1
劉焉字君郎，江夏竟陵人也，魯恭王後也。 肅宗時，徙竟陵。 焉少任州郡，以宗室拜郎中。 去官居陽城山，精學教授。 舉賢良方正，稍遷南陽太守、宗正、太常。
Liu Yan, styled Junlang, came from Jingling in Jiangxia and traced his line to Prince Gong of Lu. Under Emperor Suzong his clan was moved to Jingling. As a young man he served in provincial posts and, by virtue of his imperial lineage, received appointment as a Gentleman of the Palace. He resigned, withdrew to Mount Yangcheng, pursued scholarship in earnest, and lectured to students. Recommended as an outstanding candidate for honest and upright conduct, he rose step by step to governor of Nanyang, minister for the imperial clan, and minister of ceremonies.
2
時，靈帝政化衰缺，四方兵寇，焉以為刺史威輕，既不能禁，且用非其人，輒增暴亂，乃建議改置牧伯，鎮安方夏，清選重臣，以居其任。 焉乃陰求為交阯，以避時難。 議未即行，會益州刺史郗儉在政煩擾，謠言遠聞，而并州刺史張懿、涼州刺史耿鄙並為寇賊所害，故焉議得用。 出焉為監軍使者，領益州牧，太僕黃琬為豫州牧，宗正劉虞為幽州牧，皆以本秩居職。 州任之重，自此而始。
Under Emperor Ling government faltered and rebellion spread. Liu Yan argued that provincial inspectors lacked real authority—unable to keep order, and that wrong appointments only bred more chaos—so he urged installing chief administrators over the regions to stabilize the empire and staffing those offices with senior, carefully chosen ministers. He quietly angled for a posting to Jiaozhi, hoping to ride out the turmoil at a distance. Before the reform could take effect, Yi Province's Inspector Xi Jian had drawn widespread complaint for his harsh rule, while the inspectors of Bing and Liang, Zhang Yi and Geng Bi, had both fallen to rebels—circumstances that finally won acceptance for Liu Yan's proposal. Liu Yan was named military overseer and shepherd of Yi Province, Huang Wan grand coachman and shepherd of Yu, and Liu Yu minister of the imperial clan and shepherd of You, each continuing at his former nominal grade. From that moment the office of provincial shepherd carried real power.
3
是時，益州賊馬相亦自號「黃巾」，合聚疲役之民數千人，先殺綿竹令，進攻雒縣，殺郗儉，又擊蜀郡、犍為，旬月之間，破壞三郡。 馬相自稱「天子」，眾至十餘萬人，遣兵破巴郡，殺郡守趙部。 州從事賈龍，先領兵數百人在犍為，遂糾合吏人攻相，破之，龍乃遣吏卒迎焉。 焉到，以龍為校尉，徙居綿竹。 撫納離叛，務行寬惠，而陰圖異計。
Meanwhile Ma Xiang of Yi Province took the name "Yellow Turban," rallied thousands of worn-down laborers, murdered the magistrate of Mianzhu, took Luo County and killed Xi Jian, then overran Shu and Qianwei—three commanderies collapsed in a matter of weeks. Ma Xiang proclaimed himself "Son of Heaven" and swelled his ranks past a hundred thousand; his forces smashed Ba commandery and executed Governor Zhao Bu. Provincial aide Jia Long, already in Qianwei with a few hundred men, rallied officials and locals, routed Ma Xiang, and sent an escort to bring Liu Yan in. On arrival Liu Yan made Jia Long a colonel and established his headquarters at Mianzhu. He won over defectors with a policy of mild rule, all the while laying secret plans of his own.
4
沛人張魯，母有姿色，兼挾鬼道，往來焉家，遂任魯以為督義司馬，與別部司馬張脩將兵掩殺漢中太守蘇固，斷絕斜谷，殺使者。 魯既得漢中，遂復殺張脩而併其眾。
Zhang Lu of Pei had a mother who was both striking and adept at spirit mediums' practices; she frequented Liu Yan's house, and Liu gave Zhang Lu the post of chief marshal for righteousness. Together with Separate Division Marshal Zhang Xiu he struck Hanzhong, killed Governor Su Gu, sealed the Xie Valley pass, and slew the imperial messenger. After securing Hanzhong, Zhang Lu eliminated Zhang Xiu and absorbed his army.
5
焉欲立威刑以自尊大，乃託以佗事，殺州中豪強十餘人，士民皆怨。
Seeking to cow the province and elevate his own stature, Liu Yan trumped up charges and executed over ten leading local families, earning widespread resentment.
6
初平二年，犍為太守任岐及賈龍並反，攻焉。 焉擊破，皆殺之。 自此意氣漸盛，遂造作乘輿車重千餘乘。 焉四子，範為左中郎將，誕治書御史，璋奉車都尉，並從獻帝在長安，唯別部司馬瑁隨焉在益州。 朝廷使璋曉譬焉，焉留璋不復遣。
In 191 Qianwei's governor Ren Qi joined Jia Long in revolt and marched against Liu Yan. Liu Yan crushed the rising and put both men to death. Emboldened, he grew ambitious enough to commission more than a thousand vehicles fit for an emperor's train. Of Liu Yan's four sons, Fan served as a general of the household left, Dan as document censor, and Zhang as commandant of the imperial equipage—all at Emperor Xian's court in Chang'an—while only Separate Division Marshal Mao stayed with his father in Yi. The court dispatched Liu Zhang to talk sense into his father, but Liu Yan kept him in Yi and never let him return.
7
興平元年，征西將軍馬騰與範謀誅李傕，焉遣叟兵五千助之，戰敗，範及誕並見殺。 焉既痛二子，又遇天火燒其城府車重，延及民家，館邑無餘，於是徙居成都，遂疽發背卒。
In 194 Ma Teng conspired with Liu Fan to eliminate Li Jue; Liu Yan sent five thousand tribal auxiliaries from the southwest. The venture failed, and both Liu Fan and Liu Dan lost their lives. Stricken by his sons' deaths, Liu Yan then watched fire consume his city stores, wagons, and neighborhoods until little was left; he relocated to Chengdu, where a back abscess carried him off.
8
州大吏趙韙等貪璋溫仁，立為刺史。 詔書因以璋為監軍使者，領益州牧，以韙為征東中郎將。 先是，荊州牧劉表表焉僭擬乘輿器服，韙以此遂屯兵朐䏰備表。
Leading officials led by Zhao Wei, liking Liu Zhang's gentle manner, raised him to provincial inspector. Imperial orders named Liu Zhang military overseer and shepherd of Yi, and appointed Zhao Wei general of the household for the east. Earlier, Jing's shepherd Liu Biao had denounced Liu Yan for aping the emperor's regalia; Zhao Wei accordingly garrisoned Qu to watch Liu Biao.
9
初，南陽、三輔民數万戶流入益州，焉悉收以為眾，名曰「東州兵」。 璋性柔寬無威略，東州入侵暴為民患，不能禁制，舊士頗有離怨。 趙韓之在巴中，甚得眾心，璋委之以權。 韙因人情不輯，乃陰結州中大姓。 建安五年，還共擊璋，蜀郡、廣漢、犍為皆反應。 東州人畏見誅滅，乃同心並力，為璋死戰，遂破反者，進攻韙於江州，斬之。
When tens of thousands of refugees from Nanyang and the capital region poured into Yi, Liu Yan enrolled them wholesale as what he called the "Eastern Province troops." Liu Zhang was too mild to impose discipline: the Eastern Province troops bullied the locals, he failed to check them, and the established families turned against him. Zhao Wei held Ba with strong local backing, and Liu Zhang entrusted him with real authority. Seeing morale fray, Zhao Wei secretly enlisted the province's leading families. In 200 they rose jointly against Liu Zhang, and Shu, Guanghan, and Qianwei rose with them. Fearing slaughter, the Eastern Province troops closed ranks and fought desperately for Liu Zhang, crushed the revolt, advanced on Zhao Wei at Jiangzhou, and executed him.
10
張魯以璋暗懦，不復承順。 璋怒，殺魯母及弟，而遣其將龐羲等攻魯，數為所破。 魯部曲多在巴土，故以羲為巴郡太守。 魯因襲取之，遂雄於巴漢。
Zhang Lu treated Liu Zhang as weak and ceased to defer to him. Liu Zhang retaliated by executing Zhang Lu's mother and brother and dispatching Pang Xi and others—only to suffer defeat again and again. Because Zhang Lu's forces held Ba, Liu Zhang named Pang Xi governor of Ba commandery. Zhang Lu seized the opening and drove him out, thereafter dominating the Ba–Han region.
11
十三年，曹操自將征荊州，璋乃遣使致敬。 操加璋振威將軍，兄瑁平寇將軍。 璋因遣別駕從事張松詣操，而操不相接禮。 松懷恨而還，勸璋絕曹氏，而結好劉備。 璋從之。
In 208 Cao Cao marched on Jing in person; Liu Zhang dispatched envoys to court his favor. Cao Cao named Liu Zhang general who inspires awe and his brother Liu Mao general who pacifies bandits. Liu Zhang sent deputy Zhang Song to Cao Cao's camp, only to be cold-shouldered. Smarting from the snub, Zhang Song urged Liu Zhang to break with Cao Cao and align with Liu Bei. Liu Zhang agreed.
12
十六年，璋聞曹操當遣兵向漢中討張魯，內懷恐懼，松复說璋迎劉備以拒操。 璋即遣法正將兵迎備。 璋主簿巴西黃權諫曰：「劉備有梟名，今以部曲遇之，則不滿其心，以賓客待之，則一國不容二主，此非自安之道。」 從事廣漢王累自倒懸於州門以諫。 璋一無所納。
In 211, alarmed that Cao Cao might march on Hanzhong against Zhang Lu, Liu Zhang let Zhang Song talk him into inviting Liu Bei as a counterweight. He sent Fa Zheng with an escort to bring Liu Bei in. Zhang's registrar, Huang Quan of Ba, remonstrated: "Liu Bei has the reputation of an owl. If you treat him as a subordinate leader, you will not satisfy his heart; if you treat him as a guest, one state cannot hold two lords. This is not a way to secure yourself." Aide Wang Lei of Guanghan even hung himself upside down at the provincial gate in protest. Liu Zhang brushed every warning aside.
13
備自江陵馳至涪城，璋率步騎數万與備會。 張松勸備於會襲璋，備不忍。 明年，出屯葭萌。 松兄廣漢太守肅懼禍及己，乃以松謀白璋，收松斬之，敕諸關戍勿復通。 備大怒，還兵擊璋，所在戰克。
Liu Bei rode hard from Jiangling to Fucheng, where Liu Zhang met him with tens of thousands of horse and foot. Zhang Song wanted Liu Bei to ambush Liu Zhang at the parley; Liu Bei refused out of scruple. The following year he marched out and camped at Jiameng. When Zhang Su, governor of Guanghan and Zhang Song's brother, feared implication, he exposed the plot to Liu Zhang; Zhang Song was executed and every border post was ordered sealed. Enraged, Liu Bei turned his army on Liu Zhang and swept every field.
14
十九年，進圍成都，數十日，城中有精兵三萬人，穀支一年，吏民咸欲拒戰。 璋言：「父子在州二十餘歲，無恩德以加百姓，而攻戰三載，肌膏草野者，以璋故也。 何心能安！」 遂開城出降，群下莫不流涕。 備遷璋於公安，歸其財寶，後以病卒。
In 214 he invested Chengdu. Even after weeks of siege the city still held thirty thousand veterans and a year's grain; officials and townspeople begged to fight on. Liu Zhang said, "My father and I have held this land over twenty years without earning the people's goodwill, while three years of fighting have carpeted the fields with corpses—all because of me. How could my conscience find peace!" He then opened the gates and submitted, and every man under him wept. Liu Bei moved him to Gong'an, restored his valuables, and Liu Zhang eventually died of illness.
15
明年，曹操破張魯，定漢中。
The following year Cao Cao crushed Zhang Lu and brought Hanzhong under control.
16
魯字公旗。 初，祖父陵，順帝時客於蜀，學道鶴鳴山中，造作符書，以惑百姓。 受其道者輒出米五斗，故謂之「米賊」。 陵傳子衡，衡傳於魯，魯遂自號「師君」。 其來學者，初名為「鬼卒」，後號「祭酒」。 祭酒各領部眾，眾多者名曰「理頭」。 皆校以誠信，不聽欺妄，有病但令首過而已。 諸祭酒各起義舍於路，同之亭傳，縣置米肉以給行旅。 食者量腹取足，過多則鬼能病之。 犯法者先加三原，然後行刑。 不置長吏，以祭酒為理，民夷信向。 朝廷不能討，遂就拜魯鎮夷中郎將，領漢寧太守。 通其貢獻。
Zhang Lu, courtesy name Gongqi. His grandfather Zhang Ling had settled in Shu under Emperor Shun, pursued Daoist arts on Mount Heming, composed spirit talismans, and drew the populace after him. Followers paid five pecks of rice as dues, which earned the sect the nickname "rice bandits." The line passed from Zhang Ling to Zhang Heng and then to Zhang Lu, who proclaimed himself "Master Lord." Neophytes were first called "ghost soldiers," then promoted to "libationers." Each libationer led a congregation; the largest were titled "heads of section." The community stressed honesty—lies were forbidden—and the sick merely confessed their misdeeds. Libationers built hostels along the highways like imperial relay inns, with counties laying in rice and meat for wayfarers. Travelers were told to take only what they needed—greed brought ghost-sent illness. Offenders received three chances to reform before facing sentence. With no regular magistrates, libationers governed, winning the confidence of Han settlers and native tribes alike. Unable to suppress him by force, the court instead confirmed Zhang Lu as general for pacifying the tribes and governor of Hanning. His tribute missions were accepted at court.
17
韓遂、馬超之亂，關西民奔魯者數万家。 時人有地中得玉印者，群下欲尊魯為漢寧王。 魯功曹閻圃諫曰：「漢川之民，戶出十萬，四面險固，財富土沃，上匡天子，則為桓、文，次方竇融，不失富貴。 今承製署置，勢足斬斷。 遽稱王號，必為禍先。」 魯從之。
When Han Sui and Ma Chao tore Guanxi apart, tens of thousands of families fled to Zhang Lu. After a jade seal turned up in the soil, his followers urged elevating him to king of Hanning. His aide Yan Pu argued: "Hanzhong holds a hundred thousand households behind formidable terrain on fertile, wealthy ground. Aid the emperor and you could rival Duke Huan or Duke Wen; settle for Dou Rong's course and you still keep fortune and rank. Your imperial mandate already lets you rule as you see fit. Leap to a royal title and disaster follows." Zhang Lu took the advice.
18
魯自在漢川垂三十年，聞曹操征之，至陽平，欲舉漢中降。 其弟衛不聽，率眾數万，拒關固守。 操破衛，斬之。 魯聞陽平已陷，將稽顙歸降。 閻圃說曰：「今以急往，其功為輕，不如且依巴中，然後委質，功必多也。」 於是乃奔南山。 左右欲悉焚寶貨倉庫。 魯曰：「本欲歸命國家，其意未遂。 今日之走，以避鋒銳，非有惡意。」 遂封藏而去。 操入南鄭，甚嘉之。 又以魯本有善意，遣人尉安之。 魯即與家屬出逆，拜鎮南將軍，封閬中侯，邑萬戶，將還中國，待以客禮。 封魯五子及閻圃等皆為列侯。
After nearly thirty years in Hanzhong, Zhang Lu meant to yield when he heard Cao Cao was coming and reached Yangping. His brother Zhang Wei refused, barricaded the passes with tens of thousands, and dug in. Cao Cao broke Zhang Wei and executed him. Learning Yangping had fallen, Zhang Lu prepared to grovel in submission. Yan Pu urged him to wait: "Rush to surrender and your credit is thin; withdraw into Bazhong first, then offer allegiance—you will earn far more." They pulled back into the southern hills. His staff wanted to torch the treasury and granaries. Zhang Lu said, "I meant all along to submit to the court—only timing stood in the way. This retreat dodges their spearpoints, not malice toward them." So they sealed the stores intact and withdrew. Entering Nan Zheng, Cao Cao applauded the gesture. Knowing Zhang Lu's goodwill, he sent envoys to reassure him. Zhang Lu emerged with his family to surrender and received appointment as general who guards the south and marquis of Langzhong with ten thousand households; he was escorted toward the interior as an honored guest. His five sons, Yan Pu, and others were each made full marquises.
19
魯卒，諡曰原侯。 子富嗣。
Zhang Lu died and received the posthumous name Marquis Yuan. His son Zhang Fu inherited the title.
20
論曰：劉焉睹時方艱，先求後亡之所，庶乎見幾而作。 夫地廣則驕尊之心生，財衍則僭奢之情用，固亦恆人必至之期也。 璋能閉隘養力，守案先圖，尚可與歲時推移，而遽輸利器，靜受流斥，所謂羊質虎皮，見豺則恐，籲哉！
Appraisal: Liu Yan read the crisis early and secured a bolt-hole—arguably seizing the moment. Wide lands breed arrogance; overflowing wealth invites extravagance—ordinary men rarely escape that arc. Liu Zhang might have sealed the defiles, husbanded his strength, and held his father's design—buying time—yet he casually surrendered the advantage and meekly accepted banishment: a sheep in a tiger's hide that trembles at jackals—how lamentable!
21
袁術字公路，汝南汝陽人，司空逢之子也。 少以俠氣聞，數與諸公子飛鷹走狗，後頗折節。 舉孝廉，累遷至河南尹、虎賁中郎將。
Yuan Shu, styled Gonglu, was a native of Ruyang in Runan and son of Minister of Works Yuan Feng. As a youth he was famed for swashbuckling bravado—hawking and hunting with other sons of the elite—before moderating his ways. Recommended as filial and incorrupt, he rose through posts to governor of Henan and general of the household gentlemen tiger guards.
22
時，董卓將欲廢立，以術為後將軍。 術畏卓之禍，出奔南陽。 會長沙太守孫堅殺南陽太守張諮，引兵從術。 劉表上術為南陽太守，術又表堅領豫州刺史，使率荊、豫之卒，擊破董卓於陽人。
While Dong Zhuo prepared to replace the emperor on the throne, he named Yuan Shu General of the Rear. Yuan Shu fled the capital for Nanyang, fearing Dong Zhuo's reach. Sun Jian of Changsha had killed Nanyang's governor Zhang Zi and brought his army over to Yuan Shu. Liu Biao installed Yuan Shu as governor of Nanyang; Yuan Shu then nominated Sun Jian as inspector of Yu and sent him with Jing and Yu troops to crush Dong Zhuo at Yangren.
23
術從兄紹因堅討卓未反，遠，遣其將會稽周昕奪堅豫州。 術怒，擊昕走之。 紹議欲立劉虞為帝，術好放縱，憚立長君，託以公義不肯同，積此釁隙遂成。 乃各外交黨援，以相圖謀，術結公孫瓚，而紹連劉表。 豪桀多附於紹，術怒曰：「群豎不吾從，而從吾家奴乎！」 又與公孫瓚書，雲紹非袁氏子，紹聞大怒。 初平三年，術遣孫堅擊劉表於襄陽，堅戰死。 公孫瓚使劉備與術合謀共逼紹，紹與曹操會擊，皆破之。 四年，術引軍入陳留，屯封丘。 黑山餘賊及匈奴於扶羅等佐術，與曹操戰於匡亭，大敗。 術退保雍丘，又將其餘眾奔九江，殺楊州刺史陳溫而自領之，又兼稱徐州伯。 李傕入長安，欲結術為援，乃授以左將軍，假節，封陽翟侯。
With Sun Jian still far away fighting Dong Zhuo, Yuan Shao sent Zhou Xin of Kuaiji to wrest Yu Province from him. Yuan Shu struck Zhou Xin and drove him out. Yuan Shao wanted to place Liu Yu on the throne; Yuan Shu, loose-living and unwilling to serve an older lord, hid behind empty rhetoric and refused—their feud hardened. Each man then courted foreign backers: Yuan Shu joined Gongsun Zan; Yuan Shao leaned on Liu Biao. Most warlords favored Yuan Shao, and Yuan Shu fumed, "So these nobodies follow my household slave instead of me!" He also wrote Gongsun Zan claiming Yuan Shao was no true Yuan—a lie that enraged Yuan Shao. In 192 Yuan Shu sent Sun Jian against Liu Biao at Xiangyang; Sun Jian fell in action. Gongsun Zan paired Liu Bei with Yuan Shu to squeeze Yuan Shao; Yuan Shao and Cao Cao joined forces and broke them. The next year Yuan Shu marched into Chenliu and camped at Fengqiu. Rebel remnants from Black Mountain and the Xiongnu leader Yufu Luo fought beside Yuan Shu at Kuangting—and Cao Cao shattered them. Yuan Shu withdrew to Yongqiu, then bolted to Jiujiang, murdered Yang Province's inspector Chen Wen, seized his office, and dubbed himself lord of Xu. After Li Jue took Chang'an he courted Yuan Shu, naming him General of the Left with insignia and the marquisate of Yangdi.
24
初，術在南陽，戶口尚數十百萬，而不修法度，以抄掠為資，奢恣無猒，百姓患之。 又少見讖書，言「代漢者當塗高」，自云名字應之。 又以袁氏出陳為舜後，以黃代赤，德運之次，遂有僭逆之謀。 又聞孫堅得傳國璽，遂拘堅妻奪之。 興平二年冬，天子播越，敗於曹陽。 術大會群下，因謂曰：「今海內鼎沸，劉氏微弱。 吾家四世公輔，百姓所歸，欲應天順民，於諸君何如？」 眾莫敢對。 主簿閻象進曰：「昔周自后稷至於文王，積德累功，參分天下，猶服事殷。 明公雖奕世克昌，孰若有周之盛？ 漢室雖微，未至殷紂之敝也。」 術嘿然，使召張範。 範辭疾，遣弟承往應之。 術問曰「昔周室陵遲，則有桓、文之霸； 秦失其政，漢接而用之。 今孤以土地之廣，士人之眾，欲徼福於齊桓，擬跡於高祖，可乎？」 承對曰：「在德不在眾。 苟能用德以同天下之欲，雖云匹夫，霸王可也。 若陵僭無度，乾時而動，眾之所棄，誰能興之！」 術不說。
At Nanyang Yuan Shu ruled millions but ignored law, funded himself by looting, and lived without restraint while the populace groaned. He latched onto the prophecy that "the successor to Han is at Dangtu Gao" and insisted his own name matched it. He argued the Yuans, via Chen, descended from Shun, so the yellow virtue should follow the red—and began plotting usurpation. Learning Sun Jian held the jade seal, he imprisoned Sun Jian's wife and took it by force. That winter of 195 the emperor fled in disorder and was routed at Caoyang. Yuan Shu assembled his court and declared, "The realm is in turmoil and the Han house weak. For four generations my clan has served as chief ministers; the people look to us. I mean to answer Heaven and win the people—what do you say?" No one answered. Registrar Yan Xiang objected: "From Hou Ji to King Wen the Zhou piled merit for generations and held only a third of the realm, yet still served the Shang. Your house may thrive for generations, but has it Zhou's stature? Han may be declining, but it is no ruined Shang under Zhou Xin." Yuan Shu fell silent and sent for Zhang Fan. Zhang Fan pleaded illness and deputized his brother Zhang Cheng. Yuan Shu asked, "When Zhou waned, Huan and Wen rose as hegemons; Qin forfeited the mandate and Han succeeded. Now I command broad territory and many men—may I win fortune like Duke Huan or walk in Gaozu's steps?" Zhang Cheng answered, "Strength rests in virtue, not head count. Align the empire through virtue and even a commoner can rise as hegemon. Usurp without measure and move against the times, and when men abandon you, who will lift you up?" Yuan Shu took offense.
25
自孫堅死，子策复領其部曲，術遣擊楊州刺史劉繇，破之，策因據江東。 策聞術將欲僭號，與書諫曰：
After Sun Jian's death Sun Ce led his father's troops at Yuan Shu's bidding, crushed Liu Yao in Yang Province, and seized south of the Long River. When Sun Ce learned Yuan Shu would declare himself emperor, he wrote to dissuade him:
26
董卓無道，陵虐王室，禍加太后，暴及弘農，天子播越，宮廟焚毀，是以豪桀發憤，沛然俱起。 元惡既斃，幼主東顧，乃使王人奉命，宣明朝恩，偃武修文，與之更始。 然而河北異謀於黑山，曹操毒被於東徐，劉表僭亂於南荊，公孫叛逆於朔北，正禮阻兵，玄德爭盟，是以未獲從命，橐弓戢戈。 當謂使君與國同規，而捨是弗卹，完然有自取之志，懼非海內企望之意也。 成湯討桀，稱：有夏多罪」； 武王討紂，曰「殷有重罰」。 此二王者，雖有聖德，假使時無失道之過，無由逼而取也。 今主上非有惡於天下，徒以幼小脅於強臣，異於湯、武之時也。 又聞幼主明智聰敏，有夙成之德，天下雖未被其恩，咸歸心焉。 若輔而興之，則旦、奭之美，率土所望也。 使君五世相承，為漢宰輔，榮寵之盛，莫與為比，宜效忠守節，以報王室。 時人多惑圖緯之言，妄牽非類之文，苟以悅主為美，不顧成敗之計，古今所慎，可不熟慮！ 忠言逆耳，駁議致憎，苟有益於尊明，無所敢辭。
"Dong Zhuo trampled the court, harmed the dowager and the Prince of Hongnong, drove out the emperor, and burned the shrines—so loyal men rose as one." With Dong Zhuo gone the boy emperor turned east; imperial messengers announced renewal of Han grace and called for peace. Yet troubles multiplied—Black Mountain in Hebei, Cao Cao scourging Xu, Liu Biao unsettling southern Jing, Gongsun Zan in the far north, Liu Yao holding his army in check, Liu Bei maneuvering for advantage—so we could not yet sheath swords. We thought you stood with the dynasty; instead you nurse private ambition without pity—that cannot be what the empire hopes for. When Tang attacked Jie he cited Xia's crimes; Wu attacking Zhou said "Yin bears heavy punishment." Even those sage kings needed a wicked court before they could seize power. Today's emperor has wronged no one; he is young and trapped by warlords—not Shang's terminal decay. They say the boy ruler is wise beyond his years; though his grace has not spread, the people already incline to him. Aid him as the Duke of Zhou aided King Cheng and the realm will praise you. Five generations of Yuans have served as Han's chief ministers; none match your honor—you owe fealty, not ambition. Many chase omens and twist prophecies to flatter princes without weighing ruin—think hard before you leap! Truth may sting and debates annoy, but if they serve you I will speak plainly.
27
術不納，策遂絕之。
Yuan Shu ignored him; Sun Ce cut ties.
28
建安二年，因河內張炯符命，遂果僭號，自稱「仲家」。 以九江太守為淮南尹，置公卿百官，郊祀天地。 乃遣使以竊號告呂布，並為子娉布女。 布執術使送許。 術大怒，遣其將張勛、橋蕤攻布，大敗而還。 術又率兵擊陳國，誘殺其王寵及相駱俊，曹操乃自征之。 術聞大駭，即走度淮，留張勛、橋蕤於蘄陽，以拒操。 操擊破斬蕤，而勳退走。 術兵弱，大將死，眾情離叛，加天旱歲荒，士民凍餒，江、淮間相食殆盡。 時，舒仲應為術沛相，術以米十萬斛與為軍糧，仲應悉散以給饑民。 術聞怒，陳兵將斬之。 仲應曰：「知當必死，故為之耳。 寧可以一人之命，救百姓於塗炭。」 術下馬牽之曰：「仲應，足下獨欲享天下重名，不與吾共之邪？」
In 197, citing Zhang Jiong of Henei's forged prophecy, Yuan Shu declared himself emperor under the reign title "Zhongjia." He renamed Jiujiang's governor grand steward of Huainan, erected a full court, and performed suburban sacrifices as emperor. He notified Lü Bu of his imperial claim and betrothed his son to Lü Bu's daughter. Lü Bu arrested his messengers and forwarded them to the capital. Yuan Shu struck back with Zhang Xun and Qiao Rui—and suffered a crushing defeat. He invaded Chen, murdered Prince Liu Chong and Chancellor Luo Jun by treachery, and drew Cao Cao's personal expedition. Panic-stricken, Yuan Shu fled south of the Huai, leaving Zhang Xun and Qiao Rui at Qiyang to hold Cao Cao. Cao Cao smashed them, killed Qiao Rui, and Zhang Xun ran. Yuan Shu's army was spent, his champions gone, his men deserting; drought and famine left officials and peasants starving until the Jiang-Huai corridor cannibalized itself. Pei's chancellor Shu Zhongying took the hundred thousand hu Yuan Shu allotted for the army and fed every grain to the starving. Yuan Shu raged and prepared to execute him. Shu Zhongying replied, "I knew it meant death—that is why I did it. One life is a fair trade to pull the people from ruin." Yuan Shu dismounted and seized his arm: "You only want the fame for yourself and will not share it with me?"
29
術雖矜名尚奇，而天性驕肆，尊己陵物。 及竊偽號，淫侈滋甚，媵禦數百，無不兼羅紈，厭梁肉，自下飢困，莫之簡卹。 於是資實空盡，不能自立。 四年夏，乃燒宮室，奔其部曲陳簡、雷薄於灊山。 復為簡等所拒，遂大困窮，士卒散走。 憂懣不知所為，遂歸帝號於紹，曰：「祿去漢室久矣，天下提挈，政在家門。 豪雄角逐，分割疆宇。 此與周末七國無異，唯強者兼之耳。 袁氏受命當王，符瑞炳然。 今君擁有四州，人戶百萬，以強則莫與爭大，以位則無所比高。 曹操雖欲扶衰獎微，安能續絕運，起已滅乎！ 謹歸大命，君其興之。」 紹陰然其計。
For all his posturing, Yuan Shu was arrogant by nature—vaunting himself and trampling others. Once crowned, his excess grew: hundreds of women in gauze and satin while soldiers starved—he never spared them a thought. His treasury ran dry and his regime collapsed. In the summer of 199 he torched his palace and fled to Chen Jian and Lei Bo in the Qian Mountains. They shut him out; his men melted away. Broken and desperate, he surrendered his bogus throne to Yuan Shao: "Han's mandate is long gone; warlords carve up the realm. It is the Warring States again—only the strong swallow the weak. No different from the last days of Zhou—the ruthless annex the rest. Heaven marks the Yuans for kingship—the signs are clear. You command four provinces and a million souls—none match your might or standing. Cao Cao cannot prop up a dead dynasty or breathe life into ashes! I hand you the seal—take it and rise." Yuan Shao quietly welcomed the offer.
30
術因欲北至青州從袁譚，曹操使劉備徼之，不得過，复走還壽春。 六月，至江亭。 坐簣床而歎曰：「袁術乃至是乎！」 因憤慨結病，歐血死。 妻子依故吏廬江太守劉勛。 孫策破勳，復見收視，術女入孫權宮，子曜仕吳為郎中。
He tried to reach Yuan Tan in Qingzhou; Liu Bei blocked him for Cao Cao, so he slunk back to Shouchun. That sixth month he dragged himself to Jiang Pavilion. Collapsed on a pallet of straw he groaned, "So this is how far Yuan Shu has fallen!" Shame and rage broke him; he coughed blood and died. His family took shelter with Liu Xun of Lujiang, an old retainer. Sun Ce crushed Liu Xun and absorbed the household—Yuan Shu's daughter entered Sun Quan's harem and his son Yuan Yao served Wu as a court gentleman.
31
論曰：「天命符驗，可得而見，未可得而言也。 然大致受大福者，歸於信順乎！ 夫事不以順，雖強力廣謀，不能得也。 謀不可得之事，日失忠信，變詐妄生矣。 況復苟肆行之，其以欺天乎！ 雖假符僭稱，歸將安所容哉！
Appraisal: "Portents may be glimpsed yet resist plain speech. Still, lasting fortune favors good faith. Work against Heaven and no clever plot avails. Chasing impossible thrones erodes trust and breeds deceit. Persist in fraud and you mock Heaven itself! Forged omens buy no refuge—where will you hide?
32
呂布字奉先，五原九原人也。 以弓馬驍武給并州。 刺史丁原為騎都尉，原屯河內，以布為主簿，甚見親待。 靈帝崩，原受何進召，將兵詣洛陽，為執金吾。 會進敗，董卓誘布殺原而併其兵。
Lü Bu, styled Fengxian, came from Jiuyuan in Wuyuan commandery. Renowned archer and horseman, he entered service in Bing Province. Inspector Ding Yuan, colonel of carriage and cavalry, camped at Henei and made Lü Bu his chief clerk, favoring him warmly. After Emperor Ling's death Ding Yuan answered He Jin's call, marched on Luoyang, and became Bearer of the Gilded Mace. When He Jin fell, Dong Zhuo bribed Lü Bu into killing Ding Yuan and seizing his army.
33
卓以布為騎都尉，誓為父子，甚愛信之。 稍遷至中郎將，封都亭侯。 卓自知凶恣，每懷猜畏，行止常以布自衛。 嘗小失卓意，卓拔手戟擲之。 布拳捷得免，而改容顧謝，卓意亦解。 布由是陰怨於卓。 卓又使布守中閤，而私與傅婢情通，益不自安。 因往見司徒王允，自陳卓幾見殺之狀。 時允與尚書僕射士孫瑞密謀誅卓，因以告布，使為內應。 布曰：「如父子何？」 曰：「君自姓呂，本非骨肉。 今憂死不暇，何謂父子？ 擲戟之時，豈有父子情也？」 布遂許之，乃於門刺殺卓，事已見《卓傳》。 允以布為奮威將軍，假節，儀同三司，封溫侯。
Dong Zhuo named him colonel of carriage and cavalry; they swore a foster tie and Dong Zhuo doted on him. He rose to general of the household and marquis of Metropolitan Village. Knowing his own brutality, Dong Zhuo stayed wary and kept Lü Bu as bodyguard. Once Lü Bu crossed him; Dong Zhuo hurled a halberd at his head. Lü Bu dodged the blow and apologized; Dong Zhuo's rage cooled. From then on Lü Bu nursed a secret grudge against Dong Zhuo. Dong Zhuo assigned him to guard the inner palace while sleeping with a maid—Lü Bu grew anxious. He sought Wang Yun and described how Dong Zhuo had nearly murdered him. Wang Yun was already plotting Dong Zhuo's death with Sun Rui; he enlisted Lü Bu as insider. Lü Bu asked, "But we swore as father and son." They said: "You bear the surname Lü—you are not bone and flesh. You fear for your life—what bond is left? Did he show fatherly mercy when he threw that halberd?" Lü Bu agreed and stabbed Dong Zhuo at the gate, as told in Dong Zhuo's memoir. Wang Yun named him General Who Displays Might with insignia and Three Dukes' honors, marquis of Wen.
34
允既不赦涼州人，由是卓將李傕等遂相結，還攻長安。 布與傕戰，敗，乃將數百騎，以卓頭系馬鞍，走出武關，奔南陽。 袁術待之甚厚。 布自恃殺卓，有德袁氏，遂恣兵抄掠。 術患之。 布不安，复去從張楊於河內。 時李傕等購募求布急，楊下諸將皆欲圖之。 布懼，謂楊曰：「與卿州里，今見殺，其功未必多。 不如生賣布，可大得傕等爵寵。」 楊以為然。 有頃，布得走投袁紹，紹與布擊張燕于常山。 燕精兵萬餘，騎數千匹。 布常禦良馬，號曰赤菟，能馳城飛塹，與其健將成廉、魏越等數十騎馳突燕陣，一日或至三四，皆斬首而出。 連戰十餘日，遂破燕軍。 布既恃其功，更請兵於紹，紹不許，而將士多暴橫，紹患之。 布不自安，因求還洛陽。 紹聽之，承製使領司隸校尉，遣壯士送布而陰使殺之。 布疑其圖己，乃使人鼓箏於帳中，潛自遁出。 夜中兵起，而布已亡。 紹聞，懼為患，募遣追之，皆莫敢逼，遂歸張楊。 道經陳留，太守張邈遣使迎之，相待甚厚，臨別把臂言誓。
Wang Yun refused amnesty for Liangzhou troops, so Li Jue and Dong Zhuo's old guard marched back on Chang'an. Beaten by Li Jue, Lü Bu fled with a few hundred riders, Dong Zhuo's head lashed to his saddle, through Wu Pass toward Nanyang. Yuan Shu received him lavishly. Sure his deed had earned the Yuans' gratitude, he let his men loot. Yuan Shu soon wearied of him. Uneasy, Lü Bu crossed to Zhang Yang in Henei. Li Jue's price on his head tempted every officer under Zhang Yang. Lü Bu pleaded, "We hail from the same commandery; killing me earns little. Deliver me alive and Li Jue will pay far better." Zhang Yang agreed. He slipped away to Yuan Shao and joined him against Zhang Yan of Changshan. Zhang Yan commanded ten thousand veterans and thousands of mounts. On Red Hare he vaulted walls and ditches, charging Zhang Yan's lines three or four times a day at the head of Cheng Lian, Wei Yue, and a handful of riders—each pass leaving heads behind. After ten days of fighting they shattered Zhang Yan. Flush with victory he demanded more troops; Yuan Shao refused while Lü Bu's men terrorized the countryside. Alarmed, he asked leave to return west. Yuan Shao named him colonel director of retainers and sent an escort meant to murder him en route. Reading the trap, he staged a zheng performance in his tent and stole away. That night the assassins struck an empty bed. Yuan Shao put hunters on his trail, but none would face him; Lü Bu rejoined Zhang Yang. Chenliu's Zhang Miao met him with honors and swore friendship at farewell.
35
曹操聞而引軍擊布，累戰，相持百餘日。 是時，旱、蝗，少穀，百姓相食，布移屯山陽。 二年間，操复盡收諸城，破布於鉅野，布東奔劉備。 邈詣袁術求救，留超將家屬屯雍丘。 操圍超數月，屠之，滅其三族。 邈未至壽春，為其兵所害。
Cao Cao marched against him and fought to a hundred-day standoff. Drought and locusts emptied the granaries and turned peasants to cannibalism; Lü Bu withdrew toward Shanyang. Within two years Cao Cao retook the towns, crushed him at Juye, and drove him to Liu Bei. Zhang Miao raced to Yuan Shu for aid while Zhang Chao guarded his kin at Yongqiu. Cao Cao invested Yongqiu for months, sacked it, and extirpated Zhang Chao's kin. Zhang Miao never reached Shouchun—his soldiers cut him down.
36
時，劉備領徐州，居下邳，與袁術相拒於淮上。 術欲引布擊備，乃與布書曰：「術舉兵詣闕，未能屠裂董卓。 將軍誅卓，為術報恥，功一也。 昔金元休南至封丘，為曹操所敗。 將軍伐之，令術復明目於遐邇，功二也。 術生年以來，不聞天下有劉備，備乃舉兵與術對戰。 憑將軍威靈，得以破備，功三也。 將軍有三大功在術，術雖不敏，奉以死生。 將軍連年攻戰，軍糧苦少，今送米二十萬斛。 非唯此止，當駱驛复致。 凡所短長亦唯命。」 布得書大悅，即勒兵襲下邳，獲備妻子。 備敗走海西，飢困，請降於布。 布又恚術運糧不復至，乃具車馬迎備，以為豫州刺史，遣屯小沛。 布自號徐州牧。 術懼布為己害，為子求婚，布复許之。
Liu Bei governed Xu from Xiapi, facing Yuan Shu on the Huai. Yuan Shu wrote Lü Bu: "I marched on the capital but failed to butcher Dong Zhuo. You executed Dong Zhuo and wiped away my shame—that is your first debt I owe. When Jin Yuanxiu fled to Fengqiu, Cao Cao crushed him. You crushed him and restored my name—that is the second. I never heard of Liu Bei until he took arms against me. By your might I broke him—that is the third. Three reasons bind me to you for life. Your armies need grain—here are two hundred thousand hu. More will follow without cease. Command me in all things." Lü Bu delighted in the flattery, stormed Xiapi, and captured Liu Bei's family. Liu Bei fled to Haixi half starved and sued for peace. When Yuan Shu's grain failed to appear, Lü Bu welcomed Liu Bei back, named him inspector of Yu, and parked him at Xiaopei. He claimed the shepherdcy of Xu himself. Fearing Lü Bu, Yuan Shu proposed a marriage and Lü Bu accepted again.
37
術遣將紀靈等步騎三萬以攻備，備求救於布。 諸將謂布曰：「將軍常欲殺劉備，今可假手於術。」 布曰：「不然。 術若破備，則北連太山，吾為在術圍中，不得不救也。」 便率步騎千餘，馳往赴之。 靈等聞布至，皆斂兵而止。 布屯沛城外，遣人招備，並請靈等與共饗飲。 布謂靈曰：「玄德，布弟也，為諸君所困，故來救之。 布性不喜合鬬，但喜解鬬耳。」 乃令軍候植戟於營門，布彎弓顧曰：「諸君觀布謝戟小支，中者當各解兵，不中可留決鬬。」 布即一發，正中戟支。 靈等皆驚，言「將軍天威也」。 明日復歡會，然後各罷。
Yuan Shu dispatched Ji Ling with thirty thousand men against Liu Bei, who cried to Lü Bu for help. His officers said, "You always wanted Liu Bei dead—let Yuan Shu do it." No," said Lü Bu. If Yuan Shu destroys Liu Bei he joins Taishan—I would be encircled." He rode out with a thousand men. Ji Ling halted at news of his approach. He camped outside Pei, called Liu Bei in, and invited Ji Ling to parley. "Xuan De is my sworn brother; you besieged him, so I came. I dislike stirring fights—I prefer ending them." He had halberds planted at the gate and declared, "If my arrow strikes the halberd's fork, you stand down; if not, fight on." His shot rang true. Ji Ling gasped, "Heaven backs you!" They feasted again next day and dispersed.
38
術遣韓胤以僭號事告布，因求迎婦，布遣女隨之。 沛相陳珪恐術報布成姻，則徐、楊合從，為難未已。 於是往說布曰：「曹公奉迎天子，輔贊國政，將軍宜與協助同策謀，共存大計。 今與袁術結姻，必受不義之名，將有累卵之危矣。」 布亦素怨術，而女已在塗，乃追還絕婚，執胤送許，曹操殺之。
Yuan Shu sent Han Yin with news of his imperial claim to fetch the bride; Lü Bu sent his daughter along. Chen Gui feared a Xu–Yang alliance if the wedding closed. Thereupon he went to persuade Bu: "Lord Cao welcomes the Son of Heaven and assists state affairs—the general ought to join in counsel and share great plans. Tying yourself to Yuan Shu brands you traitor and invites ruin." Lü Bu hated Yuan Shu anyway; he recalled the bridal train, broke the betrothal, handed Han Yin to Xu, and Cao Cao executed him.
39
陳珪欲使子登詣曹操，布固不許，會使至，拜布為左將軍，布大喜，即聽登行，並令奉章謝恩。 登見曹操，因陳布勇而無謀，輕於去就，宜早圖之。 操曰：「布狼子野心，誠難久養，非卿莫究其情偽。」 即增珪秩中二千石，拜登廣陵太守。 臨別，操執登手曰：「東方之事，便以相付。」 令陰合部眾，以為內應。 始布因登求徐州牧，不得。 登還，布怒，拔戟斫机曰：「卿父勸吾協同曹操，絕婚公路。 今吾所求無獲，而卿父子並顯重，但為卿所賣耳。」 登不為動容，徐對之曰：「登見曹公，言養將軍譬如養虎，當飽其肉，不飽則將噬人。 公曰：'不如卿言。 譬如養鷹，飢即為用，飽則颺去。 '其言如此。」 布意乃解。
Chen Gui wanted Chen Deng to visit Cao Cao; Lü Bu refused until an edict named him General of the Left—then he sent Chen Deng with tribute. Chen Deng warned Cao Cao that Lü Bu was brave, faithless, and should be removed soon. "Lü Bu is ravenous as a wolf pup—hard to keep; only you read him." He raised Chen Gui's stipend and made Chen Deng governor of Guangling. At farewell he gripped Chen Deng's hand: "The east is yours." Secretly rally allies against him." Lü Bu had asked Chen Deng to win him Xu shepherd—unsuccessfully. Chen Deng returned; Lü Bu smashed the table: "Your father pushed me toward Cao Cao and away from Yuan Shu. I gained nothing while you two prosper—you sold me." Deng did not change expression; slowly he replied: "When Deng saw Lord Cao, I said raising the general is like raising a tiger—one must feed it meat; if not full it will devour men. Cao Cao replied, "Not so. Think of a hawk: keep it hungry and it serves you; feed it and it leaves. That was his answer." Lü Bu cooled down.
40
袁術怒布殺韓胤，遣其大將張勛、橋蕤等與韓暹、楊奉連勢，步騎數万，七道攻布。 布時兵有三千，馬四百匹，懼其不敵，謂陳珪曰：「今致術軍，卿之由也，為之奈何？」 珪曰：「暹、奉與術，卒合之師耳。 謀無素定，不能相維。 子登策之，比於連雞，勢不俱棲，立可離也。」 布用珪策，與暹、奉書曰：「二將軍親拔大駕，而布手殺董卓，俱立功名，當垂竹帛。 今袁術造逆，宜共誅討，奈何與賊還來伐布？ 可因今者同力破術，為國除害，建功天下，此時不可失也。」 又許破術兵，悉以軍資與之。 暹、奉大喜，遂共擊勳等於下邳，大破之，生禽橋蕤，餘眾潰走，其所殺傷、墯水死者殆盡。
Enraged by Han Yin's death, Yuan Shu hurled Zhang Xun, Qiao Rui, Han Xian, and Yang Feng at Lü Bu in seven columns. With only three thousand men Lü Bu blamed Chen Gui: "You brought this army—what now?" Gui said: "Xian and Feng with Shu are a hastily joined host. They share no plan—they will not hold. Chen Deng says they are chickens tied on one line—they scatter easy." Lü Bu wrote: "You rescued the emperor; I killed Dong Zhuo—we all served Han. Yuan Shu rebels—why march with him against me? Join me now, strike Yuan Shu, win glory—do not miss it." He promised them Yuan Shu's baggage train. They turned on Yuan Shu's army at Xiapi, shattered it, took Qiao Rui alive, and slaughtered the rest.
41
時，太山臧霸等攻破莒城，許布財幣以相結，而未及送，布乃自往求之。 其督將高順諫止曰：「將軍威名宣播，遠近所畏，何求不得，而自行求賂。 萬一不克，豈不損邪？」 布不從。 既至莒，霸等不測往意，固守拒之，無獲而還。 順為人清白有威嚴，少言辭，將眾整齊，每戰必克。 布性決易，所為無常。 順每諫曰：「將軍舉動，不肯詳思，忽有失得，動輒言誤。 誤事豈可數乎？」 布知其忠而不能從。
Zang Ba had promised him loot from Ju; Lü Bu went to collect. Gao Shun warned: "Your name terrifies the region—why demean yourself chasing silver? What if you fail?" Lü Bu ignored him. At Ju, Zang Ba could not read his purpose and shut the gates; Lü Bu marched home empty-handed. Gao Shun was austere and disciplined—few words, crack formations, victory after victory. Lü Bu was mercurial—no steady judgment. Gao Shun urged him: "You rush every choice without thinking—you blunder and blame fate. How often can you afford mistakes?" Lü Bu knew he was right—and ignored him.
42
建安三年，布遂復從袁術，遣順攻劉備於沛，破之。 曹操遣夏侯惇救備，為順所敗。 操乃自將擊布，至下邳城下。 遺布書，為陳禍福。 布欲降，而陳宮等自以負罪於操，深沮其計，而謂布曰：「曹公遠來，勢不能久。 將軍若以步騎出屯於外，宮將餘眾閉守於內。 若向將軍，宮引兵而攻其背； 若但攻城，則將軍救於外。 不過旬月，軍食畢盡，擊之可破也。」 布然之。 布妻曰：「昔曹氏待公檯如赤子，猶舍而歸我。 今將軍厚公檯不過於曹氏，而欲委全城，捐妻、子，孤軍遠出乎？ 若一旦有變，妾豈得為將軍妻哉！」 布乃止。 而潛遣人求救於袁術，自將千餘騎出。 戰敗走還，保城不敢出。 術亦不能救。
In 198 Lü Bu renewed ties with Yuan Shu and sent Gao Shun to crush Liu Bei at Pei. Cao Cao's relief column under Xiahou Dun fell to Gao Shun. Cao Cao then invested Xiapi in person. He wrote outlining Lü Bu's choices. Lü Bu considered surrender; Chen Gong, fearing Cao Cao's vengeance, blocked him: "Cao Cao came a long way—he cannot endure. You sortie with the horse; I seal the city. If he turns on you, I strike his rear. If he only besieges me, you relieve from without. Inside two months his supplies fail—then we crush him." Lü Bu agreed. His wife objected: "Cao Cao once cherished Chen Gong like a child—yet Gong abandoned him for you. You hardly favor Gong more than Cao did—would you abandon your walls, wife, and children on one reckless ride? If disaster strikes, will I still be your wife?" Lü Bu dropped the plan. He secretly begged Yuan Shu while leading a thousand riders out himself. Beaten, he fled behind the walls and dared not sortie. Yuan Shu could not break the siege.
43
曹操塹圍之，壅沂、泗以灌其城，三月，上下離心。 其將侯成使客牧其名馬，而客策之以叛。 成追客得馬，諸將合禮以賀成。 成分酒肉，先入詣布而言曰：「蒙將軍威靈，得所亡馬，諸將齊賀，未敢嘗也，故先以奉貢。」 布怒曰：「布禁酒而卿等醖釀，為欲因酒共謀布邪？」 成忿懼，乃與諸將共執陳宮、高順，率其眾降。 布與麾下登白門樓。 兵圍之急，令左右取其首詣操。 左右不忍，乃下降。 布見操曰：「今日已往，天下定矣。」 操曰：「何以言之？」 布曰：「明公之所患不過於布，今已服矣。 令布將騎，明公將步，天下不足定也。」 顧謂劉備曰：「玄德，卿為坐上客，我為降虜，繩縛我急，獨不可一言邪？」 操笑曰：「縛虎不得不急。」 乃令緩布縛。 劉備曰：「不可。 明公不見呂布事丁建陽、董太師乎？」 操頷之。 布目備曰：「大耳兒最叵信！」 操謂陳宮曰：「公檯平生自謂智有餘，今意何如？」 宮指布曰：「是子不用宮言，以至於此。 若見從，未可量也。」 操又曰：「奈卿老母何？」 宮曰：「老母在公，不在宮也。 夫以孝理天下者，不害人之親。」 操復曰：「奈卿妻、子何？」 宮曰：「宮聞霸王之主，不絕人之祀。」 固請就刑，遂出不顧，操為之泣涕。 布及宮、順皆縊殺之，傳首許市。
Cao Cao ringed Xiapi with ditches and drowned it from the Yi and Si—by the third month garrison and townsfolk had turned on Lü Bu. Hou Cheng's groom stole his prized stallion. Hou Cheng recovered it; the officers toasted his luck. He brought wine and meat to Lü Bu first: "Your might restored my horse—the men feast but I bring you the first cup." I banned liquor and you brew—plotting against me?" Humiliated and frightened, Hou Cheng bound Chen Gong and Gao Shun and opened the gates. Lü Bu fled to White Gate Tower with his family. As the cord tightened he ordered someone to deliver his head to Cao Cao. His men refused and surrendered instead. Before Cao Cao he boasted, "From today the empire is decided." How so?" Bu said: "What my lord feared was none other than Bu—now Bu has submitted. Give me the horse and you the foot—the realm falls." He turned to Liu Bei: "Xuan De, you sit honored—I hang bound; won't you plead?" Tigers must be tied tight." He ordered the ropes slackened. Liu Bei said: "It cannot be. Remember Ding Yuan and Dong Zhuo?" Cao Cao nodded. Lü Bu snarled at Liu Bei, "Big-eared bastard—least trustworthy alive!" Chen Gong, you called yourself clever—how now?" Gong pointed at Bu and said: "This fellow did not use Gong's words—thereby reaching this. Had he obeyed, who knows how high we might have risen?" And your mother?" Gong said: "The aged mother rests with you, not with Gong. A king who rules through filial piety does not murder mothers." Your wife and children?" True kings end no family line." He demanded death and walked away; Cao Cao wept. Lü Bu, Chen Gong, and Gao Shun were strangled; their heads went to Xu.
44
贊曰：焉作庸牧，以希後福。 曷云負荷？ 地墮身逐。 術既叨貪，布亦翻覆。
Encomium: Liu Yan sought fortune as shepherd. Could he bear the weight? Ground gave way and swept him away. Yuan Shu devoured everything; Lü Bu betrayed every master.