1. "Traveling is Difficult Part 1"
Tang Dynasty: Li Bai
Ten thousand dollars worth of wine in gold bottles, and ten thousand dollars worth of treasures on jade plates. Stopping the cup and throwing chopsticks, I can't eat. I draw my sword and look around at a loss. If you want to cross the Yellow River, which is blocked by ice, you will have to climb the snow-covered mountains of Taihang. When I was free to fish on the Bixi River, I suddenly took a boat and dreamed of the sun. Traveling is difficult! Traveling is difficult! There are many different roads, where are you now? There will be times when the wind blows and the waves break, and the clouds and sails are hung directly to help the sea.
Translation:
The famous wine in the gold cup costs ten thousand yuan per bucket; the exquisite dishes in the jade plate cost ten thousand yuan. I felt so depressed that I couldn't eat anymore. I drew my sword and looked around, but I felt really confused. If you want to cross the Yellow River, ice and snow have blocked this great river; if you want to climb Taihang, the mountains have already been closed by the heavy wind and snow.
Like Lu Shang fishing in the stream, waiting for his comeback; and like Yi Yin dreaming, he took a boat and passed by the sun. How difficult it is to travel in this world; how difficult it is; there are so many wrong roads in front of us, should I go north or south? I believe that one day, I will be able to ride the strong wind and break thousands of miles of waves; hang my sails high and move forward bravely in the sea!
2. "Fifth of the Thirteen Poems of Nanyuan"
Tang Dynasty: Li He
Why don't men bring Wu hooks and collect the fifty states in Guanshan? Please come to Lingyan Pavilion for a while. How can I be a scholar and a marquis of ten thousand households?
Translation:
Why don’t you, a manly man, wear a weapon and go to capture the fifty states of Guanshan? Please go up to the Lingyan Pavilion where the founding heroes of the country are painted to see which scholar has been named a prince with thousands of households in the city?
3. "Ode to Coal"
Ming Dynasty: Yu Qian
The black gold can be found by digging through the chaos, which contains the deepest yang and meaning. The ardent fire burns brightly and rejuvenates the spring, and the huge furnace shines through the dark night. Ding Yi Yuan relies on the power of creation, but the iron and stone still remain in the heart after death. I hope that everyone in the world will be well fed and warm, and will go out of their way to the mountains and forests without any trouble.
Translation:
It is Wujin to dig through the strata of chaos and obtain coal. Contains endless heat and the deepest love. The burning torch is like the mighty spring breeze. The raging flames of the furnace shone through the gray night sky. The production of bells, tripods and Yi utensils depends entirely on the generation of the original force. Although Iron Stone is dead, he still remains the most loyal. I just hope that everyone in the world can be well fed and clothed. He spared no effort and hardship to get out of the remote mountains and forests.
4. "Rewarding Lotte at the First Banquet in Yangzhou"
Tang Dynasty: Liu Yuxi
Bashan Chushui, a desolate place, abandoned for twenty-three years . Nostalgic, I recite the flute poems in the air, and when I go to the countryside to read them, I feel like a dead person. Thousands of sails pass by the side of the sunken boat, and thousands of trees spring in front of the diseased trees. Today I will listen to a song of Junge, and for the time being I will be refreshed by a glass of wine.
Translation:
In the desolate place of Bashan and Chushui, I lived in silence for twenty-three years. When I came back, things were different, and I was like a poor person. I could only play the flute and compose poems, and I felt so melancholy. On the side of the sunken boat, thousands of sails are racing; in front of the diseased tree, thousands of trees are in spring. Let me listen to you sing a song today, and cheer me up with a glass of wine.
5. "Five Poems of Indignation·Part 1"
Song Dynasty: Lu You
At an early age, I knew that the world was difficult, and the Central Plains looked to the north like a mountain. The building boat crosses Guazhou in the snowy night, and the iron horse disperses in the strong autumn wind. The Great Wall is empty and I promise that my hair is already faded in the mirror. If you are a master and you are truly famous in the world, who can compare with you in a thousand years!
Translation:
When I was young, I determined to make the Northern Expedition to the Central Plains, but I never imagined that it would be so difficult. I often look north to the land of the Central Plains, and my blood boils with passion and my resentment is like a mountain. I remember beating up the Jin soldiers at Guazhou Crossing, and flying warships on a snowy night. In the autumn wind, the horses galloped freely, and the good news of regaining Dashan Pass came frequently.
I think back then I compared myself to the Great Wall and had great ambitions to eliminate border troubles for my motherland. Nowadays, my hair is as frosty as my hair on my temples, and my hopes for the Northern Expedition and recovery are all empty talk.
People can't help but remember Zhuge Kongming. His reputation as a military commander is truly worthy of his reputation. Who is like Zhuge Liang who dedicated his life and led the three armies to restore the Han Dynasty and conquer the Central Plains!