Brenda Lo (U1831780A)

(Written by a duke in the Qin dynasty in the 223 BC, drinking with his comrades before the conquest of the Chu dynasty after the Qins has successfully conquered the Han, Zhao, Wei dynasties. Here, they are toasting to their victory before their departure.)  

In the day I led my horse through the city, there I witness the misery of the Chu.

Tyranny and righteousness cannot live in peace, that has been the way since our ancient sages.

It is time for righteousness in our politics again.

 

Fragrance of roasted poultry lingering in the air, I offer you a feast for the warriors.

With this huang jiu, I toast to you, my brothers. [1]

Tonight, we drink to our heart’s desire.

Drink, my brothers, drink.

Tonight, we toast to our victory.

 

For when the morning comes, I’ll lead the way.

Hear the horses through the valleys, Qin warriors by my side.

With our guts determined and our pace hastened, let us race our way to the battle site.

 

When the morning comes, I’ll lead the way.

Harmony will be restored again.

[1] Huang jiu is a popular Chinese alcoholic beverage made from water and grains (e.g. rice, millet, wheat). Unlike bai jiu, it has a relatively lower alcohol content. Some huang jiu are known to be age and sold as premium products.