A letter to the chief minister congratulating him on the killing of Huang Chao's rebel band賀殺黃巢賊徒狀
1The victories of the Dingnan Army and the Baoda Army
右得進奏院狀報。定難軍拓跋相公，保大軍東方逵尙書奏。於宜君縣南。殺戮賊徒。並生擒賊將。又鳳翔李相公奏。探知京中賊徒潰散。六月十三日。聖上御宣政殿。排仗受賀者。竊以逆賊黃巢。稔惡旣多。就刑非久。敢驅烏合之衆。屢拒鷹揚之師。拓跋相公。東方尙書。或力微裔孫。或曼倩餘慶。皆申祕略。共彌兇徒。能順天誅。遂陳月捷。軍名定難。雅稱關，張之聲。縣號宜君。克符堯，舜之德。是以。聖上高臨紫極。遠耀皇威。睹百辟之歡呼。雷驚蜀國。想六師之勇戰。電掃秦川。卽當靜滅氛霾。永見均施渥澤。此皆相公調鼎中之味。運堂上之兵。右援枹而得功。左執律而至獻。勳功相繼。稱慶何窮。某久阻淮夷。尙淹海徼。遠聆捷語。但切歡聲。然必願劍拂狼星。旗迎聖日。終繼張飛之拒後。不慙聶叔之致師。限守戎藩。末由陳賀。下情無任踊躍之至。謹奉狀陳賀。謹錄狀上。
For the above: a report has come from the Memorial Office, saying that Chief Minister Tuoba of the Dingnan Army and Minister Dongfang Kui of the Baoda Army reported that south of Yijun county they killed the rebel band and also took rebel generals alive; and that Chief Minister Li of Fengxiang reported that he had learned the rebel band in the capital was breaking up and scattering, and that on the thirteenth day of the sixth month the sagely ruler went to the Xuanzheng Hall, set out the guard of honor and received congratulation. I quietly consider that the rebel Huang Chao has long ripened in wickedness and will not be long in coming to his punishment, yet he dared to drive on a crowd gathered like crows and again and again to hold off an army that soars like a hawk. Chief Minister Tuoba and Minister Dongfang are the one a distant descendant of Liwei, the other an inheritor of Manqian's remaining blessing. Both set forth secret plans and together wore the vile band away. They were able to follow out the punishment of Heaven, and so they reported victories month by month. The army named Dingnan, which is to settle troubles, well fits the fame of Guan Yu and Zhang Fei; the county named Yijun, which is fitting for a ruler, answers truly to the virtue of Yao and Shun. Therefore the sagely ruler looks down from the Purple Pole on high and makes his imperial majesty shine far off. Seeing the glad shouting of the hundred officials, thunder startles the land of Shu; thinking of the brave fighting of the six armies, lightning sweeps Qinchuan. Soon the foul vapors will be stilled and done away, and his rich bounty will be seen bestowed on all alike for ever. All this is Your Excellency tempering the flavors in the cauldron and moving the troops from up in the hall, so that with the right hand the drumstick is raised and merit won, and with the left the law is held and victory brought in. One achievement follows another, so how should there be an end to congratulation? I have long been kept back among the Huai tribes and linger still on the sea frontier, and hearing word of the victories from afar, my glad voice is only the keener. Yet it is surely my wish that the sword brush the Wolf Star and the banners welcome the sagely sun, so that in the end I may follow Zhang Fei in holding the rear and not be shamed beside Nie Shu in bringing on the army. Bound to the guard of a frontier command, I have no way to set forth my congratulation. A lowly servant cannot contain his leaping and bounding. With respect I present this statement of congratulation. I respectfully set it down and send it up.
Interlinear notes 1
"Liwei" is Tuoba Liwei, and "Manqian" is Dongfang Shuo. — tr.