1
李通，字次元，南陽宛人也。 世以貸殖著姓。 父守，身長九尺，容貌絕異，為人嚴毅，居家如官廷。 初事劉歆，好星曆讖記，為王莽宗卿師。 通亦為五威將軍從事，出補巫丞，有能名。 莽未，百姓愁怨，通素聞守說讖云『劉氏復興，李氏為輔』，私常懷之。 且居家富逸，為閭里雄，以此不樂為吏，乃自免歸。
Li Tong of Nanyang’s Wan district took the courtesy name Ciyuan. For generations the Lis had grown rich as moneylenders and merchants. His father Shou stood nine feet tall, looked like no other man, ran his household with the discipline of a yamen, and was stern by nature. He began his career under Liu Xin, dabbled in astrology and prophecy, and rose to Wang Mang’s post of director for the imperial clan. Li Tong served as an aide to the Five Majesties general, then as magistrate’s assistant at Wu, where he earned a name for ability. As Wang Mang’s rule collapsed, the people groaned under it; Li Tong remembered his father’s prophecy—“Han will return, and the Li will stand at its side”—and kept it locked in his heart. Rich and influential in his ward, he had no taste for petty office and resigned to live at home.
2
及下江、新市兵起，南陽騷動，通從弟軼，亦素好事，乃共計議曰：『今四方擾亂，新室且亡，漢當更興。 南陽宗室，獨劉伯升兄弟泛愛容眾，可與謀大事。 』通笑曰：『吾意也。 』會光武避吏在宛，通聞之，即遣軼往迎光武。 光武初以通士君子相慕也，故往答之。 及相見，共語移日，握手極歡。 通因具言讖文事，光武初殊不意，未敢當之。 時守在長安，光武乃微觀通曰：『即如此，當如宗卿師何？ 』通曰：『已自有度矣。 』因復備言其計。 光武既深知通意，乃遂相約結，定謀議，期以材官都試騎士日，欲劫前隊大夫及屬正，因以號令大眾。 乃使光武與軼歸舂陵，舉兵以相應。 遣從兄子季之長安，以事報守。
When the Xinshi and Lower Yang rebels stirred Nanyang, Li Tong and his cousin Li Yi—another man who loved intrigue—agreed: “The realm is in chaos, Xin is finished, and Han must rise again. Only Bosheng’s brothers among the Nanyang Lius have the breadth to rally men—only they are fit for a great enterprise.” Li Tong smiled. “I have been thinking the same.” Just then Guangwu was hiding from the law in Wan; Li Tong sent Li Yi at once to fetch him. Guangwu assumed a scholar’s courtesy call and went to return the visit. They talked from dawn to dusk and parted only after a warm clasp of hands. Li Tong laid out the prophecy in full; Guangwu was taken aback and hesitated to commit. Guangwu murmured, “Your father still serves as Mang’s director for the clan—what becomes of him?” “I have already reckoned with that,” said Li Tong. He then unfolded the whole scheme. Once Guangwu saw his purpose, they swore brotherhood and chose the day of the annual archer muster at Wan to kidnap the front-rank grandee and his adjunct, then rally the city. He sent Guangwu and Li Yi to Chunling to raise the clan in support. He sent his cousin’s son Ji to Chang’an to warn his father.
3
季於道病死，守密知之，欲亡歸。 素與邑人黃顯相善，時顯為中郎將，聞之，謂守曰：『今關門禁嚴，君狀貌非心，將以此安之？ 不如詣闕自歸。 事既未然，脫可免禍。 』守從其計，即上書歸死，章未及報，留闕下。 會事發覺，通得亡走，莽聞之，乃系守於獄。 而黃顯為請曰：『守聞子無狀，不敢逃亡，守義自信，歸命宮闕。 臣顯願質守俱東，曉說其子。 如遂悖逆，令守北向刎首，以謝大恩。 』莽然其言。 會前隊復上通起兵之狀，莽怒，欲殺守，顯爭之，遂並被誅，及守家在長安者盡殺之。 南陽亦誅通兄弟、門宗六十四人，皆焚屍宛市。
Ji died en route; Shou guessed the truth and planned to flee. Shou’s friend Huang Xian, a gentleman of the palace, urged him: “The gates are shut; you look like a man with a secret—where could you hide? Better present yourself at court and confess.” The plot is not yet proven—you may yet escape ruin.” Shou took his advice, memorialized offering his life, and waited at the gate for an answer that never came. The conspiracy leaked; Li Tong fled while Wang Mang threw Shou into chains. Huang Xian interceded: “Shou learned of his son’s treason yet did not run; trusting in justice he surrendered at the gates. Let me escort him east as surety and reason with the boy.” If the son still rebels, let Shou cut his own throat northward to repay your mercy.” Mang granted the request. Then fresh word came from the front army; Mang’s rage turned on Shou. Huang Xian argued in vain—both men were executed, and every member of Shou’s family in Chang’an died with them. Nanyang officials slaughtered sixty-four of the Li kindred and burned the bodies in Wan’s marketplace.
4
時，漢兵亦已大合。 通與光武、李軼相遇棘陽，遂共破前隊，殺甄阜、梁丘賜。
By then the Han armies had massed in force. Li Tong joined Guangwu and Li Yi at Jiyang, and together they shattered the front-rank host and killed Zhen Fu and Liangqiu Ci.
5
通布衣唱義，助成大業，重以寧平公主故，特見親重。 然性謙恭，常欲避權勢。 素有消疾，自為宰相，謝病不視事，連年乞骸骨，帝每優寵之。 令以公位歸第養疾，通復固辭。 積二歲，乃聽上大司空印綬，以特進奉朝請。 有司奏請封諸皇子，帝感通首創大謀，即日封通少子雄為召陵侯。 每幸南陽，常遣使者以太牢祠通父冢。 十八年卒，謚曰恭侯。 帝及皇后親臨弔，送葬。
A commoner who first lit the flame of revolt, he helped win the empire and, as father-in-law to the Princess of Ningping, stood closer to the throne than almost any other subject. Yet he was humble by nature and shunned raw power. Plagued by chronic illness, he ceased to govern once he became chief minister, year after year asking to retire while the emperor showered him with indulgence. The emperor told him to convalesce at home with his title; Li Tong still refused. After two years he was allowed to surrender the great minister of works’ seal and keep only the “specially advanced” rank with occasional audience. When ministers urged enfeoffing the princes, the emperor—mindful that Li Tong had first conceived the great design—on the spot made his youngest son Xiong marquis of Shaoling. Each imperial visit to Nanyang brought a grand sacrifice to Li Shou’s grave. He died in year 18 with the posthumous epithet Gong (“the Reverent”). Emperor and empress both walked in his funeral cortège.
6
子音嗣。 音卒，子定嗣。 定卒，子黃嗣。 黃卒，子壽嗣。
His son Yin inherited the title. Yin was followed by Ding. Ding was followed by Huang. Huang was followed by Shou.
7
李軼後為朱鮪所殺。 更始之敗，李松戰死，唯通能以功名終。 永平中，顯宗幸宛，詔諸李隨安眾宗室會見，並受賞賜，恩寵篤焉。
Li Yi later fell to Zhu Wei’s blade. When Gengshi fell, Li Song died fighting; of the Li clan only Li Tong finished life with honor. During Yongping Emperor Ming summoned every branch of the Li family with the Anzhong imperial kin, heaped gifts on them, and showed uncommon favor.
8
論曰：子曰：『富與貴是人之所欲，不以其道得之，不處也。 』李通豈知夫所欲而未識以道者乎！ 夫天道性命，聖人難言之，況乃億測微隱，猖狂無妄之福，汙滅親宗，以觖一切之功哉！ 昔蒙穀負書，不徇楚難； 即墨用齊，義雪燕恥。 彼之趣捨所立，其殆與通異乎？
The historian comments: Confucius said wealth and rank are natural desires—yet they must be rightly won. Did Li Tong grasp men’s cravings without seeing the path that justifies them? Heaven’s intent is hard enough for sages to read—how dare common men stake kindred lives on a gambler’s prophecy? Meng Gu fled Chu carrying the royal archives; the men of Jimo used Qi to wipe away Yan’s humiliation— their sense of when to bend and when to stand was worlds apart from Li Tong’s choice.
9
王常字顏卿，潁川舞陽人也。 王莽未，為弟報仇，亡命江夏。 久之，與王鳳、王匡等起兵雲杜綠林中，聚眾數萬人，以常為偏裨，攻傍縣。 後與成丹、張卬別入南郡藍口，號下江兵。 王莽遣嚴尤、陳茂擊破之。 常與丹、卬收散卒入蔞谿，劫略鐘、龍間，眾復振。 引軍與刑州牧戰於上唐，大破之，遂北至宜秋。
Wang Chang of Wuyang in Yingchuan bore the style Yanqing. Under the last years of Wang Mang he avenged a brother by murder and fled to Jiangxia. Years later he joined Wang Feng and Wang Kuang in the Green Woods revolt at Yundu, commanding tens of thousands as a sub-general and raiding the nearby towns. He later broke away with Cheng Dan and Zhang Ang to Lankou in Nanjun and took the name Lower Yang army. Wang Mang dispatched Yan You and Chen Mao and broke their host. Wang regrouped with Dan and Ang in Louxi, raided between Zhong and Long, and rebuilt his strength. He met the governor of Jingzhou at Shangtang, routed him, and marched north to Yiqiu.
10
是時，漢兵與新市、平林眾俱敗於小長安，各欲解去。 伯升聞下江軍在宜秋，即與光武及李通俱造常壁，曰：『願見下江一賢將，議大事。 』成丹、張卬共推遣常。 伯升見常，說以合從之利。 常大悟，曰：『王莽篡弒，殘虐天下，百姓思漢，故豪傑並起。 今劉氏復興，即真主也。 誠思出身為用，輔成大功。 』伯升曰：『如事成，豈敢獨饗之哉！ 』遂與常深相結而去。 常還，具為丹、卬言之。 丹、卬負其從，皆曰：『大丈夫既起，當各自為主，何故受人制乎？ 』常心獨歸漢，乃稍曉說其將帥曰：『往者成、哀衰微無嗣，故王莽得承間篡位。 既有天下，而政令苛酷，積失百姓之心。 民之謳吟思漢，非一日也，故使吾屬因此得起。 夫民所怨者，天所去也； 民所思者，天所與也。 舉大事，必當下順民心，上合天意，功乃可成。 若負強恃勇，觸情恣欲，雖得天下，必復失之。 以秦、項之勢，尚至夷覆，況今布衣相聚草澤？ 以此行之，滅亡之道也。 今南陽諸劉舉宗起兵，觀其來議事者，皆有深計大慮，王公之才，與之並合，必成大功，此天所以祐吾屬也。 』下江諸將雖屈強少識，然素敬常，乃皆謝曰：『無王將軍，吾屬幾陷於不義。 願敬受教。 』即引兵與漢軍及新市、平林合。 於是諸部齊心同力，銳氣益壯，遂俱進，破殺甄阜、梁丘賜。
Meanwhile the Han, Xinshi, and Pinglin columns had been shattered at Little Chang’an and were ready to scatter. Bosheng rode with Guangwu and Li Tong to Wang Chang’s camp and asked, “We would speak with one of your captains about a joint plan.” Cheng Dan and Zhang Ang sent Wang Chang to parley. Bosheng argued for a united front. Wang Chang saw the point: “Mang seized the throne by murder and tyrannized the empire; the people ache for Han—hence every bandit chief has risen. The Lius are stirring again—they are Heaven’s chosen house. I mean to risk my life in their service and help finish the work.” Bosheng answered, “If we succeed, the glory will not be mine alone!” They clasped agreement and parted. Wang Chang laid the whole matter before Dan and Ang. The two men, swollen with pride, snapped, “We raised this revolt—why take orders from anyone?” Wang Chang alone leaned toward Han and slowly persuaded his officers: “When Emperors Cheng and Ai failed, Mang slipped onto the throne. Once he ruled, his laws were cruel and he forfeited the people’s trust. Folk rhymes have begged for Han’s return for years—our armies rose from that hunger. What the people hate, Heaven casts off; what they long for, Heaven grants. Any great venture must ride the people’s will and Heaven’s mind—only then can it succeed. Lean on brute courage, indulge every whim, and even if you seize the realm you will lose it again. Qin and Xiang Yu had the world in hand and still perished—what hope have ragtag marsh bandits? That path leads only to ruin.” The Nanyang Lius who visit us are no rabble—they think like kings. Join them, and Heaven aids us all.” The chiefs were rough men, yet they revered Wang Chang; they bowed their heads: “Without you, general, we had nearly chosen dishonor. We hear you and obey.” They marched at once to join the Han, Xinshi, and Pinglin hosts. United, their ardor surged; together they fell on Zhen Fu and Liangqiu Ci and destroyed them.
11
及諸將議立宗室，唯常與南陽士大夫同意欲立伯升，而朱鮪、張卬等不聽。 及更始立，以常為廷尉、大將軍，封知命侯。 別徇汝南、沛郡，還入昆陽，與光武共擊破王尋、王邑。 更始西都長安，以常行南陽太守事，令專命誅賞，封為鄧王，食八縣，賜姓劉氏。 常性恭儉，遵法度，南方稱之。
When the chiefs debated which Liu to crown, Wang Chang and the Nanyang gentry backed Bosheng; Zhu Wei and Zhang Ang overruled them. Gengshi named him minister of justice and great general, with the title marquis who knows destiny. He campaigned through Runan and Pei, re-entered Kunyang, and with Guangwu broke Wang Xun and Wang Yi. At the western capital he made Wang Chang acting governor of Nanyang with full penal and reward powers, enfeoffed him as king of Deng over eight counties, and bestowed the imperial surname Liu. Modest and law-abiding, he won praise throughout the south.
12
後帝於大會中指常謂群臣曰：『此家率下江諸將輔翼漢室，心如金石，真忠臣也。 』是日遷常為漢忠將軍，遣南擊鄧奉、董訢，令諸將皆屬焉。 又詔常北擊河間、漁陽，平諸屯聚。 五年秋，攻拔湖陵，又與帝會任城，因從破蘇茂、龐萌。 進攻下邳，常部當城門戰，一日數合，賊反走入城，常追迫之，城上射矢雨下，帝從百餘騎自城南高處望，常戰力甚，馳遣中黃門詔使引還，賊遂降。 又別率騎都尉王霸共平沛郡賊。 六年春，征還洛陽，令夫人迎常於舞陽，歸家上冢。 西屯長安，拒隗囂。 七年，使使者持璽書，即拜常為橫野大將軍，位次與諸將絕席。 常別擊破隗囂將高峻於朝那。 囂遣將過烏氏，常要擊破之。 轉降保塞羌諸營壁，皆平之。 九年，擊內黃賊，破降之。 後北屯故安，拒盧芳。 十二年，薨於屯所，謚曰節侯。
Later Guangwu told his court, “This man brought the Lower Yang host to Han’s side; his loyalty is cast in bronze and stone.” The same day he named him Han loyal general and sent him south against Deng Feng and Dong Xin with every general under his command. He also sent him north to pacify Hejian and Yuyang. In the fifth autumn he took Huling, joined the emperor at Rencheng, and helped crush Su Mao and Pang Meng. At Xiapi Wang Chang’s men stormed the gate again and again until the rebels broke; he chased them under a storm of arrows while Guangwu watched from a southern knoll with a hundred horsemen. Seeing the fury of the fight, the emperor sent a eunuch with orders to break off—and the enemy then yielded. He also joined cavalry commandant Wang Ba to clear Pei of bandits. In the sixth spring he was recalled to Luoyang; the emperor sent the empress to greet him at Wuyang and accompany him home to sweep his ancestors’ graves. He took up a western post at Chang’an to hold Wei Xiao at bay. In year 7 an imperial messenger invested him as general who sweeps the wilderness, ranking above the other field commanders. He smashed Gao Jun, one of Wei Xiao’s generals, at Chaona. When Xiao tried to push a column past Wushi, Wang ambushed and broke it. He next pacified every stockaded camp of the garrison Qiang along the border. In year 9 he crushed the Neihuang rebels and accepted their surrender. He then moved north to Gu’an to block Lu Fang. He died in camp in year 12 with the posthumous name Jie (“the Constant”).
13
子廣嗣。 三十年，徙封石城侯。 永平十四年，坐與楚事相連，國除。
His son Guang inherited the title. In Jianwu 30 the fief was transferred to Shicheng. In Yongping 14 he lost the title for ties to the Chu conspiracy.
14
鄧晨字偉卿，南陽新野人也。 世吏二千石。 父宏，預章都尉。 晨初聚光武姊元。 王莽末，光武嘗與兄伯升及晨俱之宛，與穰人蔡少公等宴語。 少公頗學圖讖，言劉秀當為天子。 或曰：『是國師公劉秀乎？ 』光武戲曰：『何用知非仆耶？ 』坐者皆大笑，晨心獨喜。 及光武與家屬避吏新野，舍晨廬，甚相親愛。 晨因謂光武曰：『王莽悖暴，盛夏斬人，此天亡之時也。 往時會宛，獨當應耶？ 』光武笑不答。
Deng Chen of Xinye in Nanyang bore the style Weiqing. His forebears had held ministerial rank for generations. His father Hong had been commandant of Yuzhang. He had married Guangwu’s sister Liu Yuan in his youth. Late in Wang Mang’s reign Guangwu, Bosheng, and Deng Chen once visited Wan and dined with Cai Shaogong of Rang and other local men. Shaogong dabbled in prophecy and declared that a man named Liu Xiu would mount the throne. “You mean the court astrologer Liu Xiu?” someone asked. Guangwu laughed. “Who says it isn’t your humble host?” The table roared with laughter—only Deng Chen’s pulse leapt. When Guangwu hid from the warrant at Xinye, he bunked with Deng Chen and grew closer than ever. Deng Chen urged him, “Mang slaughters men even in midsummer—Heaven is done with him. That prophecy at Wan—surely it pointed to you?” Guangwu smiled and said nothing.
15
及漢兵起，晨將賓客會棘陽。 漢兵敗小長安，諸將多亡家屬，光武單馬遁走。 遇女弟伯姬，與共騎而奔。 前行復見元，超令上馬。 元以手撝曰：『行矣，不能相救，無為兩沒也。 』會追兵至，元及三女皆遇害。 漢兵退保棘陽，而新野宰乃汙晨宅，焚其冢墓。 宗族皆恚怒，曰：『家自富足，何故隨婦家人入湯鑊中？ 』最終無恨色。
When revolt flared, Deng Chen brought his clients to Jiyang. After the rout at Little Chang’an most officers lost kin; Guangwu bolted alone on one horse. He met his sister Boji and doubled her on the saddle to escape. Farther on he found Yuan and shouted for her to climb up behind him. Yuan waved them on: “Run—do not drown us all in one grave.” The pursuers caught her; Yuan and her three daughters fell together. The Han line fell back to Jiyang while Xinye’s magistrate sacked Deng Chen’s home and torched his family graves. His clan raged: “We were rich enough—why follow in-laws into the cauldron?” Through it all Deng Chen never showed a trace of bitterness.
16
更始立，以晨為偏將軍。 與光武略地潁川，俱夜出昆陽城，擊破王尋、王邑。 又別徇陽翟以東，至京、密，皆下之。 更始北都洛陽，以晨為常山太守。 會王郎反，光武自薊走信都，晨亦間行會於巨鹿下，自請從擊邯鄲。 光武曰：『偉卿以一身從我，不如以一郡為我北道主人。 』乃遣晨歸郡。 光武追銅馬、高胡群賊於冀州，晨發積射士千人，又遣委輸給軍不絕。 光武即位，封晨房子侯。 帝又感悼姊沒於亂兵，追封謚元為新野節義長公主，立廟於縣西。 封晨長子汎為吳房侯，以奉公主之祀。
Gengshi named him lieutenant general. He joined Guangwu in a night sortie from Kunyang that broke Wang Xun and Wang Yi. He then swept east from Yangdi through Jing and Mi, taking every town. When Gengshi moved the court to Luoyang, Deng Chen became governor of Changshan. Wang Lang’s revolt drove Guangwu from Ji to Xinyang; Deng Chen stole through enemy lines to Julu and begged to march on Handan at his side. Guangwu replied, “Better you feed my army from a whole commandery than ride at my elbow.” He sent him back to govern Changshan. While Guangwu chased the Bronze Horse through Ji, Deng Chen levied a thousand crossbowmen and kept supply wagons rolling. At his accession Guangwu made him marquis of Fangzi. He posthumously honored sister Yuan as senior princess of Xinye, paragon of fidelity, and built her a shrine west of the town. His eldest son Fan received Wufang to maintain her cult.
17
建武三年，征晨還京師，數宴見，說故舊平生為歡。 晨從容謂帝曰：『仆竟辦之。 』帝大笑。 從幸章陵，拜光祿大夫，使持節監執金吾賈復等擊平邵陵、新息賊。 四年，從幸壽春，留鎮九江。
In Jianwu 3 he recalled Deng Chen to the capital for long banquets and talk of old times. Deng Chen murmured, “So I was right after all.” The emperor roared with laughter. At Zhangling he became superintendent of the imperial household and, staff in hand, oversaw Jia Fu’s campaign against Shaoling and Xinyang bandits. In year 4 he accompanied the tour to Shouchun and stayed to hold Jiujiang.
18
晨好樂郡職，由是復拜為中山太守，吏民稱之，常為冀州高第。 十三年，更封南䜌侯。 入奉朝請，復為汝南太守。 十八年，行幸章陵，征晨行廷尉事。 從至新野，置酒酣宴，賞賜數百千萬，復遣歸郡。 晨興鴻郤陂數千頃田，汝土以殷，魚稻之饒，流衍它郡。 明年，定封西華侯，復征奉朝請。 二十五年卒，詔遣中謁者備公主官屬禮儀，招迎新野主魂，與晨合葬於北芒。 乘輿與中宮親臨喪送葬。 謚曰惠侯。
Deng Chen loved life as a local governor; Zhongshan’s people adored him, and his ratings topped Ji province year after year. In year 13 his title was moved to Nanxiang. Recalled to court, he soon returned as governor of Runan. On the Zhangling tour of year 18 he named Deng Chen acting minister of justice. At Xinye the emperor threw a feast and poured out gold by the million before sending him back south. He diked the Hongxi marsh into thousands of qing of paddy until Runan’s grain and fish fed neighboring commanderies. The next year his fief was fixed at Xihua, then he was recalled once more on summons. He died in year 25; the court staged a princess-level rite, summoned Lady Yuan’s spirit from Xinye, and laid husband and wife together on the Mang plateau. Emperor and empress walked behind his bier. His posthumous name was Hui (“the Kind”).
19
小子棠嗣，後徙封武當。 棠卒，子固嗣。 固卒，子國嗣。 國卒，子福嗣，永建元年卒，無子，國除。
His younger son Tang inherited, later removed to Wudang. Tang was followed by Gu. Gu was followed by Guo. Guo’s line ended with Fu, who died childless in Yongjian 1; the fief lapsed.
20
來歙字君叔，南陽新野人也。 六世祖漢，有才力，武帝世，以光祿大夫副樓船將軍楊仆，擊破南越、朝鮮。 父仲，哀帝時為諫大夫，娶光武祖姑，生歙。 光武甚親敬之，數共往來長安。
Lai Xi of Xinye in Nanyang took the style Junshu. Six generations back, Lai Han had served Emperor Wu as deputy to tower-ship general Yang Pu in the conquests of Nanyue and Korea. His father Zhong, a remonstrant under Emperor Ai, had married one of Guangwu’s great-aunts and fathered Xi. Guangwu loved him like an elder brother and often traveled with him to Chang’an.
21
漢兵起，王莽以歙劉氏外屬，乃收系之，賓客共篡奪，得免。 更始即位，以歙為吏，從入關。 數言事不用，以病去。 歙女弟為漢中王劉嘉妻，嘉遣人迎歙，因南之漢中。 更始敗，歙勸嘉歸光武，遂與嘉俱東詣洛陽。
When revolt began, Wang Mang jailed him as Liu kin; his clients broke him out. Gengshi gave him office and took him west. His counsel went unheard, so he quit on grounds of illness. His sister was wife to Liu Jia of Hanzhong, who welcomed him south. After Gengshi fell he persuaded Jia to yield to Guangwu, and both men rode east to Luoyang.
22
帝見歙，大歡，即解衣為衣之，拜為太中大夫。 是時方以隴、蜀為憂，獨謂歙曰：『今西州未附，子陽稱帝，道里阻遠，諸將方務關東，思西州方略，未知所任，其謀若何？ 』歙因自請曰：『臣嘗與隗囂相遇長安。 其入始起，以漢為名。 今陛下聖德隆興，臣願得奉威命，開以丹青之信，囂必束手自歸，則述自亡之勢，不足圖也。 』帝然之。
The emperor stripped off his own cloak to wrap him in and named him grand counselor of the palace. With Long and Shu still outside the fold, he asked Xi alone, “Gongsun Shu reigns in the west, the roads are long, and every general is tied down in the east—who can take that theater?” Xi volunteered: “I knew Wei Xiao in Chang’an. He first raised arms in Han’s name. Let me go with your writ: I can win Xiao with plain good faith; once he yields, Gongsun Shu collapses of himself.” The emperor agreed.
23
建武三年，歙始使隗囂。 五年，復持節送馬援，因奉璽書於囂。 既還，復往說囂。 囂遂遣子恂隨歙入質，拜歙為中郎將。 時山東略定，帝謀西收囂兵，與俱伐蜀，復使歙喻旨囂將王元說囂，多設疑，故久豫不決。 歙素剛毅，遂發憤質責囂曰：『國家以君知臧否，曉廢興，故以手書暢意。 足下推忠誠，遣伯春委質，是臣主之交信也。 今反欲用佞惑之言，為族滅之計，叛主負子，違背忠信乎？ 吉凶之決，在於今日。 』欲前刺囂，囂起入，部勒兵，將殺歙，歙徐杖節就車而去。 囂愈怒，王元勸囂殺歙，使牛邯將兵圍守之。 囂將王遵諫曰：『愚聞為國者慎器與名，為家者畏怨重禍。 俱慎名器，則下服其命； 輕用怨禍，則家受其殃。 今將軍遣子質漢，內懷它誌，名器逆矣； 外人有議欲謀漢使，輕怨禍矣。 古者列國兵交，使在其間，所以重兵貴和而不任戰也，何況承王命籍重質而犯之哉？ 君叔雖單車遠使，而陛下之外兄也。 害之無損於漢，而隨以族滅。 昔宋執楚使，遂有析骸易子之禍。 小國猶不可辱，況於萬乘之主，重以伯春之命哉！ 』歙為人有信義，言行不違，及往來遊說，皆可案復，西州士大夫皆信重之，多為其言，故得免而東歸。
In Jianwu 3 he made his first mission to Wei Xiao. In year 5 he escorted Ma Yuan with staff and jade edict to Longxi. Back in the capital, he returned to argue with Xiao. Xiao sent his heir Xun to Luoyang with Xi as hostage; the court then named Lai Xi a zhonglang general. The plain was nearly won; Guangwu meant to draft Xiao’s army for an attack on Shu and sent Xi again—but Wang Yuan filled Xiao’s ear with doubts, and month after month Xiao would not move. Hot-tempered, Lai Xi rounded on Xiao: “The court trusts you to know right from ruin—hence the emperor’s own letter. You pledged faith and sent your son as hostage—that bound lord and vassal. Now you toy with slander and risk your whole clan—would you disown your sovereign and your child?” Choose today—life or extinction.” He lunged to stab Xiao; Xiao fled within, called out guards, and would have killed him—yet Xi leaned on his credentials, walked to his carriage, and drove off. Xiao’s rage flared; Wang Yuan urged execution and sent Niu Han to pen him in. General Wang Zun warned him: “A state guards its ritual emblems; a household dreads needless blood-feud. Honor both, and men obey; trifle with feud, and your house burns.” You sent a hostage yet plot betrayal—that inverts the rite of rank. To murder an imperial envoy is to court that feud. Ancient states at war still spared envoys—how then strike a man who bears the Son of Heaven’s writ and your son’s life?” Junshu rides alone, yet he is the emperor’s cousin. Killing him gains nothing for Han but costs you your clan. Song once seized a Chu envoy and brought on the famine where men boiled bones and swapped children. Petty kingdoms could not endure such shame—what of a Son of Heaven who holds your heir?” Lai Xi’s word had always been bond; every pledge he made in the west could be verified, and the gentry of Long spoke up until Xiao let him ride east alive.
24
八年春，歙與征虜將軍祭遵襲略陽，遵道病還，分遣精兵隨歙，合二千餘人，伐山開道，從番須、回中徑至略陽，斬囂守將金梁，因保其城。 囂大驚曰：『何其神也！ 』乃悉兵數萬人圍略陽，斬山築堤，激水灌城。 歙與將士固死堅守，矢盡，乃發屋斷木以為兵。 囂盡銳攻之，自春至秋，其士卒疲弊，帝乃大發關東兵，自將上隴，囂眾潰走，圍解。 於是置酒高會，勞賜歙，班坐絕席，在諸將之右，賜歙妻縑千匹。 詔使留屯長安，悉監護諸將。
In spring of year 8 Lai Xi and Ji Zun struck Lueyang; when Ji Zun fell ill, Xi took two thousand picked men, hacked a path through Fanshu and Huizhong, slew Jin Liang, and seized the town. Wei Xiao gasped, “How did they reach here like ghosts?” He then threw tens of thousands against the walls, dammed streams, and tried to drown the garrison. Lai Xi and his men held out until every arrow was gone, then tore beams from houses to fight on. Wei Xiao hammered the walls from spring to fall until his army wilted; Guangwu then drove up Long with fresh hosts from the east, Xiao’s lines collapsed, and the siege broke. The emperor feasted the army, seated Lai Xi above the other generals on his own mat, and gave his wife a thousand rolls of silk. He was ordered to stay in Chang’an as overseer of every western column.
25
歙因上書曰：『公孫述以隴西、天水為藩蔽，故得延命假息。 今二郡平蕩，則述智計窮矣。 宜益選兵馬，儲積資糧。 昔趙之將帥多賈人，高帝懸之以重賞。 今西州新破，兵人疲饉，若招以財谷，則其眾可集。 臣知國家所給非一，用度不足，然有不得已也。 』帝然之。 於是大轉糧運，詔歙率征西大將軍馮異、建威大將軍耿弇、虎牙大將軍蓋延、揚武將軍馬成、武威將軍劉尚入天水，擊破公孫述將田弇、趙匡。 明年，攻拔落門，隗囂支黨周宗、趙恢及天水屬縣皆降。
Lai Xi memorialized: “Shu survives only while Longxi and Tianshui shield him. Crush those two commanderies and his schemes are spent.” Hoard grain and remount the army.” Gaozu once bought Zhao’s merchant-generals with gold—do the same.” Long is starving after defeat; offer pay and grain and the soldiers will flock in.” The treasury is thin, I know—but some costs cannot be shirked.” The emperor agreed. He then poured supplies west and sent Lai Xi with Feng Yi, Geng Yan, Gai Yan, Ma Cheng, and Liu Shang into Tianshui, where they crushed Shu’s generals Tian Yan and Zhao Kuang. The next year they stormed Luomen; Zhou Zong, Zhao Hui, and every Tianshui district yielded.
26
初王莽世，羌虜多背叛，而隗囂招懷其酋豪，遂得為用。 及囂亡後，五谿、先零諸種數為寇掠，皆營塹自守，州郡不能討。 歙乃大修攻具，率蓋延、劉尚及太中大夫馬援等進擊羌於金城，大破之，斬首虜數千人，獲牛羊萬餘頭，谷數十萬斛。 又擊破襄武賊傅栗卿等。 隴西雖平，而人饑，流者相望。 歙乃傾倉廩，轉運諸縣，以賑贍之，於是隴右遂安，而涼州流通焉。
Under Wang Mang the Qiang had risen; Wei Xiao had bought their chiefs and used them. After Xiao died, Wuxi and Xianling tribes raided without end, each behind palisades the local troops could not crack. Lai Xi rebuilt siege gear, marched with Gai Yan, Liu Shang, and Ma Yuan to Jincheng, shattered the Qiang, took thousands of heads, and captured vast herds and granaries. He also broke Fu Liqing’s band at Xiangwu. Longxi was quiet but famine sent refugees in endless lines. He emptied every granary and wagoned grain county by county until order returned to Longyou and trade reopened with Liangzhou.
27
十一年，歙與蓋延、馬成進攻公孫述將王元、環安於河池、下辨，陷之，乘勝遂進。 蜀人大懼，使刺客刺歙，未殊，馳召蓋延。 延見歙，因伏悲哀，不能仰視。 歙叱延曰：『虎牙何敢然！ 今使者中刺客，無以報國，故呼巨卿，欲相屬以軍事，而反效兒女子涕泣乎！ 刃雖在身，不能勒兵斬公耶！ 』延收淚強起，受所誡。 歙自書表曰：『臣夜人定後，為何人所賊傷，中臣要害。 臣不敢自惜，誠恨奉職不稱，以為朝廷羞。 夫理國以得賢為本，太中大夫段襄，骨鯁可任，願陛下裁察。 又臣兄弟不肖，終恐被罪，陛下哀憐，數賜教督。 』投筆抽刃而絕。
In year 11 he joined Gai Yan and Ma Cheng against Wang Yuan and Huan An at Hanchi and Xiabian, took both towns, and pressed the advantage. Shu in panic sent a dagger-man; the blow did not kill him at once, and messengers raced for Gai Yan. Gai Yan found him dying and wept face to the floor. Lai Xi snapped, “Tiger Fang—what is this sniveling? I am dying for the realm and called you to hand over the army—must you whimper like a girl?” The knife is in my back—can you not rally the host and strike the foe?” Gai Yan swallowed his grief and took his orders. Lai Xi’s own memorial ran: “After midnight last night an assassin struck me in a mortal place. I do not mourn my life—I mourn that I failed my charge and shamed Your Majesty. The state rests on good men—Grand Counselor Duan Xiang is steadfast; I beg you to weigh his name.” My brothers are weak; I fear they will disgrace you—yet you have often schooled them; I beg your continued grace.” He threw down his brush, drew the steel across his throat, and died.
28
帝聞大驚，省書攬涕，乃賜策曰：『中郎將來歙，攻戰連年，平定羌、隴，憂國忘家，忠孝彰著。 遭命遇害，嗚呼哀哉！ 』使太中大夫贈歙中郎將、征羌侯印綬，謚曰節侯，謁者護喪事。 喪還洛陽，乘輿縞素臨吊送葬。 以歙有平羌、隴之功，故改汝南之當鄉縣為征羌國焉。
The emperor wept over his letter and wrote: “Lai Xi of the zhonglang guard fought year on year, pacified Qiang and Long, forgot home for the state—his loyalty blazed. Cut down by treachery—alas for him!” He posthumously restored his rank as zhonglang general and marquis who conquers the Qiang, styled him Jie, and sent heralds to conduct the rites. When the cortège reached Luoyang, the emperor in mourning white met the train. For his western victories the court renamed Dangxiang in Runan “Conquering-the-Qiang.”
29
子褒嗣。 十三年，帝嘉歙忠節，復封歙弟由為宜西侯。 褒子棱，尚顯宗女武安公主。 棱早歿，褒卒，以棱子歷為嗣。
His son Bao inherited. In year 13 the court also enfeoffed his brother You as marquis of Yixi for the family’s steadfast service. Bao’s son Ling wed Emperor Ming’s daughter, the Princess of Wu’an. Ling died young; when Bao followed, Ling’s son Li carried the title.
30
論曰：『世稱來君叔天下信士。 夫專使乎二國之間，豈厭詐謀哉？ 而能獨以信稱者，良其誠心在乎使兩義俱安，而己不私其功也。
The summation says: men called Lai Junshu the most trusted man alive. Envoys between rival courts live by guile— yet Lai Xi won fame for honesty because he sought peace for both camps, not glory for himself.
31
歷字伯珍，少襲爵，以公主子，永元中為侍中，監羽林右騎。 永初三年，遷射聲校尉。 永寧元年，代馮石為執金吾。 延光元年，尊歷母為長公主。 二年，遷歷太僕。
Li Bozhen inherited young; as the princess’s son he became palace attendant under Yongyuan and commanded the right wing of the imperial guard. In Yongchu 3 he rose to colonel of the shooting-sounds corps. In Yongning 1 he replaced Feng Shi as chief commandant of the guards. In Yanguang 1 the emperor raised Li’s mother to senior princess. The next year Li became grand coachman.
32
明年，中常侍樊豐與大將軍耿寶、侍中周廣、謝惲等共讒陷太尉楊震，震遂自殺。 歷謂侍御中虞詡曰：『耿寶托元舅之親，榮寵過厚，不念報國恩，而傾側奸臣，誣奏楊公，傷害忠良，其天禍亦將至矣。 』遂絕周廣、謝惲，不與交通。 時皇太子驚病不安，避幸安帝乳母野王君王聖舍。 太子乳母王男、廚監邴吉等以為聖舍新繕修，犯土禁，不可久御。 聖及其女永與大長秋江京及中常侍樊豐、王男、邴吉等互相是非，聖、永遂誣譖男、吉，皆幽囚死，家屬徙比景。 太子思男等，數為嘆息。 京、豐懼有後害，妄造虛無，構讒太子及東宮官屬。 帝怒，召公卿以下會議廢立。 耿寶等承旨，皆以為太子當廢。 歷與太常桓焉、廷尉張皓議曰：『經說，年未滿十五，過惡不在其身。 且男、吉之謀，皇太子容有不知，宜選忠良保傅，輔以禮義。 廢置事重，此誠聖恩所宜宿留。 』帝不從，是日遂廢太子為濟陰王。 時監太子家小黃門籍建、中傅高梵等，皆以無罪徙朔方。 歷乃要結光祿勛祋諷，宗正劉瑋，將作大匠薛皓，侍中閭丘弘、陳光、趙代、施延，太中大夫朱倀、第五頡，中散大夫曹成，諫議大夫李尤，符節令張敬，持書侍御史龔調，羽林右監孔顯，城門司馬徐崇，衛尉守丞樂闈，長樂、未央廄令鄭安世等十餘人，俱詣鴻都門證太子無過。 龔調據法律明之，以為男、吉犯罪，皇太子不當坐。 帝與左右患之，乃使中常侍奉詔脅群臣曰：『父子一體，天性自然。 以義割恩，為天下也。 歷、諷等不識大典，而與群小共為讙嘩，外見忠直而內希後福，飾邪違義，豈事君之禮？ 朝廷廣開言事之路，故且一切假貸； 若懷迷不反，當顯明刑書。 』諫者莫不失色。 薛皓先頓首曰：『固宜如明詔。 』歷怫然，廷詰皓曰：『屬通諫何言，而今復背之？ 大臣乘朝車，處國事，固得輾轉若此乎！ 』乃各稍自引起，歷獨守闕，連日不肯去。 帝大怒，乃免歷兄弟官，削國租，黜公主不得會見。 歷遂杜門不與親戚通，時人為之震栗。
Then eunuch Feng Feng and Geng Bao framed Grand Commandant Yang Zhen, who took his own life. Li told Yu Xu, “Geng Bao’s power as the emperor’s uncle has swollen his pride; he joins villains to ruin Yang Zhen—Heaven will call him to account.” He cut Zhou Guang and Xie Yun dead out of his circle. The crown prince fell ill and moved into wet nurse Wang Sheng’s house at Yewang. Wang Nan and Bing Ji warned that the new plaster broke earth taboos and the boy should not stay. Wang Sheng and her daughter Yong traded charges with Jiang Jing and the eunuchs until Nan and Ji were jailed to death and their kin banished south. The prince mourned Wang Nan and sighed again and again. Jing and Feng, fearing revenge, spun lies against the heir and his staff. An enraged An summoned the high ministers to debate deposing the heir. Geng Bao and his clique echoed that the prince must go. Li joined Huan Yan and Zhang Hao: “The canon says a child under fifteen bears no guilt for others’ plots. The wet nurses’ intrigue need not touch the boy—give him honest tutors instead. Dethroning a crown prince deserves more than one night’s thought.” The emperor refused; that same day the prince became the king of Jiyin. Household eunuch Ji Jian and tutor Gao Fan, though innocent, were exiled to Shuofang. Li then rallied over a dozen high officials—from Dui Feng and Liu Wei to Gong Diao—to protest at the Hongdu Gate that the prince was blameless. Gong Diao cited statute: the wet nurses’ crime did not implicate the heir. Panicked, the emperor sent eunuchs to menace the ministers: “Father and son are one flesh by nature.” A ruler may sever blood ties for the good of the realm. Li and his allies howl with nobodies, feigning loyalty while angling for favor—is that how one serves a lord? For now the court forgives this clamor once. Anyone who clings to delusion will face the full penalty of the law. Every remonstrator turned pale. Xue Hao was first to kowtow: “We must obey the edict.” Li flushed and shouted at him in open court: “What pact did we swear in the corridor—how dare you turn coat?” Men who ride the state’s carriage should not flip like fish!” The others slunk off; Li alone camped at the gate day after day. The emperor stripped the Li brothers, cut their income, and barred the princess from court. Li barred his doors to kin and left the capital in awe of him.
33
子定嗣。 定尚安帝妹平氏長公主，順帝時，為虎賁中郎將。 定卒，子虎嗣，桓帝時，為屯騎校尉。 弟艷，字季德，少好學下士，開館養徒，少歷顯位，靈帝時，再遷司空。
His son Ding inherited. Ding wed Emperor An’s sister, the Princess Ping; under Shun he led the tiger-brave guard. Ding’s son Hu became colonel of garrison cavalry under Huan. His brother Yan, styled Jide, kept open house for scholars, rose through high office, and twice became minister of works under Ling.
34
贊曰：『李、鄧豪贍，舍家從讖。 少公雖孚，宗卿未驗。 王常知命，功惟帝念。 款款君叔，斯言無玷。 方獻三捷，永墜一劍。
The closing verse: Li and Deng staked fortune on a prophecy’s word— Shaogong spoke true, yet Mang’s astrologer-Liu was the wrong man. Wang Chang read Heaven’s mind and won the throne’s praise. Steadfast Junshu—his name stayed clean. Three triumphs won, one dagger ended him.”