← Back to 漢書

卷三十三 魏豹田儋韓王信傳

Volume 33: Wei Bao, Tian Dan and Hán Xin (King of Han)

Chapter 42 of 漢書 · Book of Han
← Previous Chapter
Chapter 42
Next Chapter →
1
使 使
Wei Bao was a former prince of Wei. His elder brother Wei Jiu had once held the title Lord of Ningling in old Wei, but after Qin destroyed Wei he became a commoner. When Chen Sheng made himself king, Wei Jiu went to follow him. Chen Sheng sent the Wei man Zhou Shi to pacify Wei territory. Once Wei lands were subdued, they wanted to make Zhou Shi king of Wei. Zhou Shi said, "In a chaotic age, loyal ministers come to the fore. Now the whole empire has turned against Qin; propriety demands that we first set up a scion of the house of Wei." Qi and Zhao each sent fifty chariots to support installing Zhou Shi as king. Zhou Shi refused. He went to Chen to bring back Wei Jiu; after repeated requests, the King of Chen finally sent Wei Jiu back and enthroned him as king of Wei.
2
使
After Zhang Han had defeated the King of Chen, he advanced and attacked the King of Wei at Linji. The King of Wei sent Zhou Shi to ask Qi and Chu for aid. Qi and Chu sent Xiang Tuo and Tian Ba with troops to join Zhou Shi in rescuing Wei. Zhang Han then crushed and killed Zhou Shi's forces and surrounded Linji. Wei Jiu negotiated surrender terms for the sake of his people. Once the surrender terms were settled, Wei Jiu killed himself.
3
西
Wei Bao fled to Chu. King Huai of Chu gave Wei Bao several thousand men, and he again campaigned through Wei territory. After Xiang Yu defeated Qin troops and accepted Zhang Han's surrender, Wei Bao took more than twenty Wei cities and was set up as king of Wei. Wei Bao then led elite troops to enter the passes with Xiang Yu. When Xiang Yu enfeoffed the lords, he wanted Liang territory, so he moved Wei Bao to Hedong, with his capital at Pingyang, and made him king of Western Wei.
4
After the Han king returned and secured the Three Qins, he crossed at Linjin; Wei Bao attached his state to Han and joined the campaign against Chu at Pengcheng. When the Han king was defeated and withdrew to Xingyang, Wei Bao asked leave to visit an ailing relative. Once back in his state, he cut the ferry crossings on the river and broke with Han. The Han king told Li Yiji, "Use soft persuasion and go win him over." When Li Yiji arrived, Wei Bao excused himself, saying, "A human life is but a white colt flashing past a crevice. The king of Han treats people with contempt, cursing feudal lords and ministers like slaves. There is no proper etiquette between ruler and subject, and I cannot bear to see him again." The Han king sent Han Xin to attack Wei Bao, captured him, and brought him to Xingyang; his lands were turned into Hedong, Taiyuan, and Shangdang commanderies. The Han king ordered Wei Bao to guard Xingyang. As the Chu siege tightened, Zhou Ke said, "A king who has rebelled against his own realm is not someone we can hold the city with." He therefore had Wei Bao killed.
5
使
Tian Dan was from Di and belonged to the Tian royal clan of old Qi. His younger cousin Tian Rong and Rong's younger brother Tian Heng were both powerful local heroes who could attract followers. When Chen She sent Zhou Shi to seize territory, he reached Di, but Di held its walls. Tian Dan pretended he had bound a household slave and, followed by local youths, went to court claiming he wished to execute the slave. When he saw the magistrate of Di, he killed him, then called the sons of leading officials together and said, "The feudal lords have all risen against Qin and declared themselves. Qi is a state of old, and one of the Tian line should be king." He then made himself king of Qi and sent troops against Zhou Shi. Zhou Shi's army withdrew, and Tian Dan then led troops eastward and stabilized Qi territory.
6
Zhang Han was besieging Wei Jiu at Linji, and the situation was urgent. The King of Wei requested aid from Qi, and Tian Dan led troops to rescue Wei. Zhang Han attacked by night in silence, crushed the Qi and Chu forces, and killed Tian Dan below Linji. Tian Rong gathered Tian Dan's remaining troops and fled east to Dong'a.
7
When Qi people heard Tian Dan had died, they enthroned Tian Jia, younger brother of former King Jian of Qi, with Tian Jiao as chancellor and Tian Jian as general, to resist the other lords.
8
西
After Tian Rong fled to Dong'a, Zhang Han pursued and besieged him. Hearing Tian Rong was in danger, Xiang Liang led troops and broke Zhang Han below Dong'a. Zhang Han retreated west, and Xiang Liang pursued him. Tian Rong, enraged that Qi had installed Tian Jia, withdrew his troops and drove Tian Jia out. Tian Jia fled to Chu. Chancellor Tian Jiao fled to Zhao. Jiao's younger brother Tian Jian had earlier gone to aid Zhao and therefore did not dare return. Tian Rong then enthroned Tian Dan's son Tian Shi as king, served as his chancellor, made Tian Heng commander, and pacified Qi.
9
使使 鹿
After Xiang Liang pursued Zhang Han, Qin forces grew stronger. Xiang Liang sent envoys to urge Qi to send troops for a joint attack. Tian Rong said, "Chu must kill Tian Jia and Zhao must kill Jiao and Xian—only then will I send troops." King Huai of Chu said, "Tian Jia was king of a friendly state who, in distress, came to me. It would be unrighteous to kill him." Zhao likewise refused to kill Tian Jiao and Tian Jian in exchange for Qi's favor. The king of Qi said, "If a viper's poison reaches the hand, cut off the hand; if it reaches the foot, cut off the foot. Why is that? Because it would harm the body itself. Tian Jia, Tian Jiao, and Tian Xian are in Chu and Zhao. They are not close kin like hands and feet—why will they not kill them? Moreover, if Qin regains control of the empire, the graves of the leaders of the revolt will be defiled." Chu and Zhao did not comply, and Qi, angered, ultimately refused to send troops. Zhang Han then did in fact defeat and kill Xiang Liang and rout Chu forces. Chu troops fled east, while Zhang Han crossed the river and besieged Zhao at Julu. Because of this, Xiang Yu came to resent Tian Rong.
10
西
After Xiang Yu rescued Zhao, accepted Zhang Han's surrender, moved west to destroy Qin, and enfeoffed the lords, he transferred King Shi of Qi to Jiaodong to rule from Jimo. Qi general Tian Du had followed the relief of Zhao and then entered the passes, so Xiang Yu set him up as king of Qi at Linzi. Tian An, grandson of former King Jian of Qi, had taken several Jibei cities while Xiang Yu was crossing the river to aid Zhao and then surrendered to him; Xiang Yu made him king of Jibei at Boyang. Because Tian Rong had failed Xiang Liang and refused to aid Chu against Qin, he received no kingship. Zhao general Chen Yu had also lost his position and likewise was not made king. Both men resented Xiang Yu.
11
使
Tian Rong sent troops to aid Chen Yu and told him to recover Zhao lands; Tian Rong also raised troops to strike Tian Du, who fled to Chu. Tian Rong kept King Shi of Qi from departing for Jiaodong. King Shi's attendants said, "Lord Xiang is violent and overbearing. If you do not go to your assigned kingdom, you will be in peril." King Shi grew afraid and secretly went to his state. Tian Rong, enraged, pursued and killed King Shi at Jimo, then returned and killed Tian An, king of Jibei, made himself king, and annexed all three Qi regions.
12
When Xiang Yu heard this, he was enraged and marched north to attack Qi. Tian Rong sent troops to resist him at Chengyang. Tian Rong's army was defeated; he fled to Pingyuan, where local people killed him. Xiang Yu then burned and leveled Qi's cities, massacring and destroying everything along his route. The Qi people gathered and rebelled against him. Tian Rong's brother Tian Heng gathered scattered Qi troops, raised tens of thousands, and counterattacked Xiang Yu at Chengyang. At that same time, the Han king led the feudal armies to defeat Chu and entered Pengcheng. When Xiang Yu heard this, he abandoned the Qi campaign and returned to strike Han at Pengcheng, after which Han and Chu fought continuously around Xingyang. Tian Heng therefore recovered Qi cities, enthroned Tian Rong's son Tian Guang as king, and served as chancellor; all matters, great or small, were decided by Tian Heng.
13
使 使 使 使
After Qi had been settled for three years, they heard Han general Han Xin was leading troops east to attack Qi, so Qi sent Hua Wushang and Tian Jie to garrison Lixia against Han. Meanwhile Han envoy Li Yiji went to persuade King Guang and Chancellor Tian Heng to make an alliance. Tian Heng agreed, withdrew the defenses at Lixia, held drinking feasts, and prepared to send envoys for peace with Han. Han Xin then crossed from Pingyuan, launched a surprise attack, smashed the Qi army at Lixia, and entered Linzi. King Guang and Chancellor Tian Heng believed Li Yiji had sold them out and therefore boiled him alive. Guang fled east to Gaomi, Tian Heng fled to Bo, Chancellor Tian Guang fled to Chengyang, and General Tian Ji camped at Jiaodong. Chu sent Long Ju to rescue Qi, and the Qi king joined forces with him at Gaomi. Han generals Han Xin and Cao Shen defeated and killed Long Ju and captured King Guang of Qi. Han general Guan Ying pursued and captured Chancellor Tian Guang at Bo. Hearing the king was dead, Tian Heng made himself king and counterattacked Guan Ying, but Guan Ying defeated Tian Heng below Ying. Tian Heng fled to Liang and took refuge with Peng Yue. At that time Peng Yue held Liang territory in a middle position, at times aiding Han and at times aiding Chu. After Han Xin had killed Long Ju, he advanced, defeated and killed Tian Ji at Jiaodong; Guan Ying also defeated and killed Qi general Tian Xi at Qiancheng, and thus Qi territory was pacified.
14
使使 使 使 使使
After Han destroyed Xiang Ji and the Han king became emperor, Peng Yue was made king of Liang. Tian Heng feared he would be put to death, so he and more than five hundred followers went to sea and settled in the Minzhong islands. When Gaozu heard this, he noted that Tian Heng and his brothers had originally stabilized Qi and that many worthy Qi people were attached to them. He feared future unrest if Tian Heng remained at sea, so he sent an envoy pardoning Tian Heng and summoning him. Tian Heng declined, saying, "I boiled Your Majesty's envoy Li Yiji. Now I hear his younger brother Shang is a valued Han general. I am afraid and dare not obey; I ask only to remain a commoner and keep to the Minzhong islands." When the envoy returned and reported, Gaozu ordered the Commandant of the Guards, Li Shang: "When King Tian Heng of Qi arrives, if any of his followers stir up trouble, exterminate their clans!" He then sent another envoy bearing credentials to explain the edict in full, saying, "If Tian Heng comes, at best he will be made a king, and at least a marquis; if he does not come, troops will be sent to destroy him." Tian Heng then rode in an official relay carriage with two retainers to Luoyang.
15
使 媿 媿 使
At the posting station in Shixiang, Tian Heng told the envoy, "A subject who is to see the Son of Heaven should bathe and wash first." So he stayed there. He told his retainers, "Tian Heng and the Han king once both faced south as independent rulers. Now the Han king is emperor, while I am a fugitive who must face north and serve him—the humiliation is already more than I can bear. Moreover, I boiled Li Yiji, and now I would serve as minister alongside his younger brother. Even if he fears the emperor's edict and does not act, how could I not be ashamed at heart? Besides, the reason Your Majesty wishes to see me is only to look once upon my face. Your Majesty is at Luoyang. Cut off my head now and send it thirty li—my features will not yet have decayed, and you can still recognize me." He then cut his own throat, ordering the retainers to carry his head and race with the envoy to report to Gaozu. Gaozu sighed and said, "Ah! He had his reasons! They rose from commoners, and three brothers in succession became kings—are they not worthy men?" He wept, appointed the two retainers commandants, dispatched two thousand troops, and buried Tian Heng with rites due a king.
16
穿 使使
After the burial, the two retainers dug beside the grave and cut their own throats to follow him in death. When Gaozu heard this, he was astonished. He said Tian Heng's retainers were all worthy men, and when envoys summoned the remaining five hundred still at sea, they too committed suicide on hearing Tian Heng was dead. Only then did he truly recognize how Tian Heng and his brothers won men's loyalty.
17
Han Wang Xin.
18
使
Han Wang Xin was an illegitimate grandson in the line of King Xiang of Han, and stood eight chi five cun tall. When Xiang Liang set up King Huai of Chu, Yan, Qi, Zhao, and Wei had already restored their kings, but Han had no heir, so a Han prince, Lord Hengyang, was made king of Han to pacify Han territory. After Xiang Liang died at Dingtao, Lord Cheng fled to King Huai. The Duke of Pei attacked Yangcheng and sent Zhang Liang, as Han's minister, to rally Han lands; he obtained Han Xin, made him a Han general, and had him lead troops through Wuguan.
19
When the Duke of Pei became king of Han, Han Xin followed him into Hanzhong and advised him, saying, "Xiang Yu has made the generals kings but has left you alone here—this is banishment. Your troops are all men from east of the passes; they stand alert, yearning to go home. Once they swarm eastward, you can contend for the empire." After the Han king returned and settled the Three Qins, he agreed to enfeoff Han Xin, first appointing him grand commandant of Han and sending him to seize Han territory.
20
使
When Xiang Ji enfeoffed kings, all went to their assigned states. Because King Cheng of Han had not followed him and had no merit, Xiang Ji did not let him go to his state, demoted him to Marquis of Rang, and later killed him. Hearing Han had sent Xin to seize Han lands, Xiang Ji ordered Zheng Chang, who had once served under him in Wu, to become king of Han and resist Han. In Han year two, Xin captured more than ten Han cities. When the Han king reached Henan, Xin swiftly attacked King Chang of Han, and Chang surrendered. Xin was then made king of Han and usually led Han troops in campaign. The Han king ordered Xin and Zhou Ke to guard Xingyang. Chu captured the city, and Xin surrendered to Chu. He later escaped and returned to Han. Han restored him as king of Han, and he followed through to the final defeat of Xiang Ji. In the spring of year five, Gaozu divided the tally with Xin and granted him Yingchuan.
21
使使 使
In spring of year six, the emperor judged Xin fierce and martial. Because the northern front bordered Gong and Luo, the south pressed against Wan and Ye, and the east touched Huaiyang, all strategic military zones, he reassigned Taiyuan as Han's kingdom, moved Xin there to guard against the Hu, and set his capital at Jinyang. Han Xin memorialized, saying, "My state borders the frontier and the Xiongnu raid repeatedly. Jinyang is far from the border passes—I ask to administer from Mayi." The emperor approved. That autumn, Modu of the Xiongnu made a major incursion and besieged Xin, who repeatedly sent envoys to seek peace with the Hu. Han dispatched troops to rescue him, but suspected Xin's repeated secret contacts meant divided loyalties. The emperor sent Xin a letter of reprimand, saying, "To cling to death alone is not courage; to cling to life alone is not responsibility. When the enemy attacked Mayi, was your strength insufficient to hold it? This is ground where safety and ruin, survival and extinction, are decided—these are the two points for which I hold you accountable." After receiving the letter and fearing execution, Xin made terms with the Xiongnu to attack Han together, surrendered Mayi to the Hu, and struck Taiyuan.
22
使 西 使 使 使
In winter of year seven, the emperor personally campaigned, defeated Xin's forces at Tongdi, and beheaded Xin's general Wang Xi. Xin fled to the Xiongnu. Together with his generals Manqiu Chen of Baitu and Wang Huang, he set up Zhao Li, a descendant of the Zhao line, as king, regathered Xin's scattered troops, and with Xin and Modu plotted attacks on Han. The Xiongnu sent their Left and Right Wise Kings with more than ten thousand cavalry to join Wang Huang south of Guangwu. They reached Jinyang and fought Han forces, but Han routed them, pursued them to Lishi, and defeated them again. The Xiongnu then regrouped northwest of Loufan. Han sent cavalry and chariots against them; the Xiongnu often feigned retreat, and Han pursued north in victory. Hearing that Modu was at Daigu, the emperor remained at Jinyang and sent scouts to observe him. They returned and reported, "He can be attacked." The emperor advanced to Pingcheng and camped at Baideng. Xiongnu cavalry surrounded him, and he sent rich gifts to Modu's consort. The consort persuaded Modu, saying, "Even if we now gain Han territory, we still cannot hold it. Moreover, two rulers should not drive each other to extremes." After seven days, the Hu cavalry gradually withdrew. Under heavy fog, Han couriers moved in and out without the Hu noticing. Guard Commandant Chen Ping told the emperor, "The Hu army is still at full strength. Order the strong crossbowmen to fit two arrows each and face outward, and withdraw slowly from the encirclement." He then reentered Pingcheng, and Han relief forces also arrived. The Hu cavalry finally lifted the siege and withdrew, and Han likewise ended the campaign and returned. As a Xiongnu commander, Xin kept raiding the border and had Wang Huang and others mislead Chen Xi into rebellion.
23
使
In spring of year eleven, Xin again entered and occupied Shenhe with Hu cavalry. Han sent General Chai to attack and sent Xin a letter, saying, "The emperor is generous and humane. Even feudal lords who rebel and flee, if they later return, are restored to their former ranks and titles and are not put to death. You know this well, great king. Now you have been defeated and fled to the Hu—this is not a grave crime. Return quickly." Xin replied, saying, "Your Majesty raised me from the alleys and let me face south as an independent ruler—this was my good fortune. At Xingyang I failed to die and was taken prisoner by Xiang Yu—this was my first crime. When the enemy attacked Mayi I failed to hold firm and surrendered the city—this was my second crime. Now, as a rebel leader leading troops to contend with the general for life and death in a single day—this is my third crime. Wen Zhong and Fan Li had committed no such crimes, yet they still perished. With three crimes of my own, to seek life would be like Wu Zixu's downfall in Wu. Now I hide in mountain valleys, begging among the frontier tribes day and night. I long to return as a paralytic longs to stand and a blind man longs to see—but the circumstances make it impossible." So battle resumed. General Chai massacred Shenhe and beheaded Xin.
24
Appraisal: After the Zhou house collapsed, by the end of Spring and Autumn the feudal states were mostly exhausted, yet descendants of Yandi, Huangdi, Tang, and Yu still remained in some number. Qin destroyed the six states, and the surviving legacy of high antiquity was swept away almost entirely. In the Chu-Han interregnum, strongmen crowned themselves kings; only Wei Bao, Han Xin, and the Tian brothers were heirs of old states, yet all their lines ended in their own generation. Even with Tian Heng's integrity and the loyal devotion of his retainers, he still could not establish himself. Was this not Heaven? The Han clan later rose to prominence from after Lord Gonggao, perhaps because it remained close to the remnants of Zhou virtue.
← Previous Chapter
Back to Chapters
Next Chapter →