Translation: The army of the king does not need to engage in battle to make the enemy surrender. War must be prepared for in order to avoid trouble. However in the current long period of peace people have forgotten this principle. The hundred thousand troops of the Western Xia have betrayed their generations-old alliance and invaded the border city. They have burned killed and looted as if they were in a lawless land. The main general is incompetent and acts recklessly. Chengzhi is originally a civil official who does not understand military strategy and tactics. Moreover he is a young and ignorant person whose only skill is eating and drinking. Upon hearing that the enemy has arrived he immediately gathers troops and treats the enemy soldiers as if they are not worth a single blow as if dealing with dead people. The troops are hastily deployed without proper organization and do not understand how to occupy advantageous positions. The soldiers are also arrogant and spoiled. Due to lack of training the horses are very fat and cannot run and they cannot bear the weight of armor. Even if they have good weapons they cannot be used. As a result the soldiers are made to walk with difficulty and many fall into deep mountain gorges causing the enemy to mock them. The enemy's ambush is neatly arranged cutting off the path below the mountain and the soldiers are surrounded. There is no choice but to surrender and the main general cries and ties himself up. The enemy gives the order that those who have performing skills can save their lives so some people compete to showcase their skills or sing. The rest of the people have their noses or ears cut off and are sent away. They run to the east while being terrified. With missing ears and noses they look like monsters but they do not feel ashamed or embarrassed and are fortunate to have escaped with their lives. The cause of this disastrous defeat and humiliation is all due to the actions of the main general. Not understanding military strategy not understanding the importance of terrain and only relying on luck bringing such shame to the country is truly a heartbreaking matter.
Annotations:
- Wu Zhan: The opponent cannot resist.
- Wang Zhe: In ancient times the ruler who could win people over with virtue was called a king.
- Shi: Army.
- Cheng Ping: Long-term peace and stability.
- Xi Rong: Refers to the Western Xia.
- Shi Meng: Generations of friendship. At the end of the Tang Dynasty Tuoba Sigong occupied Xiazhou (now Hengshan Shaanxi) and his descendants passed it down. In the Song Dynasty they were given the surname Zhao and the title of the Great Xia Kingdom. At that time the leader of the Western Xia Yuanhao also received a title from the Song Dynasty and was named the Western Ping King.
- Shu Hu: Refers to the minority households near the border that have been assimilated into Han Chinese customs.
- Zhang Bao: Fortresses built to defend against enemy invasions in strategic locations on the border.
- Cheng Zhi: Official title.
《庆州败》译文及注释详情»
这篇创作背景发生在公元1034年的秋七月,当时西夏的元昊率兵进犯庆州(今甘肃庆阳)。宋朝的将领齐宗矩草率地出兵抵抗,但在途中遭到了敌人的伏击,战败并被俘虏。然而后来,齐宗矩被释放并回到了宋朝。在他回来之后,苏舜钦写下了一首名为《庆州败》的叙事诗。 《庆州败》创作背景详情»
准备充分,宋军却毫无防备,被敌人屠杀、烧毁城堡,十万敌军如猛兽般奔驰在山岳之间。这种对比更加凸显了宋军的软弱和无能。
接下来的几句描述了宋军将帅的愚蠢和军队的混乱。指挥官不懂战略,只知道贪图享乐,大吃大喝。这样的人指挥军队注定会失败。而且,宋军没有做好战前准备,匆忙出战,让士兵们在艰难的山路上行军。这些描写中充满了作者的愤怒和悲愤之情,同时也总结了失败的原因。
接下来的四句描述了宋军的困境和失败。敌人嘲笑着指指点点,宋军则像捆绑的尸体一样束手无策。这种对比更加凸显了宋军的失败。这一段描写了宋军的狼狈和失败,作者没有掩饰,直接揭示了宋军的腐败和无能。
整首诗通过对庆州战役的描写,尖锐地抨击了宋王朝的边防失策和军队的无能。诗人表达了自己的爱国主义激情,对宋军的失败进行了总结和批评。诗中的描写生动而真实,让读者深刻地感受到了当时战役的惨烈和宋军的软弱。整首诗情、事、理相结合,既是对历史事件的记录,也是对当时政府和军队的批评,体现了诗人的爱国情怀和对国家命运的关切。
《庆州败》赏析详情»
苏舜钦(1008—1048)是北宋时期的一位诗人,字子美,出生于开封(今属河南)。他的曾祖父是由梓州铜山(今四川中江)迁至开封的。苏舜钦曾担任过县令、大理评事、集贤殿校理、监进奏院等职务。
苏舜钦因支持范仲淹的庆历革新而受到守旧派的仇恨。当时的御史中丞王拱辰让其属官劾奏苏舜钦,指责他在进奏院祭神时,用卖废纸的钱来宴请宾客。因此,苏舜钦被罢职后退居苏州。
后来,苏舜钦重新得到重用,被任命为湖州长史。然而,不久之后他就因病去世了。
苏舜钦与梅尧臣齐名,被人们称为“梅苏”。他的诗文被收录在《苏学士文集》中,其中诗集有《苏舜钦集》16卷,清康熙时期的影印本收录在《四部丛刊》中。1981年,上海古籍出版社出版了《苏舜钦集》。