1
魏豹,故魏諸公子也。 其兄魏咎,故魏時封為甯陵君,秦滅魏,為庶人。 陳勝之王也,咎往從之。 勝使魏人周市徇魏地,魏地已下,欲立周市為魏王。 市曰:「天下昏亂,忠臣乃見。 今天下共畔秦,其誼必立魏王後乃可。」 齊、趙使車各五十乘,立市為王。 市不受,迎魏咎於陳,五反,陳王乃遣立咎為魏王。
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 that in a dark and chaotic age true loyal ministers appear. He argued that since all under Heaven had rebelled against Qin, justice required first restoring a descendant of Wei's royal line. 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
章邯已破陳王,進兵擊魏王於臨濟。 魏王使周市請救齊、楚。 齊、楚遣項它、田巴將兵,隨市救魏。 章邯遂擊破殺周市等軍,圍臨濟。 咎為其民約降。 約降定,咎自殺。
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
魏豹亡走楚。 楚懷王予豹數千人,復徇魏地。 項羽己破秦兵,降章邯,豹下魏二十餘城,立為魏王。 豹引精兵從項羽入關。 羽封諸侯,欲有梁地,乃徙豹於河東,都平陽,為西魏王。
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
漢王還定三秦,渡臨晉,豹以國屬焉,遂從擊楚於彭城。 漢王敗,還至滎陽,豹請視親病,至國,則絕河津畔漢。 漢王謂酈生曰:「緩頰往說之。」 酈生至,豹謝曰:「人生一世間,如白駒過隙。 今漢王嫚侮人,罵詈諸侯群臣如奴耳,非有上下禮節,吾不忍復見也。」 漢王遣韓信擊豹,遂虜之,傳豹詣滎陽,以其地為河東、太原、上黨郡。 漢王令豹守滎陽。 楚圍之急,周苛曰:「反國之王,難與共守。」 遂殺豹。
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 to go persuade him. When Li Yiji arrived, Wei Bao excused himself, saying life passes like a white colt through a crack. He said the Han king humiliated people, cursing lords and ministers like slaves, with no proper ritual hierarchy, and he could not 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. When Chu's siege tightened, Zhou Ke said a king who had rebelled against his own state could not be trusted in a shared defense. He therefore had Wei Bao killed.
5
田儋,狄人也,故齊王田氏之族也。 儋從弟榮,榮弟橫,皆豪桀,宗彊,能得人。 陳涉使周市略地,北至狄,狄城守。 儋陽為縛其奴,從少年之廷,欲謁殺奴。 見狄令,因擊殺令,而召豪吏子弟曰:「諸侯皆反秦自立,齊,古之建國,儋,田氏,當王。」 遂自立為齊王,發兵擊周市。 市軍還去,儋因率兵東略定齊地。
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 Di magistrate, he struck and killed him, then summoned the sons of local officials and said the feudal lords were all rebelling against Qin and that Qi, an ancient state, should be ruled by a Tian. 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
秦將章邯圍魏王咎於臨濟,急。 魏王請救於齊,儋將兵救魏。 章邯夜銜枚擊,大破齊、楚軍,殺儋於臨濟下。 儋從弟榮收儋餘兵東走東阿。
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
齊人聞儋死,乃立故齊王建之弟田假為王,田角為相,田閒為將,以距諸侯。
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
榮之走東阿,章邯追圍之。 項梁聞榮急,乃引兵擊破章邯東阿下。 章邯走而西,項梁因追之。 而榮怒齊之立假,乃引兵歸,擊逐假。 假亡走楚。 相角亡走趙。 角弟閒前救趙,因不敢歸。 榮乃立儋子市為王,榮相之,橫為將,平齊地。
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
項梁既追章邯,章邯兵益盛,項梁使使趣齊兵共擊章邯。 榮曰:「楚殺田假,趙殺角、閒,乃出兵。」 楚懷王曰:「田假與國之王,窮而歸我,殺之不誼。」 趙亦不殺田角、田閒以市於齊。 齊王曰:「蝮酿手則斬手,酿足則斬足。 何者? 為害於身也。 田假、田角、田閒於楚、趙,非手足戚,何故不殺? 且秦復得志於天下,則齮齕首用事者墳墓矣。」 楚、趙不聽齊,齊亦怒,終不肯出兵。 章邯果敗殺項梁,破楚兵。 楚兵東走,而章邯渡河圍趙於鉅鹿。 項羽由此怨榮。
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 replied that he would send troops only if Chu killed Tian Jia and Zhao killed Tian Jiao and Tian Jian. King Huai of Chu said Tian Jia had sought refuge with him in distress and 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 that if poison enters the hand one cuts off the hand, and if it enters the foot one cuts off the foot. Why? Because the body itself is at stake. He said Tian Jia, Tian Jiao, and Tian Jian were not blood kin to Chu or Zhao, so why refuse to kill them. He added that if Qin regained control of the realm, the graves of all current leaders would be torn up. 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
羽既存趙,降章邯,西滅秦,立諸侯王,乃徙齊王市更王膠東,治即墨。 齊將田都從共救趙,因入關,故立都為齊王,治臨菑。 故齊王建孫田安,項羽方渡河救趙,安下濟北數城,引兵降項羽,羽立安為濟北王,治博陽。 榮以負項梁,不肯助楚攻秦,故不得王。 趙將陳餘亦失職,不得王。 二人俱怨項羽。
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
榮使人將兵助陳餘,令反趙地,而榮亦發兵以距擊田都,都亡走楚。 榮留齊王市毋之膠東。 市左右曰:「項王強暴,王不就國,必危。」 市懼,乃亡就國。 榮怒,追擊殺市於即墨,還攻殺濟北王安,自立為王,盡并三齊之地。
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 Xiang Yu was powerful and violent, and if he did not go to his assigned state he would be in danger. 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
項王聞之,大怒,乃北伐齊。 榮發兵距之城陽。 榮兵敗,走平原,平原民殺榮。 項羽遂燒夷齊城郭,所過盡屠破。 齊人相聚畔之。 榮弟橫收齊散兵,得數萬人,反擊項羽於城陽。 而漢王帥諸侯敗楚,入彭城。 項羽聞之,乃釋齊而歸擊漢於彭城,因連與漢戰,相距滎陽。 以故橫復收齊城邑,立榮子廣為王,而橫相之,政事無巨細皆斷於橫。
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
定齊三年,聞漢將韓信引兵且東擊齊,齊使華毋傷、田解軍歷下以距漢。 會漢使酈食其往說王廣及相橫,與連和。 橫然之,乃罷歷下守備,縱酒,且遣使與漢平。 韓信乃渡平原,襲破齊歷下軍,因入臨菑。 王廣、相橫以酈生為賣己而亨之。 廣東走高密,橫走博,守相田光走城陽,將軍田既軍於膠東。 楚使龍且救齊,齊王與合軍高密。 漢將韓信、曹參破殺龍且,虜齊王廣。 漢將灌嬰追得守相光,至博。 而橫聞王死,自立為王,還擊嬰,嬰敗橫軍於贏下。 橫亡走梁,歸彭越。 越時居梁地,中立,且為漢,且為楚。 韓信已殺龍且,因進兵破殺田既於膠東,灌嬰破殺齊將田吸於千乘,遂平齊地。
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 Can 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
漢滅項籍,漢王立為皇帝,彭越為梁王。 橫懼誅,而與其徒屬五百餘人入海,居闯中。 高帝聞之,以橫兄弟本定齊,齊人賢者多附焉,今在海中不收,後恐有亂,乃使使赦橫罪而召之。 橫謝曰:「臣亨陛下之使酈食其,今聞其弟商為漢將而賢,臣恐懼,不敢奉詔,請為庶人,守海闯中。」 使還報,高帝乃詔衛尉酈商曰:「齊王橫即至,人馬從者敢動搖者致族夷!」 乃復使使持節具告以詔意,曰:「橫來,大者王,小者乃侯耳; 不來,且發兵加誅。」 橫乃與其客二人乘傳詣雒陽。
After Han destroyed Xiang Ji and the Han king became emperor, Peng Yue was made king of Liang. Tian Heng feared execution, so he and more than five hundred followers entered the sea and lived on an island. 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 he had boiled the emperor's envoy Li Yiji and now heard Li's younger brother Li Shang was a valued Han general; out of fear he did not dare obey the edict and asked to remain a commoner on the island. When the envoy returned, Gaozu ordered commandant Li Shang: if the king of Qi Tian Heng arrives, anyone among his followers who stirs trouble is to be exterminated by clan. He then sent another envoy with tally-staff credentials to fully explain the imperial intent: if Tian Heng comes, at best he may be made a king, and at minimum a marquis. If he did not come, troops would be sent and he would be executed. Tian Heng then rode in an official relay carriage with two retainers to Luoyang.
15
至尸鄉廄置,橫謝使者曰:「人臣見天子,當洗沐。」 止留。 謂其客曰:「橫始與漢王俱南面稱孤,今漢王為天子,而橫乃為亡虜,北面事之,其媿固已甚矣。 又吾亨人之兄,與其弟併肩而事主,縱彼畏天子之詔,不敢動搖,我獨不媿於心乎? 且陛下所以欲見我,不過欲壹見我面貌耳。 陛下在雒陽,今斬吾頭,馳三十里間,形容尚未能敗,猶可知也。」 遂自剄,令客奉其頭,從使者馳奏之高帝。 高帝曰:「嗟乎,有以! 起布衣,兄弟三人更王,豈非賢哉!」 為之流涕,而拜其二客為都尉,發卒二千,以王者禮葬橫。
At the posting station in Shixiang, Tian Heng told the envoy that a subject should bathe before seeing the Son of Heaven. So he stayed there. He told his retainers that he and the Han king had once both faced south as rulers, but now the Han king was emperor and he himself a fugitive who must face north as a subject, a humiliation already too great to bear. He added that he had boiled the emperor's elder-brother envoy, and now to serve beside the envoy's younger brother would shame him beyond endurance, even if that younger brother dared not act against the imperial order. He said the emperor only wanted to see his face once. Since the emperor was in Luoyang, if his head were cut off now and sent thirty li, its features would still be recognizable. 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 there was indeed a reason for this. He said that starting as commoners, the three brothers had ruled in turn, and were truly worthy. He wept, appointed the two retainers commandants, dispatched two thousand troops, and buried Tian Heng with rites due a king.
16
既葬,二客穿其冢旁,皆自剄從之。 高帝聞而大驚,以橫之客皆賢者,吾聞其餘尚五百人在海中,使使召至,聞橫死,亦皆自殺。 於是乃知田橫兄弟能得士也。
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
韓王信
Han Wang Xin.
18
韓王信,故韓襄王孽孫也,長八尺五寸。 項梁立楚懷王,燕、齊、趙、魏皆已前王,唯韓無有後,故立韓公子橫陽城君為韓王,欲以撫定韓地。 項梁死定陶,成奔懷王。 沛公引兵擊陽城,使張良以韓司徒徇韓地,得信,以為韓將,將其兵從入武關。
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
沛公為漢王,信從入漢中,乃說漢王曰:「項王王諸將,王獨居此,遷也。 士卒皆山東人,竦而望歸,及其蠭東鄉,可以爭天下。」 漢王還定三秦,乃許王信,先拜為韓太尉,將兵略韓地。
When the Duke of Pei became king of Han, Han Xin followed him into Hanzhong and advised him that Xiang Yu had enfeoffed other commanders while isolating him here in exile. He said the troops were all men from east of the passes and yearned to return, and once they surged eastward, the empire could be contested. 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
項籍之封諸王皆就國,韓王成以不從無功,不遣之國,更封為穰侯,後又殺之。 聞漢遣信略韓地,乃令故籍游吳時令鄭昌為韓王距漢。 漢二年,信略定韓地十餘城。 漢王至河南,信急擊韓王昌,昌降漢。 乃立信為韓王,常將韓兵從。 漢王使信與周苛等守滎陽,楚拔之,信降楚。 已得亡歸漢,漢復以為韓王,竟從擊破項籍。 五年春,與信剖符,王潁川。
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
六年春,上以為信壯武,北近鞏、雒,南迫宛、葉,東有淮陽,皆天下勁兵處也,乃更以太原郡為韓國,徙信以備胡,都晉陽。 信上書曰:「國被邊,匈奴數入,晉陽去塞遠,請治馬邑。」 上許之。 秋,匈奴冒頓大入圍信,信數使使胡求和解。 漢發兵救之,疑信數間使,有二心。 上賜信書責讓之曰:「專死不勇,專生不任,寇攻馬邑,君王力不足以堅守乎? 安危存亡之地,此二者朕所以責於君王。」 信得書,恐誅,因與匈奴約共攻漢,以馬邑降胡,擊太原。
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. Xin petitioned that his state bordered the frontier and the Xiongnu raided repeatedly; since Jinyang was far from the passes, he asked to govern 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 that to choose death alone was not courage and to seek life alone was not responsibility, and asking whether he truly lacked strength to hold Mayi against attack. He said this was ground where survival and ruin were decided, and therefore he held Xin strictly 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
七年冬,上自往擊破信軍銅鞮,斬其將王喜。 信亡走匈奴。 與其將白土人曼丘臣、王黃立趙苗裔趙利為王,復收信散兵,而與信及冒頓謀攻漢。 匈奴使左右賢王將萬餘騎與王黃等屯廣武以南,至晉陽,與漢兵戰,漢兵大破之,追至于離石,復破之。 匈奴復聚兵樓煩西北。 漢令車騎擊匈奴,常敗走,漢乘勝追北。 聞冒頓居代谷,上居晉陽,使人視冒頓,還報曰「可擊」。 上遂至平城,上白登。 匈奴騎圍上,上乃使人厚遺閼氏。 閼氏說冒頓曰:「今得漢地,猶不能居,且兩主不相厄。」 居七日,胡騎稍稍引去。 天霧,漢使人往來,胡不覺。 護軍中尉陳平言上曰:「胡者全兵,請令彊弩傅兩矢外鄉,徐行出圍。」 入平城,漢救兵亦至。 胡騎遂解去,漢亦罷兵歸。 信為匈奴將兵往來擊邊,令王黃等說誤陳豨。
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 Modu was in Daigu, the emperor stayed at Jinyang and sent scouts. They returned saying the enemy could 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 that even if they gained Han territory they could not hold it, and two rulers should not push 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 that the Hu force was intact and advised strong crossbows with paired arrows pointed outward while withdrawing 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
十一年春,信復與胡騎入居參合。 漢使柴將軍擊之,遺信書曰:「陛下寬仁,諸侯雖有叛亡,而後歸,輒復故位號,不誅也。 大王所知。 今王以敗亡走胡,非有大罪,急自歸。」 信報曰:「陛下擢僕閭巷,南面稱孤,此僕之幸也。 滎陽之事,僕不能死,囚於項籍,此一罪也。 寇攻馬邑,僕不能堅守,以城降之,此二罪也。 今為反寇,將兵與將軍爭一旦之命,此三罪也。 夫種、蠡無一罪,身死亡; 僕有三罪,而欲求活,此伍子胥所以僨於吳世也。 今僕亡匿山谷間,旦暮乞貣蠻夷,僕之思歸,如痿人不忘起,盲者不忘視,勢不可耳。」 遂戰。 柴將軍屠參合,斬信。
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 was generous and humane: even rebel lords who later returned were restored to their former ranks and not executed. He said Xin already knew this. He urged Xin to return quickly, since fleeing to the Hu after defeat was not an unforgivable crime. Xin replied that the emperor had raised him from an alley commoner and let him face south as a king, which was his great fortune. But at Xingyang he had failed to die and was captured by Xiang Ji, his first crime. When Mayi was attacked, he failed to hold it and surrendered the city, his second crime. Now, as a rebel commander contending with Han generals for life and death in a single day, this was his third crime. Fan Li and Wen Zhong had no such crimes, yet still died. He said with three crimes of his own, to seek survival was like Wu Zixu's ruin in Wu. Now he hid in mountain valleys, begging among frontier tribes day and night. He longed to return as a cripple longs to stand and a blind man longs to see, but the circumstances made it impossible. So battle resumed. General Chai massacred Shenhe and beheaded Xin.
24
贊曰:周室既壞,至春秋末,諸侯秏盡,而炎黃唐虞之苗裔尚猶頗有存者。 秦滅六國,而上古遺烈埽地盡矣。 楚漢之際,豪桀相王,唯魏豹、韓信、田儋兄弟為舊國之後,然皆及身而絕。 橫之志節,賓客慕義,猶不能自立,豈非天虖! 韓氏自弓高後貴顯,蓋周烈近與!
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.