to hear is to say that this is the battle to decide the fate of the rivers and mountains [i.e. country]; unpleasant to hear is to say that we are staking all in one throw. If my son is victorious, naturally henceforth the world will have peace and security. In case we suffer defeat, Li Tang, Shao Shuai and our Jianghuai Army would all suffer heavy losses, the north would fall into the hands of foreign invaders. In the south, Xiao Xian and Lin s.h.i.+hong would form an alliance. If the situation deteriorates to this point, Song Que would be powerless to fight back and could only strongly defend his ground. Xiao and Lin would have the opportunity to return to office after living as a hermit on Mount Dongshan [idiom: making a comeback]. The world would surely return to the chaotic situation of the Upheaval of the Five Barbarians [see Chapter 9] of the past. Isn’t your plan too risky?”

Kou Zhong smiled and said, “Die, please trust Child, Child has certainty of victory.”

Du Fuwei threw his head back in long laughter, his heroic spirit rushed forth wildly, he said, “My son is a hero without rival, Die ought to have pa.s.sed the consideration period! Everything will be according to what my son said.”

Kou Zhong sighed and said, “Since leaving Yangzhou, there hasn’t been a moment when Child felt that the future is completely in my control like this.”

Du Fuwei said, “Die has never seen you so vigorous like this, while looking around, you automatically reveal an intimidating demeanor.”

Thinking deeply, Kou Zhong said, “It’s all thanks to witnessing Song Que’s battle with Ning Daoqi. In term of martial art, the benefit I derived is hard to estimate. Thinking back to the situation at that time, although Ning Daoqi did not say half a sentence to me directly, but some of what he said seem to be directed at me. For example, ‘Creating but not possessing, succeeding but not self-a.s.sured’, these two sentences are precisely the most accurate portrayal of my current situation. As for the three most critical sentences, ‘since thinking that it’s too late, walking fast nonstop, thereupon the strength exhausted and die’, these are even more thought-provoking.”

Du Fuwei sighed in admiration, “He is worthy to be the number one person in the Central Plains, every word is a pearl of wisdom, br.i.m.m.i.n.g with dhyana thought. This is our decision then. In accordance with my son’s selection criteria, I can provide at least 30,000 elite cavalry. When the time comes, I will personally lead the troops, under my son’s full command, we will greatly show our color to the foreign invaders.”

Kou Zhong suddenly remembered the gift that Song Yuzhi personally sewed for him.

The s.h.i.+p moored at the dock.

Song Lu personally led the crowd to greet them. Seeing w.a.n.g Xuanshu, in extreme happiness, Xiao He’er forgot all propriety, she pulled him aside to talk privately, causing w.a.n.g Xuanshu to be greatly embarra.s.sed, yet he could not bear to go against her keen interest.

Xu Ziling let Song Lu and the others to greet and welcome Li Jing, husband and wife. In company with Ba Fenghan and Yin Xianhe, they walk back to the city.

When Ba Fenghan saw w.a.n.g Xuanshu and Xiao He’er, he laughed and said, “I suggest that Xuanshu stay in Liangdu to accompany Xiao He’er. What would two gentlemen think?”

Xu Ziling said, “We’ll have Kou Zhong go and persuade him, he might listen to Kou Zhong. I increasingly feel that personal grat.i.tude and grudges are not important enough, the most important thing is the peaceful reunification of the world.”

Turning to Yin Xianhe, he said, “It would be best for Ji Qian to stay in Liangdu as well.”

Yin Xianhe’s expression looked weird, he said, “I already persuaded her, Ziling don’t have to worry.”

Hearing that, Xu Ziling and Ba Fenghan you looked at me, I gazed at you; could it be that Ji Qian changed her mind? Otherwise, no one could persuade her, even Yin Xianhe would not be able to.

The former asked in surprise, “How did you persuade her?”

Yin Xianhe bashfully said, “Can I not tell you?”

Chopping the nail and slicing the iron [resolute and decisive], Ba Fenghan cut him off, “No, you can’t! Quickly own up to the facts.”

Xu Ziling nodded in agreement, having a smile on his face to make clear his position, that he was standing on the same front as Ba Fenghan.

Yin Xianhe’s old face blushed; helpless, he said, “Please let me off! Ay! She is pregnant.”

Ba Fenghan said with great joy, “Yin Xiong is really capable!”

Xu Ziling hurriedly congratulated him.

Ba Fenghan said, “In that case, it’s not advisable for Yin Xiong to follow us taking risks.”

Yin Xianhe resolutely shook his head and said, “The rise and fall of our country is everybody’s responsibility, much less you guys are my benefactors and brothers.”

Ba Fenghan smiled and said, “I am not doing it for your good, but for our good; furthermore, I am giving thought to your child. Just think: you are coming with us staking your life in battles, Sao Furen [madame sister-in-law] at home will worry about your safety day and night. More or less, it will affect your child, it will affect you even more. When we get to Chang’an, there will be series of fierce battles, only those who are ruthless enough will be able to survive, and you are certainly not ruthless enough, simply because the concerns will weigh you down. Listen to our advice, no one will look down on you for this; at the same time, it will also allow us to have a free hand without the slightest bit of hindrance.”

Yin Xianhe remained silent; it was clear that he was moved.

Warm feeling welled up in Xu Ziling’s heart. When he first met Ba Fenghan, not even in his dream he would think that Ba Fenghan could say such affectionate and true words.

In troubled times, a situation like Yin Xianhe could happen in any family, which could become a separated-in-life-and-death tragedy.

The common people of the world have had enough! It was time to end the suffering.

Reaching out to put his hand on Yin Xianhe’s long and slightly fat shoulder, he laughed and said, “This is called you are leading by example, so that Xuanshu has nothing to say. Come! Let’s have a few cups, to congratulate in advance that Sao Furen will give birth to a fair and chubby baby in the future. At that time, there will be no more wars in the world, everybody can live in peace and work happily, no need to be separated from their loved ones.”

Ba Fenghan let out a long laughter and said, “Now we are going to drink wine of happiness [liquor drink at a wedding feast]. Yin Xiong might as well formally tie the knot and become husband and wife with Ji Xiaojie tonight. How about Ziling and I become the witnesses? Ha ...”

Translator’s Note:

I had no idea how to translate the Chapter t.i.tle, so I asked the venerable Mr. Google, and here’s what I found:

It came from ‘Xiao Ya Cai Wei’ [lit. Minor Odes Gathering the Thorn-Fern], a poem from the Book of Songs, ancient Chinese realism poetry anthology [Xiao Ya (Minor Odes) is one of the main Sections of s.h.i.+jing (the Book of Songs)]. The author was anonymous, it tells the story of a soldier returning to his home town, a song about the hard life of enlisted officers and soldiers and their longing for home. An excerpt is as follows:

Let us gather the thorn-ferns, let us gather the thorn-ferns; The thorn-ferns are now springing up. When shall we return? When shall we return? It will be late in the [next] year. Wife and husband will be separated, Because of the Xian-yun. We shall have no leisure to rest, Because of the Xian-yun.

Let us gather the thorn-ferns, let us gather the thorn-ferns; The thorn-ferns are now tender. When shall we return? When shall we return? Our hearts are sorrowful; Our hearts are sad and sorrowful; We shall hunger, we shall thirst. While our service on guard is not finished, We can send no one home to enquire about our families.

Let us gather the thorn-ferns, let us gather the thorn-ferns; The thorn-ferns are now hard. When shall we return? When shall we return? The year will be in the tenth month. But the king’s business must not be slackly performed; We shall have no leisure to rest. Our sorrowing hearts are in great distress; But we shall not return from our expedition.

The interpretation is as follows:

By the time the pea shoots harvest is over, the fern vegetable is just sprouting from the ground. One keep saying ‘I’m coming home, I’m coming home’ but until the end of the year he still could not realize it. No wife, no home, everything is for the sake of fighting the battle against the Xianyun [Zhou Dynasty term for a northern nomadic tribe later called the Xiongnu in the Qin and Han Dynasties]. There is no time to settle down and rest.

By the time the pea shoots harvest is over, the fern vegetable tender shoot appears. One keep saying ‘I’m coming home, I’m coming home’, but his heart is feeling very much down. Burning with anxiety, hungry and thirsty at the same time, really hard to tell which is which. The place one is supposed to guard and defend cannot be stabilized. There is no way to send a letter home.

By the time the pea shoots harvest is over, the fern vegetable stalk and leaves already grow old. One keep saying ‘I’m coming home, I’m coming home’, but until the tenth month Indian summer [a period of warm spring-like weather in the tenth month], the military service is not over yet, how could there be a time to settle down? The heart is in so much pain, until today, one cannot go home yet.

(Translated loosely from zhidao.baidu.com, English translation of the original poem from the University of Virginia Library.)

When I searched the above, I did not know that Song Lu would talk about all six stanzas, so ... for completeness’ sake, here are the rest:

What is that so gorgeous? It is the flowers of the cherry tree. What carriage is that? It is the carriage of our general. His war carriage is yoked; The four steeds are strong. Dare we remain inactive? In one month we shall have three victories.

The four steeds are yoked, The four steeds are eager and strong; The confidence of the general, The protection of the men. The four steeds move regularly, like wings; There are the bow with its ivory ends, and the seal-skin quiver. Shall we not daily warn one another? The business of the Xian-yun is very urgent.

At first, when we set out, The willows were fresh and green; Now, when we shall be returning, The snow will be falling in clouds. Long and tedious will be our marching; We shall hunger; we shall thirst. Our hearts are wounded with grief, And no one knows our sadness.