癸卯歲，西原賊入道州，焚燒殺掠，幾盡而去。明年，賊又攻永州，破邵，不犯此州邊鄙而退，豈力能制敵歟？蓋蒙其傷憐而已！ 諸史何為忍苦徵斂！故作詩一篇以示官吏。
In the year of Kui Mao, bandits from Xiyuan targeted the State of Dao, they set fire, raided, looted and killed until there was little left. The following year the bandits returned, attacking the neighbouring state of Yong, but did not cross into Dao. Was it because the state of Dao had the strength to put up defence? No, but rather, it was because the bandits took pity on the State of Dao! How could the Tax Office bear to extra taxes impose! I have thus written a poem to appeal to people of office.
中文原文﹕
昔歲逢太平，
山林二十年。
泉源在庭戶，
洞壑當門前。
井稅有常期，
日晏猶得眠。
忽然遭時變，
數歲親戎旃。
今來典斯郡，
山夷又紛然。
城小賊不屠，
人貧傷可憐？
是以陷鄰境，
此州獨見全。
使臣將王命，
豈不如賊焉？
令彼徵斂者，
迫之如火煎。
誰能絕人命？
以作時世賢。
思欲委符節，
引竿自剌船，
將家就魚麥，
歸老江湖邊。
英文翻譯 / English Translation﹕
In the days of peace,
For twenty years I lived among mountain woods.
With a fresh water source close by,
Across from my door were caves and valley nooks.
The tax season was regular in those days,
I could sleep unruffled even when the sun had made a fair approach towards noon.
Till a sudden change of times,
Many years have passed by with me in armour fighting the gloom.
Now I have come to guard this state,
And gangs of bandits have once more made their move.
Are townships of Dao too small for the wicked to make a killing,
So they take pity on the poor?
While bandits raided neighbouring states,
They leave the state of Dao undisturbed.
Are Officers of Taxation not envoys of the Emperor,
How could they in comparison to bandits be not as good?
There are those pursuing taxes of various kinds who
Powerless people push and on helpless people punitive pressure put.
Who is there to these people save?
And be a model to the world, a man of virtue.
Right now I contemplate handing over my army seal,
To my own boat pole and moor.
I shall take my family to where we could fish and grow grains,
And take my retirement by a lake or a river soon.
.