Qin and Han · Ruler

Emperor Gaozu 高帝

Gao Di

Attested BC 201 - BC 200

Passages: 24
Chapters: 1
Histories: 1

Overview

Emperor Gaozu was a ruler.

Life and dates

Attested activity

BC 200 其明年
Dated from the passage context · Records of the Grand Historian 56, passages 145, 147, 149
BC 201 漢六年
Dated from the passage context · Records of the Grand Historian 56, passages 109-110

Places and affiliations

Polity Han 漢 · Relation Ruled
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 56, passages 109-110
BC 200 其明年
At Quni 曲逆 · Relation Visited
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 56, passage 149
BC 201 漢六年
At Luoyang 雒陽 · Relation Visited
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 56, passage 137

Works and attributed material

Speech · Speaker · Direct quotation · Addressed to Han Xin (韓信)
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 56, passages 133-134
Speech · Speaker · Direct quotation · Addressed to Chen Ping (陳平)
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 56, passages 140, 142-143
Edict · Author
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 56, passage 153
Speech · Speaker · Direct quotation
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 56, passages 115, 117, 119, 121, 123, 128, 149-151

Events and relationships

Asked advice on Han Xin
BC 201 漢六年 · Political · Consulted generals
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 56, passages 110-111
Assembled lords and pacified Chu
BC 201 漢六年 · Military · Commander · At Chen 陳
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 56, passage 136
Confirmed fiefs with tally tokens
BC 201 漢六年 · Political · Ruler · At Luoyang 雒陽
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 56, passage 137
Seized Han Xin
BC 201 漢六年 · Political · Captor · With Han Xin (韓信)
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 56, passage 131
Summoned lords to Chen
BC 201 漢六年 · Political · Ruler
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 56, passages 128-129
Surrounded at Pingcheng seven days without food
BC 200 其明年 · Military · Besieged · At Pingcheng 平城
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 56, passage 146

Assessments and attributes

Assessment credited Chen Ping stratagems as merit · With Chen Ping (陳平) · Mode speech Speaker Emperor Gaozu (高帝)
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 56, passage 140
BC 201 漢六年
Item tally token 符 · Relation Divided with · With Chen Ping (陳平)
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 56, passage 138

Source notes

Historicity historical
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 56, passage 110

References in the histories

Search passages

History

24 passages

Records of the Grand Historian, Chapter 56House of Chancellor Chen · 24 passages

高帝問諸將，諸將曰：「亟發兵阬豎子耳。」 Emperor Gaozu consulted his generals. They all said, "Send troops at once and crush the wretch."

高帝默然。 Emperor Gaozu said nothing.

上具告之。 The emperor told him everything.

陳平曰：「陛下精兵孰與楚？」 Chen Ping asked, "How do Your Majesty's best troops compare with those of Chu?"

上曰：「不能過。」 The emperor replied, "They cannot surpass his."

平曰：「陛下將用兵有能過韓信者乎？」 Ping asked, "Among Your Majesty's generals, is there anyone who surpasses Han Xin in the art of war?"

上曰：「莫及也。」 The emperor said, "No one comes close."

平曰：「今兵不如楚精，而將不能及，而舉兵攻之，是趣之戰也，竊為陛下危之。」 Ping said, "Our soldiers are not as seasoned as those of Chu, and our generals cannot match theirs. To raise an army and attack him would be rushing headlong into battle—I secretly fear for Your Majesty."

上曰：「為之柰何？」 The emperor asked, "Then what should we do?"

南方有雲夢，陛下弟出偽游雲夢，會諸侯於陳。 In the south there is Yunmeng. Your Majesty need only pretend to make a pleasure tour of Yunmeng and summon the feudal lords to assemble at Chen.

陳，楚之西界，信聞天子以好出游，其勢必無事而郊迎謁。 Chen lies on the western border of Chu. When Han Xin hears that the Son of Heaven is on an innocent pleasure tour, he will surely think nothing is amiss and come out to welcome you on the road.

謁，而陛下因禽之，此特一力士之事耳。」 When he comes to pay his respects, Your Majesty can seize him on the spot—it would be the work of a single strong man."

高帝以爲然，乃發使告諸侯會陳，「吾將南遊雲夢」。 Emperor Gaozu approved the plan and sent envoys to summon the feudal lords to assemble at Chen, announcing, "I intend to tour Yunmeng in the south."

上因隨以行。 The emperor thereupon set out on the journey.

高帝豫具武士，見信至，即執縛之，載後車。 Emperor Gaozu had armed warriors ready in advance. The moment he saw Han Xin arrive, he had him seized, bound, and loaded onto a prison cart.

高帝顧謂信曰：「若毋聲！ Emperor Gaozu turned to Han Xin and said, "Silence!

遂會諸侯于陳，盡定楚地。 The emperor then assembled the feudal lords at Chen and brought the entire territory of Chu under control.

還至雒陽，赦信以為淮陰侯，而與功臣剖符定封。 On the return, when they reached Luoyang, the emperor pardoned Han Xin and reduced his rank to Marquis of Huaiyin. He then divided tally tokens with his meritorious officials and confirmed their fiefs.

上曰：「吾用先生謀計，戰勝剋敵，非功而何？」 The emperor said, "I relied on your stratagems to win battles and overcome our enemies—if that is not merit, what is?"

上曰； The emperor said,

高帝用陳平奇計，使單于閼氏，圍以得開。 Emperor Gaozu employed one of Chen Ping's extraordinary stratagems, working through the Chanyu's consort, and the siege was lifted.

高帝既出，其計祕，世莫得聞。 After Emperor Gaozu escaped, the details of the stratagem were kept secret, and to this day no one knows what it was.

高帝南過曲逆，上其城，望見其屋室甚大，曰：「壯哉縣！ Emperor Gaozu passed through Quni on his way south. He climbed the city walls, surveyed the grand buildings below, and exclaimed, "What a magnificent city!

於是乃詔御史，更以陳平為曲逆侯，盡食之，除前所食戶牖。 Thereupon the emperor issued an edict to the Censor making Chen Ping Marquis of Quni, with the entire district as his fief, replacing his former fief of Huyou.