Qin and Han · Former Chu Chief Minister

Duke of Xue 薛公

Xuē Gōng

Attested BC 196

Passages: 11
Chapters: 1
Histories: 1

Overview

The translated histories identify Duke of Xue as an official, statesman, and strategist. This record brings together 11 passages from 1 chapter across 1 history, with names, dates, relationships, offices, and events preserved as source-backed claims.

Names

Type	English	Chinese	Pinyin
Personal	Duke of Xue	薛公	Xuē Gōng
Title	Chief Minister	令尹
Title	Duke of Xue	薛公	Xuē Gōng
Title	former Chu Chief Minister	故楚令尹

Identity

Historicity: Historical
Identification: Title only
Sex: Uncertain

Roles

Official
Statesman
Strategist

Life and dates

Attested activity

Source Date: Text: 十一年 · Western Year: BC 196
Explicit event contextual date · shiji:091:s0123, shiji:091:s0100

Career and standing

Label: Chief Minister of Chu / 楚令尹 · Action: formerly-held
Explicit · shiji:091:s0123
Title: fief of one thousand households / 千戶 · Action: granted
Explicit · shiji:091:s0145

Works and attributed material

Kind: speech · Role: speaker · Quoted: true · Addressee Person Id: King of Han (漢王)
Explicit · shiji:091:s0130, shiji:091:s0131, shiji:091:s0132, shiji:091:s0133, shiji:091:s0135, shiji:091:s0137, shiji:091:s0139, shiji:091:s0141, shiji:091:s0143
Kind: speech · Role: speaker · Quoted: true
Explicit · shiji:091:s0124, shiji:091:s0126, shiji:091:s0127

Events and relationships

Kind: advisory · Role: advisor · Action: predicted-bu-strategy · Other Person Id: Ying Bu (英布)
Explicit · shiji:091:s0130, shiji:091:s0141

References in the histories

Open any source group to read the Chinese and English passage in context.

Records of the Grand Historian, Chapter 91Biography of Qing Bu · 11 passages

汝陰侯滕公召故楚令尹問之。 The Marquis of Ruyin, Lord Teng, summoned the former Chief Minister of Chu and consulted him on the matter.

令尹曰：「是故當反。」 The Chief Minister said, "That is why he was bound to rebel."

令尹曰：「往年殺彭越，前年殺韓信，此三人者，同功一體之人也。 The Chief Minister replied, "Last year Peng Yue was killed; the year before that, Han Xin was killed. These three men shared the same achievements and the same fate.

滕公言之上曰：「臣客故楚令尹薛公者，其人有籌筴之計，可問。」 Lord Teng reported to the Emperor, "My retainer, the former Chu Chief Minister known as the Duke of Xue, is a man of great strategic insight. He should be consulted."

上乃召見問薛公。 The Emperor summoned the Duke of Xue for an audience and questioned him.

薛公對曰：「布反不足怪也。 The Duke of Xue replied, "Bu's rebellion should come as no surprise.

令尹對曰：「東取吳，西取楚，并齊取魯，傳檄燕、趙，固守其所，山東非漢之有也。」 The Chief Minister replied, "Seize Wu to the east, take Chu to the west, annex Qi and conquer Lu, send proclamations rallying Yan and Zhao, then hold his ground. The lands east of the mountains would be lost to Han."

令尹對曰：「出下計。」 The Chief Minister replied, "He will choose the worst one."

令尹曰：「布故麗山之徒也，自致萬乘之主，此皆為身，不顧後為百姓萬世慮者也，故曰出下計。」 The Chief Minister said, "Bu was once a convict laborer at Mount Li who raised himself to become the ruler of ten thousand chariots. Everything he has done has been for himself alone—he has never given a thought to the welfare of the people or planned for future generations. This is why I say he will choose the worst strategy."

封薛公千戶。 He rewarded the Duke of Xue with a fief of one thousand households.

果如薛公籌之，東擊荊，荊王劉賈走死富陵。 Just as the Duke of Xue had predicted, Bu struck eastward against Jing. The King of Jing, Liu Jia, fled and met his death at Fuling.