Volume 101 Records 1: Liu Yuanhai and Liu Xuan

劉元海（子和）劉宣〈（子和）〉劉宣

Liu Yuanhai (courtesy name He) and Liu Xuan. (His son He)〉 Liu Xuan.

劉宣}}

The line reads Liu Xuan followed by spurious braces from the source file.

載記序

Preface to the Zaiji annals.

古者帝王，乃生奇類、淳維，伯禹之苗裔，豈異類哉？反首衣皮，餐膻飲湩，而震驚中域，其來自遠。天未悔禍，種落彌繁。其風俗險詖，性靈馳突，前史載之，亦以詳備。軒帝患其干紀，所以徂征；武王竄以荒服，同乎禽獸。而於露寒之野，候月覘風，睹隙揚埃，乘間騁暴，邊城不得緩帶，百姓靡有室家。孔子曰：「微管仲，吾其被髮左衽矣。」此言能教訓卒伍，整齊車甲，邊埸既伏，境內以安。然則燕築造陽之郊，秦塹臨洮之險，登天山，絕地脈，苞玄菟，款黃河，所以防夷狄之亂中華，其備豫如此。

Ancient emperors counted even alien lines like Chunwei among the descendants of Great Yu—hardly a separate species. They wore furs, ate mutton, drank kumiss, yet convulsed the heartland—their roots lay deep in antiquity. Heaven had not yet called off the scourge, and their clans multiplied. Their ways were sly and abrupt, their natures fierce—earlier histories already told the tale in exhaustive detail. The Yellow Emperor feared they would break the cosmic order and campaigned against them; King Wu pushed them into the outermost wilds, no better than beasts in policy. Yet on the open steppe they watched seasons and winds, struck whenever a crack appeared, and raided at will—so frontier garrisons never rested and the people lost hearth and home. Confucius said, "Without Guan Zhong we should all have gone unbound-haired with robes buttoned left—barbarians." He meant a minister who could train troops, fit out armies, quiet the frontier, and secure the interior. So Yan walled Zaoyang, Qin ditched Lintao, climbed the Heavenly Mountain, choked the passes, wrapped Xuandu, and bent the Yellow River into a shield—every device to keep the barbarians from China.

漢宣帝初納呼韓，居之亭鄣，委以候望，始寬戎狄。光武亦以南庭數萬徙入西河，後亦轉至五原，連延七郡。董卓之亂，則汾晉之郊蕭然矣。郭欽騰箋于武帝，江統獻策于惠皇，皆以為魏處戎夷，繡居都鄙，請移沙塞之表，定一殷周之服。統則憂諸並部，欽則慮在盟津。言猶自口，元海已至。語曰「失以豪厘」，晉卿大夫之辱也。聰之誓兵，東兼齊地；曜之馳旆，西逾隴山，覆沒兩京，蒸徒百萬。天子陵江禦物，分據地險，回首中原，力不能救，劃長淮以北，大抵棄之。胡人利我艱虞，分鑣起亂；晉臣或阻兵遐遠，接武效尤。

Han Xuandi first admitted Huhanye, lodged him inside the beacon line, and gave him scout duty—opening the door to the steppe peoples. Guangwu likewise resettled tens of thousands of southern Xiongnu into Xihe, later spreading them through Wuyuan across seven commanderies. When Dong Zhuo wrecked the capital, the Fen and Jin borderlands were stripped bare. Guo Qin petitioned Emperor Wu and Jiang Tong briefed Emperor Hui, both arguing that Wei had lodged barbarians inside the inner districts and urging their removal beyond the deserts to restore the classical inner-outer divide. Jiang Tong feared the clustered Bing garrisons; Guo Qin eyed the Mengjin crossing. Their warnings were barely spoken when Liu Yuan was already at the gates. The proverb says error starts at a hairline—Jin's great officers earned that reproach. When Liu Cong mobilized eastward he swallowed the old Qi domain; when Liu Yao drove west past Longshan, he toppled both capitals and trampled a million subjects. The emperor fled across the Yangzi to stem the tide, clung to river defences, gazed back at the north he could not save, and yielded everything north of the Huai. The steppe peoples seized on Jin's distress and rose in every quarter; Jin commanders likewise froze armies far away and copied their treason.

大凡劉元海以惠帝永興元年據離石稱漢。後九年，石勒據襄國稱趙。張氏先據河西，是歲，自石勒後三十六年也，重華自稱涼王。後一年，冉閔據鄴稱魏。後一年，苻健據長安稱秦。慕容氏先據遼東稱燕，是歲，自苻健後一年也，俊始僭號。後三十一年，後燕慕容垂據鄴。後二年，西燕慕容沖據阿房。是歲也，乞伏國仁據桴罕稱秦。後一年，慕容永據上黨。是歲也，呂光據姑臧稱涼。後十二年，慕容德據滑台稱南燕。是歲也，禿髮烏孤據廉川稱南涼，段業據張掖稱北涼。後三年，李玄盛據敦煌稱西涼。後一年，沮渠蒙遜殺段業，自稱涼。後四年，譙縱據蜀稱成都王。後二年，赫連勃勃據朔方稱大夏。後二年，馮跋殺離班，據和龍稱北燕。提封天下，十喪其八，莫不龍旌帝服，建社開祊，華夷咸暨，人物斯在。或篡通都之鄉，或擁數州之地，雄圖內卷，師旅外並，窮兵凶於勝負，盡人命於鋒鏑，其為戰國者一百三十六載，抑元海為之禍首云。

In sum Liu Yuan in Emperor Hui's Yongxing year one seized Lishi and proclaimed Han. Nine years on Shi Le took Xiangguo and called his state Zhao. The Zhang clan already held Hexi; thirty-six years after Shi Le, Zhang Chonghua declared himself Prince of Liang. A year later Ran Min seized Ye as Wei. Another year and Fu Jian took Chang'an as Qin. Murong had long ruled Yan in Liaodong; the year after Fu Jian, Murong Jun claimed the imperial style. Thirty-one years on Murong Chui's Later Yan sat in Ye. Two years later Western Yan's Murong Chong seized Epang. The same year Qifu Guoren took Fuhan as Qin. Next year Murong Yong held Shangdang. That year Lü Guang took Guzang as Liang. Twelve years on Murong De's Southern Yan ruled Huatai. That year Tufa Wugu founded Southern Liang at Lianchuan while Duan Ye's Northern Liang sat at Zhangye. Three years later Li Gao's Western Liang took Dunhuang. A year later Juqu Mengxun slew Duan Ye and claimed Liang. Four years later Qiao Zong carved out Chengdu in Shu. Two years on Helian Bobo styled Great Xia from Shuofang. Two years later Feng Ba killed Li Ban and ruled Northern Yan from Helong. Eight parts in ten of the map were gone; every warlord, Hu or Han, hoisted dragon standards, donned imperial dress, founded shrines, and claimed the mandate. Some seized the capital belt, others clutched whole regions; ambition turned inward while armies devoured one another for one hundred thirty-six years of ceaseless war—and Liu Yuan is named the spark that lit it all.

劉元海

Liu Yuanhai.

劉元海，新興匈奴人，冒頓之後也。名犯高祖廟諱〈名淵，與唐高祖同名〉，故稱其字焉。初，漢高祖以宗女為公主，以妻冒頓，約為兄弟，故其子孫遂冒姓劉氏。建武初，烏珠留若鞮單于子右奧鞬日逐王比自立為南單于，入居西河美稷，今離石左國城即單于所徙庭也。中平中，單于羌渠使子於扶羅將兵助漢，討平黃巾。會羌渠為國人所殺，於扶羅以其眾留漢，自立為單于。屬董卓之亂，寇掠太原、河東，屯於河內。於扶羅死，弟呼廚泉立，以於扶羅子豹為左賢王，即元海之父也。魏武分其眾為五部，以豹為左部帥，其餘部帥皆以劉氏為之。太康中，改置都尉，左部居太原茲氏，右部居祁，南部居蒲子，北部居新興，中部居大陵。劉氏雖分居五部，然皆居於晉陽汾澗之濱。

Liu Yuan was a Xiongnu from Xinxing, descended from Modun Shanyu. His personal name violated the high temple taboo on Gaozu. 〈The commentary notes his registered name was Yuan, identical to Tang Gaozu's.〉 Hence the history uses his courtesy name. Han Gaozu married a house princess to Modu as brother sovereigns, so the chanyu's house adopted the Liu surname. Early in Jianwu the Right Gullet King Bi, son of Wuzhiliu Ruoti, declared himself southern Shanyu and moved his court to Meiji in Xihe—modern Zuoguocheng beside Lishi. During Zhongping Shanyu Qiangqu sent Yuluoji to help Han crush the Yellow Turbans. When clansmen murdered Qiangqu, Yuluoji stayed in China and proclaimed himself Shanyu. Amid Dong Zhuo's chaos they plundered Taiyuan and Hedong and encamped in Henei. Yuluoji's brother Huchuquan succeeded and named Yuluoji's son Liu Bao left worthy king—Liu Yuan's father. Cao Cao split the horde into five sections with Liu Bao heading the left; every other section chief was also a Liu. Under Taikang they were retitled commandants: left at Zishi in Taiyuan, right at Qi, south at Puzi, north at Xinxing, center at Daling. Though the Liu clansmen were parceled into five commands, they all lived along the Fen and Jian rivers below Jinyang.

豹妻呼延氏，魏嘉平中祈子于龍門，俄而有一大魚，頂有二角，軒鬐躍鱗而至祭所，久之乃去。巫覡皆異之，曰：「此嘉祥也。」其夜夢旦所見魚變為人，左手把一物，大如半雞子，光景非常，授呼延氏，曰：「此是日精，服之生貴子。」寤而告豹，豹曰：「吉徵也。吾昔從邯鄲張冏母司徒氏相，云吾當有貴子孫，三世必大昌，仿像相符矣。」自是十三月而生元海，左手文有其名，遂以名焉。齠齔英慧，七歲遭母憂，擗踴號叫，哀感旁鄰，宗族部落咸共歎賞。時司空太原王昶聞而嘉之，並遣吊賻。幼好學，師事上党崔游，習《毛詩》、《京氏易》、《馬氏尚書》，尤好《春秋左氏傳》、《孫吳兵法》，略皆誦之，《史》、《漢》、諸子，無不綜覽。嘗謂同門生硃紀、範隆曰：「吾每觀書傳，常鄙隨陸無武，降灌無文。道由人弘，一物之不知者，固君子之所恥也。二生遇高皇而不能建封侯之業，兩公屬太宗而不能開庠序之美，惜哉！」於是遂學武事，妙絕於眾，猿臂善射，膂力過人。姿儀魁偉，身長八尺四寸，須長三尺餘，當心有赤毫毛三根，長三尺六寸。有屯留崔懿之、襄陵公師彧等，皆善相人，及見元海，驚而相謂曰：「此人形貌非常，吾所未見也。」於是深相崇敬，推分結恩。太原王渾虛襟友之，命子濟拜焉。

Lady Huyan prayed at Longmen during Wei Jiaping; a huge horned fish with towering fins flopped up to the altar and then swam away. The shamans cried an omen: "This is heaven-sent good fortune." That night she dreamed the fish turned into a man who pressed into her palm a sun-bright pearl, saying, "Swallow this essence of the day-star and you will bear a lord among men." She woke and told Liu Bao, who said, "Heaven favours us. Mother Situ of Handan once read my face and promised noble grandsons and three generations of glory—this fits that prophecy. Thirteen months later she bore Liu Yuan; his left palm bore the characters of his name, so they called him Yuan. Even as a child he showed genius; at seven he mourned his mother with such tearing grief that neighbours wept; kinsmen and tribesmen marvelled. Minister of Works Wang Chang of Taiyuan heard the tale, praised the boy, and sent funeral gifts. He loved books early, studied under Cui You of Shangdang, mastered the Mao Odes, Jing Changes, Ma Rong's Documents, devoured Zuo's Spring and Autumn commentary and the Sunzi-Wuzi military classics, and read widely in the histories and philosophers. He once told Zhu Ji and Fan Long, "Reading history I always scoff that Sui He and Lu Jia had no sword, while Zhou Bo and Guan Ying had no brush. The Way spreads through human effort; ignorance of even one art is a gentleman's shame. Those worthies served Han's founder yet never matched his martial glory, and aided Wenjing yet never spread culture—what a waste! So he drilled in arms, outshone every comrade, shot like Yi, and wielded strength beyond mortal measure. He was a giant of eight feet four inches with a three-foot beard and three crimson hairs three feet six inches long on his breast. Physiognomists such as Cui Yizhi and Gongshi Yu gasped when they saw him: "We have never read a face like his." They pledged him deep respect, broke bread with him, and swore friendship. Wang Hun of Taiyuan befriended him openly and told his son Wang Ji to treat him as elder.

咸熙中，為任子在洛陽，文帝深待之。泰始之後，渾又屢言之于武帝。帝召與語，大悅之，謂王濟曰：「劉元海容儀機鑒，雖由餘、日磾無以加也。」濟對曰：「元海儀容機鑒，實如聖旨，然其文武才幹賢於二子遠矣。陛下若任之以東南之事，吳會不足平也。」帝稱善。孔恂、楊珧進曰：「臣觀元海之才，當今懼無其比，陛下若輕其眾，不足以成事；若假之威權，平吳之後，恐其不復北渡也。非我族類，其心必異。任之以本部，臣竊為陛下寒心。若舉天阻之固以資之，無乃不可乎！」帝默然。

During Xianxi he was a hostage noble in Luoyang, and Sima Zhao favoured him. After Taishi began Wang Hun kept recommending him to Sima Yan. The emperor interviewed Liu Yuan and told Wang Ji, "For presence and penetration even Jin Midi and You Yu would not surpass him." Wang Ji answered, "You speak true of his charisma, but his civil and military gifts outstrip those two by far. Give him the southeast and Wu-Yue would fall in a campaign. The emperor called it excellent advice. Kong Xun and Yang Yao objected: "No one today matches Liu Yuan; if you treat his tribes lightly you may fail the mission; yet arm him with full power and once Wu falls he may never return north. Alien stock never shares the same heart. Let him lead his own tribes and I tremble for Your Majesty. Hand him the northern bastions and you arm a dragon—how can that be wise? The emperor fell silent.

後秦涼覆沒，帝疇咨將帥，上党李憙曰：「陛下誠能發匈奴五部之眾，假元海一將軍之號，鼓行而西，可指期而定。」孔恂曰：「李公之言，未盡殄患之理也。」憙勃然曰：「以匈奴之勁悍，元海之曉兵，奉宣聖威，何不盡之有！」恂曰：「元海若能平涼州，斬樹機能，恐涼州方有難耳。蛟龍得雲雨，非復池中物也。」帝乃止。後王彌從洛陽東歸，元海餞彌于九曲之濱。泣謂彌曰：「王渾、李憙以鄉曲見知，每相稱達，讒間因之而進，深非吾願，適足為害。吾本無宦情，惟足下明之。恐死洛陽，永與子別。」因慷慨歔欷，縱酒長嘯，聲調亮然，坐者為之流涕。齊王攸時在九曲，比聞而馳遣視之，見元海在焉，言於帝曰：「陛下不除劉元海，臣恐并州不得久寧。」王渾進曰：「元海長者，渾為君王保明之。且大晉方表信殊俗，懷遠以德，如之何以無萌之疑殺人侍子，以示晉德不弘。」帝曰：「渾言是也。」

When Liang collapsed the court debated generals; Li Xi of Shangdang said, "Mobilize the five Xiongnu divisions, give Liu Yuan a general's baton, and march west on schedule—the west will fall. Kong Xun retorted, "That plan does not finish the danger. Li Xi snapped, "Their ferocity plus Liu Yuan's craft, carrying imperial majesty—what could resist?" Kong answered, "Let Liu Yuan take Liangzhou and slay the rebel Shu Jinen and Liangzhou will merely trade one peril for another. Give a kraken cloud and rain and it leaves the pool forever. The emperor dropped the plan. When Wang Mi left Luoyang for the east, Liu Yuan feasted him on the Jiuqu bend. Through tears he told Wang Mi, "Wang Hun and Li Xi, as fellow northerners, praised me until malice followed—never my wish, only a curse. I never hungered for rank—only you can see that. I may die in Luoyang and never see you again. He grew fierce with wine, whistled long and loud, and every guest wept at the sound. Prince Sima You was nearby at Jiuqu; he rode over, found Liu Yuan at the banquet, and warned the emperor, "If you leave Liu Yuan alive, Bingzhou will not stay quiet." Wang Hun cut in: "Liu Yuan is a man of honour—I will answer for him before Your Majesty. The court is trying to win the frontier by trust; killing a blameless hostage on a whim would prove our virtue is narrow. The emperor said, "Wang Hun is correct."

會豹卒，以元海代為左部帥。太康末，拜北部都尉。明刑法，禁奸邪，輕財好施，推誠接物，五部俊傑無不至者。幽冀名儒，後門秀士，不遠千里，亦皆遊焉。楊駿輔政，以元海為建威將軍、五部大都督，封漢光鄉侯。元康末，坐部人叛出塞免官。成都王穎鎮鄴，表元海行甯朔將軍、監五部軍事。

When Liu Bao died Liu Yuan succeeded him as left-section chief. Late in Taikang he became northern commandant. He enforced the code, crushed crime, spent freely, dealt honestly, and every notable of the five Xiongnu hosts rallied to him. Confucian stars from You and Ji and poor scholars crossed a thousand li to sit at his feet. Regent Yang Jun named him General Who Establishes Might, commander-in-chief of the five sections, and marquis of Hanguang township. Yuankang's end saw him cashiered when his tribesmen broke for the steppe. Sima Ying of Chengdu, stationed at Ye, got him posted acting General Who Pacifies the North over the five sections.

惠帝失馭，寇盜蜂起，元海從祖故北部都尉、左賢王劉宣等竊議曰：「昔我先人與漢約為兄弟，憂泰同之。自漢亡以來，魏晉代興，我單于雖有虛號，無復尺土之業，自諸王侯，降同編戶。今司馬氏骨肉相殘，四海鼎沸，興邦復業，此其時矣。左賢王元海姿器絕人，幹宇超世。天若不恢崇單于，終不虛生此人也。」於是密共推元海為大單于。乃使其党呼延攸詣鄴，以謀告之。元海請歸會葬，穎弗許。乃令攸先歸，告宣等招集五部，引會宜陽諸胡，聲言應穎，實背之也。

As Emperor Hui lost control, Liu Xuan, former northern commandant and left worthy king, whispered with kinsmen: "Our ancestors swore brotherhood with Han and shared its fate. Since Han fell we have kept a hollow title while every prince sank to commoner status on Jin registers. Now the Simas tear one another apart while the realm boils—this is the moment to refound our line. Left Worthy King Liu Yuan's presence and scope outshine every man of his day. Heaven would not have bred such a man unless it meant to exalt our Shanyu again. They secretly elected Liu Yuan great Shanyu. They sent Huyan You to Ye with the plan. Liu Yuan begged leave to mourn; Sima Ying refused. Huyan You raced home to rally the five sections and Yiyang Hu, claiming they would help Sima Ying while plotting the opposite.

穎為皇太弟，以元海為太弟屯騎校尉。惠帝伐穎，次於蕩陰，穎假元海輔國將軍、督北城守事。及六軍敗績，穎以元海為冠軍將軍，封盧奴伯。并州刺史東嬴公騰、安北將軍王浚，起兵伐穎，元海說穎曰：「今二鎮跋扈，眾餘十萬，恐非宿衛及近都士庶所能禦之，請為殿下還說五部，以赴國難。」穎曰：「五部之眾可保發已不？縱能發之，鮮卑、烏丸勁速如風雲，何易可當邪？吾欲奉乘輿還洛陽，避其鋒銳，徐傳檄天下，以逆順制之。君意何如？」元海曰：「殿下武皇帝之子，有殊勳於王室，威恩光洽，四海欽風，孰不思為殿下沒命投軀者哉，何難發之有乎！王浚豎子，東嬴疏屬，豈能與殿下爭衡邪！殿下一發鄴宮，示弱於人，洛陽可復至乎？縱達洛陽，威權不復在殿下也。紙檄尺書，誰為人奉之！且東胡之悍不逾五部，願殿下勉撫士眾，靖以鎮之，當為殿下以二部摧東嬴，三部梟王浚，二豎之首可指日而懸矣。」穎悅，拜元海為北單于、參丞相軍事。元海至左國城，劉宣等上大單于之號，二旬之間，眾已五萬，都于離石。

When Sima Ying became crown younger brother, Liu Yuan became his garrison-cavalry colonel. During Emperor Hui's march on Dangyin, Sima Ying put Liu Yuan in charge of the northern wall. After the six armies collapsed Sima Ying named him General Who Crowns the Army and baron of Lunu. Bingzhou governor Sima Teng and Wang Jun marched on Ye with a hundred thousand men; Liu Yuan offered to ride north and mobilize the five Xiongnu hosts for Sima Ying. Sima Ying asked, "Can you actually raise those five hosts? Even if you can, Xianbei and Wuhuan move like storms—who stops them once loosed? I mean to escort the throne to Luoyang, dodge their spearpoint, then call the realm to arms on right and wrong. What do you counsel? Liu Yuan answered, "You are Sima Yan's son, beloved across the realm—every warrior would die for you; raising the tribes is no hard task. Wang Jun is a pup and Sima Teng a cadet branch—neither can rival you. Flee Ye once and you advertise weakness—will Luoyang ever welcome you back? Even in Luoyang you would hold no real power. Who would heed a sheaf of edicts from a discrowned prince! The eastern tribes are no tougher than our horsemen—stay in Ye, steady the army, and I will smash Sima Teng with two wings and take Wang Jun's head with three; both puppets will swing from the gate in days. Sima Ying cheered up, named Liu Yuan northern Shanyu, and attached him to the chancellor's staff. At Zuoguocheng Liu Xuan proclaimed him great Shanyu; inside twenty days fifty thousand men gathered with capital at Lishi.

王浚使將軍祁弘率鮮卑攻鄴，穎敗，挾天子南奔洛陽。元海曰：「穎不用吾言，逆自奔潰，真奴才也。然吾與其有言矣，不可不救。」於是命右於陸王劉景、左獨鹿王劉延年等率步騎二萬，將討鮮卑。劉宣等固諫曰：「晉為無道，奴隸禦我，是以右賢王猛不勝其忿。屬晉綱未馳，大事不遂，右賢塗地，單于之恥也。今司馬氏父子兄弟自相魚肉，此天厭晉德，授之於我。單于積德在躬，為晉人所服，方當興我邦族，復呼韓邪之業，鮮卑、烏丸可以為援，奈何距之而拯仇敵！今天假手於我，不可違也。違天不祥，逆眾不濟；天與不取，反受其咎。願單于勿疑。」元海曰：「善。當為崇岡峻阜，何能為培塿乎！夫帝王豈有常哉，大禹出於西戎，文王生於東夷，顧惟德所授耳。今見眾十餘萬，皆一當晉十，鼓行而摧亂晉，猶拉枯耳。上可成漢高之業，下不失為魏氏。雖然，晉人未必同我。漢有天下世長，恩德結于人心，是以昭烈崎嶇於一州之地，而能抗衡於天下。吾又漢氏之甥，約為兄弟，兄亡弟紹，不亦可乎？且可稱漢，追尊後主，以懷人望。」乃遷于左國城，遠人歸附者數萬。

Wang Jun's general Qi Hong drove Xianbei against Ye; Sima Ying fled south clutching the emperor. Liu Yuan sneered, "Sima Ying ignored my counsel and ran—little better than a bondsman. Still I promised him aid and must move. He ordered Liu Jing and Liu Yannian forward with twenty thousand riders—ostensibly against the Xianbei. Liu Xuan blocked him: "Jin treats us like driven slaves—remember how Right Worthy Meng rose in fury. Jin's grip was still tight then, and our rising failed—our people's blood is still the Shanyu's shame. Now the Simas devour their own—Heaven has turned from Jin and hands us the mandate. You already command Jin's awe; rebuild our nation and Huhanye's glory—use the steppe peoples, do not waste your strength saving a foe. Heaven lends us this chance—we dare not refuse. Defy Heaven and fortune flees; defy your warriors and nothing succeeds; Reject Heaven's gift and you earn its curse. Do not hesitate, Shanyu. Liu Yuan said, "Well spoken. We aim to be mountain ranges, not molehills. Thrones never stay fixed: Yu rose from western tribes, Wen from eastern barbarians—virtue alone decides who rules. I command a hundred thousand, each man worth ten Jin soldiers; marching on Luoyang will splinter them like dry twigs. Best case I match Han Gaozu; worst I still rival Cao Wei. Yet Jin subjects may not flock to us. Han ruled long enough that the people still love its memory—Liu Bei clung to one province yet defied the world. We are sworn brothers to the Liu house; when the elder line fell should not the younger inherit? Call our state Han, enshrine the last Han emperor, and the hearts of the people will follow. He shifted to Zuoguocheng and tens of thousands of far wanderers joined him.

永興元年，元海乃為壇於南郊，僭即漢王位，下令曰：「昔我太祖高皇帝以神武應期，廓開大業。太宗孝文皇帝重以明德，升平漢道。世宗孝武皇帝拓土攘夷，地過唐日。中宗孝宣皇帝搜揚俊乂，多士盈朝。是我祖宗道邁三王，功高五帝，故卜年倍于夏商，卜世過於姬氏。而元成多僻，哀平短祚，賊臣王莽，滔天篡逆。我世祖光武皇帝誕資聖武，恢復鴻基，祀漢配天，不失舊物，俾三光晦而復明，神器幽而復顯。顯宗孝明皇帝、肅宗孝章皇帝累葉重暉，炎光再闡。自和安已後，皇綱漸頹，天步艱難，國統頻絕。黃巾海沸於九州，群閹毒流于四海，董卓因之肆其猖勃，曹操父子凶逆相尋。故孝湣委棄萬國，昭烈播越岷蜀，冀否終有泰，旋軫舊京。何圖天未悔禍，後帝窘辱。自社稷淪喪，宗廟之不血食四十年於茲矣。今天誘其衷，悔禍皇漢，使司馬氏父子兄弟迭相殘滅。黎庶塗炭，靡所控告。孤今猥為群公所推，紹修三祖之業。顧茲尪暗，戰惶靡厝。但以大恥未雪，社稷無主，銜膽棲冰，勉從群議。」乃赦其境內，年號元熙，追尊劉禪為孝懷皇帝，立漢高祖以下三祖五宗神主而祭之。立其妻呼延氏為王后。置百官，以劉宣為丞相，崔游為御史大夫，劉宏為太尉，其餘拜授各有差。

In Yongxing year one Liu Yuan built a suburban altar and proclaimed himself King of Han, intoning how Han Gaozu founded the dynasty by divine war. Han Wendi lifted the realm with pure virtue. Han Wudi widened the map beyond even Tang's reach. Han Xuandi filled court with talent he sought out. So Han virtue outshone the Three Kings and merit topped the Five Thearchs—its allotted years doubled Xia and Shang, its generations outlasted Zhou. Later emperors slipped; Ai and Ping died young; Wang Mang usurped the throne. Guangwu restored Han, realigned heaven and earth, and brought back the sun, moon, and stars. Ming and Zhang emperors relit Han's fire generation after generation. After He and An the dynasty frayed, heaven's course faltered, and the succession snapped again and again. Yellow Turbans boiled across the nine regions, eunuchs poisoned every quarter, Dong Zhuo ran wild, and the Caos seized power in turn. Han emperors fled the realm; Liu Bei held Shu, hoping fate would turn and Luoyang return. Yet heaven still refused mercy and the last Han child met humiliation. Forty years now the Han shrines have gone hungry. Now heaven stirs pity, repents toward Han, and sets the Simas at one another's throats. The common folk burn in mud and ash with no court to hear them. I am pressed by you lords to renew the work of Han's three founders. I am small and weak and tremble at the charge. Yet the great shame stands unavenged and the throne is empty—so I swallow bile and accept. He declared amnesty, era Yuanci, honoured Liu Shan posthumously, and set tablets for Han's ancestors through five generations. He named Lady Huyan queen. He formed a government: Liu Xuan chancellor, Cui You censor-in-chief, Liu Hong grand commandant, and the rest ranked by merit.

東嬴公騰使將軍聶玄討之，戰於大陵，玄師敗績，騰懼，率并州二萬餘戶下山東，遂所在為寇。元海遣其建武將軍劉曜寇太原、泫氏、屯留、長子、中都，皆陷之。二年，騰又遣司馬瑜、周良、石鮮等討之，次於離石汾城。元海遣其武牙將軍劉欽等六軍距瑜等，四戰，瑜皆敗，欽振旅而歸。是歲，離石大饑，遷于黎亭，以就邸閣穀，留其太尉劉宏、護軍馬景守離石，使大司農卜豫運糧以給之。以其前將軍劉景為使持節、征討大都督、大將軍，要擊并州刺史劉琨于版橋，為琨所敗，琨遂據晉陽。其侍中劉殷、王育進諫元海曰：「殿下自起兵以來，漸已一周，而顓守偏方，王威未震。誠能命將四出，決機一擲，梟劉琨，定河東，建帝號，鼓行而南，克長安而都之，以關中之眾席捲洛陽，如指掌耳。此高皇帝之所以創啟鴻基，克殄強楚者也。」元海悅曰：「此孤心也。」遂進據河東，攻寇蒲阪、平陽，皆陷之。元海遂入都蒲子，河東、平陽屬縣壘壁盡降。時汲桑起兵趙魏，上郡四部鮮卑陸逐延、氏酋大單于征、東萊王彌及石勒等並相次降之，元海悉署其官爵。

Sima Teng sent Nie Xuan against him, lost at Daling, then fled Bing with twenty thousand families eastward, leaving the province to chaos. Liu Yuan sent Liu Yao to storm Taiyuan, Xuan, Tunliu, Changzi, and Zhongdu—all fell. Next year Sima Teng sent Sima Yu, Zhou Liang, and Shi Xian to Lishi's Fencheng. Liu Yuan sent Liu Qin with six hosts; after four battles Jin fled and Liu Qin marched home in triumph. Famine struck Lishi, so the court moved to Liting granaries while Liu Hong and Ma Jing held Lishi and Bu Yu shipped grain. He sent Liu Jing to ambush Liu Kun at Banqiao; Liu Kun crushed him and took Jinyang. Liu Yin and Wang Yu urged him: "A year has passed and you still hug one corner—your majesty has not yet thundered abroad. Send four columns, kill Liu Kun, secure Hedong, proclaim the throne, march on Chang'an, then sweep from the passes to Luoyang like turning your hand. That was Gaozu's road to crush Chu. Liu Yuan cried, "That is my own mind too. He drove into Hedong, stormed Puyin and Pingyang, and took both. He moved the capital to Puzi; every fort in Hedong and Pingyang opened its gates. Ji Sang rose in Zhao-Wei; Xianbei, Di, Wang Mi, and Shi Le came over in turn; Liu Yuan handed each a title.

，元海僭即皇帝位，大赦境內，改元永鳳。以其大將軍劉和為大司馬，封梁王，尚書令劉歡樂為大司徒，封陳留王，御史大夫呼延翼為大司空，封雁州郡公，宗室以親疏為等，悉封郡縣王，異姓以勳謀為差，皆封郡縣公侯。太史令宣于修之言於元海曰：「陛下雖龍興鳳翔。奄受大命，然遺晉未殄，皇居仄陋，紫宮之變，猶鐘晉氏，不出三年，必克洛陽。薄子崎嶇，非可久安。平陽勢有紫氣，兼陶唐舊都，願陛下上迎乾象，下協坤祥。」於是遷都平陽。汾水中得玉璽，文曰「有新保之」，蓋王莽時璽也。得者因增「泉海光」三字，元海以為己瑞，大赦境內，改年河瑞。封子裕為齊王，隆為魯王。

Then Liu Yuan declared himself emperor, amnestied the realm, and took the era name Yongfeng. He named Liu He grand marshal and prince of Liang, Liu Huanle grand tutor and prince of Chenliu, Huyan Yi grand minister of works, ennobled kinsmen by degree of kin, and outsiders by merit. The court astrologer Xianyu Xiuzhi said, "Though you rise like dragon and phoenix, Jin still lives, your capital is mean, and the stars still beat for Luoyang—within three years Jin's capital falls. Puzi is too broken for a lasting throne. Pingyang shows purple mist and was Yao's ancient seat—move there to match heaven and earth. The court therefore shifted the capital to Pingyang. Dredging the Fen yielded a jade seal inscribed for Wang Mang's usurpation—words promising a new protector. Flatterers carved three lucky words onto it; Liu Yuan read it as his own omen, declared amnesty, and renamed the era Herui. He named Liu Yu prince of Qi and Liu Long prince of Lu.

於是命其子聰與王彌進寇洛陽，劉曜與趙固等為之後繼。東海王越遣平北將軍曹武、將軍宋抽、彭默等距之，王師敗績。聰等長驅至宜陽，平昌公模遣將軍淳于定、呂毅等自長安討之，戰于宜陽，定等敗績。聰恃連勝，不設備，弘農太守垣延詐降。夜襲，聰軍大敗而還，元海素服迎師。

He sent Liu Cong and Wang Mi against Luoyang while Liu Yao and Zhao Gu followed in support. Sima Yue answered with Cao Wu, Song Chou, and Peng Mo—and lost. Liu Cong raced to Yiyang until Sima Mo's generals Chunyu Ding and Lü Yi struck from Chang'an; Jin still lost at Yiyang. Liu Cong, drunk on wins, let his guard down; Governor Yuan Yan of Hongnong faked defection. Yuan Yan raided by night and shattered Liu Cong's column; Liu Yuan met the beaten army in mourning white.

是冬，復大發卒，遣聰、彌與劉曜、劉景等率精騎五萬寇洛陽，使呼延翼率步卒繼之，敗王師于河南。聰進屯於西明門，護軍賈胤夜薄之，戰于大夏門，斬聰將呼延顥，其眾遂潰。聰回軍而南。壁于洛水，尋進屯宣陽門，曜屯上東門，彌屯廣陽門，景攻大夏門，聰親祈嵩嶽，令其將劉厲、呼延朗等督留軍。東海王越命參軍孫詢、將軍丘光、樓裒等率帳下勁卒三千，自宣陽門擊朗，斬之。聰聞而馳還。厲懼聰之罪己也，赴水而死。王彌謂聰曰：「今既失利，洛陽猶固，殿下不如還師，徐為後舉。下官當於袞豫之間收兵積穀，伏聽嚴期。」宣于修之又言於元海曰：「歲在辛未，當得洛陽。今晉氣猶盛，大軍不歸，必敗。」元海馳遣黃門郎傅詢召聰等還師。王彌出自轘轅，越遣薄盛等追擊彌，戰於新汲，彌師敗績。於是攝薄阪之戍，還於平陽。

Winter brought a second offensive: fifty thousand horse under Liu Cong, Liu Yao, and Liu Jing, foot under Huyan Yi, crushing Jin south of the Yellow River. Liu Cong reached the western bright gate until Jia Yin struck by night at Daxia Gate, killed Huyan Hao, and scattered the Han van. Liu Cong drew his host south. They bridged the Luo, ringed Xuanyang, Upper East, and Guangyang gates, while Liu Cong climbed Songshan to pray and left Liu Li and Huyan Lang holding the rear. Sima Yue sent Sun Xun, Qiu Guang, and Lou Pou with three thousand elites out Xuanyang Gate to kill Huyan Lang. Liu Cong galloped back to save his line. Fearing Liu Cong's wrath, Liu Li drowned himself. Wang Mi urged Liu Cong, "Luoyang still holds; pull back and strike another day. I will recruit between Yan and Yu and wait your signal. Xianyu Xiuzhi added, "The almanac says xinwei year takes Luoyang. Jin's star still burns bright—linger and you will lose. Liu Yuan sent Fu Xun riding night and day to recall Liu Cong. Wang Mi slipped through Huanyuan; Sima Yue's Bo Sheng ran him down at Xinji and broke his column. Han troops lifted the Boban screen and marched back to Pingyang.

以劉歡樂為太傅，劉聰為大司徒，劉延年為大司空，劉洋為大司馬，赦其境內。立其妻單氏為皇后，子和為皇太子，封子乂為北海王。

He named Liu Huanle grand tutor, Liu Cong minister of education, Liu Yannian minister of works, Liu Yang grand marshal, and amnestied the realm. He crowned Lady Shan empress, named Liu He crown prince, and made Liu Yi prince of Beihai.

元海寢疾，將為顧托之計，以歡樂為太宰，洋為太傅，延年為太保，聰為大司馬、大單于，並錄尚書事，置單于台于平陽西，以其子裕為大司徒。元海疾篤，召歡樂及洋等人禁中受遺詔輔政。以永嘉四年死，在位六年，偽諡光文皇帝，廟號高祖，墓號永光陵。子和立。

Fearing death, Liu Yuan named Liu Huanle grand steward, Liu Yang grand tutor, Liu Yannian grand protector, and Liu Cong both grand marshal and great Shanyu with authority over the Masters of Writing; he built a Shanyu platform west of Pingyang and kept Liu Yu as minister of education. On his deathbed he called Liu Huanle, Liu Yang, and others inside to take regency oaths. He died in Yongjia four after six years on the throne, posthumously styled Emperor Guangwen, temple Gaozu, tomb Yongguang. Liu He succeeded.

子劉和

Liu He

=和字玄泰。身長八尺，雄毅美姿儀，好學夙成，習《毛詩》、《左氏春秋》、《鄭氏易》。及為儲貳，內多猜忌，馭下無恩。元海死，和嗣偽位。其衛尉西昌王劉銳、宗正呼延攸恨不參顧命也，說和曰：「先帝不惟輕重之計，而使三王總強兵于內，大司馬握十萬勁卒居於近郊，陛下今便為寄坐耳。此之禍難，未可測也，顧陛下早為之所。」和即攸之甥也，深然之，召其領軍劉盛及劉欽、馬景等告之。盛曰：「先帝尚在殯宮，四王未有逆節，今忽一旦自相魚肉，臣恐人不食陛下之余。四海未定，大業甫爾，願陛下以上成先帝鴻基為志，且塞耳勿聽此狂簡之言也。《詩》云：'豈無他人，不如我同父。 '陛下既不信諸弟，復誰可信哉！」銳、攸怒曰：「今日之議，理無有二。」於是命左右刃之。景懼曰：「惟陛下詔，臣等以死奉之，蔑不濟矣。」乃相與盟於東堂，使銳、景攻聰，攸率劉安國攻裕，使侍中劉乘、武衛劉欽攻魯王隆，尚書田密、武衛劉璿攻北海王乂。密、璿等使人斬關奔於聰，聰命貫甲以待之。銳知聰之有備也，馳還，與攸、乘等會攻隆、裕。攸、乘懼安國、欽之有異志也，斬之。是日，斬裕及隆。聰攻西明門，克之。銳等奔入南宮，前鋒隨之，斬和於光極西室。銳、攸梟首通衢。

Liu He, courtesy name Xuantai—the leading mark is an edition artifact. He stood eight feet, stern and handsome, read deeply from boyhood in the Mao Odes, Zuo commentary, and Zheng Xuan's Changes. As crown prince he grew paranoid and harsh toward his staff. When Liu Yuan died Liu He took the Han throne. Commandant Liu Rui and Huyan You, bitter at being left out of the regency, warned Liu He: "Your father left three royal brothers garrisoned inside the capital while Liu Cong holds a hundred thousand veterans just outside—you sit the throne as a mere lodger. No one can say how this ends—move against them now. Liu He, You's nephew, agreed and called Liu Sheng, Liu Qin, and Ma Jing to the plot. Liu Sheng protested: "Your father still lies in state and your brothers show no treason—turn on them now and the world will spit your leavings. The realm is still raw; honour your father's work and deafen yourself to wild counsel. The Classic of Poetry asks, is there no one else as close as a brother? If you cannot trust brothers, whom can you trust? Liu Rui and Huyan You snarled, "This council brooks no dissent. Liu He ordered guards to cut them down. Ma Jing stammered obedience: "Command us and we die in the attempt." They swore in the eastern hall: Liu Rui and Ma Jing would strike Liu Cong; Huyan You and Liu Anguo would hit Liu Yu; Liu Cheng and Liu Qin would move on Liu Long; Tian Mi and Liu Xuan would storm Liu Yi. Tian Mi and Liu Xuan broke out to warn Liu Cong, who ordered his men under arms. Liu Rui saw the trap, wheeled back, and with Huyan You and Liu Cheng struck Liu Long and Liu Yu instead. Huyan You and Liu Cheng killed Liu Anguo and Liu Qin, fearing betrayal. That day Liu Yu and Liu Long died. Liu Cong stormed the western bright gate. The pursuers cornered Liu Rui in the southern palace and slew Liu He in the Guangji west hall. Liu Rui and Huyan You's heads went to the public crossroads.

劉宣

Liu Xuan

劉宣，字士則。朴鈍少言，好學修潔。師事樂安孫炎，沈精積思，不舍晝夜，好《毛詩》、《左氏傳》。炎每歎之曰：「宣若遇漢武，當逾于金日磾也。」學成而返，不出門閭蓋數年。每讀《漢書》，至《蕭何》、《鄧禹傳》，未曾不反覆詠之，曰：「大丈夫若遭二祖，終不令二公獨擅美於前矣。」并州刺史王廣言之于武帝，帝召見，嘉其占對，因曰：「吾未見宣，謂廣言虛耳。今見其進止風儀，真所謂如圭如璋，觀其性質，足能撫集本部。」乃以宣為右部都督，特給赤幛曲蓋。蒞官清恪，所部懷之。元海即王位，宣之謀也，故特荷尊重，勳戚莫二，軍國內外靡不專之。

Liu Xuan, courtesy name Shize. He was quiet, plain-spoken, bookish, and scrupulously clean. He studied under Sun Yan of Le'an with obsessive focus, loving the Mao Odes and Zuo commentary. Sun Yan sighed that under Han Wudi he would have outshone Jin Midi. When his course finished he stayed home for years without stepping past his gate. Reading the Book of Han chapters on Xiao He and Deng Yu he would chant, "Had I served Han's founders I would not leave those two alone the laurels. Bing governor Wang Guang praised him to Sima Yan, who interviewed Liu Xuan and said, "I thought Wang Guang exaggerated. Seeing his carriage I know the proverb 'like jade tablets'—he can truly pacify his people. Sima Yan named him right-section commander with crimson pennant and curved awning. He governed cleanly and his tribes loved him. Liu Yuan's kingship was Liu Xuan's design, so he alone enjoyed supreme trust—no kinsman or minister rivalled his authority.

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