Song of Zouma River: Seeing Off Lord Feng on the Western Campaign
English translation and interpretation are being reviewed.
平沙莽莽黄入天。
轮台九月风夜吼，
一川碎石大如斗，
随风满地石乱走。
匈奴草黄马正肥，
金山西见烟尘飞，
汉家大将西出师。
将军金甲夜不脱，
半夜军行戈相拨，
风头如刀面如割。
马毛带雪汗气蒸，
五花连钱旋作冰，
幕中草檄砚水凝。
虏骑闻之应胆慑，
料知短兵不敢接，
车师西门伫献捷。
English translation
Have you not seen—by Zouma Stream, along the edge of the Snow Sea, the flat sand stretching vast, yellow merging into the sky?
At Luntai in the ninth month the wind howls at night, a riverbed of broken stones, each the size of a peck, and the stones go racing over the ground before the wind.
When the Xiongnu grass turns yellow and their horses are fat, west of the Golden Mountain one sees smoke and dust rise, and the great general of Han marches his army west.
The general does not take off his golden mail at night, at midnight the army moves, the halberds knock together, the wind's edge is like a knife and cuts the face.
The horses' coats carry snow, their sweat steams, the dappled coats turn to ice in an instant, in the tent, drafting the proclamation, the inkstone water freezes.
The Tartar horsemen, hearing of this, must quake with dread, we know they will not dare close for hand-to-hand fighting, at the west gate of Jushi we stand waiting to present the victory.
Meaning
Have you not seen? The broad Zouma River lies close upon the edge of the Sea of Snow, and the boundless yellow sand joins the clouds of heaven.
At Luntai in the ninth month the gale howls all night long; the broken stones everywhere are big as bushels, and the wind rolls the bushel-sized rocks along the ground.
Now is the time when the Xiongnu pastures are lush and their horses are fat; they have invaded west of the Golden Mountain, and the dust of their raiding rolls skyward; the great general of Han leads his troops to march westward.
The general keeps his armour on even at night; marching at midnight, spear clashes against spear, and the bitter wind cuts the face like a knife.
The horses' coats are hung with snow yet steam with sweat; in a moment ice forms upon the hides of the piebald steeds, and inside the camp tent the ink in the inkstone freezes as the despatch is written.
The enemy, hearing that our great army marches forth, should quake with fear; surely they will not dare to meet us blade to blade, and I shall await tidings of victory at the western gate of Jushi.
Background
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This poem was written in 754 (the thirteenth year of the Tianbao era of Emperor Xuanzong of Tang) or 755 (the fourteenth year of Tianbao), when Cen Shen held the post of administrative secretary (panguan) to the military governor of Anxi and Beiting. During this period Feng Changqing led his troops into battle several times. It is a farewell poem composed by Cen Shen on the occasion of Feng Changqing's western campaign; together with "Song of Luntai: Presented to Grand Master Feng on His Western Campaign," it belongs to the same period, refers to the same event, and was presented to the same person.