曹操平定了北方割據勢力,控制了朝政。他又親率八十三萬大軍,直達長江北岸,準備渡江消滅孫權和劉備,進而統(tǒng)一全中國。建安十三年(公元208年),冬十一月十五日,天氣晴朗,風平浪靜,曹操下令:"今晚在大船上擺酒設樂,款待眾將。"到了晚上,天空的月亮非常明亮,長江宛如橫飄的一條素帶。再看船上眾將,個個錦衣繡襖,好不威風。
Cao Cao spoke to the assembly: "We have raised this force to purge(凈化,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(痛飲) 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."
曹操告訴眾將官:我自起兵以來,為國除害,掃平四海,使天下太平?,F(xiàn)在只有南方我還沒得到,今天請你們來,為我統(tǒng)一中國同心協(xié)力,日后天下太平,我們共享榮華富貴。文武們都站起來道謝,曹操非常高興,先以酒奠長江,隨后滿飲三大杯。并橫槊告訴眾將說:我拿此槊破黃巾,擒呂布、滅袁術、收袁紹,深入塞北,直達遼東,縱橫天下,頗不負大丈夫之志,在這良辰美景,我作歌,你們跟著和。
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.
接著,他唱曰:"對酒當歌,人生幾何……繞樹三匝,無樹可依,山不厭高,水不厭深,周公吐哺,天下歸心。"
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.
歌罷,刺史劉馥說,此歌不祥。曹操乘醉,將他用槊刺死。果不出所料,曹操樂極生悲。赤壁一戰(zhàn),險些丟了性命。