Could someone get Chinese translation, maybe even fm the EB AB?

Here's an old post on another forum (Chinese History Forum) with photos of the Chinese writing I need translated. Ca. 2007, guest poster "Oriental Horizons" showed up and did a great job of translating this for me, writing up extended posts with all the contextual Chinese history focusing on the cannon's "sponsor" Viceroy Li Hoangzhang. Now, a couple of computer changes later, wouldntcha know all of those posts I'd been so careful to save on the hard drive are nowhere to be found, and I need at least the basic translation for the auction catalog, and by, like tomorrow! I'd post there but I had promised myself I'd never go back there, and I always keep promises.

http://www.chinahistoryforum.com/topic/19191-old-bronze-cannon/

Another pic of the primary markings all in one line:

 

I can‘t help you out right now, but if it's still useful I can check next week to see if I saved anything from those threads. OH put an awful lot of work into his replies. I doubt anyone wants to translate it again, though.

 

Thanks, yes his posts on it were very educational, my first introduction to Li Hoangzhang. I recall the overall story he told but if OH gave a literal translation of the characters, that I don't recall, and would still like it. We're adding images to the online auction catalog, and if and when I get the translation, we'll simply post an image of the English text.

 

I just searched my files and while I've got a thread for the Daoguang-era gun you once posted, I apparently didn't save the thread for this Tongzhi-era piece. Sorry.

As an aside, I notice you seem to have polished this item. Is that common in the gun/cannon field?

 

No old bronze cannon should be polished, period. The famous militaria and reproduction gun dealer who imported this from UK had shown me a photo of the collection of some 15 wonderfully-patinated bronze pieces as they sat in their UK-owner's home when they were on the way to the US. Knowing his desire to brighten all old bronze, no matter how brutal the means required, I pleaded with him to leave them alone, and that I'd buy them all if possible, and pay more if left unpolished. His massive ego made him ignore me and have his workers use whatever power tools they thought necessary to polish them all quickly. I tried anyway.

On the old thread, I bought some replacement parts and think I will be able to restart the old computer which will hopefully have the files I want.

 

This is probably going to be of no help to you, but I tried...

Original Inscription: 太子太傅大学士直隶一等肃伯李苗

Bing Translation: University of taizi Taifu Shi Zhili, first Su bolimiao

 

Thanks. I'd better put the 'ole computer back together.