Song of the Luntai Garrison in Farewell to General Feng on His Western Campaign (Cen Shen, Song of the Luntai Garrison in Farewell to General Feng on His Western Campaign)

Atop the walls of Luntai city, bugles sounded through the night; in the north of Luntai city, the Hu star (the barbarian star) fell. A feathered urgent military dispatch passed through Quli last night; the Xiongnu Chanyu has already encamped west of the Gold Mountain. Gazing westward from the watchtower, smoke and dust spread in a pitch-black haze; the Han army has stationed north of Luntai city. The commander, holding the imperial tally, sets forth on a western campaign; at dawn, the flutes play as the great army marches out. War drums from all sides surge across a sea of snow; the shouts of the three armies shake the Yin Mountains. The enemy border’s war vapor gathers thick as clouds, touching the sky; on the battlefield, white bones intertwine with the roots of grass. On the Sword River, a fierce wind howls and snowflakes fall vast; at the Sand Mouth (or River Mouth), rocks freeze so hard that horses’ hooves fall off. The Sub-Premier (Lord Feng) toils willingly for the king, steadfast in loyalty; he swears to repay the sovereign by pacifying the border dust. From ancient times, who has not seen on the blue history scrolls? Now his merit and fame surpass those of old.