Du Mu; a famous poet of the Tang Dynasty; in one poem says:
A broken halberd buried in the sand;
With deep rust eaten;
Loud tells of ancient battles on the strand;
When Cao Cao was beaten。
Had eastern winds Zhou Yus plan refused to aid
And fan the blaze;
The two fair Qiaos; in the Bronze Birds shade;
Would have been locked at spring age。
But suddenly amid the merriment was heard the hoarse cry of a raven flying toward the south。
〃Why does the raven thus cry in the night?〃 said Cao Cao to those about him。
'e' The moon of the south is very beautiful。 Those who visit the south seem to say the moon there is brighter than anywhere else。
〃The moon is so bright that it thinks it is day*;〃 said they; 〃and so it leaves its tree。〃
Cao Cao laughed。 By this time he was quite intoxicated。 He set up his spear in the prow of the ship and poured a libation into the river and then drank three brimming goblets。
As he lowered the spear; he said; 〃This is the spear that broke up the Yellow Scarves; captured Lu Bu; destroyed Yuan Shao; and subdued Yuan Shu; whose armies are now mine。 In the north it reached to Liaodong; and it stretched out over the whole south。 It has never failed in its task。 The present scene moves me to the depths; and I will sing a song in which you shall acpany me。〃
And so he sang:
〃When goblets are brimming then sang is near birth;
But life is full short and has few days of mirth;
Life goes as the dew drops fly swiftly away;
Beneath the glance of the glowing hot ruler of day。
Humans life may be spent in the noblest enterprise;
But sorrowful thoughts in his heart oft arise。
Let us wash clean away the sad thoughts that intrude;
With bumpers of wine such as Du Kang once brewed。
Gone is my day of youthful fire
And still ungained is my desire。
The deer feed on the level plain
And joyful call; then feed again。
My noble guests are gathere