1
王昌一名郎，趙國邯鄲人也。 素為卜相工，明星曆，常以為河北有天子氣。 時趙繆王子林好奇數，任俠於趙、魏間，多通豪猾，而郎與之親善。 初，王莽篡位，長安中或自稱成帝子子輿者，莽殺之。 郎緣是詐稱真子輿，云『母故成帝謳者，嘗下殿卒僵，須臾有黃氣從上下，半日乃解，遂妊身就館。 趙後欲害之，偽易他人子，以故得全。 子輿年十二，識命者郎中李曼卿，與俱至蜀； 十七，到丹陽； 二十，還長安； 展轉中山，來往燕、趙，以須天時』。 林等愈動疑惑，乃與趙國大豪李育、張參等通謀，規共立郎。 會人間傳赤眉將度河，林等因此宣言赤眉當至，立劉子輿以觀眾心，百姓多信之。
Wang Chang, who also went by the name Wang Lang, came from Handan in Zhao. He made his living reading omens and faces, knew the stars and the calendar, and had long been convinced that the region north of the river bore the portents of an emperor. Liu Lin, a son of Zhao’s Prince Miao, dabbled in prognostication and swaggered as a bravo between Zhao and Wei, cultivating local strongmen; Wang Lang was close to him. After Wang Mang usurped the throne, a man in Chang’an had claimed to be Ziyu, a son of Emperor Cheng; Mang had him executed. Wang Lang therefore passed himself off as the genuine Liu Ziyu, claiming that his mother had once been a palace singer to Emperor Cheng, that she had fainted on the steps in a fit from which yellow mist seemed to pour for half a day before she stirred, and that she then conceived and was sent to the birth house. Empress Zhao tried to destroy the infant, swapped in another baby to deceive the court, and so the true child—so he said—was spared. At twelve, the boy supposedly met the physiognomist Li Manqing, an imperial courtier, and traveled with him into Shu. At seventeen he reached Danyang. At twenty he was back in Chang’an. He drifted through Zhongshan and between Yan and Zhao, waiting for the moment Heaven would favour him.’ The story unsettled Liu Lin and his circle; they conspired with Zhao notables Li Yu and Zhang Can to set Wang Lang on the throne. When word spread that the Red Eyebrows were about to cross the Yellow River, Liu Lin’s faction declared that the dynasty’s heir, Liu Ziyu, must be enthroned to meet the crisis—and the credulous populace largely believed them.
2
更始元年十二月，林等遂率車騎數百，晨入邯鄲城，止於王宮，立郎為天子。 林為丞相，李育為大司馬，張參為大將軍。 分遣將帥，徇下幽、冀。 移檄州郡曰：『制詔部刺史、郡太守：朕，孝成皇帝子子輿者也。 昔遭趙氏之禍，因以王莽篡殺，賴知命者將護朕躬，解形河濱，削跡趙、魏。 王莽竊位，獲罪於天，天命佑漢，故使東郡太守翟義、嚴鄉侯劉信，擁兵征討，出入胡、漢。 普天率土，知朕隱在人間。 南嶽諸劉，為其先驅。 朕仰觀天文，乃興於斯，以今月壬辰即位趙宮。 休氣熏蒸，應時獲雨。 蓋聞為國，子之襲父，古今不易。 劉聖公未知朕，故且持帝號。 諸興義兵，咸以助朕，皆當裂土享祚子孫。 已詔聖公及翟太守，亟與功臣詣行在所。 疑刺史、二千石皆聖公所置，未睹朕之沈滯，或不識去就，強者負力，弱者惶惑。 今元元創痍，已過半矣，朕甚悼焉，故遣使者班下詔書。 』郎以百姓思漢，既多言翟義不死，故祚稱之，以從人望。 於是趙國以北，遼東以西，皆從風而靡。
In the twelfth month of Gengshi 1 (24 CE), they rode into Handan at dawn with hundreds of mounted troops, seized the old Zhao palace, and proclaimed Wang Lang emperor. Liu Lin took the title of chancellor, Li Yu grand marshal, and Zhang Can commander-in-chief. They sent columns of generals to overrun Youzhou and Jizhou. A circular went out to every province: ‘By imperial rescript to the regional inspectors and grand administrators: I am Liu Ziyu, son of Emperor Cheng.’ ‘When the Zhao faction brought disaster upon me, Wang Mang seized the throne and tried to destroy me; a sage who read Heaven’s will shielded me, I vanished by the riverbanks, and I lived nameless between Zhao and Wei.’ ‘Wang Mang’s usurpation outraged Heaven, yet Heaven still favoured Han—so it stirred Zhai Yi of Dong commandery and Marquis Liu Xin of Yanxiang to raise armies that marched even among the northern tribes.’ ‘All under Heaven knew I was alive, though hidden among common men.’ ‘The Liu clans of the southern marchmount rode before them as vanguard.’ ‘Reading the stars, I knew the hour had come; on the renchen day of this month I took the throne in the palace of Zhao.’ ‘Auspicious mists rose thickly, and timely rain fell at once.’ ‘It is an unchanging law of statecraft that a son succeeds his father.’ ‘Liu Xuan has not yet learned of me, so he still bears the imperial style—for the moment.’ ‘Every man who took up arms for the righteous cause to aid me shall receive a fief and a blessing to pass to his sons.’ ‘I have summoned Liu Xuan and Prefect Zhai to bring the chief ministers to my camp without delay.’ ‘Your inspectors and salary-ranked officials were Liu Xuan’s appointments; they have not seen how long I lay in hiding, and some waver—the bold cling to force, the timid are lost.’ ‘The common people are more than half ruined by war; I grieve for them, and send envoys to publish this edict in every quarter.’ ’ Wang Lang knew the people still yearned for Han and that many believed Zhai Yi had never died; he traded on that name to win their allegiance. North of Zhao and west of Liaodong, county after county bent to his proclamation.
3
明年，光武自薊得郎檄，南走信都，發兵徇帝縣，遂攻柏人，不下。 議者以為守柏人不如定巨鹿，光武乃引兵東北圍巨鹿。 郎太守王饒據城，數十日連攻不克。 耿純說曰：『久守王饒，士眾疲敝，不如及大兵精銳，進攻邯鄲。 若王郎已誅，王饒不戰自服矣。 』光武善其計，乃留將軍鄧滿守巨鹿，而進軍邯鄲，屯其郭北門。
The following year Guangwu, fleeing from Ji, intercepted Wang Lang’s circular, raced south to Xindu, mobilized the region, and struck Bairen—but could not break the wall. His advisers argued that a stalemate at Bairen was worse than securing Julu, so he swung northeast and laid siege to Julu. Wang Rao, Wang Lang’s prefect, held the city fast; weeks of assaults failed to crack it. Geng Chun urged him: ‘If we linger against Wang Rao our troops will waste away; strike Handan now while the army is still sharp.’ Kill Wang Lang, and Wang Rao will yield without another blow.’ ’ Guangwu agreed, left General Deng Man to mask Julu, and marched on Handan, camping outside the north gate of the suburbs.
4
郎數出戰不利，乃使其諫議大夫杜威持節請降。 威雅稱郎實成帝遺體。 光武曰：『設使成帝復生，天下不可得，況詐子輿者乎！ 』威請求萬戶侯。 光武曰：『顧得全身可矣。 』威曰：『邯鄲雖鄙，並力固守，尚曠日月，終不君臣相率但全身而已。 』遂辭而去。 因急攻之，二十餘日，郎少傅李立為反間，開門內漢兵，遂拔邯鄲。 郎夜亡走，道死，追斬之。
After repeated defeats in the field, Wang Lang sent Du Wei, his counsellor of remonstrance, with imperial insignia to sue for peace. Du Wei insisted, with elaborate courtesy, that Wang Lang was in truth Emperor Cheng’s surviving son. Guangwu replied: ‘If Emperor Cheng himself rose from the grave he could not have the empire back—let alone a swindler calling himself Ziyu!’ ’ Du Wei asked for a marquisate of ten thousand households. ’ ‘I will settle for his life,’ said Guangwu. ’ Du Wei answered: ‘Handan may be a provincial town, but united we can hold it for months; ruler and ministers will never simply march out to save their skins.’ ’ With that he withdrew. Guangwu pressed the siege; after three weeks Li Li, Wang Lang’s junior tutor, turned traitor, opened the gates to the Han army, and Handan fell. Wang Lang fled by night, died on the road, and his pursuers struck off his head.
5
劉永者，梁郡睢陽人，梁孝王八世孫也。 傳國至父立。 元始中，立與平帝外家衛氏交通，為王莽所誅。
Liu Yong came from Suiyang in Liang commandery, the eighth generation in descent from Prince Xiao of Liang. The principality had passed down to his father, Liu Li. During Yuanshi (1–5 CE), Liu Li had dealings with the Wei family, Emperor Ping’s in-laws, and Wang Mang had him executed.
6
建武二年夏，光武遣虎牙大將軍蓋延等伐永。 初，陳留人蘇茂為更始討難將軍，與朱鮪等守洛陽。 鮪既降漢，茂亦歸命，光武因使茂與蓋延俱攻永。 軍中不相能，茂遂反，殺淮陽太守，掠得數縣。 據廣樂而臣於永。 永以茂為大司馬、淮陽王。 蓋延遂圍睢陽，數月，拔之，永將家屬走虞。 虞人反，殺其母及妻子，永與麾下數十人奔譙。 蘇茂。 佼彊、周建合軍救永，為蓋延所敗，茂奔還廣樂，彊、建從永走保湖陵。
In the summer of Jianwu 2 (26 CE), Guangwu sent Gai Yan, grand general “Tiger’s Fangs,” and others against Liu Yong. Su Mao of Chenliu had served the Gengshi court as “general who quells rebellion” and, with Zhu Wei, held Luoyang. After Zhu Wei came over to Han, Su Mao followed suit; Guangwu paired him with Gai Yan for the drive on Liu Yong. The two generals quarreled in camp; Su Mao mutinied, slew the prefect of Huaiyang, and seized several counties. He fortified Guangyue and submitted to Liu Yong. Liu Yong named him grand marshal and king of Huaiyang. Gai Yan besieged Suiyang for months, took it, and Liu Yong fled with his household to Yu. The people of Yu rose against him, murdered his mother, wife, and children, and he escaped to Qiao with only a few dozen followers. Su Mao. Jiao Qiang and Zhou Jian marched to relieve him but were routed by Gai Yan; Su Mao fell back to Guangyue while Jiao and Zhou shepherded Liu Yong to the refuge of Huling.
7
三年春，永遣使立張步為齊王，董憲為海西王。 於是遣大司馬吳漢等圍蘇茂於廣樂，周建率眾救茂，茂、建戰敗，棄城復還湖陵，而睢陽人反城迎永。 吳漢與蓋延等合軍圍之，城中食盡，永與茂、建走酂。 諸將追急，永將慶吾斬永首降，封吾為列侯。 蘇茂、周建奔垂惠，共立永子紆為梁王。 佼彊還保西防。
In the spring of Jianwu 3, Liu Yong sent envoys to invest Zhang Bu as king of Qi and Dong Xian as king of Haixi. Guangwu then sent Wu Han, grand marshal, to invest Su Mao at Guangyue; Zhou Jian tried to break the siege but both men were beaten and fled again to Huling—while Suiyang threw open its gates and welcomed Liu Yong back. Wu Han joined Gai Yan, starved the city, and drove Liu Yong, Su Mao, and Zhou Jian out toward Zan. Hard pressed in the retreat, Liu Yong was struck down by his own officer Qing Wu, who brought in the head and received a full marquisate. Su Mao and Zhou Jian withdrew to Chuihui and set up Liu Yong’s son Liu Yu as king of Liang. Jiao Qiang fell back to the fortress of Xifang.
8
四年秋，遣捕虜將軍馬武、騎都尉王霸圍紆、建於垂惠，蘇茂將五校兵救之，紆、建亦出兵與武等戰，不克，而建兄子誦反，閉城門拒之。 建、茂、紆等皆走，建於道死，茂奔下邳與董憲合，紆奔佼彊。 五年，遣驃騎大將軍杜茂攻佼彊於西防，彊與劉紆奔董憲。
That autumn Guangwu sent Ma Wu and Wang Ba to besiege Liu Yu and Zhou Jian at Chuihui; Su Mao marched in with the Five Colonels’ host to relieve them, and the defenders sallied against Ma Wu without success—until Zhou Jian’s nephew Zhou Song mutinied and barred the gates against his own side. Zhou Jian, Su Mao, and Liu Yu broke and ran; Zhou Jian died on the road, Su Mao joined Dong Xian at Xiapi, and Liu Yu fled to Jiao Qiang. In Jianwu 5 he sent Du Mao, grand general of agile cavalry, against Jiao Qiang at Xifang; Jiao Qiang and Liu Yu took refuge with Dong Xian.
9
時，平狄將軍龐萌反叛，遂襲破蓋延，引兵與董憲連和，自號東平王，屯桃鄉之北。
Meanwhile Pang Meng, the “pacifier of the Di” general, mutinied, ambushed and routed Gai Yan, joined Dong Xian, proclaimed himself king of Dongping, and camped north of Taoxiang.
10
龐萌，山陽人。 初亡命在下江兵中。 更始立，以為冀州牧，將兵屬尚書令謝躬，共破王郎。 及躬敗，萌乃歸降，光武即位，以為侍中。 萌為人遜順，甚見信愛。 帝常稱曰：『可以托六尺之孤，寄百里之命者，龐萌是也。 』拜為平狄將軍，與蓋延共擊董憲。
Pang Meng was a native of Shanyang. He had first been an outlaw in the Lower Jiang army. Under the Gengshi regime he became shepherd of Ji, served under Secretary Director Xie Gong, and helped bring down Wang Lang. After Xie Gong’s defeat he came over to Guangwu, who on taking the throne made him a palace attendant. He was modest and obliging, and the emperor trusted him deeply. The emperor used to say, ‘The man to whom one could entrust a boy heir and the fate of a state is Pang Meng.’ ’ He was commissioned general “Who Pacifies the Di” and sent with Gai Yan against Dong Xian.
11
時，詔書獨下延而不及萌，萌以為延譖己，自疑，遂反。 帝聞之，大怒，乃自將討萌。 與諸將書曰：『吾常以龐萌社稷之臣，將軍得無笑其言乎？ 老賊當族。 其各厲兵馬，會睢陽！ 』憲聞帝自討龐萌，乃與劉紆、蘇茂、佼彊去下邳，還蘭陵，使茂、彊助萌，合兵三萬，急圍桃城。
When an edict named Gai Yan but omitted Pang Meng, he decided Gai Yan had maligned him, brooded, and rose in revolt. Enraged, Guangwu took the field in person against him. He wrote to his commanders: ‘I called Pang Meng a pillar of the state—do you gentlemen find that amusing now?’ That old traitor shall be extirpated root and branch.’ Sharpen your arms and rally at Suiyang!’ ’ Dong Xian, hearing that the emperor himself was moving against Pang Meng, quit Xiapi for Lanling with Liu Yu, Su Mao, and Jiao Qiang, sent Su and Jiao to reinforce Pang Meng, and threw thirty thousand men around Taocheng.
12
帝時幸蒙，聞之，乃留輜重，自將輕騎三千，步卒數萬，晨夜馳赴，師次任城，去桃鄉六十里。 旦日，諸將請進，賊亦勒兵挑戰，帝不聽，乃休士養銳，以挫其鋒。 城中聞車駕至，眾心益固。 時吳漢等在東郡，馳使召之。 萌等乃悉兵攻城，二十餘日，眾疲困而不能下。 及吳漢與諸將到，乃率眾軍進桃戰，而帝親自搏戰，大破之。 萌、茂、彊夜棄輜重逃奔，董憲乃與劉紆悉其兵數萬人屯昌慮，自將銳卒拒新陽。 帝先遣吳漢擊破之，憲走還昌慮。 漢進守之，憲恐，乃招誘五校餘賊步騎數千人屯建陽，去昌慮三十里。
Guangwu was at Meng when the news came; he shed his baggage train, took three thousand horse and several ten thousand foot, and rode night and day to Rencheng, sixty li from Taoxiang. At daybreak his generals begged to attack while the rebels formed for battle; he refused, rested the men, and let the enemy’s edge dull. The garrison, learning the emperor had come, took heart and stood firmer. Wu Han was still in Dong commandery; couriers raced to fetch him. Pang Meng threw his whole force against the walls for three weeks until his army flagged and still could not break in. When Wu Han and the other generals arrived, Han troops advanced on Taoxiang; the emperor himself entered the fight and shattered the enemy. Pang Meng, Su Mao, and Jiao Qiang fled by night, leaving their trains; Dong Xian gathered tens of thousands with Liu Yu at Changlü and led an elite corps to block Xinyang. Guangwu first sent Wu Han, who broke him and drove Dong Xian back to Changlü. Wu Han pressed the siege; Dong Xian, unnerved, lured several thousand surviving Five Colonels bandits to Jianyang, thirty li from Changlü.
13
帝王蕃，去憲所百餘里。 諸將請進，帝不聽，知五校乏食當退，敕各堅壁以待其敝。 頃之，五校糧盡，果引去。 帝乃親臨，四面攻憲，三日，復大破之，眾皆奔散。 遣吳漢追擊之，佼彊將其眾降，蘇茂奔張步，憲及龐萌走入繒山。 數日，吏士聞憲尚在，復往往相聚，得數百騎，迎憲入郯城。 吳漢等復攻拔郯，憲與龐萌走保朐。 劉紆不知所歸，軍士高扈斬其首降，梁地悉平。
The emperor halted at Wangfan, a little over a hundred li from Dong Xian’s camp. Again his generals urged attack; he refused, knowing the Five Colonels were short of grain and would withdraw, and ordered every column to hold fast behind its walls until they broke. Soon their supplies gave out and they marched off as he had foreseen. Guangwu then came up himself, stormed Dong Xian from every side, and in three days routed him again; his host melted away. He sent Wu Han in pursuit; Jiao Qiang surrendered his command, Su Mao fled to Zhang Bu, and Dong Xian with Pang Meng took to the Zeng hills. Within days, hearing Dong Xian still lived, scattered troops rallied a few hundred horsemen and escorted him into Tan. Wu Han stormed Tan; Dong Xian and Pang Meng fell back to the refuge of Qu. Liu Yu wandered without shelter until a trooper named Gao Hu struck off his head and came in; Liang was finally quiet.
14
吳漢進圍朐。 明年，城中谷盡，憲、萌潛出，襲取贛榆，瑯邪太守陳俊攻之，憲、萌走澤中。 會吳漢下朐城，進盡獲其妻子。 憲乃流涕謝其將士曰：『妻子皆已得矣。 嗟乎！ 久苦諸卿。 』乃將數十騎夜去，欲從間道歸降，而吳漢校尉韓湛追斬憲於方與，方與人黔陵亦斬萌，皆傳首洛陽。 封韓湛為列侯，黔陵關內侯。
Wu Han moved on to besiege Qu. The next year, when the granaries were empty, Dong Xian and Pang Meng slipped out, seized Ganyu by surprise, but Chen Jun, prefect of Langye, counterattacked and drove them into the coastal marshes. Then Wu Han stormed Qu and seized Dong Xian’s wife and children. Dong Xian wept and said to his men, ‘They have taken my family.’ Alas! I have put you all through too much.’ ’ He slipped away at night with a few dozen horsemen, hoping to reach Han lines by a back path, but Han Zhan, a commandant under Wu Han, ran him down at Fangyu and killed him; a local man named Qianling struck off Pang Meng’s head as well, and both heads were sent to Luoyang. Han Zhan was made a full marquis and Qianling a marquis-within-the-passes.
15
張步字文公，瑯邪不其人也。 漢兵之起，步亦聚眾數千，轉攻傍縣，下數城，自為五威將軍，遂據本郡。
Zhang Bu, style Wengong, was a native of Buqi in Langye. When the Han armies rose, he rallied several thousand men, raided neighbouring counties, seized a string of towns, called himself “general of the five powers,” and made himself master of Langye.
16
更始遣魏郡王閎為瑯邪太守，步拒之，不得進。 閎為檄，曉喻吏人降，得贛榆等六縣，收兵數千人，與步戰，不勝。 時梁王劉永自以更始所立，貪步兵強，承制拜步輔漢大將軍、忠節侯，督青、徐二州，使征不從命者。 步貪其爵號，遂受之。 乃理兵於劇，以弟弘為衛將軍，弘弟藍玄武大將軍，藍弟壽高密太守。 遣將徇太山、東萊、城陽、膠東、北海、濟南、齊諸郡，皆下之。
The Gengshi court sent Wang Hong of Wei to take Langye; Zhang Bu blocked him and he could not push inland. Wang Hong issued a manifesto urging officials and commoners to submit, won six counties including Ganyu, raised several thousand troops, and fought Zhang Bu—but lost. Liu Yong of Liang, counting himself a creature of the Gengshi regime, coveted Zhang Bu’s footsoldiers and, acting under Liu Yong’s commission, named him grand general “who aids Han” and marquis of loyal integrity, put him in charge of Qing and Xu, and told him to subdue all who defied orders. Zhang Bu wanted the titles and accepted. He drilled his army at Ju, made his brother Zhang Hong general of the guard, Zhang Hong’s brother Zhang Lan grand general of the Black Warrior, and Zhang Lan’s brother Zhang Shou prefect of Gaomi. He sent columns through Taishan, Donglai, Chengyang, Jiaodong, Beihai, Jinan, and Qi, and every one of those commanderies fell to him.
17
步拓地浸廣，兵甲日盛。 王閎懼其眾散，乃詣步相見，欲誘以義方。 步大陳兵引閎，怒曰：『步有何過，君前見攻之甚乎！ 』閎按劍曰：『太守奉朝命，而文公擁兵相距，閎攻賊耳，何謂甚邪！ 』步嘿然，良久，離席跪謝，乃陳樂獻酒，待以上賓之禮，令閎關掌郡事。
Zhang Bu’s domain spread and his army grew stronger by the day. Wang Hong, fearing his own men would melt away, went in person to see Zhang Bu and tried to win him with moral argument. Zhang Bu drew up his host and had Wang Hong brought before him. ‘What wrong have I done,’ he demanded, ‘that you should have attacked me so fiercely?’ ’ Wang Hong’s hand went to his sword. ‘I hold an imperial commission,’ he said, ‘and you, Wengong, block me with arms—I strike rebels, not friends. Where is the excess?’ ’ Zhang Bu fell silent, then rose from his seat, knelt, and apologized. He had music played and wine poured, treated Wang Hong as an honoured guest, and put him in charge of the commandery.
18
建武三年，光武遣光祿大夫伏隆持節使齊，拜步為東萊太守。 劉永聞隆至劇，乃馳遣立步為齊王，步即殺隆而受永命。
In Jianwu 3 Guangwu sent Fu Long, a grand counsellor of the household, to Qi with credentials to appoint Zhang Bu grand administrator of Donglai. Liu Yong, learning that Fu Long had reached Ju, rushed messengers to invest Zhang Bu as king of Qi; Zhang Bu murdered Fu Long on the spot and took Liu Yong’s commission instead.
19
是時，帝方北憂漁陽，南事梁、楚，故步得專集齊地，據郡十二，及劉永死，步等欲立永子紆為天子，自為定漢公，置百官。 王閎諫曰：『梁王以奉本朝之故，是以山東頗能歸之。 今尊立其子，將疑眾心。 且齊人多詐，宜且詳之。 』步乃止。 五年，步聞帝將攻之，以其將費邑為濟南王，屯歷下。 冬，建威大將軍耿弇破斬費邑，進拔臨淄。 步以弇兵少遠客，可一舉而取，乃悉將其眾攻弇於臨淄。 步兵大敗，還奔劇。 帝自幸劇。 步退保平壽，蘇茂將萬餘人來救之。 茂讓步曰：『以南陽兵精，延岑善戰，而耿弇走之。 大王奈何就攻其營？ 既呼茂，不能待邪？ 』步曰：『負負，無可言者。 』帝乃遣使告步、茂，能相斬降者，封為列侯。 步遂斬茂，使使奉其首降。 步三弟各自系所在獄，皆赦之。 封步為安丘侯，後與家屬居洛陽。 王閎亦詣劇降。
The emperor was tied down in the north at Yuyang and in the south in Liang and Chu, so Zhang Bu had a free hand in Qi—twelve commanderies at his back. After Liu Yong died he and his faction meant to set Liu Yong’s son Liu Yu on the throne, style himself “duke who settles Han,” and appoint a full court. Wang Hong urged him: ‘The people east of the mountains followed the king of Liang because he still paid lip service to the legitimate court.’ To exalt his son now will only sow doubt among your followers.’ Besides, the men of Qi are a slippery lot—think it through carefully.’ ’ Zhang Bu dropped the plan. In Jianwu 5, hearing that Guangwu was coming against him, he made his general Fei Yi king of Jinan and posted him at Lixia. That winter Geng Yan, grand general who “establishes might,” killed Fei Yi and drove on to take Linzi. Zhang Bu judged Geng Yan’s force small and far from home, thought one blow would finish him, and threw his whole army at Linzi. His infantry was shattered and fled back to Ju. The emperor came in person to Ju. Zhang Bu fell back to Pingshou; Su Mao marched in with ten thousand men to relieve him. Su Mao rebuked him: ‘Nanyang’s host was crack, Yan Cen a seasoned fighter—yet Geng Yan routed them.’ Why, my lord, did you throw yourself straight at his camp?’ You had called for me—could you not have waited?’ ’ Zhang Bu said only, ‘I was wrong—twice wrong. There is nothing to say.’ ’ The emperor sent word to Zhang Bu and Su Mao: whoever killed the other and surrendered would receive a full marquisate. Zhang Bu cut down Su Mao and sent his head in with an offer of submission. His three brothers had bound themselves in the local jails; they too were pardoned. Zhang Bu was ennobled as marquis of Anqiu and later lived in Luoyang with his family. Wang Hong also came to Ju and submitted.
20
八年夏，步將妻子逃奔臨淮，與弟弘、藍欲招其故眾，乘船入海，瑯邪太守陳俊追擊斬之。
In the summer of Jianwu 8 he fled with his wife and children to Linhuai, joined his brothers Hong and Lan in a scheme to rally his old followers and put to sea, but Chen Jun, prefect of Langye, overtook and killed him.
21
王閎者，王莽叔父平阿侯譚之子也，哀帝時為中常侍。 時幸臣董賢為大司馬，寵愛貴盛，閎屢諫，忤旨。 哀帝臨崩，以璽綬付賢曰：『無妄以與人。 』時國無嗣主，內外恇懼，閎白元後，請奪之； 即帶劍至宣德後闥，舉手叱賢曰：『宮車晏駕，國嗣未立，公受恩深重，當俯伏號泣，何事久持璽綬以待禍至邪！ 』賢知閎必死，不敢拒之，乃跪授璽綬。 閎持上太后，朝廷壯之。 及王莽篡位，僭忌閎，乃出為東郡太守。 閎懼誅，常系藥手內。 莽敗，漢兵起，閎獨完全東郡三十餘萬戶，歸降更始。
Wang Hong was a son of Prince Ping’e Tan, Wang Mang’s uncle by blood; under Emperor Ai he served as a regular palace attendant. The favourite Dong Xian was grand marshal, flush with power and the emperor’s love; Wang Hong remonstrated again and again and earned imperial displeasure. On his deathbed Emperor Ai pressed the imperial seal into Dong Xian’s hands with the words, ‘Do not hand this to anyone lightly.’ ’ The realm had no heir; court and capital trembled. Wang Hong went to the grand empress dowager Yuan and asked leave to take the seals. He buckled on a sword, strode to the inner gate of the Xuande hall, and shouted at Dong Xian: ‘The emperor is dead and no successor is named; you owe him everything—kneel and weep instead of clutching those cords until ruin finds you!’ ’ Dong Xian knew Wang Hong would kill him if he refused; he knelt and surrendered the seals. Wang Hong carried them to the empress dowager, and the whole court applauded his nerve. When Wang Mang seized the throne he envied Wang Hong’s stature and packed him off to be prefect of Dong commandery. Fearing execution, he kept poison bound to his wrist. When Mang fell and Han armies rose, Wang Hong alone kept Dong commandery intact—more than three hundred thousand households—and brought it over to the Gengshi court.
22
李憲者，潁川許昌人也。 王莽時為廬江屬令。 莽末，江賊王州公等起眾十餘萬，攻掠郡縣，莽以憲為偏將軍、廬江連率，擊破州公。 莽敗，憲據郡自守。 更始元年，自稱淮南王。 建武三年，遂自立為天子，置公卿百官，擁九城，眾十餘萬。
Li Xian came from Xuchang in Yingchuan. Under Wang Mang he served as an assistant magistrate in Lujiang. Near the end of Mang’s reign river pirates led by Wang Zhougong mustered more than a hundred thousand men and ravaged the countryside; Mang made Li Xian a lieutenant-general and chief of Lujiang, and he broke Wang Zhougong. When Mang fell, Li Xian held the commandery on his own account. In the first year of Gengshi he proclaimed himself king of Huainan. In Jianwu 3 he declared himself emperor, appointed a full bureaucracy, held nine cities, and commanded more than a hundred thousand men.
23
四年秋，光武幸壽春，遣揚武將軍馬成等擊憲，圍舒。 至六年正月，拔之。 憲亡走，其軍士帛意，追斬憲而降，憲妻子皆伏誅。 封帛意漁侯。
That autumn in Jianwu 4 Guangwu went to Shouchun and sent Ma Cheng, general who “displays might,” and others against Li Xian, investing the city of Shu. The city fell in the first month of Jianwu 6. Li Xian fled; a soldier named Bo Yi ran him down, killed him, and surrendered. Li Xian’s wife and children were put to death. Bo Yi was ennobled as marquis of Yu.
24
後憲餘黨淳于臨等猶聚眾數千人，屯灊山，攻殺安風令。 楊州牧歐陽歙遣兵不能克，帝議欲討之。 廬江人陳眾為從事，白歙請得喻降臨； 於是乘單車，駕白馬，往說而降之。 灊山人共生為立祠，號『白馬陳從事』云。
Later, Li Xian’s followers such as Chunyu Lin rallied several thousand men on Mount Qian and killed the magistrate of Anfeng. Ouyang She, shepherd of Yang province, sent troops without success, and the court debated a punitive expedition. Chen Zhong of Lujiang, an aide in Ouyang She’s staff, asked leave to talk Chunyu Lin into submission. He drove out alone in a plain cart behind a white horse and talked them down. The people of Mount Qian raised a shrine to him and called him “Chen the aide on the white horse.”
25
彭寵字伯通，南陽宛人也。 父宏，哀帝時為漁陽太守，偉容貌，能飲飯，有威於邊。 王莽居攝，誅不附己者，宏與何武、鮑宣並遇害。
Peng Chong, style Botong, was a native of Wan in Nanyang. His father Peng Hong had been prefect of Yuyang under Emperor Ai—a imposing figure who ate and drank heavily and commanded respect on the frontier. When Wang Mang acted as regent he killed all who would not bend; Peng Hong died with He Wu and Bao Xuan.
26
寵少為郡吏，地皇中，為大司空士，從王邑東拒漢軍。 到洛陽，聞同產弟在漢兵中，懼誅，即與鄉人吳漢亡至漁陽，抵父時吏。 更始立，使謁者韓鴻持節徇北州，承制得專拜二千石已下。 鴻至薊，以寵、漢並鄉閭故人，相見歡甚，即拜寵偏將軍，行漁陽太守事，漢安樂令。
Peng Chong began as a minor clerk in his commandery; in the Dihuang era he served on the staff of the grand minister of works and followed Wang Yi east to block the Han armies. Reaching Luoyang, he learned his own brother was with the Han forces and, fearing punishment, fled to Yuyang with his townsman Wu Han and threw himself on an old retainer of his father’s. When Liu Xuan took the throne he sent Han Hong north with credentials and authority to appoint officials up to the rank of two thousand piculs. At Ji, Han Hong found Peng Chong and Wu Han old neighbours from home; delighted at the reunion he named Peng Chong lieutenant-general and acting prefect of Yuyang and Wu Han magistrate of Anle.
27
及光武鎮慰河北，至薊，以書招寵。 寵具牛、酒，將上謁。 會王郎詐立，傳檄燕、趙，遣將徇漁陽、上谷，急發其兵，北州眾多疑惑，欲從之。 吳漢說寵從光武，語在《漢傳》。 會上谷太守耿況亦使功曹寇恂詣寵，結謀共歸光武。 寵乃發步騎三千人，以吳漢行長史，及都尉嚴宣、護軍蓋延、狐奴令王梁，與上谷軍合而南，及光武於廣阿。 光武承制封寵建忠侯，賜號大將軍。 遂圍邯鄲，寵轉糧食，前後不絕。
When Guangwu was pacifying the north and came to Ji, he wrote to summon Peng Chong. Peng Chong laid in oxen and wine and prepared to call on him. Then Wang Lang seized Handan, sent circulars through Yan and Zhao, and ordered generals to press Yuyang and Shanggu for troops; the whole north wavered and many meant to join him. Wu Han’s persuasion of Peng Chong to follow Guangwu is told in Wu Han’s biography. About the same time Geng Kuang of Shanggu sent his aide Kou Xun to Peng Chong, and the two plotted together to join Guangwu. Peng Chong therefore sent three thousand foot and horse under Wu Han as acting chief clerk, with Commandant Yan Xuan, protector Gai Yan, and Wang Liang, magistrate of Hunu, marched south with the Shanggu column, and met Guangwu at Guang’a. Guangwu, acting under emergency powers, ennobled him as marquis who “establishes loyalty” and gave him the title grand general. During the siege of Handan he kept grain convoys moving without a break.
28
及王郎死，光武追銅馬，北至薊。 寵上謁，自負其功，意望甚高，光武接之不能滿，以此懷不平。 光武知之，以問幽州牧朱浮。 浮對曰：『前吳漢北發兵時，大王遺寵以所服劍，又倚以為北道主人。 寵謂至當迎閤握手，交歡並坐。 今既不然，所以失望。 』浮因曰：『王莽為宰衡時，甄豐旦夕入謀議，時人語曰：「夜半客，甄長伯。 」及莽篡位後，豐意不平，卒以誅死。 』光武大笑，以為不至於此。 及即位，吳漢、王梁，寵之所遣，並為三公，而寵獨無所加，愈怏怏不得志。 嘆曰：『我功當為王； 但爾者，陛下忘我邪？』
After Wang Lang fell, Guangwu pursued the Bronze Horse band north as far as Ji. Peng Chong came to court swollen with pride in what he had done; Guangwu’s welcome fell short of his expectations, and resentment lodged in his breast. Guangwu noticed and asked Zhu Fu, shepherd of You province, about it. Zhu Fu answered: ‘When Wu Han marched north you gave Peng Chong the sword from your own belt and treated him as your host on the northern road.’ Peng Chong expected to be met at the gate, hands clasped with yours, and seated as an equal.’ When that did not happen, he was bound to feel slighted.’ ’ Zhu Fu added: ‘When Wang Mang was chief regent, Zhen Feng was in his councils day and night, and men said, “If a guest comes at midnight, it is Elder Zhen.”’ ’ After the usurpation Zhen Feng nursed a grievance and was executed in the end.’ ’ Guangwu laughed and said it would never come to that. Yet when Guangwu took the throne, Wu Han and Wang Liang—both men Peng Chong had sent—rose to the three highest offices while Peng Chong received no further honour; he grew ever more sullen. He sighed, ‘By my deeds I ought to be a king.’ Is this all I am to have—has His Majesty forgotten me?’
29
是時，北州破散，而漁陽差完，有舊鹽鐵官，寵轉以貿谷，積珍寶，益富強，朱浮與寵不相能，浮數譖構之。 建武二年春，詔征寵，寵意浮賣己，上疏願與浮俱征。 又與吳漢、蓋延等書，盛言浮枉狀，固求同征。 帝不許，益以自疑。 而其妻素剛，不堪抑屈，固勸無受召。 寵又與常所親信吏計議，皆懷怨於浮，莫有勸行者。 帝遣寵從弟子後蘭卿喻之，寵因留子後蘭卿，遂發兵反，拜署將帥，自將二萬餘人攻朱浮於薊，分兵徇廣陽、上谷、右北平。 又自與耿況俱有重功，而恩賞並薄，數遣使要誘況。 況不受，輒斬其使。
The north was in ruins while Yuyang remained almost whole; its old salt and iron monopoly let Peng Chong trade for grain, heap up treasure, and grow rich and strong. Zhu Fu could not abide him and slandered him repeatedly. In the spring of Jianwu 2 an edict summoned him to court; Peng Chong decided Zhu Fu had denounced him and memorialized that he would obey only if Zhu Fu went with him. He wrote at length to Wu Han, Gai Yan, and others accusing Zhu Fu of malice and again demanded that Fu accompany him. The emperor refused, and Peng Chong’s suspicions deepened. His wife was a woman of fierce temper who could not bear to be humbled and urged him to ignore the summons. He took counsel with his favourite officers; every one of them nursed a grudge against Zhu Fu, and none urged him to obey. The emperor sent Hou Lanqing, a cousin’s son of Peng Chong, to reason with him; Peng Chong held the youth hostage, rose in revolt, commissioned his commanders, led over twenty thousand men against Zhu Fu at Ji, and sent columns to overrun Guangyang, Shanggu, and Youbeiping. He reminded himself that he and Geng Kuang had both done great service yet received scant reward, and he sent envoys again and again to lure Geng Kuang to his side. Geng Kuang would not listen and executed every messenger.
30
秋，帝使遊擊將軍鄧隆救薊。 隆軍潞南，浮軍雍奴，遣吏奏狀。 帝讀檄，怒謂使吏曰：『營相去百里，其勢豈可得相及？ 比若還，北軍必敗矣。 』寵果盛兵臨河以拒隆，又別發輕騎三千襲其後，大破隆軍。 浮遠，遂不能救，引而去。 明年春，寵遂拔右北平、上谷數縣。 遣使以美女繒彩賂遺匈奴，要結和親。 單于使左南將軍七八千騎，往來為遊兵以助寵。 又南結張步及富平獲索諸豪傑，皆與交質連衡。 遂攻拔薊城，自立為燕王。
That autumn Guangwu sent Deng Long, general of roaming attack, to relieve Ji. Deng Long camped south of the Lu River, Zhu Fu at Yongnu, and they sent clerks to report their dispositions. Reading the report, the emperor snapped at the messenger: ‘Your camps stand a hundred li apart—how do you expect to support each other?’ By the time word comes back, the northern army will already be lost.’ ’ Peng Chong massed troops along the river to block Deng Long and sent three thousand light horse around his rear, shattering Long’s army. Zhu Fu was too distant to help and withdrew. The following spring he seized several counties in Youbeiping and Shanggu. He sent envoys with gifts of women and silk to buy the Xiongnu chieftains and seal a marriage alliance. The chanyu detached seven or eight thousand horsemen under the general of the Left South to ride as flying columns in support of Peng Chong. He also courted Zhang Bu and the bandit chiefs of Fuping and Huosuo in the south, exchanging hostages and forging leagues. He stormed Ji and proclaimed himself king of Yan.
31
其妻數惡夢，又多見怪變，卜筮及望氣者皆言兵當從中起。 寵疑子後蘭卿質漢歸，故不信之，使將兵居外，無親於中。 五年春，寵齋，獨在便室。 蒼頭子密等三人因寵臥寐，共縛著床，告外吏云：『大王齋禁，皆使吏休。 』偽稱寵命教，收縛奴婢，各置一處。 又以寵命呼其妻。 妻入，大驚。 寵急呼曰：『趣為諸將軍辦裝。 』於是兩奴將妻入取寶物，留一奴守寵。 寵謂守奴曰：『若小兒，我素愛也，今為子密所迫劫耳。 解我縛，當以女珠妻汝，家中財物皆與若。 』小奴意欲解之，視戶外，見子密聽其語，遂不敢解。 於是收金玉衣物，至寵所裝之，被馬六匹，使妻縫兩縑囊。 昏夜後，解寵手，令作記告城門將軍云：『今遣子密等至子後蘭卿所，速開門出，勿稽留之。 』書成，即斬寵及妻頭，置囊中，便持記馳出城，因以詣闕。 封為不義侯。 明旦，閤門不開，官屬逾墻而入，見寵屍，驚怖。 其尚書韓立等共立寵子午為王，以子後蘭卿為將軍。 國師韓利斬午首，詣征虜將軍祭遵降。 夷其宗族。
His wife was plagued by nightmares and omens; tortoise and milfoil diviners and men who read the winds all warned that mutiny would come from within the household. Peng Chong distrusted his son Hou Lanqing, who had been a hostage at court and come home, kept him outside the city at the head of troops, and would not let him near the inner quarters. In the spring of Jianwu 5 he was observing a fast and sat alone in a side chamber. Three housemen led by Zimi found him asleep, tied him to the couch, and told the clerks outside, ‘The king is fasting; everyone may leave.’ ’ Forging his orders they rounded up the household slaves and locked them away by groups. They then called his wife in Peng Chong’s name. She entered and cried out in terror. Peng Chong shouted, ‘Quick—pack the generals’ baggage!’ ’ Two slaves marched her off to gather valuables while a third stayed with the bound king. Peng Chong said to the guard, ‘Boy, I have always favoured you; Zimi has forced you into this.’ ‘Loosen my cords and I will give you my daughter Zhu in marriage and everything I own.’ ’ The boy almost yielded, but glanced through the door, saw Zimi listening, and dared not. They piled gold, jade, and garments at Peng Chong’s feet, saddled six horses, and made his wife stitch two silk sacks. After dark they freed his hands and made him write an order to the gate captain: ‘I am sending Zimi and his party to Hou Lanqing; open the gate at once and let them pass without delay.’ ’ When the note was written they cut off Peng Chong’s head and his wife’s, stuffed both into the sacks, spurred through the gates with the pass, and rode for the capital. The court ennobled him as marquis of “unrighteousness.” At daybreak the inner gates stayed shut; his officers scaled the wall, found Peng Chong’s body, and were stricken with horror. His secretary Han Li and the rest set up Peng Chong’s son Peng Wu as king and named Hou Lanqing a general. Han Li, the state instructor, struck off Peng Wu’s head and surrendered to Ji Zun, general who conquers captives. His whole clan was extirpated.
32
盧芳字君期，安定三水人入，居左谷中。 王莽時，天下咸思漢德，芳由是詐自稱武帝曾孫劉文伯。 曾祖母匈奴谷蠡渾邪王之姊為武帝皇后，生三子。 遭江充之亂，太子誅，皇后坐死，中子次卿亡之長陵，小子回卿逃於左谷。 霍將軍立次卿，迎回卿。 回卿不出，因居左谷，生子孫卿，孫卿生文伯。 常以是言誑惑安定間。 王莽末，乃與三水屬國羌胡起兵。 更始至長安，征芳為騎都尉，使鎮撫安定以西。
Lu Fang, style Junqi, came from Sanshui in Anding and lived in the Zuogu valley. While Wang Mang held the realm, men everywhere missed the virtue of Han; Lu Fang therefore passed himself off as Liu Wenbo, a great-grandson of Emperor Wu. His alleged great-grandmother was the sister of the Xiongnu prince Hunye of the Guili rank, who became Emperor Wu’s empress and bore three sons. When Jiang Chong’s intrigue struck down the heir, the empress died with him; the middle son, Ciqing, fled to Changling and the youngest, Huiqing, to the Zuogu valley. General Huo Guang set up Ciqing and sent for Huiqing. Huiqing would not emerge and stayed on in Zuogu; his line ran Sunqing and then Wenbo. Lu Fang peddled this tale through Anding for years. At the close of Wang Mang’s reign he rose with the Qiang and Hu of the Sanshui dependent state. When the Gengshi court entered Chang’an it summoned Lu Fang as cavalry commandant and sent him to pacify the country west of Anding.
33
更始敗，三水豪傑共計議，以芳劉氏子孫，宜承宗廟，乃共立芳為上將軍、西平王，使使與西羌、匈奴結和親。 單于曰：『匈怒本與漢約為兄弟。 後匈奴中衰，呼韓邪單于歸漢，漢為發兵擁護，世世稱臣。 今漢亦中絕，劉氏來歸我，亦當立之，令尊事我。 』乃使句林王將數千騎迎芳，芳與兄禽、弟程俱入匈奴。 單于遂立芳為漢帝。 以程為中郎將，將胡騎還入安定。
After Liu Xuan fell, the magnates of Sanshui agreed that Lu Fang, as a Liu, ought to carry the imperial temples; they named him supreme general and king of Xiping and sent envoys to treat with the western Qiang and the Xiongnu. The chanyu said, ‘The Xiongnu and Han were once sworn as brothers.’ Later, when the Xiongnu waned, Chanyu Huhanye submitted to Han; Han sent armies to shield him, and for generations his people called themselves vassals. Now Han’s line is broken; the Lius come to me for shelter—I should set one of them up and make him honour my authority.’ ’ He sent the Goulin king with thousands of riders to escort Lu Fang; Lu Fang entered the steppe with his brothers Qin and Cheng. The chanyu thereupon proclaimed him emperor of Han. He made Cheng a gentleman of the palace and sent him back into Anding at the head of Hu cavalry.
34
初，五原人李興、隨昱，朔方人田颯，代郡人石鮪、閔堪，各起兵自稱將軍。 建武四年，單于遣無樓且渠王入五原塞，與李興等和親，告興欲令芳還漢地為帝。 五年，李興、閔堪引兵至單于庭迎芳，與俱入塞，都九原縣。 掠有五原、朔方、雲中、定襄、雁門五郡，並置守令，與胡通兵，侵苦北邊。
Li Xing and Sui Yu of Wuyuan, Tian Sa of Shuofang, Shi Wei and Min Kan of Dai had each raised bands and called themselves generals. In Jianwu 4 the chanyu sent the Wulou Qielü king through the Wuyuan frontier to treat with Li Xing and his allies, asking them to bring Lu Fang back into Han lands as emperor. In Jianwu 5 Li Xing and Min Kan marched to the chanyu’s court, escorted Lu Fang through the passes, and set up their capital at Jiuyuan. They overran the five northern commanderies of Wuyuan, Shuofang, Yunzhong, Dingxiang, and Yanmen, appointed their own prefects, coordinated with the Hu, and tormented the frontier.
35
六年，芳將軍賈覽將胡騎擊殺代郡太守劉興。 芳後以事誅其五原太守李興兄弟，而其朔方太守田颯、雲中太守橋扈恐懼，叛芳，舉郡降，光武令領職如故。 後大司馬吳漢、驃騎大將軍杜茂數擊芳，並不克。 十二年，芳與賈覽共攻雲中，久不下，其將隨昱留守九原，欲脅芳降。 芳知羽翼外附，心膂內離，遂棄輜重，與十餘騎亡入匈奴，其眾盡歸隨昱。 昱乃隨使者程恂詣闕。 拜昱為五原太守，封鐫胡侯，昱弟憲武進侯。
In Jianwu 6 his general Jia Lan led Hu horsemen against Dai and killed Prefect Liu Xing. Lu Fang later executed Li Xing, his prefect of Wuyuan, and Li’s brothers; Tian Sa of Shuofang and Qiao Hu of Yunzhong, terrified, broke with him and surrendered their commanderies, and Guangwu let them keep their posts. Grand marshal Wu Han and grand general of agile cavalry Du Mao attacked him more than once without success. In Jianwu 12 he and Jia Lan besieged Yunzhong for a long time without taking it; his general Sui Yu, left to hold Jiuyuan, meant to force him to submit to Han. Seeing his allies peel away and his inner circle split, he abandoned his trains and fled to the Xiongnu with a dozen riders while his army went over to Sui Yu. Sui Yu then followed the envoy Cheng Xun to the capital. He was named prefect of Wuyuan and marquis who “chisels the Hu”; his brother Sui Xian received the marquisate of Wujin.
36
十六年，芳復入居高柳，與閔堪兄林使使請降。 乃立芳為代王，堪為代相，林為代太傅，賜繒二萬匹，因使和集匈奴。 芳上疏謝曰：『臣芳過托先帝遺體，棄在邊陲。 社稷遭王莽廢絕，以是子孫之憂，所宜共誅，故遂西連羌戎，北懷匈奴。 單于不忘舊德，權立救助，是時兵革並起，往往而在。 臣非敢有所貪覬，期於奉承宗廟，興立社稷，是以久僭號位，十有餘年，罪宜萬死。 陛下聖德高明，躬率眾賢，海內賓服，惠及殊俗。 以胏附之故，赦臣芳罪，加以仁恩，封為代王，使備北藩。 無以報塞重責，冀必欲和輯匈奴，不敢遺餘力，負恩貸。 謹奉天子玉璽，思望闕庭。 』詔報芳朝明年正月。 其冬，芳入朝，南及昌平，有詔止，令更朝明歲。 芳自道還，憂恐，乃復背叛，遂反，與閔堪、閔林相攻連月。 匈媽遣數百騎迎芳及妻子出塞。 芳留匈奴中十餘年，病死。
In Jianwu 16 he reappeared at Gaoliu and, with Min Kan’s brother Min Lin, sent envoys to offer submission. The court made him king of Dai, Min Kan his chancellor, Min Lin his grand tutor, gave him twenty thousand bolts of silk, and charged him to conciliate the Xiongnu. Lu Fang memorialized in gratitude: ‘I falsely claimed descent from the late emperor and was cast out upon the marches.’ ‘When Wang Mang cut off the Han shrines, every true son of the house should have risen against him; I therefore turned west to the Qiang and Rong and north to the Xiongnu.’ ‘The chanyu, remembering old kindness, lent me a borrowed throne while war flared on every side.’ ‘I never coveted power for myself—only meant to uphold the temples of Han; yet I bore a usurped title for more than ten years and deserve death ten thousand times over.’ ‘Your Majesty’s sacred virtue draws all the worthy to you; within the seas men submit, and your grace reaches even to barbarians.’ ‘As one near in kin to the throne you have pardoned my crimes, heaped kindness on me, made me king of Dai, and set me to guard the northern marches.’ ‘I cannot repay such a charge except by doing all in my power to reconcile the Xiongnu and never slackening in gratitude for your mercy.’ ‘I hereby return the imperial jade seal and long to look upon your court.’ ’ An edict bade him attend court the following first month. That winter, as he travelled south for his audience and reached Changping, an edict stopped him and put the visit off until the next year. Turned back on the road, he grew fearful, rebelled again, and for months fought Min Kan and Min Lin. The Xiongnu sent several hundred riders to escort Lu Fang and his family beyond the frontier. He remained on the steppe for another decade and died of illness.
37
初，安定屬國胡與芳為寇，及芳敗，胡人還鄉里，積苦縣官徭役。 其中有駁馬少伯者，素剛壯； 二十一年，遂率種人反叛，與匈奴連和，屯聚青山。 乃遺將兵長史陳訢，率三千騎擊之，少伯乃降。 徙於冀縣。
The Hu of the Anding dependent state had raided with Lu Fang; after his fall they went home, only to groan under corvée exactions from the magistrates. Among them was a man called Boma Shaobo, fierce by nature. In the twenty-first year of Jianwu he led his tribesmen in revolt, allied with the Xiongnu, and massed on Mount Qing. The court sent Chen Xin, chief clerk in charge of troops, with three thousand horse against him, and Shaobo submitted. He was resettled in Ji county.
38
論曰：傳稱『盛德必百世祀』，孔子曰『寬則得眾』。 夫能得眾心，則百世不忘矣。 觀更始之際，劉氏之遺恩餘烈，英雄豈能抗之哉！ 然則知高祖、孝文之寬仁，結於人心深矣。 周人之思邵公，愛其甘棠，又況其子孫哉！ 劉氏之再受命，蓋以此乎！ 若數子者，豈有國之遠圖哉！ 因時擾攘，茍瓷縱而已耳，然猶以附假宗室，能掘強歲月之間。 觀其智略，固無足以憚漢祖，發其英靈者也。
The historian’s judgment: The classics say, ‘Great virtue wins sacrifice for a hundred generations,’ and Confucius said, ‘The lenient ruler wins the people.’ Win the people’s hearts, and they will remember you for generations. Look at the Gengshi years: the lingering grace of the house of Liu—what rival could stand against that tide? So we see how deeply Gaozu and Emperor Wen bound the realm with mercy. The men of Zhou still cherish Lord Shao for the pear tree he left them—how much more do men cherish his line? Perhaps that is why the Liu house received Heaven’s mandate a second time. Men such as these had no long design for the state. They fed on turmoil and lived by opportunism and brute force, yet by borrowing the Liu name they defied the throne for years. Measured against true statecraft, none of them could have given the founder of Han a moment’s unease.
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贊曰：天地閉革，野戰群龍。 昌、芳僭詐，梁、齊連鋒。 寵負強地，憲縈深江。 實惟非律，代委神邦。
The summation runs: When heaven and earth closed in revolution, dragons fought in the wilds. Wang Chang and Lu Fang ruled by fraud; Liang and Qi joined arms. Peng Chong leaned on a strong province; Li Xian tangled with Han among the deep rivers. They were outlaws who usurped the sacred charge of the realm.