Qin and Han · General

Li Guang 李廣

Attested BC 166 - BC 119

Passages: 102
Chapters: 6
Histories: 4

Overview

The translated histories identify Li Guang as a general, military officer, and official. This record brings together 102 passages from 6 chapters across 4 histories, with names, dates, relationships, offices, and events preserved as source-backed claims.

Names

Type	English	Chinese	Pinyin
Personal	Li Guang	李廣	Li Guang
Epithet	Flying General of Han	漢之飛將軍
Title	General Li	李將軍
Given	Guang	廣	Guang
Surname	Li	李	Li
Personal name	Li Guang	李廣	Lǐ Guǎng
Personal name	Li Guang	李
Personal	Li Guang	李廣
Personal	Li Guang	李廣	Lǐ Guǎng

Identity

Historicity: Historical
Identification: Named
Sex: Male

Sex: male
Explicit · hanshu:071:s0050, houhanshu:032:s0004, shiji:109:s0001
Sex: male
Strongly inferred · nanqishu:048:s0152, shiji:108:s0086

Roles

General
Military Officer
Official

Life and dates

Death

Manner: suicide by cutting his throat / 引刀自剄 · Cause: refused to face judicial interrogation after losing the way / 失道對簿
Explicit · shiji:109:s0140

Age

Age: 60 · Reckoning: more than sixty · Label: more than sixty years old / 年六十餘
Explicit · shiji:109:s0139

Attested activity

Source Date: Text: BC 140-119 · Western Interval: Start: BC 140 · End: BC 119
Uncertain · nanqishu:048:s0152
Source Date: Text: 元光元年 · Western Year: BC 134
Explicit event contextual date · shiji:108:s0079, shiji:108:s0086
Source Date: Text: 元朔六年 · Western Year: BC 123
Explicit · shiji:109:s0085
Source Date: Text: 元狩四年 · Western Year: BC 119
Explicit · shiji:109:s0119, shiji:109:s0120
Source Date: Text: 孝文帝十四年 · Western Year: BC 166
Explicit · shiji:109:s0005
Source Date: Text: 孝景初立 · Western Year: BC 157
Explicit · shiji:109:s0010
Source Date: Text: 後二年 · Western Year: BC 121
Explicit event contextual date · hanshu:071:s0050, hanshu:071:s0049
Source Date: Text: 後二歲 · Western Year: BC 121
Explicit · shiji:109:s0087
Source Date: Text: 武帝立 · Western Year: BC 141
Explicit · shiji:109:s0040
Source Date: Text: 漢武之世 · Western Interval: Start: BC 140 · End: BC 119
Strongly inferred · houhanshu:032:s0004

Family

Immediate source-linked family. Drag to pan, scroll or pinch to zoom, and select a person to open their record.

Descendant of Li Xin (李信)
Kinship Term: his ancestor / 其先 · Line: paternal
Parent of Li Danghu (李當戶)
Kinship Term: son / 子 · Parentage: biological · Subject Birth Order: 1
Parent of Li Jiao (李椒)
Kinship Term: son / 子 · Parentage: biological · Subject Birth Order: 2
Parent of Li Gan (李敢)
Kinship Term: son / 子 · Parentage: biological · Subject Role: son · Object Role: father · Subject Birth Order: 3
Kin of Li Cai (李蔡)
Kinship Term: younger cousin / 從弟 · Subject Role: younger-cousin · Object Role: elder-cousin · Line: paternal

Kinship Role: sons · Count: 3
Explicit · shiji:109:s0144

Career and standing

Label: General of the Rear / 後將軍 · Action: appointed · Date Context: Source Date: Text: 元朔六年 · Western Year: BC 123
Explicit · shiji:109:s0085
Label: General of the Vanguard / 前將軍 · Action: appointed · Date Context: Source Date: Text: 元狩四年 · Western Year: BC 119
Explicit · shiji:109:s0118, shiji:109:s0119
Label: Regular Attendant of the Martial Cavalry / 武騎常侍 · Action: appointed · Grade: eight hundred shi / 八百石
Explicit · shiji:109:s0006
Label: Attendant / 中郎 · Action: appointed
Explicit · shiji:109:s0005
Label: Commandant of Longxi / 隴西都尉 · Action: appointed
Explicit event contextual date · shiji:109:s0010
Label: Commandant of the Brave Cavalry / 驍騎都尉 · Action: appointed
Explicit · shiji:109:s0011
Label: Commander of the Weiyang Palace Guard / 未央衛尉 · Action: appointed
Explicit · shiji:109:s0040
Label: General of Agile Cavalry / 驍騎將軍 · Action: appointed
Explicit · shiji:108:s0086
Label: General of the Brave Cavalry / 驍騎將軍 · Action: appointed
Explicit · shiji:109:s0050
Label: Governor of Youbeiping / 右北平太守 · Action: appointed
Explicit · shiji:109:s0068
Label: Superintendent of the Imperial Household / 郎中令 · Action: appointed
Explicit · shiji:109:s0084
Label: Captain of the Cavalry / 騎郎將 · Action: transferred
Explicit · shiji:109:s0010
Label: Governor of Shanggu / 上谷太守 · Action: transferred
Explicit · shiji:109:s0013
Label: Governor of Shangjun / 上郡太守 · Action: transferred
Explicit · shiji:109:s0015, shiji:109:s0016
Status: commoner · Action: reduced-to
Explicit · shiji:109:s0059
Label: liable to execution, redeemed to commoner / 當斬，贖為庶人 · Action: sentenced
Explicit · shiji:108:s0125
Label: sentenced to beheading then ransomed / 當斬，贖為庶人 · Action: sentenced
Explicit · shiji:109:s0059

Places and affiliations

Polity: Han / 漢 · Relation: served
Explicit · shiji:109:s0005
Place: Chengji in Longxi / 隴西成紀
Explicit · shiji:109:s0001
Place: Chengji / 成紀 · Relation: moved-to
Explicit · shiji:109:s0003
Place: Huaili / 槐裏 · Relation: ancestral-place
Explicit · shiji:109:s0003

Learning and skills

Skill: archery / 射 · Level: renowned
Explicit · shiji:109:s0004, shiji:109:s0077, shiji:109:s0082

Works and attributed material

Kind: speech · Role: speaker · Other Person Id: Wang Shuo (王朔)
Explicit · shiji:109:s0108, shiji:109:s0109, shiji:109:s0110, shiji:109:s0112, shiji:109:s0113
Kind: speech · Role: speaker
Explicit · shiji:109:s0134, shiji:109:s0135, shiji:109:s0138, shiji:109:s0139

Events and relationships

Kind: legal · Role: perpetrator · Action: beheaded-baling-commandant · Other Person Id: Baling Commandant (霸陵尉)
Explicit · shiji:109:s0069
Kind: military · Role: commander · Action: captured-by-xiongnu-then-escaped
Explicit · shiji:109:s0053, shiji:109:s0056, shiji:109:s0057
Kind: military · Role: commander · Action: captured-standard-at-changyi · Other Person Id: Zhou Yafu (周亞夫)
Explicit · shiji:109:s0011
Kind: military · Role: captive · Action: captured-then-escaped · Other Person Id: Chanyu (單于)
Explicit · shiji:108:s0124
Kind: military · Role: commander · Action: encircled-by-xiongnu
Explicit · hanshu:071:s0051
Kind: military · Role: officer · Action: fought-xiongnu-at-xiaoguan · Place: Xiao Pass / 蕭關
Explicit · shiji:109:s0005
Kind: military · Role: vanguard-general · Action: lost-way-on-eastern-route · Other Person Id: Wei Qing (衛青)
Explicit · shiji:109:s0127, shiji:109:s0128
Kind: military · Role: commander · Action: shot-eagle-hunters-and-faced-thousands
Explicit · shiji:109:s0025, shiji:109:s0035, shiji:109:s0038
Kind: military · Role: commander · Action: sortie-from-youbeiping · Other Person Id: Zhang Qian (張騫) · Date Context: Source Date: Text: 後二年 · Western Year: BC 121
Explicit · hanshu:071:s0050, hanshu:071:s0051
Kind: military · Role: commander · Action: surrounded-by-left-worthy-king · Other Person Id: Left Worthy King (左賢王)
Explicit · shiji:109:s0088, shiji:109:s0096
Relation: sidelined-by · Person Id: Wei Qing (衛青)
Explicit · houhanshu:032:s0004

Assessments and attributes

Assessment: incorruptible and generous to soldiers · Provenance: Mode: historian-judgment
Explicit · shiji:109:s0075, shiji:109:s0076
Assessment: talent unmatched under Heaven · Provenance: Mode: named-speech · Speaker Person Id: Gongsun Kunye (公孫昆邪)
Explicit · shiji:109:s0014
Kind: physical-description · Statement: tall with ape-like long arms
Explicit · shiji:109:s0077

References in the histories

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

Book of Han, Chapter 71Volume 61: Zhang Qian and Li Guangli · 2 passages

後二年，騫為衛尉，與李廣俱出右北平擊匈奴。 Two years later, as commandant of the guards, he joined Li Guang in a sortie from Youbeiping against the Xiongnu.

匈奴圍李將軍，軍失亡多，而騫後期當斬，贖為庶人。 The Xiongnu encircled Li Guang's command with heavy losses; Zhang Qian arrived late, faced capital sentence, ransomed his rank away, and was reduced to commoner status.

Book of Han, Chapter 117Volume 100a: Afterword and Family History 1 · 1 passage

養游睇而猿號兮，李虎發而石開。 Prince Yang's wandering glance made gibbons wail; Li Guang's tiger shot cracked the boulder.

Book of Later Han, Chapter 32Volume 28b: Biography of Feng Yan · 2 passages

逮至晚世，董仲舒言道德，見妒於公孫弘，李廣奮節於匈奴，見排於衛青，此忠臣之常所為流涕也。 In more recent times Dong Zhongshu taught moral principle and was resented by Gongsun Hong; Li Guang held firm against the Xiongnu and was sidelined by Wei Qing—such things are why loyal ministers so often shed tears.

臣衍自惟微賤之臣，上無無知之薦，下無馮唐之說，乏董生之才，寡李廣之勢，而欲免讒口，濟怨嫌，豈不難哉！ I am only a man of small station: I have no patron like Wei Wuji above me, no advocate like Feng Tang below, neither Dong Zhongshu's gifts nor Li Guang's stature—and still I hoped to escape backbiting and patch over ill will. How could that be easy?

Book of Southern Qi, Chapter 48Volume 48 Biographies 29: Yuan Tuan, Kong Zhigui, Liu Hui · 1 passage

故衞霍出關，千隊不反，貳師入漠，百旅頓降，李廣敗於前鋒，李陵沒於後陣，其餘奔北，不可勝數。 Hence when Wei Qing and Huo Qubing went beyond the passes, a thousand companies did not return; when the Second Division entered the desert, a hundred hosts collapsed in surrender; Li Guang was defeated at the vanguard, Li Ling lost at the rear—the rest fled north in numbers beyond counting.

Records of the Grand Historian, Chapter 108Biography of Han Changru · 3 passages

衛尉李廣為驍騎將軍，太仆公孫賀為輕車將軍，大行王恢為將屯將軍，太中大夫李息為材官將軍。 The Captain of the Guard Li Guang was appointed General of Agile Cavalry, the Grand Coachman Gongsun He was appointed General of Light Chariots, the Grand Herald Wang Hui was appointed General of the Garrison, and the Palace Grandee Li Xi was appointed General of Infantry.

王恢、李息、李廣別從代主擊其輜重。 Wang Hui, Li Xi, and Li Guang were to advance separately from Dai to strike the Xiongnu supply train.

將軍李廣為匈奴所得，復失之； General Li Guang was captured by the Xiongnu but escaped again;

Records of the Grand Historian, Chapter 109Biography of General Li · 93 passages

李將軍廣者，隴西成紀人也。 General Li Guang was a native of Chengji in Longxi.

廣家世世受射。 For generations, the Li family had handed down the art of archery.

孝文帝十四年，匈奴大入蕭關，而廣以良家子從軍擊胡，用善騎射，殺首虜多，為漢中郎。 In the fourteenth year of Emperor Wen's reign, the Xiongnu launched a major invasion through the Xiao Pass. Guang, as the son of a respectable family, joined the army to fight the barbarians. His skill in horsemanship and archery allowed him to kill a great many of the enemy, and he was appointed as an Attendant at the Han court.

廣從弟李蔡亦為郎，皆為武騎常侍，秩八百石。 Guang's younger cousin Li Cai also served as an Attendant. Both were appointed as Regular Attendants of the Martial Cavalry, with a salary rank of eight hundred shi.

嘗從行，有所衝陷折關及格猛獸，而文帝曰：「惜乎，子不遇時！ Once, while accompanying the Emperor on campaign, Guang charged through barriers and grappled with fierce beasts, and Emperor Wen said, "What a pity that you were not born in your season!

及孝景初立，廣為隴西都尉，徙為騎郎將。 When Emperor Jing first ascended the throne, Guang was appointed Commandant of Longxi and later transferred to the post of Captain of the Cavalry.

吳楚軍時，廣為驍騎都尉，從太尉亞夫擊吳楚軍，取旗，顯功名昌邑下。 During the Rebellion of Wu and Chu, Guang served as Commandant of the Brave Cavalry. He followed Grand Commandant Zhou Yafu in the attack against the rebel armies, captured an enemy battle standard, and won renown at the walls of Changyi.

以梁王授廣將軍印，還，賞不行。 But because the King of Liang had bestowed upon him a general's seal, he received no reward from the court upon his return.

典屬國公孫昆邪為上泣曰：「李廣才氣，天下無雙，自負其能，數與虜敵戰，恐亡之。」 Gongsun Kunye, Director of Attendants for Dependent States, wept before the emperor and said, "General Li Guang's talent and spirit are unmatched under Heaven. He is so confident in his own ability that he repeatedly engages the enemy in battle, and I fear we shall lose him."

後廣轉為邊郡太守，徙上郡。 Later Guang was rotated through the border commanderies, and was transferred to Shangjun.

匈奴大入上郡，天子使中貴人從廣勒習兵擊匈奴。 When the Xiongnu launched a major invasion into Shangjun, the Emperor sent a palace eunuch to join Guang in drilling the troops and leading the attack against the Xiongnu.

中貴人走廣。 The eunuch fled back to Guang.

廣曰：「是必射雕者也。」 Guang said, "Those must be eagle hunters."

廣乃遂從百騎往馳三人。 Guang thereupon took a hundred horsemen and rode out in pursuit of the three men.

三人亡馬步行，行數十里。 The three men had lost their horses and were traveling on foot. After Guang had chased them for a few dozen li,

廣令其騎張左右翼，而廣身自射彼三人者，殺其二人，生得一人，果匈奴射雕者也。 Guang ordered his horsemen to fan out to the left and right while he himself shot at the three men, killing two and taking one alive. They were indeed Xiongnu eagle shooters.

已縛之上馬，望匈奴有數千騎，見廣，以為誘騎，皆驚，上山陳。 After they had bound the prisoner and mounted their horses, they spotted several thousand Xiongnu cavalry in the distance. The Xiongnu saw Guang's men and, taking them for a decoy force, were alarmed and drew up in battle formation on the hillside.

廣之百騎皆大恐，欲馳還走。 Guang's hundred horsemen were seized with terror and wanted to gallop back to safety.

廣曰：「吾去大軍數十里，今如此以百騎走，匈奴追射我立盡。 Guang said, "We are dozens of li from the main army. If we now flee with only a hundred horsemen like this, the Xiongnu will pursue and shoot us down to the last man.

廣令諸騎曰：「前！」 Guang ordered his men, saying, "Forward!"

前未到匈奴陳二里所，止，令曰：「皆下馬解鞍！」 They advanced until they were only about two li from the Xiongnu formation, then halted, and Guang ordered, "All of you, dismount and loosen your saddles!"

廣曰：「彼虜以我為走，今皆解鞍以示不走，用堅其意。」 Guang said, "Those barbarians think we are men about to run. If we all loosen our saddles now, we show that we will not flee, and so make them more certain of what they believe."

有白馬將出護其兵，李廣上馬與十餘騎奔射殺胡白馬將，而復還至其騎中，解鞍，令士皆縱馬臥。 A barbarian general on a white horse rode out to marshal his troops. Li Guang mounted up and, with a dozen or so riders, galloped forward and shot the white-horse general dead. He then returned to his own men, unsaddled the horses, and ordered the soldiers to release the horses and lie down.

平旦，李廣乃歸其大軍。 At dawn, Li Guang led his men back to the main army.

大軍不知廣所之，故弗從。 The main army, not knowing where Guang had gone, had been unable to provide support.

居久之，孝景崩，武帝立，左右以為廣名將也，於是廣以上郡太守為未央衛尉，而程不識亦為長樂衛尉。 Some time later, Emperor Jing passed away, and Emperor Wu ascended the throne. The Emperor's advisors considered Guang a renowned general, and so he was transferred from his post as Governor of Shangjun to become Commander of the Weiyang Palace Guard, while Cheng Bushi was made Commander of the Changle Palace Guard.

程不識故與李廣俱以邊太守將軍屯。 Cheng Bushi had formerly served alongside Li Guang as a border governor and garrison commander.

及出擊胡，而廣行無部伍行陳，就善水草屯，舍止，人人自便，不擊刀鬬以自衛，莫府省約文書籍事，然亦遠斥候，未嘗遇害。 When they marched out to fight the barbarians, Guang imposed no formal ranks or battle formations. He camped wherever there was good water and grass, and let each man see to his own needs. He did not use sentries beating watch clappers for defense, and his headquarters kept its paperwork to a minimum. Yet he always sent scouts far afield and was never taken by surprise.

不識曰：「李廣軍極簡易，然虜卒犯之，無以禁也； Cheng Bushi said, "General Li Guang’s army is exceedingly loose and simple; if the enemy suddenly falls upon it, there is no way to restrain them.

是時漢邊郡李廣、程不識皆為名將，然匈奴畏李廣之略，士卒亦多樂從李廣而苦程不識。 At that time, Li Guang and Cheng Bushi were both renowned generals of the Han border commanderies. But the Xiongnu feared Li Guang's cunning, and the soldiers too preferred to serve under Li Guang, finding service under Cheng Bushi a hardship.

後漢以馬邑城誘單于，使大軍伏馬邑旁谷，而廣為驍騎將軍，領屬護軍將軍。 Later, the Han used the city of Mayi to lure the Chanyu into a trap, stationing the main army in ambush in the valleys around Mayi. Guang served as the General of the Brave Cavalry, under the command of the General of the Guard.

其後四歲，廣以衛尉為將軍，出鴈門擊匈奴。 Four years later, Guang, in his capacity as Commander of the Palace Guard, was given command of an army and marched out from Yanmen to attack the Xiongnu.

匈奴兵多，破敗廣軍，生得廣。 The Xiongnu, vastly outnumbering him, routed his army and took Guang alive.

單于素聞廣賢，令曰：「得李廣必生致之。」 The Chanyu had long heard that Guang was a man of worth and ordered, "If you capture Li Guang, you must bring him in alive."

胡騎得廣，廣時傷病，置廣兩馬閒，絡而盛臥廣。 When the barbarian cavalry seized Guang, he was wounded and ill. They slung a rope net between two horses and laid Guang in it.

行十餘里，廣詳死，睨其旁有一胡兒騎善馬，廣暫騰而上胡兒馬，因推墮兒，取其弓，鞭馬南馳數十里，復得其餘軍，因引而入塞。 After they had traveled some ten li, Guang feigned death. Glancing to the side, he spotted a barbarian boy riding a fine horse. In a flash, Guang sprang onto the boy's horse, shoved the boy off, seized his bow, and whipped the horse southward. After galloping for several tens of li, he rejoined the remnants of his army and led them back through the frontier pass.

匈奴捕者騎數百追之，廣行取胡兒弓，射殺追騎，以故得脫。 Several hundred Xiongnu horsemen gave chase, but Guang used the barbarian boy's bow to shoot and kill his pursuers, and so made his escape.

於是至漢，漢下廣吏。 When he returned to Han territory, he was turned over to the judicial officials.

吏當廣所失亡多，為虜所生得，當斬，贖為庶人。 The officials judged that Guang had lost too many men and had been captured alive by the enemy, crimes punishable by death. He was allowed to ransom himself and was reduced to the status of a commoner.

廣家與故潁陰侯孫屏野居藍田南山中射獵。 Guang lived with a grandson of the former Marquis of Yingyin in the mountains south of Lantian, where they went hunting.

還至霸陵亭，霸陵尉醉，呵止廣。 On the way back, when they reached the Baling postal station, the duty officer, who was drunk, shouted at Guang to halt.

廣騎曰：「故李將軍。」 Guang's companion said, "It is the former General Li."

止廣宿亭下。 He detained Guang and made him spend the night at the station.

於是天子乃召拜廣為右北平太守。 The Emperor thereupon summoned Guang and appointed him Governor of Youbeiping.

廣即請霸陵尉與俱，至軍而斬之。 Guang immediately requested that the Baling duty officer accompany him to his post, and upon reaching the army, had the man beheaded.

廣居右北平，匈奴聞之，號曰「漢之飛將軍」，避之數歲，不敢入右北平。 While Guang was stationed at Youbeiping, the Xiongnu heard of him, called him "the Flying General of Han," and for several years avoided the region, not daring to enter Youbeiping.

廣出獵，見草中石，以為虎而射之，中石沒鏃，視之石也。 Once, when Guang was out hunting, he saw a rock among the grass and, mistaking it for a tiger, shot at it. The arrow struck the rock and sank in up to the arrowhead. When he looked more closely, he saw it was only a stone.

廣所居郡聞有虎，嘗自射之。 Whenever a tiger was reported in the commandery where Guang was stationed, he would always go out to hunt it himself.

及居右北平射虎，虎騰傷廣，廣亦竟射殺之。 While stationed at Youbeiping, he went out to shoot a tiger. The tiger sprang at him and wounded him, but Guang managed to shoot and kill it.

廣廉，得賞賜輒分其麾下，飲食與士共之。 Guang was a man without avarice. Whenever he received a reward or gift, he distributed it among his men, and he shared his food and drink with his soldiers.

終廣之身，為二千石四十餘年，家無餘財，終不言家產事。 Throughout his life, Guang held a salary rank of two thousand shi for over forty years, yet his household had no surplus wealth. He never spoke of family property.

廣為人長，猨臂，其善射亦天性也，雖其子孫他人學者，莫能及廣。 Guang was tall, with unusually long arms like those of an ape. His skill in archery was a gift of nature, and though his sons, grandsons, and others studied the art, none could equal him.

廣訥口少言，與人居則畫地為軍陳，射闊狹以飲。 Guang was a man of few words. When he was with others, he would draw diagrams of battle formations on the ground, and then set up archery contests to determine who would drink, making the targets wider or narrower.

廣之將兵，乏絕之處，見水，士卒不盡飲，廣不近水，士卒不盡食，廣不嘗食。 When Guang led his troops through desolate country and came upon water, he would not go near it until every soldier had drunk his fill. He would not touch his food until every soldier had eaten.

居頃之，石建卒，於是上召廣代建為郎中令。 Shortly afterward, Shi Jian died, and the Emperor summoned Guang to replace him as Superintendent of the Imperial Household.

元朔六年，廣復為後將軍，從大將軍軍出定襄，擊匈奴。 In the sixth year of the Yuanshuo era, Guang was again appointed General of the Rear and followed the Grand General's army out of Dingxiang to attack the Xiongnu.

諸將多中首虜率，以功為侯者，而廣軍無功。 Many of the other generals met the required kill quotas and were enfeoffed as marquises for their achievements, but Guang's forces earned no distinction.

後二歲，廣以郎中令將四千騎出右北平，博望侯張騫將萬騎與廣俱，異道。 Two years later, Guang, in his capacity as Superintendent of the Imperial Household, led four thousand cavalry out of Youbeiping. The Marquis of Bowang, Zhang Qian, led ten thousand cavalry on a parallel route.

行可數百里，匈奴左賢王將四萬騎圍廣，廣軍士皆恐，廣乃使其子敢往馳之。 After they had advanced several hundred li, the Left Worthy King of the Xiongnu descended upon them with forty thousand cavalry and surrounded Guang. His soldiers were all terrified. Guang sent his son Li Gan to ride out against the enemy.

敢獨與數十騎馳，直貫胡騎，出其左右而還，告廣曰：「胡虜易與耳。」 Gan rode out alone with several dozen horsemen, charged straight through the barbarian cavalry, emerged on their flanks, and returned. He reported to Guang, "The Hu cavalry are easy to handle."

廣為圜陳外向，胡急擊之，矢下如雨。 Guang formed his men into a circular formation facing outward. The barbarians attacked furiously, and arrows fell like rain.

廣乃令士持滿毋發，而廣身自以大黃射其裨將，殺數人，胡虜益解。 Guang ordered his soldiers to draw their bows fully but hold their fire, while he himself took up a powerful crossbow and shot at the enemy's deputy commanders, killing several. The barbarian assault gradually slackened.

會日暮，吏士皆無人色，而廣意氣自如，益治軍。 As dusk fell, every officer and soldier had gone pale with fear, but Guang remained as composed as ever, rallying his troops with ever greater resolve.

是時廣軍幾沒，罷歸。 Guang's army had been all but annihilated, and the survivors straggled home.

廣軍功自如，無賞。 As for Guang, his army's gains and losses canceled each other out, and he received no reward.

初，廣之從弟李蔡與廣俱事孝文帝。 Earlier, Guang's younger cousin Li Cai had entered service alongside Guang under Emperor Wen.

蔡為人在下中，名聲出廣下甚遠，然廣不得爵邑，官不過九卿，而蔡為列侯，位至三公。 Cai was a man of middling ability at best, and his reputation fell far below Guang's. Yet Guang never received a noble title or a fief, and his office never rose above that of one of the Nine Ministers, while Cai became a full marquis and attained the rank of one of the Three Excellencies.

諸廣之軍吏及士卒或取封侯。 Even officers and soldiers who had served under Guang were among those enfeoffed as marquises.

廣嘗與望氣王朔燕語，曰：「自漢擊匈奴而廣未嘗不在其中，而諸部校尉以下，才能不及中人，然以擊胡軍功取侯者數十人，而廣不為後人，然無尺寸之功以得封邑者，何也？ Guang once conversed at leisure with the diviner Wang Shuo and said, "Since the Han began attacking the Xiongnu, I have never failed to be in the field. Yet among the colonels and commanders and those below them, men whose abilities do not reach the middling level have, through merit in fighting the barbarians, become marquises by the dozens. I am not behind others, yet I have not the slightest merit by which to receive a fief—why is this?

廣曰：「吾嘗為隴西守，羌嘗反，吾誘而降，降者八百餘人，吾詐而同日殺之。 Guang said, "I once served as Governor of Longxi. When the Qiang rebelled, I enticed them into surrender; more than eight hundred surrendered, and I deceived them and killed them all on the same day.

後二歲，大將軍、驃騎將軍大出擊匈奴，廣數自請行。 Two years later, the Grand General and the General of the Swift Cavalry launched a major campaign against the Xiongnu. Guang repeatedly petitioned to join them.

廣既從大將軍青擊匈奴，既出塞，青捕虜知單于所居，乃自以精兵走之，而令廣并於右將軍軍，出東道。 Guang marched with Grand General Wei Qing to attack the Xiongnu. After they had crossed the frontier, Qing learned from captured prisoners where the Chanyu was camped. He took his best troops to go after the Chanyu himself and ordered Guang to merge his forces with the General of the Right and advance by the eastern route.

廣自請曰：「臣部為前將軍，今大將軍乃徙令臣出東道，且臣結發而與匈奴戰，今乃一得當單于，臣願居前，先死單于。」 Guang pleaded on his own behalf, saying, "My command is the Vanguard. Now the Grand General has shifted me to the eastern route. I have fought the Xiongnu since I first bound up my hair, and now, for once, I have the chance to face the Chanyu. I wish to stand in the front and be the first to die before him."

大將軍青亦陰受上誡，以為李廣老，數奇，毋令當單于，恐不得所欲。 Grand General Qing had also received secret instructions from the Emperor: Li Guang was old and had always been unlucky; he must not be allowed to face the Chanyu, for fear that the desired result would not be achieved.

而是時公孫敖新失侯，為中將軍從大將軍，大將軍亦欲使敖與俱當單于，故徙前將軍廣。 Moreover, Gongsun Ao had recently lost his marquisate and was serving as General of the Center under the Grand General. The Grand General wished to give Ao the chance to face the Chanyu alongside him, and so he reassigned Guang from the vanguard.

廣時知之，固自辭於大將軍。 Guang understood what was happening and firmly protested to the Grand General.

大將軍不聽，令長史封書與廣之莫府，曰：「急詣部，如書。」 The Grand General would not listen. He ordered the chief clerk to seal a letter to Guang’s headquarters, saying, "Report at once to the command assigned in the letter."

廣不謝大將軍而起行，意甚慍怒而就部，引兵與右將軍食其合軍出東道。 Guang departed without taking leave of the Grand General, seething with resentment. He went to take up his command and led his troops eastward with the General of the Right, Zhao Shiqi.

廣已見大將軍，還入軍。 After Guang had met with the Grand General, he returned to his own camp.

大將軍使長史持糒醪遺廣，因問廣、食其失道狀，青欲上書報天子軍曲折。 The Grand General sent his chief clerk to bring Guang dried rations and wine, and at the same time to question Guang and Zhao Shiqi about how they had lost their way, for Qing wished to submit a report to the Emperor on the course of the campaign.

廣未對，大將軍使長史急責廣之幕府對簿。 Guang made no reply. The Grand General then sent his chief clerk to summon Guang urgently to headquarters to answer formal charges.

廣曰：「諸校尉無罪，乃我自失道。 Guang said, "The colonels are not at fault. I myself lost the road.

至莫府，廣謂其麾下曰； When Guang reached headquarters, he said to the officers under him,

「廣結發與匈奴大小七十餘戰，今幸從大將軍出接單于兵，而大將軍又徙廣部行回遠，而又迷失道，豈非天哉！ "Since I first bound up my hair, I have fought the Xiongnu in more than seventy battles, large and small. Now I was fortunate enough to follow the Grand General out to meet the Chanyu’s army, but the Grand General shifted my command onto a roundabout and distant route, and then we lost the way. Is this not Heaven!

且廣年六十餘矣，終不能復對刀筆之吏。」 Moreover, I am already more than sixty years old; I can no longer face the sword-and-brush officials."

廣軍士大夫一軍皆哭。 The officers and men of Guang's entire army wept.

廣子三人，曰當戶、椒、敢，為郎。 Guang had three sons, named Danghu, Jiao, and Gan, all of whom served as Imperial Attendants.

當戶早死，拜椒為代郡太守，皆先廣死。 Danghu died young. Jiao was appointed Governor of Dai Commandery. Both sons died before their father.

廣死軍時，敢從驃騎將軍。 At the time of Guang's death in the field, his son Gan was serving under the General of the Swift Cavalry.

廣死明年，李蔡以丞相坐侵孝景園壖地，當下吏治，蔡亦自殺，不對獄，國除。 The year after Guang died, Li Cai, then serving as Imperial Chancellor, was charged with encroaching on the land around Emperor Jing's funerary park. Facing prosecution, Cai too took his own life rather than submit to interrogation, and his fief was abolished.

李敢以校尉從驃騎將軍擊胡左賢王，力戰，奪左賢王鼓旗，斬首多，賜爵關內侯，食邑二百戶，代廣為郎中令。 Li Gan, serving as a colonel under the General of the Swift Cavalry, had fought valiantly against the Left Worthy King of the Xiongnu, seizing the enemy's war drums and battle standards and taking many heads. He was granted the title of Marquis Within the Passes with a fief of two hundred households, and succeeded his father as Superintendent of the Imperial Household.

其李將軍之謂也？ Was this not said of General Li?

余睹李將軍悛悛如鄙人，口不能道辭。 I once saw General Li in person. He was as plain and unassuming as a common farmer, and he could scarcely string two words together.