1
韓信，淮陰人也。 家貧無行，不得推擇為吏，又不能治生為商賈，常從人寄食。 其母死無以葬，乃行營高燥地，令傍可置萬家者。 信從下鄉南昌亭長食，亭長妻苦之，乃晨炊蓐食。 食時信往，不為具食。 信亦知其意，自絕去。 至城下釣，有一漂母哀之，飯信，竟漂數十日。 信謂漂母曰：「吾必重報母。」 母怒曰：「大丈夫不能自食，吾哀王孫而進食，豈望報乎！」 淮陰少年又侮信曰：「雖長大，好帶刀劍，怯耳。」 眾辱信曰：「能死，刺我； 不能，出跨下。」 於是信孰視，俛出跨下。 一巿皆笑信，以為怯。
Han Xin was a native of Huaiyin. His family was poor and his conduct was poor, so he was neither recommended for office nor able to support himself in trade, and he often lived off other people. When his mother died, he could not afford a burial, so he scouted out a high, dry site, choosing one whose surrounding area could, as he saw it, support ten thousand households. Han Xin was eating at the home of the Nanchang pavilion chief in Xiangxia, but the chief's wife resented him, so she began cooking at daybreak and eating before he arrived. When Han Xin came at the usual meal hour, they no longer set out food for him. Han Xin understood the hint and stopped going. He went to fish below the city wall. An old washerwoman there took pity on him and fed him for many days while she worked. Han Xin said to her, "I will repay you generously one day." She said angrily, "A grown man who cannot feed himself! I gave you food out of pity, not because I wanted repayment." A local youth in Huaiyin mocked him, saying, "You are big and always wear a sword, but you are just a coward." People humiliated Han Xin and said, "If you have the nerve to die, stab me; if not, crawl between my legs." Han Xin looked at him for a long moment, then bent down and crawled between his legs. The whole marketplace laughed at him as a coward.
2
及項梁度淮，信乃杖劍從之，居戲下，無所知名。 梁敗，又屬項羽，為郎中。 信數以策干項羽，羽弗用。 漢王之入蜀，信亡楚歸漢，未得知名，為連敖。 坐法當斬，其疇十三人皆已斬，至信，信乃仰視，適見滕公，曰：「上不欲就天子乎？ 而斬壯士！」 滕公奇其言，壯其貌，釋弗斬。 與語，大說之，言於漢王。 漢王以為治粟都尉，上未奇之也。
When Xiang Liang crossed the Huai River, Han Xin joined him with sword in hand, but remained an unknown in the ranks. After Xiang Liang's defeat, he transferred to Xiang Yu and served as a palace gentleman. Han Xin repeatedly offered plans to Xiang Yu, but Xiang Yu never used him. When the King of Han entered Shu, Han Xin left Chu and joined Han. Still unknown, he was made a low-ranking supply officer. He was convicted under the law and sentenced to execution. Thirteen men before him had already been beheaded. When his turn came, "And called out, Does our ruler not intend to win the empire? And yet he is about to kill a man of talent!" Lord Teng was struck by his words and his bearing, and spared him. After speaking with him, he admired him greatly and recommended him to the King of Han. The King of Han appointed him Commandant of Grain, but still did not think much of him.
3
數與蕭何語，何奇之。 至南鄭，諸將道亡者數十人。 信度何等已數言上，不我用，即亡。 何聞信亡，不及以聞，自追之。 人有言上曰：「丞相何亡。」 上怒，如失左右手。 居一二日，何來謁。 上且怒且喜，罵何曰：「若亡，何也？」 何曰：「臣非敢亡，追亡者耳。」 上曰：「所追者誰也？」 曰：「韓信。」 上復罵曰：「諸將亡者已數十，公無所追； 追信，詐也。」 何曰：「諸將易得，至如信，國士無雙。 王必欲長王漢中，無所事信； 必欲爭天下，非信無可與計事者。 顧王策安決。」 王曰：「吾亦欲東耳，安能鬱鬱久居此乎？」 何曰：「王計必東，能用信，信即留； 不能用信，信終亡耳。」 王曰：「吾為公以為將。」 何曰：「雖為將，信不留。」 王曰：「以為大將。」 何曰：「幸甚。」 於是王欲召信拜之。 何曰：「王素嫚無禮，今拜大將如召小兒，此乃信所以去也。 必欲拜之，擇日齋戒，設壇場具禮，乃可。」 王許之。 諸將皆喜，人人各自以為得大將。 至拜，乃韓信也，一軍皆驚。
Han Xin often talked with Xiao He, and Xiao He recognized his exceptional ability. By the time they reached Nanzheng, dozens of generals had deserted. Han Xin thought Xiao He had already recommended him repeatedly; if he was still unused, then he should leave. When Xiao He heard Han Xin had run away, he pursued him at once without waiting to report first. Someone reported to the King of Han, "Chancellor Xiao He has fled." The king was furious, as though he had lost both hands. A day or two later, Xiao He returned for an audience. Half angry and half relieved, the king cursed him, "If you ran away, why?" Xiao He said, "I did not flee. I only chased someone who did." The king asked, "Whom did you chase?" He answered, "Han Xin." The king cursed again, "So many generals have fled, and you chased none of them; yet you chased Han Xin? That is a lie." Xiao He said, "Ordinary generals are easy to find. Han Xin is a once-in-a-generation talent. If Your Majesty only wishes to remain king of Hanzhong, then you have no use for Han Xin. But if you intend to contend for the empire, there is no one but Han Xin who can plan that struggle with you. Everything depends on what course Your Majesty decides to take." The king said, "I too want to return east. How could I remain shut up here forever?" Xiao He said, "If Your Majesty is set on going east, then Han Xin will stay only if you truly employ him; if you do not use him, he will eventually leave." The king said, "For your sake, I will appoint him a general." Xiao He said, "Even that will not keep him." The king said, "Then I will make him commander-in-chief." Xiao He said, "That would be excellent." So the king planned to summon Han Xin and formally appoint him. Xiao He said, "You are usually casual and discourteous. If you appoint a commander-in-chief as though calling for a child, that is exactly why he walked away. If you truly mean to appoint him, choose an auspicious day, observe purification, raise an altar, and perform the full ceremony. Only then will it work." The king consented. All the generals were pleased, each thinking he would be named commander-in-chief. At the ceremony, the appointee turned out to be Han Xin, and the entire army was astonished.
4
信以拜，上坐。 王曰：「丞相數言將軍，將軍何以教寡人計策？」 信謝，因問王曰：「今東鄉爭權天下，豈非項王邪？」 上曰：「然。」 信曰：「大王自料勇悍仁彊孰與項王？」 漢王默然良久，曰：「弗如也。」 信再拜賀曰：「唯信亦以為大王弗如也。 然臣嘗事項王，請言項王為人也。 項王意烏猝嗟，千人皆廢，然不能任屬賢將，此特匹夫之勇也。 項王見人恭謹，言語姁姁，人有病疾，涕泣分食飲，至使人有功，當封爵，刻印刓，忍不能予，此所謂婦人之仁也。 項王雖霸天下而臣諸侯，不居關中而都彭城； 又背義帝約，而以親愛王，諸侯不平。 諸侯之見項王逐義帝江南，亦皆歸逐其主，自王善地。 項王所過亡不殘滅，多怨百姓，百姓不附，特劫於威，彊服耳。 名雖為霸，實失天下心，故曰其彊易弱。 今大王誠能反其道，任天下武勇，何不誅！ 以天下城邑封功臣，何不服！ 以義兵從思東歸之士，何不散！ 且三秦王為秦將，將秦子弟數歲，而所殺亡不可勝計，又欺其眾降諸侯。 至新安，項王詐阬秦降卒二十餘萬人，唯獨邯、欣、翳脫。 秦父兄怨此三人，痛於骨髓。 今楚強以威王此三人，秦民莫愛也。 大王之入武關，秋豪亡所害，除秦苛法，與民約，法三章耳，秦民亡不欲得大王王秦者。 於諸侯之約，大王當王關中，關中民戶知之。 王失職之蜀，民亡不恨者。 今王舉而東，三秦可傳檄而定也。」 於是漢王大喜，自以為得信晚。 遂聽信計，部署諸將所擊。
Once Han Xin had been invested and had bowed, the king took his seat. The king said, "The chancellor has repeatedly praised you. What strategy would you teach me?" Han Xin thanked him and asked, "The one we now face in the east for control of the empire is Xiang Yu, is it not?" The king said, "Yes." Han Xin said, "Compare yourself honestly with Xiang Yu in courage, ferocity, humanity, and force. Who is stronger?" The King of Han was silent a long while and then said, "I am not his equal." Han Xin bowed twice and said, "I too think that Your Majesty is not his equal. But I once served Xiang Yu. Let me describe what sort of man he is. When Xiang Yu roars in anger, a thousand men freeze. But he cannot trust capable commanders. That is only a brute's courage. In person, Xiang Yu can be courteous and soft-spoken. If someone is ill, he cries and shares his own food and drink. But when a man has earned rank and title, Xiang Yu fingers the seal until its edges wear down, unable to award it. That is mere petty softness, not true magnanimity. Though Xiang Yu became hegemon over the realm and commanded the lords, he abandoned Guanzhong and set his capital at Pengcheng. He also broke his pact with Emperor Yi and enfeoffed favorites, which left the lords deeply dissatisfied. Once the lords saw Xiang Yu exile Emperor Yi to the south, they each followed suit, expelling their own rulers and seizing the best lands for themselves. Wherever Xiang Yu marched, he ravaged and destroyed. The people resented him and did not truly submit; they only yielded under intimidation. He was hegemon in name, but he had already lost the hearts of the people. That is why his apparent strength can quickly turn weak. If Your Majesty does the opposite and employs the brave men of the world, who could you not defeat? If you reward merit with cities and fiefs, who would refuse to submit? If you lead a righteous army and align with those eager to return east, who would not rally to you? And the Three Qin kings were Qin commanders who led Qin troops for years, killed countless men, and then deceived their own soldiers into surrender. At Xin'an, Xiang Yu treacherously buried alive over two hundred thousand surrendered Qin soldiers. Only Zhang Han, Sima Xin, and Dong Yi escaped. The people of Qin hate those three men to the marrow. Now Chu has imposed those three as kings by force, and the Qin people have no love for them. When Your Majesty entered Wuguan, you harmed not even a hair, abolished Qin's harsh laws, and made a covenant of only three legal articles. Every Qin household wanted you to rule Qin. By agreement among the lords, Your Majesty was supposed to rule Guanzhong, and the people there all know this. When you were forced out to Shu, all the people felt wronged and resentful. If Your Majesty now marches east, the Three Qin can be pacified simply by circulating a call to arms. The King of Han was overjoyed and felt only that he had found Han Xin too late. He adopted Han Xin's strategy and assigned each commander his target.
5
漢王舉兵東出陳倉，定三秦。 二年，出關，收魏、河南，韓、殷王皆降。 令齊、趙共擊楚彭城，漢兵敗散而還。 信復發兵與漢王會滎陽，復擊破楚京、索間，以故楚兵不能西。
The King of Han marched east through Chencang and subdued the Three Qin. In the second year, he moved out of the passes and took Wei and Henan, and the kings of Han and Yin surrendered. He then had Qi and Zhao join in attacking Chu at Pengcheng, but the Han forces were routed and retreated. Han Xin raised forces again and joined the King of Han at Xingyang. He defeated Chu between Jing and Suo, which blocked Chu from advancing west.
6
漢之敗卻彭城，塞王欣、翟王翳亡漢降楚，齊、趙、魏亦皆反，與楚和。 漢王使酈生往說魏王豹，豹不聽，乃以信為左丞相擊魏。 信問酈生：「魏得毋用周叔為大將乎？」 曰：「跷直也。」 信曰：「豎子耳。」 遂進兵擊魏。 魏盛兵蒲阪，塞臨晉。 信乃益為疑兵，陳船欲度臨晉，而伏兵從夏陽以木罌缶度軍，襲安邑。 魏王豹驚，引兵迎信。 信遂虜豹，定河東，使人請漢王：「願益兵三萬人，臣請以北舉燕、趙，東擊齊，南絕楚之糧道，西與大王會於滎陽。」 漢王與兵三萬人，遣張耳與俱，進擊趙、代。 破代，禽夏說閼與。 信之下魏、代，漢輒使人收其精兵，詣滎陽以距楚。
After Han's setback at Pengcheng, Sai king Xin and Di king Yi defected from Han to Chu, and Qi, Zhao, and Wei also turned against Han and made terms with Chu. The King of Han sent Li Sheng to persuade Wei king Bao, but Bao refused, so he appointed Han Xin Left Chancellor and sent him against Wei. Han Xin asked Li Sheng, "Has Wei appointed Zhou Shu as commander-in-chief?" , "It is Bo Zhi." , "Just a nobody." He then advanced and attacked Wei. Wei concentrated heavy forces at Puban and sealed off Linjin. Han Xin expanded his feint, lining up boats as though he would cross at Linjin. Meanwhile, an ambush force crossed from Xiayang on wooden floats and struck Anyi. Wei king Bao was alarmed and led his army out to face Han Xin. Han Xin captured Bao and secured Hedong, then sent word to the King of Han, "Grant me thirty thousand more troops. I ask to march north against Yan and Zhao, east against Qi, south to cut Chu's supply lines, and meet Your Majesty at Xingyang in the west." The King of Han gave him thirty thousand troops and sent Zhang Er with him to attack Zhao and Dai. He defeated Dai and captured Xia Yue at Yuyu. Whenever Han Xin conquered Wei and Dai, the Han court promptly drew off their best troops and sent them to Xingyang to hold back Chu.
7
信、耳以兵數萬，欲東下井陘擊趙。 趙王、成安君陳餘聞漢且襲之，聚兵井陘口，號稱二十萬。 廣武君李左車說成安君曰：「聞漢將韓信涉西河，虜魏王，禽夏說，新喋血閼與。 今乃輔以張耳，議欲以下趙，此乘勝而去國遠鬥，其鋒不可當。 臣聞『千里餽糧，士有飢色； 樵蘇後爨，師不宿飽。』 今井陘之道，車不得方軌，騎不得成列，行數百里，其勢糧食必在後。 願足下假臣奇兵三萬人，從間道絕其輜重； 足下深溝高壘勿與戰。 彼前不得鬥，退不得還，吾奇兵絕其後，野無所掠鹵，不至十日，兩將之頭可致戲下。 願君留意臣之計，必不為二子所禽矣。」 成安君，儒者，常稱義兵不用詐謀奇計，謂曰：「吾聞兵法『什則圍之，倍則戰。』 今韓信兵號數萬，其實不能，千里襲我，亦以罷矣。 今如此避弗擊，後有大者，何以距之？ 諸侯謂吾怯，而輕來伐我。」 不聽廣武君策。
With several tens of thousands of men, Han Xin and Zhang Er planned to advance east through Jingxing and strike Zhao. When Zhao king Xie and Lord Cheng'an Chen Yu heard Han was coming, they massed forces at Jingxing Pass, claiming a strength of two hundred thousand. , "Lord Guangwu, advised Lord Cheng'an: I hear Han Xin has crossed the Yellow River, captured the king of Wei, taken Xia Yue, and just won a bloody victory at Yuyu. Now, with Zhang Er beside him, he intends to strike Zhao. He is advancing on momentum, fighting far from home; his edge is hard to resist. I have heard it said: when grain must be hauled a thousand li, soldiers look hungry. When fuel must be gathered only after cooking, an army cannot remain fed even through one night. On the Jingxing road, carts cannot move two abreast and horsemen cannot form proper lines. After marching hundreds of li, their supplies must fall behind. Lend me thirty thousand picked troops to move by side routes and sever their baggage line. You should hold fast behind deep trenches and high walls, and refuse battle. Then they will be unable to advance or withdraw, while our detached force cuts off their rear. With no forage in the field, they will collapse. Within ten days, those two generals' heads can be brought to your camp. Please consider this plan. If you do, you will not be taken by those two." But Lord Cheng'an, a Confucian, liked to say that righteous armies should not rely on trickery. He quoted the maxim, "If you outnumber the enemy ten to one, surround him; if five to one, attack. Han Xin is said to have tens of thousands, but his real strength is less. He has marched a thousand li to strike me and must already be worn out. If we avoid battle now, how will we withstand an even greater threat later? The feudal lords will call us cowards and come against us lightly." He refused Li Zuoche's advice.
8
信使間人窺知其不用，還報，則大喜，乃敢引兵遂下。 未至井陘口三十里，止舍。 夜半傳發，選輕騎二千人，人持一赤幟，從間道萆山而望趙軍，戒曰：「趙見我走，必空壁逐我，若疾入，拔趙幟，立漢幟。」 令其裨將傳餐，曰：「今日破趙會食。」 諸將皆嘸然，陽應曰：「諾。」 信謂軍吏曰：「趙已先據便地壁，且彼未見大將旗鼓，未肯擊前行，恐吾阻險而還。」 乃使萬人先行，出，背水陳。 趙兵望見大笑。 平旦，信建大將旗鼓，鼓行出井陘口，趙開壁擊之，大戰良久。 於是信、張耳棄鼓旗，走水上軍，復疾戰。 趙空壁爭漢鼓旗，逐信、耳。 信、耳已入水上軍，軍皆殊死戰，不可敗。 信所出奇兵二千騎者，候趙空壁逐利，即馳入趙壁，皆拔趙旗幟，立漢赤幟二千。 趙軍已不能得信、耳等，欲還歸壁，壁皆漢赤幟，大驚，以漢為皆已破趙王將矣，遂亂，遁走。 趙將雖斬之，弗能禁。 於是漢兵夾擊，破虜趙軍，斬成安君泜水上，禽趙王歇。
Han Xin sent scouts, learned the advice had been rejected, and was delighted. Only then did he confidently advance. He camped about thirty li short of Jingxing Pass. At midnight he issued orders, choosing two thousand light cavalrymen, each with a red banner. They took a hidden route over Mount Bi to watch the Zhao army, and he instructed them, "When Zhao sees us retreat, they will empty their walls to pursue. Enter quickly, pull down Zhao's banners, and raise Han banners." He told his lieutenants to serve a meal, saying, "Today we break Zhao, then we eat together." The generals were dumbfounded, then gave a hollow assent: "Yes." Han Xin told his officers, "Zhao has already fortified favorable ground. Until they see my main standards and drums, they will not attack the vanguard, fearing we may hold the defile and withdraw." He then sent ten thousand men forward and deployed them with their backs to the river. The Zhao troops saw this and burst out laughing. At daybreak Han Xin raised his command banners and drums and marched out of Jingxing. Zhao came out from its fortifications and the battle dragged on fiercely. Han Xin and Zhang Er abandoned their drums and standards, fell back to the river-positioned troops, and resumed hard fighting. Zhao stripped its camp to seize Han banners and drums and chase Han Xin and Zhang Er. By then Han Xin and Zhang Er had reached the river-backed force, whose soldiers fought desperately and would not break. Han Xin's two thousand hidden cavalry waited until Zhao had emptied its camp to pursue gains, then raced in, tore down Zhao banners, and planted two thousand Han red standards. Unable to catch Han Xin and Zhang Er, the Zhao troops tried to return, only to find their camp covered in Han red banners. Terrified, they assumed the king and commanders had already been destroyed, and they collapsed into flight. Even when Zhao commanders executed fleeing men, they could not restore order. Han forces then attacked from both flanks, routed and captured the Zhao army, beheaded Lord Cheng'an on the Zhi River, and seized King Xie of Zhao.
9
信乃令軍毋斬廣武君，有生得之者，購千金。 頃之，有縛而至戲下者，信解其縛，東鄉坐，西鄉對，而師事之。
Han Xin then ordered that Li Zuoche must not be killed; anyone who took him alive would receive a thousand in gold. Before long, Li Zuoche was brought in bound. Han Xin personally untied him, seated him opposite, and treated him as a teacher.
10
諸校劾首虜休，皆賀，因問信曰：「兵法有『
After the officers turned in heads and prisoners and offered congratulations, they asked Han Xin, "In military doctrine there is
11
右背山陵，前左水澤』，今者將軍令臣等反背水陳，曰破趙會食，臣等不服。 然竟以勝，此何術也？」 信曰：「此在兵法，顧諸君弗察耳。 兵法不曰『陷之死地而後生，投之亡地而後存』乎？ 且信非得素拊循士大夫，經所謂『敺市人而戰之』也，其勢非置死地，人人自為戰； 今即予生地，皆走，寧尚得而用之乎！」 諸將皆服曰：「非所及也。」
Deploy with high ground to the right and rear, and water or marsh to the front and left. Yet today you made us form with our backs to the river and told us we would dine after defeating Zhao. We did not believe it. Yet we won in the end. What method was this? , "It is in the military classics. You simply did not notice it. Does it not also say: put troops in deadly ground and they will live; cast them into desperate ground and they will survive? Besides, I had not yet had time to fully win over these officers and men. This was what the classics call driving marketplace men into battle. Unless put on death ground, they would not fight with everything they had. If I had left them a way to live, they would all have run. How could they have been used then?" All the generals acknowledged this and said, "We could not have matched that."
12
於是問廣武君曰：「僕欲北攻燕，東伐齊，何若有功？」 廣武君辭曰：「臣聞『亡國之大夫不可以圖存，敗軍之將不可以語勇。』 若臣者，何足以權大事乎！」 信曰：「僕聞之，百里奚居虞而虞亡，之秦而秦伯，非愚於虞而智於秦也，用與不用，聽與不聽耳。 向使成安君聽子計，僕亦禽矣。 僕委心歸計，願子勿辭。」 廣武君曰：「臣聞『智者千慮，必有一失； 愚者千慮，亦有一得。』 故曰『狂夫之言，聖人擇焉。』 故恐臣計未足用，願效愚忠。 故成安君有百戰百勝之計，一日而失之，軍敗鄗下，身死泜水上。 今足下虜魏王，禽夏說，不旬朝破趙二十萬眾，誅成安君。 名聞海內，威震諸侯，眾庶莫不輟作怠惰，靡衣媮食，傾耳以待禽者。 然而眾勞卒罷，其實難用也。 今足下舉倦敝之兵，頓之燕堅城之下，情見力屈，欲戰不拔，曠日持久，糧食單竭。 若燕不破，齊必距境而以自彊。 二國相持，則劉項之權未有所分也。 臣愚，竊以為亦過矣。」 信曰：「然則何由？」 廣武君對曰：「當今之計，不如按甲休兵，百里之內，牛酒日至，以饗士大夫，北首燕路，然後發一乘之使，奉咫尺之書，以使燕，燕必不敢不聽。 從燕而東臨齊，雖有智者，亦不知為齊計矣。 如是，則天下事可圖也。 兵故有先聲而後實者，此之謂也。」 信曰：「善。 敬奉教。」 於是用廣武君策，發使燕，燕從風而靡。 乃遣使報漢，因請立張耳王趙以撫其國。 漢王許之。
Han Xin then asked Li Zuoche, "I want to strike Yan to the north and Qi to the east. How can I secure success?" , "I have heard that a minister of a ruined state cannot advise on preservation, and a commander of a defeated army cannot speak of valor. How could a man like me be fit to judge great affairs?" , "I have heard that Baili Xi served Yu and Yu perished, then served Qin and Qin became hegemon. It was not because he was foolish in Yu and wise in Qin, but because one ruler used him and another did not. If Lord Cheng'an had followed your advice, I would have been the one captured. I put my trust in your judgment. Please do not refuse me." , "I have heard that in a thousand calculations by a wise man, one mistake is inevitable;. and in a thousand calculations by a fool, one good point may appear. So it is said: even a sage can choose something worth taking from a madman's words. So I fear my ideas may be unworthy, yet I still offer my clumsy loyalty. Lord Cheng'an possessed what seemed a sure plan for endless victories, but one error in one day ruined him: his army was broken below Gao, and he died on the Zhi River. Now you have taken the king of Wei, captured Xia Yue, and in under ten days smashed two hundred thousand Zhao troops and killed Lord Cheng'an. Your name is known across the realm, and your power shakes the lords. The people stop their work and listen for news, waiting to hear whom you will take next. But your troops are tired and worn out, and in truth they will be hard to use. If you now drive this exhausted army against Yan's fortified cities, your weakness will show. If battle cannot quickly take them, the campaign will drag on and supplies will run dry. If Yan does not fall, Qi will fortify its frontier and strengthen itself. If those two states hold out together, the contest between Liu Bang and Xiang Yu will remain undecided. I am a fool, but I believe that would be overreaching." , "Then what should I do?" , "The best plan now is to rest your troops. Have cattle and wine brought in daily from a hundred-li radius to reward the officers and men. Then face north toward Yan and send a single envoy with a short letter. Yan will not dare refuse. Once Yan submits, turn east to pressure Qi. Even wise advisers in Qi will be at a loss. If you do this, the larger strategy for the realm becomes possible. In war, there is such a thing as winning first by reputation and only later by force. This is exactly that." , "Good. I respectfully accept your instruction." Han Xin adopted Li Zuoche's strategy and sent an envoy to Yan; Yan collapsed before him like grass in wind. He then reported to Han and asked that Zhang Er be installed as king of Zhao to stabilize the region. The King of Han approved.
13
楚數使奇兵度河擊趙，王耳、信往來救趙，因行定趙城邑，發卒佐漢。 楚方急圍漢王滎陽，漢王出，南之宛、葉，得九江王布，入成皋，楚復急圍之。 四年，漢王出成皋，度河，獨與滕公從張耳軍修武。 至，宿傳舍。 晨自稱漢使，馳入壁。 張耳、韓信未起，即其臥，奪其印符，麾召諸將易置之。 信、耳起，乃知獨漢王來，大驚。 漢王奪兩人軍，即令張耳備守趙地，拜信為相國，發趙兵未發者擊齊。
Chu repeatedly sent raiding forces across the river into Zhao. Zhang Er and Han Xin moved back and forth to relieve Zhao, while securing its cities and raising troops for Han. Chu was pressing a hard siege on the King of Han at Xingyang. Liu Bang broke out, went south to Wan and Ye, won over Jiujiang king Ying Bu, entered Chenggao, and was tightly besieged again by Chu. In the fourth year, the King of Han left Chenggao, crossed the river, and with only Lord Teng at his side went to Zhang Er's camp at Xiuwu. On arrival, he spent the night in a courier station. At daybreak he claimed to be a Han envoy and rode straight into camp. Before Zhang Er and Han Xin were even awake, he went to their quarters, seized their seals and command tallies, and summoned the generals to reassign command. When Han Xin and Zhang Er got up, they discovered that the King of Han himself had come alone, and they were astonished. The King of Han took over their forces, ordered Zhang Er to secure Zhao, promoted Han Xin to chancellor, and sent out Zhao troops that had not yet marched to attack Qi.
14
信引兵東，未度平原，聞漢王使酈食其已說下齊。 信欲止，蒯通說信令擊齊。 語在通傳。 信然其計，遂渡河，襲歷下軍，至臨菑。 齊王走高密，使使於楚請救。 信已定臨菑，東追至高密西。 楚使龍且將，號稱二十萬，救齊。
Han Xin marched east. Before crossing Pingyuan, he heard that Li Yiji had already persuaded Qi to submit on Han's behalf. Han Xin wanted to halt, but Kuai Tong persuaded him to strike Qi anyway. The details are recorded in Kuai Tong's biography. Han Xin agreed and crossed the river, attacked at Lixia, and advanced to Linzi. The king of Qi fled to Gaomi and sent envoys to Chu asking for aid. Han Xin had already secured Linzi and pursued eastward to the western approaches of Gaomi. Chu sent Long Ju with a force said to be two hundred thousand to rescue Qi.
15
齊王、龍且并軍與信戰，未合。 或說龍且曰：「漢兵遠鬥，窮寇戰，鋒不可當也。 齊、楚自居其地戰，兵易敗散。 不如深壁，令齊王使其信臣招所亡城，城聞王在，楚來救，必反漢。 漢二千里客居齊，齊城皆反之，其勢無所得食，可毋戰而降也。」 龍且曰：「吾平生知韓信為人，易與耳。 寄食於漂母，無資身之策； 受辱於跨下，無兼人之勇，不足畏也。 且救齊而降之，吾何功？ 今戰而勝之，齊半可得，何為而止！」 遂戰，與信夾濰水陳。 信乃夜令人為萬餘囊，沙以壅水上流，引兵半度，擊龍且。 陽不勝，還走。 龍且果喜曰：「固知信怯。」 遂追度水。 信使人決壅囊，水大至。 龍且軍太半不得度，即急擊，殺龍且。 龍且水東軍散走，齊王廣亡去。 信追北至城陽，虜廣。 楚卒皆降，遂平齊。
The king of Qi and Long Ju united their armies against Han Xin, and the two sides prepared for battle. Someone advised Long Ju, "Han's army is far from home; desperate troops fight hard, and their edge cannot be withstood. Qi and Chu forces are fighting on home territory and can become lax, making them easier to break apart. Better to fortify and avoid battle. Let the king of Qi send trusted men to call back lost cities. When those cities hear their king is here and Chu has arrived to help, they will surely rebel against Han. Han is a faraway army, two thousand li from home, operating as outsiders in Qi. If Qi's cities rise behind them, they will lose their food and can be forced to submit without battle." , "I know Han Xin well. He is easy to handle. He once lived on handouts from a washerwoman, with no way even to support himself. He once endured crawling between a bully's legs. He has no exceptional courage and is nothing to fear. Besides, if I save Qi without fighting, what credit do I gain? If I defeat him in battle now, I can take half of Qi. Why would I stop?" So battle began, with Long Ju and Han Xin drawn up on opposite sides of the Wei River. That night Han Xin had over ten thousand sandbags made to dam the upper stream, then led half his army across to attack Long Ju. He feigned defeat and retreated. , "I knew Han Xin was timid." He pressed the pursuit and crossed the river. Han Xin then had the dam broken, and a surge of water rushed down. More than half of Long Ju's force was cut off mid-crossing. Han Xin attacked at once and killed Long Ju. Long Ju's eastern force collapsed, and king Guang of Qi fled. Han Xin pursued north to Chengyang and captured king Guang. The Chu troops all surrendered, and Qi was pacified.
16
使人言漢王曰：「齊夸詐多變，反覆之國，南邊荒，不為假王以填之，其勢不定。 今權輕，不足以安之，臣請自立為假王。」 當是時，楚方急圍漢王於滎陽，使者至，發書，漢王大怒，罵曰：「吾困於此，旦暮望而來佐我，乃欲自立為王！」 張良、陳平伏後躡漢王足，因附耳語曰：「漢方不利，寧能禁信之自王乎？ 不如因立，善遇之，使自為守。 不然，變生。」 漢王亦寤，因復罵曰：「大丈夫定諸侯，即為真王耳，何以假為！」 遣張良立信為齊王，徵其兵使擊楚。
He sent word to the King of Han, "Qi is boastful, deceitful, and fickle, and its frontier is remote. Unless a provisional king is appointed to hold it, the situation will not be stabilized. My authority is too slight to secure it. I request permission to serve as acting king." At that moment Chu was pressing Liu Bang hard at Xingyang. When the envoy's letter arrived, Liu Bang flew into a rage and cursed, "I am besieged here, waiting morning and night for you to come help—and now you want to make yourself king!" Zhang Liang and Chen Ping, standing behind him, stepped on his foot and whispered, "Han is in a bad position. Can you stop Han Xin from making himself king? Better to recognize him, treat him well, and let him guard that front for us. Otherwise, trouble will erupt." The King of Han understood at once and changed tone, cursing loudly, "A real man who settles the lords should be a true king—why speak of a provisional one!" He sent Zhang Liang to install Han Xin as king of Qi and called for his troops to strike Chu.
17
楚以亡龍且，項王恐，使盱台人武涉往說信曰：「足下何不反漢與楚？ 楚王與足下有舊故。 且漢王不可必，身居項王掌握中數矣，然得脫，背約，復擊項王，其不可親信如此。 今足下雖自以為與漢王為金石交，然終為漢王所禽矣。 足下所以得須臾至今者，以項王在。 項王即亡，次取足下。 何不與楚連和，三分天下而王齊？ 今釋此時，自必於漢王以擊楚，且為智者固若此邪！」 信謝曰：「臣得事項王數年，官不過郎中，位不過執戟，言不聽，畫策不用，故背楚歸漢。 漢王授我上將軍印，數萬之眾，解衣衣我，推食食我，言聽計用，吾得至於此。 夫人深親信我，背之不祥。 幸為信謝項王。」 武涉已去，蒯通知天下權在於信，深說以三分天下，之計。 語在通傳。 信不忍背漢，又自以功大，漢王不奪我齊，遂不聽。
After Long Ju's death, Xiang Yu grew fearful and sent Wu She of Xutai to persuade Han Xin, saying, "Why not turn against Han and ally with Chu? You and the king of Chu have old ties. And Liu Bang is not dependable. He has repeatedly escaped Xiang Yu's grasp, broken agreements, and attacked again. That shows he cannot be trusted. Even if you think your bond with Liu Bang is as solid as metal and stone, in the end he will still move against you. The only reason you remain secure now is that Xiang Yu is still alive. Once Xiang Yu is gone, you will be next. Why not ally with Chu, divide the empire three ways, and secure Qi as your own kingdom? If you let this chance pass and keep helping Han attack Chu, is that truly what a wise man does?" , "I served Xiang Yu for years, but rose no higher than a palace gentleman with a halberd. He ignored my words and my plans, so I left Chu for Han. The King of Han gave me the seal of commander-in-chief and tens of thousands of troops. He clothed me and fed me from his own table, listened to my advice, and adopted my plans. That is how I came this far. When someone trusts me so deeply, betrayal would be wrong. Please return and apologize to Xiang Yu for me." After Wu She left, Kuai Tong, seeing that the balance of power now rested with Han Xin, strongly urged him to divide the empire into three. The details are recorded in Kuai Tong's biography. Han Xin could not bear to betray Han, and he also believed his great merit would keep Liu Bang from taking Qi away, so he ignored the advice.
18
漢王之敗固陵，用張良計，徵信將兵會陔下。 項羽死，高祖襲奪信軍，徙信為楚王，都下邳。
When Liu Bang was checked at Guling, he followed Zhang Liang's plan and summoned Han Xin to bring troops to Gaixia. After Xiang Yu's death, Gaozu took control of Han Xin's army and reassigned him as king of Chu, with his capital at Xiapi.
19
信至國，召所從食漂母，賜千金。 及下鄉亭長，錢百，曰：「公，小人，為德不竟。」 召辱己少年令出跨下者，以為中尉，告諸將相曰：「此壯士也。 方辱我時，寧不能死？ 死之無名，故忍而就此。」
When Han Xin arrived in his kingdom, he summoned the washerwoman who had fed him and rewarded her with a thousand gold pieces. As for the Xiangxia pavilion chief, Han Xin gave him only a hundred coins, saying, "You are a petty man whose kindness did not reach its end." He also summoned the youth who had humiliated him into crawling between his legs and appointed him commandant, telling his officers, "This is a man of spirit. When he humiliated me, could I not have killed him? But to kill him would have brought no fame, so I endured it and reached where I am now."
20
項王亡將鍾離辚家在伊廬，素與信善。 項王敗，辚亡歸信。 漢怨辚，聞在楚，詔楚捕之。 信初之國，行縣邑，陳兵出入。 有變告信欲反，書聞，上患之。 用陳平謀，偽游於雲夢者，實欲襲信，信弗知。 高祖且至楚，信欲發兵，自度無罪； 欲謁上，恐見禽。 人或說信曰：「斬辚謁上，上必喜，亡患。」 信見辚計事，辚曰：「漢所以不擊取楚，以辚在。 公若欲捕我自媚漢，吾今死，公隨手亡矣。」 乃罵信曰：「公非長者！」 卒自剄。 信持其首謁於陳。 高祖令武士縛信，載後車。 信曰：「果若人言，『
Xiang Yu's fugitive general Zhongli Mo had family in Yilu and had long been close with Han Xin. After Xiang Yu's defeat, Zhongli Mo fled to Han Xin. The Han court hated Zhongli Mo. Hearing he was in Chu, it ordered that he be captured. When Han Xin first took up rule there, he toured the counties and displayed military formations as he moved about. Someone accused Han Xin of plotting revolt. The report reached the emperor, who became concerned. Following Chen Ping's plan, Gaozu announced a tour to Yunmeng, but in fact intended to seize Han Xin by surprise. Han Xin did not know. As Gaozu neared Chu, Han Xin considered raising troops, yet believed he had committed no crime. He wanted to go pay respects, but feared he would be arrested. Someone advised him, "Behead Zhongli Mo and present the head to the emperor. He will be pleased, and your danger will pass." Han Xin consulted Zhongli Mo. Zhongli Mo said, "Han has not moved directly against Chu because I am with you. If you hand me over to win favor with Han, once I am dead, your own end will follow quickly. He then cursed Han Xin, "You are no man of integrity!" Then he slit his own throat. Han Xin carried Zhongli Mo's head and went to Chen to see Gaozu. Gaozu had guards bind Han Xin and place him on a rear carriage. , "So it is just as people say:.
21
狡兔死，良狗亨。』」 上曰：「人告公反。」 遂械信。 至雒陽，赦以為淮陰侯。
When the cunning rabbit is dead, the good hound is cooked. , "You have been accused of rebellion." He was put in chains. At Luoyang he was pardoned and demoted to Marquis of Huaiyin.
22
信知漢王畏惡其能，稱疾不朝從。 由此日怨望，居常鞅鞅，羞與絳、灌等列。 嘗過樊將軍噲，噲趨拜送迎，言稱臣，曰：「大王乃肯臨臣。」 信出門，笑曰：「生乃與噲等為伍！」
Han Xin knew Liu Bang feared his talent, so he claimed illness and stopped attending court or following in attendance. From then on he grew increasingly resentful and moody, ashamed to be ranked alongside men like Zhou Bo and Guan Ying. Once he visited General Fan Kuai. Fan Kuai rushed to bow in greeting and farewell, addressing himself as subject and saying, "Your Majesty has deigned to visit your servant." , "So this is what my life has come to: being counted with Fan Kuai."
23
上嘗從容與信言諸將能各有差。 上問曰：「如我，能將幾何？」 信曰：「陛下不過能將十萬。」 上曰：「如公何如？」 曰：「
In a relaxed conversation, the emperor once discussed with Han Xin the relative abilities of the generals. The emperor asked, "Someone like me—how many men could I command?" , "Your Majesty can command no more than a hundred thousand." , "And what about you?" Han Xin replied:
24
如臣，多多益辦耳。」 上笑曰：「多多益辦，何為為我禽？」 信曰：「陛下不能將兵，而善將將，此乃信之為陛下禽也。 且陛下所謂天授，非人力也。」
For me, the more the better. The emperor laughed and said, "If more is better for you, then why were you captured by me?" , "Your Majesty does not excel at commanding common troops, but you excel at commanding commanders. That is why I was captured by you. What Your Majesty possesses is Heaven's gift, not merely human skill."
25
後陳豨為代相監邊，辭信，信挈其手，與步於庭數匝，仰天而嘆曰：「子可與言乎？ 吾欲與子有言。」 豨因曰：「唯將軍命。」 信曰：「公之所居，天下精兵處也，而公，陛下之信幸臣也。 人言公反，陛下必不信； 再至，陛下乃疑； 三至，必怒而自將。 吾為公從中起，天下可圖也。」 陳豨素知其能，信之，曰：「謹奉教！」
Later, when Chen Xi, serving in Dai, came to take leave, Han Xin took his hand and walked several turns in the courtyard, sighed toward heaven, and said, "May I speak frankly with you? I have something to tell you." , "I am ready to hear your instruction." , "Your post controls the empire's best troops, and you are one of the emperor's most trusted favorites. If one accusation says you rebel, the emperor will not believe it. If a second accusation comes, he will begin to doubt. If it comes a third time, he will be enraged and command the campaign himself. I will rise from inside the capital in support of you, and then the empire can be seized." Chen Xi had long respected Han Xin's ability and believed him. He said, "I will respectfully follow your instruction!"
26
漢十年，豨果反，高帝自將而往，信病不從。 陰使人之豨所，而與家臣謀，夜詐赦諸官徒奴，欲發兵襲呂后、太子。 部署已定，待豨報。 其舍人得罪信，信囚，欲殺之。 舍人弟上書變告信欲反狀於呂后。 呂后欲召，恐其黨不亂，乃與蕭相國謀，詐令人從帝所來，稱豨已死，群臣皆賀。 相國紿信曰：「雖病，強入賀。」 信入，呂后使武士縛信，斬之長樂鍾室。 信方斬，曰：「吾不用蒯通計，反為女子所詐，豈非天哉！」 遂夷信三族。
In the tenth year of Han, Chen Xi did rebel, and Emperor Gao marched personally. Han Xin claimed illness and did not accompany him. Han Xin secretly sent someone to Chen Xi and plotted with his retainers to issue a fake nighttime amnesty for convicts and enslaved laborers, then raise troops to strike Empress Lu and the crown prince. The arrangements were in place, waiting only for word from Chen Xi. One of Han Xin's attendants offended him; Han Xin jailed him and planned to execute him. The attendant's younger brother then submitted a memorial to Empress Lu, exposing Han Xin's rebellion plot. Empress Lu wanted Han Xin brought in but feared his followers would revolt. She and Chancellor Xiao devised a ruse: they sent a messenger pretending to come from the emperor, announcing Chen Xi was dead and that all ministers were offering congratulations. Xiao He deceived Han Xin, saying, "Even if you are ill, you must come in and offer congratulations." Han Xin entered, and Empress Lu had guards seize him and execute him in Changle Palace's Bell Chamber. , "I refused Kuai Tong's plan, only to be tricked by a woman. Is this not fate?" His three clans were then exterminated.
27
高祖已破豨歸，至，聞信死，且喜且哀之，問曰：「信死亦何言？」 呂后道其語。 高祖曰：「此齊辯士蒯通也。」 召欲亨之。 通至自說，釋弗誅。 語在通傳。
After Gaozu crushed Chen Xi and returned, he heard Han Xin was dead. He was both relieved and saddened, and asked, "What did Han Xin say at his death?" Empress Lu repeated Han Xin's words. , "This concerns Kuai Tong, that persuader from Qi." He summoned Kuai Tong and intended to have him boiled alive. Kuai Tong came and defended himself, and Gaozu spared him. The details are in Kuai Tong's biography.
28
彭越字仲，昌邑人也。 常漁鉅野澤中，為盜。 陳勝起，或謂越曰：「豪桀相立畔秦，仲可效之。」 越曰：「兩龍方鬥，且待之。」
Peng Yue, courtesy name Zhong, was from Changyi. He often fished in the Juye marshes and lived as an outlaw. When Chen Sheng rose in rebellion, someone told Peng Yue, "Great men are rising against Qin everywhere. You too can follow their example." , "Two dragons are fighting. Better to wait."
29
居歲餘，澤間少年相聚百餘人，往從越，「請仲為長」，越謝不願也。 少年強請，乃許。 與期旦日日出時，後會者斬。 旦日日出，十餘人後，後者至日中。 於是越謝曰：「臣老，諸君強以為長。 今期而多後，不可盡誅，誅最後者一人。」 令校長斬之。 皆笑曰：「
More than a year later, over a hundred young men in the marsh came to follow him and asked him to lead them, but Peng Yue refused. They pressed him strongly, and he finally agreed. He set a time for mustering at sunrise the next day and announced that latecomers would be executed. At sunrise more than ten men were late, and the last did not arrive until noon. Peng Yue then addressed them, "I am an old man, and you have forced me to be your leader. The appointed time came, and too many were late to kill them all. So kill only the last to arrive. He ordered the squad chief to behead the man. Everyone laughed and said:
30
何至是！ 請後不敢。」 於是越乃引一人斬之，設壇祭，令徒屬。 徒屬皆驚，畏越，不敢仰視。 乃行略地，收諸侯散卒，得千餘人。
Does it have to go this far? Forgive us. We will not dare be late again. Peng Yue personally had one man executed, then set up an altar and made offerings before issuing orders. His followers were terrified and did not dare look up. He then began seizing territory and collecting scattered troops, building a force of over a thousand.
31
沛公之從碭北擊昌邑，越助之。 昌邑未下，沛公引兵西。 越亦將其眾居鉅野澤中，收魏敗散卒。 項籍入關，王諸侯，還歸，越眾萬餘人無所屬。 齊王田榮叛項王，漢乃使人賜越將軍印，使下濟陰以擊楚。 楚令蕭公角將兵擊越，越大破楚軍。 漢二年春，與魏豹及諸侯東擊楚，越將其兵三萬餘人，歸漢外黃。 漢王曰：「彭將軍收魏地，得十餘城，欲急立魏後。 今西魏王豹，魏咎從弟，真魏也。」 乃拜越為魏相國，擅將兵，略定梁地。
When the Duke of Pei attacked Changyi from north of Dang, Peng Yue assisted him. Before Changyi fell, the Duke of Pei led his army westward. Peng Yue returned to the Juye marshes and gathered scattered Wei survivors. After Xiang Ji entered the passes and enfeoffed the lords, Peng Yue's force of over ten thousand remained unattached. When Tian Rong of Qi rebelled, Han granted Peng Yue a general's seal and sent him into Jiyin to strike Chu. Chu sent Xiao Gongjiao against him, but Peng Yue crushed the Chu force. In spring of Han year two, he joined Wei Bao and other lords in an eastern campaign against Chu, leading over thirty thousand men back to Han at Waihuang. , "General Peng has recovered Wei territory and taken more than ten cities. We should quickly establish a Wei successor. Wei Bao, cousin of Wei Jiu, is legitimate Wei stock." So he made Peng Yue chancellor of Wei with independent command, and Peng Yue pacified much of Liang.
32
漢王之敗彭城解而西也，越皆亡其所下城，獨將其兵北居河上。 漢三年，越常往來為漢游兵擊楚，絕其糧於梁地。 項王與漢王相距滎陽，越攻下睢陽、外黃十七城。 項王聞之，乃使曹咎守成皋，自東收越所下城邑，皆復為楚。 越將其兵北走穀城。 項王南走陽夏，越復下昌邑旁二十餘城，得粟十餘萬斛，以給漢食。
After Han's defeat at Pengcheng, Peng Yue lost all his gains and withdrew north to the river with only his own troops. In Han year three, Peng Yue repeatedly raided for Han in Liang, cutting Chu's supply lines. While Xiang Yu and Liu Bang confronted each other at Xingyang, Peng Yue captured Suiyang, Waihuang, and seventeen other cities. On hearing this, Xiang Yu left Cao Jiu to hold Chenggao and personally moved east to retake Peng Yue's conquests, restoring them to Chu. Peng Yue withdrew north to Gucheng. When Xiang Yu moved south to Yangxia, Peng Yue took over twenty more cities around Changyi and captured more than a hundred thousand hu of grain for Han.
33
漢王敗，使使召越并力擊楚，越曰：「魏地初定，尚畏楚，未可去。」 漢王追楚，為項籍所敗固陵。 乃謂留侯曰：「諸侯兵不從，為之奈何？」 留侯曰：「彭越本定梁地，功多，始君王以魏豹故，拜越為相國。 今豹死亡後，且越亦欲王，而君王不蚤定。 今取睢陽以北至穀城，皆許以王彭越。」 又言所以許韓信。 語在高紀。 於是漢王發使使越，如留侯策。 使者至，越乃引兵會垓下。 項籍死，立越為梁王，都定陶。
After a Han defeat, Liu Bang sent for Peng Yue to join forces against Chu. Peng Yue replied, "Wei has only just been pacified. We still fear Chu and cannot leave yet." Liu Bang pursued Chu but was defeated by Xiang Ji at Guling. He then asked Zhang Liang, "The lords' armies are not responding. What should we do?" , "Peng Yue first secured Liang and has great merit. Because of Wei Bao, you made him only chancellor. Now that Wei Bao is dead, Peng Yue wants kingship, and Your Majesty has not yet settled the matter. Grant him all territory from north of Suiyang to Gucheng and promise him kingship." He also explained what should be promised to Han Xin. The details are in the Annals of Gaozu. So Liu Bang sent envoys to Peng Yue, following Zhang Liang's strategy. When the envoy arrived, Peng Yue marched to Gaixia. After Xiang Ji's death, Peng Yue was made king of Liang, with his capital at Dingtao.
34
六年，朝陳。 九年，十年，皆來朝長安。
In the sixth year he came to court at Chen. In years nine and ten, he again came to court at Chang'an.
35
陳豨反代地，高帝自往擊之，至邯鄲，徵兵梁。 梁王稱病，使使將兵詣邯鄲。 高帝怒，使人讓梁王。 梁王恐，欲自往謝。 其將扈輒曰：「王始不往，見讓而往，往即為禽，不如遂發兵反。」 梁王不聽，稱病。 梁太僕有罪，亡走漢，告梁王與扈輒謀反。 於是上使使掩捕梁王，囚之雒陽。 有司治反形已具，請論如法。 上赦以為庶人，徙蜀青衣。 西至鄭，逢呂后從長安東，欲之雒陽，道見越。 越為呂后泣涕，自言亡罪，願處故昌邑。 呂后許諾，詔與俱東。 至雒陽，呂后言上曰：「彭越壯士也，今徙之蜀，此自遺患，不如遂誅之。 妾謹與俱來。」 於是呂后令其舍人告越復謀反。 廷尉奏請，遂夷越宗族。
When Chen Xi rebelled in Dai, Emperor Gao marched personally. At Handan he requisitioned troops from Liang. The king of Liang claimed illness and sent troops under an envoy instead. Emperor Gao grew angry and sent a formal rebuke. The king of Liang grew frightened and wanted to go apologize in person. , "You refused at first. If you go now after a rebuke, you will be seized. Better to rebel." The king of Liang did not listen and again claimed illness. Liang's Grand Coachman, guilty of an offense, fled to Han and accused the king and Hu Zhe of plotting revolt. The emperor then sent agents to seize the king of Liang by surprise and imprison him at Luoyang. Officials completed the case and found full evidence of rebellion, requesting sentence under the law. The emperor spared him, reduced him to commoner status, and exiled him to Qingyi in Shu. On the way west, when he reached Zheng, he met Empress Lu traveling east from Chang'an toward Luoyang, and she encountered Peng Yue on the road. Peng Yue wept before Empress Lu, saying he was innocent and begging to be allowed to live at old Changyi. Empress Lu agreed and ordered him to travel east with her. At Luoyang, Empress Lu told the emperor, "Peng Yue is a formidable man. Exiling him to Shu leaves a future threat. Better to execute him now. I have already brought him back with me." Empress Lu then had an attendant file a fresh accusation of rebellion against Peng Yue. The chief justice requested judgment, and Peng Yue's entire clan was exterminated.
36
黥布，六人也，姓英氏。 少時客相之，當刑而王。 及壯，坐法黥，布欣然笑曰：「人相我當刑而王，幾是乎？」 人有聞者，共戲笑之。 布以論輸驪山，驪山之徒數十萬人，布皆與其徒長豪桀交通，乃率其曹耦，亡之江中為群盜。
Qing Bu was a man of Liu and bore the surname Ying. When he was young, a physiognomist predicted that he would first suffer penal punishment and later become king. As an adult he was sentenced to tattooing. Ying Bu laughed and said, "So the reading that I would be tattooed and then become king—was this it?" People who heard him mocked him. Qing Bu was sent as penal labor to Lishan, where there were hundreds of thousands of convicts. He befriended tough leaders among them, then escaped with his associates to become river-bandits.
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陳勝之起也，布乃見番君，其眾數千人。 番君以女妻之。 章邯之滅陳勝，破呂臣軍，布引兵北擊秦左右校，破之青波，引兵而東。 聞項梁定會稽，西度淮，布以兵屬梁。 梁西擊景駒、秦嘉等，布常冠軍。 項梁聞陳涉死，立楚懷王，以布為當陽君。 項梁敗死，懷王與布及諸侯將皆聚彭城。 當是時，秦急圍趙，趙數使人請救懷王。 懷王使宋義為上將，項籍與布皆屬之，北救趙。 及籍殺宋義河上，自立為上將軍，使布先涉河，擊秦軍，數有利。 籍乃悉引兵從之，遂破秦軍，降章邯等。 楚兵常勝，功冠諸侯。 諸侯兵皆服屬楚者，以布數以少敗眾也。
When Chen Sheng rose, Qing Bu joined Lord Fan with several thousand followers. Lord Fan gave him his daughter in marriage. After Zhang Han destroyed Chen Sheng and defeated Lü Chen, Qing Bu led troops north against Qin detachments, beat them at Qingbo, and then moved east. Hearing that Xiang Liang had secured Kuaiji and crossed the Huai, Qing Bu joined him. As Xiang Liang campaigned west against Jing Ju, Qin Jia, and others, Qing Bu repeatedly took top honors. After hearing of Chen She's death, Xiang Liang established King Huai of Chu and made Qing Bu Lord of Dangyang. After Xiang Liang was defeated and killed, King Huai, Qing Bu, and the allied commanders gathered at Pengcheng. At that time Qin was pressing Zhao hard, and Zhao repeatedly asked King Huai for rescue. King Huai appointed Song Yi commander-in-chief, with Xiang Ji and Qing Bu under him, and sent them north to relieve Zhao. After Xiang Ji killed Song Yi at the river and took command himself, he sent Qing Bu across first; Qing Bu won repeated successes against Qin. Xiang Ji then brought up the full army, shattered Qin forces, and accepted Zhang Han's surrender. Chu forces kept winning and stood first among the allied armies. The lords submitted to Chu in part because Qing Bu repeatedly defeated larger forces with smaller ones.
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項籍之引兵西至新安，又使布等夜擊阬章邯秦卒二十餘萬人。 至關，不得入，又使布等先從間道破關下軍，遂得入。 至咸陽，布為前鋒。 項王封諸將，立布為九江王，都六。 尊懷王為義帝，徙都長沙，乃陰令布擊之。 布使將追殺之郴。
When Xiang Ji marched west to Xin'an, he again sent Qing Bu and others to attack by night and bury alive over two hundred thousand surrendered Qin troops. At the passes, when entry was blocked, Xiang Ji again sent Qing Bu by side routes to smash the defenders below the pass, and they broke through. At Xianyang, Qing Bu served as the vanguard. When Xiang Yu enfeoffed his generals, he made Qing Bu king of Jiujiang, with his capital at Liu. He nominally honored King Huai as Emperor Yi and moved him to Changsha, then secretly ordered Qing Bu to attack him. Qing Bu sent a commander who pursued and killed Emperor Yi at Chen.
39
齊王田榮叛楚，項王往擊齊，徵兵九江，布稱病不往，遣將將數千人行。 漢之敗楚彭城，布又稱病不佐楚。 項王由此怨布，數使使者譙讓召布，布愈恐，不敢往。 項王方北憂齊、趙，西患漢，所與者獨布，又多其材，欲親用之，以故未擊。
When Tian Rong rebelled and Xiang Yu campaigned in Qi, he demanded troops from Jiujiang. Qing Bu claimed illness and sent only a few thousand under another commander. When Han struck Chu at Pengcheng, Qing Bu again claimed illness and did not aid Chu. Xiang Yu resented him for this and repeatedly sent envoys to scold and summon him, but Qing Bu grew fearful and would not go. At that time Xiang Yu was stretched thin, troubled by Qi and Zhao in the north and Han in the west. Qing Bu was his only major ally, and Xiang Yu still valued his ability, so he held back from attacking him.
40
漢王與楚大戰彭城，不利，出梁地，至虞，謂左右曰：「
After Liu Bang's defeat in the great battle at Pengcheng, he withdrew through Liang to Yu and told those around him,
41
如彼等者，無足與計天下事者。」 謁者隨何進曰：「不審陛下所謂。」 漢王曰：「孰能為我使淮南，使之發兵背楚，留項王於齊數月，我之取天下可以萬全。」 隨何曰：「臣請使之。」 乃與二十人俱使淮南。 至，太宰主之，三日不得見。 隨何因說太宰曰：「王之不見何，必以楚為彊，以漢為弱，此臣之所為使。 使何得見，言之而是邪，是大王所欲聞也； 言之而非邪，使何等二十人伏斧質淮南巿，以明背漢而與楚也。」 太宰乃言之王，王見之。 隨何曰：「漢王使使臣敬進書大王御者，竊怪大王與楚何親也。」 淮南王曰：「寡人北鄉而臣事之。」 隨何曰：「大王與項王俱列為諸侯，北鄉而臣事之，必以楚為彊，可以託國也。 項王伐齊，身負版築，以為士卒先。 大王宜悉淮南之眾，身自將，為楚軍前鋒，今乃發四千人以助楚。 夫北面而臣事人者，固若是乎？ 夫漢王戰於彭城，項王未出齊也，大王宜埽淮南之眾，日夜會戰彭城下。 今撫萬人之眾，無一人渡淮者，陰拱而觀其孰勝。 夫託國於人者，固若是乎？ 大王提空名以鄉楚，而欲厚自託，臣竊為大王不取也。 然大王不背楚者，以漢為弱也。 夫楚兵雖彊，天下負之以不義之名，以其背明約而殺義帝也。 然而楚王特以戰勝自彊。 漢王收諸侯，還守成皋、滎陽，下蜀、漢之粟，深溝壁壘，分卒守徼乘塞。 楚人還兵，間以梁地，深入敵國八九百里，欲戰則不得，攻城則力不能，老弱轉糧千里之外。 楚兵至滎陽、成皋，漢堅守而不動，進則不得攻，退則不能解，故楚兵不足罷也。 使楚兵勝漢，則諸侯自危懼而相救。 夫楚之彊，適足以致天下之兵耳。 故楚不如漢，其勢易見也。 今大王不與萬全之漢，而自託於危亡之楚，臣竊為大王或之。 臣非以淮南之兵足以亡楚也。 夫大王發兵而背楚，項王必留； 留數月，漢之取天下可以萬全。 臣請與大王杖劍而歸漢王，漢王必裂地而分大王，又況淮南，必大王有也。 故漢王敬使使臣進愚計，願大王之留意也。」 淮南王曰：「請奉命。」 陰許叛楚與漢，未敢泄。
Those men are not fit to plan empire-wide strategy. , "I do not understand whom Your Majesty means." , "Who can go to Huainan and induce him to send troops against Chu? If Xiang Yu is tied down in Qi for a few months, my victory will be assured." , "Let me go." He went to Huainan with twenty men. On arrival he was handled by the grand steward and could not see the king for three days. Sui He told the grand steward, "The king refuses to see me because he thinks Chu is strong and Han is weak. That is exactly why I was sent. If I gain audience and speak correctly, I will be telling the king exactly what he wants to hear. If I am wrong, execute all twenty of us in Huainan's market and show openly that Huainan rejects Han and sides with Chu. The grand steward relayed this, and the king agreed to see him. , "The King of Han has sent me to respectfully present a letter. I am puzzled why Your Majesty is so intimate with Chu." , "I face north and serve Xiang Yu as a subject." , "You and Xiang Yu are both feudal kings. If you still face north as his subject, it must be because you believe Chu is stronger and your state can depend on it. When Xiang Yu attacked Qi, he took up labor gear himself and led from the front. You should have mobilized all Huainan and led in person as Chu's vanguard. Instead, you sent only four thousand men. Is that how a true subordinate behaves? When Liu Bang fought at Pengcheng, Xiang Yu was still in Qi. You should have mobilized all Huainan and rushed day and night to fight at Pengcheng. Now you command tens of thousands, yet not one man has crossed the Huai. You simply watch in silence to see who wins. Is this how one behaves when entrusting his state to another power? You keep only the nominal posture of siding with Chu while hoping to rely on it heavily. I think that is a bad choice. You still do not break with Chu only because you think Han is weak. Chu may be militarily strong, but the whole realm condemns it as unrighteous for breaking solemn agreements and killing Emperor Yi. Xiang Yu relies on battlefield wins alone. The King of Han has gathered the lords, held Chenggao and Xingyang, shipped grain from Shu and Hanzhong, fortified deeply, and stationed troops at strategic checkpoints. Chu's army has pushed eight or nine hundred li into hostile territory through Liang. It cannot force decisive battle, cannot easily take fortified cities, and must haul grain from far away with old and weak laborers. At Xingyang and Chenggao, Han holds firm. Chu cannot break through if it advances, and cannot withdraw cleanly if it retreats. Its army will eventually grind down. Even if Chu wins a battle, the other lords will fear for themselves and rally together. Chu's strength is enough only to attract universal opposition. So Chu is at a strategic disadvantage to Han. The trend is obvious. So why abandon the safer side and tie yourself to a regime headed for danger? I worry for you. I am not saying Huainan alone can destroy Chu. But if you revolt against Chu, Xiang Yu will have to stay and deal with you. If he is tied down for a few months, Han's victory over the realm becomes virtually certain. Come with me to Han. Liu Bang will divide territory and reward you, and Huainan will certainly remain yours. That is why the King of Han respectfully sent me with this proposal. I hope Your Majesty will consider it." , "I will comply." He secretly agreed to defect from Chu to Han but did not dare make it public yet.
42
楚使者在，方急責布發兵，隨何直入曰：「九江王已歸漢，楚何以得發兵！」 布愕然。 楚使者起，何因說布曰：「事已搆，獨可遂殺楚使，毋使歸，而疾走漢并力。」 布曰：「如使者教。」 因起兵而攻楚。 楚使項聲、龍且攻淮南，項王留而攻下邑。 數月，龍且攻淮南，破布軍。 布欲引兵走漢，恐項王擊之，故間行與隨何俱歸漢。
, "The king of Jiujiang has already joined Han. How can Chu still demand troops?" Ying Bu was stunned. As the Chu envoy stood up, Sui He urged Ying Bu, "Things are already exposed. Kill the envoy, prevent his return, and hurry to ally with Han." , "I will do as you advise." He then raised troops and attacked Chu. Chu sent Xiang Sheng and Long Ju against Huainan, while Xiang Yu stayed behind to attack Xiayi. After several months, Long Ju defeated Ying Bu's army in Huainan. Ying Bu wanted to flee to Han, but fearing interception by Xiang Yu, he took secret routes back with Sui He.
43
至，漢王方踞床洗，而召布入見。 布大怒，悔來，欲自殺。 出就舍，張御食飲從官如漢王居，布又大喜過望。 於是乃使人之九江。 楚已使項伯收九江兵，盡殺布妻子。 布使者頗得故人幸臣，將眾數千人歸漢。 漢益分布兵而與俱北，收兵至成皋。 四年秋七月，立布為淮南王，與擊項籍。 布使人之九江，得數縣。 五年，布與劉賈入九江，誘大司馬周殷，殷反楚。 遂舉九江兵與漢擊楚，破垓下。
When he arrived, Liu Bang was squatting and washing when he summoned Ying Bu in. Ying Bu was furious at the slight, regretted coming, and wanted to kill himself. But when he reached his lodging, it was furnished and provisioned exactly like the king's own quarters, with full attendants. Ying Bu was delighted beyond expectation. He then sent men back to Jiujiang. Chu had already sent Xiang Bo to seize Jiujiang troops and had killed Ying Bu's wife and children. Ying Bu's envoys managed to rally old associates and favored retainers, bringing several thousand men back to Han. Han reinforced Ying Bu with additional troops, and together they moved north, assembling forces at Chenggao. In the seventh month of autumn, year four, Ying Bu was formally made king of Huainan, and joined the campaign against Xiang Yu. Ying Bu sent men into Jiujiang and recovered several counties. In year five, Ying Bu and Liu Jia entered Jiujiang and won over Grand Marshal Zhou Yin, who then defected from Chu. They then mobilized Jiujiang's troops and joined Han in the final victory over Chu at Gaixia.
44
項籍死，上置酒對眾折隨何曰腐儒，「為天下安用腐儒哉！」 隨何跪曰：「夫陛下引兵攻彭城，楚王未去齊也，陛下發步卒五萬人，騎五千，能以取淮南乎？」 曰：「不能。」 隨何曰：「
After Xiang Yu's death, the emperor held a feast and publicly mocked Sui He as a useless pedant, saying, "What use are pedants in winning an empire!" , "When you attacked Pengcheng and Xiang Yu was still in Qi, could fifty thousand infantry and five thousand cavalry have taken Huainan?" , "No." Sui He said:
45
陛下使何與二十人使淮南，如陛下之意，是何之功賢於步卒數萬，騎五千也。 然陛下謂何腐儒，『為天下安用腐儒』，何也？」 上曰：「
If sending me with twenty men achieved exactly your strategic goal in Huainan, then my merit exceeds that of those fifty thousand infantry and five thousand cavalry. Yet you call me a useless scholar and say, "What use are pedants in winning an empire?" Why?" The emperor replied:
46
吾方圖子之功。」 乃以隨何為護軍中尉。 布遂剖符為淮南王，都六，九江、廬江、衡山、豫章郡皆屬焉。
I was just about to reward your achievement." He then appointed Sui He as Commandant of the Army Protector. Ying Bu then received the royal tally as king of Huainan, with his capital at Liu, ruling the commanderies of Jiujiang, Lujiang, Hengshan, and Yuzhang.
47
六年，朝陳。 七年，朝雒陽。 九年，朝長安。
In the sixth year he came to court at Chen. In the seventh year he came to court at Luoyang. In the ninth year he came to court at Chang'an.
48
十一年，高后誅淮陰侯，布因心恐。 夏，漢誅梁王彭越，盛其醢以遍賜諸侯。 至淮南，淮南王方獵，見醢，因大恐，陰令人部聚兵，候伺旁郡警急。
In year eleven, Empress Lü executed the Marquis of Huaiyin, and Ying Bu became deeply afraid. That summer Han executed Peng Yue and distributed minced flesh from his body to the feudal lords. When the package reached Huainan, Ying Bu was hunting. Seeing it, he was terrified and secretly ordered troop mobilization, watching nearby commanderies for signs of emergency.
49
布有所幸姬病，就醫。 醫家與中大夫賁赫對門，赫乃厚餽遺，從姬飲醫家。 姬侍王，從容語次，譽赫長者也。 王怒曰：「女安從知之？」 具道，王疑與亂。 赫恐，稱病。 王愈怒，欲捕赫。 赫上變事，乘傳詣長安。 布使人追，不及。 赫至，上變，言布謀反有端，可先未發誅也。 上以其書語蕭相國，蕭相國曰：「布不宜有此，恐仇怨妄誣之。 請繫赫，使人微驗淮南王。」 布見赫以罪亡上變，已疑其言國陰事，漢使又來，頗有所驗，遂族赫家，發兵反。
A favored concubine of Ying Bu fell ill and went for medical treatment. The doctor's house stood opposite Mid-Grandee Ben He, who sent lavish gifts and joined the woman drinking there. While attending the king, she casually praised Ben He as a fine and honorable man. , "How do you know him?" She told him everything, and the king suspected an affair. Ben He became afraid and claimed illness. The king grew even angrier and wanted him arrested. Ben He rushed to Chang'an by relay post and reported the matter. Ying Bu sent pursuers, but they failed to catch him. On reaching court, Ben He reported that Ying Bu was showing clear signs of rebellion and could be eliminated before open revolt. The emperor showed the letter to Chancellor Xiao, who said, "This seems unlikely. I fear a false accusation driven by private grudges. Detain Ben He and send men to verify Huainan quietly. When Ying Bu learned that Ben He had fled and denounced him, and when Han investigators arrived to verify details, he assumed exposure was complete. He exterminated Ben He's family and raised rebellion.
50
反書聞，上乃赦赫，以為將軍。 召諸侯問：「布反，為之柰何？」 皆曰：「發兵阬豎子耳，何能為！」 汝陰侯滕公以問其客薛公，薛公曰：「是固當反。」 滕公曰：「上裂地而封之，疏爵而貴之，南面而立萬乘之主，其反何也？」 薛公曰：「前年殺彭越，往年殺韓信，三人皆同功一體之人也。 自疑禍及身，故反耳。」 滕公言之上曰：「臣客故楚令尹薛公，其人有籌策，可問。」 上乃見問薛公，對曰：「布反不足怪也。 使布出於上計，山東非漢之有也； 出於中計，勝負之數未可知也； 出於下計，陛下安枕而臥矣。」 上曰：「
Once revolt was confirmed, the emperor pardoned Ben He and appointed him general. He summoned the lords and asked, "Ying Bu has rebelled. What should be done?" They all said, "Send troops and crush the wretch. What can he do!" Marquis Teng of Ruyin asked his adviser Xue Gong, who said, "This rebellion was inevitable." Lord Teng said, "The emperor granted him land, rank, and royal status. Why would he rebel?" Xue Gong said, "Peng Yue was killed one year, Han Xin the next. Those three were men of the same class of merit. Ying Bu feared the same fate would reach him, so he rebelled." , "My adviser Xue Gong, former Lingyin of Chu, has strategic insight and should be consulted." , "Who replied, Ying Bu's rebellion is no surprise. If Ying Bu follows a top-tier strategy, all territory east of the passes will be lost to Han. If he chooses a middle strategy, the outcome is uncertain. If he chooses a poor strategy, Your Majesty can sleep soundly." The emperor asked:
51
何謂上計？」 薛公對曰：「東取吳，西取楚，并齊取魯，傳檄燕、趙，固守其所，山東非漢之有也。」 「何謂中計？」 「東取吳，西取楚，并韓取魏，據敖倉之粟，塞成皋之險，勝敗之數未可知也。」 「何謂下計？」 「東取吳，西取下蔡，歸重於越，身歸長沙，陛下安枕而臥，漢無事矣。」 上曰：「是計將安出？」 薛公曰：「
What is the top strategy? , "Seize Wu to the east and Chu to the west, absorb Qi and Lu, send calls to arms to Yan and Zhao, and hold those gains. Then Han loses the east." What is the middle strategy?" Take Wu and Chu, absorb Han and Wei, hold the Ao granary, and block Chenggao. Then victory or defeat is uncertain." What is the lower strategy?" Take Wu and Xiacai, send baggage away to Yue territory, and retreat personally to Changsha. Then Your Majesty can sleep soundly, and Han will have no further trouble." , "Which one will he choose?" Xue Gong answered:
52
出下計。」 上曰：「胡為廢上計而出下計？」 薛公曰：「布故驪山之徒也，致萬乘之主，此皆為身，不顧後為百姓萬世慮者也，故出下計。」 上曰：「善。」 封薛公千戶。 遂發兵自將東擊布。
He will choose the lowest strategy. , "Why would he abandon the best strategy for the worst?" , "Ying Bu began as a Lishan convict. His rise to kingship was for his own survival, not long-term care for the people. So he will choose the lesser strategy." , "Good." He granted Xue Gong a fief of one thousand households. He then mobilized the army and personally marched east against Ying Bu.
53
布之初反，謂其將曰：「上老矣，厭兵，必不能來。 使諸將，諸將獨患淮陰、彭越，今已死，餘不足畏。」 故遂反。 果如薛公揣之，東擊荊，荊王劉賈走死富陵。 盡劫其兵，度淮擊楚。 楚發兵與戰徐、僮間，為三軍，欲以相救為奇。 或說楚將曰：「布善用兵，民素畏之。 且兵法，諸侯自戰其地為散地。 今別為三，彼敗吾一，餘皆走，安能相救！」 不聽。 布果破其一軍，二軍散走。
When Ying Bu first rebelled, he told his generals, "The emperor is old and tired of campaigning. He surely cannot come. If he sends generals, the only men they truly feared were Han Xin and Peng Yue. Both are dead now, so no one else matters. That is why he rebelled. Exactly as Xue predicted, Ying Bu struck Jing first; king Liu Jia fled and died at Fuling. He took all their troops and crossed the Huai to attack Chu territory. Chu deployed three separate armies to fight in the Xu-Tong region, hoping they could support one another. Someone warned the Chu commander, "Ying Bu is an excellent commander and has long inspired fear. And military doctrine says that fighting on home ground makes troops prone to dispersion. If we divide into three and he breaks one, the others will flee. How will they reinforce each other then? The advice was ignored. Ying Bu did break one army, and the other two collapsed and ran.
54
遂西，與上兵遇蘄西，會诓。 布兵精甚，上乃壁庸城，望布軍置陳如項籍軍。 上惡之，與布相望見，隃謂布「何苦而反？」 布曰：「欲為帝耳。」 上怒罵之，遂戰，破布軍。 布走度淮，數止戰，不利，與百餘人走江南。 布舊與番君婚，故長沙哀王使人誘布，偽與俱亡，走越，布信而隨至番陽。 番陽人殺布茲鄉，遂滅之。 封賁赫為列侯，將率封者六人。
He moved west and met the emperor's forces west of Qi, at Kuang. Ying Bu's troops were highly disciplined. The emperor fortified Yongcheng and saw that Bu's formations resembled Xiang Yu's. , "Why put yourself through this rebellion?" , "I want to be emperor." The emperor cursed him in rage, then attacked and defeated Bu's army. Ying Bu fled across the Huai and fought several delaying actions, all unsuccessfully, then escaped south of the Yangtze with a little over a hundred followers. Ying Bu had old marriage ties with the house of Fan, so King Ai of Changsha sent men to lure him, pretending they would flee together into Yue. Ying Bu believed them and followed to Poyang. Men of Poyang killed Ying Bu at Zixiang, ending him. Ben He was granted a marquisate, and six commanders in total were enfeoffed.
55
盧綰，豐人也，與高祖同里。 綰親與高祖太上皇相愛，及生男，高祖、綰同日生，里中持羊酒賀兩家。 及高祖、綰壯，學書，又相愛也。 里中嘉兩家親相愛，生子同日，壯又相愛，復賀羊酒。 高祖為布衣時，有吏事避宅，綰常隨上下。 及高祖初起沛，綰以客從，入漢為將軍，常侍中。 從東擊項籍，以太尉常從，出入臥內，衣被食飲賞賜，群臣莫敢望。 雖蕭、曹等，特以事見禮，至其親幸，莫及綰者。 封為長安侯。 長安，故咸陽也。
Lu Wan was from Feng, from the same village as Gaozu. Lu Wan's family was close to Gaozu's household. Lu Wan and Gaozu were even born on the same day, and villagers celebrated both births with sheep and wine. As they grew up and studied together, their friendship remained very close. The villagers admired this bond and celebrated again when the two, born on the same day, remained close in adulthood. When Gaozu was still a commoner handling official errands, Lu Wan often accompanied him everywhere. When Gaozu first rose at Pei, Lu Wan followed him as a retainer. After entering Han, he became a general and an attendant at court. He campaigned east against Xiang Yu and, as grand commandant, enjoyed exceptional intimacy with Gaozu, with access to the private quarters and unmatched rewards. Even men like Xiao He and Cao Shen were honored mainly in official matters; in personal favor, none matched Lu Wan. He was made Marquis of Chang'an. Chang'an was the old city of Xianyang.
56
項籍死，使綰別將，與劉賈擊臨江王共尉，還，從擊燕王臧荼，皆破平。 時諸侯非劉氏而王者七人。 上欲王綰，為群臣觖望。 及虜臧荼，乃下詔，詔諸將相列侯擇群臣有功者以為燕王。 群臣知上欲王綰，皆曰：「太尉長安侯盧綰常從平定天下，功最多，可王。」 上乃立綰為燕王。 諸侯得幸莫如燕王者。 綰立六年，以陳豨事見疑而敗。
After Xiang Yu's death, Lu Wan and Liu Jia defeated Gong Wei of Linjiang, then helped crush Zang Tu of Yan. At that time seven non-Liu kings still remained. The emperor wanted to elevate Lu Wan to kingship, which stirred resentment among ministers. After Zang Tu was captured, the emperor issued an edict asking top officials to nominate a meritorious man as king of Yan. Knowing the emperor's wish, the ministers all said, "Grand Commandant and Marquis of Chang'an Lu Wan has long followed in pacifying the empire and has the greatest merit. He should be made king." The emperor then made Lu Wan king of Yan. No other feudal king enjoyed such favor. Lu Wan ruled for six years, then was undone after being implicated in the Chen Xi affair.
57
豨者，宛句人也，不知始所以得從。 及韓王信反入匈奴，上至平城還，豨以郎中封為列侯，以趙相國將監趙、代邊，邊兵皆屬焉。 豨少時，常稱慕魏公子，及將守邊，招致賓客。 常告過趙，賓客隨之者千餘乘，邯鄲官舍皆滿。 豨所以待客，如布衣交，皆出客下。 趙相周昌乃求入見上，具言豨賓客盛，擅兵於外，恐有變。 上令人覆案豨客居代者諸為不法事，多連引豨。 豨恐，陰令客通使王黃、曼丘臣所。 漢十年秋，太上皇崩，上因是召豨。 豨稱病，遂與王黃等反，自立為代王，劫略趙、代。 上聞，乃赦吏民為豨所詿誤劫略者。 上自擊豨，破之。 語在高紀。
Chen Xi was from Wanju; it is unclear how he first entered service. After Han Xin's rebellion into Xiongnu and the emperor's return from Pingcheng, Chen Xi was enfeoffed as marquis and put in charge of the Zhao-Dai frontier, with border troops under his command. In youth Chen Xi admired the famed prince of Wei. When assigned to the frontier, he gathered a large retinue of followers. When he passed through Zhao, more than a thousand carriages of followers accompanied him, filling the official lodgings at Handan. He treated guests as equals in plain-clothes friendship, always placing himself beneath them. Zhou Chang warned the emperor that Chen Xi's private following was too large and that he commanded troops away from court, creating danger. The emperor ordered a reinvestigation of Chen Xi's followers in Dai, and many crimes were traced back to him. Chen Xi grew afraid and secretly sent contacts to Wang Huang and Manqiu Chen. In autumn of Han year ten, after the Supreme Emperor died, the emperor summoned Chen Xi. Chen Xi claimed illness, then rebelled with Wang Huang and others, proclaimed himself king of Dai, and ravaged Zhao and Dai. On hearing this, the emperor pardoned those officials and commoners whom Chen Xi had implicated or coerced. The emperor personally campaigned and defeated Chen Xi. The details are in the Annals of Gaozu.
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初，上如邯鄲擊豨，燕王綰亦擊其東北。 豨使王黃求救匈奴，綰亦使其臣張勝使匈奴，言豨等軍破。 勝至胡，故燕王臧荼子衍亡在胡，見勝曰：「公所以重於燕者，以習胡事也。 燕所以久存者，以諸侯數反，兵連不決也。 今公為燕欲急滅豨等，豨等已盡，次亦至燕，公等亦且為虜矣。 公何不令燕且緩豨，而與胡連和？ 事寬，得長王燕，即有漢急，可以安國。」 勝以為然，乃私令匈奴兵擊燕。 綰疑勝與胡反，上書請族勝。 勝還報，具道所以為者。 綰寤，乃詐論他人，以脫勝家屬，使得為匈奴間。 而陰使范齊之豨所，欲令久連兵毋決。
When the emperor moved on Handan against Chen Xi, king Lu Wan of Yan also attacked Chen Xi's northeastern flank. Chen Xi sent Wang Huang to seek Xiongnu aid, while Lu Wan sent his own minister Zhang Sheng to the Xiongnu reporting Chen Xi's defeat. When Zhang Sheng reached the steppe, Yan, son of the former Yan king Zang Tu, told him, "The reason you are valued in Yan is that you understand frontier affairs with the Hu. Yan has survived so long only because rebellions among the lords have kept the wars unsettled. If you now help Yan quickly wipe out Chen Xi, Yan will be next, and you yourselves will become prisoners. Why not have Yan hold back against Chen Xi for now and make terms with the Hu? With tensions eased, Yan can remain secure longer, and if Han later turns urgent, your state will be safer. Zhang Sheng accepted this and privately arranged for Xiongnu forces to strike Yan. Lu Wan suspected Zhang Sheng had gone over to the Hu and petitioned to exterminate his clan. When Zhang Sheng returned, he explained in full why he had acted that way. Lu Wan realized the logic and staged another prosecution to spare Zhang Sheng's family, allowing Zhang Sheng to continue as an intelligence asset among the Xiongnu. He also secretly sent Fan Qi to Chen Xi, hoping to prolong the conflict without resolution.
59
漢既斬豨，其裨將降，言燕王綰使范齊通計謀豨所。 上使使召綰，綰稱病。 又使辟陽侯審食其、御史大夫趙堯往迎綰，因驗問其左右。 綰愈恐，閟匿，謂其幸臣曰：「非劉氏而王者，獨我與長沙耳。 往年漢族淮陰，誅彭越，皆呂后計。 今上病，屬任呂后。 呂后婦人，專欲以事誅異姓王者及大功臣。」 乃稱病不行。 其左右皆亡匿。 語頗泄，辟陽侯聞之，歸具報，上益怒。 又得匈奴降者，言張勝亡在匈奴，為燕使。 於是上曰：「綰果反矣！」 使樊噲擊綰。 綰悉將其宮人家屬，騎數千，居長城下候伺，幸上病瘉，自入謝。 高祖崩，綰遂將其眾亡入匈奴，匈奴以為東胡盧王。 為蠻夷所侵奪，常思復歸。 居歲餘，死胡中。
After Han executed Chen Xi, a surrendered deputy testified that Lu Wan had sent Fan Qi to coordinate with Chen Xi. The emperor summoned Lu Wan, but Lu Wan claimed illness. He then sent Marquis Piyang Shen Yiqi and Censor Zhao Yao to escort Lu Wan and quietly question his entourage. Lu Wan grew more frightened and hid himself, telling close retainers, "Among non-Liu kings, only I and the king of Changsha remain. Han Xin and Peng Yue were killed under Empress Lü's plotting. Now the emperor is sick and has entrusted affairs to Empress Lü. Empress Lü, being what she is, aims to use charges to eliminate non-Liu kings and powerful merit officials. So he claimed illness and refused to go. His attendants scattered and went into hiding. The remarks leaked. Marquis Piyang heard them and reported everything, further enraging the emperor. A surrendered Xiongnu also testified that Zhang Sheng was in Xiongnu as an agent for Yan. , "Lu Wan has truly rebelled." He sent Fan Kuai to attack Lu Wan. Lu Wan gathered his household and several thousand cavalry and camped near the Great Wall, hoping the emperor would recover so he could submit in person. When Gaozu died, Lu Wan led his followers into Xiongnu territory, where he was made king of Donghu Lu. Harried by steppe tribes, he often longed to return. After a little over a year, he died in Xiongnu lands.
60
高后時，綰妻與其子亡降，會高后病，不能見，舍燕邸，為欲置酒見之。 高后竟崩，綰妻亦病死。
During Empress Lü's rule, Lu Wan's wife and son fled and surrendered, but because the empress was ill she could not receive them, so they were lodged at the Yan residence pending audience. Empress Lü soon died, and Lu Wan's wife also died of illness.
61
孝景帝時，綰孫它人以東胡王降，封為惡谷侯。 傳至曾孫，有罪，國除。
Under Emperor Jing, Lu Wan's grandson Taren surrendered from his position as Donghu king and was enfeoffed as Marquis of Egu. The title passed to a great-grandson, who was punished for a crime and lost the fief.
62
贊曰：昔高祖定天下，功臣異姓而王者八國。 張耳、吳芮、彭越、黥布、臧荼、盧綰與兩韓信，皆徼一時之權變，以詐力成功，咸得裂土，南面稱孤。 見疑強大，懷不自安，事窮勢迫，卒謀叛逆，終於滅亡。 張耳以智全，至子亦失國。 唯吳芮之起，不失正道，故能傳號五世，以無嗣絕，慶流支庶。 有以矣夫，著于甲令而稱忠也！
Appraisal: when Gaozu unified the realm, he enfeoffed eight non-Liu kingdoms among his merit officials. Zhang Er, Wu Rui, Peng Yue, Ying Bu, Zang Tu, Lu Wan, and the two Han Xins all rose through opportunistic power shifts and force, gaining territories and ruling as independent kings. Once their strength aroused suspicion, they became insecure. Pressed into corners, they turned to rebellion and met destruction. Zhang Er saved himself through prudence, yet his line still lost the kingdom in his son's generation. Only Wu Rui rose without abandoning proper conduct; thus his title lasted five generations, and even after the main line ended, fortune continued in collateral branches. There is good reason for this outcome, as recorded in legal registers where he is praised for loyalty.