1
樊噲，沛人也，以屠狗為事。 後與高祖俱隱於芒碭山澤間。
Fan Kuai came from Pei and earned his keep as a dog butcher. Later he went into hiding with the High Ancestor in the marshes and hills between Mang and Dang.
2
陳勝初起，蕭何、曹參使噲求迎高祖，立為沛公。 噲以舍人從攻胡陵、方與，還守豐，擊泗水監豐下，破之。 復東定沛，破泗水守薛西。 與司馬镛戰碭東，卻敵，斬首十五級，賜爵國大夫。 常從，沛公擊章邯軍濮陽，攻城先登，斬首二十三級，賜爵列大夫。 從攻陽城，先登。 下戶牖，破李由軍，斬首十六級，賜上聞爵。 後攻圉都尉、東郡守尉於成武，卻敵，斬首十四級，捕虜十六人，賜爵五大夫。 從攻秦軍，出亳南。 河間守軍於杠里，破之。 擊破趙賁軍開封北，以卻敵先登，斬候一人，首六十八級，捕虜二十六人，賜爵卿。 從攻破揚熊於曲遇。 攻宛陵，先登，斬首八級，捕虜四十四人，賜爵封號賢成君。 從攻長社、轘轅，絕河津，東攻秦軍尸鄉，南攻秦軍於犨。 破南陽守齮於陽城。 東攻宛城，先登。 西至酈，以卻敵，斬首十四級，捕虜四十四人，賜重封。 攻武關，至霸上，斬都尉一人，首十級，捕虜百四十六人，降卒二千九百人。
When Chen Sheng first raised rebellion, Xiao He and Cao Shen dispatched Kuai to find the High Ancestor and escort him back; he was thereupon proclaimed Lord of Pei. Serving as a house-guest, Kuai joined the assault on Huling and Fangyu, then turned back to hold Feng, where he attacked the Sishui intendant beneath the town and broke his force. He then marched east again, pacified Pei, and routed the Sishui governor west of Xue. East of Dang he engaged Sima Yong, threw back the foe, took fifteen heads, and received the noble rank of grandee of the state. Ever in attendance, he was with Lord Pei at the siege of Zhang Han’s host at Puyang: he led the escalade, claimed twenty-three heads, and was ennobled as grandee of the columns. He joined the strike on Yangcheng and was again the first man over the wall. He reduced Huyou, shattered Li You’s troops, took sixteen heads, and was awarded the rank of grandee of superior report. Later, at Chengwu, he struck the Woyu commandant and the Dongjun assistant governor, repulsed their line, cut off fourteen heads, seized sixteen captives, and rose to fifth-order grandee. He followed the offensive against Qin forces and debouched south of Bo. The Hejian governor had drawn up at Gangli; Kuai smashed that camp. North of Kaifeng he broke Zhao Fen’s host; for throwing back the enemy and leading the escalade he slew a marquis, piled up sixty-eight heads, took twenty-six prisoners, and was raised to ministerial grandee. He took part in the victory over Yang Xiong at Quyu. At Wanling he again topped the wall, claimed eight heads and forty-four captives, and received a patent as Worthy Accomplished Lord. He marched on Changshe and Huanyuan, severed the river crossing, then struck Qin columns at Shixiang to the east and at Chou to the south. At Yangcheng he defeated Nanyang Governor Qi. He turned east against Wancheng and was first to scale it. West to Li he again repelled the enemy, added fourteen heads and forty-four prisoners, and earned a second grant of fief. He forced Wuguan, advanced to Bashang, slew a commandant-in-chief and ten others, took one hundred forty-six living prisoners, and accepted the capitulation of two thousand nine hundred men.
3
項羽在戲下，欲攻沛公。 沛公從百餘騎因項伯面見項羽，謝無有閉關事。 項羽既饗軍土，中酒，亞父謀欲殺沛公，令項莊拔劍舞坐中，欲擊沛公，項伯常屏蔽之。 時獨沛公與張良得入坐，樊噲居營外，聞事急，乃持盾入。 初入營，營衛止噲，噲直撞入，立帳下。 項羽目之，問為誰。 張良曰：「沛公參乘樊噲也。」 項羽曰：「壯士。」 賜之卮酒彘肩。 噲既飲酒，拔劍切肉食之。 項羽曰：「能復飲乎？」 噲曰：「臣死且不辭，豈特卮酒乎！ 且沛公先入定咸陽，暴師霸上，以待大王。 大王今日至，聽小人之言，與沛公有隙，臣恐天下解心疑大王也。」 項羽默然。 沛公如廁，麾噲去。 既出，沛公留車騎，獨騎馬，噲等四人步從，從山下走歸霸上軍，而使張良謝項羽。 羽亦因遂已，無誅沛公之心。 是日微樊噲奔入營譙讓項羽，沛公幾殆。
Xiang Yu lay encamped below the Xi ford and planned to fall upon Lord Pei. Lord Pei rode in with little more than a hundred horse, used Xiang Bo’s good offices to gain an audience with Xiang Yu, and disclaimed any intent to seal the passes against him. Once Xiang Yu had feasted his army and wine flowed freely, the Second Father schemed to cut down Lord Pei: he had Xiang Zhuang rise with sword in hand and dance among the couches to get a stroke at Lord Pei, while Xiang Bo again and again interposed his own frame. Only Lord Pei and Zhang Liang had seats within; Fan Kuai waited outside the lines. When he heard how desperate things had become, he seized his shield and forced his way in. The sentries tried to bar him at the gate; he rammed straight through and took his stand below Xiang Yu’s tent. Xiang Yu fixed him with a stare and demanded his name. Zhang Liang answered, “Fan Kuai, who rides at Lord Pei’s right hand in the chariot.” “A brave man,” said Xiang Yu. He sent him a cup of wine and a shoulder of boar. Kuai tossed off the wine, whipped out his blade, carved the meat, and ate it where he stood. “Will you have another cup?” asked Xiang Yu. Kuai replied, “I would not refuse death itself—why should I balk at a cup of wine? Lord Pei was the first to march into Xianyang and bring order there; he bivouacked his army at Bashang only to welcome Your Majesty. Yet now that you have arrived you heed slander and turn against him; I fear the realm will lose faith in you, Great King.” Xiang Yu had nothing to say. Lord Pei rose as if for the latrine and motioned Kuai to follow him out. Outside, Lord Pei abandoned his carriage train, mounted a single horse, and with Kuai and four others jogging afoot took the bypaths down the hill back to his camp at Bashang, dispatching Zhang Liang to tender his excuses to Xiang Yu. Xiang Yu likewise dropped the design and no longer thought of killing Lord Pei. That day, but for Fan Kuai’s rush into the lines to upbraid Xiang Yu, Lord Pei would have been lost.
4
後數日，項羽入屠咸陽，立沛公為漢王。 漢王賜噲爵為列侯，號臨武侯。 遷為郎中，從入漢中。
A few days afterward Xiang Yu marched into Xianyang and put the city to the sword, then invested Lord Pei as King of Han. The King of Han ennobled Kuai as a full marquis under the style Marquis of Linwu. He was advanced to gentleman-of-the-palace and accompanied the court into Hanzhong.
5
還定三秦，別擊西丞白水北，擁輕車騎雍南，破之。 從攻雍、焘城，先登。 擊章平軍好畤，攻城，先登陷陣，斬縣令丞各一人，首十一級，虜二十人，遷為郎中騎將。 從擊秦車騎壤東，卻敵，遷為將軍。 攻趙賁，下郿、槐里、柳中、咸陽； 灌廢丘，最。 至櫟陽，賜食邑杜之樊鄉。 從攻項籍，屠煮棗，擊破王武、程處軍於外黃。 攻鄒、魯、瑕丘、薛。 項羽敗漢王於彭城，盡復取魯、梁地。 噲還至滎陽，益食平陰二千戶，以將軍守廣武一歲。 項羽引東，從高祖擊項籍，下陽夏，虜楚周將軍卒四千人。 圍項籍陳，大破之。 屠胡陵。
When the army turned back to settle the Three Qin, he led a detached column against the western assistant north of Baishui, cut off light chariots and horse south of Yong, and broke both forces. He joined the assault on Yong and on Taocheng and again led the escalade. At Haozhi he hit Zhang Ping’s host, stormed the walls, was first over the ramparts and through the formation, slew a magistrate and his deputy, took eleven heads and twenty prisoners, and rose to chief of mounted gentlemen. East of Rang he engaged Qin chariotry and cavalry, threw them back, and was promoted to general. He stormed Zhao Fen’s positions and reduced Mei, Huaili, Liuzhong, and Xianyang. He drowned the defenders of Feiqiu and earned the highest merit rating. At Liyang he received as sustenance fief the hamlet of Fan in Du. He campaigned against Xiang Ji, sacked Zhuzao, and shattered the hosts of Wang Wu and Cheng Chu at Waihuang. He struck Zou, Lu, Xiaqiu, and Xue. Xiang Yu crushed the King of Han at Pengcheng and reconquered the whole of Lu and Liang. Kuai fell back to Xingyang, had two thousand more households at Pingyin added to his income, and for a year defended Guangwu as a general. When Xiang Yu withdrew east, he marched with the High Ancestor against Xiang Ji, took Yangxia, and rounded up four thousand soldiers of Chu’s General Zhou. He helped ring Xiang Ji at Chen and dealt him a crushing defeat. He put Huling to the sword.
6
項籍死，漢王即皇帝位，以噲有功，益食邑八百戶。 其秋，燕王臧荼反，噲從攻虜荼，定燕地。 楚王韓信反，噲從至陳，取信，定楚。 更賜爵列侯，與剖符，世世勿絕，食舞陽，號為舞陽侯，除前所食。 以將軍從攻反者韓王信於代。 自霍人以往至雲中，與絳侯等共定之，益食千五百戶。 因擊陳狶與曼丘臣軍，戰襄國，破柏人，先登，降之定清河、常山凡二十七縣，殘東垣，遷為左丞相。 破得綦母印、尹潘軍於無終、廣昌。 破豨別將胡人王黃軍代南，因擊韓信軍參合。 軍所將卒斬韓信，擊豨胡騎橫谷，斬將軍趙既，虜代丞相馮梁、守孫奮、大將王黃、將軍大將一人、太僕解福等十人。 與諸將共定代鄉邑七十三。 後燕王盧綰反，噲以相國擊綰，破其丞相抵薊南，定燕縣十八，鄉邑五十一。 益食千三百戶，定食舞陽五千四百戶。 從，斬首百七十六級，虜二百八十七人。 別，破軍七，下城五，定郡六，縣五十二，得丞相一人，將軍十三人，二千石以下至三百石十二人。
After Xiang Ji’s death the King of Han mounted the throne; for Kuai’s services another eight hundred households were added to his fief. The same autumn King Zang Tu of Yan rose in revolt; Kuai joined the expedition, took Zang Tu prisoner, and pacified Yan. When Han Xin, king of Chu, rebelled, Kuai marched with the host to Chen, seized him, and brought Chu to heel. He was re-enfeoffed as a full marquis with a split tally meant never to lapse, with income centered on Wuyang and the style Marquis of Wuyang, superseding his earlier holdings. As general he joined the campaign against the rebel King of Han Xin in Dai. From Huoren out to Yunzhong he and the Marquis of Zhou and the rest jointly pacified the commanderies, and fifteen hundred more households were added to his fief. He next hit Chen Xi and Manqiu Chen’s force, fought at Xiangguo, stormed Bairen, led the escalade, accepted their surrender, and brought twenty-seven counties of Qinghe and Changshan to submission; he razed Dongyuan and was named left chancellor. At Wuzhong and Guangchang he broke the hosts of Qimu Yin and Yin Pan. He smashed the Hu commander Wang Huang, a detached general of Chen Xi, south of Dai, then fell upon Han Xin’s troops at Shenhe. The soldiers under his command cut down Han Xin, rode down Chen Xi’s Hu horse at Henggu, slew General Zhao Ji, and took Dai Chancellor Feng Liang, Defender Sun Fen, Grand General Wang Huang, one general-in-chief, Grand Coachman Xie Fu, and ten captives besides. With the other commanders he reduced seventy-three townships of Dai. Later, when Lu Wan king of Yan revolted, Kuai as chancellor of state marched against him, broke Wan’s chancellor Di south of Ji, and secured eighteen Yan counties and fifty-one townships. Thirteen hundred more households were added to his income; his permanent grant at Wuyang stood at five thousand four hundred households. In the battles where he marched with the main army he took one hundred seventy-six heads and two hundred eighty-seven prisoners. On independent operations he broke seven field armies, seized five walled towns, pacified six commanderies and fifty-two counties, and brought in one chancellor, thirteen generals, and twelve officers from two-thousand-picul rank down to three hundred piculs.
7
噲以呂后弟呂須為婦，生子伉，故其比諸將最親。 先黥布反時，高帝嘗病，惡見人，臥禁中，詔戶者無得入群臣。 群臣絳、灌等莫敢入。 十餘日，噲乃排闥直入，大臣隨之。 上獨枕一宦者臥。 噲等見上流涕曰：「始陛下與臣等起豐沛，定天下，何其壯也！ 今天下已定，又何憊也！ 且陛下病甚，大臣震恐，不見臣等計事，顧獨與一宦者絕乎？ 且陛下獨不見趙高之事乎？」 高帝笑而起。
Kuai had married Lü Xu, the empress’s younger sister, and fathered Kang, so he stood nearer to the throne than any other commander. When Qing Bu first rose, the High Emperor had fallen ill, could not bear the sight of anyone, and lay secluded in the inner palace with orders that no minister be admitted. Not even Zhou Bo, Guan Ying, and the other ministers dared enter. After a fortnight Kuai shouldered the doors open and strode in, and the senior officials trailed behind. The sovereign was resting with his head pillowed on a single eunuch’s knee. Kuai and his companions, finding him thus, wept and said, “When you and we first rose from Feng and Pei to win the realm, what vigor you showed! The realm is now at peace—why do you show such exhaustion? Your illness is grave; the ministers are terrified; yet you refuse council and closet yourself with one eunuch alone— have you forgotten the affair of Zhao Gao?” The High Emperor laughed and got up from his couch.
8
其後盧綰反，高帝使噲以相國擊燕。 是時高帝病甚，人有惡噲黨於呂氏，即上一日宮車晏駕，則噲欲以兵盡誅戚氏、趙王如意之屬。 高帝大怒，乃使陳平載絳侯代將，而即軍中斬噲。 陳平畏呂后，執噲詣長安。 至則高帝已崩，呂后釋噲，得復爵邑。
Later, when Lu Wan rebelled, the High Emperor sent Kuai as chancellor of state to campaign in Yan. By then the emperor was dying; men accused Kuai of siding with the Lüs, claiming that the moment the palace carriage should halt forever Kuai meant to move the army and exterminate Lady Qi’s kin, King Ruyi of Zhao, and all their following. In a fury he ordered Chen Ping to ride with the Marquis of Zhou to supersede Kuai’s command and execute him in camp. Chen Ping dreaded Empress Lü, so he bound Kuai instead and hauled him toward Chang’an. By the time they arrived the High Emperor was gone; Empress Lü freed Kuai, who regained his title and lands.
9
孝惠六年，噲薨，諡曰武侯，子伉嗣。 而伉母呂須亦為臨光侯，噲高后時用事顓權，大臣盡畏之。 高后崩，大臣誅呂須等，因誅伉，舞陽侯中絕數月。 孝文帝立，乃復封噲庶子市人為侯，復故邑。 薨，諡曰荒侯。 子佗廣嗣。 六歲，其舍人上書言：「荒侯巿人病不能為人，令其夫人與其弟亂而生佗廣，佗廣實非荒侯子。」 下吏，免。 平帝元始二年，繼絕世，封噲玄孫之子章為舞陽侯，邑千戶。
In the sixth year of Emperor Hui’s reign Kuai died, receiving the posthumous epithet Martial Marquis; his heir was Kang. Kang’s mother Lü Xu was herself ennobled as Marquis of Liguang; in the era when Empress Dowager Lü and Kuai’s kin held power they monopolized the government, and every senior minister feared them. After the empress dowager’s death the ministers put Lü Xu and her faction to the sword, Kang with them, and the line of Marquis of Wuyang lapsed for some months. Emperor Wen then reinstated Kuai’s bastard son Shiren as marquis with the original estate. When he died he was given the posthumous name Reckless Marquis. His son Tuoguang inherited the title. In the sixth year of Tuoguang’s tenure as marquis a retainer memorialized: “Marquis Reckless Shiren was impotent; he had his wife lie with his younger brother, who begot Tuoguang—Tuoguang is not truly the marquis’s son.” The matter went to the law officers; the title was stripped. In Yuanshi 2 of Emperor Ping, when broken noble lines were revived, Zhang—a descendant in the fifth generation from Kuai—was made Marquis of Wuyang with a thousand-household estate.
10
酈商，高陽人也。 陳勝起，商聚少年得數千人。 沛公略地六月餘，商以所將四千人屬沛公於岐。 從攻長社，先登，賜爵封信成君。 從攻緱氏，絕河津，破秦軍雒陽東。 從下宛、穰，定十七縣。 別將攻旬關，西定漢中。
Li Shang came from Gaoyang. When Chen Sheng rebelled, Shang rallied youths until he had several thousand under him. Lord Pei had been reducing territory for over half a year when Shang brought the four thousand troops he commanded and joined him at Qi. He fought at Changshe, was first over the wall, and was ennobled as Lord Trustworthy Accomplished. He marched on Goushi, severed the Yellow River crossing, and broke Qin forces east of Luoyang. He helped take Wan and Rang and brought seventeen counties to heel. Leading a separate column he struck Xunguan and secured Hanzhong to the west.
11
沛公為漢王，賜商爵信成君，以將軍為隴西都尉。 別定北地郡，破章邯別將於烏氏、栒邑、泥陽，賜食邑武城六千戶。 從擊項籍軍，與鍾離眛戰，受梁相國印，益食四千戶。 從擊項羽二歲，攻胡陵。
When Lord Pei became King of Han, Shang kept the title Lord Trustworthy Accomplished and was named general and Longxi metropolitan governor. On his own he pacified Beidi, broke a detached column of Zhang Han’s at Wushi, Xunyi, and Niyang, and received six thousand households at Wucheng. He campaigned against Xiang Ji, crossed swords with Zhongli Mo, was invested with the Liang kingdom’s chancellor-of-state seal (Peng Yue’s office), and gained four thousand more households. For two years he fought Xiang Yu’s forces and joined the attack on Huling.
12
漢王即帝位，燕王臧荼反，商以將軍從擊荼，戰龍脫，先登陷陣，破荼軍易下，卻敵，遷為右丞相，賜爵列侯，與剖符，世世勿絕，食邑涿郡五千戶。 別定上谷，因攻代，受趙相國印。 與絳侯等定代郡、鴈門，得代丞相程縱、守相郭同、將軍以下至六百石十九人。 還，以將軍將太上皇衛一歲。 十月，以右丞相擊陳豨，殘東垣。 又從擊黥布，攻其前垣，陷兩陳，得以破布軍，更封為曲周侯，食邑五千一百戶，除前所食。 凡別破軍三，降定郡六，縣七十三，得丞相、守相、大將軍各一人，小將軍二人，二千石以下至六百石十九人。
After the King of Han took the throne, Zang Tu of Yan rose in revolt; Shang marched as a general, fought at Longtuo, led the escalade through the enemy ranks, shattered Tu’s host beneath Yi, was raised to right chancellor, ennobled as a full marquis with an everlasting split tally, and drew income from five thousand households in Zhuo command. He independently secured Shanggu, then turned on Dai and was invested as Zhao’s chancellor of state. With the Marquis of Zhou he reduced Dai and Yanmen, taking Zhao Chancellor Cheng Zong, Defender Guo Tong, and nineteen officers from general rank down to six hundred piculs. On his return he spent a year as general commanding the Grand Supreme Emperor’s household guard. That tenth month he led the right chancellor’s column against Chen Xi and razed Dongyuan. He joined the campaign against Qing Bu, stormed the forward wall, tore two formations apart, and broke Bu’s host; he was transferred to the marquisate of Quzhou with five thousand one hundred households, replacing his previous fiefs. Across independent operations he shattered three field armies, brought six commanderies and seventy-three counties to submission, and took one chancellor, one assistant governor, one grand general, two brigade generals, and nineteen officers between two thousand and six hundred piculs.
13
商事孝惠帝、呂后。 呂后崩，商疾不治事。 其子寄，子況，與呂祿善。 及高后崩，大臣欲誅諸呂，呂祿為將軍，軍於北軍，太尉勃不得入北軍，於是乃使人劫商，令其子寄紿呂祿。 呂祿信之，與出游，而太尉勃乃得入據北軍，遂以誅諸呂。 商是歲薨，諡曰景侯。 子寄嗣。 天下稱酈況賣友。
Shang served under Emperor Hui and Empress Dowager Lü. After Empress Lü’s death Shang lay sick and ceased to administer government. His son Ji, who had a son Kuang, was intimate with Lü Lu. After the empress dowager’s death the ministers plotted to extirpate the Lü clan; Lü Lu held the Northern Army encampment and barred Zhou Bo’s entry, so they kidnapped Shang and forced his son Ji to lure Lü Lu out. Lü Lu took the bait and rode out on pleasure with Ji, allowing Zhou Bo to slip in, seize the Northern Army, and wipe out the Lüs. Shang died the same year with the posthumous epithet Marquis Jing. His heir was Ji. People everywhere said Li Kuang had betrayed his friend.
14
孝景時，吳、楚、齊、趙反，上以寄為將軍，圍趙城，七月不能下。 欒布自平齊來，乃滅趙。 孝景中二年，寄欲取平原君姊為夫人，景帝怒，下寄吏，免。 上乃封商它子堅為繆侯，奉商後。 傳至玄孫終根，武帝時為太常，坐巫蠱誅，國除。 元始中，賜高祖時功臣自酈商以下子孫爵乎關內侯，食邑凡百餘人。
When Wu, Chu, Qi, and Zhao rose under Emperor Jing, the throne named Ji general to invest Zhao’s walls, yet seven months brought no breach. Only when Luan Bu arrived from the pacification of Qi could Zhao be crushed. Mid-reign of Emperor Jing, year two, Ji tried to wed the Lady of Pingyuan’s elder sister as his chief consort; the emperor, furious, jailed Ji and stripped his title. He then created Shang’s other son Jian as Marquis of Miu to continue the line. It descended to great-great-grandson Zhonggen, who as Grand Master of ceremonies under Emperor Wu lost his life and fief to the witchcraft prosecutions. During Yuanshi the court revived honors for the High Ancestor’s old companions from Li Shang on down, ennobling more than a hundred of their heirs as marquises-within-the-passes.
15
夏侯嬰
Xiahou Ying
16
夏侯嬰，沛人也。 為沛廄司御，每送使客，還過泗上亭，與高祖語，未嘗不移日也。 嬰已而試補縣吏，與高祖相愛。 高祖戲而傷嬰，人有告高祖。 高祖時為亭長，重坐傷人，告故不傷嬰，嬰證之。 移獄覆，嬰坐高祖繫歲餘，掠笞數百，終脫高祖。
Xiahou Ying came from Pei. He drove the county stable’s carriages; each time he convoyed guests past the Sishang pavilion he would linger talking with the High Ancestor until dusk. Later, on probation as a county clerk, he grew close to the High Ancestor. The High Ancestor horseplayed and hurt Ying; an informer denounced him. The High Ancestor was then pavilion chief; charged with grave assault, he swore he had never hurt Ying, and Ying backed his lie. When the file was reopened Ying took the blame and spent over a year in fetters under the rod, yet still cleared the High Ancestor.
17
高祖之初與徒屬欲攻沛也，嬰時以縣令史為高祖使。 上降沛一日，高祖為沛公，賜爵七大夫，以嬰為太僕，常奉車。 從攻胡陵，嬰與蕭何降泗水監平，平以胡陵降，賜嬰爵五大夫。 從擊秦軍碭東，攻濟陽，下戶牖，破李由軍雍丘，以兵車趣攻戰疾，破之，賜爵執帛。 從擊章邯軍東阿、濮陽下，以兵車趣攻戰疾，破之，賜爵執圭。 從擊趙賁軍開封，楊熊軍曲遇。 嬰從捕虜六十八人，降卒八百五十人，得印一匱。 又擊秦軍雒陽東，以兵車趣攻戰疾，賜爵封，轉為滕令。 因奉車從攻定南陽，戰於藍田、芷陽，至霸上。 沛公為漢王，賜嬰爵列侯，號昭平侯，復為太僕，從入蜀漢。
When the High Ancestor first gathered his band to strike Pei, Ying served as county clerk-scribe and rode as his messenger. The day Pei’s magistrate capitulated, the High Ancestor was proclaimed Lord of Pei; he raised Ying to seventh-order grandee and named him grand coachman to drive the chariot. At Huling he and Xiao He persuaded Sishui Intendant Ping to yield; for that capitulation Ying rose to fifth-order grandee. East of Dang he hit Qin forces, stormed Jiyang, seized Huyou, broke Li You at Yongqiu, and for dashing chariot assaults earned the rank of grandee bearing silk. He fought Zhang Han at Dong’e and beneath Puyang, again driving chariot charges that won the rank of grandee bearing jade tablet. He joined the battles against Zhao Fen at Kaifeng and Yang Xiong at Quyu. In those actions Ying took sixty-eight captives, accepted eight hundred fifty capitulations, and seized a whole case of official seals. East of Luoyang he shattered another Qin detachment with swift chariot work, earned a fief grant, and was reassigned as magistrate of Teng. Still as charioteer he campaigned through Nanyang, fought at Lantian and Zhiyang, and drove to Bashang. Made King of Han, Lord Pei ennobled Ying as Marquis of Zhaoping, restored him as grand coachman, and took him into Shu and Han.
18
還定三秦，從擊項籍。 至彭城，項羽大破漢軍。 漢王不利，馳去。 見孝惠、魯元，載之。 漢王急，馬罷，虜在後，常蹳兩兒棄之，嬰常收載行，面雍樹馳。 漢王怒，欲斬嬰者十餘，卒得脫，而致孝惠、魯元於豐。
On the march back to settle the Three Qin he fought Xiang Ji. At Pengcheng Xiang Yu shattered the Han host. The King of Han broke and fled at full gallop. He caught sight of Emperor Hui and the Princess of Lu and swept them into the carriage. With mounts blown and pursuers closing, the king repeatedly tried to pitch the children from the chariot; Ying kept snatching them back, turning the horses and shielding the youngsters with the carriage curtains. The king drew his sword on Ying a dozen times, yet Ying brought him through and landed Emperor Hui and the princess safely at Feng.
19
漢王既至滎陽，收散兵，復振，賜嬰食邑沂陽。 擊項籍下邑，追至陳，卒定楚。 至魯，益食茲氏。
At Xingyang he rallied broken units, found new heart, and assigned Ying income at Yiyang. He hit Xiang Ji near Xiayi, chased him to Chen, and helped finish Chu. Reaching Lu he had Zishi added to his grant.
20
漢王即帝位，燕王臧荼反，嬰從擊荼。 明年，從至陳，取楚王信。 更食汝陰，剖符，世世勿絕。 從擊代，至武泉、雲中，益食千戶。 因從擊韓信軍胡騎晉陽旁，大破之。 追北至平城，為胡所圍，七日不得通。 高帝使使厚遺閼氏，冒頓乃開其圍一角。 高帝出欲馳，嬰固徐行，弩皆持滿外鄉，卒以得脫。 益食嬰細陽千戶。 從擊胡騎句注北，大破之。 擊胡騎平城南，三陷陳，功為多，閼所奪邑五百戶。 從擊陳豨、黥布軍，陷陳卻敵，益千戶，定食汝陰六千九百戶，除前所食。
When the throne was taken, Zang Tu of Yan revolted and Ying marched against him. The following year he went to Chen and helped arrest King Xin of Chu. His fief was shifted to Ruoyin with a perpetual split tally. He campaigned in Dai as far as Wuquan and Yunzhong and gained another thousand households. He then rode against Han Xin’s Hu horse near Jinyang and routed them. He chased north to Pingcheng, where the Hu ringed him for seven days without a gap. The High Emperor bribed Modun’s chief wife, the Yan Zhi, and Modun relaxed one sector of the ring. The emperor wanted to bolt; Ying insisted on a slow withdrawal with every crossbow cocked outward, and so they slipped the trap. Another thousand households at Xiyang were added to Ying’s fief. North of Gouzhu he smashed Hu cavalry again. South of Pingcheng he drove Hu horse three times through the enemy ranks; his merit was outstanding, yet the imperial consort’s faction stripped five hundred households from his fief. Against Chen Xi and Qing Bu he tore enemy lines and threw them back, added a thousand households, and fixed his permanent grant at Ruyin at six thousand nine hundred, superseding earlier assignments.
21
嬰自上初起沛，常為太僕從，竟高祖崩。 以太僕事惠帝。 惠帝及高后德嬰之脫孝惠、魯元於下邑間也，乃賜嬰北第第一，曰「
From the first uprising at Pei until the High Ancestor’s death Ying never left the post of grand coachman. He continued as grand coachman under Emperor Hui. Emperor Hui and Empress Lü remembered how Ying had saved the heir and the Princess of Lu during the flight from Xiayi, and gave him the premier mansion north of the palace, saying, “
22
近我」，以尊異之。 惠帝崩，以太僕事高后。 高后崩，代王之來，嬰以太僕與東牟侯入清宮，廢少帝，以天子法駕迎代王代邸，與大臣共立文帝，復為太僕。 八歲薨，諡曰文侯。 傳至曾孫頗，尚平陽公主，坐與父御婢奸，自殺，國除。
Stay close to us,” to mark him apart from other ministers. After Emperor Hui’s death he served Empress Dowager Lü still as grand coachman. When she died and the King of Dai approached the capital, Ying rode with the Marquis of Dongmou into the palace to cleanse it, set aside the boy emperor, met the King of Dai with full imperial equipage at his city residence, helped enthrone Emperor Wen, and resumed the office of grand coachman. Eight years into Emperor Wen’s reign he died, receiving the posthumous epithet Cultured Marquis. It came down to great-grandson Po, who wed the Princess of Pingyang but killed himself after bedding his father’s carriage maid, and the fief lapsed.
23
初嬰為滕令奉車，故號滕公。 及曾孫頗尚主，主隨外家姓，號孫公主，故滕公子孫更為孫氏。
Because he had been Teng magistrate while driving the royal chariot, men called him Lord of Teng. When Po married the princess she adopted her mother’s Sun surname as Princess Sun, so Ying’s line thereafter bore the name Sun.
24
灌嬰，睢陽販繒者也。 高祖為沛公，略地至雍丘，章邯殺項梁，而沛公還軍於碭，嬰以中涓從，擊破東郡尉於成武及秦軍於杠里，疾鬥，賜爵七大夫。 又從攻秦軍亳南、開封、曲遇，戰疾力，賜爵執帛，號宣陵君。 從攻陽武以西至雒陽，破秦軍尸北。 北絕河津，南破南陽守齮陽城東，遂定南陽郡。 西入武關，戰於藍田，疾力，至霸上，賜爵執圭，號昌文君。
Guan Ying was a Suiyang silk merchant. Lord Pei was reducing territory to Yongqiu when Zhang Han slew Xiang Liang and pulled back to Dang; Ying followed as palace attendant, broke the Dongjun assistant at Chengwu and Qin columns at Gangli in sharp fighting, and won seventh-order grandee. He fought again south of Bo, at Kaifeng, and at Quyu with furious energy, earning silk grandee rank as Lord of Xuanling. From Yangwu west to Luoyang he shattered Qin forces north of Shi, severed the northern river crossing, then south routed Nanyang Governor Qi east of Yangcheng and secured the whole commandery. He pushed through Wuguan, bloodied Lantian in a hard fight, reached Bashang, and was named jade-tablet grandee Lord of Changwen.
25
沛公為漢王，拜嬰為郎中，從入漢中，十月，拜為中謁者。 從還定三秦，下櫟陽，降塞王。 還圍章邯廢丘，未拔。 從東出臨晉關，擊降殷王，定其地。 擊項羽將龍且、魏相項佗軍定陶南，疾戰，破之。 賜嬰爵列侯，號昌文侯，食杜平鄉。
Made King of Han, Lord Pei made Ying gentleman-of-the-palace for the march into Hanzhong, then in the tenth month promoted him to palace usher. On the drive to pacify the Three Qin he seized Liyang and forced the King of Sai to capitulate. He helped invest Zhang Han at Feiqiu without yet storming the town. Marching east through Linjin he broke the King of Yin and annexed his lands. South of Dingtao he defeated Long Ju and Wei Chancellor Xiang Tuo in a sharp engagement. The king ennobled Ying as full marquis with the style Lord of Changwen, his income drawn from Duping hamlet in Du.
26
復以中謁者從降下碭，以北至彭城。 項羽擊破漢王，漢王遁而西，嬰從還，軍於雍丘。 王武、魏公申徒反，從擊破之。 攻下外黃，西收軍於滎陽。 楚騎來眾，漢王乃擇軍中可為騎將者，皆推故秦騎士重泉人李必、駱甲習騎兵，今為校尉，可為騎將。 漢王欲拜之，必、甲曰：「臣故秦民，恐軍不信臣，臣願得大王左右善騎者傅之。」 嬰雖少，然數力戰，乃拜嬰為中大夫，令李必、駱甲為左右校尉，將郎中騎兵擊楚騎於滎陽東，大破之。 受詔別擊楚軍後，絕其饟道，起陽武至襄邑。 擊項羽之將項冠於魯下，破之，所將卒斬右司馬、騎將各一人。 擊破柘公王武軍燕西，所將卒斬樓煩將五人，連尹一人。 擊王武別將桓嬰白馬下，破之，所將卒斬都尉一人。 以騎度河南，送漢王到雒陽，從北迎相國韓信軍於邯鄲。 還至敖倉，嬰遷為御史大夫。
Again as usher he helped reduce Dang and rode north to Pengcheng. When Xiang Yu broke the Han king, the king bolted west; Ying fell back with him and drew up at Yongqiu. Wang Wu and Duke Shentu of Wei rose; Ying joined the force that crushed them. He stormed Waihuang, then rallied the army west at Xingyang. Chu horse swelled in strength, so the Han king looked for cavalry commanders; the men nominated former Qin troopers Li Bi and Luo Jia of Zhongquan, already colonels and masters of mounted warfare. The king was about to commission them, but Bi and Jia said, “We are former Qin men and fear the army will not trust us; we ask that one of Your Majesty’s attendants skilled in riding be set over us as commander.” Though still young Ying had proven himself in battle, so he was named grandee of the palace while Li Bi and Luo Jia became his left and right colonels; with the household cavalry he routed Chu horse east of Xingyang. Ordered to a separate column he fell on Chu’s rear and severed their convoy line from Yangwu to Xiangyi. Below Lu he smashed Xiang Guan and his men took a right marshal and a cavalry general. West of Yan he broke Duke Zhe’s detachment of Wang Wu, claiming five Loufan generals and a lian yin. At Baima he crushed Huan Ying, Wang Wu’s lieutenant, and slew a commandant-in-chief. He forded the river with horse, convoyed the king to Luoyang, then rode north to join Han Xin’s host at Handan. Back at Aocang he was raised to imperial counselor.
27
三年，以列侯食邑杜平鄉。 受詔將郎中騎兵東屬相國韓信，擊破齊軍於歷下，所將卒虜單騎將軍華毋傷及將吏四十六人。 降下臨淄，得相田光。 追齊相田橫至嬴、博，擊破其騎，所將卒斬騎將一人，生得騎將四人。 攻下嬴、博，破齊將軍田吸於千乘，斬之。 東從韓信攻龍且、留公於假密，卒斬龍且，生得右司馬、連尹各一人，樓煩將十人，身生得亞將周蘭。
In the third year of Han he drew his income as a columned marquis from Duping hamlet in Du. Ordered to bring the household horse east under Han Xin, he shattered the Qi army at Lixia, taking Hua Wushang—Qi’s “lone-horse” general—and forty-six of his staff. Linzi capitulated to him, and he seized Qi’s chancellor Tian Guang. He chased Qi Chancellor Tian Heng to Ying and Bo, broke his mounted arm, slew one horse general, and took four others alive. He stormed Ying and Bo, crushed Qi general Tian Xi at Qiancheng, and struck off his head. With Han Xin he struck Long Ju and Lord Liu at Gaomi, cut down Long Ju, bagged a right marshal and a lian yin, ten Loufan commanders, and with his own hands seized lieutenant general Zhou Lan.
28
齊地已定，韓信自立為齊王，使嬰別將擊楚將公杲於魯北，破之。 轉南，破薛郡長，身虜騎將入。 攻博陽，前至下相以東南僮、取慮、徐。 度淮，盡降其城邑，至廣陵。 項羽使項聲、薛公、郯公復定淮北，嬰度淮擊破項聲、郯公下邳，斬薛公，下下邳、壽春。 擊破楚騎平陽，遂降彭城。 虜柱國項佗，降留、薛、沛、酇、蕭、相。 攻苦、譙，復得亞將。 與漢王會頤鄉。 從擊項籍軍陳下，破之。 所將卒斬樓煩將二人，虜將八人。 賜益食邑二千五百戶。
After Qi submitted, Han Xin declared himself king of the land and detached Ying to smash Chu’s Gong Gao north of Lu. Wheeling south he routed the Xue prefect and with his own hands seized an enemy horse commander. He hit Boyang, then swept east from Xiapi through Nan tong, Qu lu, and Xu. He crossed the Huai, brought every town along the bank to heel, and pushed on to Guangling. Xiang Yu dispatched Xiang Sheng and the lords of Xue and Tan to recover the Huai north; Ying forded the river, broke Xiang Sheng and the lord of Tan beneath Xiapi, slew the lord of Xue, and seized Xiapi and Shouchun. He routed Chu horse at Pingyang and forced Pengcheng to open its gates. He took the Chu pillar-of-state Xiang Tuo and received the surrender of Liu, Xue, Pei, Zan, Xiao, and Xiang. He struck Ku and Qiao and captured another lieutenant general. He linked up with the King of Han at Yixiang. He helped smash Xiang Ji’s host beneath Chen. His men cut down two Loufan commanders and seized eight enemy generals. The court added two thousand five hundred households to his grant.
29
項籍敗垓下去也，嬰以御史大夫將車騎別追項籍至東城，破之。 所將卒五人共斬項籍，皆賜爵列侯。 降左右司馬各一人，卒萬二千人，盡得其軍將吏。 下東城、歷陽。 度江，破吳郡長吳下，得吳守，遂定吳、豫章、會稽郡。 還定淮北，凡五十二縣。
When Xiang Ji broke from Gaixia, Ying, still imperial counselor, took chariotry and cavalry on an independent chase to Dongcheng and broke him there. Five of his troopers together claimed Xiang Ji’s head; each was ennobled as a full marquis. He accepted the capitulation of Chu’s left and right marshals, twelve thousand rank and file, and the entire roster of generals and staff. Dongcheng and Liyang fell to him. He crossed the river, shattered the Wu prefect beneath the walls, seized the governor, and brought Wu, Yuzhang, and Kuaiji to submission. On the return sweep he pacified fifty-two counties north of the Huai.
30
漢王即帝位，賜益嬰邑三千戶。 以車騎將軍從擊燕王荼。 明年，從至陳，取楚王信。 還，剖符，世世勿絕，食潁陰二千五百戶。
At the enthronement the new emperor added three thousand households to Ying’s fief. As chariot-and-cavalry general he marched against King Zang Tu of Yan. The following year he went to Chen and helped arrest King Xin of Chu. He came back with a perpetual split tally and fixed income of two thousand five hundred households at Yingyin.
31
從擊漢王信於代，至馬邑，別降樓煩以北六縣，斬代左將，破胡騎將於武泉北。 復從擊信胡騎晉陽下，所將卒斬胡白題將一人。 又受詔并將燕、趙、齊、梁、楚車騎，擊破胡騎於硰石。 至平城，為胡所困。
He campaigned against Han Xin of Dai as far as Mayi, detached a column that pacified six counties north of Loufan, slew Dai’s left general, and broke a Hu horse commander north of Wuquan. Again below Jinyang he hit Han Xin’s Hu riders, his men taking the head of a Bai-di commander. He was then ordered to combine the chariotry and horse of Yan, Zhao, Qi, Liang, and Chu and shatter Hu cavalry at Shashi. At Pingcheng the Hu hemmed him in.
32
從擊陳豨，別攻豨丞相侯敞軍曲逆下，破之，卒斬敞及特將五人。 降曲逆、盧奴、上曲陽、安國、安平。 攻下東垣。
Against Chen Xi he led a separate thrust at Chancellor Hou Chang below Quni, wiped out the column, and slew Chang plus five picked generals. Quni, Lunu, Shangquyang, Anguo, and Anping capitulated in turn. He stormed Dongyuan.
33
黥布反，以車騎將軍先出，攻布別將於相，破之，斬亞將樓煩將三人。 又進擊破布上柱國及大司馬軍。 又進破布別將肥銖。 嬰身生得左司馬一人，所將卒斬其小將十人，追北至淮上。 益食邑二千五百戶。 布已破，高帝歸，定令嬰食潁陰五千戶，除前所食邑。 凡從所得二千石二人，別破軍十六，降城四十六，定國一，郡二，縣五十二，得將軍二人，柱國、相各一人，二千石十人。
Qing Bu’s revolt saw Ying, as chariot-and-cavalry general, move first: he smashed a lieutenant of Bu’s at Xiang and took three deputy and Loufan commanders’ heads. Pressing on he broke the host of Bu’s supreme pillar-of-state and grand marshal. Another push crushed Bu’s lieutenant Fei Zhu. Ying himself seized a left marshal alive; his men struck off ten subordinate generals and chased the fugitives to the Huai. Another twenty-five hundred households were added to his estate. After Bu fell the High Emperor fixed Ying’s income at five thousand households in Yingyin, canceling earlier assignments. Summing his service: he captured two-thousand-picul officers in the main host, on his own broke sixteen armies, took forty-six towns, secured one kingdom, two commanderies, and fifty-two counties, and brought in two generals, a pillar-of-state, a chancellor, and ten officers at two thousand piculs.
34
嬰自破布歸，高帝崩，以列侯事惠帝及呂后。 呂后崩，呂祿等欲為亂。 齊哀王聞之，舉兵西，呂祿等以嬰為大將軍往擊之。 嬰至滎陽，乃與絳侯等謀，因屯兵滎陽，風齊王以誅呂氏事，齊兵止不前。 絳侯等既誅諸呂，齊王罷兵歸。 嬰自滎陽還，與絳侯、陳平共立文帝。 於是益封嬰三千戶，賜金千斤，為太尉。
Between his return from the Bu campaign and the High Emperor’s death he served Emperor Hui and Empress Lü as a columned marquis. After Empress Lü’s death Lü Lu and his kin plotted revolt. King Ai of Qi marched west at the news; the Lüs named Ying grand marshal to meet him. At Xingyang Ying met Zhou Bo and the rest, held the army there, and tipped off the Qi king about the plan to extirpate the Lüs; the Qi host stopped in its tracks. Once Zhou Bo had finished the purge, the king of Qi stood down and went home. Ying rode back from Xingyang with Zhou Bo and Chen Ping to enthrone Emperor Wen. He was then given three thousand more households, a thousand jin of gold, and the post of grand commandant.
35
三歲，絳侯勃免相，嬰為丞相，罷太尉官。 是歲，匈奴大入北地，上令丞相嬰將騎八萬五千擊匈奴。 匈奴去，濟北王反，詔罷嬰兵。 後歲餘，以丞相薨，諡曰懿侯。 傳至孫疆，有罪，絕。 武帝復封嬰孫賢為臨汝侯，奉嬰後，後有罪，國除。
Three years later Zhou Bo left the chancellorship; Ying took it while the grand commandant’s post was left vacant. The same year the Xiongnu poured into Beidi; the emperor sent Chancellor Ying at the head of eighty-five thousand cavalry against them. When the nomads withdrew, the king of Jibei rose; an edict recalled Ying’s army. A year and more later he died in office as chancellor, posthumously named Marquis Yi. The line reached grandson Qiang, who lost the fief to a conviction. Emperor Wu restored the house by making Ying’s grandson Xian Marquis of Linru; that line too fell to a crime and the fief lapsed.
36
傅寬，以魏五大夫騎將從，為舍人，起橫陽。 從攻安陽、杠里，趙賁軍於開封，及擊楊熊曲遇、陽武，斬首十二級，賜爵卿。 從至霸上。 沛公為漢王，賜寬封號共德君。 從入漢中，為右騎將。 定三秦，賜食邑雕陰。 從擊項籍，待懷，賜爵通德侯。 從擊項冠、周蘭、龍且，所將卒斬騎將一人敖下，益食邑。
Fu Kuan began as a Wei fifth-order grandee and horse commander, serving as a house-guest from the uprising at Hengyang. He fought at Anyang and Gangli, at Kaifeng against Zhao Fen, and at Quyu and Yangwu against Yang Xiong, claiming twelve heads and ministerial grandee rank. He marched with the host to Bashang. Made King of Han, Lord Pei dubbed Kuan Lord of Shared Virtue. He entered Hanzhong as right horse commander. The pacification of the Three Qin won him income at Diaoyin. He campaigned against Xiang Ji, held position at Huai, and received the title Marquis of Pervading Virtue. Against Xiang Guan, Zhou Lan, and Long Ju his men slew a horse commander below Ao and his fief grew again.
37
屬淮陰，擊破齊歷下軍，擊田解。 屬相國參，殘博，益食邑。 因定齊地，剖符世世勿絕，封陽陵侯，二千六百戶，除前所食。 為齊右丞相，備齊。 五歲為齊相國。
Under the Huaiyin commander he broke the Qi host at Lixia and hit Tian Xie. Under Chancellor Cao he sacked Bo and gained another slice of fief. He then helped finish Qi, received a perpetual split tally as Marquis of Yangling with twenty-six hundred households, superseding earlier grants. He served as right chancellor of Qi to hold the kingdom. For five years he was chancellor of state to the Qi king.
38
靳歙，以中涓從，起宛朐。 攻濟陽。 破李由軍。 擊秦軍開封東，斬騎千人將一人，首五十七級，捕虜七十三人，賜爵封臨平君。 又戰藍田北，斬車司馬二人，騎長一人，首二十八級，捕虜五十七人。 至霸上。 沛公為漢王，賜歙爵建武侯，遷騎都尉。
Jin She joined as palace attendant from the first muster at Yuanqu. He stormed Jiyang. He shattered Li You’s force. East of Kaifeng he hit Qin columns, slew a commander of a thousand horse, took fifty-seven heads and seventy-three captives, and was named Lord of Linping. North of Lantian he added two chariot marshals, a cavalry chief, twenty-eight heads, and fifty-seven prisoners. He drove to Bashang. Lord Pei’s kingship brought She the title Marquis Who Establishes Martial Might and promotion to chief of cavalry.
39
從定三秦。 別西擊章平軍於隴西，破之，定隴西六縣，所將卒斬車司馬、候各四人，騎長十二人。 從東擊楚，至彭城。 漢軍敗還，保雍丘，擊反者王武等。 略梁地，別西擊邢說軍菑南，破之，身得說都尉二人，司馬、候十二人，降吏卒四千六百八十人。 破楚軍滎陽東。 食邑四千二百戶。
He took part in the reduction of the Three Qin. Detaching west he broke Zhang Ping in Longxi, secured six counties there, and his men slew four chariot marshals, four captains (hou), and twelve cavalry chiefs. He marched east against Chu as far as Pengcheng. After the Han rout he helped hold Yongqiu and strike Wang Wu’s mutineers. He ranged Liang, then swung west to crush Xing Shuo south of Zi, personally seizing two of Shuo’s commandants and a dozen marshals while bringing in four thousand six hundred eighty men. East of Xingyang he broke a Chu division. His grant stood at forty-two hundred households.
40
別之河內，擊趙賁軍朝歌，破之，所將卒得騎將二人，車馬二百五十匹。 從攻安陽以東，至棘蒲，下十縣。 別攻破趙軍，得其將司馬二人，候四人，降吏卒二千四百人。 從降下邯鄲。 別下平陽，身斬守相，所將卒斬兵守郡一人，降鄴。 從攻朝歌、邯鄲，又別擊破趙郡，降邯鄲郡六縣。 還軍敖倉，破項籍軍成皋南，擊絕楚饟道，起滎陽至襄邑。 破項冠魯下。 略地東至觞、郯、下邳，南至蘄、竹邑。 擊項悍濟陽下。 還擊項籍軍陳下，破之。 別定江陵，降柱國、大司馬以下八人，身得江陵王，致雒陽，因定南郡。 從至陳，取楚王信，剖符世世勿絕，定食四千六百戶，為信武侯。
He moved independently into Henei, smashed Zhao Fen at Zhaoge, and took two horse generals with two hundred fifty mounts. He cleared ten counties from Anyang east to Jipu. On his own he broke a Zhao army, capturing two marshals, four marquises, and twenty-four hundred men. He helped force Handan to capitulate. He seized Pingyang, cut down the assistant governor with his own blade while his men slew a garrison commandant, then forced Ye to yield. He fought at Zhaoge and Handan, then detached to shatter Zhao commandery and win six Handan counties. Pulling back to Aocang he hit Xiang Ji south of Chenggao and severed Chu’s convoy line from Xingyang to Xiangyi. Below Lu he smashed Xiang Guan. His columns ranged east to Zeng, Tan, and Xiapi and south to Qi and Zhuyi. He defeated Xiang Han beneath Jiyang. On the way back he broke Xiang Ji again beneath Chen. He independently secured Jiangling, forced eight officers from pillar-of-state down to yield, escorted the King of Jiangling to Luoyang, and annexed Nan commandery. At Chen he helped arrest King Xin of Chu, took a perpetual split tally, fixed his fief at forty-six hundred households, and bore the title Marquis Who Trusts in Martial Might.
41
以騎都尉擊代，攻韓信平城下，還軍東垣。 有功，遷為車騎將軍，并將梁、趙、齊、燕、楚車騎，別擊陳豨丞相敞，破之，因降曲逆。 從擊黥布有功，益封，定食邑五千三百戶。 凡斬首九十級，虜百四十二人，別破軍十四，降城五十九，定郡、國各一，縣二十三，得王、柱國各一人，二千石以下至五石三十九人。
As chief of cavalry he campaigned in Dai, struck Han Xin beneath Pingcheng, then drew the host back to Dongyuan. Merit raised him to chariot-and-cavalry general over the horse of Liang, Zhao, Qi, Yan, and Chu; he detached against Chen Xi’s chancellor Chang, broke him, and took Quni. His part against Qing Bu brought further enfeoffment, fixing his grant at fifty-three hundred households. In sum he claimed ninety heads and one hundred forty-two prisoners, broke fourteen armies on his own, took fifty-nine towns, set one commandery and one kingdom and twenty-three counties to rights, captured a king and a pillar-of-state, and thirty-nine officers from two thousand piculs down to five hundred piculs.
42
高后五年，薨，諡曰肅侯。 子亭嗣，有罪，國除。
He died in the fifth year of Empress Gao’s reign with the posthumous name Stern Marquis. His heir Ting inherited the title but lost the fief to a conviction.
43
周惞，沛人也。 以舍人從高祖起沛。 至霸上，西入蜀漢，還定三秦，常為參乘，賜食邑池陽。 從東擊項羽滎陽，絕甬道，從出度平陰，遇韓信軍襄國，戰有利不利，終亡離上心。 上以惞為信武侯，食邑三千三百戶。
Zhou Xun came from Pei. He joined the uprising as a house-guest at the High Ancestor’s side. He rode to Bashang, followed the march into Ba–Shu, turned back to pacify the Three Qin, habitually rode at the ruler’s right hand, and received income at Chiyang. East of Xingyang he fought Xiang Yu, severed the supply gallery, crossed Pingyin on the retreat, and joined Han Xin at Xiangguo—wins and losses mixed, yet he never fell from the emperor’s trust. The throne ennobled him as Marquis Who Trusts in Martial Might with thirty-three hundred households.
44
上欲自擊陳豨，惞泣曰：「始秦攻破天下，未曾自行，今上常自行，是亡人可使者乎？」 上以為「愛我」，賜入殿門不趨。
The emperor meant to lead the expedition against Chen Xi himself; Xun wept, “Even Qin at the height of conquest did not ride out on every campaign; if you must always go yourself, have you truly no commander left to dispatch?” The sovereign read this as devotion and allowed him to enter the audience hall without the usual hurried gait.
45
十二年，更封惞為糨城侯，孝文五年薨，諡曰貞侯。 子昌嗣，有罪，國除。 景帝復封惞子應為鄲侯，薨，諡曰康侯。 子仲居嗣，坐為太常有罪，國除。
In the twelfth year of his reign the emperor moved his patent to the marquisate of Zhicheng; he died in Emperor Wen’s fifth year with the posthumous name Faithful Marquis. His son Chang inherited but forfeited the fief for a crime. Emperor Jing restored the line by making Xun’s son Ying Marquis of Dan; he died as Vigorous Marquis. Zhongju succeeded but lost the title when convicted in office as Grand Master of ceremonies.
46
贊曰：仲尼稱「犁牛之子騂且角，雖欲勿用，山川其舍諸？」 言士不繫於世類也。 語曰「雖有茲基，不如逢時」，信矣！ 樊噲、夏侯嬰、灌嬰之徒，方其鼓刀僕御販繒之時，豈自知附驥之尾，勤功帝籍，慶流子孫哉？ 當孝文時，天下以酈寄為賣友。 夫賣友者，謂見利而忘義也。 若寄父為功臣而又執劫，雖摧呂祿，以安社稷，誼存君親，可也。
The summation quotes Confucius: “Though the brindled cow’s calf is sleek and horned, and you might hesitate to sacrifice it, would heaven and earth cast it away?” —meaning talent is not chained to birth or station. The proverb runs, “A fine mattock is nothing without the right season”—and it holds. Fan Kuai, Xiahou Ying, Guan Ying—dog-butcher, driver, peddler—who could have guessed they would ride the coattails of empire, carve their deeds into the annals, and leave fortune to their heirs? Under Emperor Wen the realm branded Li Ji a traitor to friendship. “Selling friends” is the charge of choosing gain over duty. But when a meritorious father is held at sword-point, and destroying Lü Lu is what saves the dynasty, conduct that preserves ruler and family alike deserves indulgence.