Overview
Duke of Pei was a warlord and Military Officer.
IdentityHistorical · Male · Title only
Life and dates
Attested activity
Places and affiliations
- Polity Chu 楚 · Relation Assisted
- At south gate of Chenliu 陳留南城門 · Relation Quartered at
Works and attributed material
Events and relationships
Attacked and took
BC 208 to BC 206 初 · Military · Commander · At Chenliu 陳留
Led troops through
BC 208 to BC 206 初 · Military · Commander · At Chenliu 陳留
Marched to destroy
BC 208 to BC 206 初 · Military · Commander · Polity Qin 秦
Received
Assessments and attributes
- Item arsenal weapons and stored grain 庫兵積粟 · Relation Seized
References in the histories
No matching passages.
Records of the Grand Historian, Chapter 97Biographies of Li Yiji and Lu Jia · 19 passages
初，沛公引兵過陳留，酈生踵軍門上謁曰：「高陽賤民酈食其，竊聞沛公暴露，將兵助楚討不義，敬勞從者，願得望見，口畫天下便事。」
Initially, when the Duke of Pei led troops passing through Chenliu, Li Sheng followed to the army gate and ascended to announce: 'I, the humble commoner Li Yiji from Gaoyang, have secretly heard that the Duke of Pei is exposed to the elements, leading troops to assist Chu in attacking the unrighteous. I respectfully labor on behalf of your followers and wish to obtain an audience, to discuss plans useful to the realm.'
使者入通，沛公方洗，問使者曰：「何如人也？」
The envoy entered and announced. The Duke of Pei was just bathing and asked the envoy: 'What kind of person is he?'
沛公曰：「為我謝之，言我方以天下為事，未暇見儒人也。」
The Duke of Pei said: 'Thank him for me and say that I am just occupied with affairs of the realm and have no leisure to see scholar types.'
使者出謝曰：「沛公敬謝先生，方以天下為事，未暇見儒人也。」
The envoy exited and thanked him, saying: 'The Duke of Pei respectfully thanks you, Sir. He is just occupied with affairs of the realm and has no leisure to see scholar types.'
復入言沛公，吾高陽酒徒也，非儒人也。」
Go back in and tell the Lord of Pei: I am a wine-drinker from Gaoyang, not a scholar.'
沛公遽雪足杖矛曰：「延客入！」
The Duke of Pei hastily wiped his feet, leaned on his spear, and said: 'Invite the guest to enter!'
酈生入，揖沛公曰：「足下甚苦，暴衣露冠，將兵助楚討不義，足不何不自喜也？
Li Sheng entered and bowed to the Duke of Pei, saying: "Your Excellency suffers greatly, with exposed clothes and bared hat, leading troops to assist Chu in attacking the unrighteous. Why do you not rejoice in yourself?
夫足下欲興天下之大事而成天下之大功，而以目皮相，恐失天下之能士。
Now Your Excellency desires to raise the realm's great enterprise and complete the realm's great achievements, yet you judge superficially with your eyes and risk losing the ablest scholars in the world.
且吾度足下之智不如吾，勇又不如吾。
Moreover, I judge that Your Excellency's wisdom does not equal mine, and your courage does not equal mine either.
若欲就天下而不相見，竊為足下失之。」
If you desire to complete the affairs of the realm without seeing me, I privately consider it a loss for Your Excellency."
沛公謝曰：「鄉者聞先生之容，今見先生之意矣。」
The Duke of Pei apologized and said: 'Formerly I heard of your appearance, Sir; now I see your intent.'
酈生曰：「夫足下欲成大功，不如止陳留。
Li Sheng said: 'Your Excellency desires to complete great merit. Nothing equals stopping at Chenliu.
足下將陳留之眾，據陳留之城，而食其積粟，招天下之從兵；
Your Excellency can lead Chenliu's multitudes, occupy Chenliu's city, eat its accumulated grain, and recruit allied troops from all quarters;
從兵已成，足下橫行天下，莫能有害足下者矣。」
Once the allied troops are formed, Your Excellency can traverse the realm, and none will be able to harm you.'
沛公曰：「敬聞命矣。」
The Duke of Pei said: 'I respectfully hear your command.'
酈生留宿臥，夜半時斬陳留令首，踰城而下報沛公。
Li Yiji stayed the night. At midnight, he cut off the head of the Chenliu magistrate, scaled the city wall, and went to report to the Lord of Pei.
沛公引兵攻城，縣令首於長竿以示城上人，曰：「趣下，而令頭已斷矣！
The Duke of Pei led troops to attack the city, hung the magistrate's head on a long pole to show the people on the city walls, and said: 'Hurry and surrender! Your magistrate's head has already been cut off!
於是陳留人見令已死，遂相率而下沛公。
When the people of Chenliu saw that their magistrate was dead, they rallied together and surrendered to the Lord of Pei.
沛公舍陳留南城門上，因其庫兵，食積粟，留出入三月，從兵以萬數，遂入破秦。
The Lord of Pei quartered himself above the south gate of Chenliu. He seized the city's arsenal and weapons, drew on its stores of grain, and remained there for three months, coming and going freely. His following swelled to tens of thousands of soldiers, and he marched west with them to destroy Qin.