Yuefu: The Walking Tiger, Li Bai Series: Li Bai's Poems (Yuefu) Yuefu: The Walking Tiger

Explanation of the title "The Walking Tiger" belongs to the old title of Yuefu's "Xianghe Song Ci". Li Bai used this to write about his experiences after the Anshi Rebellion. In the spring of the first year of Zhide (756), Li Bai left Xuancheng to go south to Yanzhong to avoid the Anshi Rebellion. He met the great calligrapher Zhang Xu in Liyang (now Liyang, Jiangsu) and wrote this poem as a gift to Zhang. This poem describes An Lushan's capture of Luoyang, the eastern capital, and the atrocities of plundering the Central Plains, as well as the poet's anxious thoughts and feelings as he saw the broken rivers and mountains, the peril of the country, and the loss of life.

Original text: In the morning, the tiger walks, and in the evening, the tiger roars. A broken heart is not connected to Longtou 1 water, and tears are not connected to Yongmen Qin 2. The banners are colorful along the two rivers, and the drums of war are frightening and the mountains are about to collapse. The people of Qin were four and a half prisoners in the land of Yan, and the horses turned over Luoyang grass. One defeat and one loss, 6 troops were sent down, and 7 Youji and 8 cities were rebelled in the morning and evening. The giant turtle has not cut through the turbulence of the sea, and the fish and dragons are running around peacefully. It is quite like the time of Chu and Han Dynasty, when the sea was overturned and there was no end. Pass by Bolangsha in the morning and enter Huaiyin City at dusk. Zhang Liang did not meet Han Xinpo, and Liu Xiang's life and death depended on his two ministers. I went to Xiapi for a while to receive the military strategy, and came to vote for Piao Mu as my master. Sages lived like this in ancient times, but now they also abandon Qingyun scholars. If you have a plan, you don't dare to offend the dragon scales, so you run to the southern country to avoid Hu Chen. Treasure books and jade swords hang in high pavilions, golden saddles and horses disperse old friends. Yesterday, I was a guest from Xuancheng. I rang the bell and transported 2,000 shi. Sometimes Liu Bo is so excited that he circles the bed three times and throws it. Every time a Chu person talks about Zhang Xuqi, he has hidden things in his heart that the world does not know. The three uncles of Wu Bang looked forward to it, and the heroes from all over the world followed him. Xiao Cao once served as an official in Peizhong, and there was a time when he climbed the dragon and attached himself to the phoenix. In the spring of March in Liyang Restaurant, the poplar flowers are filled with worries about killing people. Hu Chu's green eyes play the jade flute, Wu Ge and Bai Zhi fly to Liang Chen. The husbands meet each other and enjoy themselves, playing oxen and drums to gather the guests. From then on I went fishing in the East China Sea, and the fish laughed and made love.

Notes 1 Longtou: Longshan. The ancient Yuefu "Longtou Song" contains: "The water flowing in Longtou makes a deep sound. Looking at Qinchuan in the distance, my heart is broken." 2 Tears are not for Yongmen Qin: Allusions are used here. The Prince of Yongmen Zhou used the qin to see Lord Mengchang. Lord Mengchang burst into tears and said, "Sir's harp and harp are like those who destroyed the country and destroyed the city." 3 Lianghedao: refers to the two rivers of Hebei and Henan in the Tang Dynasty. In the fourteenth year of Tianbao (755), Anlu Mountain rebelled against Fan Yang, and counties in Hebei and Henan fell one after another. 4 Qin people: refers to the people in Guanzhong. 5 Yandi: In the area around present-day northern Hebei and Beijing, it is the base area of ??the Anlushan rebels. 6 One loss and one loss: One loss refers to the defeat of Gao Xianzhi and Feng Changqing. An Lushan captured Luoyang, and Gao Xianzhi and Feng Changqing retreated to Tongguan. They collapsed without a fight and suffered heavy casualties. A mistake refers to a major strategic mistake made by Emperor Xuanzong of the Tang Dynasty. In anger, Xuanzong killed Gao Xianzhi and Feng Changqing. 7. Rebellion in the morning and evening: refers to the fact that the counties in Hebei rose up to fight against Anlu Mountain, but soon they were in trouble, and all the people who originally fought against Anlu Mountain returned to Anlu Mountain. 8 Youji: Youzhou, Jizhou, generally refers to the Hebei area. 9 Juao: refers to Anlu Mountain. Ten fishes and dragons: refers to the common people. Two sentences of "Chaoguo": The story of Zhang Liang and Han Xin is used. When Qin destroyed Han, Zhang Liang dispersed all his family property in order to recruit assassins because his ancestor, the fifth generation, had assisted Han and was determined to avenge Han. He got a strong man and used a hammer to hit Qin Shihuang in Bolangsha. He hit the auxiliary car by mistake and missed. Huang Shigong once taught Zhang Liang the art of war in Xiapi. Han Xin once sent food to the house of the head of Ting Nanchang in the countryside of Huaiyin. His wife was humiliated by the chief of the pavilion. When Han Xingfeng became the Queen of Chu, he summoned the head of the pavilion in Nanchang, where he went to the countryside, and said, "Young Master, you are a villain. His virtue is not enough." Qiqi: Feeling anxious and uneasy. Qingyun: A person with great ambitions. To offend the dragon scale means to offend the monarch. Ringing bells: In the Tang Dynasty, many government officials hung bells outside, and they would ring the bells to notify people when they came in or out. Liubo: a game of gambling. Bed: seat. Hide the wind and clouds in your heart: harbor extraordinary ambitions and talents. Bang Bo: Official name in Zhou Dynasty. This refers to the local governor. Climb the dragon and attach the phoenix: Follow the emperor to make achievements.

Translation I am very anxious about the Anshi Rebellion and the critical situation of the Tang Empire. The reason why I burst into tears is not because the melancholy tune of the ancient Yuefu song "The water flows from the long head, the sound is deep in the throat, looking at Qinchuan in the distance, and my heart is broken." The sad and moving music played by a master like Men Zizhou touched my personal sadness. But weep bitterly for the safety of the country and the disasters suffered by the people. Hu soldiers captured Luoyang, the current situation was chaotic, the country was in decline and the people were in ruins. The situation was miserable everywhere, which was also the reason why I was sad. During the Anlushan Rebellion, Hebei Road and Henan Road fell one after another and were occupied by the Hu people. After An Lushan captured Luoyang, the imperial court sent General Gao Xianzhi to lead his troops to Shaanzhou to resist, but was defeated by the Anshi rebels. Most of his subordinates (i.e. Qin people) became prisoners of the rebels. The eastern capital fell, and barbarians roamed the outskirts of the city. Gao Xianzhi was defeated at Anlu Mountain. Emperor Ming was furious when he heard this and ordered the eunuch Bian Lingcheng to kill Gao Xianzhi in the army. Gao Xianzhi retreated without a fight and retreated to Tongguan out of strategic considerations to defend Chang'an. However, Emperor Ming of the Tang Dynasty listened to the eunuchs' slander and hastily killed General Qiancheng, which was a great mistake. In December of the first year of Zhide (756), Yan Gaoqing, the prefect of Changshan, raised troops to fight against the bandits, and all seventeen counties in Hebei were returned to the imperial court. When Yan Gaoqing was defeated by the Anshi rebels, all counties in Hebei returned to the hands of the bandits. The Anshi rebels were like giant turtles in the sea, causing the water to churn, causing the fish and dragons in the sea (referring to the soldiers and civilians of the Tang Dynasty) to run around restlessly. I think of Zhang Liang and Han Xinlai, the outstanding counselors and generals who determined the fate of the Han Dynasty in history. Before they were met by kings and ministers, their situation was similar to my current situation. Zhang Liang attacked the First Emperor of Qin at Bolang Shazhui, accidentally hit the side car, and was hunted by Qin. He had no choice but to change his name and surname, and fled to Xiapi. He met Huang Shigong on the Xiapi ruins and was taught the "Tai Gong Art of War".

Han Xin was initially humiliated by scoundrels in the city of Huaiyin (today's Huaiyin, Jiangsu Province). He had no way to make a living, so he fished under the city and was fed by old women who floated catkins to satisfy his hunger. Later, Han Xin defected to the Han Dynasty, but Emperor Gaozu of the Han Dynasty did not reuse him at first. He fled on a moonlit night and performed a play of "Xiao He Chasing Han Xin Under the Moon". There are times when talented and wise men like Zhang Liang and Han Xin are in trouble, and there are times when wise kings like Emperor Gaozu of the Han Dynasty are unclear. It is not surprising that "the Qingyun scholars are also abandoned today." I have nothing to do but to be a guest among the princes. Yesterday I was a guest at a banquet at the home of the prefect of Xuancheng, and today I am a guest at the Liyang Mansion. I had nowhere to express my pride and ambition. I could only shout, drink, and shout in the gambling house to cheer up my heart and vent my anger. The talent and conduct of the great calligrapher Zhang Xu are really worthy of praise. Zhang Xu was not only revered as the "Grass Saint" because of his good calligraphy, but he also had great ambitions and "hidden the winds and clouds in his heart that the world did not know". Not only was he deeply appreciated by the local governor of Wu County, but he was also highly admired by heroes at home and abroad. I hope he will have a great time in the future and achieve something great. I want to fish in the East China Sea like the god Ren Gongzi in "Zhuangzi", and display my grand ambition to stabilize the country and benefit the people.