Overview
Wei Bo was an official.
IdentityHistorical · Male
Life and dates
Attested activity
Family
Immediate relationships attested in the translated histories.
Places and affiliations
- Polity Western Han 西漢 · Relation Subject of
Works and attributed material
References in the histories
No matching passages.
Records of the Grand Historian, Chapter 52House of Prince Daohui of Qi · 10 passages
灌嬰在滎陽，聞魏勃本教齊王反，既誅呂氏，罷齊兵，使使召責問魏勃。
Guan Ying, still at Xingyang, learned that it was Wei Bo who had originally urged the King of Qi to rebel. Now that the Lü clan had been destroyed and Qi's army disbanded, he summoned Wei Bo to answer for his actions.
勃曰：「失火之家，豈暇先言大人而後救火乎！」
Wei Bo replied, "When a house is on fire, can one afford to inform the elders before putting out the flames?"
灌將軍熟視笑曰：「人謂魏勃勇，妄庸人耳，何能為乎！」
General Guan studied him closely and laughed. 'People call Wei Bo brave, but he is nothing but a cowardly fool. What could he possibly accomplish?'
乃罷魏勃。
And so he let Wei Bo go.
及魏勃少時，欲求見齊相曹參，家貧無以自通，乃常獨早夜埽齊相舍人門外。
In his youth, Wei Bo wished to gain an audience with Cao Shen, the chancellor of Qi, but his family was too poor for him to arrange an introduction. So each day, from dawn to dusk, he swept the ground outside the door of the chancellor's steward.
相舍人怪之，以為物，而伺之，得勃。
The steward found this peculiar and, suspecting it was the work of some spirit, kept watch and discovered it was Wei Bo.
勃曰：「願見相君，無因，故為子埽，欲以求見。」
Wei Bo said, 'I wish to see the chancellor, but I have no way to gain an introduction. That is why I have been sweeping your doorstep—in hopes of earning an audience.'
於是舍人見勃曹參，因以為舍人。
The steward then brought Wei Bo before Cao Shen, who took him on as a retainer.
一為參御，言事，參以為賢，言之齊悼惠王。
On one occasion, while serving as Cao Shen's charioteer, Wei Bo discussed affairs of state, and Cao Shen, impressed by his ability, recommended him to King Daohui of Qi.
及悼惠王卒而哀王立，勃用事，重於齊相。
After King Daohui died and King Ai succeeded him, Wei Bo took charge of affairs and wielded more influence than the chancellor of Qi.