Volume 23: Biography of Dou Rong

竇融字周公，扶風平陵人也。七世祖廣國，孝文皇后之弟，封章武侯。融高祖父，宣帝時以吏二千石自常山徙焉。融早孤。王莽居攝中，為強弩將軍司馬，東擊翟義，還攻槐里，以軍功封建武男。女弟為大司空王邑小妻。家長安中，出入貴戚，連結閭里豪傑，以任俠為名；然事母兄，養弱弟，內修行義。王莽末，青、徐賊起，太師王匡請融為助軍，與共東征。

Dou Rong, whose courtesy name was Gong of Zhou, came from Pingling in Fufeng commandery. Seven generations back, Guangguo, brother of Empress Xiaowen of the Han, had been enfeoffed as Marquis of Zhangwu. His great-great-grandfather had held a salary rank of two thousand piculs under Emperor Xuan and relocated from Changshan to that region. Dou Rong lost his father while still young. During Wang Mang's regency he served as marshal to the General of Strong Crossbows, campaigned east against Zhai Yi, then turned back to take Huaili, earning the noble title Baron of Jianwu. His younger sister had become a concubine of Wang Yi, the Grand Minister of Works. With their household in Chang'an, he moved in elite circles, cultivated local strongmen, and was known for chivalrous daring; yet he honored his mother and elder brothers, supported a frail younger brother, and strove in private to live by moral principle. Near the fall of Wang Mang, unrest broke out in Qing and Xu provinces; Grand Tutor Wang Kuang secured Dou Rong as auxiliary commander for the eastern expedition.

及漢兵起，融復從王邑敗於昆陽下，歸長安。漢兵長驅入關，王邑薦融，拜為波水將軍，賜黃金千斤，引兵至新豐。莽敗，融以軍降更始大司馬趙萌，萌以為校尉，甚重之，薦融為巨鹿太守。

When Han armies rose in rebellion, Dou Rong followed Wang Yi to defeat at Kunyang and withdrew to Chang'an. As Han forces swept into the passes, Wang Yi recommended him; he received appointment as General Who Crosses the Waters, a gift of a thousand jin of gold, and marched to Xinfeng. After Wang Mang's collapse Dou Rong surrendered his command to Zhao Meng, Gengshi's Grand Marshal, who made him a colonel, thought highly of him, and proposed him for governor of Julu.

融見更始新立，東方尚擾，不欲出關，而高祖父嘗為張掖太守，從祖父為護羌校尉，從弟亦為武威太守，累世在河西，知其土俗，獨謂兄弟曰：『天下安危未可知，河西殷富，帶河為固，張掖屬國精兵萬騎，一旦緩急，杜絕河津，足以自守，此遺種處也。』兄弟皆然之。融於是日往守萌，辭讓巨鹿，圖出河西。萌為言更始，乃得為張掖屬國都尉。融大喜，即將家屬而西。既到，撫結雄傑，懷輯羌虜，甚得其歡心，河西翕然歸之。

Seeing Gengshi newly enthroned while the east remained chaotic, Dou Rong was reluctant to march east of the passes. His family had long served west of the river: a great-great-grandfather had governed Zhangye, a cousin's grandfather had been Colonel Who Protects the Qiang, and another cousin governed Wuwei. Generations in Hexi had taught him the terrain and temper of the people. He told his brothers privately, 'We cannot tell whether the realm will stand or fall. Hexi is wealthy, the Yellow River its shield; Zhangye's dependent state fields ten thousand veteran horsemen. In a crunch we could seal the fords and hold our own. Here a lineage can survive.' His brothers agreed. Dou Rong began calling daily on Zhao Meng, declining the Julu post and angling for an appointment west of the river. Meng spoke to the Gengshi court on his behalf, and he received appointment as commandant of Zhangye dependent state. Dou Rong was elated and at once moved his family westward. Once there he won over local leaders, conciliated Qiang and frontier peoples, and earned their sincere loyalty until the western river lands rallied to him as one.

是時，酒泉太守梁統、金城太守厙鈞、張掖都尉史苞、酒泉都尉竺曾、敦煌都尉辛肜，并州郡英俊，融皆與為厚善。及更始敗，融與梁統等計議曰：『今天下擾亂，未知所歸。河西鬥絕在羌湖中，不同心戮力則不能自守；權鈞力齊，復無以相率。當推一人為大將軍，共全五郡，觀時變動。』議既定，而各謙讓，咸以融世任河西為吏，人所敬向，乃推融行河西五郡大將軍事。是時，武威太守馬期、張掖太守任仲並孤立無黨，乃共移書告示之，二人即解印綬去。於是以梁統為武威太守，史苞為張掖太守，竺曾為酒泉太守，辛肜為敦煌太守，厙鈞為金城太守。融居屬國，領都尉職如故，置從事監察五郡。河西民俗質樸，而融等政亦寬和，上下相親，晏然富殖。修兵馬，習戰射，明烽燧之警，羌胡犯塞，融輒自將與諸郡相救，皆如符要，每輒破之。其後匈奴懲乂，稀復侵寇，而保塞羌胡皆震服親附，安定、北地、上郡流人避凶饑者，歸之不絕。

The governors Liang Tong of Jiuquan and She Jun of Jincheng, along with commandants Shi Bao of Zhangye, Zhu Zeng of Jiuquan, and Xin Ran of Dunhuang, were the leading men of the region, and Dou Rong cultivated close ties with each. After Gengshi's regime collapsed, Dou Rong and Liang Tong took counsel. 'The empire is in chaos,' they said, 'and no rightful center is clear.' Hexi stands isolated among Qiang country and desert; unless we stand together we cannot hold it; and if we are equal in power, no one can command the rest.' We should elect one man as grand general, secure all five commanderies together, and watch how the situation shifts.' The plan was set, yet everyone demurred. Because the Dou family had served generation after generation west of the river and the people looked up to Dou Rong, they pressed him to take provisional command as grand general over the five Hexi commanderies. The governors Ma Qi of Wuwei and Ren Zhong of Zhangye lacked allies. The coalition jointly notified them in writing, and both men resigned their seals at once and departed. Liang Tong became governor of Wuwei, Shi Bao of Zhangye, Zhu Zeng of Jiuquan, Xin Ran of Dunhuang, and She Jun of Jincheng. Dou Rong remained based in the dependent state, kept his former commandant's authority, and appointed staff officers to oversee all five commanderies. The people west of the river were plain-spoken, and Dou Rong's administration was mild; officials and commoners trusted one another, and prosperity returned in quiet comfort. They drilled cavalry, honed archery, and kept the beacon lines sharp. Whenever Qiang or Hu raided the frontier, Dou Rong led out in person while the commanderies coordinated relief; their timing matched every plan, and they broke each incursion. The Xiongnu, duly punished, seldom raided again. Frontier Qiang and Hu submitted and rallied to him. Refugees from Anding, Beidi, and Shang, fleeing war and famine, streamed west without end.

融等遙聞光武即位，而心欲東向，以河西隔遠，未能自通。時，隗囂先稱建武年號，融等從受正朔，囂皆假其將軍印綬。囂外順人望，內懷異心，使辯士張玄遊說河西曰：『更始事業已成，尋復亡滅，此一姓不再興之效。今即有所主，便相系屬，一旦拘制，自令失柄，後有危殆，雖悔無及。今豪傑競逐，雌雄未決，當各據其土宇，與隴、蜀合從，高可為六國，下不失尉佗。』融等於是召豪傑及諸太守計議，其中智者皆曰：『漢承堯運，歷數延長。今皇帝姓號見於圖書，自前世博物道術之士谷子雲、夏賀良等，建明漢有再受命之符，言之久矣，故劉子駿改易名字，冀應其占。及莽末，道士西門君惠言劉秀當為天子，遂謀立子駿。事覺被殺，出謂百姓觀者曰：「劉秀真汝主也。」皆近事暴著，智者所共見也。除言天命，且以人事論之：今稱帝者數人，而洛陽土地最廣，甲兵最強，號令最明。觀符命而察人事，它姓殆未能當也。』諸郡太守各有賓客，或同或異。融小心精詳，遂決策東向。五年夏，遣長史劉鈞奉書獻馬。

They learned from afar that Guangwu had taken the throne and longed to declare for the east, yet the distance of Hexi left them no direct channel to the new court. Wei Xiao was first to use Emperor Guangwu's reign title, and Dou Rong's party accepted his calendar while Wei Xiao issued them general's commissions in name. Outwardly Wei Xiao courted popularity while plotting his own course. He sent the rhetorician Zhang Xuan west with an argument: 'Gengshi seemed to have won everything, then swiftly vanished—a lesson that no single house rises twice.' Bind yourself to whatever champion you please and you become his hostage; the moment he clamps down you lose all leverage. Wait until danger closes in and remorse will come too late.' Chieftains still vie for mastery; the outcome is open. Hold your own ground, ally Longxi with Shu in the old vertical alliance: at best you replay the Warring States, at worst you end no worse than Zhao Tuo of the south.' Dou Rong assembled local leaders and the commandery governors. Those with sense replied, 'The Han received Heaven's mandate from the line of Yao; its allotted span is long.' Prophetic texts already name the present emperor. Scholars such as Gu Ziyun and Xia Heliang long ago argued that Han would receive a second mandate; hence Liu Xin restyled himself hoping to fulfill the omen.' Near Wang Mang's fall the Daoist Ximen Junhui declared that Liu Xiu was destined for the throne; plotters tried to place Liu Xin on the throne instead. The plot failed and the conspirators were executed; facing the crowd one of them cried out, 'Liu Xiu is truly your rightful ruler.' These are fresh omens plain for anyone with eyes to see.' Leave aside Heaven's verdict and weigh mere facts: several men claim the throne, yet Luoyang commands the widest territory, the strongest armies, and the clearest chain of command.' Read the portents and weigh human strength: no other house can match Liu.' The governors' advisers split both ways.' Dou Rong weighed everything with care and resolved to cast his lot with Luoyang. In the summer of the fifth Jianwu year he sent his chief clerk Liu Jun east with a memorial and horses as tribute.

先是，帝聞河西完富，地接隴、蜀，常欲招之以逼囂、述，亦發使遺融書，遇鈞於道，即與俱還。帝見鈞歡甚，禮饗畢，乃遣令還，賜融璽書曰：『制詔行河西五郡大將軍事、屬國都尉：勞鎮守邊五郡，兵馬精強，倉庫有蓄，民庶殷富，外則折挫羌胡，內則百姓蒙福。威德流聞，虛心相望，道路隔塞，邑邑何已！長史所奉書獻馬悉至，深知厚意。今益州有公孫子陽、天水有隗將軍，方蜀、漢相攻，權在將軍，舉足左右，便有輕重。以此言之，欲相厚豈有量哉！諸事具長史所見，將軍所知。王者叠興，千載一會。欲遂立桓、文，輔微國，當勉卒功業；欲三分鼎足，連衡合從，亦宜以時定。天下未並，吾與爾絕域，非相吞之國。今之議者，必有任囂效尉佗制七郡之計。王者有分土，無分民，自適己事而已。今以黃金二百斤賜將軍，便宜輒言。』因授融為涼州牧。

The emperor had already heard that Hexi remained wealthy and bordered Long and Shu; he meant to win Dou Rong over to squeeze Wei Xiao and Gongsun Shu. An envoy carrying an edict for Dou Rong met Liu Jun on the road and returned with him to court. Guangwu welcomed Liu Jun warmly, feasted him, and sent him home bearing an imperial rescript: 'We address the officer acting as grand general over the five Hexi commanderies and commandant of the dependent state: you labor to hold the frontier commanderies; your forces are strong, your granaries stocked, your people prosperous; abroad you humble Qiang and Hu, at home your folk thrive.' Your renown reaches us, and we long to meet in open heart, yet the roads are blocked—how we ache with restless grief!' Your memorial and the horses your chief clerk presented have arrived; we deeply appreciate your loyalty.' Gongsun Shu holds Yizhou and Wei Xiao holds Tianshui while Shu and Han clash. The balance rests with you: whichever foot you step tips the scales.' If that does not show how much we esteem you, nothing will!' Your chief clerk has seen our full intentions; you understand the rest yourself.' True kings arise in succession; an alignment like ours comes once in an age.' If you mean to play Duke Huan or Duke Wen, sheltering a weak state, then finish the task with all your strength; if you mean to divide the realm three ways and play alliance politics, decide soon.' The empire is not yet one, yet we stand far apart, not as predators toward each other.' Someone has surely urged you to copy Ren Xiao and Zhao Tuo seizing seven commanderies.' A true king may parcel land but never divides the people—each side simply minds its business.' We send two hundred jin of gold; say whatever further you need.' With that edict he named Dou Rong governor of Liang province.

璽書既至，河西咸驚，以為天子明見萬里之外，網羅張立之情。融即復遣鈞上書曰：『臣融竊伏自惟，幸得托先後末屬，蒙恩為外戚，累世二千石。至臣之身，復備列位，假歷將帥，守持一隅。以委質則易為辭，以納忠則易為力。書不足以深達至誠，故遣劉鈞口陳肝膽。自以底裏上露，長無纖介。而璽書盛稱蜀、漢二主，三分鼎足之權，任囂、尉佗之謀，竊自痛傷。臣融雖無識，猶知利害之際，順逆之分。豈可背真舊之主，事奸偽之人；廢忠貞之節，為傾覆之事；棄已成之基，求無冀之利。此三者雖問狂夫，猶知去就，而臣獨何以用心！謹遣同產弟友詣闕，口陳區區。』友至高平，會囂反叛，道絕，馳還，遣司馬席封間行通書。帝復遣席封賜融、友書，所以慰藉之甚備。

When the rescript reached Hexi, every officer marveled that the emperor saw events a thousand leagues away and understood how their alliance had formed. Dou Rong sent Liu Jun back with another memorial: 'Your servant humbly reflects that I have been fortunate to claim kinship with the late empress and to serve as affinal kin generation after generation at two thousand piculs.' In my own day I have risen through the ranks, held borrowed titles as general, and guarded a single corner of the realm.' Once I pledged myself, excuses came easily; now that I offer loyalty, action should come easily too.' Words on silk cannot carry the full depth of my sincerity; hence I sent Liu Jun to speak from the heart.' I believed I had laid my inmost heart bare and that no slightest shadow would remain between us.' Yet your rescript dwelled on the lords of Shu and Han, on tripod partitions and the schemes of Ren Xiao and Zhao Tuo—news that cut me to the heart.' I am no sage, yet I know profit from ruin and loyalty from treason.' How could I abandon a legitimate sovereign to serve deceivers; discard steadfast honor for schemes that topple states; or throw away a settled foundation to chase empty hopes?' Any madman asked these three things would know what to choose—why should I alone waver?' I therefore dispatch my full brother Dou You to the capital to speak my humble mind in person.' Dou You reached Gaoping just as Wei Xiao rebelled and the roads closed; he raced home and sent his marshal Xi Feng by secret paths to deliver letters.' The emperor sent Xi Feng back with letters for Dou Rong and Dou You, packed with reassurance.'

融既深知帝意，乃與隗囂書責讓之曰：

Once Dou Rong grasped the emperor's intent, he drafted a letter to Wei Xiao full of reproach:

伏惟將軍國富政修，士兵懷附。親遇厄會之際，國家不利之時，守節不回，承事本朝，後遣伯春委身於國，無疑之誠，於斯有效。融等所以欣服高義，願從役於將軍者，良為此也。而忿悁之閒，改節易圖，君臣分爭，上下接兵。委成功，造難就，去從義，為橫謀，百年累之，一朝毀之，豈不惜乎！殆執事者貪功建謀，以至於此，融竊痛之！當今西周地勢局迫，人兵離散，易以輔人，難以自建。計若失路不反，聞道猶迷，不南合子陽，則北入文伯耳。夫負虛交而易強禦，恃遠救而輕近敵，未見其利也。融聞智者不危眾以舉事，仁者不違義以要功。今以小敵大，於眾何如？棄子僥功，於義何如？且初事本朝，稽首北面，忠臣節也。及遣伯春，垂涕相送，慈父恩也。俄而背之，謂吏士何？忍而棄之，謂留子何？自兵起以來，轉相攻擊，城郭皆為丘墟，生人轉於溝壑。今其存者，非鋒刃之餘，則流亡之孤。迄今傷痍之體未愈，哭泣之聲尚聞。幸賴天運少還，而將軍復重於難，是使積屙不得遂瘳，幼孤將復流離，其為悲痛，尤足湣傷，言之可為酸鼻！庸人且猶不忍，況仁者乎？融聞為忠甚易，得宜實難。憂人大過，以德取怨，知且以言獲罪也。區區所獻，惟將軍省焉。

I reflect that your territory is wealthy, your government well ordered, and your soldiers devoted to you.' You stood firm when fate turned against the Han, kept faith with the legitimate court, and later sent your son Bochun to the capital as hostage—proof then and there of unquestioned loyalty.' That is precisely why we admired your noble conduct and wished to serve under your banner.' Yet in a fit of pique you reversed course, sundering lord from minister and pitting high against low in arms.' You cast aside victory to embrace disaster, leave righteousness for reckless intrigue. Generations of effort ruined in a morning—can you not regret it?' Perhaps your advisers, greedy for glory, led you here; I grieve for it in private.' Your western stronghold is cramped, your soldiers scattered: easy for you to aid another power, hard to stand alone.' If you stay lost and refuse the road back—if you spurn Gongsun Shu to the south you will only bolt north toward Lu Fang.' Hollow alliances against a strong foe, distant rescue belittling a neighbor—nothing profit comes of it.' I have heard that the wise do not hazard their people on a whim, nor do the humane break duty for gain.' What will your followers make of pitting the weak against the strong?' What virtue lies in abandoning a son to gamble on victory?' You first kowtowed toward the northern court—there was a loyal minister.' You sent Bochun away with tears—a loving father's care.' Soon you betrayed that trust—what are your officers to think?' You hardened your heart against him—what of the son you left behind?' Since the wars began, blow has followed blow; cities lie in rubble and the living stumble into ditches and gullies.' Those who remain are either blade-scarred survivors or orphaned refugees.' Wounds have not yet closed; one still hears the sound of weeping.' Heaven had begun to relent, yet you pile disaster upon disaster, leaving chronic ills uncured and children adrift again—the grief of it wrings the heart and stings the nose to speak of!' A common man could hardly bear it; how much less a man of mercy?' I am told loyalty is easy to profess but hard to time rightly.' If concern for you earns blame, accept it as the price of plain speech.' I humbly submit these words for your consideration.'

囂不納。融乃與五郡太守共砥厲兵馬，上疏請師期。

Wei Xiao refused to listen. Dou Rong then joined the five commandery governors in honing their forces and submitted a memorial asking when imperial troops would march.

帝深嘉美之，乃賜融以外屬圖及太史公《五宗》、《外戚世家》、《魏其侯列傳》。詔報曰：『每追念外屬，孝景皇帝出自竇氏，定王，景帝之子，朕之所祖。昔魏其一言，繼統以正，長君、少君尊奉師傅，修成淑德，施及子孫，此皇太后神靈，上天祐漢也。從天水來者寫將軍所讓隗囂書，痛入骨髓。畔臣見之，當股栗慚愧，忠臣則酸鼻流涕，義士則曠若發目蒙，非忠孝愨誠，孰能如此？豈其德薄者所能克堪！囂自知失河西之助，族禍將及，欲設間離之說，亂惑真心，轉相解構，以成其奸。又京師百僚，不曉國家及將軍本意，多能采取虛偽，誇誕妄談，令忠孝失望，傳言乖實。毀譽之來，皆不徒然，不可不思。今關東盜賊已定，大兵今當悉西，將軍其抗厲威武，以應期會。』融被詔，即與諸郡守將兵入金城。

The emperor was deeply pleased and gave Dou Rong the genealogical chart of the imperial affines together with Sima Qian's chapters on the five imperial houses, the houses of the empresses' kin, and Marquis Weiqi. The edict read in part: 'Whenever I think of the affinal families: Emperor Jing sprang from the Dou line; King Ding of Changshan was Emperor Jing's son—he is the ancestor I claim.' 'Once Marquis Weiqi spoke a single word and the rightful succession was secured; the elder and younger Dou ladies revered their teachers and cultivated virtue that reached their descendants—the dowager's spirit and Heaven's favor rest on the Han.' Travelers from Tianshui brought copies of your rebuke to Wei Xiao; those who read it felt it in their bones. A traitor who saw it would tremble with shame; a loyal man would weep openly; a man of principle would feel a veil lifted from his eyes—only utter fidelity could produce such words.' Surely no petty man could have borne what you have done!' Wei Xiao knew he had lost the west and faced ruin; he spread talk meant to drive a wedge between us, to cloud your judgment and stitch together slanders until his plot held.' Besides, many Luoyang officers do not grasp your aims or mine; they retail idle gossip and hollow boasts until loyal hearts despair and rumor drifts far from the truth.' Praise and blame never arrive without cause—think on that.' The bandits east of the passes are crushed; the main army will soon march west. Raise your banners and stand ready for the day we join forces.' When the edict reached him, Dou Rong led the commandery forces into Jincheng at once.

初，更始時，先零羌封何諸種殺金城太守，居其郡，隗囂使使賂遺封何，與共結盟，欲發其眾。融等因軍出，進擊封何，大破之，斬首千餘級，得牛、馬、羊萬頭，谷數萬斛，因並河揚威武，伺候車駕。時，大兵未進，融乃引還。

Earlier, under Gengshi, Feng He of the Xianling Qiang had killed the governor of Jincheng and occupied the commandery. Wei Xiao sent envoys laden with gifts to win Feng He into alliance and planned to mobilize his warriors. As Dou Rong's army advanced he attacked Feng He, routed him, took more than a thousand heads, and captured ten thousand head of livestock and tens of thousands of hu of grain. He then paraded his might along the Yellow River while awaiting the emperor's arrival. The main host had not yet moved forward, so Dou Rong withdrew.

帝以融信效著明，益嘉之。詔右扶風修理融父墳塋，祠以太牢。數馳輕使，致遺四方珍羞，梁統乃使人刺殺張玄，絕與囂絕，皆解所假將軍印綬。七年夏，酒泉太守竺曾以弟報怨殺人而去郡，融承制拜曾為武鋒將軍，更以辛肜代之。

The emperor, seeing Dou Rong's loyalty proved beyond doubt, praised him all the more. He ordered the governor of Right Fufeng to restore Dou Rong's father's tomb and to sacrifice a full ox, sheep, and pig there. Emperor Guangwu sent fast couriers bearing rare delicacies from across the realm. Liang Tong had Zhang Xuan murdered and severed ties with Wei Xiao; each commander surrendered the borrowed general's commission. In the summer of the seventh Jianwu year the governor of Jiuquan, Zhu Zeng, fled his post after his brother killed a man in a private feud. Acting under imperial authority Dou Rong named Zhu Zeng General of the Martial Vanguard and replaced him at Jiuquan with Xin Ran.

秋，隗囂發兵寇安定，帝將自西征之，先戒融期。會遇雨，道斷，且囂兵已退，乃止。融至姑臧，被詔罷歸。融恐大兵遂久不出，乃上書曰：『隗囂聞車駕當西，臣融東下，士眾騷動，計且不戰。囂將高峻之屬皆欲逢迎大軍，後聞兵罷，峻等復疑。囂揚言東方有變，西州豪傑遂復附從。囂又引公孫述將，令守突門。臣融孤弱，介在其間，雖承威靈，宜速救助。國家當其前，臣融促其後，緩急叠用，首尾相資，囂勢排迮，不得進退，此必破也。若兵不早進，久生持疑，則外長寇仇，內示困弱，復令讒邪得有因緣，臣竊憂之。惟陛下哀憐！』帝深美之。

That autumn Wei Xiao struck Anding. The emperor meant to lead the expedition west himself and sent Dou Rong a preliminary timetable. Heavy rain closed the roads, and Wei Xiao had already pulled back, so the campaign halted. Dou Rong reached Guzang only to receive orders dismissing him to his command. Fearing that the imperial army might delay too long, Dou Rong wrote: 'When Wei Xiao hears that Your Majesty is marching west while your servant turns east, his army will panic and may refuse to give battle.' Generals such as Gao Jun were ready to welcome your advance; when they learned the campaign had been called off, they wavered again. Wei Xiao spread rumors of unrest in the east, and the magnates of the western provinces rallied to him once more. He even brought in officers from Gongsun Shu to hold the outer gates. Your servant stands alone between those fires; though I lean on your prestige I need relief without delay.' Strike him from the front while I press him from the rear; alternate swift blows with steady pressure so he cannot move—boxed in, he must break.' If the army tarries, doubt will grow abroad we embolden the enemy; at home we look feeble and give malice an opening—I tremble at the thought.' I beg Your Majesty's mercy!' The emperor admired the memorial.

八年夏，車駕西征隗囂，融率五郡太守及羌虜小月氏等步騎數萬，輜重五千餘兩，與大軍會高平第一。融先遣從事問會見儀適。是時，軍旅代興，諸將與三公交錯道中，或背使者交私語。帝聞融先問禮儀，甚善之，以宣告百僚。乃置酒高會，引見融等，待以殊禮。拜弟友為奉車都尉，從弟士太中大夫。遂共進軍，囂眾大潰，城邑皆降。帝高融功，下詔以安豐、陽泉、蓼、安風四縣封融為安豐侯，弟友為顯親侯。遂以次封諸將帥：武鋒將軍竺曾為助義侯，武威太守梁統為成義侯，張掖太守史苞為褒義侯，金城太守厙鈞為輔義侯，酒泉太守辛肜為扶義侯。封爵既畢，乘輿東歸，悉遣融等西還所鎮。

In the summer of the eighth year Guangwu marched west against Wei Xiao. Dou Rong brought the five commandery governors, Qiang and Lesser Yuezhi auxiliaries numbering tens of thousands of horse and foot, and more than five thousand supply carts to join the main army at the first camp at Gaoping. Before the audience Dou Rong sent an aide to inquire after court etiquette. Armies were everywhere; generals and the Three Excellencies crossed paths on the roads, some turning their backs to whisper. When the emperor heard that Dou Rong had asked about ritual first, he approved and announced it to the full bureaucracy. He then held a banquet and received Dou Rong with honors reserved for the foremost servants of the throne. He named Dou You Bearer of the Vitara for the Heir Apparent and Dou Shi, his younger cousin, Grand Palace Gentleman. They advanced together; Wei Xiao's host collapsed and city after city capitulated. Honoring Dou Rong's achievement, the emperor made him marquis of Anfeng with the four supporting counties (Anfeng, Yangquan, Liao, and Anfeng written with the graph for 'wind') and named Dou You marquis of Xianqin. The other commanders followed in turn: Zhu Zeng as marquis who aids righteousness, Liang Tong as marquis who completes righteousness, Shi Bao as marquis who commends righteousness, She Jun as marquis who assists righteousness, and Xin Ran as marquis who upholds righteousness. Once the titles were granted the emperor turned east and sent Dou Rong and the others back to their western posts.

融以兄弟並受爵位，久專方面，懼不自安，數上書求代。詔報曰：『吾與將軍如左右手耳，數執謙退，何不曉人意？勉循士民，無擅離部曲。』

Because he and his brothers now held high noble rank and had commanded their frontier for years, Dou Rong grew uneasy and repeatedly asked to be relieved. The reply read: 'You and I are like two hands on one body; why do you keep refusing office—do you think I cannot read a man's heart?' Stay with your people and do not abandon your army without leave.'

及隴、蜀平，詔融與五郡太守奏事京師，官屬賓客相隨，駕乘千餘兩，馬、牛、羊被野。融到，詣洛陽城門，上涼州牧、張掖屬國都尉、安豐侯印綬，詔遣使者還侯印綬。引見，就諸侯位，賞賜恩寵，傾動京師。數月，拜為冀州牧，十餘日，又遷大司空。融自以非舊臣，一旦入朝，在功臣之右，每召會進見，容貌辭氣卑恭已甚，帝以此愈親厚之。融小心，久不自安，數辭讓爵位，因侍中金遷口達至誠。又上疏曰：『臣融年五十三。有子年十五，質性頑鈍。臣融朝夕教導以經藝，不得令觀天文，見讖記。誠欲令恭肅畏事，恂恂循道，不願其有才能，何況乃當傳以連城廣土，享故諸侯王國哉？』因復請間求見，帝不許。後朝罷，逡巡席後，帝知欲有讓，遂使左右傳出。它日會見，迎詔融曰：『日者知公欲讓職還土，故命公暑熱且自便。今相見，宜論它事，勿得復言。』融不敢重陳請。

After Longxi and Ba–Shu were pacified Dou Rong and the five governors were summoned to report at the capital. Officials, retainers, and clients filled more than a thousand wagons; herds of livestock stretched across the fields. At the Luoyang gate Dou Rong surrendered the seals of governor of Liang, commandant of Zhangye dependent state, and marquis of Anfeng; the court ordered them returned at once. He was led to audience and seated among the feudal lords; gifts and honors dazzled the capital. Within months he was named governor of Ji province; within ten days more he rose to Grand Minister of Works. Dou Rong knew he was no veteran of the founding; suddenly he stood above the battle-hardened generals. Whenever summoned he appeared almost timid in bearing and speech, and the emperor drew closer to him for it. Still anxious, he repeatedly tried to surrender his titles and spoke his deepest feelings through the palace attendant Jin Qian. He wrote again: 'Your servant is fifty-three.' 'My son is fifteen and slow-witted.' I drill him daily in the classics and forbid him astrology or apocrypha.' I want him grave, cautious, and obedient, not clever; how could he inherit broad domains like the old kings of the feudal era?' He asked for a private audience; the emperor refused. After court he hung back until the emperor, guessing he meant to demur, had attendants escort him out. At their next meeting Guangwu cut him off: 'The other day I knew you wanted to give up your office and fief, so I let you escape the summer heat.' Now we meet—speak of anything else but that.' Dou Rong dared not raise the matter again.

二十年，大司徒戴涉坐所舉人盜金下獄，帝以三公參職，不得已乃策免融。明年，加位特進。二十三年，代陰興行衛尉事，特進如故，又兼領將作大匠。弟友為城門校尉，兄弟並典禁兵。融復乞骸骨，輒賜錢、帛，太官致珍奇。及友卒，帝湣融年衰，遣中常侍、中謁者即其臥內強進酒食。

In the twentieth year Grand Minister of Education Dai She was imprisoned because a man he had recommended stole gold. Because the Three Excellencies shared responsibility, the emperor reluctantly dismissed Dou Rong by edict. The next year he received the honorary rank of Specially Advanced. In the twenty-third year he took Yin Xing's place as acting Commandant of the Guards while keeping his Specially Advanced standing and added the Grand Adjunct of Works. His brother Dou You became Colonel of the City Gates; the two brothers together commanded the palace guard. Each time Dou Rong asked to retire the emperor sent cash and silk and the imperial kitchen sent rare dishes. After Dou You died the emperor, pitying Dou Rong's age, sent eunuchs and ushers to his bedside to press food and drink on him.

融長子穆，尚內黃公主，代友為城門校尉。穆子勛，尚東海恭王彊女沘陽公主，友子固，亦尚光武女涅陽公主。顯宗即位，以融從兄子林為護羌校尉，竇氏一公、兩侯、三公主、四二千石，相與並時。自祖及孫，官府邸第相望京邑，奴婢以千數，於親戚、功臣中莫與為此。

Dou Rong's eldest son Dou Mu married the Princess of Neihuang and succeeded Dou You as colonel of the gates. Dou Mu's son Dou Xun married the Princess of Biyang, daughter of Prince Gong of the East Sea, Liu Qiang; Dou You's son Dou Gu married Emperor Guangwu's daughter the Princess of Neyang. When Emperor Ming came to the throne he named Dou Lin, Dou Rong's elder cousin's son, Colonel Who Protects the Qiang. The Dou family counted one duke, two marquises, three imperial princesses, and four officials at two thousand piculs—all at once. From grandfather to grandsons their mansions lined the capital and they owned thousands of slaves; no other affinal or merit house matched them.

永平二年，林以罪誅，事在《西羌傳》。帝由是數下詔切責融，戒以竇嬰、田蚡禍敗之事。融惶恐乞骸骨，詔令歸第養病。歲餘，聽上衛尉印綬，賜養牛，上樽酒。融在宿衛十餘年，年老，子孫縱誕，多不法。穆等遂交通輕薄，屬託郡縣，干亂政事。以封在安豐，欲令姻戚悉據故六安國，遂矯稱陰太后詔，令六安侯劉盱去婦，因以女妻之。五年，盱婦家上書言狀，帝大怒，乃盡免穆等官，諸竇為郎吏者皆將家屬歸故郡，獨留融京師。穆等西至函谷關，有詔悉復追還。會融卒，時年七十八，謚曰戴侯，賻送甚厚。

In the second year of Yongping Dou Lin was executed for his crimes; the case is told in the Treatise on the Western Qiang. The emperor then rebuked Dou Rong repeatedly by edict and warned him with the falls of Dou Ying and Tian Fen. Terror-stricken, Dou Rong asked to retire and was ordered home to convalesce. A year later he was allowed to surrender the seals of Commandant of the Guards and received an ox for his sustenance and jars of fine wine. Dou Rong had stood night watch in the palace for more than a decade; in old age his sons and grandsons ran wild and broke the law often. Dou Mu and his circle cultivated worthless men, pulled strings in the counties, and meddled in government. Their fief lay in Anfeng; they wanted all their affines planted across old Lu'an and forged an edict of Empress Dowager Yin ordering Marquis Liu Xu of Lu'an to divorce his wife so they could marry him a Dou daughter. In the fifth year Liu Xu's former in-laws exposed the plot. The emperor dismissed Dou Mu and his associates and sent every Dou who held a minor post back to his home commandery, keeping only Dou Rong in the capital. As Dou Mu's party reached Hangu Pass couriers recalled them all. Before matters settled Dou Rong died at seventy-eight, posthumously titled Marquis Dai, with a lavish state funeral.

帝以穆不能修尚，而擁富資，居大第，常令謁者一人監護其家。居數年，謁者奏穆父子自失勢，數出怨望語，帝令將家屬歸本郡，唯勛以沘陽主婿留京師。穆坐賂遺小吏，郡捕系，與子宣俱死平陵獄，勛亦死洛陽獄。久之，詔還融夫人與小孫一人居洛陽家舍。

Because Dou Mu could not live modestly though immensely rich and housed in a vast mansion, the emperor assigned an usher to watch his household. After some years the usher reported that Dou Mu and his son, stripped of influence, were muttering resentment; the emperor ordered the clan back to its commandery, leaving only Dou Xun in Luoyang as the princess's husband. Dou Mu was arrested for bribing a county clerk; he and his son Dou Xuan died in the Pingling jail. Dou Xun died as well in the Luoyang prison. Much later an edict allowed Dou Rong's widow and one young grandson to live again in the family's Luoyang house.

十四年，封勛弟嘉為安豐侯，食邑二千戶，奉融後。和帝初，為少府。及勛子大將軍憲被誅，免就國。嘉卒，子萬全嗣。萬全卒，子會宗嗣。萬全弟子武，別有傳。

In the fourteenth year Dou Jia, Dou Xun's younger brother, was made marquis of Anfeng with two thousand households to carry on Dou Rong's line. At the start of Emperor He's reign he served as Privy Treasurer. When Dou Xian, Dou Xun's son and Grand General, was executed, Jia was stripped of office and sent to his fief. Dou Jia died and was succeeded by his son Dou Wanquan. Dou Wanquan died and was succeeded by his son Dou Huizong. Dou Wu, son of Dou Wanquan's younger brother, has his own biography.

論曰：竇融始以豪俠為名，拔起風塵之中，以投天隙。遂蟬蛻王侯之尊，終膺卿相之位，此則僥功趣勢之士也。及其爵位崇滿，至乃放遠權寵，恂恂似若不能已者，又何智也！嘗獨詳味此子之風度，雖經國之術無足多談，而進退之禮良可言矣。

The historian remarks: Dou Rong first made his name as a bold knight, rose from the turmoil of the age, and seized the opening Heaven offered. He shed the mantle of regional lord and ended as minister of state—such are men who chase opportunity. Yet when his titles peaked he drew back from power and clung to humility as if he could not stop—what good sense was that! Contemplating his manner, one finds little to say about statecraft, but much to admire in how he knew when to advance and when to yield.

苗、護烏桓校尉文穆將太原、雁門、代郡、上谷、漁陽、右北平、定襄郡兵及烏桓、鮮卑萬一千騎出平城塞。固、忠至天山，擊呼衍王，斬首千餘級。呼衍王走，追至蒲類海。留吏士屯伊吾盧城。耿秉、秦彭絕漠六百餘里，至三木樓山，來苗、文穆至匈奴河水上，虜皆奔走，無所獲。祭肜、吳棠坐不至涿邪山，免為庶人。時，諸將唯固有功，加位特進。明年，復出玉門擊西域，詔耿秉及騎都尉劉張皆去符傳以屬固。固遂破白山，降車師，事已具《耿秉傳》。固在邊數年，羌胡服其恩信。

Lai Miao and Wen Mu, Colonel Who Protects the Wuhuan, led troops from Taiyuan, Yanmen, Dai, Shanggu, Yuyang, Youbeiping, and Dingxiang together with eleven thousand Wuhuan and Xianbei horsemen out of Pingcheng Pass. Geng Gu and Zhi reached the Heavenly Mountains and attacked the Huyan king, taking more than a thousand heads. The Huyan king fled; they chased him to Lake Barkul. They left troops to hold Yiwulu. Geng Bing and Qin Peng crossed six hundred li of desert to Mount Sanmulou; Lai Miao and Wen Mu reached the Xiongnu River. The enemy fled and they took no prisoners. Zhai Rong and Wu Tang lost their titles for failing to reach Mount Zhuoye and were reduced to commoners. Of all the generals only Dou Gu earned distinction and was promoted to the honorary rank of Specially Advanced. The following year he marched again through the Jade Gate against the Western Regions. Emperor Zhang instructed Geng Bing and Colonel of Equerry Liu Zhang to hand over their credentials and serve under Dou Gu. Dou Gu took White Mountain and forced the king of the chariot people to yield; the rest is told in the biography of Geng Bing. Dou Gu spent years on the frontier, and Qiang and Hu alike respected his benevolence and good faith.

固久歷大位，甚見尊貴，賞賜租祿，貲累巨億，而性謙儉，愛人好施，士以此稱之。章和二年卒。謚曰文侯。子彪，至射聲校尉，先固卒，無子，國除。

He held high rank for a long time and amassed vast wealth from salaries and gifts, yet remained modest and generous; scholars esteemed him for it. He died in the second year of the Zhanghe era (88 CE). His posthumous title was Marquis Wen. His son Dou Biao rose to colonel of the Shooters at the Ready but predeceased his father without heirs, so the fief lapsed.

憲字伯度。父勛被誅，憲少孤。建初二年，女弟立為皇后，拜憲為郎，稍遷侍中、虎賁中郎將；弟篤，為黃門侍郎。兄弟親幸，並侍宮省，賞賜累積，寵貴日盛，自王、主及陰、馬諸家，莫不畏憚。憲恃宮掖聲勢，遂以賤直請奪沁水公主園田，主逼畏，不敢計。後肅宗駕出過園，指以向憲，憲陰喝不得對。後發覺，帝大怒，召憲切責曰：『深思前過，奪主田園過，何用愈趙高指鹿為馬？久念使人驚怖。昔永平中，常令陰黨、陰博、鄧疊三人更相糾察，故諸豪戚莫敢犯法者，而詔書切切，猶以舅氏田宅為言。今貴主尚見枉奪，何況小人哉！國家棄憲如孤皺腐鼠耳。』憲大震懼，皇后為毀服深謝，良久乃得解，使以田還主。雖不繩其罪，然亦不授以重任。

Dou Xian, whose courtesy name was Bodu. His father Dou Xun had been put to death, leaving Dou Xian fatherless in childhood. In the second Jianchu year his sister became empress; Dou Xian received appointment as a gentleman, then rose to palace attendant and colonel of the elite imperial guard; his brother Dou Du became a gentleman at the Yellow Gates. The brothers shared the inner chambers as favored kin; gifts mounted until even royal princes and the great Yin and Ma clans went in fear of them. Dou Xian traded on court influence and tried to bully the Princess of Qinshui out of her orchards for a pittance; intimidated, she did not dare resist. Later, when Emperor Zhang drove past the estate and asked Dou Xian about it, Dou Xian silenced him with a glare so he could not reply. When the truth emerged the emperor summoned Dou Xian in fury. 'Think hard on your past crime,' he said. 'Robbing an imperial princess of her land—how is that better than Zhao Gao calling a deer a horse?' The longer one dwells on it, the more horrifying it becomes.' Under Yongping the emperor had Yin Dang, Yin Bo, and Deng Die watch one another so that great affinal houses dared not break the law; edicts still harped on fields and mansions of the empress's kin.' Even exalted princesses suffer seizure of their property—what hope for commoners?' The court could cast you off as easily as a sick fledgling or a rotting rat.' Dou Xian was terrified. The empress shed her formal robes and interceded at length until the emperor relented and ordered the land returned to the princess. He was not punished by law, yet neither was he given serious office.

和帝即位，太后臨朝，憲以侍中，內幹機密，出宣誥命。肅宗遺詔以篤為虎賁中郎將，篤弟景、瑰並中常侍，於是兄弟皆在親要之地。憲以前太尉鄧彪有義讓。先帝所敬，而仁厚委隨，故尊崇之，以為太傅，令百官總己以聽。其所施為，輒外令彪奏，內白太后，事無不從。又屯騎校尉桓郁，累世帝師，而性和退自守，故上書薦之，令授經禁中。所以內外協附，莫生疑異。

Under Emperor He the dowager held court. Dou Xian, as palace attendant, controlled confidential business within and published edicts without. Emperor Zhang's will named Dou Du colonel of the imperial guard; Dou Jing and Dou Gui became eunuch attendants, so every brother held a post close to power. Dou Xian singled out the former grand commandant Deng Biao for his reputation for modest self-effacement. A man the late emperor had respected, Deng Biao was pliant and good-natured; Dou Xian exalted him as grand tutor and told the bureaucracy to defer to him in everything. Whatever Dou Xian wanted he had Deng Biao memorialize abroad while he advised the dowager within—nothing was refused. Huan Yu of the garrison cavalry came from a line of tutors to the throne and was mild and retiring; Dou Xian recommended him to lecture on the classics inside the palace. Court and camp alike aligned with him and voiced no dissent.

憲性果急，睚眥之怨莫不報復。初，永平時，謁者韓紆嘗考劾父勛獄，憲遂令客斬紆子，以首祭勛冢。齊殤王子都鄉侯暢來吊國憂，暢素行邪僻，與步兵校尉鄧疊親屬數往來京師，因疊母元自通長樂宮，得幸太后，被詔召詣上東門。憲懼見幸，分宮省之權，遣客刺殺暢於屯衛之中，而歸罪於暢弟利侯剛，乃使侍御史與青州刺史雜考剛等。後事發覺，太后怒，閉憲於內宮。

Dou Xian was abrupt and vindictive; he repaid the slightest slight. Years before, the usher Han Xu had prosecuted Dou Xun; Dou Xian now had a client murder Han Xu's son and offer the head at Dou Xun's grave. Liu Chang, marquis of Duxiang and son of the prince of Qi who died young, came to mourn the national loss. He was a dissolute man who kept company with the relatives of Deng Die, colonel of foot soldiers, in the capital. Through Deng Die's mother, Yuan, he won access to Changle Palace, caught the dowager's eye, and received a summons to the Upper East Gate. Dou Xian feared Liu Chang would win favor and dilute his hold on the inner court. He had Chang murdered amid the guards, pinned the crime on Chang's brother Marquis Gang of Li, and set the attendant censors and the governor of Qing province on Gang's trail. When the plot surfaced the dowager in her rage confined Dou Xian inside the palace.

憲懼誅，自求擊匈奴以贖死。會南單于請兵北伐，乃拜憲車騎將軍，金印紫綬，官屬依司空，以執金吾耿秉為副，發北軍五校、黎陽、雍營、緣邊十二郡騎士，及羌胡兵出塞。明年，憲與秉各將四千騎及南匈奴左谷蠡王師子萬騎出朔方雞鹿塞，南單于屯屠河，將萬餘騎出滿夷谷，度遼將軍鄧鴻及緣邊義從羌胡八千騎，與左賢王安國萬騎出稒陽塞，皆會涿邪山。憲分遣副校尉閻盤、司馬耿夔、耿譚將左谷蠡王師子、右呼衍王須訾等，精騎萬餘，與北單于戰於稽落山，大破之，虜眾崩潰，單于遁走，追擊諸部，遂臨私渠比鞮海。斬名王以下萬三千級，獲生口馬、牛、羊、橐駝百餘萬頭。於是溫犢須、曰逐、溫吾、夫渠王柳鞮等八十一部率眾降者，前後二十餘萬人。憲、秉遂登燕然山，去塞三千餘里，刻石勒功，紀漢威德，令班固作銘曰：

Facing execution, Dou Xian volunteered to lead a punitive expedition against the Xiongnu to buy his life. The southern Shanyu asked for a northern campaign at just that moment, so Dou Xian received the chariots-and-cavalry general's gold seal and purple ribbon with a staff matching the Grand Minister of Works. Geng Bing served as deputy. Troops included the five colonels of the northern army, the Liyang and Yong camps, knights from twelve border commanderies, and Qiang and Hu auxiliaries. The next year Dou Xian and Geng Bing each took four thousand horsemen and ten thousand riders under the southern Xiongnu Left Guli king Shizi through Jilu Pass at Shuofang. The southern Shanyu camped on the Tutu River and sent more than ten thousand out Manyi Valley. Deng Hong, general who crosses the Liao, brought eight thousand frontier auxiliaries alongside ten thousand under the Left Worthy King Anguo through Guyang Pass. All converged on Mount Zhuoye. Dou Xian detached Yan Pan, Geng Kui, and Geng Tan with more than ten thousand picked horsemen under Shizi and the Right Huyan king. They smashed the northern Shanyu at Mount Jiluo; his host scattered and he fled. The pursuit drove through tribe after tribe to Lake Sibi Bidi. They took thirteen thousand heads from named kings downward and seized over a million head of livestock and prisoners. Eighty-one tribes led by chiefs such as Wendu Xu, Rizhu, Wenwu, and Fuqu king Liudi submitted in waves totaling more than two hundred thousand people. Dou Xian and Geng Bing climbed Yanran Mountain, over three thousand li beyond the frontier, and had their victory carved in stone; Ban Gu was ordered to compose the inscription:

鑠王師兮征荒裔，剿凶虐兮截海外，敻其邈兮亙地界，封神丘兮建隆曷，熙帝載兮振萬世。

The royal host blazes forth to the ends of the earth; it extirpates cruelty beyond the sea; its reach is vast as the horizon; it marks the sacred mound and raises a towering stone; the emperor's reign resounds through the ages.

憲乃班師而還。遣軍司馬吳汜、梁諷，奉金帛遺北單于，宣明國威，而兵隨其後。時虜中乖亂，汜、諷所到，輒招降之，前後萬餘人。遂及單于於西海上，宣國威信，致以詔賜，單于稽首拜受。諷因說宜修呼韓邪故事，保國安人之福。單于喜悅，即將其眾與諷俱還，到私渠海，聞漢軍已入塞，乃遣弟右溫禺鞮王奉貢入侍，隨諷詣闕。憲以單于不自身到，奏還其侍弟。南單于於漠北遺憲古鼎，容五斗，其傍銘曰『仲山甫鼎，其萬年子子孫孫永保用』，憲乃上之。詔使中郎將持節即五原拜憲大將軍，封武陽侯，食邑二萬戶。憲固辭封，賜策許焉。

Dou Xian then ordered the army home. He dispatched the army majors Wu Si and Liang Feng with gold and silk for the northern Shanyu to proclaim Han majesty while troops followed as escort. With the nomads in confusion, wherever Wu Si and Liang Feng went they gathered surrenders totaling more than ten thousand. They overtook the Shanyu on the western sea, proclaimed imperial authority, and presented edicts and gifts; the Shanyu kowtowed and accepted. Liang Feng urged him to follow the precedent of Huhanye so his people might dwell in peace. Pleased, the Shanyu marched back with Liang Feng. At Sibi Sea he learned Han troops had re-entered the passes and sent his brother, the Right Wenduti king, to court with tribute. Liang Feng escorted him to the capital. Because the Shanyu himself had not come, Dou Xian memorialized to send the hostage prince home. The southern Shanyu gave Dou Xian an ancient bronze from the northern desert, holding five dou, inscribed 'The tripod of Zhong Shanfu—may his line forever keep and use it.' Dou Xian presented it to the throne. An edict sent a general of the gentlemen with credentials to Wuyuan to name Dou Xian grand general and marquis of Wuyang with twenty thousand households. Dou Xian refused the title; the emperor issued a written assurance accepting his plea.

舊大將軍位在三公下，置官屬依太尉。憲威權震朝廷，公卿希旨，奏憲位次太傅下，三公上；長史、司馬秩中二千石，從事中郎二人六百石，自下各有增。振旅還京師。於是大開倉府，勞賜士吏，其所將諸郡二千石子弟從征者，悉除太子舍人。

Traditionally the grand general had stood below the Three Excellencies with a staff patterned on the grand commandant's. Dou Xian's power dominated the court; lords and ministers read his wishes and proposed that he rank below the grand tutor but above the Three Excellencies; Raising the chief clerk and major to two thousand piculs, two staff advisers to six hundred, with corresponding boosts down the line. He brought the army home in triumph. He threw open the storehouses to reward officers and men and made every son of a two-thousand-picul official who had marched with him a gentleman houseman to the heir apparent.

是時，篤為衛尉，景、瑰皆侍中、奉車、駙馬都尉，四家競修第宅，窮極工匠。明年，詔曰：『大將軍憲，前歲出征，克滅北狄，朝加封賞，固讓不受。舅氏舊典，並蒙爵士。其封憲冠軍侯。邑二萬戶；篤郾侯，景汝陽侯，瑰夏陽侯，各六千戶。』憲獨不受封，遂將兵出鎮涼州，以侍中鄧疊行征西將軍事為副。

Dou Du was commandant of the guards; Dou Jing and Dou Gui were eunuch attendants, bearers of the vitara, and commandants for imperial sons-in-law. The four households competed in building mansions and strained every craftsman in Luoyang. The next year an edict read: 'Grand General Dou Xian destroyed the northern barbarians last year yet steadfastly refused additional honors.' By the ancient precedent for the empress's kin he must receive a noble title.' Let Dou Xian be enfeoffed as marquis who vanquishes champions.' His income shall be twenty thousand households; Dou Du as marquis of Yan, Dou Jing of Ruyang, and Dou Gui of Xiayang—six thousand households each.' Dou Xian alone refused his fief and took troops to garrison Liang province with the palace attendant Deng Die as deputy for western operations.

北單于以漢還侍弟，復遣車諧儲王等款居延塞，欲入朝見，願請大使。憲上遣大將軍中護軍班固行中郎將，與司馬梁諷迎之。會北單于為南匈奴所破，被創遁走，固至私渠海而還。憲以北虜微弱，遂欲滅之。明年，夏遣右校尉耿夔、司馬任尚、趙博等將兵擊北虜於金微山，大破之，克獲甚眾。北單于逃走，不知所在。

When Han returned the hostage prince, the northern Shanyu sent the king of Chexie Chu and others to camp sincerely at Juyan Pass seeking audience and asking for a senior envoy. Dou Xian requested Ban Gu, chief of his household, act as general of the gentlemen with major Liang Feng to escort the Shanyu in. The northern Shanyu was routed by the southern Xiongnu and fled wounded; Ban Gu reached Sibi Sea and turned back. Dou Xian judged the northern tribes weak and meant to finish them. The next summer he sent Geng Kui, Ren Shang, and Zhao Bo against them at Mount Golden Micro and won a crushing victory with heavy captures. The northern Shanyu vanished and was never found.

憲既平匈奴，威名大盛，以耿夔、任尚等為爪牙，鄧疊、郭璜為心腹。班固、傅毅之徒，皆置幕府，以典文章。刺史、守令多出其門。尚書僕射郅壽、樂恢並以忤意，相繼自殺。由是朝臣震懾，望風承旨。而篤進位特進，得舉吏，見禮依三公。景為執金吾，瑰光祿勛，權貴顯赫，傾動京都。雖俱驕縱，而景為尤甚，奴客緹騎依倚形勢，侵陵小人，強奪財貨，篡取罪人，妻略婦女。商賈閉塞，如避寇仇。有司畏懦，莫敢舉奏。太后聞之，使謁者策免景官，以特進就朝位。瑰少好經書，節約自修，出為魏郡，遷潁川太守。竇氏父子兄弟並居列位，充滿朝廷。叔父霸為城門校尉，霸弟褒將作大匠，褒弟嘉少府，其為侍中、將、大夫、郎吏十餘人。

With the Xiongnu subdued Dou Xian's fame swelled; Geng Kui and Ren Shang became his enforcers, Deng Die and Guo Huang his confidants. Ban Gu, Fu Yi, and others sat in his bureau drafting documents. Most provincial governors and commandery magistrates owed him their posts. The imperial secretary vice directors Zhi Shou and Le Hui both crossed him and killed themselves in succession. Court officials trembled and rushed to do his bidding. Dou Du rose to Specially Advanced, gained the right to recommend officials, and received honors matching the Three Excellencies. Dou Jing became bearer of the mace and Dou Gui superintendent of the imperial household; their swagger rocked the capital. All were insolent, but Dou Jing worst: retainers and mounted guards abused their master's power to bully commoners, seize property, free condemned men, and abduct women. Merchants barred their shops as if fleeing bandits. Magistrates were too frightened to present charges. The dowager learned of it and stripped Dou Jing of office by edict while letting him keep Specially Advanced rank at court. Dou Gui had loved the classics in youth and lived modestly; he served as governor of Wei commandery and then Yingchuan. Fathers, sons, and brothers of the Dou house packed the bureaucracy. Their uncle Dou Ba was colonel of the gates; Dou Bao, grand adjunct of works; Dou Jia, privy treasurer—more than ten further Dou kinsmen served as attendants, generals, and gentlemen.

憲既負重勞，陵肆滋甚。四年，封鄧疊為穰侯。疊與其弟步兵校尉磊及母元，又憲女婿射聲校尉郭舉，舉父長樂少府璜，皆相交結。元、舉並出入禁中，舉得幸太后，遂共圖為殺害。帝陰知其謀，乃與近幸中常侍鄭眾定議誅之。以憲在外，慮其懼禍為亂，忍而未發。會憲及鄧疊班師還京師，詔使大鴻臚持節郊迎，賜軍吏各有差。憲等既至，帝乃幸北宮，詔執金吾，五校尉勒兵屯衛南、北宮、閉城門，收捕疊、磊、璜、舉，皆下獄誅，家屬自徙合浦。遣謁者僕射收憲大將軍印綬，更封為冠軍侯。憲及篤、景、瑰皆遣就國。帝以太后故，不欲名誅憲，為選嚴能相督察之。憲、篤、景到國，皆迫令自殺，宗族，賓客以憲為官者皆免歸本郡。瑰以素自修，不被逼迫，明年坐稟假貧人，徙封羅侯，不得臣吏人。初，竇後之譖梁氏，憲等豫有謀焉，永元十年，梁棠兄弟徙九真還，路由長沙，逼瑰令自殺。後和熹鄧後臨朝，永初三年，詔諸竇前歸本郡者與安豐侯萬全俱還京師。萬全少子章。

Flush with victory, Dou Xian grew ever more overbearing. In the fourth year Deng Die was enfeoffed as marquis of Rang. Deng Die, his brother Lei who was colonel of foot soldiers, their mother Yuan, Dou Xian's son-in-law Gu Ju who commanded the shooters at the ready, and Gu Ju's father Gu Huang, privy treasurer of Changle, formed a tight clique. Yuan and Gu Ju moved freely in the inner palace; Gu Ju won the dowager's favor, and the cabal plotted assassination. Emperor He learned of the plot and, with his trusted eunuch Zheng Zhong, laid plans to destroy them. Because Dou Xian was still in the field the emperor feared a revolt and waited. When Dou Xian and Deng Die marched back the emperor sent the grand herald with credentials to greet them outside the city and rewarded the officers by rank. Once they arrived the emperor went to the North Palace, ordered the bearer of the mace and five colonels to seal the gates and hold both palaces. Deng Die, Lei, Gu Huang, and Gu Ju were seized, executed, and their kin banished to Hepu. An usher director took Dou Xian's grand general's seals and re-enfeoffed him nominally as marquis who vanquishes champions. Dou Xian, Dou Du, Dou Jing, and Dou Gui were sent to their fiefs. Out of respect for the dowager the emperor avoided an open execution of Dou Xian and instead chose stern administrators to watch him. At their fiefs Dou Xian, Dou Du, and Dou Jing were forced to kill themselves; kin and clients who had held office through Dou Xian were stripped and sent home. Dou Gui, known for rectitude, was not driven to suicide at first; the next year he lost his fief for corrupt grain relief to the poor and was demoted to marquis of Luo without authority over officials or commoners. Long before, when Empress Dou had framed the Liang clan, Dou Xian had been party to it. In Yongyuan 10 the Liang brothers returning from exile in Jiuzhen passed through Changsha and forced Dou Gui to take his own life. Later, under Empress Dowager Deng of Hexi, Yongchu 3 saw an edict summoning Dou kin banished to their commanderies back to the capital together with Dou Wanquan, marquis of Anfeng. Among them was Zhang, youngest son of Dou Wanquan.

論曰：衛青、霍去病資強漢之眾，連年以事匈奴，國耗太半矣，而猾虜未之勝，所世猶傳其良將，豈非以身名自終邪！竇憲率羌胡邊雜之師，一舉而空朔庭，至乃追奔稽落之表，飲馬比鞮之曲，銘石負鼎，薦告清廟。列其功庸，兼茂於前多矣，而後世莫稱者，章末釁以降其實也。是以下流，君子所甚惡焉。夫二三子是之不過房幄之間，非復搜揚仄陋，選舉而登也。當青病奴仆之時，竇將軍念咎之日，乃庸力之不暇，思鳴之無晨，何意裂膏腴，享崇號乎？東方朔稱『用之則為虎，不用則為鼠』，信矣。以此言之，士有懷琬琰以就煨塵者，亦何可支哉！

The historian comments: Wei Qing and Huo Qubing spent half the empire's wealth on yearly campaigns against the Xiongnu without final victory, yet history still remembers them as great commanders—perhaps because they died with honor intact. Dou Xian took a mixed host of Qiang, Hu, and border troops, swept the northern court in a single stroke, chased the enemy past Jiluo, watered his horses at Bidi, cut inscriptions in stone, and offered the victory at the ancestral shrine. His record of service outshone those who came before, but later ages pass him in silence because the guilt that closed his life drags the whole story down. That is why a base end is what every gentleman loathes. These men rose through inner-palace favor, not by talent spotted in some forgotten corner of the realm. When Wei Qing was a household slave and Dou Xian faced ruin, they could barely keep body and soul together, let alone picture themselves lords of fat manors and noble names. Dongfang Shuo observed 《Employ him and he is a tiger; set him aside and he is a rat》—words that ring true. From this, when a man of jade integrity is ground into the ash, who can bear to look?

章字伯向。少好學，有文章，與馬融、崔瑗同好，更相推薦。

Dou Zhang, whose courtesy name was Baixiang. In his youth he was a eager student and a fine writer; he and Ma Rong and Cui Yuan, who shared his tastes, traded recommendations.

永初中，三輔遭羌寇，章避難東國，家於外黃。居貧，蓬戶蔬食，躬勒孝養，然講然不輟。太僕鄧康聞其名，請欲與交，章不肯往，康以此益重焉。是時學者稱東觀為老氏臧室，道家蓬萊山，康遂薦章人東觀為校書郎。

Midway through Yongchu the capital region was raided by Qiang; Dou Zhang took refuge in the eastern provinces and made his home at Waihuang. Though he dwelt in a hovel on coarse fare and tended his parents himself, he never stopped teaching. Grand Coachman Deng Kang sought his friendship; Dou Zhang declined to call on him, and Deng Kang respected him the more for it. Scholars likened the Eastern Library to Laozi's treasury and Mount Penglai; Deng Kang recommended Dou Zhang there as a collator of the classics.

順帝初，章女年十二，能屬文，以才貌選入掖庭，有寵，與梁皇后並為貴人。擢章為羽林郎將，遷屯騎校尉。章謙虛下士。收進時輩，甚得名譽。是時，梁、竇並貴，各有賓客，多交構其間，章推心待之，故得免於患。

Early in Emperor Shun's reign Dou Zhang's twelve-year-old daughter could already write; her gifts and looks won her a place in the harem as an honored lady beside Empress Liang. Dou Zhang rose to colonel of the Forest of Plumes and then to colonel of garrison cavalry. He treated scholars with modest deference. He drew in his contemporaries and earned wide esteem. While the Liang and Dou factions each employed clients who traded barbs across the court, Dou Zhang dealt openly with both sides and so avoided disaster.

貴人早卒，帝追思之無已，詔史官樹碑頌德，章自為之辭。貴人歿後，帝禮待之無衰。永和五年，遷少府。漢安二年，轉大鴻臚。建康元年，梁后稱制，章自免，卒於家。中子唐，有俊才，官至虎賁中郎將。

When the honored lady died young the emperor mourned her endlessly. He had historians raise a eulogy stele, and Dou Zhang wrote the inscription himself. After her death the emperor's courtesy toward Dou Zhang never slackened. In the fifth Yonghe year he became privy treasurer. In the second Han'an year he moved to grand herald. In the first Jiankang year, under Empress Liang's regency, Dou Zhang retired of his own accord and died at home. His second son, Dou Tang, was brilliantly gifted and reached the colonelcy of the imperial guard.

【贊】

Heading marking the laudatory verses.

贊曰：悃悃安豐，亦稱才雄。提契河右，奉圖歸忠。孟孫明邊，伐北開西。憲實空漠，遠兵金山。聽笳龍庭，鏤石燕然。雖則折鼎，王靈以宣。

The encomium reads: Dou Rong of Anfeng, plain and sincere, was yet counted a champion. He held the west of the river and brought his maps home in fealty. Dou Gu, styled Mengsun, secured the borders—north subdued, west opened. Dou Xian swept the desert bare and drove the army to Golden Mountain. Reeds sounded at the nomad court; his stone stood on Yanran. Though the house later broke like a cauldron, royal awe had been made known.

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