白话文《镇皖楼记》（1182字）

原文作者：李振裕

皖地，是濒临长江的重要之地。它向上可以控制洞庭、彭蠡二湖，向下能够扼守石头城（南京）、京口（镇江），划分长江流域时，它宛如锁住南北的关键，坐镇此处则能与东西各方紧密相连，长江作为天然的险阻，如同万里长城一般的战略意义就体现在这里。历来凡是地形险要、风光优美的地方，必然会有高大雄伟的建筑景观，用以收揽当地的风土景致，展现江山的气势，然而，如果没有具备雄才大略、广博深沉智慧的人去筹划营造、安排布置，那么这项工程必然无法成功。即便建成了，也难以做到规模宏大壮丽，达到一个时代的极致辉煌，与这奇特的地势形势相匹配，这确实是很困难的事。

在皖城（安庆城厢）的东门外，原先有一座名叫 “中江” 的楼阁，房屋已经破败坍塌，只剩下遗址，这种情况已非一日。中丞（巡抚/省长兼军区司令员）薛公之前在这片地区担任观察使（道台的雅称）的时候，常常乘车前来此处休憩，徘徊其间，登高远望，就有心想要重新营造修建。恰逢他在此地任职尚未坐热板凳，就被提拔为南楚的布政使（分管财政钱粮各项的副省长或代理省长）而离去，没过多久，他又回来担任巡抚一职。薛公整饬纲纪，布施仁德，宣扬风化，真可谓驾轻就熟，这是因为他对于此地的利害得失向来了解透彻，做事便能周全完备。

于是，在政务处理得游刃有余的闲暇之时，他审察地形，召集工匠，捐出自己的俸禄来促成这件事，没多久，那蓬勃兴盛、安宁祥和的景象就呈现出来，就好像楼阁从地底下突然涌出一般。薛公向来精通堪舆风水之学，说起这座楼阁建在城北，并非仅仅是为了作为游玩观赏、宴饮集会之所。大概是说长江向东奔腾而下与大海连通，有皖城巩固门户之势，但若不在这门户之地加以管束，那么长江的水势就会肆意汹涌，难以汇聚元气。薛公既已为整条长江谋划了妥善的策略，不动声色地奠定了如磐石般稳固的根基，又在这个地方建造起巍峨雄伟的楼阁景观，用以弥补地势形势上的不足。薛公为皖地百姓考虑得如此深远。

这座楼阁建成之后，取名叫 “镇皖”，我恰好因考评士子之事前来此地，薛公与我一见如故，引领我登上这座楼阁，只见万里长江，那所谓锁住南北、连通东西的壮阔景象，吴楚之地的山川风光尽可坐而一览无余。而且它的规模壮丽非凡，达到了当下的极致，足以与这险要的地势相匹配，实在是我生平仅见。我家乡洪都（南昌）的滕王阁，背倚城郭，面朝大江，也是流传千秋的胜景，然而历经多次兴废，屡次重建却都没能长久留存供人观赏。像这座镇皖楼（在省城安庆）的建成，既契合地势又顺应人心，事业与时运相偕，功绩与道义并存，必定会得到神灵的庇佑扶持，如同薛公的惠爱声名，历经长久岁月也不会磨灭，又哪里仅仅是像召公的甘棠树那样，让人 “勿剪勿伐” 而已呢？《诗经》有言：“和乐平易的君子，会得到神灵的佑助。” 我冒昧地以此来颂扬薛公。

李振裕；清江西吉水人，进士及第。康熙二十四年(1685)任江南学政。

2025.1.12星期日；老屋张忠上传于安庆@得烟楼

英文版《白话文镇皖楼记》
"Record of the Zhenwan Tower" (in vernacular Chinese, 1,182 words)

Author: Li Zhenyu

The region of Anhui is an important place bordering the Yangtze River. It can control Dongting Lake and Poyang Lake upstream and guard Shitoucheng (Nanjing) and Jingkou (Zhenjiang) downstream. When it comes to dividing the Yangtze River basin, it is like the key to locking the north and the south. When stationed here, it can closely connect the east and the west. The strategic significance of the Yangtze River as a natural barrier is just like that of the Great Wall. Historically, wherever there are places with perilous terrains and beautiful sceneries, there must be magnificent and imposing architectural landscapes to embrace the local customs and display the grandeur of the land. However, without people with great ambitions, outstanding strategies, and profound wisdom to plan, construct, and arrange things, this project would surely not succeed. Even if it were completed, it would be difficult to make it magnificent in scale and reach the peak of glory of an era, matching the unique geographical features. This is indeed a very challenging task.

Outside the east gate of the city of Anhui (the urban area of Anqing), there used to be a pavilion named "Zhongjiang". The houses had already been dilapidated and collapsed, leaving only the site, and this situation had persisted for quite a long time. When Lord Xue, who held the position of the Surveillance Commissioner (an elegant term for the Circuit Intendant) in this area before, often came here by carriage to take a rest. He would wander around and look into the distance from a high place, and then he had the intention to rebuild it. Coincidentally, before he had even settled down in this position, he was promoted to the position of the Provincial Administrative Commissioner (the deputy governor or acting governor in charge of financial, grain and other aspects) of South Chu and left. Not long after that, he came back to serve as the Provincial Governor. Lord Xue rectified the discipline, spread benevolence, and promoted moral culture. It could be said that he was able to handle these tasks with ease because he had always had a thorough understanding of the advantages and disadvantages of this place, so he could handle things comprehensively.

Therefore, in his free time when he could handle government affairs with great proficiency, he examined the terrain, gathered craftsmen, and donated his own salary to make this project happen. Before long, a prosperous and peaceful scene emerged, as if the pavilion suddenly sprang up from the ground. Lord Xue had always been proficient in the study of geomancy. Speaking of building this pavilion in the north of the city, it was not just for the purpose of sightseeing, feasting and gathering. Probably, he meant that the Yangtze River rushed eastward and connected with the sea. Although the city of Anhui strengthened the position of the gateway, if there was no restraint in this gateway area, the water flow of the Yangtze River would be rampant and it would be difficult to gather vitality. Lord Xue had already devised a proper strategy for the entire Yangtze River, quietly laid a solid foundation like a rock, and also built a magnificent and imposing pavilion landscape in this place to make up for the deficiencies in the geographical situation. Lord Xue considered the interests of the people in Anhui so deeply.

After this pavilion was completed, it was named "Zhenwan". I happened to come here because of the task of evaluating scholars. Lord Xue and I hit it off immediately and led me to ascend this pavilion. Looking around, I could see the magnificent sight of the Yangtze River stretching thousands of miles, locking the north and the south and connecting the east and the west. The mountains and rivers in the regions of Wu and Chu could all be seen in one glance while sitting there. Moreover, its scale was magnificent and extraordinary, reaching the peak of the current era, sufficient to match the perilous geographical features. It was truly the most remarkable sight I had ever seen in my life. The Tengwang Pavilion in my hometown Hongdu (Nanchang), with its back against the city wall and facing the great river, is also a famous scenic spot that has been passed down through the ages. However, it has gone through many rises and falls and has been rebuilt several times but failed to last long for people to enjoy the view. The completion of this Zhenwan Tower (in the provincial capital Anqing) not only conforms to the geographical situation but also complies with the will of the people. Its cause goes hand in hand with the times, and its achievements coexist with morality. It will surely be blessed and supported by the gods, just like Lord Xue's reputation for kindness and love, which will never fade away over a long period of time. How could it be simply like the Chinese scholartree of Duke Shao, which people were asked to "not cut or fell"? As the Book of Songs says, "The amiable and easy-going gentleman will be blessed by the gods." I venture to use this to praise Lord Xue.

Li Zhenyu: A native of Jishui, Jiangxi in the Qing Dynasty, he passed the imperial examination and became a Jinshi. In the 24th year of the Kangxi reign (1685), he served as the Educational Commissioner of Jiangnan.

Uploaded by Zhang Zhong in the old house in Anqing @ Deyanlou on Sunday, January 12, 2025.

附原文《镇皖楼记》（625字）

李振裕

皖,滨江重地也。上控洞庭、彭蠡,下扼石城、京口,分江则锁钥南北,坐镇则呼吸东西,中流

天堑,万里长城于是乎在。从来形胜之地,必有巍峨雄杰之观,以收揽其风物而吐纳其江山,然

非有壮猷伟略,博大深沉之人为之营而措置焉,则其功必不成。即成矣,亦不能规模壮丽,极一

时之盛,而副形势之奇,是为难也。皖城东门外,向有楼名“中江”,屋废而址存,非一日矣。中丞薛公前观察兹邦,时时命车来憩,徘徊瞻眺,欲有所经营,会席未暖,擢南楚方伯,去未几,复来

抚,整纲饬纪,布德宣风,所谓驾轻车就熟路者,盖公于此方,利害知之也有素,而为之者无遗。

于是出游刃之暇,面势鸠工,捐俸以集事,而苞茂芋宁之象遂成之,不日如涌地而出也。公素精

形象,言其建北,非第为游观宴集之计。盖谓长江东下与海通波,有皖城以巩门户,而不有管束

乎?门户之地者,则其势力不止,而其气不聚,公既为全江画善策,奠磐石于无形,而复于斯地树

巍峨雄杰之观,以补形势之所不及。公之为皖民计,深且远也如此。此楼既成,署曰“镇皖”,余适以校士来过,公为余倾盖登此楼,则长江万里,所谓锁钥南北而呼吸东西者,吴楚山川坐而毕揽焉。而其规模壮丽又极一时之盛,而足以副形胜之奇,真目中所仅遘也。余乡洪都滕王阁负郭面江,亦千秋胜概,而数经兴废,屡建而不永于观。若斯楼之成,揆地势而协人心,事与时偕,

功与道俱,当必为神灵所扶持,与我公之惠爱声名,历久而不敝,岂徒甘棠之树,勿剪勿伐而已

哉？诗曰:恺悌君子神所劳矣。敢以是为薛公颂。

2025.1.12星期日；老屋张忠上传