The story goes that after Master Huangfu sent his family away, he delegated his work to other officials and instantly went to the training field to assemble the troops. Minister Meng recommended a regional commander named Wei Huan, courtesy name Zhenzong, who was forty-two years old. He had a clean face and a long beard, together with bushy eyebrows and bright eyes. He was Lady Han’s close cousin, thus he asked Master Meng to recommend him to the army. Huangfu Jing accepted him as a subordinate. In total, he selected four vice generals, one counselor, twelve commanders, and thirty thousand troops. As soon as the sky was slightly bright,[1] they set off from Yunnan.
The minister sent Huangfu Jing out of Yunnan
His subordinates lined behind row by row
With broken hearts, good friends faced the separation
Tears flowing, common people were reluctant to let him go:
“For ten years our master has implemented benevolent policy
After today he will be leading the army to the far frontier
Who knows if the new commissioner-in-chief
Will similarly be an upright officer like this?”
Crying together, people took off the boots and presented the master with drinks
With a saddened voice, the regional commander admonished them one more time
After paying worship to the flag, the army started to depart
As the artillery went off three times, they set off from southern Yunnan
Putting aside that the chief military commander travelled east to fight
Instead, we turn to the lady’s fate while returning to their hometown
On the journey the big boat travelled fast
The wind was generous in sending the homecoming sails[2]
In no more than two months they arrived in Huguang
Back to living in their old house in Jiangling
Friends and relatives came to the house to visit
They only started to rest after socializing for several days
The lady managed all household affairs
She strictly taught both her daughter and son
With the door closed, the young master was sitting at home
Facing the rue-scented windows, he read day and night in his study
A red candle was burning through the long night
Every paper fragment in the room was filled with splendid verses
People did not yet appreciate his great ambition
The flood dragon was tantatively trapped and could not ascend to the sky
Young Lady Changhua lived in her boudoir
She accompanied the madam day and night
Tended to her hunger, cold, each sitting or resting
Eased her quiet solitude in the still chamber with tender care
Hidden in the embroidery chamber, she followed her loving mother
Never went outside of the hall,[3] she didn’t show her jaded face
In a quiet night she missed her father and was sad under the bright moon
Searching for sentences to write for a long time beside the window:
“Praying to heaven and earth to show sympathy
Blessing my father[4] to win the victory”
Lady Yin had noble temperament
She intended to regulate the family with comity
Sent male servants to guard the front gate
Forbad girl servants from going outside
Burnt incense day and night and prayed in silence
Only wished her master could return earlier
The whole family were safe and happy with no disturbance
Stop talking about their daily life in the Jianglin county
Let us turn to Huangfu Jing, the Supreme Commander
Leading the troops, he went straight towards Chosǒn
Straightly going pass the border of Shandong
The troop in long formation traveled day and night
One single colorful flag flew under the bright son
Nine[5] silver halberds were embraced by cold smoke
In eight directions, they hung up reassuring notices
Spreading travelling declaration from every tent
Six food officials rushed to gather army provisions
Five camps of soldiers vaulted to saddles to march
Four horizons were open space while mountains and forests were far
Three paths were long with weed growing in cold air
Two cavalries of scout frequently went to report
One[6] marshal went towards the frontier
The powerful army went straight and arrived in Dengzhou
The officer in charge kneeled in dust before the steeds
[1] The original text is shi’er liming 十二黎明. Shi’er here could mean two out of ten, so shi’er liming means the very beginning of dawn. [2] The original text is guifan 歸帆 [homecoming sails]. Here the sails represent the boat and furthermore the people (the Huangfu family) on the boat. [3] The original text is lantang 蘭堂 [orchid hall]. Lantang is a laudatory calling of a beautiful and clean hall. [4] The original text is yanqin 嚴親 [stern parent]. Yanqin represents father in classic Chinese. See note 22 in chapter three for more callings of parents in classic Chinese. [5] The original text is jiuchong 九重 [nine times], which means multiple. We keep the translation of the number nine to reveal the streamline of a wordplay from nine to one as indicated in the following couplets. See also jiuchong tian 九重天. [6] The series of numbers were all abstract depictions of the troops.
