With war signals burning for months on end, the common people were driven from their homes.
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history
From Du Fu's (杜甫, Tang dynasty) 《春望》: 国破山河在，城春草木深。感时花溅泪，恨别鸟惊心。烽火连三月，家书抵万金 — 'The state is shattered, mountains and rivers remain; in the city's spring, grass and trees grow deep... Beacon fires have burned for three months; a letter from home is worth ten thousand in gold.' Written in 757 during the An Lushan Rebellion while Du Fu was trapped in occupied Chang'an.
usage
Almost always cited together with the next line 家书抵万金. 烽火 = beacon-fire signals used to warn of invasion, by extension 'war'.
