Thread by @CarlZha

In contrast to the latest US army ad, this is recent Chinese People's Liberation Army recruitment ad

Part 2 of recent Chinese Army recruitment ad: Heritage and tradition

Lyrics translation: Who will leave their mark?

referencing Song dyn minister Wen Tianxiang who refused to submit to Kublai Khan, wrote poem while prisoner on Mongol ship: 人生自古誰無死，留取丹心照汗青
Everyone dies, but my loyal red heart will illuminate history annals forever

In order to put stop to wars, never look

who will make great deeds in a young age?
谁少小封狼居胥

referencing 22 yr old Han dyn general Huo Qibing who defeated Xiongnu (Huns) Empire in 119BC and hold sacrificial ceremony to heaven on Mt 狼居胥 in Mongolia.

who will drunkenly look upon the sword under lamp light, dreaming back on expedition, only to sigh with white hair near end of life?

referencing poem of Song general Xin Qiji in 1178 abt his life. Qiji 棄疾 named aft Huo Qubing 霍去病 both mean free frm disease

Who will have fought north to south, 8000 league journey, only to stand by rail in rainy nights w wrath bristles through helmet?

referencing Song general Yue Fei's famous poem Man Jiang Hong written in 1133 during the Jin–Song Wars

Great green mountains buried loyal bones.

frm poem made famous by Mao aft his son died in Korean War. He reply Gen Peng Dehuai whether to return body to China
青山处处埋忠骨，何须马革裹尸还
Green mountain everywhere bury loyal bones, no need to return w the body in horse hide.

马革裹尸 is another Chinese idiom. In 44AD, Han Dyn general Ma Yuan put down Trung sisters rebellion in Vietnam, returned to capital Luo Yang. His guests congrat him on victory. He said a man should die on the battle field and return w body wrapped in horse hide, not die in bed

China, 5000 yrs long. Yangtze water rushing to sea. Who will be hero in this big universe?

referencing opening poem in Romance of Three Kingdoms
滚滚长江东逝水，浪花淘尽英雄
O so vast, O so mighty,
The Great River rolls to sea,
Flowers do waves thrash,
Heroes do sands smash,

Realizing great dreams, today look to me.

凌雲壯志 literally Ideals soaring to the cloud is a Chinese idiom for having great ideals/dreams. When 1986 Top Gun movie released in Hong Kong/Singapore, the name was translated to 壯志凌雲

Beacon fire reflecting on our banners, joining army in our youth, 10,000 league from home, Iron clad horse my life companion

Our red loyal hearts reflecting upon our land, crack troops hardened on the battlefield

We're not afraid of the coming storm, our generation ask for arms

長纓 is a long rope. 113BC, 19yr old 終軍 Zhong Jun volunteered to Han Emperor Wu as emissary to Kingdom of Nanyue (present-day Guangdong/Guangxi and Vietnam) 願受長纓，必羈南越王而致之闕下. ask for a rope to tie Nanyue King to Han rule. 請長纓 became idiom for volunteer 4 army

我辈请长缨

Our generation ask for arms (volunteer for military service)