Volume 120 Records 20: Li Te; Li Liu

李特，字玄休，巴西宕渠人，其先廩君之苗裔也。昔武落鐘離山崩，有石穴二所，其一赤如丹，一黑如漆。有人出於赤穴者，名曰務相，姓巴氏。有出於黑穴者，凡四姓：曰皥氏、樊氏、柏氏、鄭氏。五姓俱出，皆爭為神，於是相與以劍刺穴屋，能著者以為廩君。四姓莫著，而務相之劍懸焉。又以土為船，雕畫之而浮水中，曰：「若其船浮存者，以為廩君。」務相船又獨浮。於是遂稱廩君，乘其土船，將其徒卒，當夷水而下，至於鹽陽。鹽陽水神女子止廩君曰：「此魚鹽所有，地又廣大，與君俱生，可止無行。」廩君曰：「我當為君求廩地，不能止也。」鹽神夜從廩君宿，旦輒去為飛蟲，諸神皆從其飛，蔽日晝昏。廩君欲殺之不可，別又不知天地東西。如此者十日，廩君乃以青縷遺鹽神曰：「嬰此，即宜之，與汝俱生。弗宜，將去汝。」鹽神受而嬰之。廩君立碭石之上，望膺有青縷者，跪而射之，中鹽神。鹽神死，群神與俱飛者皆去，天乃開朗。廩君復乘土船，下及夷城。夷城石岸曲，泉水亦曲。廩君望如穴狀，歎曰：「我新從穴中出，今又入此，奈何！」岸即為崩，廣三丈餘，而階陛相乘，廩君登之。岸上有平石方一丈，長五尺，廩君休其上，投策計算，皆著石焉，因立城其旁而居之。其後種類遂繁。秦並天下，以為黔中郡，薄賦斂之，口歲出錢四十。巴人呼賦為賨，因謂之賨人焉。及漢高祖為漢王，募賨人平定三秦。既而求還鄉里，高祖以其功，復同豐、沛，不供賦稅，更名其地為巴郡。土有鹽鐵丹漆之饒，俗性剽勇，又善歌舞。高祖愛其舞，詔樂府習之，今《巴渝舞》是也。漢末，張魯居漢中，以鬼道教百姓，賨人敬信巫覡，多往奉之。值天下大亂，自巴西之宕渠遷于漢中楊車阪，抄掠行旅，百姓患之，號為楊車巴。魏武帝克漢中，特祖將五百餘家歸之，魏武帝拜為將軍，遷于略陽，北土復號之為巴氐。特父慕，為東羌獵將。

Li Te, whose courtesy name was Xuanxiu, came from Dangqu in Baxi commandery and traced his descent from Lord Lin, the legendary ancestor of the Ba peoples. Long ago Mount Wuluozhongli collapsed, leaving two stone caves: one glowed red like cinnabar, the other was black as lacquer. From the red cave emerged a man named Wuxiang of the Ba clan. Those who emerged from the black cave belonged to four lineages: the Gao, Fan, Bai, and Zheng families. All five clans came forward, each claiming divine right, so they agreed to thrust their swords into the cave roof; whoever could make his blade hold fast would be proclaimed Lord Lin. None of the four families managed to lodge a blade, yet Wuxiang's sword caught and hung fast. Next they molded boats from clay, carved and painted them, and set them afloat, declaring that whoever kept his boat riding on the water would be Lord Lin. Once again only Wuxiang's boat stayed up. He was acclaimed Lord Lin, sailed his clay boat downstream on the Yi River with his warriors, and reached Yanyang. At Yanyang the river goddess appeared as a woman and barred his way: "Here lie fish and salt in plenty and broad lands besides; stay and build a life with me—do not march on." Lord Lin replied: "I must win you fertile fields worthy of a lord; I cannot linger here." Each night the salt goddess shared Lord Lin's camp; each dawn she slipped away as swarms of flying insects, and lesser spirits rose with her until their wings eclipsed the sun and turned noon to dusk. Lord Lin could not strike her down in that guise, and when she veiled the sky he lost all sense of east and west. After ten days of this, Lord Lin sent the goddess a coil of blue silk thread and said: "Wear this about your neck if the match pleases you; then we may live together. If it does not suit you, I shall leave you behind." She accepted the thread and tied it about her neck. Lord Lin took station on a dolmen; wherever he saw the blue thread at a breast he knelt, drew his bow, and shot—and pierced the salt goddess. When the salt goddess fell, the spirits that had ridden her drafts scattered, and daylight broke through. Lord Lin boarded his clay boat once more and descended to Yicheng. At Yicheng the riverbank curved like a bow, and the spring wound along with it. The bend looked to Lord Lin like another cavern mouth, and he sighed: "I have only just left the stone caves—am I to enter a cave again?" At once the cliff face split open more than three zhang wide, terraced ledges stacking upward like steps, and Lord Lin climbed them to safety. On the heights lay a flat slab ten feet square and five feet long; Lord Lin rested there, cast his divining stalks, and every stalk settled true upon the rock, so he walled a city beside it and made his seat. From that stock the Ba peoples multiplied. When Qin unified the empire it folded the region into Qianzhong commandery and levied light taxes—forty cash per person each year. The Ba called their poll tax cong, and so people spoke of them as the Cong people. When Liu Bang held the title King of Han, he enlisted Cong warriors to bring the Three Qin to heel. When they wished to go home, Gaozu rewarded their service with the same exemption enjoyed by his old Feng and Pei followers—no grain or cloth levy—and redesignated their lands as Ba commandery. The region was rich in salt, iron, vermilion, and lacquer; the people were fierce by temperament and gifted in song and dance. Gaozu delighted in their dances and ordered the imperial music office to preserve them—the performance survives as the Bayu suite. Late in the Han, Zhang Lu ruled Hanzhong and instructed the people with his spirit cult; the Cong honoured shamans and many flocked to Zhang's altars. Amid the turmoil they quit Dangqu in Baxi for Yangche Slope in Hanzhong, waylaid merchants, and terrorized the countryside until folk nicknamed them the Yangche Ba. When Cao Cao took Hanzhong, Li Te's grandfather brought five hundred-odd households over to serve him; Cao enfeoffed him as a general and resettled the clan in Lüeyang, where northerners again labelled them Ba Di. Li Te's father Li Mu served as hunt general among the eastern Qiang auxiliaries.

特少仕州郡，見異當時，身長八尺，雄武善騎射，沈毅有大度。元康中，氐齊萬年反，關西擾亂，頻歲大饑，百姓乃流移就穀，相與入漢川者數萬家。特隨流人將入於蜀，至劍閣，箕踞太息，顧眄險阻曰：「劉禪有如此之地而面縛於人，豈非庸才邪！」同移者閻式、趙肅、李遠、任回等咸歎異之。

In his youth Li Te served in provincial posts and stood out from his peers: he stood eight chi tall, bold in arms, expert with horse and bow, steady of temper and broad-minded. During Yuankang the Di leader Qi Wannian rose in revolt and threw the northwest into turmoil; famine struck year after year, so commoners migrated toward grain—tens of thousands of households poured into the Han River basin together. Li Te marched with the refugees toward Shu. At Jiange Pass he sprawled on his seat, drew a long breath, and swept his eyes along the sheer defiles: "Liu Shan held terrain like this yet went bound captive to his foes—could anything speak more of mediocrity?" Yan Shi, Zhao Su, Li Yuan, Ren Hui, and the others who travelled with him murmured in admiration.

初，流人既至漢中，上書求寄食巴、蜀，朝議不許，遣侍御史李苾持節慰勞，且監察之，不令入劍閣。苾至漢中，受流人貨賂，反為表曰：「流人十萬餘口，非漢中一郡所能振贍，東下荊州，水湍迅險，又無舟船。蜀有倉儲，人復豐稔，宜令就食。」朝廷從之，由是散在益、梁，不可禁止。

When the refugees first reached Hanzhong they petitioned for permission to winter in Ba and Shu; the court refused and dispatched Censor Li Bi with imperial credentials to console them while keeping watch—and barred them from crossing Jiange Pass. Li Bi entered Hanzhong, pocketed bribes from the refugees, and forwarded a memorial arguing that more than a hundred thousand displaced persons could not be fed from Hanzhong alone; sending them east through Jingzhou meant rushing rapids without boats. Shu still held government granaries and had enjoyed bumper crops; the court should let them go there for sustenance." The throne accepted the plea, and the refugees spilled across Yi and Liang until no edict could contain them.

廞自稱大都督、大將軍、益州牧。特弟庠與兄弟及妹夫李含、任回、上官惇、扶風李攀、始平費佗、氐苻成、隗伯等以四千騎歸廞。廞以庠為威寇將軍，使斷北道。庠素東羌良將，曉軍法，不用麾幟，舉矛為行伍，斬部下不用命者三人，部陣肅然。廞惡其齊整，欲殺之而未言。長史杜淑、司馬張粲言於廞曰：「傳云五大不在邊，將軍起兵始爾，便遣李庠握強兵於外，愚竊惑焉。且非我族類，其心必異，倒戈授人，竊以為不可，願將軍圖之。」廞斂容曰：「卿言正當吾意，可謂起予者商，此天使卿等成吾事也。」會庠在門，請見廞，廞大悅，引庠見之。庠欲觀廞意旨，再拜進曰：「今中國大亂，無復綱維，晉室當不可復興也。明公道格天地，德被區宇，湯、武之事，實在於今。宜應天時，順人心，拯百姓于塗炭，使物情知所歸，則天下可定，非但庸、蜀而已。，」廞怒曰：「此豈人臣所宜言！」令淑等議之。於是淑等上庠大逆不道，廞乃殺之，及其子侄宗族三十餘人。廞慮特等為難，遣人喻之曰：「庠非所宜言，罪應至死，不及兄弟。」以庠屍還特，復以特兄弟為督將，以安其眾。牙門將許弇求為巴東監軍，杜淑、張粲固執不許。弇怒，于廞閣下手刃殺淑、粲，淑、粲左右又殺弇，皆廞腹心也。

Zhao Xin declared himself grand commander-in-chief, grand general, and governor of Yi Province. Li Te's brother Li Xiang led his kinsmen, brothers-in-law Li Han and Ren Hui, Shangguan Dun, Li Pan of Fufeng, Fei Tuo of Shiping, the Di leaders Fu Cheng and Wei Bo, and four thousand horsemen to Zhao Xin's banner. Zhao Xin appointed Li Xiang general who awes raiders and tasked him with sealing the northern approaches. Li Xiang was a seasoned Eastern Qiang commander who knew regulations by heart; he needed no signal drums—lifting his spear aligned the ranks—and executed three unruly soldiers until his formation stood rigid as iron. Zhao Xin resented such disciplined popularity and plotted murder without breathing a word. Chief clerk Du Shu and major Zhang Can warned Zhao Xin: "The chronicles say powerful ministers must not hold frontier commands; you have only just raised arms yet Li Xiang already grips a host beyond your walls—this alarms us. Moreover they are not of our kin; their loyalties will differ. Handing them reversed blades invites disaster—we urge you to reconsider." Zhao Xin composed himself and answered: "You speak my mind exactly—you are the merchants who woke Confucius to wisdom; heaven sends you to finish what I began." Li Xiang chose that moment to ask audience at the gate; Zhao Xin welcomed him eagerly and ushered him in before Du Shu and Zhang Can. Li Xiang wished to sound Zhao Xin out: bowing twice he urged: "The heartland lies in chaos without ritual or law; the house of Jin cannot rise again. Your virtue spans heaven and earth; the deeds of Cheng Tang and King Wu are ripe today. Seize the mandate of the hour, follow men's hearts, lift the people from ruin, and show all creation where loyalty lies—the empire will settle, far beyond Ba and Shu alone. Zhao Xin flushed with staged wrath: "What minister may utter such words?" He told Du Shu and the others to debate the matter. Du Shu and his allies memorialized Li Xiang for high treason; Zhao Xin executed him along with more than thirty sons, nephews, and kinsmen. Fearing Li Te's reaction, Zhao Xin sent messengers: "Li Xiang spoke treason and earned death; his brothers stand innocent." He returned Li Xiang's body and reappointed Li Te and his brothers as commanders to calm their followers. Gate captain Xu Yan sought the Eastern Ba inspectorate; Du Shu and Zhang Can refused outright. Xu Yan burst into Zhao Xin's chamber and cut down Du Shu and Zhang Can; their guards then slew Xu—all were men Zhao Xin trusted.

特兄弟既以怨廞，引兵歸綿竹。廞恐朝廷討己，遣長史費遠、犍為太守李苾、督護常俊督萬餘人斷北道，次綿竹之石亭。特密收合得七千餘人，夜襲遠軍，遠大潰，因放火燒之，死者十八九。進攻成都。廞聞兵至，驚懼不知所為。李苾、張征等夜斬關走出，文武盡散。廞獨與妻子乘小船走至廣都，為下人硃竺所殺。特至成都，縱兵大掠，害西夷護軍薑發，殺廞長史袁治及廞所置守長，遣其牙門王角、李基詣洛陽陳廞之罪狀。

The Li brothers, nursing grievances against Zhao Xin, withdrew their army to Mianzhu. Zhao Xin feared imperial punishment and dispatched chief clerk Fei Yuan, Qianwei prefect Li Bi, and protector Chang Jun with ten thousand men to hold the northern road, camping at Stone Pavilion near Mianzhu. Li Te secretly rallied seven thousand fighters, struck Fei Yuan by night, shattered his host, and set the camps ablaze so that nine in ten died. He marched on Chengdu. When Zhao Xin learned troops had arrived he panicked, helpless. Li Bi and Zhang Zheng fled through the gates by night; civil and military officers melted away. Zhao Xin alone took wife and children by skiff toward Guangdu, where his servant Zhu Zhu murdered him. Li Te entered Chengdu and let his army sack the city; he executed Protector of the Western Yi Jiang Fa, Zhao Xin's chief clerk Yuan Zhi, and Xin's appointed magistrates, then sent aides Wang Jiao and Li Ji to Luoyang with the indictment of Zhao Xin's crimes.

先是，惠帝以梁州刺史羅尚為平西將軍、領護西夷校尉、益州刺史，督牙門將王敦、上庸都尉義歆、蜀郡太守徐儉、廣漢太守辛冉等凡七千餘人入蜀。特等聞尚來，甚懼，使其弟驤于道奉迎，並貢寶物。尚甚悅，以驤為騎督。特及弟流復以牛酒勞尚於綿竹。王敦、辛冉並說尚曰：「特等流人，專為盜賊，急宜梟除，可因會斬之。」尚不納。冉先與特有舊，因謂特曰：「故人相逢，不吉當凶矣。」特深自猜懼。

Earlier Emperor Hui had appointed Liang inspector Luo Shang Pacifier of the West, colonel of the Western Yi, and governor of Yi Province, directing gate captain Wang Dun, Shangyong commandant Yi Xin, Shu prefect Xu Jian, Guanghan prefect Xin Ran, and more than seven thousand troops into Shu. When Li Te learned Luo Shang was coming he sent his brother Li Xiang ahead with rich gifts to greet him. Luo Shang was delighted and appointed Li Xiang cavalry commandant. Li Te and Li Liu later welcomed Luo Shang at Mianzhu with cattle and wine. Wang Dun and Xin Ran both urged Luo Shang: "The Li brothers are rootless refugees turned bandits—strike now; summon them to a banquet and strike off their heads." Luo Shang refused. Xin Ran, who had known Li Te of old, warned him: "When old friends meet in such times, expect ill luck if not outright doom." Li Te grew deeply suspicious and afraid.

尋有符下秦、雍州，凡流人入漢川者，皆下所在召還。特兄輔素留鄉里，托言迎家，既至蜀，謂特曰：「中國方亂，不足復還，」特以為然，乃有雄據巴、蜀之意。朝廷以討趙廞功，拜特宣威將軍，封長樂鄉侯，流為奮威將軍、武陽侯。璽書下益州，條列六郡流人與特協同討廞者，將加封賞。會辛冉以非次見征，不顧應召，又欲以滅廞為己功，乃寢朝命，不以實上。眾咸怨之。羅尚遣從事催遣流人，限七月上道，辛冉性貪暴，欲殺流人首領，取其資貨，乃移檄發遣。又令梓潼太守張演于諸要施關，搜索寶貨。特等固請，求至秋收。流人布在梁、益，為人傭力，及聞州郡逼遣，人人愁怨，不知所為。又知特兄弟頻請求停，皆感而恃之。且水雨將降，年穀未登，流人無以為行資，遂相與詣特。特乃結大營於綿竹，以處流人，移冉求自寬。冉大怒，遣人分榜通逵，購募特兄弟，許以重賞。特見，大懼，悉取以歸，與驤改其購云：「能送六郡之豪李、任、閻、趙、楊、上官及氐、叟侯王一首，賞百匹。」流人既不樂移，咸往歸特，騁馬屬鞬，同聲雲集，旬月間眾過二萬。流亦聚眾數千。物乃分為二營，特居北營，流居東營。

Soon edicts reached Qin and Yong ordering every refugee who had entered the Han basin to report home to their native districts. Li Te's elder brother Li Fu had remained behind; claiming he would fetch the family, he reached Shu and told Li Te: "The north is still convulsed—there is nothing to go back to." Li Te agreed and began to dream of holding Ba and Shu. For his role in defeating Zhao Xin the court named Li Te general who proclaims might and lord of Changle village, while Li Liu became general who rouses might and marquis of Wuyang. Imperial rescripts reached Yi Province listing refugees from the six commanderies who had aided Li Te against Zhao Xin for enfeoffment and reward. Xin Ran had been promoted out of turn yet ignored recall orders and hoped to credit himself alone with Zhao Xin's destruction, so he suppressed the court's dispatch and reported falsely. Everyone resented him for it. Luo Shang ordered aides to hurry the refugees onto the road by the seventh month. Xin Ran, greedy and cruel, hoped to murder refugee leaders and seize their wealth, so he circulated warrants ordering departure. He told Zitong prefect Zhang Yan to throw up barriers on every trunk road and strip refugees of valuables. Li Te petitioned repeatedly for delay until the autumn harvest. Refugees were scattered across Liang and Yi working as hired labor; when word spread that governors were driving them out, every household brooded in fear with nowhere to turn. They knew too that the Li brothers kept pleading for reprieve, so they looked to them with gratitude and trust. The rains were due and the year's grain was not yet in; refugees lacked travel money, so they thronged to Li Te together. Li Te pitched a great camp at Mianzhu to shelter the refugees and petitioned Xin Ran for mercy. Xin Ran flew into a rage, plastered the highways with notices, and offered huge bounties for the Li brothers' heads. Li Te panicked when he saw them, seized every placard, and with Li Xiang rewrote the reward to read: "One hundred bolts of silk for whoever delivers the head of any magnate among Li, Ren, Yan, Zhao, Yang, Shangguan, or any Di or Sou chieftain from the six commanderies." Unwilling to march away, the refugees rallied to Li Te with saddled horses and shouldered bows until within weeks his host passed twenty thousand. Li Liu likewise assembled several thousand followers. Li Te then split his host into two camps, keeping the northern enclosure himself while Li Liu held the eastern camp.

特遣閻式詣羅尚，求申期。式既至，見冉營柵沖要，謀掩流人，歎曰：「無寇而城，仇必保焉。今而速之，亂將作矣！」又知冉及李苾意不可回，乃辭尚還綿竹。尚謂式曰：「子且以吾意告諸流人，今聽寬矣。」式曰：「明公惑於奸說，恐無寬理。弱而不可輕者百姓也，今促之不以理，眾怒難犯，恐為禍不淺。」尚曰：「然。吾不欺子，子其行矣。」式至綿竹，言於特曰：「尚雖云爾，然未可必信也。何者？尚威刑不立，冉等各擁強兵，一旦為變，亦非尚所能制，深宜為備。」特納之。冉、苾相與謀曰：「羅侯貪而無斷，日復一日，流人得展奸計。李特兄弟並有雄才，吾屬將為豎子虜矣。宜為決計，不足復問之。乃遣廣漢都尉曾元、牙門張顯、劉並等潛率步騎三萬襲特營。羅尚聞之，亦遣督護田佐助元。特素知之，乃繕甲厲兵，戒嚴以待之。元等至，特安臥不動，待其眾半入，發伏擊之，殺傷者甚眾，害田佐、曾元、張顯，傳首以示尚、冉。尚謂將佐曰：「此虜成去矣，而廣漢不用吾言，以張賊勢，今將若之何！」

Li Te sent Yan Shi to Luo Shang to beg an extension. When Yan Shi arrived he saw Xin Ran palisading vital crossings to ambush refugees and sighed: "Building fortifications without invaders means someone plans a massacre. Press them now and rebellion follows." Seeing Xin Ran and Li Bi would not bend, he bid Luo Shang farewell and rode back to Mianzhu. Luo Shang told Yan Shi: "Tell the refugees on my behalf that I grant them temporary relief." Yan Shi replied: "My lord has let deceivers sway him; I doubt there will be any real mercy. The common people seem powerless yet must not be slighted; drive them unjustly and popular rage becomes unstoppable—the harm could run very deep." Luo Shang said: "You have the right of it. I am not misleading you—go on your way." When Yan Shi returned to Mianzhu he warned Li Te: "Luo Shang may promise relief, but his word is not yet proof. Why? Luo Shang has established no credible authority, while Xin Ran and his fellows command veteran troops; if they stir trouble he cannot rein them in—you must prepare in depth." Li Te took the warning to heart. Xin Ran and Li Bi schemed together: "Luo Shang is grasping and indecisive; day after day the refugees gain room for treachery. The Li brothers are formidable; we are about to be toyed with like boys. We must settle this ourselves—there is no point consulting Luo Shang again. They secretly ordered Guanghan commandant Zeng Yuan, gate captains Zhang Xian and Liu Bing to march thirty thousand foot and horse against Li Te's camp. When Luo Shang heard the plan he sent protector Tian Zuo to reinforce Zeng Yuan. Li Te had long expected the strike; he armored his men, honed weapons, and stood ready. When Zeng Yuan arrived Li Te feigned calm until half the enemy column had entered his trap, then sprung ambushes that slaughtered legions. Tian Zuo, Zeng Yuan, and Zhang Xian fell; Li Te sent their heads to Luo Shang and Xin Ran. Luo Shang told his officers: "Those rebels were ripe for removal, yet Guanghan ignored my counsel and swelled the enemy's strength—what are we to do now?"

於是六郡流人推特為主。特命六郡人部曲督李含、上邽令任臧、始昌令閻式、諫議大夫李攀、陳倉令李武、陰平令李遠、將兵都尉楊褒等上書，請依梁統奉竇融故事，推特行鎮北大將軍，承制封拜，其弟流行鎮東將軍，以相鎮統。於是進兵攻冉於廣漢。冉眾出戰，特每破之。尚遣李苾及費遠率眾救冉，憚特不敢進。冉智力既窘，出奔江陽。特入據廣漢，以李超為太守，進兵攻尚于成都。閻式遺尚書，責其信用讒構，欲討流人，又陳特兄弟立功王室，以寧益土。尚覽書，知特等將有大志，嬰城固守，求救于梁、寧二州。於是特自稱使持節、大都督、鎮北大將軍，承制封拜一依竇融在河西故事。兄輔為驃騎將軍，弟驤為驍騎將軍，長子始為武威將軍，次子蕩為鎮軍將軍，少子雄為前將軍，李含為西夷校尉，含子國離、任回、李恭、上官晶、李攀、費佗等為將帥，任臧、上官惇、楊褒、楊珪、王達、麹歆等為爪牙，李遠、李博、夕斌、嚴檉、上官琦、李濤、王懷等為僚屬，閻式為謀主，何世、趙肅為腹心。時羅尚貪殘，為百姓患，而特與蜀人約法三章，施捨振貸，禮賢拔滯，軍政肅然。百姓為之謠曰：「李特尚可，羅尚殺我。」尚頻為特所敗，乃阻長圍，緣水作營，自都安至犍為七百里，與特相距。

The refugees from the six commanderies then acclaimed Li Te as their leader. Li Te had troop supervisor Li Han of the six commanderies, Shanggui prefect Ren Zang, Shichang prefect Yan Shi, counsellor Li Pan, Chencang prefect Li Wu, Yinping prefect Li Yuan, and commandant Yang Bao memorialize the throne, citing how Liang Tong once presented Dou Rong: appoint Li Te acting grand general who pacifies the north with authority to enfeoff officers, and appoint his brother Li Liu grand general who pacifies the east so both wings secure the realm. They marched on Xin Ran in Guanghan commandery. Whenever Xin Ran gave battle Li Te broke his lines. Luo Shang ordered Li Bi and Fei Yuan to relieve Xin Ran, but they feared Li Te and halted. Outmaneuvered, Xin Ran fled to Jiangyang. Li Te seized Guanghan, installed Li Chao as prefect, and pushed on Chengdu against Luo Shang. Yan Shi addressed the secretariat, condemning the court for crediting slander against the refugees even as the Li brothers had served the dynasty and restored peace to Yi Province. Reading the memorial Luo Shang realized Li Te harboured loftier ambitions; he drew up his walls and appealed for relief from Liang and Ning provinces. Li Te then proclaimed himself commissioner bearing credentials, commander-in-chief, and grand general who pacifies the north, exercising Dou Rong's old Hexi prerogatives to appoint officers. Li Fu became general of agile cavalry, Li Xiang general of swift cavalry, eldest son Li Shi general of martial awe, Li Dang general who garrisons the army, youngest Li Xiong vanguard general; Li Han served as colonel of the Western Yi while Guoli, Ren Hui, Li Gong, Shangguan Jing, Li Pan, and Fei Tuo led divisions; Ren Zang, Shangguan Dun, Yang Bao, Yang Gui, Wang Da, and Qu Xin formed his striking force; Li Yuan, Li Bo, Xi Bin, Yan Cheng, Shangguan Qi, Li Tao, and Wang Huai staffed headquarters; Yan Shi directed strategy with He Shi and Zhao Su as his closest confidants. Luo Shang's greed tormented the people while Li Te issued a three-article code with the Shu gentry, opened granaries, honoured talent, and ran an army with crisp discipline. Folk rhymes ran: "Li Te we can abide—Luo Shang slaughters us." Repeatedly beaten by Li Te, Luo Shang stretched palisades seven hundred li along the river from Du'an to Qianwei to fence Li Te out.

河間王顒遣督護衙博、廣漢太守張征討特，南夷校尉李毅又遣兵五千助尚，尚遣督護張龜軍繁城，三道攻特。特命蕩、雄襲博。特躬擊張龜，龜眾大敗。蕩又與博接戰連日，博亦敗績，死者太半。蕩追博至漢德，博走葭萌。蕩進寇巴西，巴西郡丞毛植、五官襄珍以郡降蕩。蕩撫恤初附，百姓安之。蕩進攻葭萌，博又遠遁，其眾盡降於蕩。

Prince Sima Yong of Hejian ordered protector Ya Bo and Guanghan prefect Zhang Zheng against Li Te; southern Yi colonel Li Yi sent five thousand men to Luo Shang, who stationed protector Zhang Gui at Fancheng and struck Li Te on three fronts. Li Te told Li Dang and Li Xiong to fall on Ya Bo. Li Te led the assault on Zhang Gui himself and shattered his ranks. Li Dang traded blows with Ya Bo for days until Ya Bo collapsed, losing more than half his men. Li Dang chased Ya Bo to Handé; Ya Bo dashed toward Jiāméng. Li Dang invaded Baxi, where assistant prefect Mao Zhi and clerk Xiang Zhen surrendered the commandery. Li Dang comforted the newly submitted townsfolk and restored calm. Pressing Jiāméng, Li Dang drove Ya Bo farther off until every survivor capitulated.

太安元年，特自稱益州牧、都督梁、益二州諸軍事、大將軍、大都督，改年建初，赦其境內。於是進攻張征。征依高據險，與特相持連日。時特與蕩分為二營，徵候特營空虛，遣步兵循山攻之，特逆戰不利，山險窘逼，眾不知所為。羅准、任道皆勸引退，特量蕩必來，故不許。征眾至稍多，山道至狹，唯可一二人行，蕩軍不得前，謂其司馬王辛曰：「父在深寇之中，是我死日也。」乃衣重鎧，持長矛，大呼直前，推鋒必死，殺十餘人。征眾來相救，蕩軍皆殊死戰，征軍遂潰。特議欲釋征還涪，蕩與王辛進曰：「征軍連戰，士卒傷殘，智勇俱竭，宜因其弊遂擒之。若舍而寬之，征養病收亡，餘眾更合，圖之未易也。」特從之，復進攻征，征潰圍走。蕩水陸追之，遂害征，生擒征子存，以征喪還之。

In the first year of Taian Li Te styled himself governor of Yi Province, commander over Liang and Yi, grand general and commander-in-chief, adopted the reign title Jianchu, and proclaimed an amnesty. He advanced against Zhang Zheng. Zhang Zheng held the heights and skirmished with Li Te for days. Li Te and Li Dang camped separately; Zhang Zheng watched Li Te's lines thin and sent infantry along the ridges. Li Te counterattacked poorly; sheer slopes penned him in and his troops froze. Luo Zhun and Ren Dao urged withdrawal, but Li Te reckoned Li Dang would arrive and refused. As Zhang Zheng's numbers grew the trail narrowed until men could pass only one by one; Li Dang's column stalled. He told aide Wang Xin: "My father is trapped among foes—today I die." He donned layered armor, levelled a long spear, roared, and charged the van, killing more than ten men wherever he struck. When Zhang Zheng's reinforcements rushed up Li Dang's men fought to the death until Zhang Zheng's lines broke. Li Te considered letting Zhang Zheng withdraw toward Fu, but Li Dang and Wang Xin urged: "His troops are battered—wit and courage spent—strike now while they falter. Spare him and he will nurse wounds, rally stragglers, and reunite—far harder to destroy later." Li Te agreed, attacked again, and Zhang Zheng fled the encirclement. Li Dang pursued by river and road, slew Zhang Zheng, captured his son Zhang Cun alive, and returned the father's body.

以騫碩為德陽太守，碩略地至巴郡之墊江。

Li Te named Qian Shuo prefect of Deyang; Qian pushed downstream as far as Dianjiang in Ba commandery.

特之攻張征也，使李驤與李攀、任回、李恭屯軍毗橋，以備羅尚。尚遣軍挑戰，驤等破之。尚又遣數千人出戰，驤又陷破之，大獲器甲，攻燒其門。流進次成都之北。尚遣將張興偽降於驤，以觀虛實。時驤軍不過二千人，興夜歸白尚，尚遣精勇萬人銜枚隨興夜襲驤營。李攀逆戰死，驤及將士奔於流柵，與流並力回攻尚軍。尚軍亂，敗還者十一二。晉梁州刺史許雄遣軍攻特，特陷破之，進擊，破尚水上軍，遂寇成都。蜀郡太守徐儉以小城降，特以李瑾為蜀郡太守以撫之。羅尚據大城自守。流進屯江西，尚懼，遣使求和。

During the campaign against Zhang Zheng Li Te stationed Li Xiang with Li Pan, Ren Hui, and Li Gong at Pi Bridge to watch Luo Shang. Luo Shang sent sorties; Li Xiang turned them back. When several thousand more sallied forth Li Xiang shattered them, seized arms and armor in heaps, and burned the gates. Li Liu advanced and camped north of Chengdu. Luo Shang ordered Zhang Xing to sham defection to Li Xiang and scout the camp. Li Xiang had fewer than two thousand men. Zhang Xing slipped back by night to brief Luo Shang, who sent ten thousand picked troops muffled to follow Zhang Xing in a night strike. Li Pan fell in the counterattack; Li Xiang bolted to Li Liu's stockade and together they swung on Luo Shang's force. Luo Shang's army dissolved; barely one man in ten escaped. Jin's Liang inspector Xu Xiong attacked Li Te and was smashed in turn; Li Te smashed Luo Shang's river flotilla and pressed Chengdu. Shu prefect Xu Jian yielded the lesser citadel; Li Te installed Li Jin to pacify the district. Luo Shang barricaded himself in the main enclosure. Li Liu camped west of the river until Luo Shang, terrified, sued for peace.

是時蜀人危懼，並結村堡，請命於特，特遣人安撫之。益州從事任明說尚曰：「特既凶逆，侵暴百姓，又分人散眾，在諸村堡，驕怠無備，是天亡之也。可告諸村，密克期日，內外擊之，破之必矣。」尚從之。明先偽降特，特問城中虛實，明曰：「米穀已欲盡，但有貨帛耳。」因求省家，特許之。明潛說諸村，諸村悉聽命。還報尚，尚許如期出軍，諸村亦許一時赴會。

Shu residents, rattled, walled their hamlets and pledged loyalty to Li Te, who sent officers to reassure them. Yi Province clerk Ren Ming told Luo Shang: "Li Te is brutal and has scattered his followers among the stockades; grown arrogant and lax, they invite heaven's curse. Secretly notify every hamlet, fix a common hour, and strike inside and out—you will crush him." Luo Shang agreed. Ren Ming first feigned submission; Li Te asked after Chengdu's stores and Ren Ming answered: "Grain is nearly gone—only cloth and coin remain." He asked leave to visit kin and Li Te allowed it. Ren Ming secretly canvassed the hamlets and won every pledge. He reported back to Luo Shang, who promised to march on the appointed day; every village swore to rise together.

二年，惠帝遣荊州刺史宋岱、建平太守孫阜救尚。阜已次德陽，特遣蕩督李璜助任臧距阜。尚遣大眾奄襲特營，連戰二日，眾少不敵，特軍大敗，收合餘卒，引趣新繁。尚軍引還，特復追之，轉戰三十餘里，尚出大軍逆戰，特軍敗績，斬特及李輔、李遠，皆焚屍，傳首洛陽。在位二年。其子雄僭稱王，追諡特景王，及僭號，追尊曰景皇帝，廟號始祖。

In the second year Emperor Hui dispatched Jing inspector Song Dai and Jianping prefect Sun Fu to relieve Luo Shang. Sun Fu had reached Deyang; Li Te ordered Li Dang's deputy Li Huang to aid Ren Zang against him. Luo Shang hurled his host in a surprise strike on Li Te's camp. Two days of fighting left Li Te outnumbered; his army collapsed and he gathered survivors toward Xinfan. As Luo Shang withdrew Li Te pursued through thirty li of skirmishing until Luo Shang threw his main force forward and broke him. Li Te, Li Fu, and Li Yuan died; their bodies burned and their heads went to Luoyang. He had held power two years. His son Li Xiong later assumed the kingship and posthumously titled Li Te Prince Jing; when Xiong claimed the imperial throne he honoured Li Te as Emperor Jing with temple name First Ancestor.

李流，字玄通，特第四弟也。少好學，便弓馬，東羌校尉何攀稱流有賁育之勇，舉為東羌督。及避地益州，刺史趙廞器異之。廞之使庠合部眾也，流亦招鄉里子弟得數千人。庠為廞所殺，流從特安慰流人，破常俊於綿竹，平趙廞于成都。朝廷論功，拜奮威將軍，封武陽侯。

Li Liu, courtesy name Xuantong, was Li Te's fourth younger brother. In youth he loved books yet mastered bow and horse; Eastern Qiang colonel He Pan likened his courage to Ben and Yu and nominated him Eastern Qiang commandant. After taking refuge in Yi Province Inspector Zhao Xin singled him out for favour. When Zhao Xin ordered Li Xiang to marshal troops Li Liu likewise enlisted several thousand clansmen. After Zhao Xin executed Li Xiang, Li Liu followed Li Te to reassure the refugees, routed Chang Jun at Mianzhu, and helped crush Zhao Xin at Chengdu. The court credited his service with the title general who rouses might and marquis of Wuyang.

特之承制也，以流為鎮東將軍，居東營，號為東督護。特常使流督銳眾，與羅尚相持。特之陷成都小城，使六郡流人分口入城，壯勇督領村堡。流言於特曰：「殿下神武，已克小城，然山藪未集，糧仗不多，宜錄州郡大姓子弟以為質任，送付廣漢，縶之二營，收集猛銳，嚴為防衛。」又書與特司馬上官惇，深陳納降若待敵之義。特不納。

When Li Te exercised imperial mandate he named Li Liu grand general who pacifies the east, stationed him in the eastern camp, and titled him chief protector of the east. Li Te habitually gave Li Liu the crack troops to tie down Luo Shang. After Li Te took Chengdu's outer town he quartered refugees from the six commanderies inside while stalwart captains held the rural stockades. Li Liu urged Li Te: "My lord has seized the lesser walls, yet hill folk are not gathered and grain and arms remain thin—register the leading clans' sons as hostages, send them to Guanghan under guard in both camps, concentrate your veterans, and tighten every defense." He also wrote Li Te's major Shangguan Dun to insist that accepting surrender must never resemble indulging the foe. Li Te brushed the counsel aside.

特既死，蜀人多叛，流人大懼。流與兄子蕩、雄收遺眾，還赤祖，流保東營，蕩、雄保北營。流自稱大將軍、大都督、益州牧。

When Li Te fell many Shu towns rose in revolt and the refugees trembled. Li Liu with nephews Li Dang and Li Xiong rallied the survivors at Chizu—Li Liu held the eastern stockade while Li Dang and Li Xiong secured the north. Li Liu proclaimed himself grand general, commander-in-chief, and governor of Yi Province.

時宋岱水軍三萬，次於墊江，前鋒孫阜破德陽，獲特所置守將騫碩，太守任臧等退屯涪陵縣。羅尚遣督護常深軍毗橋，牙門左氾、黃訇、何沖三道攻北營。流身率蕩、雄攻深柵，克之，深士眾星散。追至成都，尚閉門自守，蕩馳馬追擊，觸倚矛被傷死。流以特、蕩並死，而岱、阜又至，甚懼。太守李含又勸流降，流將從之。雄與李驤迭諫，不納，流遣子世及含子胡質於阜軍。胡兄含子離聞父欲降，自梓潼馳還，欲諫不及，退與雄謀襲阜軍，曰：「若功成事濟，約與君三年迭為主。」雄曰：「今計可定，二翁不從，將若之何？」離曰：「今當制之，若不可制，便行大事。翁雖是君叔，勢不得已，老父在君，夫復何言！」雄大喜，乃攻尚軍。尚保大城。雄渡江害汶山太守陳圖，遂入郫城，流移營據之。三蜀百姓並保險結塢，城邑皆空，流野無所略，士眾饑困。涪陵人范長生率千餘家依青城山，尚參軍涪陵徐轝求為汶山太守，欲要結長生等，與尚掎角討流。尚不許，轝怨之，求使江西，遂降於流，說長生等使資給流軍糧。長生從之，故流軍復振。

Song Dai's thirty thousand river troops anchored at Dianjiang; vanguard Sun Fu stormed Deyang, seized Li Te's garrison commander Qian Shuo, and drove prefect Ren Zang back to Fuling county. Luo Shang ordered protector Chang Shen against Pi Bridge while gate captains Zuo Fan, Huang Hong, and He Chong struck the northern camp on three axes. Li Liu himself led Li Dang and Li Xiong against Chang Shen's palisade, shattered it, and scattered his troops like stars. They chased Luo Shang to Chengdu where he barred the gates; Li Dang charged in pursuit but crashed against a spear angled across the lane and died. With Li Te and Li Dang gone and Song Dai and Sun Fu closing in Li Liu despaired. Prefect Li Han urged capitulation and Li Liu nearly agreed. Li Xiong and Li Xiang pleaded in vain; Li Liu dispatched his son Li Shi and Li Han's son Li Hu as hostages to Sun Fu. Li Han's son Li Li galloped from Zitong when he heard his father meant to yield—too late to dissuade him—so he fell back with Li Xiong to plot a night attack on Sun Fu, proposing: "If we prevail, we shall rotate supreme command between us every three years." Li Xiong asked: "We know what must be done—if our elders refuse, what then?" Li Li answered: "Seize control now; if they cannot be swayed, do what grim necessity demands. Though Master Liu is your uncle, desperate times grant no gentleness—your father depends on you; what further excuse remains?" Li Xiong concurred eagerly and struck Luo Shang's lines. Luo Shang held fast inside the main rampart. Li Xiong crossed the river, slew Wenshan prefect Chen Tu, and seized Pi; Li Liu shifted his headquarters there. Across Ba and Shu the people walled every hilltop; towns stood empty, Li Liu found nothing left to forage in the open country, and his troops starved. Fan Changsheng of Fuling led more than a thousand households onto Mount Qingcheng. Luo Shang's staffer Xu Yu of Fuling sought the Wenshan prefecture to woo Fan into an alliance that could pinch Li Liu with Luo Shang. Luo Shang refused; Xu Yu nursed a grudge, asked duty west of the river, defected to Li Liu, and persuaded Fan Changsheng to furnish grain. Fan Changsheng agreed, and Li Liu's army rallied.

流素重雄有長者之德，每云：「興吾家者，必此人也。」敕諸子尊奉之。流疾篤，謂諸將曰：「驍騎高明仁愛，識斷多奇，固足以濟大事，然前軍英武，殆天所相，可共受事於前軍，以為成都王。」遂死，時年五十六。諸將共立雄為主。雄僭號，追諡流秦文王。

Li Liu always respected Li Xiong as a man of elder virtue and often said: "The man who will lift our house is Xiong." He charged his sons to honour Li Xiong. As Li Liu lay dying he told his commanders: "General of nimble cavalry Li Xiong is humane and keen—his counsel is inspired—enough to finish our task; yet the vanguard's martial dash seems heaven-sent. Accept joint direction under the forward commander and raise Li Xiong as Prince of Chengdu." He died the same year at fifty-six. The generals acclaimed Li Xiong as their leader. After Li Xiong assumed kingship he posthumously titled Li Liu King Wen of Qin.

李庠，字玄序，特第三弟也。少以烈氣聞。仕郡督郵、主簿，皆有當官之稱。元康四年，察孝廉，不就。後以善騎射，舉良將，亦不就。州以庠才兼文武，舉秀異，固以疾辭。州郡不聽，以其名上聞，中護軍切征，不得已而應之，拜中軍騎督。弓馬便捷，膂力過人，時論方之文鴦。以洛陽方亂，稱疾去官。性在任俠，好濟人之難，州黨爭附之。與六郡流人避難梁、益，道路有饑病者，庠常營護隱恤，振施窮乏，大收眾心。至蜀，趙廞深器之，與論兵法，無不稱善，每謂所親曰：「李玄序蓋亦一時之關、張也。」及將有異志，委以心膂之任，乃表庠為部曲督，使招合六郡壯勇，至萬餘人。以討叛羌功，表庠為威寇將軍，假赤幢曲蓋，封陽泉亭侯，賜錢百萬，馬五十匹。被誅之日，六郡士庶莫不流涕，時年五十五。

Li Xiang, courtesy name Xuanxu, was Li Te's third younger brother. Even as a youth he was famed for fiery courage. As commandery postal inspector and chief clerk he earned praise for competence. In the fourth year of Yuankang he was nominated Filial and Incorrupt but declined office. Later the province nominated him fine general on account of his horsemanship and archery; again he refused. The province marked him outstanding in civil and military arts and nominated him for exceptional talent; he pleaded illness and stayed away. Local authorities persisted, forwarded his name, and the central protector sternly summoned him until he yielded and received appointment as cavalry commandant of the central army. He handled bow and horse with ease and surpassed ordinary strength; contemporaries likened him to Wen Yang. As Luoyang slid into chaos he resigned on grounds of illness. His temperament ran to chivalry; he loved relieving distress and men of the region flocked to him. Marching with refugees from the six commanderies into Liang and Yi he fed the starving and nursed the sick along the road, earning devotion everywhere. Once in Shu Zhao Xin prized him; whenever they debated tactics Zhao Xin marvelled and told confidants: "Li Xuanxu is our age's Guan Yu or Zhang Fei." When Zhao Xin resolved on rebellion he entrusted Li Xiang with core authority, memorialized him troop commander, and ordered him to rally more than ten thousand stalwarts from the six commanderies. For crushing rebel Qiang he secured Li Xiang the title general who awes bandits with crimson banner and curved canopy, enfeoffed him as village marquis of Yangquan, and granted one million cash and fifty horses. When he died under sentence every clan from the six commanderies wept; he was fifty-five.

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