Translation and Appreciation of China's Ancient Literature Guanzi: Li Ling's Answer to Su Wu

Li Ling wrote back to Su Shulin.

Liling in Western Han Dynasty

Notes on the title or background of a book.

Li Ling, the word Shao Qing. The Western Han Dynasty (now Taian, Gansu) was born in Longxi, the grandson of Li Guang. He is known as one of the founders of five-character poems, because he seldom builds chapters for servants, is good at riding and shooting, and loves soldiers. Li Ling led 5,000 people to March and went deep into the Xiongnu to fight, so that they were defeated and surrendered. The main idea of this letter is to get rid of a person's surrender. At the same time, I write about my feelings for my loved ones, my reluctance to go home, and the pain of my own bumpy experience.

original text

Qing Zi's first step:

Diligently proclaiming virtue, the policy name is clear [39], and it is fortunate to ask for a break. Far away in a foreign country, the past is unbearable, and I look forward to it. Can I part with it? The past has not been forgotten. Answer from a distance, comfort, more than flesh and blood. Ling is not sensitive, but can she be generous?

To annotate ...

[38] Policy Name: Official. When the ancients became an official, the supervisor wrote down his name on the bamboo slips, so the official name was also called the policy name. Qing dynasty: Taiping era.

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Qing Zi's first step:

You are diligent in preaching and teaching, and you were an official in the Qingming and Taiping times. Your good reputation spread far and wide. What a blessing! I live in a distant foreign country, and people used to feel sad about it. Looking at the south and remembering our old friends, how can we not be nostalgic? Thank you for not disliking me, writing to me from afar, comforting me diligently and teaching me, which is deeper than the love of flesh and blood. Although I am stupid, how can I not be moved?

original text

From the beginning, even today, I was poor and lonely. I didn't see it all day, but I saw something different. Wei Wei [40] sheltered from the wind and rain; Lick meat and cream to satisfy hunger and thirst. Look up and smile, who enjoys it? Xuan Bing, Alakazam [4 1], the border soil is badly cracked, but the sound of depression is heard. Autumn is cool and September is dry. I can't sleep at night, give ear and listen far away, Hu Jia interacts [42], herding horses whine, whistling in groups, and the sound is everywhere. Sitting and listening in the morning, I feel no tears. Well, I don't care about purple. What does Ling care about? Can you not be sad?

To annotate ...

[39] Female: Leather. Arrow (G not U): sleeve. Yi: the fine hair of birds and beasts. Curtains: felt tents.

[40] Xuan Bing: Thick ice is black. Describe the thick ice and the cold weather.

[4 1] Hu Jia: a wind instrument popular in the Great Wall and the western regions in ancient times.

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Since I surrendered, I have been down and out, sitting alone and unhappy. I can't see anything else all day, only some foreigners. I wear leather sleeves and live in felt tents, relying on them to resist the wind and rain; Eat meat, drink milk and cheese, and use them to satisfy hunger and thirst. Look around, who can be happy with me? Woody's ice is thick and dark, and the soil on the frontier plug is frozen and cracked, and only the sad and depressed wind can be heard. In late autumn and September, the flowers and trees outside the Great Wall withered, and I couldn't sleep at night. Listen attentively, rustle one after another, horses whine sadly, music is mixed with hiss, and all kinds of voices ring everywhere. Sitting up and listening to these voices in the morning, I couldn't help crying. Alas, Ziqing, am I connected? How can I not be sad?

original text

After I was separated from my son, I became bored and went to my mother. I was killed the next year [43]; The wife is innocent and a whale [44]; It is sad that the world owes its country. My son will be honored and I will be humiliated. What about my life? Out of the land of courtesy, into the customs of ignorance; Against the kindness of relatives, grow into barbarian territory and hurt yourself! Let the descendants of the late king become Rong Di's family and feel sorry for themselves. Big things and small crimes, which are not clearly seen by people, are lonely and carry the meaning of the soul. Every time I miss it, I suddenly forget my life. Ling's stab in the heart is self-evident, pinching his neck to see his ambition, serving the country for me, and killing himself is useless enough to increase humiliation. Therefore, every busy arm bears the burden of humiliation [45] and continues to live. People around you, seeing Ling like this, thought it was unpleasant and came to comfort them. The joy of the other party will only make people sad and add to their ears.

To annotate ...

[42] Approaching age: reaching a certain age. This refers to old age.

[43] qíng ní: The male whale is called a giant whale, and the female whale is called a giant whale. It used to refer to vicious people, but here it refers to people involved in the massacre.

[44] Shake the arm: opening the cuff and exposing the arm is an action to prepare for work or struggle.

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After parting from you, I felt even more bored, thinking that my mother was killed in her twilight years; His wife and children were innocent and killed together. I failed to live up to the kindness of the Han dynasty and was saddened by the world. You go back to the Han Dynasty to enjoy honor, and I will stay in Xiongnu to be humiliated. This is destiny takes a hand. what can I do? I was born in a place that pays attention to etiquette, but I entered a society that doesn't understand etiquette; It's really sad to betray the kindness of the king and parents and live in a barbarian area for a long time! It is also a sad thing for me to turn the descendants of my late father into rongdi. In the battle with Xiongnu, I did great things and small crimes, but I failed to get the wise understanding of the Han monarch and failed to live up to my sincere wishes. Every time I think about it, I feel as if I have lost my nostalgia for life in a trance. It is not difficult for me to cut my heart to show purity and commit suicide to show ambition. However, the country has given me the opportunity to break the righteousness. Suicide will only increase humiliation, so I often live in the world arm in arm because of humiliation. People around me, seeing me like this, comforted and encouraged me with cheerful tunes that I couldn't hear. However, foreign music can only make people sad and increase sadness.

original text

Well, it's almost purple. People know each other, and you know each other's hearts. The previous book was written in a hurry and didn't cover everything, so let's briefly talk about it. Yesterday, the first emperor granted Ling Bu 5,000 soldiers to leave the country alone, and five generals lost their way. Ling fought alone, but wrapped in Wan Li grain, he was handsome on foot and went out to Tianhan to enter the country; 5,000 people against 100,000 troops; Be a tired soldier and a newly captured horse. However, we still have to behead the general's flag [46], chase him north, wipe out the traces and sweep away the dust, behead his owl and handsome, and the people of the three armed forces will die. Ling is also incompetent, and hope is a big responsibility. That is to say, at this time, the work is embarrassing.

To annotate ...

[45] qiān: pull.

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Alas, ziqing! People know each other, and more importantly, they know each other. I wrote a letter earlier, which was written in a hurry and failed to fully express my feelings. Let me briefly say it again. At the beginning, the first emperor rewarded me with 5 thousand infantry and went out to conquer the Huns far away. Five generals lost their way. I fought the Huns alone, carried hay for Wan Li, led the troops to March on foot, went abroad and entered Hu Qiang; With five thousand soldiers, against one hundred thousand enemy troops; Command tired and sleepy teams and resist cavalry supplies. However, they also killed the enemy's generals, seized their military flags, and pursued the defeated and fleeing enemy. Just like eliminating traces and sweeping away dust, killing the brave general of the enemy will make all the soldiers in our army feel like death. Although I don't have any ability, I hope I can take on a heavy responsibility. I secretly think that the meritorious military service at this time is difficult to surpass under other circumstances.

original text

Since the Huns were defeated, the whole country has been United. More trained soldiers, more than100000. Khan chickened out and slept on the street. The shapes of guests and hosts are not the same; The trend of stepping on a horse is very uncertain. Exhausted soldiers fight again, one is 1000, but they will still help to take advantage and win the first place. Death and injury accumulated in the wild, and more than 100 people were dissatisfied, but they all refused to fight because of illness. However, when Ling shook his arm, all the diseases began, raised his blade, pointed to the land, and flax ran away. Soldiers are exhausted, and the people have no feet. They are still eager to compete for the first place. At this time, heaven and earth are angry for the tomb, and soldiers drink blood for the tomb [47]. Khan said that the mausoleum could not be recovered and wanted to bring it back, but the thief taught him, so he resumed the war and the mausoleum could not help but smell it.

To annotate ...

[46] Drinking blood: I still swallow my tears. Describe extreme grief and indignation.

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After the defeat of Xiongnu, the whole country launched and trained elite soldiers, with more than 100,000 strong enemies. Khan himself came to the front line to direct the encirclement and suppression of our army. The situation between the enemy and ourselves can no longer be compared, and the situation between infantry and cavalry is even more different. Tired soldiers fought again, but still held chariots, endured the pain of trauma, and bravely fought for the first place. There are dead and wounded soldiers everywhere, and there are only less than 100 people left, and they are all scarred and almost unable to carry weapons. However, as soon as I raised my hand and shouted, the seriously injured and slightly injured soldiers jumped up, took up their weapons and killed the enemy, making the Xiongnu horses turn around and flee. When the soldiers were exhausted and unarmed, people still shouted to kill the enemy with their heads bare and rushed forward. At this time, the world seems to be angry with me, and the soldiers drink blood and swallow tears for me. Khan thought it was impossible to capture me alive again, so he led the troops to retreat. Unexpectedly, the wicked minister who defected betrayed his military intelligence and let Khan fight with me again, so my failure was inevitable.

original text

Yesterday, Gaudi was trapped in Pingcheng with 300,000 troops. At this time, the valiant soldier is like a cloud, and the counselor is like rain. However, they still didn't eat for seven days, but they were exempted. How easy is it to make a mausoleum? And deacons at such a time, if hatred ling died. But if the tomb doesn't die, it's a terrible crime; Qing Zi Shi Ling, how can you drag out an ignoble existence and cherish death? Who would rather have a relative than a wife? However, Ling didn't die. He did something. Therefore, as mentioned in the previous book, if he wants to serve the country, it is better to set up a festival than to die in vain, and it is better to ruin his name than to repay his kindness. I didn't die for the shame of Huiji before, but for the shame of three defeats, for the revenge of Gou Jian, and for the shame of Lu Zhishen, and I secretly loved this ear. He Tuzhi didn't stand up, resentment has become, but he doesn't intend to be punished by his own flesh and blood. This mausoleum is so sad and weeping [48].

To annotate ...

[47] vertebral heart, tears of blood: describe extreme sadness. Spine, hit it with the spine. Blood and tears, sad and silent crying.

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When Gaudi led 300,000 troops, he was besieged by Xiongnu in Pingcheng. At that time, the army was like a cloud and the counselors were like rain. However, they were deprived of food for seven days, and finally they were saved from being captured. Besides, is it easy for a person like me to make a difference? However, the authorities are talking about it, blindly accusing me of not dying for my country. However, it is indeed a sin that I did not die for my country; But do you think I am a person who lives an ignoble life and begrudges death? And where are people who deviate from their loved ones and abandon their wives and children, but think it is good for them? I didn't die because I wanted to do something. I originally wanted to repay the emperor, as I said in my last letter. I really think that it is better to die in vain than to build honor, and it is better to repay kindness in name only. Fan Li did not die because of the humiliation of Kuaijishan's surrender, nor did Cao Mo commit suicide because of the humiliation of three defeats in three wars. Finally, I got my revenge on Gou Jian, the King of Yue, and I got my revenge on Lu. My little gift is to secretly admire their work. Unexpectedly, the ambition was not realized, complaints were everywhere, the strategy was not reached, and the flesh and blood were killed. This is why I shed tears and bleed.

original text

The first step is another cloud: "Han and heroes are not thin." The son is Han Chen, An Zhi. Yesterday in prison, in prison [49], Chao Cuo was slaughtered, see Gu [50]. The rest of the people who made contributions with their lives, Jia Yi and Yafu, believed in the talents of life and held the same position, but they were slandered by villains and humiliated by disasters and failures, so their talents were slandered and they could not be put into use. Who doesn't feel sorry for his second son's estrangement? General Ling Xian, who has made great contributions to heaven and earth, heroically crowned the three armies [5 1], but lost the significance of your minister and was ruined. The hero is an upright man, so he is also a heavy sigh. What do you mean, not thin?

To annotate ...

[48]ū(zǐhǐI): Chopping into minced meat was a cruel death sentence in ancient times.

[49] See: Suffering. Koo: sin.

[50] Crown: Rank first among ... Used as a verb.

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You added: "The treatment of heroes in the Han Dynasty was not humble." You are a minister of the Han Dynasty. How can you not say anything? In the past, Xiao He and Fan Kuai were arrested and imprisoned, Han Xin and Peng Yue were beheaded, Chao Cuo was killed, Zhou Bo and Wei Qihou were convicted and sentenced. Other people who assisted the monarch in meritorious service, such as Jia Yi and Zhou Yafu, came into being, and they were endowed with the same qualities. But they were slandered, persecuted and humiliated by villains, and finally their talents were slandered, and their talents were not displayed. Who doesn't feel sorry for what happened to them? My late grandfather Li Guang was a general who made only a little contribution to the world. He fought bravely in the three armed forces, but only committed suicide in a remote battlefield because he did not cater to the wishes of the powerful people of the current dynasty. This is why heroes and righteous people sigh so much. How can you say that the treatment is not thin?

original text

The first step is to make a bicycle, which is suitable for thousands of people to ride [52]. When it is not met, as for the sword, ignore it; After hard work, several people died in the Great Northern Wilderness. Ding Nian was appointed and came back with his head down; The old mother died, but the wife went to the curtain call [53]. What the world wants to hear is unprecedented. The days when a handsome man was a good son. Is it the master of the world? Ling said that the first step is to recommend the rabbit and reward it a thousand times. Wen Zi's return, however, is only 2 million yuan, but it is a classical country, with no feet and no soil, and thrifty housekeeping. The minister who hinders work and hurts energy is Wan Huhou; The greed of relatives is called the slaughter of the temple. Children are still so, what hope does Fu Ling have? Moreover, it is really difficult for the Han Dynasty to bury the mausoleum with a thick burial and honor his son with festivals, so it is also difficult for ministers who listen far and listen widely to look forward to their lives, so is everyone who cares and does not regret it. Although Ling Ya is ungrateful, Han is also negative.

To annotate ...

[5 1] Ten thousand vehicles. In ancient times, Wancheng was called the monarch. The article refers to a powerful country. Lu: an ancient disparaging term for ethnic minorities, referring to Xiongnu.

[52] Go to the curtain: remarry. Let's go. Leave.

[53] Man Zhen: generally refers to ethnic minorities, here refers to the Huns. Xi, the ancient name of the ethnic minorities living in the northeast of China.

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You used to go to Xiongnu by bike to an enemy country with 10,000 personnel carriers. When you are unlucky, you even cut yourself with a sword regardless of your life. Wandering from place to place, miserable, almost died in the wilderness of the North Sea. When I was in my prime, I was ordered to go to the embassy and came back with white hair. My mother died and my wife remarried and left. This is rare in the world and has never happened since ancient times. Extraterrestrial uncivilized people are still praising your's solar terms, not to mention being the monarch of the world. I think you should enjoy the fief and be rewarded with thousands of personnel carriers. However, I heard that after you returned to China, you received only two million yuan, and your official position was only a position in a classical country. There was no land-sized reward to reward your loyalty to the country for many years. And those courtiers who rejected heroes and stifled talents became Wan Huhou; Blood relations, ethnic relations and greedy people became the masters of the imperial regime. If you still do this, what hope do I have? Moreover, in the Han Dynasty, I was severely punished for not being a martyr to my country, and I only gave you a meager reward for sticking to moral integrity. In doing so, I also want to let the distant subjects go to work eagerly. This is really hard to do, which is why I don't regret it whenever I think about these things. Although I failed to live up to the kindness of the Han Dynasty, the Han Dynasty also lost my merits.

original text

There used to be a saying: "Although my loyalty is not firm, I feel like death." Lingcheng can be safe, but can the duke recover soon? Born nameless, he died and was buried among barbarians. Who can recover, bow down and collect evidence [55] and go to the north to make the official of the sword and pen get the evil of writing and ink? I hope I will never look back at the mausoleum again.

To annotate ...

[54] Wiki: kowtow and touch the ground with your forehead. Here you are.

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The predecessors said: "Even if loyalty is not known to the world, you can die." I can die willingly, but can the emperor remember me? A man can't achieve fame when he is alive. Let him be buried in a foreign country when he is dead. Who can bow down and kowtow to the cold pavilion and let those knife and pencil collectors dance at will? I wish you would stop giving me hope.

original text

Well, what can you say about Ziqing? When you are far away from Wan Li, you will find yourself in a dead end. People born in other worlds are ghosts when they die in foreign countries. Dragon with the first step, life and death together. Thanking old friends and encouraging wise people. Don't think that the first step is innocent. Strive for self-love and return to Germany because of the north wind. Li ling nodded.

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Alas, ziqing! Anything else to say? Away from Wan Li, people have different identities and take different paths. When he was alive, he was from another world, and after he died, he became a foreign ghost. I will say goodbye to you forever, where will you go and never see each other again. Please give my regards to my old friends. I hope they will try their best to serve the wise monarch. Your son is fine, don't worry. I hope you love yourself hard, and I hope you will always rely on the convenience of the north wind to keep writing to me. Li Ling kowtowed and saluted.

Comment and analysis

This is a letter written by Li Ling, who is far away from Xiongnu, to Su Wu who returned to China. The letter described Li Ling's journey of thousands of miles and the defeat of the Huns. Judging from Li Ling's family background and peaceful performance, he probably wanted to make amends by waiting for an opportunity.

In this paper, my grandfather Li Guang was forced to commit suicide in a foreign country just because he lost the favor of powerful people, so as to refute the accusation of being "not thin" and expose the tolerance of the Han Dynasty to "ministers who hinder achievements and harm energy" and "greedy relatives" and the unkindness to some meritorious people. Then use the environment to set off your desolation, my friend, the sadness of where you will go is really euphemistic and moving.

It is worth noting that the fighting scenes in the letter are extremely sensational, apparently to show that at that time, due to the disparity in strength between the two sides, their own generals ignored the overall situation, and Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty believed in it and killed Li Ling's family improperly. This shows that he surrendered completely out of necessity, which made readers feel sympathy. In addition, strong contrast is often used, such as being in a foreign land and missing one's homeland, fighting bloody battles behind enemy lines with fewer soldiers, and Su Wu living in seclusion, which has indeed produced a strong artistic effect.