1
漢王敗成皋，北度河，得張耳、韓信軍，軍脩武，深溝高壘，使賈將二萬人，騎數百，擊楚，度白馬津入楚地，燒其積聚，以破其業，無以給項王軍食。 已而楚兵擊之，賈輒避不肯與戰，而與彭越相保。
After his defeat at Chenggao, the King of Han withdrew north across the river and joined the forces of Zhang Er and Han Xin. They made camp at Xiuwu behind deep moats and high walls. He dispatched Liu Jia with twenty thousand foot soldiers and several hundred cavalry to hit Chu from the flank. Liu Jia crossed the Baima Ford into Chu lands and torched their depots, shattering their logistics so that King Xiang’s troops went hungry. When Chu forces moved against him, Liu Jia consistently declined combat and kept his army under Peng Yue’s protection.
2
漢王追項籍至固陵，使賈南度淮圍壽春。 還至，使人間招楚大司馬周殷。 周殷反楚，佐賈舉九江，迎英布兵，皆會垓下，誅項籍。 漢王因使賈將九江兵，與太尉盧綰西南擊臨江王共尉，尉死，以臨江為南郡。
Pursuing Xiang Yu as far as Guling, the King of Han ordered Liu Jia south across the Huai to invest Shouchun. When he came back he dispatched agents to sound out Zhou Yin, Chu’s grand marshal, in private. Zhou Yin rebelled against Chu, helped Liu Jia secure Jiujiang, joined with Ying Bu’s army, and the allied hosts met at Gaixia to destroy Xiang Yu. The King of Han then put Liu Jia in command of the Jiujiang forces. With Grand Commandant Lu Wan he struck southwest at Gong Wei, king of Linjiang. Gong Wei fell, and his domain was converted into Nan Commandery.
3
賈既有功，而高祖子弱，昆弟少，又不賢，欲王同姓以填天下，乃下詔曰：「將軍劉賈有功，及擇子弟可以為王者。」 群臣皆曰：「立劉賈為荊王，王淮東。」 立六年而淮南王黥布反，東擊荊。 賈與戰，弗勝，走富陵，為布軍所殺。
Liu Jia had earned great merit, yet Gaozu’s sons were young, his brothers few, and none of them fit to hold the frontier. Gaozu meant to plant Liu kinsmen as kings to steady the empire, and proclaimed: “General Liu Jia has distinguished himself; choose from among the younger generation of the house one worthy to receive a kingdom.” The ministers replied in one voice: “Make Liu Jia king of Jing with his seat east of the Huai.” In the sixth year of his reign Qing Bu, the tattooed king of Huainan, rose in revolt and drove east into Jing. Liu Jia engaged him but could not prevail. He retreated to Fuling, where Qing Bu’s troops cut him down.
4
燕王劉澤，高祖從祖昆弟也。 高祖三年，澤為郎中。 十一年，以將軍擊陳豨將王黃，封為營陵侯。
Liu Ze, king of Yan, was Gaozu’s second cousin on the male line. In the third year of Gaozu’s reign Liu Ze was appointed gentleman of the palace. In the eleventh year he campaigned as a general against Wang Huang, one of Chen Xi’s officers, and received the marquisate of Yingling.
5
高后時，齊人田生游乏資，以畫奸澤。 澤大說之，用金二百斤為田生壽。 田生已得金，即歸齊。 二歲，澤使人謂田生曰：「弗與矣。」 田生如長安，不見澤，而假大宅，令其子求事呂后所幸大謁者張卿。 居數月，田生子請張卿臨，親脩具。 張卿往，見田生帷帳具置如列侯。 張卿驚。 酒酣，乃屏人說張卿曰：「臣觀諸侯邸第百餘，皆高帝一切功臣。 今呂氏雅故本推轂高帝就天下，功至大，又有親戚太后之重。 太后春秋長，諸呂弱，太后欲立呂產為呂王，王代。 呂后又重發之，恐大臣不聽。 今卿最幸，大臣所敬，何不風大臣以聞太后，太后必喜。 諸呂以王，萬戶侯亦卿之有。 太后心欲之，而卿為內臣，不急發，恐過及身矣。」 張卿大然之，乃風大臣語太后。 太后朝，因問大臣。 大臣請立呂產為呂王。 太后賜張卿千金，張卿以其半進田生。 田生弗受，因說之曰：「呂產王也，諸大臣未大服。 今營陵侯澤，諸劉長，為大將軍，獨此尚觖望。 今卿言太后，裂十餘縣王之，彼得王喜，於諸呂王益固矣。」 張卿入言之。 又太后女弟呂須女亦為營陵侯妻，故遂立營陵侯澤為琅邪王。 琅邪王與田生之國，急行毋留。 出關，太后果使人追之。 已出，即還。
Under Empress Dowager Lü, the Qi native Tian Sheng wandered the capital in want of money and approached Liu Ze with a subtle plan. Delighted, Liu Ze gave him two hundred catties of gold to toast his longevity. Tian Sheng pocketed the gold and went home to Qi. After two years Liu Ze sent a message: “The stipends stop here.” Tian Sheng traveled to Chang’an, never called on Liu Ze, rented a large house, and arranged for his son to enter service under Zhang Qing, the great usher in the empress dowager’s intimate circle. Months later the son invited Zhang Qing to dinner and oversaw every detail of the banquet himself. When Zhang Qing arrived he found hangings and service fit for a marquis of the first rank. Zhang Qing was taken aback. When they were deep in their cups, Tian Sheng sent the servants away and said, “I have walked the lanes of over a hundred noble houses. Every one belongs to the merit ministers whom Gaozu enfeoffed wholesale at the founding. The Lüs helped Gaozu win the realm from the outset; their merit is unmatched, and they are the empress dowager’s own kin besides. The empress dowager is old, her Lü nephews still young in power, and she means to raise Lü Chan as king of the Lü line with the territory of Dai. She dare not press it openly for fear the great ministers will balk. You enjoy her deepest trust and the ministers’ deference. Hint to the ministers that they should memorialize the throne—she will rejoice at it. When the Lü princes are enthroned, a ten-thousand-household marquisate will be yours as well. This is what she longs for, and you are her inside man. If you delay, misfortune may fall on you first.” Zhang Qing was convinced and privately coached the high ministers to approach the empress dowager. When she held court she put the question to them directly. They asked that Lü Chan be established as king of the Lü domain. She bestowed a thousand catties of gold on Zhang Qing, who forwarded half to Tian Sheng. Tian Sheng declined the gold and argued, “Lü Chan’s kingship will not yet win the full submission of the great ministers. Liu Ze of Yingling is the eldest of the Liu princes and holds the post of grand general; he is the one who still smarts at slight. Urge her to carve out a dozen counties and enfeoff him as king. Once he is satisfied, the Lü kingships will stand on firmer ground.” Zhang Qing carried the plea inward. The empress dowager’s younger sister Lü Xu had given her daughter in marriage to Marquis Liu Ze of Yingling, which is why Liu Ze was finally raised to king of Langye. The king of Langye and Tian Sheng galloped for their fief and did not linger. They cleared the barrier; she sent riders after them all the same. Once they had cleared the pass, the pursuers turned back.
6
吳王濞
Liu Bi, prince of Wu.
7
吳王濞，高帝兄仲之子也。 高帝立仲為代王。 匈奴攻代，仲不能堅守，棄國間行，走雒陽，自歸，天子不忍致法，廢為合陽侯。 子濞，封為沛侯。 黥布反，高祖自將往誅之。 濞年二十，以騎將從破布軍。 荊王劉賈為布所殺，無後。 上患吳會稽輕悍，無壯王填之，諸子少，乃立濞於沛，為吳王，王三郡五十三城。 已拜受印，高祖召濞相之，曰：「若狀有反相。」 獨悔，業已拜，因拊其背，曰：「漢後五十年東南有亂，豈若邪？ 然天下同姓一家，慎無反！」 濞頓首曰：「不敢。」
Liu Bi, king of Wu, was the son of Liu Zhong, the founder’s elder brother. The founder first made Liu Zhong king of Dai. The nomads struck Dai; Liu Zhong failed to defend it. He slipped away to Luoyang and gave himself up. The emperor spared him the full penalty and reduced him to marquis of Heyang. His son Liu Bi received the marquisate of Pei. When Qing Bu rose, Gaozu marched in person to crush the revolt. At twenty Liu Bi rode as a cavalry general in the host that broke Qing Bu. Liu Jia, king of Jing, had fallen to Qing Bu and had no successor. The throne feared the martial temper of Wu and Kuaiji and wanted a mature prince to hold them, yet the imperial sons were young. Liu Bi was therefore elevated from Pei to king of Wu with three commanderies and fifty-three towns. When the seal had been delivered Gaozu studied his face and said, “You have the look of a rebel.” He repented immediately, yet the appointment stood, so he patted Liu Bi’s back and said, “Within fifty years the southeast will rise in strife—will it be you? Still, the realm is one Liu clan; do not dare revolt!” Liu Bi touched his forehead to the ground and swore he would not.
8
會孝惠、高后時天下初定，郡國諸侯各務自拊循其民。 吳有豫章郡銅山，即招致天下亡命者盜鑄錢，東煮海水為鹽，以故無賦，國用饒足。
In the Xiaohui and Empress Gao years, with the realm just settled, each regional lord strove to win the goodwill of his subjects. Wu held the Yuzhang copper pits and drew runaways from every quarter to cast money illicitly; along the coast it boiled brine for salt. On that income it waived ordinary levies and the kingdom grew fabulously rich.
9
孝文時，吳太子入見，得侍皇太子飲博。 吳太子師傅皆楚人，輕悍，又素驕。 博爭道，不恭，皇太子引博局提吳太子，殺之。 於是遣其喪歸葬吳。 吳王慍曰：「天下一宗，死長安即葬長安，何必來葬！」 復遣喪之長安葬。 吳王由是怨望，稍失藩臣禮，稱疾不朝。 京師知其以子故，驗問實不病，諸吳使來，輒繫責治之。 吳王恐，所謀滋甚。 及後使人為秋請，上復責問吳使者。 使者曰：「察見淵中魚，不祥。 今吳王始詐疾，反覺，見責急，愈益閉，恐上誅之，計乃無聊。 唯上與更始。」 於是天子皆赦吳使者歸之，而賜吳王几杖，老，不朝。 吳得釋，其謀亦益解。 然其居國以銅鹽故，百姓無賦。 卒踐更，輒予平賈。 歲時存問茂材，賞賜閭里。 它郡國吏欲來捕亡人者，頌共禁不與。 如此者三十餘年，以故能使其眾。
In Wendi’s reign the crown prince of Wu attended court and was allowed to drink and gamble on pitch-pot with the imperial heir. His tutors were Chu men, hot-blooded by nature, and they had spoiled him into insolence. They quarreled over the rules; the Wu heir showed disrespect, and the crown prince seized the heavy board and struck him dead. The court had the body sent home to Wu for burial. The king of Wu growled, “All under heaven are one clan; if he died in Chang’an he should lie in Chang’an—why drag him back to Wu?” The remains were forwarded to Chang’an for interment. From then on Liu Bi harbored resentment, slackened the ritual due from a vassal, pleaded sickness, and stayed away from audience. The court understood the slight was about his son; investigations showed he was not ill, and Wu envoys were routinely seized and chastised. Fear drove him, and his plotting grew wilder. When he later sent men to claim the autumn exemption from court, the emperor again dressed down Wu’s envoys. The messenger answered, “There is a saying: it is unlucky to see every fish in a clear pool. Our king feigned illness; when that was seen through and blame piled on, he withdrew further, fearing the axe and finding no way out. We beg you to grant him a new beginning.” The Son of Heaven pardoned the envoys and sent them back, then gave the king of Wu a folding stool and staff in token of old age, freeing him from court calls. With the pressure off, Wu relaxed, and the plot lost its edge. Within his borders copper and salt still paid the bills, so the commoners owed no land tax. When militia duty fell due, he paid them the fair market rate. At New Year and other seasons he looked in on promising men and scattered largesse through the neighborhoods. If officers from other commanderies came to seize fugitives, Wu authorities shielded them together and would not hand them over. He did this for over thirty years, and so won the hearts of his people.
10
漢廷臣方議削吳，吳王恐削地無已，因欲發謀舉事。 念諸侯無足與計者，聞膠西王勇，好兵，諸侯皆畏憚之，於是乃使中大夫應高口說膠西王曰：「吳王不肖，有夙夜之憂，不敢自外，使使臣諭其愚心。」 王曰：「何以教之？」 高曰：「今者主上任用邪臣，聽信讒賊，變更律令，侵削諸侯，徵求滋多，誅罰良重，日以益甚。 語有之曰：「舐糠及米。」 吳與膠西，知名諸侯也，一時見察，不得安肆矣。 吳王身有內疾，不能朝請二十餘年，常患見疑，無以自白，脅肩絫足，猶懼不見釋。 竊聞大王以爵事有過，所聞諸侯削地，罪不至此，此恐不止削地而已。」 王曰：「有之，子將柰何？」 高曰：「同惡相助，同好相留，同情相求，同欲相趨，同利相死。 今吳王自以與大王同憂，願因時循理，棄軀以除患於天下，意亦可乎？」 膠西王瞿然駭曰：「寡人何敢如是？ 主上雖急，固有死耳，安得不事？」 高曰：「御史大夫朝錯熒惑天子，侵奪諸侯，蔽忠塞賢，朝廷疾怨，諸侯皆有背叛之意，人事極矣。 彗星出，蝗蟲起，此萬世一時，而愁勞，聖人所以起也。 吳王內以朝錯為誅，外從大王後車，方洋天下，所向者降，所指者下，莫敢不服。 大王誠幸而許之一言，則吳王率楚王略函谷關，守滎陽敖倉之粟，距漢兵，治次舍，須大王。 大王幸而臨之，則天下可并，兩主分割，不亦可乎？」 王曰：「善。」 歸報吳王，猶恐其不果，乃身自為使者，至膠西面約之。
As the Han court debated carving up Wu, the king dreaded endless reductions and meant to launch his plot. He found no other prince fit to conspire with, but heard that the king of Jiaoxi was brave and warlike and that the other lords all feared him. He therefore sent Palace Counsellor Ying Gao with an oral message: “The king of Wu, unworthy as he is, lies awake at night with worry; he dares not keep you at arm’s length and sends me to voice his humble heart.” The king said, “What would you teach me?” Ying Gao said, “The sovereign now trusts wicked ministers, heeds slanderers, alters laws and orders, gnaws at the kingdoms, heaps new demands, and punishes with growing severity—worse every day. There is a proverb: ‘Lick the chaff and you reach the grain.’ Wu and Jiaoxi are famous states; once we fall under close scrutiny we can never again live at ease. The king of Wu has feigned inner sickness and skipped court audiences for twenty years, always fearing mistrust with no way to clear his name. He shrinks and cringes yet still doubts he will be forgiven. I hear Your Majesty lost rank over the sale of noble titles; the talk of stripping whole commanderies goes beyond the crime—I fear it will not stop at land.” The king said, “That is true. What then?” “Those who hate the same foe help one another; those who love the same ends keep one another; those who feel the same seek one another; those who desire the same flock together; those who profit together die for one another. The king of Wu thinks he shares your danger and wishes to seize the hour in good order—to stake his life and wipe this evil from the realm. Would that suit you?” The king of Jiaoxi started, aghast: “How should I dare such a thing? The sovereign may drive me hard, but there is still only death at the end—how could I fail to serve him?” Ying Gao said, “Grandee Secretary Chao Cuo dazzles the Son of Heaven, strips the feudatories, blocks the loyal and worthy, so that the court boils with anger and every prince nurses rebellion. The crisis is complete. Comets appear and locusts swarm—a moment that comes once in ten thousand generations; when the realm is full of grief and toil, that is when a man of worth rises up. The king of Wu will move first against Chao Cuo under the banner of clearing the court; abroad he would march in your wake, sweeping the realm until every place you face surrenders and every host you point at falls—none would dare resist. If you will but nod once, the king of Wu will lead the king of Chu to seize Hangu Pass, guard the grain at Ao Granary by Xingyang, hold the Han armies at bay, pitch camp, and wait for you. If you then join him in person, the world may be shared and the two thrones split—would that not be well?” The king said, “Good.” Ying Gao reported back, but the king of Wu still feared he might waver and traveled himself to Jiaoxi to seal the bargain mouth to mouth.
11
膠西群臣或聞王謀，諫曰：「諸侯地不能為漢十二，為叛逆以憂太后，非計也。 今承一帝，尚云不易，假令事成，兩主分爭，患乃益生。」 王不聽，遂發使約齊、菑川、膠東、濟南，皆許諾。
Some of the king of Jiaoxi’s ministers heard the plan and urged him: “The feudal lands are not one-twelfth of the Han; to rebel would only grieve the empress dowager—it is no policy. We already serve one Son of Heaven and call it difficult; if you succeeded and two lords then fell out, disaster would only grow.” He would not heed them. He sent envoys to strike agreements with Qi, Zichuan, Jiaodong, and Jinan, and each kingdom pledged its support.
12
諸侯既新削罰，震恐，多怨錯。 乃削吳會稽、豫章郡書至，則吳王先起兵，誅漢吏二千石以下。 膠西、膠東、菑川、濟南、楚、趙亦皆反，發兵西。 齊王後悔，背約城守。 濟北王城壞未完，其郎中令劫守王，不得發兵。 膠西王、膠東王為渠率，與菑川、濟南共攻圍臨菑。 趙王遂亦陰使匈奴與連兵。
The princes, newly shorn by edict, were shaken and for the most part hated Chao Cuo. When the rescript arrived stripping Wu of Kuaiji and Yuzhang, the king of Wu was the first to raise troops and execute every Han officer from two-thousand-picul rank downward. Jiaoxi, Jiaodong, Zichuan, Jinan, Chu, and Zhao rose as well, each sending armies toward the west. The king of Qi had second thoughts, abandoned the pact, and shut himself behind his walls. Jinbei’s ramparts were still in ruins; his gentleman of the palace took him hostage, and no troops could be raised. The kings of Jiaoxi and Jiaodong led the host, and with Zichuan and Jinan jointly invested Linzi. King Zhao Sui likewise sent secret word to the Xiongnu to join forces.
13
七國之發也，吳王悉其士卒，下令國中曰：「寡人年六十二，身自將。 少子年十四，亦為士卒先。 諸年上與寡人同，下與少子等，皆發。」 二十餘萬人。 南使閩、東越，閩、東越亦發兵從。
As the seven kingdoms rose, Liu Bi mustered his entire host and proclaimed: “I am sixty-two and will take the field myself. My youngest boy is fourteen; he too will stand in the front rank. Every man from his age down to my youngest son’s shall be called up.” They mustered over two hundred thousand fighting men. He sent south to Min and Eastern Yue, and those states likewise mobilized to march with him.
14
孝景前三年正月甲子，初起兵於廣陵。 西涉淮，因并楚兵。 發使遺諸侯書曰：「吳王劉濞敬問膠西王、膠東王、菑川王、濟南王、趙王、楚王、淮南王、衡山王、廬江王、故長沙王子：幸教！ 以漢有賊臣錯，無功天下，侵奪諸侯之地，使吏劾繫訊治，以侵辱之為故，不以諸侯人君禮遇劉氏骨肉，絕先帝功臣，進任姦人，誑亂天下，欲危社稷。 陛下多病志逸，不能省察。 欲舉兵誅之，謹聞教。 敝國雖狹，地方三千里； 人民雖少，精兵可具五十萬。 寡人素事南越三十餘年，其王諸君皆不辭分其兵以隨寡人，又可得三十萬。 寡人雖不肖，願以身從諸王。 南越直長沙者，因王子定長沙以北，西走蜀、漢中。 告越、楚王、淮南三王，與寡人西面； 齊諸王與趙王定河間、河內，或入臨晉關，或與寡人會雒陽； 燕王、趙王故與胡王有約，燕王北定代、雲中，轉胡眾入蕭關，走長安，匡正天下，以安高廟。 願王勉之。 楚元王子、淮南三王或不沐洗十餘年，怨入骨髓，欲壹有所出久矣，寡人未得諸王之意，未敢聽。 今諸王苟能存亡繼絕，振弱伐暴，以安劉氏，社稷所願也。 吳國雖貧，寡人節衣食用，積金錢，脩兵革，聚糧食，夜以繼日，三十餘年矣。 凡皆為此，願諸王勉之。 能斬捕大將者，賜金五千斤，封萬戶； 列將，三千斤，封五千戶； 裨將，二千斤，封二千戶； 二千石，千斤，封千戶：皆為列侯。 其以軍若城邑降者，卒萬人，邑萬戶，如得大將； 人戶五千，如得列將； 人戶三千，如得裨將； 人戶千，如得二千石； 其小吏皆以差次受爵金。 它封賜皆倍軍法。 其有故爵邑者，更益勿因。 願諸王明以令士大夫，不敢欺也。 寡人金錢在天下者往往而有，非必取於吳，諸王日夜用之不能盡。 有當賜者告寡人，寡人且往遺之。 敬以聞。」
On jiǎzǐ in the first month of Xiaojing’s third year the rebellion opened at Guangling. He crossed the Huai westward and merged his columns with Chu’s host. His messengers carried a manifesto: “The king of Wu Liu Bi greets the kings of Jiaoxi, Jiaodong, Zichuan, Jinan, Zhao, Chu, Huainan, Hengshan, Lujiang, and the heir of old Changsha—may you instruct me! Han is ridden by the traitor Chao Cuo, a man without service to the empire who gnaws at princely fiefs, hounds nobles with indictments and chains, insults them by design, dishonors the Liu kin, casts aside Gaozu’s old ministers, elevates scoundrels, and would overturn the state. The Son of Heaven is sick in body and distracted in will; he cannot see through the plot. We mean to take up arms to put Cuo to the sword and await your orders. Wu is small, yet its territory runs three thousand li; its people are not numerous, yet half a million sharp soldiers can be armed. I have dealt with Southern Yue for thirty years; its rulers will gladly detach troops to march with me and add another three hundred thousand blades. Unworthy as I am, I will take the field at your side. Where Southern Yue touches Changsha, let the princes’ sons secure everything north of Changsha and drive west into Shu and Hanzhong. Tell Yue, the king of Chu, and the three Huainan kings to wheel west with me; let the Qi princes and the king of Zhao take Hejian and Henei—some to force Linjin Pass, others to meet me at Luoyang; Yan and Zhao long ago pledged the steppe lords: Yan shall pacify Dai and Yunzhong in the north, swing the nomad horse through Xiaoguan toward Chang’an, set the realm right, and guard Gaozu’s shrine. I urge every king to bend his utmost. The sons of King Yuan of Chu and the three Huainan kings may not have bathed or attended court for ten years; hatred runs to the marrow. They have long wished for a single chance to strike—I have not yet taken the princes’ measure and dare not lightly heed them. If you can succor the fallen, restore broken lines, champion the weak, and chastise the cruel for the sake of the Liu house, the spirits of soil and grain will bless you. Wu is poor, yet thirty years I have pinched my table and wardrobe, piled gold, forged arms, stored grain, and toiled from dusk to dawn. Everything I have done aims at this hour—again, I beg you to strive. Strike down an enemy commander-in-chief and you take five thousand catties of gold and a ten-thousand-household marquisate; a corps commander earns three thousand catties and five thousand households; a lieutenant-general earns two thousand catties and two thousand households; any two-thousand-picul officer brings a thousand catties and a thousand-household fief—all such men become full marquises. Surrender a host or a city: ten thousand soldiers and ten thousand households earn the reward for capturing a commander-in-chief; five thousand households earn a corps commander’s reward; three thousand households earn a lieutenant-general’s reward; one thousand households matches the reward for a two-thousand-picul captive; junior ranks receive titles and gold by graded steps. Every other bounty runs at twice the usual army scale. Men who already hold rank and fief gain fresh reward without canceling the old. Publish this plainly to your officers—I will not cheat them. My treasure lies everywhere under heaven, not only in Wu; spend it night and day—you cannot empty it. Name the worthy and I will ride to hand them their share. So I report, with respect.”
15
七國反書聞，天子乃遣太尉條侯周亞夫將三十六將軍往擊吳楚； 遣曲周侯酈寄擊趙，將軍欒布擊齊，大將軍竇嬰屯滎陽監齊趙兵。
News of the seven kingdoms’ revolt reached court; the emperor sent Grand Commandant Zhou Yafu of Tiaohou with thirty-six generals against Wu and Chu; he ordered Li Ji of Qüzhou against Zhao, Luan Bu against Qi, and stationed Grand General Dou Ying at Xingyang to oversee the northern fronts.
16
條侯將乘六乘傳，會兵滎陽。 至雒陽，見劇孟，喜曰：「
Zhou Yafu raced six post-horses to rally the host at Xingyang. At Luoyang he met Ju Meng and exclaimed:
17
七國反，吾乘傳至此，不自意全。 又以為諸侯已得劇孟。 孟今無動，吾據滎陽，滎陽以東無足憂者。」 至淮陽，問故父絳侯客鄧都尉曰：「策安出？」 客曰：「吳楚兵銳甚，難與爭鋒。 楚兵輕，不能久。 方今為將軍計，莫若引兵東北壁昌邑，以梁委吳，吳必盡銳攻之。 將軍深溝高壘，使輕兵絕淮泗口，塞吳饟道。 使吳、梁相敝而糧食竭，乃以全制其極，破吳必矣。」 條侯曰：「善。」 從其策，遂堅壁昌邑南，輕兵絕吳饟道。
Seven kingdoms in arms—I rode the relays here and hardly hoped to come through intact. I feared the rebels had already won Ju Meng over. Since he has not stirred, Xingyang is mine, and east of it we have little to fear.” In Huaiyang he put the question to Deng, once a client of his late father the Marquis of Jiang and now commandant of the district: “What counsel do you offer?” Deng said: “Wu and Chu are at the height of their fury; do not meet their spear-points. Chu’s men are light and cannot endure a long war. Better march northeast, dig in at Changyi, feed Liang to Wu, and let Wu spend its full fury there. Hold behind deep ditches and high walls, send skirmishers to choke the Huai–Si junction, and sever Wu’s grain lines. When Wu and Liang have worn each other out and the wagons are empty, strike with fresh strength—Wu must fall.” Zhou Yafu said, “Excellent.” He dug in south of Changyi and sent light cavalry to cut Wu’s supply lines.
18
吳王之初發也，吳臣田祿伯為大將軍。 田祿伯曰：「兵屯聚而西，無它奇道，難以立功。 臣願得五萬人，別循江淮而上，收淮南、長沙，入武關，與大王會，此亦一奇也。」 吳王太子諫曰：「王以反為名，此兵難以藉人，人亦且反王，柰何？ 且擅兵而別，多它利害，徒自損耳。」 吳王即不許田祿伯。
At the outbreak Liu Bi made his minister Tian Lubo grand general. Lubo argued: “A single mass marching west has no surprise in it; glory will be hard to win. Give me fifty thousand to run the Yangzi and Huai upstream, take Huainan and Changsha, burst through Wu Pass, and meet you—that is a second front.” The crown prince objected: “We march under the banner of rebellion; you cannot hand troops to another man or he may turn them on you—what then? Splitting the army invites endless risk—you would only hurt yourself.” The king refused Lubo’s plan.
19
吳少將桓將軍說王曰：「吳多步兵，步兵利險； 漢多車騎，車騎利平地。 願大王所過城不下，直去，疾西據雒陽武庫，食敖倉粟，阻山河之險以令諸侯，雖無入關，天下固已定矣。 大王徐行，留下城邑，漢軍車騎至，馳入梁楚之郊，事敗矣。」 吳王問吳老將，老將曰：「此年少椎鋒可耳，安知大慮！」 於是王不用桓將軍計。
Young General Huan urged him: “Wu fields foot soldiers; foot soldiers love broken ground; Han fields chariots and horse; chariots and horse love the flat. Pass every unwalled town without stopping, race to Luoyang’s arsenal, feed on Ao Granary, straddle the mountain rivers, and cow the lords—you need not enter the passes to own the realm. Linger to siege cities and Han’s cavalry will pour into Liang and Chu’s border—you are finished.” Liu Bi asked the greybeards; they sneered, “Boys can charge the van—what do they know of grand design?” So Huan’s advice was cast aside.
20
王專并將其兵，未度淮，諸賓客皆得為將、校尉、行間候、司馬，獨周丘不用。 周丘者，下邳人，亡命吳，酤酒無行，王薄之，不任。 周丘乃上謁，說王曰：「臣以無能，不得待罪行間。 臣非敢求有所將也，願請王一漢節，必有以報。」 王乃予之。 周丘得節，夜馳入下邳。 下邳時聞吳反，皆城守。 至傳舍，召令入戶，使從者以罪斬令。 遂召昆弟所善豪吏告曰：「吳反兵且至，屠下邳不過食頃。 今先下，家室必完，能者封侯至矣。」 出乃相告，下邳皆下。 周丘一夜得三萬人，使人報吳王，遂將其兵北略城邑。 比至城陽，兵十餘萬，破城陽中尉軍。 聞吳王敗走，自度無與共成功，即引兵歸下邳。 未至，癰發背死。
The king held sole command. Before the Huai every client had become general, colonel, scout, or major—only Zhou Qiu was left out. Zhou Qiu of Xiapi was a fugitive in Wu, a hard-drinking wastrel whom the king despised and would not employ. He forced an audience: “For my faults I have no place in the ranks. I do not ask for an army—only one imperial tally; I will repay you.” The king handed it over. Zhou Qiu took the staff and rode into Xiapi by night. Xiapi had heard of the revolt and barred its gates. At the post-house he called the magistrate in and had his men cut him down on a trumped charge. He rallied bold kinsmen: “Wu’s host is coming; they will level Xiapi before a meal cools. Yield now and your families live; the able will win marquisates.” Word ran through the streets and the city opened. In one night he raised thirty thousand, reported to the king, and swept north taking towns. By Chengyang he had a hundred thousand and shattered the commandant’s corps. When he learned Liu Bi had fled, he saw no partner left for victory and wheeled back toward Xiapi. A back-boil killed him before he arrived.
21
二月，吳王兵既破，敗走，於是天子制詔將軍：「蓋聞為善者天報以福，為非者天報以殃。 高皇帝親垂功德，建立諸侯，幽王、悼惠王絕無後，孝文皇帝哀憐加惠，王幽王子遂，悼惠王子卬等，令奉其先王宗廟，為漢藩國，德配天地，明並日月。 而吳王濞背德反義，誘受天下亡命罪人，亂天下幣，稱疾不朝二十餘年。 有司數請濞罪，孝文皇帝寬之，欲其改行為善。 今乃與楚王戊、趙王遂、膠西王卬、濟南王辟光、菑川王賢、膠東王雄渠約從謀反，為逆無道，起兵以危宗廟，賊殺大臣及漢使者，迫劫萬民，伐殺無罪，燒殘民家，掘其丘壟，甚為虐暴。 而卬等又重逆無道，燒宗廟，鹵御物，朕甚痛之。 朕素服避正殿，將軍其勸士大夫擊反虜。 擊反虜者，深入多殺為功，斬首捕虜比三百石以上皆殺，無有所置。 敢有議詔及不如詔者，皆要斬。」
In the second month Wu’s army was shattered; the emperor told his generals: “Heaven crowns virtue with fortune and strikes evil with woe. Gaozu set up the kingdoms; when You of Zhao and Daohui of Qi died without heirs, Xiaowen raised Sui, Ang, and the rest to tend their shrines as Han’s shield—his kindness spanned heaven and earth and shone like the luminaries. Yet Liu Bi spurned right, drew runaways, debased the coinage, and feigned sickness twenty years at court. Officials begged his head; Wendi spared him, hoping he would mend his ways. Now he leagues with Liu Wu, king of Chu, Liu Sui of Zhao, Liu Ang of Jiaoxi, Pi Guang of Jinan, Liu Xian of Zichuan, and Liu Xiongqü of Jiaodong—lawless traitors who menace the temples, butcher ministers and envoys, dragoon the people, kill the guiltless, burn homes, and open graves—monstrous cruelty. Ang’s crew have burned the shrines and plundered the palace stores—Our heart is torn. We wear mourning and quit the main hall—generals, drive your men at the traitors. Pursue deep and kill hard for merit; every rebel chief of three hundred piculs or higher whom you take—execute; grant no quarter. Debate the decree or disobey it—death by waist chop.”
22
初，吳王之度淮，與楚王遂西敗棘壁，乘勝而前，銳甚。 梁孝王恐，遣將軍擊之，又敗梁兩軍，士卒皆還走。 梁數使使條侯求救，條侯不許。 又使使愬條侯於上，上使告條侯救梁，又守便宜不行。 梁使韓安國及楚死事相弟張羽為將軍，乃得頗敗吳兵。 吳兵欲西，梁城守，不敢西，即走條侯軍，會下邑。 欲戰，條侯壁，不肯戰。 吳糧絕，卒飢，數挑戰，遂夜奔條侯壁，驚東南。 條侯使備西北，果從西北。 不得入，吳大敗，士卒多飢死叛散。 於是吳王乃與其戲下壯士千人夜亡去，度淮走丹徒，保東越。 東越兵可萬餘人，使人收聚亡卒。 漢使人以利啗東越，東越即紿吳王，吳王出勞軍，使人鏦殺吳王，盛其頭，馳傳以聞。 吳王太子駒亡走閩越。 吳王之棄軍亡也，軍遂潰，往往稍降太尉條侯及梁軍。 楚王戊軍敗，自殺。
When Liu Bi crossed the Huai he and the king of Chu drove west, stormed the Han strongpoint at Ji, and swept on while their momentum was white-hot. King Xiao of Liang sent a general; Wu-Chu broke two Liang hosts and the men fled. Liang begged Zhou Yafu again and again; he refused. They complained to the throne; the emperor told him to relieve Liang, yet he clung to his plan and stayed put. Only when Liang raised Han Anguo and Zhang Yu—brother of Chu’s martyr minister—as generals could they begin to bloody Wu’s advance. Wu meant to drive west, yet Liang’s walls blocked the way; they dared not push on and veered toward Zhou Yafu’s camp, meeting him below Xiayi. They clamored for a fight; Zhou Yafu stayed behind his walls and refused. With supplies gone and men famished, Wu taunted day after day, then stormed the southeast corner of Yafu’s lines by night. He had stacked his defense on the northwest; the feint failed and the real blow came there. They never breached the wall. Wu’s host collapsed; thousands starved or melted away. Liu Bi slipped away at the head of a thousand household guards, crossed the Huai, made for Dantu, and threw himself on Eastern Yue. Eastern Yue could field more than ten thousand men and began rounding up Wu stragglers. Han bribed Eastern Yue; the Yue king betrayed Liu Bi. When he rode out to review the ranks, assassins ran him through, boxed his head, and relay riders galloped the news to the capital. Crown prince Ju fled into Minyue. Once the king bolted, his army unraveled; bands here and there gave themselves up to Zhou Yafu or to Liang. Liu Wu, king of Chu, was broken in the field and took his own life.
23
三王之圍齊臨菑也，三月不能下。 漢兵至，膠西、膠東、菑川王各引兵歸國。 膠西王徒跣，席稿，飲水，謝太后。 王太子德曰：「漢兵還，臣觀之以罷，可襲，願收王餘兵擊之，不勝而逃入海，未晚也。」 王曰：「吾士卒皆已壞，不可用。」 不聽。 漢將弓高侯頹當遺王書曰：「奉詔誅不義，降者赦，除其罪，復故； 不降者滅之。 王何處？ 須以從事。」 王肉袒叩頭漢軍壁，謁曰：「臣卬奉法不謹，驚駭百姓，乃苦將軍遠道至于窮國，敢請葅醢之罪。」 弓高侯執金鼓見之，曰：「王苦軍事，願聞王發兵狀。」 王頓首膝行對曰：「今者，朝錯天子用事臣，變更高皇帝法令，侵奪諸侯地。 卬等以為不義，恐其敗亂天下，七國發兵，且以誅錯。 今聞錯已誅，卬等謹已罷兵歸。」 將軍曰：「王苟以錯為不善，何不以聞？ 及未有詔虎符，擅發兵擊義國。 以此觀之，意非徒欲誅錯也。」 乃出詔書為王讀之，曰：「王其自圖之。」 王曰：「如卬等死有餘罪。」 遂自殺。 太后、太子皆死。 膠東、菑川、濟南王皆伏誅。 酈將軍攻趙，十月而下之，趙王自殺。 濟北王以劫故，不誅。
The three kings besieged Linzi for three months and could not take it. Imperial columns approached; the kings of Jiaoxi, Jiaodong, and Zichuan peeled off and raced for home. Liu Ang shed shoes, sat on rough straw, drank nothing but water, and begged his mother’s pardon. Prince De urged: “The Han host is spent from the march; strike now with what is left. If we lose, we can still run to the sea.” The king answered, “My men are shattered—useless.” He refused. Huidang of Gonggao wrote: “The throne punishes treason; yield and you are forgiven, your guilt wiped, your old rank returned; refuse and you are wiped out. What will you do? Answer, and we shall proceed accordingly.” Ang stripped to the chest, kowtowed at the Han lines, and said, “I broke the law, frightened the people, and dragged you to this poor corner—I deserve dismemberment.” Huidang, drum and mallet in hand, asked, “You have borne the war—tell me how you came to arms.” On his knees Ang said, “Chao Cuo rules the court, rewrites Gaozu’s statutes, and gnaws at princely fiefs. We judged that wicked and feared he would wreck the realm; the seven kingdoms rose chiefly to kill Cuo. Word came that Cuo is dead; we have stood down and gone home.” The general answered, “If Cuo was vile, why not memorialize the throne? You had no rescript, no tally, yet you mobilized and struck loyal states. That was never only about Cuo.” He drew out the imperial order and read it: “Decide your own fate.” Ang said, “Men like me deserve more than one death.” He took his own life. His mother and heir died with him. Jiaodong, Zichuan, and Jinan were put to the sword. Li Ji stormed Zhao in the tenth month; King Zhao killed himself. Jinbei was spared because he had been held hostage.
24
初，吳王首反，并將楚兵，連齊、趙。 正月起，三月皆破滅。
At the start Liu Bi fired first, merged with Chu, and chained Qi and Zhao to his cause. They opened in the first month; by the third every kingdom lay in ruins.
25
贊曰：荊王王也，由漢初定，天下未集，故雖疏屬，以策為王，鎮江淮之間。 劉澤發於田生，權激呂氏，然卒南面稱孤者三世。 事發相重，豈不危哉！ 吳王擅山海之利，能薄斂以使其眾，逆亂之萌，自其子興。 古者諸侯不過百里，山海不以封，蓋防此矣。 朝錯為國遠慮，禍反及身。 「毋為權首，將受其咎」，豈謂錯哉！
Ban Gu’s verdict: Jing was enfeoffed while the dynasty was still raw—distant blood, yet a deliberate chess piece to anchor the Huai–Yangzi belt. Liu Ze climbed on Tian Sheng’s intrigues against the Lüs, yet his line faced the throne for three reigns. When one crisis triggered the next, the danger was beyond reckoning. Wu hoarded salt and ore, bought the people with low taxes, and the seed of revolt was sown when his son died. Ancient law capped a fief at a hundred li and barred the gift of mountains and seas—precisely to stop such power. Chao Cuo thought for the realm’s long term and died for it. “Never seize the helm of intrigue, or its guilt falls on you”—was that not Chao Cuo’s fate!