1
任光字伯卿，南陽宛人也。 少忠厚，為鄉裏所愛。 初為鄉嗇夫、郡縣吏。 漢兵至宛，軍人見光冠服鮮明，令解衣，將殺而奪之。 會光祿勛劉賜適至，視光容貌長者，乃救全之。 光因率黨與從賜，為安集掾，拜偏將軍，與世祖破王尋、王邑。
Ren Guang, styled Boqing, came from Wan in Nanyang commandery. From boyhood he was known for honesty and loyalty, and his neighbors held him in affection. He began his career as a village overseer and then as a clerk in the commandery and county offices. When imperial forces reached Wan, some soldiers spotted Ren Guang's fine hat and robes, ordered him to undress, and were about to kill him for the plunder. Superintendent of the Household Liu Ci happened to arrive, took one look at Ren Guang's dignified bearing, and intervened to spare his life. Ren Guang then brought his followers to Liu Ci's service as an adjutant for pacification, was commissioned lieutenant general, and fought beside Emperor Guangwu to defeat Wang Xun and Wang Yi.
2
更始至洛陽，以光為信都太守。 及王郎起，郡國皆降之，光獨不肯，遂與都尉李忠、令萬脩、功曹阮況、五官掾郭唐等同心固守。 廷掾持王郎檄詣府白光，光斬之於市，以徇百姓，發精兵四千人城守。 更始二年春，世祖自薊還，狼狽不知所向，傳聞信都獨為漢拒邯鄲，即馳赴之。 光等孤城獨守，恐不能全，聞世祖至，大喜，吏民皆稱萬歲，即時開門，與李忠、萬脩率官屬迎謁。 世祖入傳舍，謂光曰：『伯卿，今勢力虛弱，欲俱入城頭子路、力子都兵中，何如邪？ 』光曰：『不可。 』世祖曰：『卿兵少，如何？ 』光曰：『可募發奔命，出攻傍縣，若不降者，恣聽掠之。 人貪財物，則兵可招而致也。 』世祖從之。 拜光為左大將軍，封武成侯，留南陽宗廣領信都太守事，使光將兵從。 光乃多作檄文曰：『大司馬劉公將城頭子路、力子都兵百萬眾從東方來，擊諸反虜。 』遣騎馳至巨鹿界中。 吏民得檄，傳相告語。 世祖遂與光等投暮入堂陽界，使騎各持炬火，彌滿澤中，光炎燭天地，舉城莫不震驚惶怖，其夜即降。 旬日之間，兵眾大盛，因攻城邑，遂屠邯鄲，乃遣光歸郡。
After the Gengshi Emperor entered Luoyang, he named Ren Guang governor of Xindu. When Wang Lang rebelled, every district around them capitulated; Ren Guang alone held out, standing shoulder to shoulder with Commandant Li Zhong, Magistrate Wan Xiu, merit officer Ruan Kuang, registrar Guo Tang, and the rest to defend the city. A clerk arrived at headquarters with Wang Lang's summons; Ren Guang had him beheaded in the market as a warning to the people, then mobilized four thousand elite soldiers to hold the walls. In the spring of Gengshi 2, Emperor Guangwu was retreating in disorder from Ji with nowhere clear to go; word reached him that Xindu alone still held for Han against Handan, and he rode for it at once. Ren Guang and his comrades had been defending a lone city and feared they could not last; when they learned Guangwu had arrived, they were elated. Officials and commoners shouted long life, threw open the gates, and with Li Zhong and Wan Xiu went out in formal procession to receive him. Emperor Guangwu went to the post station and said to Ren Guang, "Boqing, we are weak now. I am thinking of throwing in with Chengtou Zilu's and Lizi Du's bands in the city—what do you think?" Ren Guang replied, "That will not do." Guangwu asked, "Then what? Your force is small?" Ren Guang said, "Call up emergency levies, strike the neighboring counties, and tell the men they may loot freely wherever the enemy refuses to yield." Once greed for plunder takes hold, you can draw soldiers to your banner." Emperor Guangwu accepted the plan. He named Ren Guang left grand general and marquis of Wucheng, left Zong Guang of Nanyang acting governor of Xindu, and took Ren Guang with him in the field. Ren Guang then had broadsheets forged in large numbers: "Grand Marshal Liu is leading Chengtou Zilu's and Lizi Du's hosts—a million men—from the east to crush the rebels." He sent horsemen racing into the Julu area with the notices. Officials and townsfolk who saw the handbills spread the word from mouth to mouth. That evening Emperor Guangwu entered Tangyang territory with Ren Guang and the rest; each rider carried a torch until the marshes glittered with fire. The blaze seemed to touch sky and earth, and the whole town panicked and surrendered before dawn. Within a fortnight their army had swelled; they took towns along the way, stormed Handan, and then sent Ren Guang home to his commandery.
3
城頭子路者，東平人，姓爰，名曾，字子路，與肥城劉詡起兵盧城頭，故號其兵為『城頭子路』。 曾自稱『都從事』，詡稱『校三老』，寇掠河、濟間，眾至二十餘萬。 更始立，曾遣使降，拜曾東萊郡太守，詡濟南太守，皆行大將軍事。 是歲，曾為其將所殺，眾推詡為主，更始封詡助國侯，令罷兵歸本郡。
Chengtou Zilu was a Dongping man, surname Yuan, personal name Zeng, courtesy Zilu. He and Liu Xu of Feicheng had risen at the ramparts of Lucheng, which is how his band got the nickname Chengtou Zilu. Yuan Zeng called himself chief clerk and Liu Xu called himself elder of the third rank; they plundered the country between the Yellow and Ji rivers until their following topped two hundred thousand. When the Gengshi regime took power, Yuan Zeng sent envoys to surrender and was named governor of Donglai; Liu Xu became governor of Jinan, each with the powers of a grand general. That same year one of Yuan Zeng's officers murdered him, and the army chose Liu Xu as leader. The Gengshi Emperor enfeoffed Liu Xu as marquis of Zhuguo and told him to demobilize and go home to Jinan.
4
力子都者，東海人也。 起兵鄉裏，抄擊徐、兗界，眾有六七萬。 更始立，遣使降，拜子都徐州牧。 為其部曲所殺，餘黨復相聚，與諸賊會於檀鄉，因號為檀鄉。 檀鄉渠帥董次仲始起茌平，遂渡河入魏郡清河，與五校合，眾十餘萬。 建武元年，世祖入洛陽，遣大司馬吳漢等擊檀鄉，明年春，大破降之。
Lizi Du came from Donghai commandery. He had risen in his home region and raided across Xu and Yan until he commanded sixty or seventy thousand men. Under the Gengshi Emperor he too sent envoys to capitulate and was named governor of Xu province. His own retainers assassinated him; the survivors regrouped and joined other rebels at Tanxiang, from which the coalition took its name Tanxiang. Their chieftain Dong Cizhong had first risen at Chiping, crossed the Yellow River into Wei and Qinghe, merged with the Five Camps band, and commanded well over a hundred thousand fighters. In Jianwu 1 Emperor Guangwu entered Luoyang and dispatched Grand Marshal Wu Han against the Tanxiang rebels; the following spring the imperial army shattered them and took their surrender.
5
是歲，更封光阿陵侯，食邑萬戶。 五年，征詣京師，奉朝請。 其冬卒。 子隗嗣。 後阮況為南陽太守，郭唐至河南尹，皆有能名。
That year Ren Guang was transferred to a new fief as marquis of Aling, with revenue from ten thousand households. In the fifth year of Jianwu he was called to the capital to attend court as a supernumerary gentleman. He died that winter. His son Ren Wei inherited the title. Later Ruan Kuang served as governor of Nanyang and Guo Tang rose to governor of Henan; both were remembered as capable officials.
6
隗字仲和，少好黃、老，清靜寡欲，所得奉秩，常以賑恤宗族，收養孤寡。 顯宗聞之，擢奉朝請，遷羽林左監、虎賁中郎將，又遷長水校尉。 肅宗即位，雅相敬愛，數稱其行，以為將作大匠。 將作大匠自建武以來常謁者兼之，至隗乃置真焉。 建初五年，遷太仆，八年，代竇固為光祿勛，所歷皆有稱。 章和元年，拜司空。
Ren Wei, styled Zhonghe, had been drawn in youth to Huang-Lao quietism, lived simply, and routinely spent his salary on kinsmen in need and on orphans and widows under his care. Emperor Ming heard of it and advanced him to supernumerary courtier, then colonel of the left household guard, then general of the rapid-as-tiger household guard, and finally colonel of the Chang River regiment. When Emperor Zhang came to the throne he treated Ren Wei with marked respect, often praised his character, and named him chief architect for the imperial works. Since the Jianwu era the chief architect's post had usually been doubled with a court yeja; Ren Wei was the first to hold the office in its own right. In Jianchu 5 he became grand coachman; in Jianchu 8 he succeeded Dou Gu as superintendent of the household, earning praise at every turn. In Zhanghe 1 he was named minister of works.
7
隗義行內修，不求名譽，而以沈正見重於世。 和帝即位，大將軍竇憲秉權，專作威福，內外朝臣莫不震懾。 時，憲擊匈奴，國用勞費，隗奏議征憲還，前後十上。 獨與司徒袁安同心畢力，持重處正，鯁言直議，無所回隱，語在《袁安傳》。
Ren Wei cultivated virtue in private without chasing reputation, yet the world esteemed him for his steadiness and integrity. When Emperor He came to the throne, Grand General Dou Xian dominated the government, throwing his weight about until ministers at court and in the provinces quailed before him. Dou Xian was then campaigning against the Xiongnu at crippling cost to the treasury; Ren Wei repeatedly—ten memorials in all—urged the throne to recall him. He alone, with Minister of Education Yuan An, held the line with unwavering resolve, spoke plainly without hedging—the full account is in the 《Biography of Yuan An》.
8
永元四年薨，子屯嗣。 帝追思隗忠，擢屯為步兵校尉，徙封西陽侯。 屯卒，子勝嗣。 勝卒，子世嗣，徙封北鄉侯。
He died in Yongyuan 4; his son Ren Tun inherited the title. The emperor remembered Ren Wei's loyalty, promoted Ren Tun to colonel of the infantry guard, and moved the enfeoffment to the marquisate of Xiyang. When Ren Tun died, his son Ren Sheng succeeded. When Ren Sheng died, his son Ren Shi inherited, and the fief was shifted to the marquisate of Beixiang.
9
李忠字仲都，東萊黃人也。 父為高密都尉。 忠元始中以父任為郎，署中數十人，而忠獨以好禮修整稱。 王莽時為新博屬長，郡中鹹敬信之。
Li Zhong, styled Zhongdu, was a native of Huang in Donglai commandery. His father had been commandant of Gaomi. During the Yuanshi reign he entered the corps of gentlemen through his father's rank; of the dozens on staff, he alone was noted for his regard for ritual and orderly conduct. Under Wang Mang he served as chief of the Xinbo dependency office, and the whole commandery respected and trusted him.
10
更始立，使使者行郡國，即拜忠都尉官。 忠遂與任光同奉世祖，以為右大將軍，封武固侯。 時，世祖自解所佩綬以帶忠，因從攻下屬縣。 至苦陘，世祖會諸將，問所得財物，唯忠獨無所掠。 世祖曰：『我欲特賜，李忠，諸卿得無望乎？ 』即以所乘大驪馬及繡被衣物賜之。
When the Gengshi Emperor took power, his envoys toured the provinces and on the spot commissioned Li Zhong as commandant. Li Zhong then joined Ren Guang in serving Emperor Guangwu, who named him right grand general and marquis of Wugu. Emperor Guangwu unfastened his own official sash and bound it on Li Zhong as a mark of favor, then led him in the reduction of the outlying counties. At Kuxing Emperor Guangwu called the generals together and asked what booty each had seized; Li Zhong alone had taken nothing. Guangwu said, "I mean to give Li Zhong a special gift—you others won't begrudge him that, I hope?" He then gave Li Zhong his own dapple-gray mount, brocade bedding, and fine clothes.
11
進圍巨鹿，未下，王郎遣將攻信都，信都大姓馬寵等開城內之，收太守宗廣及忠母、妻，而令親屬招呼忠。 時，寵弟從忠為校尉，忠即時召見，責數以背恩反城，因格殺之。 諸將皆驚曰：『家屬在人手中，殺其弟，何猛也！ 』忠曰：『若縱賊不誅，則二心也。 』世祖聞而美之，謂忠曰：『今吾兵已成矣，將軍可歸救老母、妻、子，宜自募吏民能得家屬者，賜錢千萬，來從我取。 』忠曰：『蒙明公大恩，思得效命，誠不敢內顧宗親。 』世祖乃使任光將兵救信都，光兵於道散降王郎，無功而還。 會更始遣將攻破信都，忠家屬得全。 世祖因使忠還，行太守事，收郡中大姓附邯鄲者，誅殺數百人。 及任光歸郡，忠乃還復為都尉。 建武二年，更封中水侯，食邑三千戶。 其年，征拜五官中郎將，從平寵萌，董憲等。
While the army was still besieging Julu, Wang Lang sent a force against Xindu. Powerful local families led by Ma Chong betrayed the city, seized Governor Zong Guang and Li Zhong's mother and wife, and tried to lure Li Zhong through his kin. Ma Chong's brother was serving under Li Zhong as a colonel; Li Zhong called him in immediately, rebuked him for treason in opening the gates, and cut him down on the spot. The other generals were stunned: "Your family is hostage to the enemy, and you kill his brother—how ruthless!" Li Zhong replied, "If I spared a traitor, I would be of two minds myself." Guangwu heard and approved: "Our host is now solid. You may go back to rescue your mother, wife, and children—recruit anyone who can recover hostages and I will pay ten million cash; collect it from me." Li Zhong answered, "I owe you too much to think of anything but repaying it with my life; I cannot spare a thought for my relatives." Emperor Guangwu then sent Ren Guang to relieve Xindu, but Ren Guang's men melted away on the march and defected to Wang Lang, so the expedition accomplished nothing. Soon afterward a Gengshi general retook Xindu, and Li Zhong's family came through unharmed. Guangwu then sent Li Zhong back as acting governor to round up leading families who had backed Wang Lang of Handan; several hundred were executed. After Ren Guang went home to his commandery, Li Zhong resumed his post as commandant. In Jianwu 2 he was re-enfeoffed as marquis of Zhongshui with income from three thousand households. The same year he was called to court as general of the household for the five offices and took part in the campaigns against Pang Meng and Dong Xian.
12
六年，遷丹陽太守。 是時，海內新定，南方海濱江淮，多擁兵據土。 忠到郡，招懷降附，其不服者悉誅之，旬月皆平。 忠以丹陽越俗不好學，嫁娶禮儀，衰於中國，乃為起學校，習禮容，春秋鄉飲，選用明經，郡中向慕之。 墾田增多，三歲間流民占著者五萬餘口。 十四年，三公奏課為天下第一，遷豫章太守。 病去官，征詣京師。 十九年，卒。
In Jianwu 6 he became governor of Danyang. The empire had only just been pacified, yet along the southern coast and the Yangzi-Huai region many still held arms and carved out their own ground. Li Zhong won over those willing to yield and exterminated those who refused; within a month the commandery was quiet. Finding the local Yue people little inclined toward scholarship and their wedding etiquette lax compared with the heartland, he founded schools, taught ritual bearing, held the classic village-drinking ceremony, and promoted men versed in the classics until the commandery took notice and began to emulate them. Under his administration newly opened fields multiplied, and in three years more than fifty thousand displaced people had registered as residents. In Jianwu 14 the three highest ministers ranked his performance first in the empire, and he was transferred to Yuzhang. Illness forced him to resign; he was then summoned to the capital. He died in Jianwu 19.
13
子威嗣。 威卒，子純嗣，永平九年，坐母殺純叔父。 國除。 永初七年，鄧太后復封純琴亭侯。 純卒，子廣嗣。
His son Li Wei inherited the title. When Li Wei died, his son Li Chun succeeded; in Yongping 9 the title ran into trouble because Li Chun's mother had murdered his father's younger brother. The marquisate was struck off. In Yongchu 7 Empress Dowager Deng restored Li Chun as marquis of Qinting. When Li Chun died, his son Li Guang inherited.
14
萬脩字君遊，扶風茂陵人也。 更始時，為信都令，與太守任光、都尉李忠共城守，迎世祖，拜為偏將軍，封造義侯。 及破邯鄲，拜右將軍，從平河北。 建武二年，更封槐裏侯。 與揚化將軍堅鐔俱擊南陽，未克而病，卒於軍。
Wan Xiu, styled Junyou, came from Maoling in Fufeng commandery. Under Gengshi he was magistrate of Xindu; with Governor Ren Guang and Commandant Li Zhong he held the city, welcomed Emperor Guangwu, was named lieutenant general, and enfeoffed as marquis of Zaoyi. After the fall of Handan he became right general and helped pacify Hebei. In Jianwu 2 his fief was moved to Huaili. He campaigned with General Who Spreads Transformation Jian Tan against Nanyang but fell ill before the city fell and died in camp.
15
子普嗣，徙封泫氏侯。 普卒，子親嗣，徙封扶柳侯。 親卒，無子，國除。 永初七年，鄧太后紹封脩曾孫豐為曲平亭侯。 豐卒，子熾嗣。 永建元年}，熾卒，無子，國除。 延熹二年，桓帝紹封脩玄孫恭為門德亭侯。
His son Wan Pu inherited, and the title was shifted to the marquisate of Xuanshi. When Wan Pu died, his son Wan Qin succeeded, and the fief became Filiu. Wan Qin left no heir, so the marquisate lapsed. In Yongchu 7 Empress Dowager Deng renewed the line, enfeoffing Wan Xiu's great-grandson Wan Feng as marquis of Qupingting. When Wan Feng died, his son Wan Chi inherited. In Yongjian 1 Wan Chi died without issue and the fief ended. In Yanxi 2 Emperor Huan revived the line, naming Wan Xiu's descendant Wan Gong marquis of Mendeting.
16
邳彤字偉君，信都人也。 父吉，為遼西太守。 彤初為王莽和成卒正。 世祖徇河北，至下曲陽，彤舉城降，復以為太守，留止數日。 世祖北至薊，會王郎兵起，使其將徇地，所到縣莫不奉迎，唯和成、信都堅守不下。 彤聞世祖從薊還，失軍，欲至信都，乃先使五官掾張萬、督郵尹綏，選精騎二千餘匹，緣路迎世祖軍。 彤尋與世祖會信都。 世祖雖得二郡之助，而兵眾未合，議者多言可因信都兵自送，西還長安。 彤廷對曰：
Pi Tong, styled Weijun, was a man of Xindu. His father Pi Ji had served as governor of Liaoxi. Pi Tong began his career as zuzheng of Hegcheng under Wang Mang. When Emperor Guangwu advanced through Hebei and reached Xiaquyang, Pi Tong surrendered the city; Guangwu reappointed him governor and kept him there for a few days. Guangwu then rode north to Ji just as Wang Lang's rebellion erupted. Wang's officers swept the countryside, and county after county opened its gates—only Hegcheng and Xindu refused to submit. Hearing that Guangwu was retreating from Ji stripped of his main force and heading for Xindu, Pi Tong sent registrar Zhang Wan and touring investigator Yin Sui ahead with over two thousand picked cavalry to escort him along the route. Pi Tong soon joined Emperor Guangwu at Xindu. Even with two loyal commanderies behind him, Guangwu's army was still scattered; many advisers urged him to use Xindu's men as an escort and withdraw west to Chang'an. Pi Tong rose in council and said:
17
議者之言皆非也。 吏民歌吟思漢久矣，故更始舉尊號而天下響應，三輔清宮除道以迎之。 一夫荷戟大呼，則千里之將無不捐城遁逃，虜伏請降。 自上古以來，亦未有感物動民其如此者也。 又卜者王郎，假名因勢，驅集烏合之眾，遂震燕、趙之地； 況明公奮二郡之兵，揚響應之威，以攻則何城不克，以戰則何軍不服！ 今釋此而歸，豈徒空失河北，必要驚動三輔，墮損威重，非計之得者也。 若明公無復征伐之意，則雖信都之兵猶難會也。 何者？ 明公既西，則邯鄲城民不肯捐父母、背城主，而千里送公，其離散亡逃可必也。
Those counsels are mistaken. Officials and commoners have longed for the house of Han; when the Gengshi Emperor claimed the throne, the empire rallied, and the capital region swept the avenues to receive him. A single man with a halberd, raising his voice, could send commanders a thousand li away abandoning their walls or kneeling to yield. Never in recorded memory had popular feeling swung so completely behind a cause. Wang Lang the fortune-teller had seized power with a borrowed name and a rabble, yet he still overawed Yan and Zhao. How much more may you, my lord, rouse two loyal commanderies and the prestige of a nation that still answers Han—what wall could stand against you, what army refuse you! To throw this away and march west would not only forfeit Hebei for nothing; it would shake the heartland and tarnish your authority—no winning strategy. If you show the world you will not fight on, even the men of Xindu may not rally again. Why is that? Once you turn west, the people of Handan will not leave parents and lords to follow you a thousand li; your following would melt away for certain.
18
世祖善其言而止。 即日拜彤為後大將軍，和成太守如故，使將兵居前。 比至堂陽，堂陽已反屬王郎，彤使張萬、尹綏先曉譬吏民，世祖夜至，即開門出迎。 引兵擊破白奢賊於中山。 自此常從戰攻。
Emperor Guangwu judged the argument sound and abandoned the plan to withdraw. That same day he named Pi Tong rear grand general while leaving him governor of Hegcheng, and put his command in the lead. By the time they reached Tangyang, the town had gone over to Wang Lang. Pi Tong sent Zhang Wan and Yin Sui to reason with the people; Guangwu arrived after dark, and the gates flew open in welcome. He then led the column that routed the Baisha bandits in Zhongshan. After that he fought at Guangwu's side in every major action.
19
信都復反為王郎，郎所置信都王捕系彤父弟及妻子，使為手書呼彤曰：『降者封爵，不降族滅。 』彤涕泣報曰：『事君者不得顧家。 彤親屬所以至今得安於信都者，劉公之恩也。 公方爭國事，彤不得復念私也。 』會更始所遣將攻拔信都，郎兵敗走，彤家屬得免。
Xindu rebelled again to Wang Lang. Wang's puppet Prince of Xindu seized Pi Tong's father, brothers, wife, and children and forced him to write: "Surrender and win a title; resist and your clan dies." Pi Tong answered through tears, "A man who serves his prince cannot think first of his kin." My family has stayed safe in Xindu only because of Lord Liu's protection." You are fighting for the realm; I cannot weigh private ties." Soon an imperial general sent by the Gengshi court recaptured Xindu, Wang Lang's men fled, and Pi Tong's family went free.
20
彤卒，子湯嗣，九年，徙封樂陵侯。 十九年，湯卒，子某嗣； 無子，國除。 元初元年，鄧太后紹封彤孫音為平亭侯。 音卒、子柴嗣。
When Pi Tong died, his son Pi Tang inherited; in the ninth year of Jianwu the title was transferred to the marquisate of Leling. Pi Tang died in Jianwu 19; a son inherited, though the annals omit his personal name. That son left no heir, and the marquisate lapsed. In Yuanchu 1 Empress Dowager Deng restored the line, enfeoffing Pi Tong's grandson Pi Yin as marquis of Pingting. When Pi Yin died, his son Pi Chai inherited.
21
初，張萬，尹綏與彤俱迎世祖，皆拜偏將軍，亦從征伐。 萬封重平侯，綏封平臺侯。
Zhang Wan and Yin Sui had ridden out with Pi Tong to receive Guangwu; each was named lieutenant general and saw action in the wars. Zhang Wan became marquis of Chongping and Yin Sui marquis of Pingtai.
22
論曰：凡言成事者，以功著易顯； 謀幾初者，以理隱難昭。 斯固原情比跡，所宜推察者也。 若乃議者欲因二郡之眾，建入關之策，委成業，臨不測，而世主未悟，謀夫景同，邳彤之廷對，其為幾乎！ 語曰『一言可以興邦』，斯近之矣。
The historian remarks: finished deeds shine bright because their merit is visible; counsel offered at the turning point stays obscure because its rightness is harder to see. Both deserve careful weighing against the evidence of events. Consider the advisers who would have marched two loyal commanderies west through the Pass, abandoning a winning position for an unknown—while their lord still hesitated. Pi Tong's speech in council was perilously close to the truth of the moment! The proverb says one sentence can restore a kingdom; this comes close.
23
劉植字伯先，巨鹿昌城人也。 王郎起，植與弟喜、從兄歆率宗族賓客，聚兵數千人據昌城。 聞世祖從薊還，乃開門迎世祖，以植為驍騎將軍，喜、歆偏將軍，皆為列侯。 時真定王劉揚起兵以附王郎，眾十餘萬，世祖遣植說揚，揚乃降。 世祖因留真定，納郭后，後即揚之甥也，故以此結之。 乃與揚及諸將置酒郭氏漆裏舍，揚擊築為歡，因得進兵拔邯鄲，從平河北。
Liu Zhi, styled Boxian, came from Changcheng in Julu commandery. When Wang Lang rebelled, Liu Zhi, his brother Liu Xi, and cousin Liu Xin rallied clan and clients, several thousand strong, and held Changcheng. Learning that Guangwu was marching back from Ji, they opened the gates to him. Liu Zhi became general of nimble cavalry, Liu Xi and Liu Xin lieutenant generals, each enfeoffed at full marquis rank. The Prince of Zhending, Liu Yang, had thrown in with Wang Lang at the head of more than a hundred thousand men; Guangwu sent Liu Zhi to parley, and Liu Yang yielded. Guangwu lingered at Zhending and married the future Empress Guo—Liu Yang's niece—thereby cementing the alliance. He feasted Liu Yang and his generals at the Guo family house in Qili; Liu Yang struck the chime-sticks in merriment, then joined the advance that stormed Handan and finished the pacification of Hebei.
24
建武二年，更封植為昌城侯。 討密縣賊，戰歿。 子向嗣。 帝使喜代將植營，復為驍騎將軍，封觀津侯。 喜卒，復以歆為驍騎將軍，封浮陽侯。 喜、歆從征伐，皆傳國於後。 向徙封東武陽侯，卒，子述嗣，永平十五年，坐與楚王英謀反，國除。
In Jianwu 2 Liu Zhi was re-enfeoffed as marquis of Changcheng. He fell leading the attack on the rebels at Mi county. His son Liu Xiang inherited the title. The emperor put Liu Xi in command of his brother's troops as general of nimble cavalry and enfeoffed him as marquis of Guanjin. When Liu Xi died, Liu Xin took the same post and became marquis of Fuyang. Both brothers campaigned through the wars, and their lines kept the marquisates for generations. Liu Xiang's fief shifted to Dongwuyang; his son Liu Shu succeeded but lost the title in Yongping 15 for plotting with Prince Ying of Chu.
25
耿純字伯山，巨鹿宋子人也。 父艾，為王莽濟平尹。 純學於長安，因除為納言士。
Geng Chun, styled Boshan, was a man of Songzi in Julu. His father Geng Ai had served Wang Mang as Jiping intendant. Geng Chun studied at the capital and received appointment as a reception gentleman under Wang Mang.
26
王莽敗，更始立，使舞陰王李軼降諸郡國，純父艾降，還為濟南太守。 時李軼兄弟用事，專制方面，賓客遊說者甚眾。 純連求謁不得通，久之乃得見，因說軼曰：『大王以龍虎之姿，遭風雲之時，奮迅拔起，期月之間兄弟稱王，而德信不聞於士民，功勞未施於百姓，寵祿暴興，此智者之所忌也。 兢兢自危，猶懼不終，而況沛然自足，可以成功者乎？ 』軼奇之，且以其巨鹿大姓，乃承制拜為騎都尉，授以節，令安集趙、魏。
After Wang Mang fell and the Gengshi Emperor took power, Prince Li Yi of Wuyin toured the provinces to accept surrenders; Geng Ai submitted and was sent back as governor of Jinan. The Li brothers then dominated their region, and a crowd of hangers-on importuned them daily. Geng Chun could not win an audience for a long time; when he finally saw Li Yi he said, "You have the stature of dragon and tiger and caught the moment of storm; your house declared itself kings within a month—yet the people hear nothing of your good faith, see no real benefit, only sudden honors. The wise fear exactly that." "Even men who tremble for their lives fear they will not last—how can the smug hope to finish what they began?" Li Yi was impressed, and because the Gengs were a powerful Julu clan, he commissioned Geng Chun colonel of cavalry on his own authority, handed him the staff of office, and sent him to pacify Zhao and Wei.
27
會世祖度河至邯鄲，純即謁見，世祖深接之。 純退，見官屬將兵法度不與它將同，遂求自結納，獻馬及縑帛數百匹。 世祖北至中山，留純邯鄲。 會王郎反，世祖自薊東南馳，純與從昆弟訢、宿、植共率宗族賓客二千餘人，老病者皆載木自隨，奉迎於育。 拜純為前將軍，封耿鄉侯，訢、宿、植皆偏將軍，使與純居前，降宋子，從攻下曲陽及中山。
When Emperor Guangwu crossed the Yellow River to Handan, Geng Chun presented himself and was welcomed with unusual warmth. Geng Chun withdrew, noticed that Guangwu's staff ran tighter than other commands, and returned with horses and hundreds of bolts of silk to cement his allegiance. When Guangwu marched north into Zhongshan, he left Geng Chun behind at Handan. Wang Lang's revolt broke out while Guangwu was racing southeast from Ji; Geng Chun and his cousins Geng Xin, Geng Su, and Geng Zhi brought more than two thousand kinsmen and clients—even the elderly carried firewood as provisions—to meet him at Yu. Geng Chun became forward general and marquis of Gengxiang; Geng Xin, Geng Su, and Geng Zhi were named lieutenant generals and sent ahead with him to win over Songzi and then strike Xiaquyang and Zhongshan.
28
是時，郡國多降邯鄲者，純恐宗家懷異心，乃使訢、宿歸燒其廬舍。 世祖問純故，對曰：『竊見明公單車臨河北，非有府臧之蓄，重賞甘餌，可以聚人者也，徒以恩德懷之，是故士眾樂附。 今邯鄲自立，北州疑惑，純雖舉族歸命，老弱在行，猶恐宗人賓客半有不同心者，故燔燒屋室，絕其反顧之望。 』世祖漢息。 及至鄗，世祖止傳舍，鄗大姓蘇公反城開門內王郎將李惲。 純先覺知，將兵逆與惲戰，大破斬之。 從平邯鄲，又破銅馬。
Many districts had gone over to Wang Lang; fearing divided loyalties in his own clan, Geng Chun sent Geng Xin and Geng Su home to burn the family compounds. Guangwu asked why. Geng Chun answered, "You came north almost alone, with no treasury of gold to buy men—only your virtue drew them. That is why they follow." Handan still claims the throne and the north wavers. I brought every Geng, young and old, to your banner, yet I feared half our retainers might still look homeward—so I burned the roofs behind them." Emperor Guangwu drew a long breath at that. At Hao, Guangwu halted at the post station. A local magnate named Su betrayed the town to Wang Lang's officer Li Yun. Geng Chun sensed the plot first, sortied against Li Yun, shattered his force, and took his head. He went on to help reduce Handan and crush the Bronze Horse band.
29
時，赤眉、青犢、上江、大彤、鐵脛、五幡十餘萬眾並在射犬，世祖引兵將擊之。 純軍在前，去眾營數裏，賊忽夜攻純，雨射營中，士多死傷。 純勒部曲，堅守不動。 選敢死二千人，俱持強弩，各傅三矢，使銜枚間行，繞出賊後，齊聲呼噪，強弩並發，賊眾驚走，追擊，遂破之。 馳騎白世祖。 世祖明旦與諸將俱至營，勞純曰：『昨夜困乎？ 』純曰：『賴明公威德，幸而獲全。 』世祖曰：『大兵不可夜動，故不相救耳。 軍營進退無常，卿宗族不可悉居軍中。 』乃以純族人耿伋為蒲吾長，悉令將親屬居焉。
More than a hundred thousand men of the Red Eyebrows, Green Calves, Upper Yang, Great Tong, Iron Shanks, and Five Banners bands were massed at Shequan; Guangwu advanced to attack them. Geng Chun's division camped a few li from the enemy; the rebels rushed his lines by night, arrow volleys riddled the tents, and casualties mounted. Geng Chun held his men steady and refused to buckle. He chose two thousand volunteers, each with a heavy crossbow and three bolts, had them advance in silence with bits between their teeth, swing behind the rebel camp, then rise shouting; a single volley broke the enemy, and a pursuit finished them. He sent horsemen galloping to report to Guangwu. At dawn Guangwu rode up with his generals to praise Geng Chun: "A rough night?" Geng Chun answered, "Your majesty's prestige saw us through." Guangwu said, "A large army cannot march by night—that is why I could not relieve you sooner." Camps shift too often for your whole clan to stay inside the lines." He named Geng Chun's kinsman Geng Ji magistrate of Puwu and sent the family dependents to live there under his care.
30
世祖即位，封純高陽侯。 擊劉永於濟陰，下定陶。 初，純從攻王郎，墮馬折肩，時疾發，乃還詣懷宮。 帝問：『卿兄弟誰可使者？ 』純舉從弟植，於是使植將純營，純猶以前將軍從。
At Guangwu's accession Geng Chun became marquis of Gaoyang. He campaigned against Liu Yong in Jiyin and captured Dingtao. Earlier, in the war on Wang Lang, he had broken a shoulder in a fall from his horse; now an old malady flared and he withdrew to the Huai palace. The emperor asked, "Which of your brothers can I appoint to take your place?" Geng Chun named his cousin Geng Zhi, who took command of his troops while Geng Chun kept the title of forward general in the field.
31
時真定王劉揚復造作讖記雲：『赤九之後，癭揚為主。 』揚病癭，欲以惑眾，與綿曼賊交通。 建武二年春，遣騎都尉陳副、遊擊將軍鄧隆征揚，揚閉城門，不內副等。 乃復遣純持節，行赦令於幽、冀，所過並使勞慰王侯。 密敕純曰：『劉揚若見，因而收之。 』純從吏士百餘騎與副、隆會元氏，俱至真定，止傳舍。 揚稱病不謁，以純真定宗室之出，遣使與純書，欲相見。 純報曰：『奉使見王侯牧守，不得先詣，如欲面會，宜出傳舍。 』時，揚弟臨邑侯讓及從兄細各擁兵萬餘人，揚自恃眾強而純意安靜，即從官屬詣之，兄弟並將輕兵在門外。 揚入見純，純接以禮敬，因延請其兄弟，皆入，乃閉閤悉誅之，因勒兵而出。 真定震怖，無敢動者。 帝憐揚、讓謀未發，並封其子，復故國。
The Prince of Zhending, Liu Yang, was circulating forged prophecies: "After the house of the Red Ninth, the goitered Yang shall rule." Liu Yang had a goiter and played on it to sway the crowd, while he colluded with the Mianman bandits. In the spring of Jianwu 2 Guangwu sent Colonel Chen Fu and mobile corps general Deng Long against Liu Yang; Liu Yang barred the gates. He then gave Geng Chun the staff of office to proclaim amnesty through You and Ji, comforting princes and marquises along the route. His secret instruction: seize Liu Yang if he agrees to a meeting." Geng Chun rode to Yuanshi with a hundred-odd horsemen, joined Chen Fu and Deng Long, and entered Zhending to the post station. Liu Yang pleaded illness but, knowing Geng Chun's Zhending roots, sent a letter asking for a private meeting. Geng Chun answered that envoys must wait on princes and governors, not the reverse—if Liu Yang wanted to talk, he should come to the station. Liu Yang's brother Rang, marquis of Linyi, and cousin Xi each commanded ten thousand men; confident in his numbers, Liu Yang thought Geng Chun harmless and walked in with a light escort while his brothers waited outside with picked troops. Liu Yang entered; Geng Chun greeted him with elaborate courtesy, invited the brothers inside, then bolted the doors and cut them all down before leading his men into the street. Zhending was paralyzed with fear; no one stirred. The emperor noted that Liu Yang and Liu Rang had not yet openly rebelled, so he enfeoffed their sons and restored their old titles out of mercy.
32
純還京師，因自請曰：『臣本吏家子孫，幸遭大漢復興，聖帝受命，備位列將，爵為通侯。 天下略定，臣無所用誌，願試治一郡，盡力自效。 』帝笑曰：『卿既治武，復欲修文邪？ 』乃拜純為東郡太守。 時，東郡未平，純視事數月，盜賊清寧。 四年，詔純將兵擊更始東平太守範荊，荊降。 進擊太山濟南及平原賊，皆平之。 居東郡四歲，時發幹長有罪，純案奏，圍守之，奏未下，長自殺。 純坐免，以列侯奉朝請。 從擊董憲，道過東郡，百姓老小數千隨東駕涕泣，雲『願復得耿君』。 帝謂公卿曰：『純年少被甲胄為軍吏耳，治郡乃能見思若是乎？』
Back at the capital Geng Chun petitioned the throne: "I began as a clerk's son who caught the fortune of Han's restoration. Your majesty received Heaven's charge; I rose among the generals to a full marquis's rank." "The empire is nearly at peace, and I have little left to do as a soldier. Let me try a single commandery and spend whatever strength I have there." The emperor smiled. "You have worn armor all your life—now you want to take up the ink brush?" He named Geng Chun governor of Dongjun. Dongjun was still unsettled when he arrived, but within a few months he had cleared the banditry and restored calm. In the fourth year of Jianwu he sent Geng Chun against Fan Jing, the Gengshi governor of Dongping, who capitulated. He then campaigned through Taishan, Jinan, and Pingyuan until every rebel band in the region was broken. Four years into his tenure the magistrate of Fagan county broke the law; Geng Chun impeached him and had him confined pending the throne's ruling. Before the rescript came down the man took his own life. Geng Chun was stripped of office for the affair but kept his marquis rank and continued to attend court as fengchaoqing. On the march against Dong Xian his column crossed Dongjun. Thousands of old and young trailed the imperial train in tears, crying, "Give us Lord Geng again." The emperor remarked to his ministers, "I knew Geng Chun only as the young officer in mail—who would have thought a turn as governor would win him such love?"
33
六年，定封為東光侯。 純辭就國，帝曰：『文帝謂周勃「丞相吾所重，君為我率諸侯就國」，今亦然也。 』純受詔而去。 至鄴，賜谷萬斛。 到國，吊死問病，民愛敬之。 八年，東郡、濟陰盜賊群起，遣大司空李通、橫野大將軍王常擊之。 帝以純威信著於衛地，遣使拜太中大夫，使與大兵會東郡。 東郡聞純入界，盜賊九千餘人皆詣純降，大兵不戰而還。 璽書復以為東郡太守，吏民悅服。 十三年，卒官，謚曰成侯。 子阜嗣。
In Jianwu 6 his title was fixed as marquis of Dongguang. When Geng Chun asked leave to retire to his fief, the emperor quoted Emperor Wen of Former Han to Zhou Bo: "The chancellor is indispensable to me, but you must still lead the marquises home to their estates." "The same holds now," he said. Geng Chun bowed to the decree and left the capital. At Ye he received an imperial gift of ten thousand hu of grain. Once home he mourned the dead and inquired after the sick; the people loved and honored him for it. In Jianwu 8 rebels erupted across Dongjun and Jiyin; the court dispatched Grand Minister of Works Li Tong and Grand General Who Sweeps the Wilderness Wang Chang against them. Because Geng Chun's name still commanded fear and trust on the Wei plain, the emperor named him grand counselor of the palace and sent him to coordinate with the main host in Dongjun. Word that Geng Chun had crossed the commandery line brought more than nine thousand outlaws to his camp to yield; the expeditionary army marched home without a fight. A second edict restored him as governor of Dongjun, to the delight of every clerk and farmer under his rule. He died in office in Jianwu 13 and received the posthumous epithet Cheng, "Accomplished." His son Geng Fu inherited the marquisate.
34
植後為輔威將軍，封威邑侯。 宿至代郡太守，封遂鄉侯。 訢為赤眉將軍，封著武侯，從鄧禹西征，戰死雲陽。 凡宗族封列侯者四人，關內侯者三人，為二千石者九人。
Geng Zhi later rose to general who aids awe and marquis of Weiyi. Geng Su became governor of Dai and marquis of Suixiang. Geng Xin ended as a Red Eyebrows general and marquis of Zhuwu; he followed Deng Yu west and fell at Yunyang. The clan produced four full marquises, three marquises within the Pass, and nine men who held rank at two thousand shi.
35
阜徙封莒鄉侯，永平十四年，坐同族耿歙與楚人顏忠辭語相連，國除。 建初二年，肅宗追思純功，紹封阜子盱為高亭侯。 盱卒，無嗣，帝復封盱弟騰。 卒，子忠嗣。 忠卒，孫緒嗣。
Geng Fu's fief shifted to Juxiang; in Yongping 14 it was stripped after kinsman Geng She was implicated with the Chu defendant Yan Zhong. In Jianchu 2 Emperor Zhang remembered Geng Chun's service and renewed the line, enfeoffing Geng Fu's son Geng Xu as marquis of Gaoting. Geng Xu died without sons, so the throne passed the title to his brother Geng Teng. When Geng Teng died, his son Geng Zhong inherited. When Geng Zhong died, the marquisate passed to his grandson.
36
贊曰：任、邳識幾，嚴城解扉。 委佗還旅，二守焉依。 純、植義發，奉兵佐威。
The historian's summation: Ren Guang and Pi Tong read the moment aright, and cities that had barred their gates threw them open. The beaten column limped homeward only because two steadfast governors still held for Han. Geng Chun and Liu Zhi kindled duty in their clans and put spears at the emperor's service.