Volume 104 Records 4: Shi Le Part One

石勒

Shi Le

石勒字世龍，初名㔨，上黨武鄉羯人也。其先匈奴別部羌渠之胄。祖耶奕-{于}-，父周曷-{朱}-，一名乞冀加，並為部落小率。勒生時赤光滿室，白氣自天屬-{于}-中庭，見者咸異之。年十四，隨邑人行販洛陽，倚嘯上東門，王衍見而異之，顧謂左右曰：「向者胡雛，吾觀其聲視有奇志，恐將為天下之患。」馳遣收之，會勒已去。長而壯健有膽力，雄武好騎射。曷-{朱}-性凶粗，不為羣胡所附，每使勒代己督攝，部胡愛信之。所居武鄉北原山下草木皆有鐵騎之象，家園中生人參，花葉甚茂，悉成人狀。父老及相者皆曰：「此胡狀貌奇異，志度非常，其終不可量也。」勸邑人厚遇之。時多嗤笑，唯鄔人郭敬、陽曲甯驅以為信然，並加資贍。勒亦感其恩，為之力耕。每聞鞞鐸之音，歸以告其母，母曰：「作勞耳鳴，非不祥也。」

Shi Le, courtesy name Shilong and originally named Bei, was a Jie from Wuxiang in Shangdang. His line sprang from Qiangqu, a distinct division among the Xiongnu. His grandfather Ye Yiyu and his father Zhou Hezhu—also known as Qijijia—had both been minor tribal officers. At his birth the room blazed with red light, and a shaft of white mist ran from the sky down into the courtyard; everyone who saw it took it for a prodigy. At fourteen he joined townsfolk hawking goods in Luoyang and, lounging by the Upper East Gate, gave a long whistle. Wang Yan noticed him, found him unsettling, and said quietly to his attendants, "That young barbarian we just passed—there is something fierce in how he carries himself. Left unchecked, he will become a danger to the realm." Wang Yan sent riders to seize him at once, but Shi Le had already slipped away. As a man he was powerfully built and fearless, warlike and devoted to riding and shooting. Zhou Hezhu was violent and uncouth, and the other Hu would not follow him; he habitually left Shi Le to supervise the band in his place, and the tribesmen came to love and trust Shi Le instead. North of the Yuan foothills at Wuxiang, every tree and blade of grass seemed to silhouette mailed riders; in the family plot ginseng sprang up so thick that its leaves looked like tiny human figures. Elders and fortune-tellers said to one another, "That foreign lad's features are uncanny, and his bearing is unlike anyone else's—who can say how far he may rise?" They pressed the community to show him real generosity. Most people only mocked, but Guo Jing of Wu and Ning Qu of Yangqu believed the omens and pooled money to help him. Shi Le never forgot that kindness and repaid it by working the fields with all his might. Whenever he heard the jangle of harness bells, he would run home to tell his mother; she would say, "That is only your ears ringing from hard work—not a bad omen."

太安中，幷州饑亂，勒與諸小胡亡散，乃自雁門還依甯驅。北澤都尉劉監欲縛賣之，驅匿之，獲免。勒於是潛詣納降都尉李川，路逢郭敬，泣拜言-{飢}-寒。敬對之流涕，以帶貨鬻食之，-{幷}-給以衣服。勒謂敬曰：「今者大餓，不可守窮。諸胡-{飢}-甚，宜誘將冀州就穀，因執賣之，可以兩濟。」敬深然之。會建威將軍閻粹說幷州刺史、東嬴公騰執諸胡於山東賣充軍實，騰使將軍郭陽、張隆虜羣胡將詣冀州，兩胡一枷。勒時年二十餘，亦在其中，數為隆所驅辱。敬先以勒屬郭陽及兄子時，陽，敬族兄也，是以陽、時每為解請，道路-{飢}-病，賴陽、時而濟。旣而賣與茌平人師懽為奴。有一老父謂勒曰：「君魚龍髮際上四道已成，當貴為人主。甲戌之歲，王彭祖可圖。」勒曰：「若如公言，弗敢忘德。」忽然不見。每耕作於野，常聞鼓角之聲。勒以告諸奴，諸奴亦聞之，因曰：「吾幼來在家恆聞如是。」諸奴歸以告懽，懽亦奇其狀貌而免之。

During the Tai'an era famine and chaos tore through Bingzhou; Shi Le, scattered with other young Hu, doubled back from Yanmen to take shelter with Ning Qu. The northern-marsh commandant Liu Jian tried to seize and sell him as a slave, but Ning Qu hid him until the danger passed. Shi Le then slipped away to present himself to Li Chuan, the officer who received surrendering bands—and on the way met Guo Jing, threw himself down weeping, and poured out how hungry and cold he was. Guo Jing wept at the sight of him, pawned part of his own belt to buy food, and gave Shi Le clothes besides. Shi Le told him, "People are starving to death—we cannot simply cling to poverty and do nothing. The other Hu are starving. Lure them into Jizhou for grain, then round them up and sell them—you feed your people and turn a profit at the same time." Guo Jing agreed that the plan made sense. Just then Yan Cui, the general who built awe, talked the Bingzhou inspector Sima Teng, the Duke of Eastern Ying, into rounding up Hu east of the Taihang and selling them for war funds. Teng had Generals Guo Yang and Zhang Long shackle the captives two to a yoke and march them toward Jizhou. Shi Le, now in his twenties, was among them and suffered repeated abuse at Zhang Long's hands. Guo Jing had earlier placed Shi Le under Guo Yang and Yang's nephew Shi; because Yang was a kinsman of Jing's, the two repeatedly interceded for him so that hunger and sickness on the march did not kill him. Eventually he was sold into slavery to Shi Huan of Chiping. An old stranger told him, "The 'fish-dragon' lines at your temples are complete—you are fated to rule men as a sovereign. In the jiaxu year you may move against Wang Pengzu." Shi Le replied, "If what you say comes true, I will not forget this kindness." Then the old man vanished as suddenly as he had appeared. Whenever he worked the fields he kept hearing drums and horns, though no army was there. He told the other bondsmen; they heard it too, and said they had heard the same sounds at home since childhood. They went home and told Shi Huan, who was struck by Shi Le's bearing and freed him from servitude.

懽家鄰於馬牧，與牧率魏郡汲桑往來，勒以能相馬自託於桑。嘗傭於武安臨水，為遊軍所囚。會有羣鹿旁過，軍人競逐之，勒乃獲免。俄而又見一父老，謂勒曰：「向羣鹿者我也，君應為中州主，故相救爾。」勒拜而受命。遂招集王陽、夔安、支雄、冀保、吳豫、劉膺、桃豹、逯明等八騎為羣盜。後郭敖、劉徵、劉寶、張曀僕、呼延莫、郭黑略、張越、孔豚、趙鹿、支屈六等又赴之，號為十八騎。復東如赤龍、騄驥諸苑中，乘苑馬遠掠繒寶，以賂汲桑。

Shi Huan's farm bordered the imperial horse pasture, where he knew Ji Sang, the herders' chief from Ji in Wei; Shi Le, boasting a gift for judging horses, made himself useful to Ji Sang. Once, while hired out at Linshui in Wu'an, he was seized by a roving patrol. A herd of deer happened by; the soldiers rushed off in pursuit, and Shi Le used the confusion to escape. Soon another greybeard appeared and said, "Those deer were myself in disguise—you are meant to master the Central Plain, which is why I rescued you." Shi Le bowed and accepted the charge. He then gathered Wang Yang, Kui An, Zhi Xiong, Ji Bao, Wu Yu, Liu Ying, Tao Bao, Lu Ming, and seven others—eight horsemen who turned bandit. Guo Ao, Liu Zheng, Liu Bao, Zhang Yipu, Huyan Mo, Guo Heilue, Zhang Yue, Kong Tun, Zhao Lu, Zhi Quliu, and others soon joined them, and the band was known as the Eighteen Riders. They rode east into imperial studs such as Chilong and Luji, stole mounts and silks on long raids, and used the loot to buy Ji Sang's favour.

及成都王穎敗乘輿-{于}-蕩陰，逼帝如鄴宮，王浚以穎陵辱天子，使鮮卑擊之，穎懼，挾惠帝南奔洛陽。帝復為張方所逼，遷-{于}-長安。關東所在兵起，皆以誅穎為名。河間王顒懼東師之盛，欲輯懷東復，乃奏議廢穎。是歲，劉元海稱漢王-{于}-黎亭，穎故將陽平人公師籓等自稱將軍，起兵趙魏，衆至數萬。勒與汲桑帥牧人乘苑馬數百騎以赴之。桑始命勒以石為姓，勒為名焉。籓拜勒為前隊督，從攻平昌公模於鄴。模使將軍馮嵩逆戰，敗之。籓濟自白馬而南，濮陽太守苟晞討籓斬之。勒與桑亡潛苑中，桑以勒為伏夜牙門，帥牧人劫掠郡縣繫囚，又招山澤亡命，多附勒，勒率以應之。桑乃自號大將軍，稱為成都王穎誅東海王越、東嬴公騰為名。桑以勒為前驅，屢有戰功，署為掃虜將軍、忠明亭侯。桑進軍攻鄴，以勒為前鋒都督，大敗騰將馮嵩，因長驅入鄴，遂害騰，殺萬餘人，掠婦女珍寶而去。濟自延津，南擊兗州，越大懼，使苟晞、王贊等討之。

After Sima Ying, Prince of Chengdu, routed the imperial escort at Dangyin and marched Emperor Hui toward Ye, Wang Jun—outraged at Ying's treatment of the sovereign—sent Xianbei against him. Ying broke and fled south to Luoyang with the emperor in tow. Zhang Fang then forced the court to abandon Luoyang and withdraw to Chang'an. Across the eastern heartland every warlord raised arms, each claiming to punish Sima Ying. Sima Yong, Prince of Hejian, feared the eastern coalition and sought to appease it by sponsoring a memorial to depose Ying. That same year Liu Yuan proclaimed himself Han king at Liting, while Gong Shifan of Yangping—once Ying's subordinate—and others declared themselves generals and mustered tens of thousands across Zhao and Wei. Shi Le and Ji Sang led several hundred mounted herders on stolen stud horses to join the rising. Ji Sang was the one who told him to adopt Shi as his surname and Le as his personal name. Gong Shifan named him front-column commander and took him along to strike Sima Mo, the Duke of Pingchang, at Ye. Sima Mo sent General Feng Song to intercept them and broke their army. Gong Shifan crossed south from Baima, but Gou Xi, the prefect of Puyang, attacked his column and struck off his head. Shi Le fled with Ji Sang into the horse parks. Ji Sang made him warden of the night-raid gate while herders raided counties, broke jails, and drew in outlaws from hill and marsh; many rallied to Shi Le, and he brought them into Ji Sang's camp. Ji Sang then proclaimed himself grand general, raising the banner of avenging Sima Ying by punishing Sima Yue, Prince of Donghai, and Sima Teng, Duke of Eastern Ying. He kept Shi Le in the van; after a string of victories he brevetted him General Who Sweeps the Caitiffs and Marquis of Zhongming hamlet. Ji Sang drove on Ye with Shi Le as forward commander, shattered Sima Teng's general Feng Song, swept into the city, killed Teng himself, slaughtered over ten thousand, and withdrew laden with women and loot. From Yanjin they swung south into Yanzhou. Sima Yue, alarmed, sent Gou Xi, Wang Zan, and others against them.

桑、勒攻幽州刺史石尟於樂陵，尟死之。乞活田禋帥衆五萬救尟，勒逆戰，敗禋，與晞等相持-{于}-平原、陽平間數月，大小三十餘戰，互有勝負。越懼，次於官渡，為晞聲援。桑、勒為晞所敗，死者萬餘人，乃收餘衆，將奔劉元海。冀州刺史丁紹要之-{于}-赤橋，又大敗之。桑奔馬牧，勒奔樂平。王師斬桑-{于}-平原。

Ji Sang and Shi Le stormed Leling, where Youzhou inspector Shi Xian fell in the fighting. Tian Yin of the Qihuo bands brought fifty thousand men to relieve Shi Xian; Shi Le met him in the field and broke his force, then sparred with Gou Xi for months between Pingyuan and Yangping in more than thirty clashes that swayed back and forth. Sima Yue halted at Guandu to back Gou Xi with his presence. Ji Sang and Shi Le finally lost to Gou Xi, leaving ten thousand dead; they scraped together the survivors and prepared to bolt to Liu Yuan. Jizhou inspector Ding Shao ambushed them at Chiqiao and shattered them again. Ji Sang fled toward the royal pastures while Shi Le raced for Leping. Government troops caught Ji Sang on the plain and executed him.

時胡部大張㔨督、馮莫突等擁衆數千，壁-{于}-上黨，勒往從之，深為所昵，因說㔨督曰：「劉單-{于}-舉兵誅晉，部大距而不從，豈能獨立乎？」曰：「不能。」勒曰：「如其不能者，兵馬當有所屬。今部落皆已被單-{于}-賞募，往往聚議欲叛部大而歸單-{于}-矣，宜早為之計。」㔨督等素無智略，懼部衆之貳己也，乃潛隨勒單騎歸元海。元海署㔨督親漢王，莫突為都督部大，以勒為輔漢將軍、平晉王以統之。勒於是命㔨督為兄，賜姓石氏，名之曰會，言其遇己也。

Meanwhile Hu headmen such as Zhang Beidu and Feng Motuo held several thousand warriors in a fort on Shangdang. Shi Le joined them, won their trust, and urged Zhang Beidu, "Liu Yuan, the Chanyu, has risen to overthrow the Jin; if a tribal chief hangs back, can he stand alone?" No," the chief admitted. Shi Le pressed him: "If not, then every horse and spear must answer to someone else. The camps have already taken Liu Yuan's gold and orders; men whisper of turning on their headmen to march for the Chanyu. Decide now, before they decide for you." Zhang Beidu had little guile and feared losing his followers, so he stole away with Shi Le on a single horse to surrender to Liu Yuan. Liu Yuan ennobled Zhang Beidu as prince of the Han-leaning house, named Feng Motuo chief of the tribal command, and made Shi Le General Who Supports Han and Prince Who Pacifies Jin to lead the whole body. Shi Le treated Zhang Beidu as an elder brother, gave him the surname Shi, and renamed him Hui—"one who met me"—to mark their encounter.

烏丸張伏利度亦有衆二千，壁-{于}-樂平，元海屢招而不能致。勒偽獲罪-{于}-元海，因奔伏利度。伏利度大悅，結為兄弟，使勒率諸胡寇掠，所向無前，諸胡畏服。勒知衆心之附己也，乃因會執伏利度，告諸胡曰：「今起大事，我與伏利度孰堪為主？」諸胡咸以推勒。勒於是釋伏利度，率其部衆歸元海。元海加勒督山東征討諸軍事，以伏利度衆配之。

The Wuhuan leader Zhang Folidu also walled up two thousand fighters at Leping; Liu Yuan courted him for years without success. Shi Le pretended to have offended Liu Yuan and fled to Zhang Folidu for refuge. Zhang Folidu welcomed him eagerly, swore brotherhood, and put him at the head of Hu raiding parties that swept all before them until every band feared and obeyed him. Once Shi Le saw the men were his, he seized Zhang Folidu at a feast and demanded of the Hu, "We mean to shake the realm—which of us two should lead?" Every voice in the hall cried for Shi Le. He released Zhang Folidu, then marched the entire command back to Liu Yuan. Liu Yuan added him as overseer of all eastern campaigns beyond the passes and folded Zhang Folidu's troops into his command.

元海使劉聰攻壺關，命勒率所統七千為前鋒都督。劉琨遣護軍黃秀等救壺關，勒敗秀於白田，秀死之，勒遂陷壺關。元海命勒與劉零、閻羆等七將率衆三萬寇魏郡、頓丘諸壘壁，多陷之，假壘主將軍、都尉，簡強壯五萬為軍士，老弱安堵如故，軍無私掠，百姓懷之。

When Liu Yuan sent Liu Cong against Huguan, he told Shi Le to take his seven thousand veterans as forward commander. Liu Kun's rescuer Huang Xiu tried to relieve the city, but Shi Le cut him down at Baitian and stormed Huguan. Liu Yuan next sent Shi Le with Liu Ling, Yan Pi, and seven other generals at the head of thirty thousand to tear through the fort lines of Wei and Dunqiu. Stockade chiefs who yielded were brevetted generals or commandants; fifty thousand able men were drafted, while elders and children were left unmolested. There was no private looting, and the people began to bless his name.

及元海僭號，遣使授勒持節、平東大將軍，校尉、都督、王如故。勒幷軍寇鄴，鄴潰，和郁奔-{于}-衛國。執魏郡太守王粹-{于}-三臺。進攻趙郡，害冀州西部都尉馮沖。攻乞活赦亭、田禋-{于}-中丘，皆殺之。元海授勒安東大將軍、開府，置左右長史、司馬、從事中郎。進軍攻鉅鹿、常山，害二郡守將。陷冀州郡縣堡壁百餘，衆至十餘萬，其衣冠人物集為君子營。乃引張賓為謀主，始署軍功曹，以刁膺、張敬為股肱，夔安、孔萇為爪牙，支雄、呼延莫、王陽、桃豹、逯明、吳豫等為將率。使其將張斯率騎詣幷州山北諸郡縣，說諸胡羯，曉以安危。諸胡懼勒威名，多有附者。進軍常山，分遣諸將攻中山、博陵、高陽諸縣，降之者數萬人。

When Liu Yuan declared himself emperor, he dispatched envoys to confirm Shi Le as grand general who pacifies the east with full insignia, keeping his old ranks of colonel, commander, and prince. Shi Le united his columns, stormed Ye, and broke the defenses; He Yu, the governor, bolted for Weiguo. On Santai terrace he captured Wei prefect Wang Cui. He pushed into Zhao commandery and killed Feng Chong, Jizhou's western-department commandant. He struck the Qihuo strongholds of Sheting and Tian Yin at Zhongqiu and put both leaders to the sword. Liu Yuan then promoted him to grand general of the east with authority to open a staff, appointing senior clerks, marshals, and adjutants on left and right. His columns overran Julu and Changshan and killed both garrison commanders. He reduced more than a hundred walled settlements across Jizhou until his host topped a hundred thousand, and he grouped scholars and notables into an elite "gentlemen's camp." He then took Zhang Bin as chief strategist, set up a bureau of military merit, paired Diao Ying and Zhang Jing as his principal lieutenants, Kui An and Kong Chang as his strong right hand, and named Zhi Xiong, Huyan Mo, Wang Yang, Tao Bao, Lu Ming, Wu Yu, and others field commanders. He ordered General Zhang Si to ride north of Taihang through the Bingzhou counties to preach doom or survival to every Hu and Jie band. The northern tribes quailed at Shi Le's reputation and flocked to his banner. He advanced on Changshan while detachments seized Zhongshan, Boling, Gaoyang, and other counties, adding tens of thousands of surrendered fighters.

王浚使其將祁弘帥鮮卑段務塵等十餘萬騎討勒，大敗勒-{于}-飛龍山，死者萬餘。勒退屯黎陽，分命諸將攻諸未下及叛者，降三十餘壁，置守宰以撫之。進寇信都，害冀州刺史王斌。於是車騎將軍王堪、北中郎將裴憲自洛陽率衆討勒，勒燒營幷糧，迴軍距之，次-{于}-黃牛壘。魏郡太守劉矩以郡附-{于}-勒，勒使矩統其壘衆為中軍左翼。勒至黎陽，裴憲棄其軍奔-{于}-淮南，王堪退堡倉垣。元海授勒鎮東大將軍，封汲郡公，持節、都督、王如故。勒固讓公不受。與閻羆攻䐗者圈、苑市二壘，陷之，羆中流矢死，勒幷統其衆，潛自石橋濟河，攻陷白馬，坑男女三千餘口。東襲鄄城，害兗州刺史袁孚。因攻倉垣，陷之，遂害堪。渡河攻廣宗、清河、平原、陽平諸縣，降勒者九萬餘口。復南濟河，滎陽太守裴純奔-{于}-建業。

Wang Jun answered by sending Qi Hong with Duan Wuchen's Xianbei—well over a hundred thousand horsemen—who crushed Shi Le on Feilong Mountain and left more than ten thousand dead. Shi Le pulled back to Liyang, sent columns against holdouts and deserters, brought thirty-odd forts to heel, and installed magistrates to calm the countryside. He then struck Xindu, killed Jizhou inspector Wang Bin, and tightened his grip on the province. Wang Kan, chariot-and-horse general, and Pei Xian, north-centre general, marched east from Luoyang; Shi Le burned his own camp and stores, wheeled about, and drew them up at Huangniu Stockade. Wei prefect Liu Ju defected with his entire command, and Shi Le folded his militia into the middle army's left wing under Liu Ju's command. When Shi Le closed on Liyang, Pei Xian threw away his army and ran for Huainan, while Wang Kan shrank behind the walls of Cangyuan. Liu Yuan then named him grand general who guards the east and duke of Ji, again with staff, command, and princely rank. Shi Le repeatedly refused the ducal patent and would not take the seal. With Yan Pi he stormed the twin forts of Zhuzhequan and Yuan Market; Pi fell to a stray shaft, and Shi Le rolled their bands into his own command, forded secretly at the stone bridge, seized Baima, and slaughtered three thousand townspeople in a burial pit. He swept east against Juancheng and cut down Yanzhou inspector Yuan Fu. Next he broke Cangyuan, put the city to the torch, and executed Wang Kan. After the crossing his columns rolled through Guangzong, Qinghe, Pingyuan, and Yangping until more than ninety thousand people capitulated to him. He recrossed the Great River; Xingyang prefect Pei Chun abandoned his post and ran for the Eastern Jin capital at Jianye -{yu}-.

時劉聰攻河內，勒率騎會之，攻冠軍將軍梁巨-{于}-武德，懷帝遣兵救之。勒留諸將守武德，與王桑逆巨於長陵。巨請降，勒弗許，巨逾城而遁，軍人執之。勒馳如武德，坑降卒萬餘，數梁巨罪而害之。王師退還，河北諸堡壁大震，皆請降送任-{于}-勒。

While Liu Cong pressed Henei, Shi Le rode to his aid and pinned Champion General Liang Ju at Wude, prompting Emperor Huai to send a relief column -{yu}-. He posted a rearguard at Wude, then joined Wang Sang to intercept Liang Ju near Changling. Liang Ju offered capitulation; Shi Le refused, so Ju tried to scale the wall at night only to be dragged down by the pickets. He raced back to Wude, entombed ten thousand prisoners in a pit, recited Liang Ju's crimes, and had him executed. When the government armies pulled back, every fortified village along the Hebei corridor sued for terms and sent hostages to Shi Le -{yu}-.

及元海死，劉聰授勒征東大將軍、幷州刺史、汲郡公，持節、開府、都督、校尉、王如故。勒固辭將軍，乃止。

After Liu Yuan's death Liu Cong confirmed Shi Le as grand general of the eastern campaigns, Bingzhou inspector, and duke of Ji, while renewing his staff, opened office, command, colonelcy, and princely title. Shi Le repeatedly refused the general's commission until Liu Cong let the matter drop.

劉粲率衆四萬寇洛陽，勒留輜重-{于}-重門，率騎二萬會粲于大陽，大敗王師於澠池，遂至洛川。粲出轘轅，勒出成皋關，圍陳留太守王贊於倉垣，為贊所敗，退屯文石津。將北攻王浚，會浚將王甲始率遼西鮮卑萬餘騎敗趙固-{于}-津北，勒乃燒船棄營，引軍向柏門，迎重門輜重，至-{于}-石門，濟河，攻襄城太守崔曠於繁昌，害之。

Liu Can marched forty thousand on Luoyang; Shi Le parked his train at Chongmen, rode twenty thousand to link with Can at Dayang, shattered the court army at Mianchi, and swept onto the Luo river plain -{yu}-. Liu Can took the Huanyuan road while Shi Le burst through Chenggao and pinned Chenliu prefect Wang Zan at Cangyuan—only to lose to Wang Zan and fall back on Wenshi Ford. He meant to march on Wang Jun until Jun's man Wang Jiashi shattered Zhao Gu north of the crossing with ten thousand Liaoxi Xianbei; Shi Le scuttled his boats, abandoned camp, doubled back through Baimen for his supply train at Shimen, crossed the river, stormed Fanchang, and killed Xiangcheng prefect Cui Kuang -{yu}- -{yu}-.

先是，雍州流人王如、侯脫、嚴嶷等起兵江淮間，聞勒之來也，懼，遣衆一萬屯襄城以距，勒擊敗之，盡俘其衆。勒至南陽，屯-{于}-宛北山。如懼勒之攻襄也，使送珍寶車馬犒師，結為兄弟，勒納之。如與侯脫不平，說勒攻脫。勒夜令三軍雞鳴而駕，晨壓宛門，攻之，旬有二日而克。嚴嶷率衆救脫，至則無及，遂降-{于}-勒。勒斬脫，囚嶷送於平陽，盡幷其衆，軍勢彌盛。

Earlier the Yongzhou exiles Wang Ru, Hou Tuo, and Yan Yi had rebelled between the Yangzi and Huai; dreading Shi Le's advance they stacked ten thousand men at Xiangcheng, yet he broke the line and bagged every survivor. He pushed into Nanyang and camped on the ridges north of Wan city -{yu}-. Wang Ru, terrified that Xiangcheng would be next, sent gold, carriages, and mounts as a bribe and offered blood brotherhood; Shi Le took the gifts. Wang Ru, feuding with Hou Tuo, talked Shi Le into moving against him. He ordered every regiment saddled at the cock's crow, rolled up to Wan's gates at dawn, and cracked the walls after a twelve-day siege. Yan Yi marched to relieve Hou Tuo, arrived too late, and offered Shi Le his sword -{yu}-. Shi Le beheaded Hou Tuo, shackled Yan Yi for shipment to Pingyang, swallowed their armies, and loomed larger than ever.

勒南寇襄陽，攻陷江西壘壁三十餘所，留刁膺守襄陽，躬帥精騎三萬還攻王如。憚如之盛，遂趣襄城。如知之，遣弟璃率騎二萬五千，詐言犒軍，實欲襲勒。勒逆擊，滅之，復屯江西，蓋欲有雄據江漢之志也。張賓以為不可，勸勒北還，弗從，以賓為參軍都尉，領記室，位次司馬，專居中總事。

He swept the Han River west bank, leaving thirty stockades in ashes, posted Diao Ying at Xiangyang, then wheeled north with thirty thousand veterans to crush Wang Ru. Wary of Wang Ru's numbers, he pivoted toward Xiangcheng instead. Wang Ru learned the move and sent his brother Wang Li with twenty-five thousand riders under the pretense of bringing supplies—actually planning a dawn strike. Shi Le met the column head-on, wiped it out, and returned to the west-bank camps with designs on ruling the middle Yangzi. Zhang Bin argued that the south was a trap and begged him to march north; Shi Le brushed the counsel aside, named Zhang Bin adjutant and chief clerk just under the marshal, and kept him at headquarters running day-to-day policy.

元帝慮勒南寇，使王導率衆討勒。勒軍糧不接，死疫太半，納張賓之策，乃焚輜重，裹糧卷甲，渡沔，寇江夏，太守楊岠棄郡而走。北寇新蔡，害新蔡王確-{于}-南頓，朗陵公何襲、廣陵公陳軫、上黨太守羊綜、廣平太守邵肇等率衆降-{于}-勒。勒進陷許昌，害平東將軍王康。

The Jin prince at Jiankang, fearing a southern thrust, ordered Wang Dao east with an expeditionary host. Supplies failed and plague halved his ranks until Zhang Bin convinced him to torch the wagons, pack dry rations, ford the Mian, strike Jiangxia, and send prefect Yang Ju running. He swung north into Xincai, killed Prince Xincai Sima Que at Nandun, and watched Langling duke He Xi, Guangling duke Chen Zhen, Shangdang prefect Yang Zong, Guangping prefect Shao Zhao, and others bring their divisions over to him -{yu}- -{yu}-. His van seized Xuchang and put to the sword Wang Kang, the general who pacifies the east.

先是，東海王越率洛陽之衆二十餘萬討勒，越薨-{于}-軍，衆推太尉王衍為主，率衆東下，勒輕騎追及之。衍遣將軍錢端與勒戰，為勒所敗，端死之，衍軍大潰，勒分騎圍而射之，相登如山，無一免者。於是執衍及襄陽王範、任城王濟、西河王喜、梁王禧、齊王超、吏部尚書劉望、豫州刺名劉喬、太傅長史庾顗等，坐之-{于}-幕下，問以晉故。衍、濟等懼死，多自陳說，惟範神色儼然，意氣自若，顧呵之曰：「今日之事，何復紛紜！」勒甚奇之。勒於是引諸王公卿士於外害之，死者甚衆。勒重衍清辨，奇範神氣，不能加之兵刃，夜使人排牆填殺之。左衛何倫、右衛李惲聞越薨，奉越妃裴氏及越世子毗出自洛陽。勒逆毗於洧倉，軍復大潰，執毗及諸王公卿士，皆害之，死者甚衆。因率精騎三萬，入自成皋關。會劉曜、王彌寇洛陽，洛陽旣陷，勒歸功彌、曜，遂出轘轅，屯-{于}-許昌。劉聰署勒征東大將軍，勒固辭不受。

Earlier Sima Yue, Prince of Donghai, had marched two hundred thousand Luoyang troops against Shi Le, only to die in camp; the host chose Wang Yan as chief and trudged east until Shi Le's light cavalry ran them down -{yu}-. Wang Yan sent Qian Duan; Shi Le shattered the column, left Qian Duan dead, and ringed the fugitives with horse archers until corpses mounded like a hill—no one survived. He then rounded up Wang Yan, Princes Fan, Ji, Xi, Xi, and Chao, Minister Liu Wang, Yuzhou inspector Liu Qiao, Grand Tutor chief clerk Yu Yi, and the rest, seated them under his command tent, and quizzed them on the western court -{yu}-. Wang Yan and Sima Ji babbled excuses for their lives, but Prince Fan sat rigid, wheeled on the others, and snapped, "Why all this noise on the day we die!" Shi Le was struck with admiration. He marched the royal hostages outside the camp and cut them down in droves. He respected Wang Yan's eloquence and Prince Fan's bearing too much for a public beheading, so he had his guards topple a wall on them in the dark. Left Guard He Lun and Right Guard Li Yun, hearing of Sima Yue's death, convoyed Lady Pei and heir Sima Pi out of Luoyang. Shi Le intercepted Sima Pi at Weicang, shattered the escort, seized the prince and every noble in the train, and slaughtered them wholesale. He then drove thirty thousand veterans through Chenggao Pass. When Liu Yao and Wang Mi sacked Luoyang, Shi Le ceded the glory to them, doubled back through Huanyuan, and camped at Xuchang -{yu}-. Liu Cong tried to renew his title as grand general of the eastern campaigns; Shi Le refused the patent outright.

先是，平陽人李洪有衆數千，壘-{于}-舞陽，苟晞假洪雍州刺史。勒進寇穀陽，害冠軍將軍王茲。破王讚-{于}-陽夏，獲讚，以為從事中郎。襲破大將軍苟晞-{于}-蒙城，執晞，署為左司馬。劉聰授勒征東大將軍、幽州牧，固辭將軍不受。

Earlier Li Hong of Pingyang had walled up a few thousand followers at Wuyang while Gou Xi brevetted him Yongzhou inspector -{yu}-. Shi Le stormed Guyang and killed Champion General Wang Ci. He smashed Wang Zan at Yangxia, took him alive, and named him an adjutant -{yu}-. He ambushed Grand General Gou Xi at Mengcheng, bagged him, and installed him as left marshal—on paper -{yu}-. Liu Cong added Youzhou shepherd to the eastern generalship; Shi Le again declined the military half of the bundle.

先是，王彌納劉暾之說，將先誅勒，東王青州，使暾徵其將曹嶷於齊。勒遊騎獲暾，得彌所與嶷書，勒殺之，密有圖彌之計矣。會彌將徐邈輒引部兵去彌，彌漸削弱。及勒之獲苟晞也，彌惡之，偽卑辭使謂勒曰：「公獲苟晞而赦之，何其神也！使晞為公左，彌為公右，天下不足定。」勒謂張賓曰：「王彌位重言卑，恐其遂成前狗意也。」賓曰：「觀王公有青州之心，桑梓本邦，固人情之所樂，明公獨無幷州之思乎？王公遲迴未發者，懼明公踵其後，已有規明公之志，但未獲便爾。今不圖之，恐曹嶷復至，共為羽翼，後雖欲悔，何所及邪！徐邈旣去，軍勢稍弱，觀其控御之懷猶盛，可誘而滅之。」勒以為然。勒時與陳午相攻-{于}-蓬關，王彌亦與劉瑞相持甚急。彌請救-{于}-勒，勒未之許。張賓進曰：「明公常恐不得王公之便，今天以其便授我矣。陳午小豎，何能為寇？王彌人傑，將為我害。」勒因回軍擊瑞，斬之。彌大悅，謂勒深心推奉，無復疑也。勒引師攻陳午-{于}-肥澤，午司馬上黨李頭說勒曰：「公天生神武，當平定四海，四海士庶皆仰屬明公，望濟-{于}-塗炭。有與公爭天下者，公不早圖之，而返攻我曹流人。我曹鄉黨，終當奉戴，何遽見逼乎！」勒心然之，詰朝引退。詭請王彌讌-{于}-已吾，彌長史張嵩諫彌勿就，恐有專諸、孫峻之禍，彌不從。旣入，酒酣，勒手斬彌而幷其衆，啟聰稱彌叛逆之狀。聰署勒鎮東大將軍、督幷幽二州軍事、領幷州刺史，持節、征討都督、校尉、開府、幽州牧、公如故。

Earlier Wang Mi, heeding Liu Tun, had plotted to murder Shi Le before carving out Qingzhou and had Liu Tun recall general Cao Yi from Qi. Shi Le's patrols seized Liu Tun with Wang Mi's letter to Cao Yi; Shi Le executed Tun and began scheming Wang Mi's end. Then Xu Miao peeled his division away from Wang Mi, leaving the warlord visibly weaker. When Gou Xi fell into Shi Le's hands, Wang Mi bristled yet sent oily praise: "To capture Gou Xi and spare him—only a sage could manage that! Put Gou Xi on your left and me on your right, and the empire folds in a month." Shi Le murmured to Zhang Bin, "Wang Mi outranks most lords yet flatters like a petitioner—he reminds me of the cur in the old tale." Zhang Bin answered, "He aches for Qingzhou—his home country—who would not? But does Your Grace feel nothing for Bingzhou? He lingers because he dreads you at his back; he is already sizing you up, only waiting for the moment. Strike now or Cao Yi will join him and you will face two wings—too late for regrets! Xu Miao has peeled away part of his strength, yet his arrogance still burns—entice him and you can erase him. Shi Le agreed. At the same moment Shi Le besieged Chen Wu at Pengguan while Wang Mi wrestled Liu Rui to a standstill -{yu}-. Wang Mi begged for reinforcements; Shi Le stalled -{yu}-. Zhang Bin pressed him, "You have always feared missing your opening against Wang Mi—Heaven has just handed it to you now. Chen Wu is a nobody—what damage could he do? Wang Mi is a true champion who will one day be your ruin." Shi Le spun his host about, fell on Liu Rui, and struck off his head. Wang Mi rejoiced, convinced that Shi Le honored him, and dropped every guard. Shi Le drove on Chen Wu -{yu}- at Feize, where Wu's marshal Li Tou of Shangdang said, "Heaven made you a conqueror; you are meant to pacify the realm, and every scholar and commoner looks to you, begging to be lifted -{yu}- out of the fire and mud. Yet you dawdle while another would seize the empire, and instead you grind down homeless exiles like us. We exiles will one day raise you as our lord—why turn your blades on us now! Shi Le took the point; at first light he broke camp and withdrew. He invited Wang Mi to a victory feast at Yiwu; Zhang Song warned of assassins like Zhuan Zhu or Sun Jun, but Wang Mi swaggered in anyway -{yu}-. Mid-banquet Shi Le drew steel, took Wang Mi's head, swallowed his army, and wrote Liu Cong that Wang Mi had risen in revolt. Liu Cong answered with grand general of the east, joint overseer of Bing and You, Bingzhou inspector, full insignia, campaign command, colonel, opened office, Youzhou shepherd, and his ducal patent unchanged.

苟晞、王讚謀叛勒，勒害之。以將軍左伏肅為前鋒都尉，攻掠豫州諸郡，臨江而還，屯-{于}-葛陂，降諸夷楚，署將軍二千石以下，稅其義穀，以供軍士。

When Gou Xi and Wang Zan plotted his overthrow, Shi Le killed them both. He named Zuo Fusu vanguard commandant to scour Yuzhou, raid to the Great River, and swing back to Gebei, where he enrolled Yi and Chu tribesmen, handed out ranks down to two-thousand-bushel posts, and taxed their grain to feed the army -{yu}-.

初，勒被鬻平原，與母王相失。至是，劉琨遣張儒送王-{于}-勒，遺勒書曰：「將軍發迹河朔，席捲兗豫，飲馬江淮，折沖漢沔，雖自古名將，未足為諭。所以攻城而不有其人，略地而不有其土，翕爾雲合，忽復星散，將軍豈知其然哉？存亡決在得主，成敗要在所附；得主則為義兵，附逆則為賊衆。義兵雖敗，而功業必成；賊衆雖克，而終歸殄滅。昔赤眉、黃巾橫逆宇宙，所以一旦敗亡者，正以兵出無名，聚而為亂。將軍以天挺之質，威振宇內，擇有德而推崇，隨時望而歸之，勳義堂堂，長享遐貴。背聰則禍除，向主則福至。採納往誨，翻然改圖，天下不足定，蟻寇不足掃。今相授侍中、持節、車騎大將軍、領護匈奴中郎將、襄城郡公，總內外之任，兼華戎之號，顯封大郡，以表殊能，將軍其受之，副遠近之望也。自古以來誠無戎人而為帝王者，至於名臣建功業者，則有之矣。今之遲想，蓋以天下大亂，當須雄才。遙聞將軍攻城野戰，合於機神，雖不視兵書，闇與孫吳同契，所謂生而知之者上，學而知之者次。但得精騎五千，以將軍之才，何向不摧！至心實事，皆張儒所具。」勒報琨曰：「事功殊途，非腐儒所聞。君當逞節本朝，吾自夷，難為效。」遺琨名馬珍寶，厚賓其使，謝歸以絕之。

Long ago, sold into Pingyuan, he had lost his mother Lady Wang. Now Liu Kun sent Zhang Ru escorting Lady Wang back with a letter praising how Shi Le had sprung from the Hebei marshes, scoured Yan and Yu, watered horses on the Yangzi and Huai, and broken hosts on the Han and Mian—surpassing every classic captain -{yu}-. Yet you take cities without holding their folk, win ground without holding the soil, swell like a cloud then melt away—do you understand why? Survival rides on whom you serve; victory rides on whom you follow. Serve the right and you lead a righteous army; cling to rebels and you are only bandits. Even when a loyal army loses a field, its cause can still be brought to completion; even a winning rebel ends in ashes. Remember the Red Eyebrows and Yellow Turbans: they fell because they fought without a just banner and looted like wolves. You were born for command; pick a worthy sovereign, ride the tide, and your righteousness will shine for ages. Renounce Liu Cong and danger ends; embrace the Jin throne and fortune returns. Heed old counsel, change course, and the realm is yours while gnats like Wang Mi scatter. Therefore I offer palace attendant, staff, chariot-and-horse grand general, colonel of the Xiongnu within the borders, duke of Xiangcheng, authority over court and camp, titles for Hu and Han alike, and a fat fief—accept and satisfy every expectation. No barbarian has ever truly founded a dynasty, yet many foreign-born ministers have built lasting fame. I speak plainly because the age demands heroes. They say you fight by instinct though you never opened Sunzi—born strategists outrank book-taught men. Give me five thousand veterans under your command and every front will break! Zhang Ru carries every earnest word." Shi Le answered Liu Kun, "Worth and policy do not travel the same road—this is beyond a bookworm's hearing. You keep faith with Luoyang; I am a barbarian and a poor copy." He sent back Liu Kun's gifts of famous steeds and gems, tipped the messenger generously, and closed the correspondence.

勒於葛陂繕室宇，課農造舟，將寇建鄴。會霖雨歷三月不止，元帝使諸將率江南之衆大集壽春，勒軍中-{飢}-疫死者太半。檄書朝夕繼至，勒會諸將計之。右長史刁膺諫勒先送款於帝，求掃平河朔，待軍退之後徐更計之。勒愀然長嘯。中堅夔安勸勒就高避水，勒曰：「將軍何其怯乎！」孔萇、支雄等三十餘將進曰：「及吳軍未集，萇等請各將三百步卒，乘船三十餘道，夜登其城，斬吳將頭，得其城，食其倉米。今年要當破丹陽，定江南，盡生縛取司馬家兒輩。」勒笑曰：「是勇將之計也。」各賜鎧馬一匹。顧問張賓曰：「於君計何如？」賓曰：「將軍攻陷帝都，囚執天子，殺害王侯，妻略妃主，擢將軍之發不足以數將軍之罪，奈何復還相臣奉乎！去年誅王彌之後，不宜於此營建。天降霖雨方數百里中，示將軍不應留也。鄴有三臺之固，西接平陽，四塞山河，有喉衿之勢，宜北徙據之。伐叛懷服，河朔旣定，莫有處將軍之右者。晉之保壽春，懼將軍之往擊爾，今卒聞迴軍，必欣於敵去，未遑奇兵掎擊也。輜重逕從北道，大軍向壽春，輜重旣過，大軍徐迴，何懼進退無地乎！」勒攘袂鼓髯曰：「賓之計是也。」責刁膺曰：「君共相輔佐，當規成功業，如何便相勸降！此計應斬。然相明性怯，所以宥君。」於是退膺為將軍，擢賓為右長史，加中壘將軍，號曰「右侯」。

At Gebei he built halls, drilled farmers, and launched boats aimed at Jianye. Then rains fell three months without pause while Emperor Yuan stacked Jiangnan armies at Shouchun; famine and pestilence halved Shi Le's camps -{ji}-. Challenge scrolls arrived hourly until Shi Le called a council of his generals. Right clerk Diao Ying urged him to sue for peace with Jiankang, offer to pacify Hebei, then replot once the southern armies withdrew. Shi Le only scowled and let out a long whistle. Kui An, his stalwart champion, begged him to strike for high ground before the floods; Shi Le sneered, "Since when am I a general who flinches?" Kong Chang, Zhi Xiong, and thirty other generals pressed forward: "Before the Eastern Jin armies mass, give each of us three hundred foot and a separate channel of boats—we will scale Jiankang in the dark, behead their commanders, hold the city, and feed the army from their granaries. This is the year we take Danyang, lock down the southland, and drag every Sima heirling away in ropes." Shi Le laughed. "Brave talk for field captains." He handed each spokesman a horse and a suit of mail anyway. He wheeled on Zhang Bin. "What do you say?" Zhang Bin said coldly, "You have sacked Luoyang, caged the emperor, slaughtered the royal kin, and defiled the harem—pluck every hair from your head and you still could not tally the crimes. And now you dream of bowing again as a Jin minister? Last year you cut down Wang Mi; you should never have lingered to build here. Heaven has washed three hundred li in rain to tell you this is no place to stay. Ye still boasts the Three Terraces, ties to Pingyang, and mountain barriers on every side—the true choke point of the plain. March north and seize it. Crush every rebel who resists, fold in every band that yields, and once the north is quiet no warlord will dare stand at your shoulder. The southerners cling to Shouchun because they fear your next blow; hear that you are leaving and they will dance, never dreaming you might snap at their heels. Run the wagons up the northern track, parade the banners toward Shouchun, then once the supplies are safe, peel away at leisure—no trap can close on you." Shi Le flung back his sleeves, combed his beard, and cried, "Zhang Bin has it!" He rounded on Diao Ying. "We are building a realm together—who invited talk of capitulation? That advice would cost a man his head. Still, I spare you—I know fear is your nature." He busted Diao Ying to a line general, raised Zhang Bin to chief clerk on the right, added the central bastion title, and dubbed him the "Marquis of the Right."

發自葛陂，遣石季龍率騎二千距壽春。會江南運船至，獲米布數十艘，將士爭之，不設備。晉伏兵大發，敗季龍-{于}-巨靈口，赴水死者五百餘人，奔退百里，及-{于}-勒軍。軍中震擾，謂王師大至，勒陣以待之。晉懼有伏兵，退還壽春。勒所過路次，皆堅壁清野，采掠無所獲，軍中大饑，士衆相食。行達東燕，聞汲郡向冰有衆數千，壁-{于}-枋頭，勒將於棘津北渡，懼冰邀之，會諸將問計。張賓進曰：「如聞冰船盡在瀆中，未上枋內，可簡壯勇者千人，詭道潛渡，襲取其船，以濟大軍。大軍旣濟，冰必可擒也。」勒從之，使支雄、孔萇等從文石津縛筏潛渡，勒引其衆自酸棗向棘津。冰聞勒軍至，始欲內其船。會雄等已渡，屯其壘門，下船三十餘艘以濟其軍，令主簿鮮-{于}-豐挑戰，設三伏以待之。冰怒，乃出軍，將戰，而三伏齊發，夾擊攻之，又因其資，軍遂豐振。長驅寇鄴，攻北中郎將劉演-{于}-三臺。演部將臨深、牟穆等率衆數萬降-{于}-勒。

They broke camp at Gebei and Shi Jilong rode ahead with two thousand horsemen to shadow Shouchun. River barges from the south sailed into their hands—dozens of holds of rice and cloth—and the troops mobbed the cargo like market thieves, never minding sentries. Eastern Jin ambushers sprang the trap at Julingkou, sank five hundred of Jilong's men in the ford, and chased the survivors a hundred li into Shi Le's main camp -{yu}- -{yu}-. Panic rippled through the ranks until Shi Le steadied them and drew up for a showdown that never came. The southerners, fearing another snare, scuttled back inside Shouchun's walls. Every village had scorched the earth ahead of him; foraging yielded nothing; famine gnawed the column until men fed on men. Near Dongyan he learned that Xiang Bing of Ji commandery had walled up thousands at Fangtou; Shi Le meant to cross above Jiji Ford but dreaded an ambush, so he called a council of war -{yu}-. Zhang Bin said, "Xiang Bing's hulls still sit in the canal, not yet winched behind the wall—slip a thousand raiders across, steal the fleet, and the river is yours. Once your main body is over, Xiang Bing is finished." Shi Le agreed: Zhi Xiong and Kong Chang lashed rafts at Wenshi Ford while he drove the army from Suanzao toward Jiji. When Xiang Bing heard Shi Le was closing, he scrambled to pull his boats behind the wall. Zhi Xiong was already ashore, camped at the gate, floated thirty boats to ferry the host, sent registrar Xianyu Feng to shout a challenge, and hid three strikes along the road -{yu}-. Xiang Bing stormed out in fury; the three ambushes hammered him from both flanks, captured his supplies, and the army's spirits soared. He raced on Ye and pinned Liu Yan, the North Centre commandant, on Santai terrace -{yu}-. Liu Yan's lieutenants Lin Shen and Mou Mu brought tens of thousands over to Shi Le -{yu}-.

時諸將佐議欲攻取三臺以據之，張賓進曰：「劉演衆猶數千，三臺險固，攻守未可卒下，舍之則能自潰。王彭祖、劉越石大敵也，宜及其未有備，密規進據罕城，廣運糧儲，西稟平陽，掃定幷薊，桓文之業可以濟也。且今天下鼎沸，戰爭方始，遊行羇旅，人無定志，難以保萬全、制天下也。夫得地者昌，失地者亡。邯鄲、襄國，趙之舊都，依山憑險，形勝之國，可擇此二邑而都之，然後命將四出，授以奇略，推亡固存，兼弱攻昧，則羣凶可除，王業可圖矣。」勒曰：「右侯之計是也。」於是進據襄國。賓又言於勒曰：「今我都此，越石、彭祖深所忌也，恐及吾城池未固，資儲未廣，送死於我。聞廣平諸縣秋稼大成，可分遣諸將收掠野穀。遣使平陽，陳宜鎮此之意。」勒又然之。於是上表于劉聰，分命諸將攻冀州郡縣壘壁，率多降附，運糧以輸勒。劉聰署勒使持節、散騎常侍、都督冀幽幷營四州雜夷、征討諸軍事、冀州牧，進封本國上黨郡公，邑五萬戶，開府、幽州牧、東夷校尉如故。

Staff urged a direct assault on Santai, but Zhang Bin warned, "Liu Yan still holds thousands on those cliffs; a siege will drag; starve him out and he collapses alone. Wang Jun and Liu Kun are the real enemies—move before they expect you, seize Handan, stack grain, report west to Liu Cong, clear Bing and Ji, and you can build a true hegemon's foundation. The world is still a cauldron; armies wander without loyalty—you cannot hedge every risk from a camp stool. Land won means strength; land lost means extinction. Handan and Xiangguo were Zhao's twin seats, ringed by hills—pick one for your capital, fan generals in every direction with ruthless tactics, and you can extirpate rivals and aim at the throne." Shi Le said, "Zhang Bin is right again." He marched into Xiangguo and made it his seat. Zhang Bin added, "Liu Kun and Wang Jun dread this foothold—they may hit you before the ramparts rise and the granaries fill. I hear Guangping's autumn crop is heavy—send columns to sweep the countryside for grain. Write Liu Cong that you mean to hold the north for him." Shi Le agreed once more. He tabled Liu Cong, sent raiders through Jizhou's forts—most yielded—and wagon trains began feeding his camps. Liu Cong answered with jewelled credentials, palace rank, four-region command, Jizhou shepherd, a fat Shangdang dukedom, fifty thousand households, opened office, and renewed his Youzhou titles.

廣平游綸、張豺擁衆數萬，受王浚假署，保據苑鄉。勒使夔安、支雄等七將攻之，破其外壘。浚遣督護王昌及鮮卑段就六眷、末柸、匹磾等部衆五萬餘以討勒。時城隍未修，乃于襄國築隔城重柵，設鄣以待之。就六眷屯-{于}-渚陽，勒分遣諸將連出挑戰，頻為就六眷所敗，又聞其大造攻具，勒顧謂其將佐曰：「今寇來轉逼，彼衆我寡，恐攻圍不解，外救不至，內糧罄絕，縱孫吳重生，亦不能固也。吾將簡練將士，大陣於野以決之，何如？」諸將皆曰：「宜固守以疲寇，彼師老自退，追而擊之，蔑不克矣。」勒顧謂張賓、孔萇曰：「君以為何如」賓、萇俱曰：「聞就六眷剋來月上旬送死北城，其大衆遠來，戰守連日，以我軍勢寡弱，謂不敢出戰，意必懈怠。今段氏種衆之悍，末柸尤最，其卒之精勇，悉在末柸所，可勿復出戰，示之以弱。速鑿北壘為突門二十餘道，候賊列守未定，出其不意，直沖末柸帳，敵必震惶，計不及設，所謂迅雷不及掩耳。末柸之衆旣奔，餘自摧散。擒末柸之後，彭祖可指辰而定。」勒笑而納之，即以萇為攻戰都督，造突門-{于}-北城。鮮卑入屯北壘，勒候其陣未定，躬率將士鼓噪-{于}-城上。會孔萇督諸突門伏兵俱出擊之，生擒末柸，就六眷等衆遂奔散。萇乘勝追擊，枕-{尸}-三十餘里，獲鎧馬五千匹。就六眷收其遺衆，屯-{于}-渚陽，遣使求和，送鎧馬金銀，幷以末柸三弟為質而請末柸。諸將幷勸勒殺末柸以挫之，勒曰：「遼西鮮卑，健國也，與我素無怨讐，為王浚所使耳。今殺一人，結怨一國，非計也。放之必悅，不復為王浚用矣。」於是納其質，遣石季龍盟就六眷-{于}-渚陽，結為兄弟，就六眷等引還。使參軍閻綜獻捷於劉聰。於是游綸、張豺請降稱籓，勒將襲幽州，務養將士，權宜許之，皆就署將軍。於是遣衆寇信都，害冀州刺史王象。王浚復以邵舉行冀州刺史，保-{于}-信都。

You Lun and Zhang Cai of Guangping mustered tens of thousands under Wang Jun's seal and walled up at Yuanxiang. Shi Le sent Kui An, Zhi Xiong, and five other generals who shredded their outer wall. Wang Jun answered with Wang Chang, Duan Jiulujuan, Moben, Pidi, and fifty thousand Xianbei horse. With ditches still half-dug, he threw up an inner ring of palisades and doubled stockades at Xiangguo to receive them. Duan Jiulujuan camped -{yu}- at Zhuyang; Shi Le's probes kept losing, and when spies reported massive siege gear, he told his captains, "They outnumber us, the ring tightens, no relief is coming, and the bins are low—even Sun Wu reborn could not hold this wall. I will sort the ranks and meet them in the field—who is with me?" They answered, "Starve them on the walls until they slink away, then ride them down." Shi Le looked to Zhang Bin and Kong Chang. "Your view?" Both said, "Jiulujuan plans a dawn rush on the north ramp next month; his tribes have marched far, skirmished daily, and thinks us too weak to sally—already they relax. The Duan warriors are savage, but Moben packs their best—ignore their taunts and play weak. Cut twenty hidden sally gates in the north wall; before their ranks set, burst out and spear Moben's yurt—panic will break them faster than thunder. When Moben runs, the whole host unravels. With Moben caged, Wang Jun falls before noon." Shi Le grinned, named Kong Chang master of the storming corps, and tore secret doors through the north palisade -{yu}-. The Xianbei packed the northern camp; Shi Le waited until their lines sagged, then rode the parapet roaring with his men -{yu}-. Kong Chang blew the sally gates; ambushers swarmed, seized Moben alive, and Jiulujuan's line shattered. Kong Chang chased thirty li of corpse-strewn road and picked up five thousand captured mounts and mails -{shi}-. Jiulujuan scraped up survivors at Zhuyang, sued for peace with gold, silver, mail, and horses, and offered three younger brothers of Moben as hostages for Moben's release -{yu}-. Captains begged Shi Le to behead Moben to cow the Duan; Shi Le said, "Liaoxi Xianbei are proud warriors with no old grudge against me—they marched for Wang Jun. Murdering one captive would bind an entire realm against us. Let him go and they will thank us and quit doing Wang Jun's errands." He took the hostages, sent Shi Jilong to clasp blood brotherhood with Jiulujuan at Zhuyang, and watched the Duan host pull back -{yu}-. Adjutant Yan Zong carried the victory dispatch to Liu Cong. You Lun and Zhang Cai offered vassalage; Shi Le, saving strength for a strike on Youzhou, accepted and brevetted them generals. He swung columns into Xindu and killed Jizhou inspector Wang Xiang. Wang Jun named Shao Ju acting Jizhou shepherd to hold Xindu -{yu}-.

，石季龍攻鄴三臺，鄴潰，劉演奔-{于}-稟丘，將軍謝胥、田青、郎牧等率三臺流人降-{于}-勒，勒以桃豹為魏郡太守以撫之。命段末柸為子，署為使持節、安北將軍、北平公，遣還遼西。末柸感勒厚恩，在途日南面而拜者三，段氏遂專心歸附，自是王浚威勢漸衰。

Shi Jilong shattered Ye's three terraces; Liu Yan bolted to Linqiu; Xie Xu, Tian Qing, Lang Mu, and the refugee garrison of the terraces capitulated; Shi Le set Tao Bao over Wei commandery to calm them -{yu}- -{yu}-. He adopted Moben as a son, titled him general who pacifies the north and duke of Beiping, and sent him home to Liaoxi with credentials. Moben kowtowed southward thrice daily out of gratitude; the Duan clan swung hard to Shi Le, and Wang Jun's prestige began to ebb.

勒襲苑鄉，執遊綸以為主簿。攻乞活李惲-{于}-上白，斬之，將坑其降卒，見郭敬而識之，曰：「汝郭季子乎？」敬叩頭曰：「是也。」勒下馬執其手，泣曰：「今日相遇，豈非天邪！」賜衣服車馬，署敬上將軍，悉免降者以配之。其將孔萇寇定陵，害兗州刺史田徵。烏丸薄盛執渤海太守劉旣，率戶五千降-{于}-勒。劉聰授勒侍中、征東大將軍，餘如故，拜其母王氏為上黨國太夫人，妻劉氏上黨國夫人，章綬首飾一同王妃。

He struck Yuanxiang, bagged You Lun, and made him chief clerk. He stormed the Qihuo stronghold -{yu}- at Shangbai, killed Li Yun, and was ready to entomb the captives when he spotted Guo Jing in the crowd and cried, "Is that you, Guo Jizi?" Guo Jing kowtowed. "It is your old friend." Shi Le leapt down, seized his hands, and wept, "If this is not fate, what else could it be!" He draped him in silks, gave him mounts, named him supreme general, and freed every prisoner to serve under him. Kong Chang swept Dingling and cut down Yanzhou inspector Tian Zheng. Wuhuan chief Bo Sheng arrested Bohai prefect Liu Ji and delivered five thousand households to Shi Le -{yu}-. Liu Cong added palace attendant and eastern general to his old titles, raised Lady Wang to grand dame of Shangdang, Lady Liu to dame of Shangdang, with queenly insignia.

段末柸任弟亡歸遼西，勒大怒，所經令尉皆殺之。

When Moben's hostage brother bolted for Liaoxi, Shi Le flew into a rage and executed every county officer along the road.

烏丸審廣、漸裳、郝襲背王浚，密遣使降-{于}-勒，勒厚加撫納。司冀漸寧，人始租賦。立太學，簡明經善書吏署為文學掾，選將佐子弟三百人教之。勒母王氏死，潛窆山谷，莫詳其所。旣而備九命之禮，虛葬-{于}-襄國城南。

Shen Guang, Jian Shang, and Hao Xi of the Wuhuan broke with Wang Jun, slipped messengers to Shi Le, and found generous terms -{yu}-. Si and Ji calmed enough that farmers once more paid grain and cloth. He opened a school, picked literate clerks for literary posts, and drilled three hundred sons of his captains in the classics. Lady Wang died; Shi Le hid her coffin in a nameless gorge so no enemy could desecrate it. Later he staged the ninefold mourning and stacked an empty tomb south of Xiangguo for show -{yu}-.

勒謂張賓曰：「鄴，魏之舊都，吾將營建。旣風俗殷雜，須賢望以綏之，誰可任也？」賓曰：「晉故東萊太守南陽趙彭忠亮篤敏，有佐時良榦，將軍若任之，必能允副神規。」勒於是徵彭，署為魏郡太守。彭至，入泣而辭曰：「臣往策名晉室，食其祿矣。犬馬戀主，切不敢忘。誠知晉之宗廟鞠為茂草，亦猶洪川東逝，往而不還。明公應符受命，可謂攀龍之會。但受人之榮，復事二姓，臣志所不為，恐亦明公之所不許。若賜臣餘年、全臣一介之願者，明公大造之惠也。」勒默然。張賓進曰：「自將軍神旗所經，衣冠之士靡不變節，未有能以大義進退者。至如此賢，以將軍為高祖，自擬為四公，所謂君臣相知，此亦足成將軍不世之高，何必吏之。」勒大悅，曰：「右侯之言得孤心矣。」於是賜安車駟馬，養以卿祿，辟其子明為參軍。勒以石季龍為魏郡太守，鎮鄴三臺，季龍篡奪之萌兆-{于}-此矣。

He told Zhang Bin, "Ye was Cao Wei's seat—I mean to rebuild it. The place is a babel of peoples; who has the stature to govern it?" Zhang Bin named Zhao Peng of Nanyang, once Jin's Donglai prefect—loyal, shrewd, and seasoned—"Give him Ye and the city will obey." Shi Le summoned Zhao Peng and named him Wei prefect. Zhao Peng arrived weeping and said, "I once swore myself to the Jin court and took its pay. Like the emperor's hounds, I cannot forget my first lord. I know Luoyang's temples are weed fields, yet it is like a river eastward—gone forever. You already hold heaven's warrant—this should be every scholar's moment to rise with the dragon. But having eaten Jin's salary I will not serve a second dynasty—surely that is barred even for you. Spare my life and honour this one foolish wish—that would be mercy beyond measure." Shi Le said nothing. Zhang Bin murmured, "Every gentleman you meet has bent the knee; none has yet stood on principle before you. A man that fine hails you as his Gaozu and ranks himself with the ancient four ministers—that is the bond of true ruler and vassal, glory enough without a clerk's title." Shi Le beamed. "Zhang Bin has read my mind." He gave Zhao Peng a cushioned carriage, minister's stipend, and took his son Zhao Ming onto staff. He posted Shi Jilong at Ye's three terraces as Wei prefect—the first hint of the tiger son's future coup. -{yu}-

時王浚署置百官，奢縱淫虐，勒有吞幷之意，欲先遣使以觀察之。議者僉曰：「宜如羊祜與陸抗書相聞。」時張賓有疾，勒就而謀之。賓曰：「王浚假三部之力，稱制南面，雖曰晉籓，實懷僭逆之志，必思協英雄，圖濟事業。將軍威聲震-{于}-海內，去就為存亡，所在為輕重，浚之欲將軍，猶楚之招韓信也。今權譎遣使，無誠款之形，脫生猜疑，圖之兆露，後雖奇略，無所設也。夫立大事者必先為之卑，當稱籓推奉，尚恐未信，羊、陸之事，臣未見其可。」勒曰：「右侯之計是也。」乃遣其舍人王子春、董肇等多齎珍寶，奉表推崇浚為天子曰：「勒本小胡，出於戎裔，值晉綱弛禦，海內饑亂，流離屯厄，竄命冀州，共相帥合，以救性命。今晉祚淪夷，遠播吳會，中原無主，蒼生無系。伏惟明公殿下，州鄉貴望，四海所宗，為帝王者，非公復誰？勒所以捐軀命、興義兵誅暴亂者，正為明公驅除爾。伏願殿下應天順時，踐登皇阼。勒奉戴明公，如天地父母，明公當察勒微心，慈眄如子也。」亦遺棗嵩書而厚賂之。浚謂子春等曰：「石公一時英武，據趙舊都，成鼎峙之勢，何為稱籓於孤，其可信乎？」子春對曰：「石將軍英才儁拔，士馬雄盛，實如聖旨。仰惟明公州鄉貴望，累葉重光，出鎮籓嶽，威聲播-{于}-八表，固以胡越欽風，戎夷歌德，豈唯區區小府而敢不斂衽神闕者乎！昔陳嬰豈其鄙王而不王，韓信薄帝而不帝者哉？但以知帝王不可以智力爭故也。石將軍之擬明公，猶陰精之比太陽，江河之比洪海爾。項籍、子陽覆車不遠，是石將軍之明鑒，明公亦何怪乎！且自古誠胡人而為名臣者實有之，帝王則未之有也。石將軍非所以惡帝王而讓明公也，顧取之不為天人之所許耳。願公勿疑。」浚大悅，封子春等為列侯，遣使報勒，答以方物。浚司馬游統時鎮范陽，陰叛浚，馳使降-{于}-勒。勒斬其使，送-{于}-浚，以表誠實。浚雖不罪統，彌信勒之忠誠，無復疑矣。

Wang Jun ran a shadow court, wallowed in cruelty, and Shi Le meant to devour him—but wanted envoys to test the waters first. Advisers urged polite letters in the manner of Yang Hu and Lu Kang. Zhang Bin lay sick, so Shi Le took counsel at his bedside. Zhang Bin said, "Wang Jun rides three Xianbei hosts and plays regent—nominally a Jin vassal, actually a usurper hunting allies. Your name shakes the realm; every army rises or falls on your nod—Wang courts you the way Chu once courted Han Xin. -{yu}- Trick envoys without real deference and he will smell the plot—then no scheme will save us. Great enterprises begin in self-abasement: call yourself his vassal and flatter him, yet even that may not win belief—the Yang Hu and Lu Kang exchange is no sure model." Shi Le said, "Zhang Bin is right." He dispatched Wang Zichun and Dong Zhao laden with gems and a memorial that crowned Wang Jun Son of Heaven, claiming Shi Le was a petty barbarian who, when Jin's reins slackened and famine tore the realm, fled to Jizhou and banded with others only to survive. Jin's mandate is broken, the court chased to the southeast, the heartland lacks a sovereign, and the people have no polestar. You, Duke, are the north's great name and the world's lodestar—who else could wear the crown? I have wagered my life on these arms only to sweep the path for you. Take heaven's hint, seize the moment, and mount the throne. I will serve you as child serves parents—only look on me with mercy." He wrote Zao Song separately and greased his palm with gold. Wang Jun asked his envoys, "Shi Le is a lion who holds old Zhao in a tripod—why would he bow to me? Can this be real?" Wang Zichun answered, "Shi Le's genius and his hosts are everything you say—mighty as an edict proclaims. Your name towers across generations of border command; your fame shakes the eight directions—barbarians hymn your virtue. No petty officer would dare withhold reverence. -{yu}- Did Chen Ying scorn the crown, or Han Xin refuse the throne? They knew the mandate is not won by clever force alone. Shi Le ranks you beside the sun and the ocean—himself only moonlight and streams. Xiang Yu's crash is still fresh—Shi Le takes it as his mirror. Why doubt him? Foreigners have risen to be great ministers; none has founded a dynasty. Shi Le yields the throne not from contempt but because Heaven would not bless the seizure. Put doubt aside." Wang Jun was delighted, made the envoys full marquises, sent return gifts, and showered Shi Le with curios. Wang Jun's marshal You Tong, holding Fanyang, plotted defection and sent riders to Shi Le -{yu}-. Shi Le executed the couriers and shipped their heads to Wang Jun as proof of loyalty -{yu}-. Wang Jun spared You Tong yet trusted Shi Le utterly.

子春等與王浚使至，勒命匿勁卒精甲，虛府羸師以示之，北面拜使而受浚書。浚遺勒麈尾，勒偽不敢執，懸之-{于}-壁，朝夕拜之，-{云}-：「我不得見王公，見王公所賜如見公也。」復遣董肇奉表-{于}-浚，期親詣幽州奉上尊號，亦修箋-{于}-棗嵩，乞幷州牧、廣平公，以見必信之誠也。

When the embassy arrived, Shi Le hid his veterans, paraded feeble conscripts, kowtowed north, and accepted Wang Jun's rescript with theatrical awe. Wang Jun sent a yak-tail chowry; Shi Le pretended it was too sacred to touch, hung it like an icon, and worshipped it daily, swearing the whisk was Wang Jun himself -{yu}- -{yun}-. He had Dong Zhao promise to crown Wang Jun in person at Youzhou and bribed Zao Song with a plea for Bingzhou shepherd and duke of Guangping to seal the bluff -{yu}- -{yu}-.

勒將圖浚，引子春問之。子春曰：「幽州自去歲大水，人不粒食，浚積粟百萬，不能贍恤，刑政苛酷，賦役殷煩，賊憲賢良，誅斥諫士，下不堪命，流叛略盡。鮮卑、烏丸離貳-{于}-外，棗嵩、田嶠貪暴-{于}-內，人情沮擾，甲士羸弊。而浚猶置立臺閣，布列百官，自言漢高、魏武不足並也。又幽州謠怪特甚，聞者莫不為之寒心，浚意氣自若，曾無懼容，此亡期之至也。」勒撫-{几}-笑曰：「王彭祖真可擒也。」浚使達幽州，具陳勒形勢寡弱，款誠無二。浚大悅，以勒為信然。

As he prepared to strike Youzhou, Shi Le called Wang Zichun for intelligence. Wang Zichun reported floods, hoarded grain unused, cruel law, crushing taxes, murdered advisers, and a population in flight. The Xianbei and Wuhuan chiefs feud outwardly while Zao Song and Tian Jiao loot within; morale curdles and armour rusts -{yu}- -{yu}-. Yet Wang Jun builds phantom ministries and boasts he outshines Gaozu and Cao Cao. Youzhou fills with dread portents while Wang Jun struts unafraid—the hour of his fall has struck. Shi Le rapped his desk and laughed. "Wang Pengzu is ours for the taking." -{ji}- His own envoys painted Shi Le as feeble and utterly sincere. Wang Jun swallowed every word.

勒纂兵戒期，將襲浚，而懼劉琨及鮮卑、烏丸為其後患，沈吟未發。張賓進曰：「夫襲敵國，當出其不意。軍嚴經日不行，豈顧有三方之慮乎？」勒曰：「然，為之奈何？」賓曰：「彭祖之據幽州，唯仗三部，今皆離叛，還為寇讐，此則外無聲援以抗我也。幽州-{飢}-儉，人皆蔬食，衆叛親離，甲旅寡弱，此則內無強兵以禦我也。若大軍在郊，必土崩瓦解。今三方未靖，將軍便能懸軍千里以征幽州也。輕軍往返，不出二旬。就使三方有動，勢足旋趾。宜應機電發，勿後時也。且劉琨、王浚雖同名晉籓，其實仇敵。若修牋-{于}-琨，送質請和，琨必欣-{于}-得我，喜-{于}-浚滅，終不救浚而襲我也。」勒曰：「吾所不了，右侯已了，復何疑哉！」

Shi Le massed men for Youzhou yet dreaded Liu Kun and the steppe peoples at his back, and stalled. Zhang Bin said, "Surprise is the soul of a raid. Armies stand ready day after day—are three-front worries freezing you?" Shi Le admitted it. "Then what?" Zhang Bin answered, "Wang Jun leans on three Xianbei hosts—now each chief turns on him, so he has no allies outside. Famine empties Youzhou, mutiny hollows his halls, and his mail is thin—no inner shield either." -{ji}- Bring the host to his walls and he collapses like mud. Though three sides still simmer, you can still march a thousand li on Youzhou. A flying column returns inside twenty days. If other fronts flare, you can still pivot in time. Strike like lightning—do not miss the hour. Liu Kun and Wang Jun both wear Jin colors yet hate each other. Write Liu Kun, send hostages, sue for peace—he will cheer our friendship and toast Wang Jun's ruin, never riding to his rescue." -{yu}- -{yu}- -{yu}-" Shi Le cried, "Zhang Bin has settled what baffled me—no more doubt!"

於是輕騎襲幽州，以火宵行。至柏人，殺主簿遊綸，以其兄統在范陽，懼聲軍計故也。遣張慮奉牋-{于}-劉琨，陳己過沉重，求討浚以自效。琨旣素疾浚，乃檄諸州郡，說勒知命思愆，收累年之咎，求拔幽都，效善將來，今聽所請，受任通和。軍達易水，浚督護孫緯馳遣白浚，將引軍距勒，遊統禁之。浚將佐咸請出擊勒，浚怒曰：「石公來，正欲奉戴我也，敢言擊者斬！」乃命設饗以待之。勒晨至薊，叱門者開門。疑有伏兵，先驅牛羊數千頭，聲言上禮，實欲填諸街巷，使兵不得發。浚乃懼，或坐或起。勒升其廳事，命甲士執浚，立之-{于}-前，使徐光讓浚曰：「君位冠元臺，爵列上公，據幽都驍悍之國，跨全燕突騎之鄉，手握強兵，坐觀京師傾覆，不救天子，而欲自尊。又專任姦暴，殺害忠良，肆情恣欲，毒遍燕壤。自貽-{于}-此，非為天也。」使其將王洛生驛送浚襄國市斬之。於是分遣流人各還桑梓，擢荀綽、裴憲，資給車服。數-{朱}-碩、棗嵩、田嶠等以賄亂政，責遊統以不忠-{于}-浚，皆斬之。遷烏丸審廣、漸裳、郝襲、靳市等-{于}-襄國。焚燒浚宮殿。以晉尚書劉翰為寧朔將軍、行幽州刺史，戍薊，置守宰而還。遣其東曹掾傅遘兼左長史，封王浚首，獻捷-{于}-劉聰。勒旣還襄國，劉翰叛勒，奔段匹磾。襄國大饑，穀二升直銀二斤，肉一斤直銀一兩。劉聰以平幽州之勳，乃遣其使人柳純持節署勒大都督陝東諸軍事、驃騎大將軍、東單-{于}-，侍中、使持節、開府、校尉、二州牧、公如故，加金鉦黃鉞，前後鼓吹二部，增封十二郡。勒固辭，受二郡而已。勒封左長史張敬等十一人為伯、子、侯，文武進位有差。

He took light cavalry against Youzhou, torches lit through the nights. At Bairen he executed registrar You Lun lest his brother You Tong in Fanyang betray the march. Zhang Lu carried a groveling letter to Liu Kun, begging leave to punish Wang Jun -{yu}-. Liu Kun, who loathed Wang Jun, broadcast orders that Shi Le repented and meant to tear Youzhou down—he blessed the campaign and opened the road. At Yishui Wang Jun's adjutant Sun Wei raced a warning, but You Tong blocked mobilization. Wang Jun's captains begged to fight; Wang Jun roared that Shi Le came to honour him and threatened beheading. He ordered a banquet laid to welcome his "ally." At dawn Shi Le thundered at Ji's gates until they opened. Fearing ambush, he herded thousands of sheep and oxen ahead, claiming tribute while clogging every lane so defenders could not sortie. Wang Jun began to panic, pacing his seat. Shi Le mounted Wang Jun's dais, had guards drag him forth, and set Xu Guang to recite his crimes—power without loyalty while the throne burned -{yu}-. He let thugs rule, murdered loyalists, and poisoned every corner of Yan. You earned this yourself—Heaven did not single you out." -{yu}- He shipped Wang Jun to Xiangguo market and took his head. He sent exiles home, raised Xun Chuo and Pei Xian, and gave them carriages and gowns. He arraigned Zhu Shuo, Zao Song, and Tian Jiao for graft, condemned You Tong for betraying Wang Jun, and executed them all -{zhu}- -{yu}-. He resettled Shen Guang, Jian Shang, Hao Xi, Jin Shi, and their Wuhuan bands at Xiangguo -{yu}-. He torched Wang Jun's palaces. He left Liu Han as acting Youzhou shepherd to hold Ji with a new garrison, then withdrew. Fu You boxed Wang Jun's head for Liu Cong as proof of victory -{yu}-. Once Shi Le was home, Liu Han bolted to Duan Pidi. Famine struck Xiangguo—two ladles of grain cost two pounds of silver, a pound of meat one tael. Liu Cong showered titles—grand commander east of Shan, swift-cavalry general-in-chief, Eastern Chanyu, opened office, twelve new commanderies, full regalia of a field marshal -{yu}-. Shi Le refused most of it and kept two fiefs. He ennobled Zhang Jing and ten others and bumped ranks up and down the roster.

勒將支雄攻劉演於廩丘，為演所敗。演遣其將韓弘、潘良襲頓丘，斬勒所署太守邵攀。支雄追擊弘等，害潘良-{于}-廩丘。劉琨遣樂平太守焦球攻勒常山，斬其太守邢泰。琨司馬溫嶠西討山胡，勒將逯明要之，敗嶠-{于}-潞城。

Zhi Xiong struck Liu Yan at Linqiu and lost. Liu Yan's men raided Dunqiu and killed prefect Shao Pan. Zhi Xiong chased them down and killed Pan Liang at Linqiu -{yu}-. Liu Kun's Jiao Qiu took Changshan and removed prefect Xing Tai. Wen Xi marched against the hills; Lu Ming ambushed him at Lucheng -{yu}-.

勒以幽冀漸平，始下州郡閱實人戶，戶貲二匹，租二斛。

With the north quieting, he ordered a census—two bolts and two hu per household.

勒將陳午以浚儀叛-{于}-勒。逯明攻甯黑-{于}-茌平，降之，因破東燕酸棗而還，徙降人二萬餘戶-{于}-襄國。勒使其將葛薄寇濮陽，陷之，害太守韓弘。

Chen Wu mutinied at Junyi against Shi Le -{yu}-. Lu Ming crushed Ning Hei at Chiping, swept Eastern Yan and Suanzao, and moved twenty thousand captives to Xiangguo -{yu}- -{yu}-. Ge Bo stormed Puyang and killed Han Hong.

劉聰遣其使人范龕持節策命勒，賜以弓矢，加崇為陝東伯，得專征伐，拜封刺史、將軍、守宰、列侯，歲盡集上。署其長子興為上黨國世子，加翼軍將軍，為驃騎副貳。

Liu Cong sent Fan Kan with bows, arrows, and a patent making Shi Le eastern marquis with power to appoint officers and report yearly. He named his heir Shi Xing general of the supporting host and deputy to the swift-cavalry marshal.

劉琨遣王旦攻中山，逐勒所署太守秦固。勒將劉勔距旦，敗之，執旦-{于}-望都關。勒襲邵續-{于}-樂陵。續盡衆逆戰，大敗而還。

Liu Kun's Wang Dan cleared Zhongshan of prefect Qin Gu. Liu Mian broke Wang Dan and took him alive at Wangdu Pass -{yu}-. He fell on Shao Xu at Leling -{yu}-. Shao Xu met him in the field, lost everything, and fled.

章武人王昚起-{于}-科-{斗}-壘，擾亂勒河間、渤海諸郡。勒以揚武張夷為河間太守，參軍臨深為渤海太守，各率步騎三千以鎮靜之，使長樂太守程遐屯-{于}-昌亭為之聲勢。

Wang Yin of Zhangwu seized the fort -{yu}- at Ke-{dou}- and raided Shi Le's Hejian and Bohai districts. He sent Zhang Yi and Lin Shen with three thousand riders each to pacify the zone and posted Cheng Xia at Changting to back them -{yu}-.

徙平原烏丸展廣、劉哆等部落三萬餘戶-{于}-襄國。

He resettled thirty thousand Wuhuan families from Pingyuan into Xiangguo -{yu}-.

使石季龍襲乞活王平-{于}-梁城，敗績而歸。又攻劉演-{于}-廩丘。支雄、逯明擊甯黑-{于}-東武陽，陷之，黑赴河而死，徙其衆萬餘-{于}-襄國。邵續使文鴦救演，季龍退止盧關津避之，文鴦弗能進，屯-{于}-景亭。兗豫豪右張平等起兵救演。季龍夜棄營設伏-{于}-外，揚聲將歸河北。平等以為信然，入-{于}-空營。季龍回擊敗之，遂陷廩丘，演奔文鴦軍，獲演弟啟，送-{于}-襄國。演即劉琨之兄子也。勒以琨撫存其母，德之，賜啟田宅，令儒官授其經。

Shi Jilong attacked Wang Ping's Qihuo band at Liangcheng, lost, and withdrew -{yu}-. He struck Liu Yan again at Linqiu -{yu}-. Zhi Xiong and Lu Ming stormed Dongwuyang, drove Ning Hei into the river, and shipped ten thousand survivors to Xiangguo -{yu}- -{yu}-. Shao Xu sent Wen Yang; Shi Jilong hugged Luguan to dodge him while Wen Yang stalled at Jingting -{yu}-. Yan-Yu gentry led by Zhang Ping marched to save Liu Yan. Shi Jilong faked a northward retreat and hid troops outside camp -{yu}-. Zhang Ping swallowed the ruse and walked into the empty tents -{yu}-. Shi Jilong wheeled back, shattered them, took Linqiu, drove Liu Yan to Wen Yang, and sent captive Liu Qi to Xiangguo -{yu}-. Liu Yan was Liu Kun's nephew. Shi Le, grateful that Liu Kun had sheltered Liu Yan's mother, gave Liu Qi land, tutors, and a mansion.

時大蝗，中山、常山尤甚。中山丁零翟鼠叛勒，攻中山、常山，勒率騎討之，獲其母妻而還。鼠保-{于}-胥關，遂奔代郡。

Locusts blotted Zhongshan and Changshan. Zhai Shu, a Dingling from Zhongshan, rebelled against Shi Le and attacked Zhongshan and Changshan; Shi Le led cavalry against him, captured his mother and wife, and returned. Zhai Shu bolted for Xuguan, then ran to Dai -{yu}-.

勒攻樂平太守韓據-{于}-坫城，劉琨遣將軍姬澹率衆十餘萬討勒，琨次廣牧，為澹聲援。勒將距之，或諫之曰：「澹兵馬精盛，其鋒不可發，宜深溝高壘以挫其銳，攻守勢異，必獲萬全。」勒曰：「澹大衆遠來，體疲力竭，犬羊烏合，號令不齊，可一戰而擒之，何強之有！寇已垂至，胡可舍去，大軍一動，豈易中還！若澹乘我之退，顧乃無暇，焉得深溝高壘乎！此為不戰而自滅亡之道。」立斬諫者。以孔萇為前鋒都督，令三軍後出者斬。設疑兵於山上，分為二伏。勒輕騎與澹戰，偽收衆而北。澹縱兵追之，勒前後伏發，夾擊，澹軍大敗，獲鎧馬萬匹，澹奔代郡，據奔劉琨。琨長史李弘以幷州降-{于}-勒，琨遂奔-{于}-段匹磾。勒遷陽曲、樂平戶-{于}-襄國，置守宰而退。孔萇追姬澹-{于}-桑幹。勒遣兼左長史張敷獻捷-{于}-劉聰。

Shi Le besieged Han Ju at Dian while Liu Kun sent Ji Dan with a hundred thousand and hovered at Guangmu -{yu}-. Advisers urged walls against Ji Dan's fresh host. Shi Le snorted that Ji Dan's tired rabble would break in one clash. With the enemy on the doorstep retreat was suicide. Retreat would let Ji Dan ride them down—no time for siegework. That counsel meant slow death. He executed the worriers on the spot. He named Kong Chang vanguard and threatened late marchers with death. He split ambushers on the heights. Shi Le skirmished with light horse then feigned flight north. Ji Dan chased into the trap, lost ten thousand mounts, and fled toward Dai while Han Ju ran to Liu Kun. Li Hong handed Bingzhou to Shi Le, and Liu Kun bolted to Duan Pidi -{yu}- -{yu}-. He relocated Yangqu and Leping families to Xiangguo and posted officials -{yu}-. Kong Chang ran Ji Dan down at Sanggan -{yu}-. Zhang Fu carried the victory tally to Liu Cong -{yu}-.

勒之征樂平也，其南和令趙領招合廣川、平原、渤海數千戶叛勒，奔-{于}-邵續。河間邢嘏累徵不至，亦聚衆數百以叛。勒巡下冀州諸縣，以右司馬程遐為寧朔將軍、監冀州七郡諸軍事。

During the Leping campaign Zhao Ling rallied thousands to defect to Shao Xu -{yu}-. Xing Jia of Hejian defied summons, raised hundreds, and rebelled. He toured Jizhou counties and made Cheng Xia overseer of seven Jizhou commanderies.

勒姊夫廣威張越與諸將蒱博，勒親臨觀之。越戲言忤勒，勒大怒，叱力士折其脛而殺之。

His brother-in-law Zhang Yue gambled with generals while Shi Le looked on. A careless joke cost Zhang Yue his legs and life.

孔萇攻代郡，澹死之。時司、冀、幷、兗州流人數萬戶在-{于}-遼西，迭相招引，人不安業。孔萇等攻馬嚴、馮䐗，久而不克。勒問計於張賓，賓對曰：「馮䐗等本非明公之深仇，遼西流人悉有戀本之思。今宜班師息甲，差選良守，任之以龔遂之事，不拘常制，奉宣仁澤，奮揚威武，幽冀之寇可翹足而靜，遼西流人可指時而至。」勒曰：「右侯之計是也。」召萇等歸，署武遂令李回為易北都護、振武將軍、高陽太守。馬嚴士衆多李潛軍人，回先為潛府長史，素服回威德，多叛嚴歸之。嚴以部衆離貳，懼，奔-{于}-幽州，溺水而死。馮䐗率衆降-{于}-勒。回移居易京，流人降者歲常數千，勒甚嘉之，封回弋陽子，邑三百戶。加賓封一千戶，進賓位前將軍，固辭不受。

Kong Chang took Dai; Ji Dan fell. Tens of thousands of refugees from four provinces clustered in Liaoxi, unsettling the frontier -{yu}-. Kong Chang besieged Ma Yan and Feng Zhu without success. Zhang Bin said Feng Zhu was no arch-enemy and exiles wanted to go home. Recall troops, post just magistrates, and the border quiets itself. Shi Le agreed. He recalled Kong Chang and named Li Hui to pacify the Yi north. Li Hui's old prestige peeled Ma Yan's ranks away. Ma Yan fled toward Youzhou and drowned -{yu}-. Feng Zhu capitulated to Shi Le -{yu}-. Li Hui drew thousands of refugees yearly and earned a viscounty. Zhang Bin refused added rank and fief.

河朔大蝗，初穿地而生，二旬則化狀若蠶，七八日而臥，四日蛻而飛，彌亙百草，唯不食三豆及麻，幷冀尤甚。

Apocalyptic locusts swept Bing and Ji but spared beans and hemp.

石季龍濟自長壽津，寇梁國，害內史荀闔。劉琨與段匹磾、涉復辰、疾六眷，段末柸等會-{于}-固安，將謀討勒，勒使參軍王續齎金寶遺末柸以間之。末柸旣思有以報勒恩，又忻於厚賂，乃說辰眷等引還，琨、匹磾亦退如薊城。

Shi Jilong crossed at Changshou, hit Liang, and killed Xun Ge. Liu Kun mustered an alliance at Gu'an; Shi Le bribed Moben to wreck it -{yu}-. Moben pocketed the gold and talked the Duan host home.

邵續使兄子濟攻勒渤海，虜三千餘人而還。劉聰將趙固以洛陽歸順，恐勒襲之，遣參軍高少奉書推崇勒，請師討聰。勒以大義讓之，固深恨恚，與郭默攻掠河內、汲郡。

Shao Xu's nephew raided Bohai and took three thousand captives. Zhao Gu offered Luoyang yet feared Shi Le and begged him to march on Liu Cong. Shi Le rebuffed him; Zhao Gu rampaged with Guo Mo.

段末柸殺鮮卑單-{于}-截附真，立忽跋鄰為單-{于}-。段匹磾自幽州攻末柸，末柸逆擊敗之，匹磾奔還幽州，因害太尉劉琨，琨將佐相繼降勒。末柸遣弟騎督擊匹磾-{于}-幽州，匹磾率其部衆數千，將奔邵續，勒將石越要之於鹽山，大敗之，匹磾退保幽州。越中流矢死，勒為之屏樂三月，贈平南將軍。

Moben murdered Chanyu Jiefuzhen and raised Hubalin -{yu}- -{yu}-. Pidi struck Moben, lost, fled, murdered Liu Kun, and his officers went over to Shi Le. Moben's brother chased Pidi; Shi Yue crushed him at Yanshan -{yu}-. Shi Yue died to a stray shaft; Shi Le mourned three months.

初，曹嶷據有青州，旣叛劉聰，南稟王命，以建鄴懸遠，勢援不接，懼勒襲之，故遣通和。勒授嶷東州大將軍、青州牧，封琅邪公。

Cao Yi in Qingzhou played both sides against Jin distance and Shi Le's threat. Shi Le titled Cao Yi Qingzhou shepherd and duke of Langye.

劉聰疾甚，驛召勒為大將軍、錄尚書事，受遺詔輔政，勒固辭乃止。聰又遣其使人持節署勒大將軍、持節鉞，都督、侍中、校尉、二州牧、公如故，增封十郡，勒不受。聰死，其子粲襲偽位，其大將軍靳準殺粲-{于}-平陽，勒命張敬率騎五千為前鋒以討準，勒統精銳五萬繼之，據襄陵北原，羌羯降者四萬餘落。準數挑戰，勒堅壁以挫之。劉曜自長安屯-{于}-蒲阪，曜復僭號，署勒大司馬、大將軍，加九錫，增封十郡，幷前十三郡，進爵趙公。勒攻準-{于}-平陽小城，平陽大尹周置等率雜戶六千降-{于}-勒。巴帥及諸羌羯降者十餘萬落，徙之司州諸縣。準使-{卜}-泰送乘輿服御請和，勒與劉曜競有招懷之計，乃送泰-{于}-曜，使知城內無歸曜之意，以挫其軍勢。曜潛與泰結盟，使還平陽宣慰諸屠各。勒疑泰與曜有謀，欲斬泰以速降之，諸將皆曰：「今斬-{卜}-泰，準必不復降，就令泰宣漢要盟-{于}-城中，使相率誅靳準，準必懼而速降矣。」勒久乃從諸將議遣之。泰入平陽，與準將喬泰、馬忠等起兵攻準，殺之，推靳明為盟主，遣泰及-{卜}-玄奉傳國六璽送-{于}-劉曜。勒大怒，遣令史羊升使平陽，責明殺準之狀。明怒，斬升。勒怒甚，進軍攻明，明出戰，勒擊敗之，枕-{尸}-二里。明築城門堅守，不復出戰。勒遣其左長史王脩獻捷-{于}-劉曜。晉彭城內史周堅害沛內史周默，以彭沛降-{于}-勒。石季龍率幽、冀州兵會勒攻平陽。劉曜遣征東劉暢救明。勒命舍師-{于}-蒲上。靳明率平陽之衆奔-{于}-劉曜，曜西奔粟邑。勒焚平陽宮室，使裴憲、石會修復元海、聰二墓，收劉粲已下百餘-{尸}-葬之，徙渾儀、樂器-{于}-襄國。

Liu Cong tried to name Shi Le regent; Shi Le refused. Liu Cong piled titles; Shi Le waved them off. Jin Zhun slaughtered Liu Can; Shi Le marched on Pingyang with fifty thousand and camped north of Xiangling -{yu}-. Jin Zhun taunted; Shi Le sat tight. Liu Yao proclaimed himself emperor and tried to buy Shi Le with the nine gifts and a Zhao dukedom -{yu}-. Shi Le pressed Pingyang's inner town until Zhou Zhi brought six thousand households over -{yu}- -{yu}-. He relocated a hundred thousand Qiang-Jie captives into Henan counties. Shi Le shipped Bu Tai to Liu Yao to sow doubt -{bu}- -{yu}-. Liu Yao smuggled a pact to Bu Tai. Generals argued killing Bu Tai would harden Jin Zhun -{bu}- -{yu}-. Shi Le reluctantly let Bu Tai go. Bu Tai entered Pingyang, joined the coup against Jin Zhun, raised Jin Ming, and sent the jade seals toward Liu Yao -{bu}- -{yu}-. Shi Le raged and sent Yang Sheng to denounce Jin Ming for Jin Zhun's murder. Jin Ming executed the envoy. Shi Le smashed Jin Ming's sortie and strewed two li with dead -{shi}-. Jin Ming slammed the gates and refused another field fight. Wang Xiu carried the victory bulletin to Liu Yao -{yu}-. Zhou Jian murdered Zhou Mo and handed Pengcheng and Pei to Shi Le -{yu}-. Shi Jilong marched You-Ji veterans to the Pingyang siege. Liu Yao dispatched Liu Chang to save Jin Ming. Shi Le stopped the host on the Pu heights -{yu}-. Jin Ming bolted to Liu Yao, who then raced west to Suyi -{yu}-. He torched the Liu palaces, restored Liu Yuan and Liu Cong's tombs, buried the royal dead, and carted the observatory gear to Xiangguo -{shi}- -{yu}-.

劉曜又遣其使人郭汜等持節署勒太宰，領大將軍，進爵趙王，增封七郡，幷前二十郡，出入警蹕，冕十有二旒，乘金根車，駕六馬，如曹公輔漢故事，夫人為王后，世子為王太子。勒舍人曹平樂因使留仕於曜，言於曜曰：「大司馬遣王脩等來，外表至虔，內覘大駕強弱，謀待脩之返，將輕襲乘輿。」時曜勢實殘弊，懼脩宣之。曜大怒，追汜等還，斬脩-{于}-粟邑，停太宰之授。劉茂逃歸，言王脩死故，勒大怒，誅平樂三族，贈脩太常。又知停殊禮之授，怒甚，下令曰：「孤兄弟之奉劉家，人臣之道過矣，若微孤兄弟，豈能南面稱朕哉！根基旣立，便欲相圖。天不助惡，使假手靳準。孤惟事君之體當資舜求瞽瞍之義，故復推崇令主，齊好如初，何圖長惡不悛，殺奉誠之使。帝王之起，復何常邪！趙王、趙帝，孤自取之，名號大小，豈其所節邪！」於是置太醫、尚方、御府諸令，命參軍鼂讚成正陽門。俄而門崩，勒大怒，斬讚。旣怒刑倉卒，尋亦悔之，賜以棺服，贈大鴻臚。

Liu Yao offered Shi Le the full regalia of a Zhao king and Han-style regency honors. Cao Pingle slandered Wang Xiu as a spy to Liu Yao. Liu Yao, weak and paranoid, believed the tale. Liu Yao recalled his envoys, killed Wang Xiu at Suyi, and tore up the patent -{yu}-. Liu Mao brought news; Shi Le slaughtered Cao Pingle's kin and ennobled Wang Xiu posthumously. He published a rant that the Lius owed him everything. Once secure, Liu Yao turned on his benefactors. Heaven used Jin Zhun as its whip. He feigned moral language then listed Liu Yao's treachery. Thrones have never followed one rule. He vowed to seize the Zhao title himself. He set up palace offices and tasked Chao Zan with rebuilding Zhengyang Gate. The gate fell; Shi Le executed Chao Zan. He regretted the rash execution and buried Chao Zan with honors.

平西將軍祖逖攻陳川-{于}-蓬關，石季龍救川，逖退屯梁國，季龍使揚武左伏肅攻之。

Zu Ti besieged Chen Chuan; Shi Jilong relieved the town and sent Zuo Fusu after Zu Ti -{yu}-.

勒增置宣文、宣教、崇儒、崇訓十餘小學-{于}-襄國四門，簡將佐豪右子弟百餘人以教之，且備擊柝之衛。置挈壺署，鑄豐貨錢。

He opened village schools at Xiangguo's gates for officers' sons and night watchmen -{yu}-. He founded a water-clock bureau and minted Feng huo cash.

河西鮮卑日六延叛-{于}-勒，石季龍討之，敗延-{于}-朔方，斬首二萬級，俘三萬餘人，獲牛馬十餘萬。孔萇討平幽州諸郡。時段匹磾部衆饑散，棄其妻子，匹磾奔邵續。曹嶷遣使來聘，獻其方物，請以河為斷。桃豹至蓬關，祖逖退如淮南。徙陳川部衆五千餘戶-{于}-廣宗。

Riziyan of the Hexi Xianbei rose; Shi Jilong crushed him at Shuofang with vast captives -{yu}- -{yu}-. Kong Chang swept the Youzhou counties quiet. Duan Pidi's army melted; he abandoned his family and ran to Shao Xu. Cao Yi sued for peace and a river border. Tao Bao took Pengguan and pushed Zu Ti back toward the Huai. He relocated five thousand of Chen Chuan's people to Guangzong -{yu}-.

石季龍與張敬、張賓及諸將佐百餘人勸勒稱尊號，勒下書曰：「孤猥以寡德，忝荷崇寵，夙夜戰惶，如臨深薄，豈可假尊竊號，取譏四方！昔周文以三分之重，猶服事殷朝；小白居一匡之盛，而尊崇周室。況國家道隆殷周，孤德卑二伯哉！其亟止斯議，勿復紛紜。自今敢言，刑茲無赦！」乃止。

His court begged him to take the throne; he refused with a show of terror. He cited King Wen still serving Shang. He cited Duke Huan bowing to the Zhou king. He claimed modesty against the ancient hegemons. He ordered the flatterers silent. He threatened execution for further talk. The court fell quiet.

勒又下書曰：「今大亂之後，律令滋煩，其採集律令之要，為施行條制。」於是命法曹令史貫志造《辛亥制度》五千文，施行十餘歲，乃用律令。晉太山太守徐龕叛降-{于}-勒。

He ordered a digest of laws after the chaos. Guan Zhi drafted the 《Xinhai institutions》—five thousand clauses enforced for a decade before the court returned to ordinary statute law. Taishan prefect Xu Long defected to Shi Le -{yu}-.

石季龍及張敬、張賓、左右司馬張屈六、程遐文武等一百二十九人上疏曰：「臣等聞有非常之度，必有非常之功；有非常之功，必有非常之事。是以三代陵遲，五伯迭興，靜難濟時，績侔睿-{后}-。伏惟殿下天縱聖哲，誕應符運，鞭撻宇宙，弼成皇業，普天率土，莫不來蘇，嘉瑞徵祥，日月相繼，物望去劉氏、威懷-{于}-明公者十分而九矣。今山川夷靜，星辰不孛，夏海重譯，天人系仰，誠應升御中壇，即皇帝位，使攀附之徒蒙寸尺之潤。請依劉備在蜀、魏王在鄴故事，以河內、魏、汲、頓丘、平原、清河、鉅鹿、常山、中山、長樂、樂平十一郡，幷前趙國、廣平、陽平、章武、渤海、河間、上黨、定襄、范陽、漁陽、武邑、燕國、樂陵十三郡，合二十四郡、戶二十九萬為趙國。封內依舊改為內史，準《禹貢》、魏武復冀州之境，南至盟津，西達龍門，東-{于}-於河，北至於塞垣。以大單-{于}-鎮撫百蠻。罷幷、朔、司三州，通置部司以監之。伏願欽若昊天，垂副羣望也。」勒西面而讓者五，南面而讓者四，百僚皆叩頭固請，勒乃許之。

A hundred twenty-nine officials memorialized for the throne. They argued merit demands a new title. They invoked the five hegemons' precedent -{hou}-. They tallied omens and popular desire -{yu}-. They begged him to mount the throne. They asked to follow the precedents of Liu Bei in Shu and the Wei king at Ye, combining eleven commanderies—Henei, Wei, Ji, Dunqiu, Pingyuan, Qinghe, Julu, Changshan, Zhongshan, Changle, and Leping—with thirteen more, among them old Zhao, Guangping, Yangping, Zhangwu, Bohai, Hejian, Shangdang, Dingfan, Fanyang, Yuyang, Wuyi, Yan, and Leling, for twenty-four commanderies and two hundred ninety thousand households to be chartered as the Zhao state. Interior counties would answer to stewards; borders would follow 《Tribute of Yu》 and Cao Cao's old Jizhou map—south to Mengjin, west to Longmen, east to the Yellow River, north to the long wall -{yu}-. They reserved the Chanyu title for steppe affairs -{yu}-. They merged overseer provinces into a new bureaucracy. They closed with a plea to Heaven. Shi Le feigned five western and four southern refusals, then accepted the crown.

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