横槊赋诗

This is a story from Three Kingdoms. After suppressing the separatist（分离主义的） forces in the north and taking control of the court, Cao Cao led his 830,000-strong army to the north bank of the Yangtze River, aiming to destroy Sun Quan and Liu Bei who were on the other side of the river. It was the thirteenth year of Jian Ah, the fifteenth day of the eleventh month. The weather was clear and bright, the wind calm, the waves still. Cao Cao ordered a feast and entertainment for the commanders that evening. The moon was bright and the GRE at River lay slack, like a belt of white silk unrolled. Aboard ship, all the attendants were in damask（锦缎） coats and embroidered（绣花的） jackets. Cao Cao spoke to the assembly: "We have raised this force to purge（净化，清洗） evil, dispel threats to the ruling family and to calm the empire. The Southland alone remains outside our sphere. Today I invite you to join me. When we have received the submission of the Southland and the empire is at peace, we shall share with you the enjoyments of wealth and glory." The audience rose as one to give Cao Cao thanks. Cao Cao was gratified and offered wine to the river. Then he quaffed（痛饮） three full goblets（酒杯） and, leveling his spear, said to his commanders, "Here is the weapon that broke the Yellow Scarves, took Lu Bu, eliminated Yuan Shu, subdued Yuan Shao, penetrated beyond the northern frontier, and conquered the east as far as Liao dong. In the length and breadth of this land no man has withstood me. My ambitions have always been those of a man of action, a leader among men. And now the scene before us fills my soul with profound passion. I shall perform a song, and you must join me." Cao Cao recited：

Here before us, wine and song！

For man does not live long.

…

It southbound circles thrice（三次） a tree,

That offers him no haven.

the mountaintop no beight eschews（避免） ,

the sea eschews no deep.

And the Duke of Zhou spat out his meal,

An empire's trust to keep.

As Cao Cao finished, Liu Fu, an imperial inspector, pointed out ominous（不吉利的） words in the ode. Cao Cao, already drunk at that time, pierced Liu Fu through with his spear, killing him. Lin Fu's words were proved later in the battle at Chibi, where Cao Cao almost lost his life.