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先主劉備
The Former Lord: Liu Bei.
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先主姓劉，諱備，字玄德，涿郡涿縣人，漢景帝子中山靖王勝之後也。 勝子貞，元狩六年封涿縣陸城亭侯，坐酎金失侯，因家焉。 〈典略曰：備本臨邑侯枝屬也。〉 先主祖雄，父弘，世仕州郡。 雄舉孝廉，官至東郡範令。
The Former Lord was Liu Bei, courtesy Xuande, from Zhuo county in Zhuo commandery, a descendant of Han Prince Jing of Zhongshan, Prince Sheng, son of Emperor Jing. Sheng’s son Liu Zhen received the village fief of Lucheng at Zhuo in the sixth year of Yuanshou, lost his rank over the “ritual gold” affair, and the line then made its home there. 〈The Compendium states that Liu Bei sprang from a collateral branch of the marquises of Linyi.〉 His grandfather Liu Xiong and father Liu Hong had for generations held posts in local government. Liu Xiong rose as a filial and incorrupt candidate to magistrate of Fan in Dong commandery.
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先主少孤，與母販履織蓆為業。 舍東南角籬上有桑樹生高五丈餘，遙望見童童如小車蓋，往來者皆怪此樹非凡，或謂當出貴人。 〈《漢晉春秋》曰：涿人李定雲：「此家必出貴人。」〉 先主少時，與宗中諸小兒於樹下戲，言：「吾必當乘此羽葆蓋車。」 叔父子敬謂曰：「汝勿妄語，滅吾門也！」 年十五，母使行學，與同宗劉德然、遼西公孫瓚俱事故九江太守同郡盧植。 德然父元起常資給先主，與德然等。 元起妻曰：「各自一家，何能常爾邪！」 起曰：「吾宗中有此兒，非常人也。」 而瓚深與先主相友。 瓚年長，先主以兄事之。 先主不甚樂讀書，喜狗馬、音樂、美衣服。 身長七尺五寸，垂手下膝，顧自見其耳。 少語言，善下人，喜怒不形於色。 好交結豪俠，年少爭附之。 中山大商張世平、蘇雙等貲累千金，販馬周旋於涿郡，見而異之，乃多與之金財。 先主由是得用合徒眾。
Orphaned young, he and his mother earned their bread by selling straw sandals and weaving rush mats. A mulberry by their southeast fence towered over five zhang, its canopy spreading like a carriage awning. Passersby called it uncanny and whispered that the house would rear a man of destiny. 〈The Springs and Autumns of Han and Jin quotes a Zhuo townsman, Li Ding: “That roof will shelter greatness.”〉 As a boy he played under that tree with his kinsmen’s children and declared, “One day I shall ride in the imperial feather-canopy carriage.” His uncle Liu Zijing warned him, “Hush such talk, or you will bring the whole clan to ruin!” At fifteen his mother sent him to school with his kinsman Liu Deran and Gongsun Zan of Liaoxi, all pupils of Lu Zhi, the former grand administrator of Jiujiang and a fellow townsman. Deran’s father, Liu Yuanqi, regularly funded Liu Bei on the same scale as his own son. Yuanqi’s wife protested, “We are not the same household—why should we keep paying his way?” Yuanqi answered, “A boy like that in our line is no ordinary child.” Gongsun Zan grew especially close to him. Zan was the elder, and Liu Bei honored him as an older brother. He took little pleasure in books but loved hounds and horses, music, and handsome dress. He stood seven chi five cun tall, his arms hung past his knees, and he could see his own earlobes when he glanced back. He spoke seldom, knew how to defer to others, and kept joy and anger off his face. He sought out bold spirits, and young men crowded to join him. The Zhongshan horse-dealers Zhang Shiping and Su Shuang, men of fabulous wealth, took one look at him in Zhuo and opened their purses wide. With that silver he began to gather a following.
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靈帝末，黃巾起，州郡各舉義兵，先主率其屬從校尉鄒靖討黃巾賊有功，除安喜尉。 〈典略曰：平原劉子平知備有武勇，時張純反叛，青州被詔，遣從事將兵討純，過平原，子平薦備於從事，遂與相隨，遇賊於野，備中創陽死，賊去後，故人以車載之，得免。 後以軍功，為中山安喜尉。〉 督郵以公事到縣，先主求謁，不通，直入縛督郵，杖二百，解綬繫其頸着馬枊， 〈五葬反。〉 棄官亡命。 〈典略曰：其後州郡被詔書，其有軍功為長吏者，當沙汰之，備疑在遣中。 督郵至縣，當遣備，備素知之。 聞督郵在傳舍，備欲求見督郵，督郵稱疾不肯見備，備恨之，因還治，將吏卒更詣傳舍，突入門，言「我被府君密教收督郵」。 遂就床縛之，將出到界，自解其綬以繫督郵頸，縛之著樹，鞭杖百餘下，欲殺之。 督郵求哀，乃釋去之。〉 頃之，大將軍何進遣都尉毌丘毅詣丹楊募兵，先主與俱行，至下邳遇賊，力戰有功，除為下密丞。 復去官。 後為高唐尉，遷為令。 〈《英雄記》云：靈帝末年，備嘗在京師，後與曹公俱還沛國，募召合眾。 會靈帝崩，天下大亂，備亦起軍從討董卓。〉 為賊所破，往奔中郎將公孫瓚，瓚表為別部司馬，使與青州刺史田楷以拒冀州牧袁紹。 數有戰功，試守平原令，後領平原相。 郡民劉平素輕先主，恥為之下，使客刺之。 客不忍刺，語之而去。 其得人心如此。 〈魏書曰：劉平結客刺備，備不知而待客甚厚，客以狀語之而去。 是時人民饑饉，屯聚鈔暴。 備外禦寇難，內豐財施，士之下者，必與同席而坐，同簋而食，無所簡擇。 眾多歸焉。〉
When the Yellow Turbans rose at the close of Emperor Ling’s reign, Liu Bei led his men under Colonel Zou Jing, distinguished himself against the rebels, and was named captain of Anxi. 〈The Compendium tells how Liu Ziping of Pingyuan, knowing Liu Bei’s valor, recommended him to the provincial clerk marching against Zhang Chun. In a skirmish Liu Bei was wounded and played dead until the raiders left; friends loaded him onto a cart and he survived. For that service he was later appointed captain of Anxi in Zhongshan. When the postal inspector came on official business and refused him entry, Liu Bei walked straight in, seized the man, gave him two hundred strokes, tied his own official sash around the fellow’s neck, and lashed him to a hitching post, 〈Gloss: the graph is read like wu in the entering tone (a hitching stake).〉 He then abandoned his post and fled. 〈The Compendium adds that when the court ordered a purge of locally appointed officers with military backgrounds, Liu Bei feared his name was on the list. When the inspector arrived to dismiss him, Liu Bei had already heard the news. Hearing the postal inspector was in the relay inn, Bei sought to request seeing the postal inspector; the postal inspector claimed illness and was unwilling to see Bei; Bei resented it; therefore he returned to his office, led clerks and soldiers and again went to the relay inn, burst in the gate, saying “I have received the prefect’s secret order to arrest the postal inspector.” He dragged him from his couch, marched him to the county border, looped his own sash around the man’s neck, tied him to a tree, and laid on more than a hundred strokes, meaning to kill him. The inspector’s pleas moved him to spare the man and let him go. Soon afterward He Jin sent Commandant Guanqiu Yi to Danyang to raise troops; Liu Bei went along, fought bandits hard outside Xiapi, and was named assistant magistrate of Xiami. He soon resigned that post as well. He later served as captain of Gaotang, then as its magistrate. 〈The Record of Heroes claims that in Emperor Ling’s last years Liu Bei was in the capital, then returned to Pei with Cao Cao to raise men. When Ling died and the realm dissolved into chaos, Liu Bei took the field against Dong Zhuo. Routed by raiders, he fled to Gongsun Zan, who memorialized him as major of a separate division and teamed him with Tian Kai, inspector of Qingzhou, against Yuan Shao, governor of Ji. After repeated successes he was acting magistrate of Pingyuan, then full grand administrator of the commandery. Liu Ping, a local gentleman who despised Liu Bei for ranking above him, sent an assassin. The man could not bring himself to strike, confessed the plot, and walked away. Such was the hold he had on men’s hearts. 〈The Book of Wei relates that Liu Ping hired a killer who, received with such kindness by Liu Bei, revealed the plot and departed. Famine had driven the people to banditry. Liu Bei beat back raiders abroad and shared his stores at home; the humblest soldier sat at his mat and ate from his bowl without distinction. Men flocked to him in numbers.
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先主還小沛， 〈《英雄記》曰：備軍在廣陵，飢餓困踧，吏士大小自相噉食，窮餓侵逼，欲還小沛，遂使吏請降布。 布令備還州，并勢擊術。 具刺史車馬僮僕，發遣備妻子部曲家屬於泗水上，祖道相樂。 魏書曰：諸將謂布曰：「備數反覆難養，宜早圖之。」 布不聽，以狀語備。 備心不安而求自託，使人說布，求屯小沛，布乃遣之。〉 復合兵得萬餘人。 呂布惡之，自出兵攻先主，先主敗走歸曹公。 曹公厚遇之，以為豫州牧。 將至沛收散卒，給其軍糧，益與兵使東擊布。 布遣高順攻之，曹公遣夏侯惇往，不能救，為順所敗，復虜先主妻子送布。 曹公自出東征， 〈英雄記曰：建安三年春，布使人齎金欲詣河內買馬，為備兵所鈔。 布由是遣中郎將高順、北地太守張遼等攻備。 九月，遂破沛城，備單身走，獲其妻息。 十月，曹公自征布，備於梁國界中與曹公相遇，遂隨公俱東征。〉 助先主圍布於下邳，生禽布。 先主復得妻子，從曹公還許。 表先主為左將軍，禮之愈重，出則同輿，坐則同席。 袁術欲經徐州北就袁紹，曹公遣先主督朱靈、路招要擊術。 未至，術病死。
The Former Lord withdrew to Little Pei, 〈The Record of Heroes tells how, starving at Guangling until his men fed on one another, Liu Bei begged Lu Bu for shelter and a road back to Little Pei. Lu Bu sent him back to Xu province to join forces against Yuan Shu. Lu Bu furnished an inspector’s equipage and sent Liu Bei’s wives, children, and troops across the Si with a farewell feast. The Book of Wei records Lu Bu’s officers warning him, “Liu Bei is a proven turncoat—deal with him now.” Lu Bu refused and repeated the warning to Liu Bei himself. Uneasy, Liu Bei begged leave to garrison Little Pei; Lu Bu consented. There he rebuilt an army of over ten thousand. Lu Bu turned on him, drove him from the field, and Liu Bei fled to Cao Cao. Cao Cao received him handsomely and named him governor of Yu province. He was to proceed to Pei to rally stragglers, draw rations, receive reinforcements, and march east against Lu Bu. Lu Bu sent Gao Shun against him; Cao Cao’s relief column under Xiahou Dun failed, and Liu Bei’s family was captured again and sent to Lu Bu’s camp. Then Cao Cao took the field in person on an eastern campaign, 〈The Record of Heroes notes that in the spring of Jian’an 3 Lu Bu’s agents carrying gold to buy horses in Henei were robbed by Liu Bei’s men. Lu Bu thereupon dispatched Gao Shun and Zhang Liao, grand administrator of Beidi, against Liu Bei. In the ninth month they stormed Pei; Liu Bei escaped alone while his family was taken. In the tenth month Cao Cao marched on Lu Bu; Liu Bei joined him in Liang and accompanied the eastern expedition. Cao Cao joined him in the siege of Lu Bu at Xiapi and took Lu Bu alive. Liu Bei recovered his family and followed Cao Cao back to the capital at Xu. Cao Cao had him named general of the left and honored him so highly that they rode in the same carriage and sat on the same mat. When Yuan Shu tried to cross Xu province north to Yuan Shao, Cao Cao sent Liu Bei with Zhu Ling and Lu Zhao to intercept him. Yuan Shu died of sickness before they could engage.
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先主未出時，獻帝舅車騎將軍董承 〈臣松之案：董承，漢靈帝母董太后之侄，於獻帝為丈人。 蓋古無丈人之名，故謂之舅也。〉 辭受帝衣帶中密詔，當誅曹公。 先主未發。 是時曹公從容謂先主曰：「今天下英雄，唯使君與操耳。 本初之徒，不足數也。」 先主方食，失匕箸。 〈《華陽國志》云：于時正當雷震，備因謂操曰：「聖人云‘迅雷風烈必變’，良有以也。 一震之威，乃可至於此也！」〉 遂與承及長水校尉种輯、將軍吳子蘭、王子服等同謀。 會見使，未發。 事覺，承等皆伏誅。 〈《獻帝起居注》曰：承等與備謀未發，而備出。 承謂服曰：「郭多有數百兵，壞李傕數万人，但足下與我同不耳！ 昔呂不韋之門，須子楚而後高，今吾與子由是也。」 服曰：「惶懼不敢當，且兵又少。」 承曰：「舉事訖，得曹公成兵，顧不足邪？」 服曰：「今京師豈有所任乎？」 承曰：「長水校尉种輯、議郎吳碩是我腹心辦事者。」 遂定計。〉
Before Liu Bei marched, Emperor Xian’s uncle by marriage, General of chariots and cavalry Dong Cheng, 〈Pei Songzhi notes that Dong Cheng was a nephew of Empress Dowager Dong and, by Han usage, counted as the emperor’s father-in-law. The text calls him “uncle” because classical usage lacked the later term for a wife’s father. had received a secret edict sewn in the emperor’s sash, charging him to kill Cao Cao. Liu Bei had not yet moved. Cao Cao said to him over wine, “The only heroes left under heaven are you and I. Men like Yuan Shao are not worth naming.” Liu Bei, caught mid-meal, dropped his chopsticks. 〈The Treatise on Huayang says: at that time it happened there was thunderclap; Bei therefore said to Cao: “The sage said ‘sudden thunder and fierce wind surely change’—truly there is reason. A single clap,” he said, “can shake a man so!””〉” He then conspired with Dong Cheng, Colonel Zhong Ji of the Chang River regiment, and the generals Wu Zilan and Wang Zifu. Just then he received another court assignment and did not move against Cao Cao. When the plot leaked, Dong Cheng and his confederates were put to death. 〈The Daily Notes of Emperor Xian record that Dong Cheng and Liu Bei had not yet acted when Liu Bei was sent away. Dong Cheng told Wang Zifu, “Guo Si once broke Li Jue’s host of tens of thousands with a few hundred men—will you stand with me or not? Lu Buwei’s house rose only when Zichu appeared; you and I are in the same case.” Wang answered, “I am too afraid, and our soldiers are too few.” Dong Cheng replied, “Once we move, we seize Cao Cao’s trained troops—will that not suffice?” “Who in the capital,” Wang asked, “can we rely on?” “Colonel Zhong Ji of the Chang River regiment and Gentleman-adviser Wu Shuo are my trusted agents.” With that the plot was set.
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先主據下邳。 靈等還，先主乃殺徐州刺史車冑，留關羽守下邳，而身還小沛。 〈胡沖《吳歷》曰：曹公數遣親近密覘諸將有賓客酒食者，輒因事害之。 備時閉門，將人種蕪菁，曹公使人闚門。 既去，備謂張飛、關羽曰：「吾豈種菜者乎？ 曹公必有疑意，不可復留。」 其夜開後柵，與飛等輕騎俱去，所得賜遺衣服，悉封留之，乃往小沛收合兵眾。 臣松之案：魏武帝遣先主統諸將要擊袁術，郭嘉等並諫，魏武不從，其事顯然，非因種菜遁逃而去。 如胡沖所云，何乖僻之甚乎！〉 東海昌霸反，郡縣多叛曹公為先主，眾數萬人，遣孫乾與袁紹連和，曹公遣劉岱、王忠擊之，不克。 五年，曹公東征先主，先主敗績。 〈魏書曰：是時，公方有急於官渡，乃分留諸將屯官渡，自勒精兵征備。 備初謂公與大敵連，不得東，而候騎卒至，言曹公自來。 備大驚，然猶未信。 自將數十騎出望公軍，見麾旌，便棄眾而走。〉 曹公盡收其眾，虜先主妻子，並禽關羽以歸。
The Former Lord seized Xiapi. When Zhu Ling’s column came back, Liu Bei killed the inspector of Xu province, Che Zhou, left Guan Yu at Xiapi, and withdrew to Little Pei. 〈Hu Chong’s Record of Wu says Cao Cao often sent agents to spy on generals who entertained, then found excuses to destroy them. Liu Bei shut his gates and set his men to planting turnips while Cao Cao’s spies watched. When they left, he said to Zhang Fei and Guan Yu, “Do I look like a gardener? Cao Cao already doubts us—we cannot stay.” That night he slipped out the rear stockade with Zhang Fei and a light escort, sealed up every gift robe Cao had given him, and rode to Little Pei to rally his army. Pei Songzhi observes that Wei Emperor Wu sent Liu Bei against Yuan Shu over Guo Jia’s objections—a public mission—so the turnip story cannot explain his flight. Hu Chong’s tale is far too odd to credit. When Chang Ba of Donghai rose, many counties threw off Cao Cao for Liu Bei, swelling his ranks past ten thousand. Sun Qian went to treat with Yuan Shao while Cao Cao sent Liu Dai and Wang Zhong against them without success. In the fifth year of Jian'an Cao Cao marched east and crushed him. 〈The Book of Wei explains that Cao Cao, hard pressed at Guandu, left part of his army there and led picked troops east against Liu Bei himself. Liu Bei had assumed Cao Cao was pinned by a major enemy and could not leave the west—until scouts galloped in with word that Cao Cao was coming in person. He was stunned but still half doubted the report. He rode out with a few dozen horsemen to look for himself; when he saw Cao Cao’s banners he abandoned his army and fled. Cao Cao scooped up his force, took his wives and children, and captured Guan Yu as well.
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先主走青州。 青州刺史袁譚，先主故茂才也，將步騎迎先主。 先主隨譚到平原，譚馳使白紹。 紹遣將道路奉迎，身去鄴二百里，與先主相見。 〈魏書曰：備歸紹，紹父子傾心敬重。〉 駐月餘日，所失亡士卒稍稍來集。 曹公與袁紹相拒於官渡，汝南黃巾劉辟等叛曹公應紹。 紹遣先主將兵與辟等略許下。 關羽亡歸先主。 曹公遣曹仁將兵擊先主，先主還紹軍，陰欲離紹，乃說紹南連荊州牧劉表。 紹遣先主將本兵復至汝南，與賊龔都等合，眾數千人。 曹公遣蔡陽擊之，為先主所殺。
The Former Lord fled into Qingzhou. Yuan Tan, inspector of Qingzhou, who had once recommended Liu Bei as a flourishing talent, came out with foot and horse to meet him. Liu Bei accompanied him to Pingyuan while Yuan Tan sent a fast courier to Yuan Shao. Yuan Shao dispatched an escort and rode two hundred li south from Ye to welcome him in person. 〈The Book of Wei notes that father and son Yuan received him with full courtesy and esteem. He stayed over a month while scattered troops trickled back. While Cao Cao and Yuan Shao faced off at Guandu, the Runan Yellow Turbans under Liu Pi rose against Cao in Yuan Shao's name. Yuan Shao sent Liu Bei with Liu Pi to raid the country south of the capital. Guan Yu broke free and rejoined him. Cao Cao sent Cao Ren against him; Liu Bei pulled back to Yuan Shao's camp but already meant to slip away, and talked Yuan Shao into linking south with Governor Liu Biao of Jingzhou. Yuan Shao then sent him back to Runan with his own command to join Gong Du's band, a force of a few thousand. Cao Cao dispatched Cai Yang, whom Liu Bei cut down.
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曹公既破紹，自南擊先主。 先主遣麋竺、孫乾與劉表相聞，表自郊迎，以上賓禮待之，益其兵，使屯新野。 荊州豪傑歸先主者日益多，表疑其心，陰禦之。 〈《九州春秋》曰：備住荊州數年，嘗於表坐起至廁，見髀裡肉生，慨然流涕。 還坐，表怪問備，備曰：「吾常身不離鞍，髀肉皆消。 今不復騎，髀裏肉生。 日月若馳，老將至矣，而功業不建，是以悲耳。」 《世語》曰：備屯樊城，劉表禮焉，憚其為人，不甚信用。 曾請備宴會，蒯越、蔡瑁欲因會取備，備覺之，偽如廁，潛遁出。 所乘馬名的盧，騎的盧走，墮襄陽城西檀溪水中，溺不得出。 備急曰：「的盧：今日厄矣，可努力！」 的盧乃一踴三丈，遂得過，乘桴渡河，中流而追者至，以表意謝之，曰：「何去之速乎！」 孫盛曰：此不然之言。 備時羈旅，客主勢殊，若有此變，豈敢晏然終表之世而無釁故乎？ 此皆世俗妄說，非事實也。〉 使拒夏侯惇、于禁等於博望。 久之，先主設伏兵，一旦自燒屯偽遁，惇等追之，為伏兵所破。
After defeating Yuan Shao, Cao Cao turned south against Liu Bei. Liu Bei sent Mi Zhu and Sun Qian ahead; Liu Biao met him beyond the walls as an honored guest, enlarged his command, and posted him at Xinye. As more Jingzhou notables rallied to Liu Bei, Liu Biao grew wary and quietly checked him. 〈The Springs and Autumns of the Nine Provinces tells how, after years at Liu Biao's court, Liu Bei rose from the mat to relieve himself, noticed flesh thickening on his thighs, and wept. When Liu Biao asked why, he said, “In the old days I never left the saddle; the flesh here wasted away. Now I seldom ride, and it grows again. The years fly; old age comes, yet I have built nothing—hence my sorrow.” The Shiyu adds that though Liu Biao treated him well at Fancheng, he feared his character and seldom gave him real responsibility. Once at a banquet Kuai Yue and Cai Mao meant to seize him; he sensed the trap, excused himself to the privy, and slipped away. His horse Dilu carried him into the Tan Brook west of Xiangyang, where it floundered and could not climb the bank. Liu Bei cried, “Dilu, this is our doom—give me everything you have!” The horse leaped three zhang in one bound and gained the far bank. He rafted a river, and as pursuers closed midstream he excused himself in Liu Biao's name: “Why such haste to go?” Sun Sheng dismisses the tale as untrue. A dependent guest in such peril could not have stayed at ease through Liu Biao's reign without open rupture. It is mere gossip, not fact. Liu Biao sent him to hold Xiahou Dun and Yu Jin at Bowang. After long stalemate Liu Bei fired his camp and feigned retreat; Xiahou Dun pursued into an ambush and was routed.
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十二年，曹公北征烏丸，先主說表襲許，表不能用。 〈《漢晉春秋》曰：曹公自柳城還，表謂備曰：「不用君言，故為失此大會。」 備曰：「今天下分裂，日尋干戈，事會之來，豈有終極乎？ 若能應之於後者，則此未足為恨也。」〉 曹公南征表，會表卒， 〈《英雄記》曰：表病，上備領荊州刺史。 魏書曰：表病篤，託國於備，顧謂曰：「我兒不才，而諸將並零落，我死之後，卿便攝荊州。」 備曰：「諸子自賢，君其憂病。」 或勸備宜從表言，備曰：「此人待我厚，今從其言，人必以我為薄，所不忍也。」 臣松之以為表夫妻素愛琮，捨適立庶，情計久定，無緣臨終舉荊州以授備，此亦不然之言。〉 子琮代立，遣使請降。 先主屯樊，不知曹公卒至，至宛乃聞之，遂將其眾去。 過襄陽，諸葛亮說先主攻琮，荊州可有。 先主曰：「吾不忍也。」 〈孔衍《漢魏春秋》曰：劉琮乞降，不敢告備。 備亦不知，久之乃覺，遣所親問琮。 琮令宋忠詣備宣旨。 是時曹公在宛，備乃大驚駭，謂忠曰：「卿諸人作事如此，不早相語，今禍至方告我，不亦太劇乎！」 引刀向忠曰：「今斷卿頭，不足以解忿，亦恥大丈夫臨別復殺卿輩！」 遣忠去，乃呼部曲議。 或勸備劫將琮及荊州吏士徑南到江陵，備答曰：「劉荊州臨亡託我以孤遺，背信自濟，吾所不為，死何面目以見劉荊州乎！」〉 乃駐馬呼琮，琮懼不能起。 琮左右及荊州人多歸先主。 〈典略曰：備過辭表墓，遂涕泣而去。〉 比到當陽，眾十餘萬，輜重數千兩，日行十餘里，別遣關羽乘船數百艘，使會江陵。 或謂先主曰：「宜速行保江陵，今雖擁大眾，被甲者少，若曹公兵至，何以拒之？」 先主曰：「夫濟大事必以人為本，今人歸吾，吾何忍棄去！」 〈習鑿齒曰：先主雖顛沛險難而信義愈明，勢偪事危而言不失道。 追景升之顧，則情感三軍； 戀赴義之士，則甘與同敗。 觀其所以結物情者，豈徒投醪撫寒含蓼問疾而已哉！ 其終濟大業，不亦宜乎！〉
In the twelfth year of Jian'an, while Cao Cao marched north against the Wuhuan, Liu Bei urged Liu Biao to strike the capital at Xu; Liu Biao would not act. 〈The Springs and Autumns of Han and Jin records that when Cao Cao returned from Liucheng, Liu Biao told him, “I ignored your counsel and missed the chance.” Liu Bei answered, “The empire is torn; arms clash every day. Openings come and go—who can say when the last will be? Seize the next one, and this need not rank as regret.””〉” Cao Cao marched south against Liu Biao just as Liu Biao died, 〈The Record of Heroes states that a dying Liu Biao memorialized Liu Bei as acting inspector of Jingzhou. The Book of Wei claims that on his deathbed Liu Biao entrusted the province to Liu Bei, saying, “My sons are worthless and my generals are spent; after my death you must take charge of Jingzhou.” Liu Bei replied, “Your sons are able men; worry only about your health.” When others urged him to accept, he said, “He has been generous; if I seized his charge now, the world would call me faithless, and I could not bear that.” Pei Songzhi objects that Liu Biao and his wife had long meant to set younger Liu Cong on the throne, so a deathbed cession to Liu Bei is implausible. Liu Cong succeeded him and sent envoys to surrender to Cao Cao. Liu Bei was at Fan and did not learn that Cao Cao had struck until word reached him at Wan; he then marched his people south. At Xiangyang Zhuge Liang urged him to strike Liu Cong and take the province. The Former Lord said, “I cannot bring myself to do it.” 〈Kong Yan’s Springs and Autumns of Han and Wei says Liu Cong surrendered in secret without informing Liu Bei. Liu Bei knew nothing until long afterward; he sent confidants to question Liu Cong. Liu Cong sent Song Zhong to deliver the news. By then Cao Cao was already at Wan. Liu Bei rounded on Song Zhong: “Why keep me in the dark until disaster is on us?” He drew his blade on Song Zhong: “Beheading you would not ease my wrath, and a man of honor does not butcher envoys at a parting.” He dismissed Song Zhong and called his officers in council. When urged to seize Liu Cong and bolt for Jiangling, he answered, “Liu Biao trusted his orphan to me; I will not save myself by treachery, nor face him in death.””〉 He reined in and hailed Liu Cong, who was too terrified to rise. Liu Cong’s household and many Jingzhou men went over to Liu Bei. 〈The Compendium adds that he wept at Liu Biao’s grave before leaving. By Dangyang his following passed a hundred thousand; baggage wagons numbered in the thousands, yet they crept barely ten li a day while Guan Yu took several hundred boats toward a rendezvous at Jiangling. Someone warned him, “Race for Jiangling; this throng is mostly unarmored—how will you stand against Cao Cao?” He answered, “Great deeds rest on men; these people trust me—I will not abandon them.” 〈Xi Zuochi praises him: even in extremity his good faith shone brighter, and his words stayed true to the right path. His debt to Liu Biao moved the whole army; his care for men who had chosen honor made him willing to share their ruin. See how he won hearts: not merely by sharing wine and tending the sick! Small wonder he finished the great work.
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曹公以江陵有軍實，恐先主據之，乃釋輜重，輕軍到襄陽。 聞先主已過，曹公將精騎五千急追之，一日一夜行三百餘里，及於當陽之長坂。 先主棄妻子，與諸葛亮、張飛、趙雲等數十騎走，曹公大獲其人眾輜重。 先主斜趨漢津，適與羽船會，得濟沔，遇表長子江夏太守琦眾萬餘人，與俱到夏口。 先主遣諸葛亮自結於孫權， 〈江表傳曰：孫權遣魯肅弔劉表二子，并令與備相結。 肅未至而曹公已濟漢津。 肅故進前，與備相遇於當陽。 因宣權旨，論天下事勢，致殷勤之意。 且問備曰：「豫州今欲何至？」 備曰：「與蒼梧太守 （吳臣） 〔吳巨〕有舊，欲往投之。」 肅曰：「孫討虜聰明仁惠，敬賢禮士，江表英豪，咸歸附之，已據有六郡，兵精糧多，足以立事。 今為君計，莫若遣腹心使自結於東，崇連和之好，共濟世業，而云欲投 （吳臣） 〔吳巨〕， （臣） 〔巨〕是凡人，偏在遠郡，行將為人所併，豈足託乎？」 備大喜，進住鄂縣，即遣諸葛亮隨肅詣孫權，結同盟誓。〉 權遣周瑜、程普等水軍數萬，與先主并力， 〈江表傳曰：備從魯肅計，進住鄂縣之樊口。 諸葛亮詣吳未還，備聞曹公軍下，恐懼，日遣邏吏於水次候望權軍。 吏望見瑜船，馳往白備，備曰：「何以知 （之） 非青徐軍邪？」 吏對曰：「以船知之。」 備遣人慰勞之。 瑜曰：「有軍任，不可得委署，儻能屈威，誠副其所望。」 備謂關羽、張飛曰：「彼欲致我，我今自結託於東而不往，非同盟之意也。」 乃乘單舸往見瑜，問曰：「今拒曹公，深為得計。 戰卒有幾？」 瑜曰：「三萬人。」 備曰：「恨少。」 瑜曰：「此自足用，豫州但觀瑜破之。」 備欲呼魯肅等共會語，瑜曰：「受命不得妄委署，若欲見子敬，可別過之。 又孔明已俱來，不過三兩日到也。」 備雖深愧異瑜，而心未許之能必破北軍也，故差池在後，將二千人與羽、飛俱，未肯係瑜，蓋為進退之計也。 孫盛曰：劉備雄才，處必亡之地，告急於吳，而獲奔助，無緣復顧望江渚而懷後計。 江表傳之言，當是吳人欲專美之辭。〉 與曹公戰於赤壁，大破之，焚其舟船。 先主與吳軍水陸並進，追到南郡，時又疾疫，北軍多死，曹公引歸。 〈江表傳曰：周瑜為南郡太守，分南岸地以給備。 備別立營於油江口，改名為公安。 劉表吏士見從北軍，多叛來投備。 備以瑜所給地少，不足以安民， （後） 〔復〕從權借荊州數郡。〉
Fearing Liu Bei would seize Jiangling and its arsenals, Cao Cao shed his baggage train and raced a light column to Xiangyang. Learning Liu Bei had already passed, he took five thousand picked horsemen and rode day and night over three hundred li to overtake him at Changban south of Dangyang. Liu Bei abandoned his family and fled with Zhuge Liang, Zhang Fei, Zhao Yun, and a few dozen horsemen while Cao Cao seized his masses and baggage. He angled for the Han ford, met Guan Yu’s flotilla, crossed the Mian, and joined Liu Qi, Liu Biao’s eldest son and grand administrator of Jiangxia, with ten thousand men; together they reached Xiakou. He sent Zhuge Liang to treat with Sun Quan, 〈The Traditions from Beyond the River states that Sun Quan sent Lu Su to console Liu Biao’s sons and to open talks with Liu Bei. Before Lu Su arrived, Cao Cao had already crossed the Han ford. Lu Su pressed on and met Liu Bei at Dangyang. He delivered Sun Quan’s message, reviewed the strategic picture, and pressed the alliance in warm terms. He asked, “Lord Liu of Yu province, where are you bound?” Liu Bei said, “I mean to join the grand administrator of Cangwu, Some texts read the name as Wu Chen here. 〔Wu Ju〕—an old acquaintance—and seek refuge with him.” Lu Su answered, “Sun Quan is wise and generous, honors men of talent, and holds six commanderies east of the Long River with strong troops and full granaries—enough to build an empire. Send a trusted man east to seal an alliance and share the work of the age—yet you speak of fleeing to Wu Chen (variant), 〔Wu Ju〕, Some manuscripts write the second graph as chen instead of ju; 〔Ju〕 is a mediocrity in a remote commandery about to be swallowed—can he be your refuge?” Liu Bei was delighted, advanced to E county, and sent Zhuge Liang with Lu Su to Sun Quan to swear alliance. Sun Quan sent Zhou Yu, Cheng Pu, and tens of thousands of sailors to join Liu Bei’s force, 〈The Traditions from Beyond the River adds that Liu Bei followed Lu Su’s advice and camped at Fankou in E county. While Zhuge Liang was still in Wu, Liu Bei heard Cao Cao was coming downriver and posted pickets along the shore to watch for Sun Quan’s fleet. When a scout sighted Zhou Yu’s ships and raced back, Liu Bei asked, “How do you know it is not a Qingzhou or Xuzhou fleet?” The man said, “By the ships.” Liu Bei sent men with thanks. Zhou Yu answered that military duty kept him from leaving his post, but if Liu Bei would condescend to visit, it would meet his hopes.” He told Guan Yu and Zhang Fei, “He asks me to come; to refuse would break the spirit of alliance.” He took a light boat to Zhou Yu and said, “Your plan to face Cao Cao is sound. How many fighting men do you have?” Zhou Yu said, “Thirty thousand.” Liu Bei said, “That seems thin.” Zhou Yu answered, “They will suffice—watch me break Cao Cao’s host.” When Liu Bei asked to bring Lu Su into the parley, Zhou Yu refused: “I may not leave my post; see Zijing on your own if you wish. Zhuge Liang is already on the way and should arrive within a few days.” Liu Bei admired Zhou Yu yet doubted he could really crush Cao Cao, so he lagged behind with two thousand men under Guan Yu and Zhang Fei, keeping his distance as a hedge. Sun Sheng argues that Liu Bei, a man of heroic caliber cornered on the brink, who had begged Wu for rescue, would not have idled on the shore scheming how to hold back. The Traditions from Beyond the River sounds like Wu spin to steal all the credit. They fought Cao Cao at Red Cliffs, shattered his fleet, and burned his ships. Liu Bei and the Wu forces pressed by land and water to Nan commandery; plague wasted the northern army, and Cao Cao withdrew. 〈The Traditions from Beyond the River says Zhou Yu, as grand administrator of Nan commandery, ceded the south bank to Liu Bei. Liu Bei built a separate camp at the mouth of the You River and renamed the place Gongan. Many of Liu Biao’s men who had served the northern army deserted to Liu Bei. Liu Bei found Zhou Yu’s grant too small to settle his people, Later, 〔again〕 borrowed several Jingzhou commanderies from Sun Quan.
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先主表琦為荊州刺史，又南征四郡。 武陵太守金旋、長沙太守韓玄、桂陽太守趙範、零陵太守劉度皆降。 〈《三輔決錄注》曰：金旋字元機，京兆人，歷位黃門郎，漢陽太守，徵拜議郎，遷中郎將，領武陵太守，為備所攻劫死。 子禕，事見《魏武本紀》。〉 廬江雷緒率部曲數萬口稽顙。 琦病死，羣下推先主為荊州牧，治公安。 權稍畏之，進妹固好。 先主至京見權，綢繆恩紀。 〈《山陽公載記》曰：備還，謂左右曰：「孫車騎長上短下，其難為下，吾不可以再見之。」 乃晝夜兼行。 臣松之案：魏書載劉備與孫權語，與蜀志述諸葛亮與權語正同。 劉備未破魏軍之前，尚未與孫權相見，不得有此說。 故知蜀志為是。〉 權遣使云欲共取蜀，或以為宜報聽許，吳終不能越荊有蜀，蜀地可為己有。 荊州主簿殷觀進曰：「若為吳先驅，進未能克蜀，退為吳所乘，即事去矣。 今但可然贊其伐蜀，而自說新據諸郡，未可興動，吳必不敢越我而獨取蜀。 如此進退之計，可以收吳、蜀之利。」 先主從之，權果輟計。 遷觀為別駕從事。 〈《獻帝春秋》曰：孫權欲與備共取蜀，遣使報備曰：「米賊張魯居王巴、漢，為曹操耳目，規圖益州。 劉璋不武，不能自守。 若操得蜀，則荊州危矣。 今欲先攻取璋，進討張魯，首尾相連，一統吳、楚，雖有十操，無所憂也。」 備欲自圖蜀，拒答不聽，曰：〉
He had Liu Qi named inspector of Jingzhou, then marched south to conquer the four southern commanderies. The grand administrators Jin Xuan of Wuling, Han Xuan of Changsha, Zhao Fan of Guiyang, and Liu Du of Lingling all submitted. 〈The Commentary on the Records of the Three Adjuncts identifies Jin Xuan, courtesy Yuanji, of Jingzhao, who fell when Liu Bei attacked his commandery. His son Jin Yi is treated in the annals of Cao Cao. Lei Xu of Lujiang brought tens of thousands of followers to kneel in submission. When Liu Qi died, his officers raised Liu Bei to governor of Jingzhou with his seat at Gongan. Sun Quan began to fear him and sent a younger sister to cement the tie. Liu Bei went to Moling to see Sun Quan, and the two drew close in friendship. 〈The Records Carried from the Duke of Shanyang quotes Liu Bei on his return: “Sun Quan is built long in the torso and short in the legs—hard to work under; I will not face him again.” He then pressed night and day on the road. Pei Songzhi notes that the Book of Wei’s version of Liu Bei’s words to Sun Quan matches the Shu Annals’ version of Zhuge Liang’s words to Sun Quan word for word. Liu Bei had not yet met Sun Quan before the defeat of Cao Cao’s army, so this remark cannot be authentic. The Shu Annals version is therefore to be trusted. When Sun Quan proposed a joint strike on Shu, some advisers said to agree: Wu could never hold Shu across Jingzhou, so the west would fall to Liu Bei alone. Yin Guan, chief clerk of Jingzhou, objected: “If we spearhead Wu’s attack, fail to take Shu, and are caught from behind by Wu, all is lost. Praise their plan but plead that our new conquests are still unsettled and our troops cannot move; Wu will not dare march past us to seize Shu alone. That strategy secures the best of both Wu and Shu.” Liu Bei took the counsel, and Sun Quan dropped the scheme. Yin Guan was promoted to chief clerk. 〈The Springs and Autumns of Emperor Xian records that Sun Quan proposed a joint invasion of Shu, writing to Liu Bei that the “rice-bandit” Zhang Lu held Ba and Hanzhong as Cao Cao’s outpost and aimed at Yizhou. Liu Zhang is no soldier and cannot defend himself. If Cao Cao takes Shu, Jingzhou is lost. Let us strike Liu Zhang first, then Zhang Lu, link our fronts, and unite Wu and Chu—then ten Cao Caos would not trouble us.” Liu Bei meant to take Shu himself and declined, replying:
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益州民富彊，土地險阻，劉璋雖弱，足以自守。 張魯虛偽，未必盡忠於操。 今暴師於蜀、漢，轉運於萬里，欲使戰克攻取，舉不失利，此吳起不能定其規，孫武不能善其事也。 曹操雖有無君之心，而有奉主之名，議者見操失利於赤壁，謂其力屈，無復遠志也。 今操三分天下已有其二，將欲飲馬於滄海，觀兵於吳會，何肯守此坐須老乎？ 今同盟無故自相攻伐，借樞於操，使敵承其隙，非長計也。
Yizhou is rich, its terrain formidable; weak as Liu Zhang is, he can still hold it. Zhang Lu is a charlatan and hardly Cao Cao’s loyal vassal. To throw armies into Shu and Hanzhong and haul supplies a thousand miles, expecting every blow to land—Wu Qi could not draft such a plan, nor Sunzi carry it out. Cao Cao may disdain his sovereign yet still plays the loyal minister; men who saw him beaten at Red Cliffs think his strength spent and his ambitions local. He holds two parts of three and means to water his horses in the sea and parade his hosts at Wu—will he sit idle until he grows old? For allies to strike one another without cause hands Cao Cao the pivot and invites him through the breach—no lasting strategy.
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〈權不聽，遣孫瑜率水軍住夏口。 備不聽軍過，謂瑜曰：「汝欲取蜀，吾當被髮入山，不失信於天下也。」 使關羽屯江陵，張飛屯秭歸，諸葛亮據南郡，備自住孱陵。 權知備意，因召瑜還。〉
〈Sun Quan ignored him and sent Sun Yu with the fleet to Xiakou. Liu Bei barred the march and told Sun Yu, “If you take Shu, I shall hide my hair in the hills rather than break faith with the world.” He posted Guan Yu at Jiangling, Zhang Fei at Zigui, Zhuge Liang in Nan commandery, and himself at Yanling. Sun Quan read Liu Bei’s resolve and recalled Sun Yu.
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十六年，益州牧劉璋遙聞曹公將遣鍾繇等向漢中討張魯，內懷恐懼。 別駕從事蜀郡張松說璋曰：「曹公兵強無敵於天下，若因張魯之資以取蜀土，誰能御之者乎？」 璋曰：「吾固憂之而未有計。」 松曰：「劉豫州，使君之宗室而曹公之深讎也，善用兵，若使之討魯，魯必破。 魯破，則益州強，曹公雖來，無能為也。」 璋然之，遣法正將四千人迎先主，前後賂遺以巨億計。 正因陳益州可取之策。 〈吳書曰：備前見張松，後得法正，皆厚以恩意接納，盡其殷勤之歡。 因問蜀中闊狹，兵器府庫人馬眾寡，及諸要害道里遠近，松等具言之，又畫地圖山川處所，由是盡知益州虛實也。〉 先主留諸葛亮、關羽等據荊州，將步卒數万人入益州。 至涪，璋自出迎，相見甚歡。 張松令法正白先主，及謀臣龐統進說，便可於會所襲璋。 先主曰：「此大事也，不可倉卒。」 璋推先主行大司馬，領司隸校尉； 先主亦推璋行鎮西大將軍，領益州牧。 璋增先主兵，使擊張魯，又令督白水軍。 先主並軍三萬餘人，車甲器械資貨甚盛。 是歲，璋還成都。 先主北到葭萌，未即討魯，厚樹恩德，以收眾心。
In the sixteenth year of Jian'an, Governor Liu Zhang of Yizhou heard from afar that Cao Cao would send Zhong Yao toward Hanzhong against Zhang Lu and was terrified. Zhang Song, chief clerk from Shu commandery, warned him, “Cao Cao’s army is unmatched; if he uses Zhang Lu as a bridge into Shu, who can stop him?” Liu Zhang said, “I fear the same but see no plan.” Zhang Song answered, “Liu Bei is your kinsman and Cao Cao’s bitter enemy, and a fine soldier—send him against Zhang Lu and Zhang Lu will fall. Crush Zhang Lu and Yizhou stands strong—Cao Cao can do nothing against you.” Liu Zhang agreed, sent Fa Zheng with four thousand men to welcome Liu Bei, and lavished gifts worth billions in cash. Fa Zheng then laid out how Yizhou could be seized. 〈The Book of Wu says Liu Bei treated Zhang Song and Fa Zheng with lavish kindness and warm hospitality. He questioned them on Shu’s roads, arsenals, troop counts, and strongpoints; they told all and sketched maps until he knew every weakness of Yizhou. Leaving Zhuge Liang and Guan Yu to hold Jingzhou, he led several tens of thousands of foot into Yizhou. At Fu, Liu Zhang came out in person; their meeting was cordial. Zhang Song had Fa Zheng and Pang Tong urge Liu Bei to seize Liu Zhang at the banquet. The Former Lord said, “That is too grave a step to rush.” Liu Zhang named him acting grand marshal and colonel director of retainers; Liu Bei in turn named Liu Zhang acting general-in-chief who guards the west and governor of Yizhou. Liu Zhang reinforced him and ordered him against Zhang Lu, putting him over the Baishui garrison. His combined force passed thirty thousand, with wagons, armor, and stores in plenty. That year Liu Zhang returned to Chengdu. North at Jiameng he delayed the campaign against Zhang Lu and piled up kindness to win hearts.
16
明年，曹公徵孫權，權呼先主自救。 先主遣使告璋曰：「曹公徵吳，吳憂危急。 孫氏與孤本為脣齒，又樂進在青泥與關羽相拒，今不往救羽，進必大克，轉侵州界，其憂有甚於魯。 魯自守之賊，不足慮也。」 乃從璋求萬兵及資 （寶） ，欲以東行。 璋但許兵四千，其餘皆給半。 〈魏書曰：備因激怒其眾曰：「吾為益州徵強敵，師徒勤瘁，不遑寧居； 今積帑藏之財而吝於賞功，望士大夫為出死力戰，其可得乎！」〉 張松書與先主及法正曰：「今大事垂可立，如何釋此去乎！」 松兄廣漢太守肅，懼禍逮己，白璋發其謀。 於是璋收斬松，嫌隙始構矣。 〈《益部耆舊雜記》曰：張肅有威儀，容貌甚偉。 松為人短小，放蕩不治節操，然識達精果，有才幹。 劉璋遣詣曹公，曹公不甚禮； 公主簿楊脩深器之，白公闢松，公不納。 脩以公所撰兵書示松，松宴飲之間一看便闇誦。 脩以此益異之。〉 璋敕關戍諸將文書勿複關通先主。 先主大怒，召璋白水軍督楊懷，責以無禮，斬之。 乃使黃忠、卓膺勒兵向璋。 先主徑至關中，質諸將並士卒妻子，引兵與忠、膺等進到涪，據其城。 璋遣劉跂、冷苞、張任、鄧賢等拒先主於涪， 〈《益部耆舊雜記》曰：張任，蜀郡人，家世寒門。 少有膽勇，有志節，仕州為從事。〉 皆破敗，退保綿竹。 璋復遣李嚴督綿竹諸軍，嚴率眾降先主。 先主軍益強，分遣諸將平下屬縣，諸葛亮、張飛、趙雲等將兵溯流定白帝、江州、江陽，惟關羽留鎮荊州。 先主進軍圍雒； 時璋子循守城，被攻且一年。
The next year Cao Cao attacked Sun Quan, who called on Liu Bei for rescue. Liu Bei sent word to Liu Zhang: “Cao Cao strikes Wu; Wu is in mortal peril. Sun Quan and I are lip and tooth; Yue Jin faces Guan Yu at Qingni—if I do not go, Yue Jin will break through and ravage your borders worse than Zhang Lu ever could. Zhang Lu is a mere hedgehog—no cause for fear.” He then asked Liu Zhang for ten thousand men and supplies Some texts add “treasure” here alongside supplies; intending to march east. Liu Zhang allowed only four thousand men and halved the rest of his request. 〈The Book of Wei says he roused his troops: “I fight Yizhou’s enemies while my men wear themselves out without rest; yet you hoard treasure and grudge rewards—do you think gentlemen will die for you?””〉" Zhang Song wrote to Liu Bei and Fa Zheng, “Victory is within reach—how can you walk away now?” His brother Zhang Su, grand administrator of Guanghan, fearing ruin, informed Liu Zhang of the plot. Liu Zhang seized Zhang Song and had him executed, and the breach between them opened. 〈The Miscellaneous Records of the Elders of Yibu describes Zhang Su as imposing in bearing and stature. Zhang Song was short, unruly, and lax in morals, yet shrewd, decisive, and able. Liu Zhang once sent him to Cao Cao, who treated him coldly; Yang Xiu, the registrar, thought highly of him and urged Cao Cao to employ him, but Cao Cao refused. Yang Xiu showed him Cao Cao’s military treatise; at a banquet Zhang Song glanced once and recited it from memory. Yang Xiu marveled at him all the more. Liu Zhang ordered the frontier posts to cut all communication with Liu Bei. Liu Bei in fury summoned Yang Huai, commander of the Baishui garrison, rebuked him for discourtesy, and executed him. He then sent Huang Zhong and Zhuo Ying against Liu Zhang. He marched straight into the pass, seized the officers and soldiers’ families as hostages, joined Huang Zhong and Zhuo Ying, and took Fu. Liu Zhang sent Liu Gui, Leng Bao, Zhang Ren, and Deng Xian to hold Liu Bei at Fu, 〈The Miscellaneous Records of the Elders of Yibu names Zhang Ren of Shu commandery, from a humble house. Bold and high-minded from youth, he served the province as a clerk. They were routed and fell back to Mianzhu. Liu Zhang sent Li Yan to command the Mianzhu armies, but Li Yan came over with his troops to Liu Bei. His army swelled; he sent generals to pacify the counties while Zhuge Liang, Zhang Fei, and Zhao Yun moved upriver to secure Baicheng, Jiangzhou, and Jiangyang, leaving only Guan Yu to guard Jingzhou. He advanced to besiege Luoxian; Liu Zhang’s son Liu Xun held the town under siege for nearly a year.
17
十九年夏，雒城破， 〈益部耆舊雜記曰：劉璋遣張任、劉跂率精兵拒捍先主於涪，為先主所破，退與璋子循守雒城。 任勒兵出於雁橋，戰复敗。 禽任。 先主聞任之忠勇，令軍降之，任厲聲曰：「老臣終不復事二主矣。」 乃殺之。 先主嘆惜焉。〉 進圍成都數十日，璋出降。 〈《傅子》曰：初，劉備襲蜀，丞相掾趙戩曰：「劉備其不濟乎？ 拙於用兵，每戰則敗，奔亡不暇，何以圖人？ 蜀雖小區，險固四塞，獨守之國，難卒並也。」 徵士傅幹曰：「劉備寬仁有度，能得人死力。 諸葛亮達治知變，正而有謀，而為之相； 張飛、關羽勇而有義，皆萬人之敵，而為之將：此三人者，皆人傑也。 以備之略，三傑佐之，何為不濟也？」 《典略》曰：趙戩，字叔茂，京兆長陵人也。 質而好學，言稱詩書，愛卹於人，不論疏密。 闢公府，入為尚書選部郎。 董卓欲以所私並充臺閣，戩拒不聽。 卓怒，召戩欲殺之，觀者皆為戩懼，而戩自若。 及見卓，引辭正色，陳說是非，卓雖凶戾，屈而謝之遷平陵令。 故將王允被害，莫敢近者，戩棄官收斂之。 三輔亂，戩客荊州，劉表以為賓客。 曹公平荊州，執戩手曰：「何相見之晚也！」 遂闢為掾。 後為五官將司馬，相國鍾繇長史，年六十餘卒。〉 蜀中殷盛豐樂，先主置酒大饗士卒，取蜀城中金銀分賜將士，還其穀帛。 先主复領益州牧，諸葛亮為股肱，法正為謀主，關羽、張飛、馬超為爪牙，許靖、麋竺、簡雍為賓友。 及董和、黃權、李嚴等本璋之所授用也，吳壹、費觀等又璋之婚親也，彭羕又璋之所排擯也，劉巴者宿昔之所忌恨也，皆處之顯任，盡其器能。 有誌之士，無不競勸。
In the summer of the nineteenth year of Jian'an, Luoxian fell, 〈The Miscellaneous Records of the Elders of Yibu says Liu Zhang sent Zhang Ren and Liu Gui with picked troops to hold Liu Bei at Fu; they were beaten and fell back with Liu Xun to defend Luoxian. Zhang Ren led his men out at Wild Goose Bridge and was beaten again. They took Zhang Ren alive. Liu Bei, admiring his loyalty and courage, ordered him spared if he yielded; Zhang Ren shouted, “An old servant does not serve two masters.” So they executed him. Liu Bei mourned him. After many days’ siege of Chengdu, Liu Zhang came out and surrendered. 〈Master Fu’s Book records that when Liu Bei invaded Shu, Zhao Jian, a clerk in the chancellery, asked, “Will Liu Bei fail? He is clumsy in war, loses every fight, and flees for his life—how can he conquer anyone? Shu is small but ringed by passes; it is a state built to stand alone—not quickly swallowed.” Fu Gan answered, “Liu Bei is generous and measured; he can inspire men to die for him. Zhuge Liang masters government and adapts to change, upright and resourceful as his chancellor; Zhang Fei and Guan Yu are fearless and honorable, each a match for ten thousand, as his generals—these three are champions among men. With Liu Bei’s design and these three at his side, how could he fail?” The Compendium identifies Zhao Jian, courtesy Shumao, of Changling in Jingzhao. He was plain, studious, quoted the classics, and showed kindness to all alike. He entered the duke’s bureau and became a gentleman of the Masters of Writing in the appointments section. When Dong Zhuo tried to pack the ministries with his creatures, Zhao Jian refused. Dong Zhuo raged and called for his death; the crowd trembled for him, but he stayed calm. Face to face he spoke with stern rectitude; even Dong Zhuo yielded and apologized, then named him magistrate of Pingling. When Wang Yun was slain and no one dared approach the body, Zhao Jian resigned his post to bury him. When the Three Adjuncts fell into chaos he fled to Jingzhou, where Liu Biao kept him as a guest. After Cao Cao took Jingzhou he took Zhao Jian’s hand and cried, “Why only now?” and appointed him a clerk. He later served as major to the heir apparent and chief clerk to Minister Zhong Yao, and died in his sixties. Shu was rich and at peace; Liu Bei feasted his army, shared Chengdu’s gold and silver among the ranks, and returned grain and cloth to the people. Liu Bei again took the title governor of Yizhou, naming Zhuge Liang and Fa Zheng his right and left hands, Guan Yu, Zhang Fei, and Ma Chao his claws, and Xu Jing, Mi Zhu, and Jian Yong his counselors. Dong He, Huang Quan, Li Yan, and others whom Liu Zhang had employed, Wu Yi and Fei Guan who were his in-laws, Peng Yang whom he had spurned, and Liu Ba whom he had feared—all received high office suited to their talents. Men of ambition strove harder than ever.
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二十年，孫權以先主已得益州，使使報欲得荊州。 先主言：「須得涼州，當以荊州相與。」 權忿之，乃遣呂蒙襲奪長沙、零陵、桂陽三郡。 先主引兵五萬下公安，令關羽入益陽。 是歲，曹公定漢中，張魯遁走巴西。 先主聞之，與權連和，分荊州、江夏、長沙、桂陽東屬，南郡、零陵、武陵西屬，引軍還江州。 遣黃權將兵迎張魯，張魯已降曹公。 曹公使夏侯淵、張郃屯漢中，數數犯暴巴界。 先主令張飛進兵宕渠，與郃等戰於瓦口，破郃等，收兵還南鄭。 先主亦還成都。
In the twentieth year of Jian'an, Sun Quan sent envoys to demand Jingzhou now that Liu Bei held Yizhou. Liu Bei answered, “When I have Liangzhou, I will give you Jingzhou.” Sun Quan in fury sent Lu Meng to seize Changsha, Lingling, and Guiyang. Liu Bei brought fifty thousand men to Gongan and ordered Guan Yu into Yiyang. That year Cao Cao took Hanzhong and Zhang Lu fled into Bazhong. Hearing this, Liu Bei made peace with Sun Quan: Jiangxia, Changsha, and Guiyang went east to Wu; Nan commandery, Lingling, and Wuling stayed with him, and he withdrew to Jiangzhou. He sent Huang Quan to meet Zhang Lu, but Zhang Lu had already surrendered to Cao Cao. Cao Cao posted Xiahou Yuan and Zhang He in Hanzhong, and they raided Ba again and again. Liu Bei sent Zhang Fei to Dangqu, defeated Zhang He at Wakou, and drove him back to Nanzheng. Liu Bei returned to Chengdu.
19
二十三年，先主率諸將進兵漢中。 分遣將軍吳蘭、雷銅等入武都，皆為曹公軍所沒。 先主次於陽平關，與淵、郃等相拒。
In the twenty-third year he led his generals into Hanzhong. He sent Wu Lan and Lei Tong into Wudu, but Cao Cao’s forces destroyed them. He camped at Yangping Pass against Xiahou Yuan and Zhang He.
20
二十四年春，自陽平南渡沔水，緣山稍前，於定軍山勢作營。 淵將兵來爭其地。 先主命黃忠乘高鼓譟攻之，大破淵軍，斬淵及曹公所署益州刺史趙顒等。 曹公自長安舉眾南征。 先主遙策之曰：「曹公雖來，無能為也，我必有漢川矣。」 及曹公至，先主斂眾拒險，終不交鋒，積月不拔，亡者日多。 夏，曹公果引軍還，先主遂有漢中。 遣劉封、孟達、李平等攻申耽於上庸。
In the spring of the twenty-fourth year he crossed the Mian south from Yangping, worked along the heights, and camped on Dingjun Mountain. Xiahou Yuan marched to dispute the ground. Liu Bei ordered Huang Zhong to charge downhill with drums and shouts, shattered Xiahou Yuan’s army, and slew Yuan and Cao Cao’s appointee as inspector of Yizhou, Zhao Yong, among others. Cao Cao then marched south from Chang’an at the head of a great host. Liu Bei predicted, “Even if Cao Cao comes, he can do nothing—I shall hold the Han basin.” When Cao Cao arrived, Liu Bei drew up on the defiles and refused battle for months until desertions mounted in Cao’s camp. That summer Cao Cao withdrew, and Liu Bei took Hanzhong. He sent Liu Feng, Meng Da, and Li Ping against Shen Dan at Shangyong.
21
秋，群下上先主為漢中王，表於漢帝曰：
That autumn his officers petitioned to have him named king of Hanzhong, addressing the memorial to the Han emperor:
22
平西將軍都亭侯臣馬超、左將軍 （領） 長史鎮軍將軍臣許靖、營司馬臣龐羲、議曹從事中郎軍議中郎將臣射援、 〈三輔決錄注曰：援字文雄，扶風人也。 其先本姓謝，與北地諸謝同族。 始祖謝服為將軍出征，天子以謝服非令名，改為射，子孫氏焉。 兄堅，字文固，少有美名，闢公府為黃門侍郎。 獻帝之初，三輔飢亂，堅去官，與弟援南入蜀依劉璋，璋以堅為長史。 劉備代璋，以堅為廣漢、蜀郡太守。 援亦少有名行，太尉皇甫嵩賢其才而以女妻之，丞相諸葛亮以援為祭酒，遷從事中郎，卒官。〉 軍師將軍臣諸葛亮、蕩寇將軍漢壽亭侯臣關羽、徵虜將軍新亭侯臣張飛、征西將軍臣黃忠、鎮遠將軍臣賴恭、揚武將軍臣法正、興業將軍臣李嚴等一百二十人上言曰：昔唐堯至聖而四凶在朝，周成仁賢而四國作難，高後稱製而諸呂竊命，孝昭幼衝而上官逆謀，皆馮世寵，藉履國權，窮凶極亂，社稷幾危。 非大舜、周公、硃虛、博陸，則不能流放禽討，安危定傾。 伏惟陛下誕姿聖德，統理萬邦，而遭厄運不造之艱。 董卓首難，盪覆京畿，曹操階禍，竊執天衡； 皇后太子，鴆殺見害，剝亂天下，殘毀民物。 久令陛下蒙塵憂厄，幽處虛邑。 人神無主，遏絕王命，厭昧皇極，欲盜神器。 左將軍領司隸校尉豫、荊、益三州牧宜城亭侯備，受朝爵秩，念在輸力，以殉國難。 睹其機兆，赫然憤發，與車騎將軍董承同謀誅操，將安國家，克寧舊都。 會承機事不密，令操遊魂得遂長惡，殘泯海內。 臣等每懼王室大有閻樂之禍，小有定安之變， 〈趙高使閻樂殺二世。 王莽廢孺子以為定安公。〉 夙夜惴惴，戰栗累息。 昔在虞書，敦序九族，週監二代，封建同姓，詩著其義，歷載長久。 漢興之初，割裂疆土，尊王子弟，是以卒折諸呂之難，而成太宗之基。 臣等以備肺腑枝葉，宗子籓翰，心存國家，念在弭亂。 自操破於漢中，海內英雄望風蟻附，而爵號不顯，九錫未加，非所以鎮衛社稷，光昭萬世也。 奉辭在外，禮命斷絕。 昔河西太守梁統等值漢中興，限於山河，位同權均，不能相率，咸推竇融以為元帥，卒立效績，摧破隗囂。 今社稷之難，急於隴、蜀。 操外吞天下，內殘群寮，朝廷有蕭牆之危，而御侮未建，可為寒心。 臣等輒依舊典，封備漢中王，拜大司馬，董齊六軍，糾合同盟，掃滅凶逆。 以漢中、巴、蜀、廣漢、犍為為國，所署置依漢初諸侯王故典。 夫權宜之製，苟利社稷，專之可也。 然後功成事立，臣等退伏矯罪，雖死無恨。
Your subject Ma Chao, general who pacifies the west and village marquis of Duting; the general of the left Some texts add “concurrently” here before the next titles; chief clerk and general who guards the army Xu Jing; camp major Pang Xi; attendant of the consult bureau and army discussant She Yuan; 〈The Commentary on the Records of the Three Adjuncts gives She Yuan, courtesy Wenxiong, of Fufeng. His ancestors were surnamed Xie and kin to the Xie of Beidi. The founder Xie Fu took the field as a general; the emperor disliked the name and changed it to She, which his line adopted. His elder brother She Jian, courtesy Wengu, famed in youth, served as palace attendant in the duke’s bureau. Early in Emperor Xian’s reign, when the Three Adjuncts starved in chaos, She Jian resigned and with his brother She Yuan fled south to Liu Zhang, who named Jian chief clerk. When Liu Bei replaced Liu Zhang, he made She Jian grand administrator of Guanghan and Shu commandery. She Yuan too was known in youth for character; Huangfu Song married him a daughter for his talent; Zhuge Liang made him libationer, then attendant clerk, and he died in office. Your subjects Zhuge Liang, general of the army; Guan Yu, general who sweeps the bandits and marquis of Hanshou village; Zhang Fei, general who captures caitiffs and marquis of Xinting; Huang Zhong, general of the west; Lai Gong, general who guards the distance; Fa Zheng, general who displays martial might; Li Yan, general who establishes enterprise; and one hundred twenty others memorialize: In antiquity Emperor Yao was supremely sage, yet four villains sat in court; King Cheng of Zhou was benevolent and worthy, yet four states rose in rebellion; Empress Lü held the regency, yet the Lü clan usurped the mandate; Emperor Zhao of Han was a minor, yet the Shangguans plotted treason—all rode favor, seized power, ran to extremes of evil, and brought the altars of state to the brink of ruin. Only a Shun, a Duke of Zhou, a Liu Zhang of Zhu-Xu, or a Huo Guang of Bolu could banish the wicked, cage the rebels, steady the peril, and right the fallen state. We prostrate ourselves before Your Majesty, born with sage virtue to rule the myriad regions, yet caught in misfortune and untimely hardship. Dong Zhuo began the catastrophe and overturned the capital; Cao Cao climbed on calamity and seized the levers of Heaven; he murdered empress and crown prince by poison, tore the realm apart, and laid waste to the people. For long he has kept Your Majesty in exile and sorrow, imprisoned in an empty town. Men and spirits had no true lord; he choked off the royal command, veiled the throne, and meant to steal the regalia. Liu Bei, left general, colonel director of retainers, and shepherd of Yu, Jing, and Yi, marquis of Yicheng village, having received court rank, meant to spend his strength and die for the state in its peril. Seeing the signs, he rose in wrath with General of chariots and cavalry Dong Cheng to put Cao Cao to death, meaning to restore the state and the old capital. Dong Cheng’s plot leaked, letting that roaming wraith prolong his crimes and ravage the realm. We ever fear for the house of Han a disaster like Yan Le’s murder of the Second Emperor or a shift like Wang Mang’s reduction of the infant duke of Ding’an, 〈Gloss: Zhao Gao had Yan Le kill the Second Emperor of Qin. Wang Mang deposed the infant emperor and named him duke of Ding’an. Night and day we tremble and dare not breathe. The canon of Yu teaches kindness to kin; Zhou looked to the two previous dynasties and enfeoffed princes of its own blood; the Odes praise this, and it endured for ages. When Han rose it carved out domains for imperial princes, and so in the end broke the Lü clan’s grip and laid the foundation for Emperor Taizong. We hold Liu Bei a kinsman of the imperial house, a cadet shield of the line—his heart is the state, his aim is to end rebellion. Since Cao Cao’s defeat at Hanzhong, heroes across the realm have rallied like ants to him, yet his titles do not match his merit and the nine honors have not been granted—this is no way to guard the altars or shine for ages. We bear our charge beyond the capital while court orders cannot reach us. When Han rose again, Liang Tong and the western governors, cut off by mountains and rivers and equal in rank, could not act in concert until they made Dou Rong supreme commander, won success, and destroyed Wei Xiao. The peril to the altars is more urgent than it was in Longxi or Ba–Shu. Cao Cao devours the realm without and maims the ministers within; the court faces peril within its own walls while no champion is raised—it chills the heart. We therefore follow ancient precedent to enfeoff Liu Bei as king of Hanzhong, appoint him grand marshal, put the six armies in order, rally the covenant, and sweep away the traitors. His domain shall be Hanzhong, Ba, Shu, Guanghan, and Qianwei, with appointments as under the early Han kings. Expedient acts that serve the altars may be taken on one’s own authority. When the deed is done we shall withdraw and accept punishment for presumption, and die without regret.
23
遂於沔陽設壇場，陳兵列眾，群臣陪位，讀奏訖，禦王冠於先主。
At Mianyang they built an altar, drew up the host, and the ministers took their places; when the memorial had been read, they set the king’s crown on Liu Bei’s head.
24
先主上言漢帝曰：
The Former Lord addressed the Han emperor:
25
臣以具臣之才，荷上將之任，董督三軍，奉辭於外，不得掃除寇難，靖匡王室，久使陛下聖教陵遲，六合之內，否而未泰，惟憂反側，疢如疾首。 曩者董卓造為亂階，自是之後，群凶縱橫，殘剝海內。 賴陛下聖德威靈，人神同應，或忠義奮討，或上天降罰，暴逆並殪，以漸冰消。 惟獨曹操，久未梟除，侵擅國權，恣心極亂。 臣昔與車騎將軍董承圖謀討操，機事不密，承見陷害，臣播越失據，忠義不果。 遂得使操窮凶極逆，主後戮殺，皇子鴆害。 雖糾合同盟，念在奮力，懦弱不武，歷年未效。 常恐殞沒，孤負國恩，寤寐永嘆，夕惕若厲。 今臣群寮以為在昔虞書敦敘九族，庶明勵翼， 〈鄭玄注曰：庶，眾也； 勵，作也； 敘，次序也。 序九族而親之，以眾明作羽翼之臣也。〉 五帝損益，此道不廢。 週監二代，並建諸姬，實賴晉、鄭夾輔之福。 高祖龍興，尊王子弟，大啟九國，卒斬諸呂，以安大宗。 今操惡直醜正，寔繁有徒，包藏禍心，篡盜已顯。 既宗室微弱，帝族無位，斟酌古式，依假權宜，上臣大司馬漢中王。 臣伏自三省，受國厚恩，荷任一方，陳力未效，所獲已過，不宜复忝高位以重罪謗。 群寮見逼，迫臣以義。 臣退惟寇賊不梟，國難未已，宗廟傾危，社稷將墜，成臣憂責碎首之負。 若應權通變，以寧靖聖朝，雖赴水火，所不得辭，敢慮常宜，以防後悔。 輒順眾議，拜受印璽，以崇國威。 仰惟爵號，位高寵厚，俯思報效，憂深責重，驚怖累息，如臨於谷。 盡力輸誠，獎厲六師，率齊群義，應天順時，撲討凶逆，以寧社稷，以報萬分，謹拜章因驛上還所假左將軍、宜城亭侯印綬。
Your subject, with the talent of a mere placeholder, bears a supreme commander’s charge and leads the three armies beyond the capital, yet cannot sweep away the rebels or restore the royal house. For long Your Majesty’s sagely teaching has waned; within the six directions all is blocked and unquiet; I toss on my couch in grief as if my head would split. Long ago Dong Zhuo opened the road to chaos; since then villains have run wild and torn the realm apart. Thanks to Your Majesty’s sage virtue and awesome spirit, men and gods answered together: some rose in loyal wrath, some Heaven struck down, until the rebels perished like thawing ice. Only Cao Cao remains unexecuted, usurping state power and running to the utmost of villainy. Your subject once plotted with General Dong Cheng to destroy Cao Cao; the secret leaked, Dong Cheng was destroyed, and your subject was driven wandering, unable to fulfill his loyal duty. Thus Cao Cao ran to extremes of evil, murdered empress and consorts, and poisoned the imperial sons. Though I rallied the covenant and meant to strike with all my strength, my weakness in arms has brought no success in years. I ever fear death before my duty is done, betraying the state’s kindness; I sigh waking and sleeping and tremble at night as on a grinding stone. Now my colleagues cite the canon of Yu on ordering the nine branches of the kin and the many bright assistants who winged the throne, 〈Zheng Xuan glosses: shu means ‘the many’; Li means ‘to act’; Xu means ‘to put in order’. Order the nine branches of the kin and cherish them, and let the many worthy men serve as wings to the throne. Through the Five Emperors’ ages of wax and wane, this principle never failed. Zhou looked to the two previous dynasties and enfeoffed the house of Ji, truly blessed by the support of Jin and Zheng. Gaozu rose like a dragon, honored imperial princes, opened nine kingdoms, and in the end slew the Lü clan to secure the great line. Now Cao Cao hates the upright, numbers his followers beyond count, nurses treason in his breast, and his usurpation stands plain. The imperial house is weak and princes hold no power; weighing ancient models and present need, they have raised your subject as grand marshal and king of Hanzhong. Your subject reflects in humility: the state has favored me, I hold a frontier yet have done little, and my rewards already exceed my merit—I should not again shame a high post and invite reproach. My colleagues press me in the name of duty. Yet I see the rebels still at large, the crisis unended, the temples tottering and the altars about to fall—failure would be my burden to the death. If expedient change can restore the court, I would enter flood or fire without demur—I dare not cling to ordinary scruple and invite later remorse. I have yielded to their counsel, bowed and received the seals, to magnify the majesty of the state. I look up at titles so high and favor so deep, look down on the debt I owe, and tremble as if on a cliff’s edge. I will give my utmost, rouse the six hosts, rally the righteous, obey Heaven’s season, strike the traitors, and secure the altars in repayment beyond measure; I hereby return by courier the seals of left general and marquis of Yicheng village lent me for the campaign.
26
於是還治成都。 拔魏延為都督，鎮漢中。 〈典略曰：備於是起館舍，築亭障，從成都至白水關，四百餘區。〉 時關羽攻曹公將曹仁，禽于禁於樊。 俄而孫權襲殺羽，取荊州。
He then returned his government to Chengdu. He promoted Wei Yan to area commander to hold Hanzhong. 〈The Compendium says he built posts and ramparts in more than four hundred sections from Chengdu to Baishui Pass. Meanwhile Guan Yu besieged Cao Ren and took Yu Jin prisoner at Fan. Soon Sun Quan struck, killed Guan Yu, and seized Jingzhou.
27
二十五年，魏文帝稱尊號，改年曰黃初。 或傳聞漢帝見害，先主乃發喪制服，追諡曰孝愍皇帝。 是後在所並言眾瑞，日月相屬，故議郎陽泉侯劉豹、青衣侯向舉、偏將軍張裔、黃權、大司馬屬殷純、益州別駕從事趙莋、治中從事楊洪、從事祭酒何宗、議曹從事杜瓊、勸學從事張爽、尹默、譙周等上言：
In the twenty-fifth year Cao Pi of Wei took the imperial title and changed the era name to Huangchu. Rumors spread that the Han emperor had been murdered; Liu Bei then went into mourning and posthumously titled him Emperor Xiaomin. Thenceforth every district reported omens in endless succession; Gentleman-adviser Liu Bao, marquis of Yangquan, Xiang Ju, marquis of Qingyi, Major General Zhang Yi, Huang Quan, Yin Chun of the grand marshal’s staff, chief clerk Zhao Zha, headquarters clerk Yang Hong, libationer He Zong, Du Qiong of the consult bureau, Zhang Shuang, Yin Mo, Qiao Zhou, and others memorialized:
28
臣聞河圖、洛書，五經讖、緯，孔子所甄，驗應自遠。 謹案洛書甄曜度曰：‘赤三日德昌，九世會備，合為帝際。 ’洛書寶號命曰：‘天度帝道備稱皇，以統握契，百成不敗。 ’洛書錄運期曰：‘九侯七傑爭命民炊骸，道路籍籍履人頭，誰使主者玄且來。 ’孝經鉤命決錄曰：‘帝三建九會備。 ’臣父群未亡時，言西南數有黃氣，直立數丈，見來積年，時時有景雲祥風，從璿璣下來應之，此為異瑞。 又二十二年中，數有氣如旗，從西竟東，中天而行，圖、書曰‘必有天子出其方’。 加是年太白、熒惑、填星，常從歲星相追。 近漢初興，五星從歲星謀； 歲星主義，漢位在西，義之上方，故漢法常以歲星候人主。 當有聖主起於此州，以致中興。 時許帝尚存，故群下不敢漏言。 頃者熒惑复追歲星，見在胃昴畢； 昴畢為天綱，經曰‘帝星處之，眾邪消亡’。 聖諱豫睹，推揆期驗，符合數至，若此非一。 臣聞聖王先天而天不違，後天而奉天時，故應際而生，與神合契。 原大王應天順民，速即洪業，以寧海內。
We have heard that the River Chart, Luo Writing, and the apocrypha on the Five Classics, which Confucius judged, have borne their signs from of old. The Luo Document Zhenyao Du states: when the red house has flourished three days, the ninth generation will meet Bei—the moment of the Son of Heaven. The Baohaoming says: when Heaven's measure and the imperial way are complete, he is called emperor, grasps the mandate, and a hundred campaigns do not fail. The Lu Yunqi says: when nine lords and seven champions fight for the mandate and the people boil in misery, who will rule but the dark lord who comes? The Gouming Juelu on the Classic of Filial Piety says: the emperor thrice establishes the realm; the ninth convergence is Bei. Before my father Chen Qun died he said that for years yellow mists had risen straight from the southwest, bright clouds and lucky winds answered from the pole stars—an extraordinary omen. In the twenty-second year a banner-shaped vapor ran from west to east across the sky; the charts say, a Son of Heaven will arise from that direction. That year Venus, Mars, and Saturn repeatedly converged on Jupiter. At Han's founding the five planets gathered with Jupiter; Jupiter governs righteousness; Han's quarter lies in the west above it, so Han astrologers read the ruler in Jupiter. A sage ruler should rise from this province to restore the dynasty. While Emperor Xian still lived, none dared speak openly. Lately Mars has again pursued Jupiter through the lodges Stomach, Hairy Head, and Net; those lodges are the celestial net; the classic says, when the emperor star stands there, every evil perishes. Your taboo name was foreseen; reckoning the dates, the tallies arrive again and again—not this sign alone. We have heard that the sage king anticipates Heaven without opposing it, follows Heaven without missing the hour—thus he is born for the moment and matches the gods. We beg you, great king, to answer Heaven and the people, take the great enterprise at once, and bring peace to the realm.
29
太傅許靖、安漢將軍糜竺、軍師將軍諸葛亮、太常賴恭、光祿勳 （黃權） 〔黃柱〕、少府王謀等上言：
Grand tutor Xu Jing, general who pacifies Han Mi Zhu, general of the army Zhuge Liang, grand master of ceremonies Lai Gong, superintendent of the imperial household Some texts read Huang Quan here; [Huang Zhu], superintendent of the privy treasury Wang Mou, and others memorialized:
30
曹丕篡弒，湮滅漢室，竊據神器，劫迫忠良，酷烈無道。 人鬼忿毒，咸思劉氏。 今上無天子，海內惶惶，靡所式仰。 群下前後上書者八百餘人，咸稱述符瑞，圖、讖明徵。 間黃龍見武陽赤水，九日乃去。 孝經援神契曰‘德至淵泉則黃龍見’，龍者，君之像也。 易乾九五‘飛龍在天’，大王當龍昇，登帝位也。 又前關羽圍樊、襄陽，襄陽男子張嘉、王休獻玉璽，璽潛漢水，伏於淵泉，暉景燭燿，靈光徹天。 夫漢者，高祖本所起定天下之國號也，大王襲先帝軌跡，亦興於漢中也。 今天子玉璽神光先見，璽出襄陽，漢水之末，明大王承其下流，授與大王以天子之位，瑞命符應，非人力所致。 昔周有烏魚之瑞，咸曰休哉。 二祖受命，圖、書先著，以為徵驗。 今上天告祥，群儒英俊，並進河、洛，孔子讖、記，咸悉具至。 伏惟大王出自孝景皇帝中山靖王之冑，本支百世，乾祇降祚，聖姿碩茂，神武在躬，仁覆積德，愛人好士，是以四方歸心焉。 考省靈圖，啟發讖、緯，神明之表，名諱昭著。 宜即帝位，以纂二祖，紹嗣昭穆，天下幸甚。 臣等謹與博士許慈、議郎孟光，建立禮儀，擇令辰，上尊號。
Cao Pi usurped and murdered, snuffed out the house of Han, seized the throne, coerced the loyal, and trampled every law. Men and spirits alike burn with hate and long for the house of Liu. There is no emperor above; the realm trembles and has no pole to look to. More than eight hundred memorials from your officers cite omens, charts, and prophecies as plain proof. A yellow dragon appeared at Chishui in Wuyang and stayed nine days. The Yuanshenqi on the Classic of Filial Piety says: when virtue reaches the deep springs, the yellow dragon appears—and the dragon is the image of the ruler. The Book of Changes, Qian's fifth line, says the flying dragon is in the sky—the great king should mount the throne. Earlier, when Guan Yu besieged Fan and Xiangyang, Zhang Jia and Wang Xiu of Xiangyang offered a jade seal that sank into the Han, glowed from the depths, and lit the sky. Han is the name Gaozu took when he won the realm; you, great king, follow the former emperors' path and likewise rose from Hanzhong. The imperial seal's light appeared first; the seal emerged at Xiangyang on the lower Han—showing that you receive its current and Heaven's mandate, not human contrivance. Zhou had omens of crows and fish; all cried excellent. The two founding emperors received Heaven's charge with charts and books foretelling it. Heaven sends auspices; scholars and worthies cite the River and Luo texts and Confucian prophecies in full. You descend from Emperor Jing's Prince Jing of Zhongshan; your line runs a hundred generations; Heaven and earth bless you; your form is majestic, your might godlike, your virtue deep; you love men and honor scholars—so the realm turns to you. The spirit charts and apocrypha show your name plain as day. You should take the throne, continue the two Han founders, and set the temple order right—great fortune for the realm. We have drawn up the rites with Erudite Xu Ci and Gentleman-adviser Meng Guang, chosen an auspicious day, and present the imperial title.
31
即皇帝位於成都武擔之南。 〈蜀本紀曰：武都有丈夫化為女子，顏色美好，蓋山精也。 蜀王娶以為妻，不習水土，疾病欲歸國，蜀王留之，無幾物故。 蜀王發卒之武都擔土，於成都郭中葬，蓋地數畝，高十丈，號曰武擔也。 臣松之案：武擔，山名，在成都西北，蓋以乾位在西北，故就之以即阼。〉 為文曰：
He took the imperial title south of Wudan Mound in Chengdu. 〈The Shu Basic Annals says a man of Wudu turned into a woman of ravishing beauty—a mountain spirit. The king of Shu married her; she sickened in the climate and begged to leave; he kept her until she died. He sent men to Wudu to carry earth and buried her inside Chengdu's wall in a mound several mu wide and ten zhang high called Wudan. Pei Songzhi notes that Wudan is a hill northwest of Chengdu; the Qian trigram lies in the northwest, so the rite faced it for accession.〉 The proclamation read:
32
惟建安二十六年四月丙午，皇帝備敢用玄牡，昭告皇天上帝后土神祇：漢有天下，歷數無疆。 曩者王莽篡盜，光武皇帝震怒致誅，社稷復存。 今曹操阻兵安忍，戮殺主後，滔天泯夏，罔顧天顯。 操子丕，載其凶逆，竊居神器。 群臣將士以為社稷墮廢，備宜脩之，嗣武二祖，龔行天罰。 備惟否德，懼忝帝位。 詢於庶民，外及蠻夷君長，僉曰‘天命不可以不答，祖業不可以久替，四海不可以無主’。 率土式望，在備一人。 備畏天明命，又懼漢阼將湮於地，謹擇元日，與百寮登壇，受皇帝璽綬。 脩燔瘞，告類於天神，惟神饗祚於漢家，永綏四海！
On bingwu in the fourth month of the twenty-sixth year of Jian'an, the emperor Bei offers black victims and announces to August Heaven, High God, and the spirits of earth: Han holds the mandate without end. Wang Mang once usurped the throne; Emperor Guangwu rose in wrath and restored the altars. Now Cao Cao arms himself in cruelty, slew empress and crown prince, defies Heaven, and scorns the bright mandate. His son Pi carries on that villainy and steals the throne. Your ministers hold that the altars have fallen and that you must restore them, continue the martial virtue of the two founders, and carry out Heaven's punishment. I know my virtue is slight and fear to shame the throne. I asked the people and the barbarian chiefs; all said the mandate cannot be refused, the ancestral work cannot lapse, and the realm cannot lack a ruler. The realm looks to me alone. I fear Heaven's command and the fall of Han; I have chosen an auspicious day, ascended the altar with the hundred officials, and received the imperial seal and ribbon. I have offered the burnt and buried sacrifices and told Heaven: may you bless the house of Han and forever quiet the seas!
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二年春正月，先主軍還秭歸，將軍吳班、陳式水軍屯夷陵，夾江東西岸。 二月，先主自秭歸率諸將進軍，緣山截嶺，於夷道猇亭 〈猇，許交反。〉 駐營，自佷山 〈佷，音恆。〉 通武陵，遣侍中馬良安慰五谿蠻夷，咸相率響應。 鎮北將軍黃權督江北諸軍，與吳軍相拒於夷陵道。 夏六月，黃氣見自秭歸十餘里中，廣數十丈。 後十餘日，陸議大破先主軍於猇亭，將軍馮習、張南等皆沒。 先主自猇亭還秭歸，收合離散兵，遂棄船舫，由步道還魚复，改魚复縣曰永安。 吳遣將軍李異、劉阿等踵躡先主軍，屯駐南山。 秋八月，收兵還巫。 司徒許靖卒。 冬十月，詔丞相亮營南北郊於成都。 孫權聞先主住白帝，甚懼，遣使請和。 先主許之，遣太中大夫宗瑋報命。 冬十二月，漢嘉太守黃元聞先主疾不豫，舉兵拒守。
In the first month of the second year of Zhangwu he withdrew to Zigui; Wu Ban and Chen Shi camped the fleet at Yiling on both banks of the Yangzi. In the second month he led his generals from Zigui over the ridges to Xiaoting at Yidao, 〈Gloss: read xiao in the entering tone.〉 He camped there and advanced from Hen Mountain 〈Gloss: Hen is read like heng.〉 He opened a route to Wuling and sent Ma Liang to reassure the five-streams tribes, who rallied in answer. Huang Quan, general who guards the north, commanded the troops north of the river against Wu on the Yiling road. In the sixth month yellow mist rose for more than ten li around Zigui, dozens of yards wide. Ten days later Lu Xun shattered Liu Bei's army at Xiaoting; Feng Xi, Zhang Nan, and others fell. He fell back from Xiaoting to Zigui, rallied stragglers, abandoned the ships, marched overland to Yufu, and renamed the county Yongan. Wu sent Li Yi and Liu A to dog his heels and camp on South Mountain. In the eighth month he withdrew to Wu county. Xu Jing, minister of education, died. In the tenth month he ordered Zhuge Liang to set up the suburban altars at Chengdu. Sun Quan, alarmed that Liu Bei was at Baidi, sued for peace. Liu Bei agreed and sent Zong Wei with the reply. In the twelfth month Huang Yuan, grand administrator of Hanjia, heard Liu Bei was failing and rose in arms.
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三年春二月，丞相亮自成都到永安。 三月，黃元進兵攻臨邛縣。 遣將軍陳曶 〈音笏。〉 討元，元軍敗，順流下江，為其親兵所縛，生致成都，斬之。 先主病篤，託孤於丞相亮，尚書令李嚴為副。 夏四月癸巳，先主殂於永安宮，時年六十三。 〈諸葛亮集載先主遺詔敕後主曰：
In the second month of the third year Zhuge Liang came from Chengdu to Yongan. In the third month Huang Yuan marched on Linqiang. He sent General Chen Hu 〈Gloss: read like hu.〉 Chen Hu attacked him; Huang Yuan was routed, fled downriver, was seized by his own guard, brought alive to Chengdu, and executed. On his deathbed he entrusted his heir to Zhuge Liang with Li Yan as second. On guisi in the fourth month he died in Yongan Palace at the age of sixty-three. 〈The Collected Works of Zhuge Liang preserves the Former Lord's deathbed edict to the heir, which reads:
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朕初疾但下痢耳，後轉雜他病，殆不自濟。 人五十不稱夭，年已六十有餘，何所复恨，不復自傷，但以卿兄弟為念。 射君到，說丞相嘆卿智量，甚大增脩，過於所望，審能如此，吾復何憂！ 勉之，勉之！ 勿以惡小而為之，勿以善小而不為。 惟賢惟德，能服於人。 汝父德薄，勿效之。 可讀漢書、禮記，間暇歷觀諸子及六韜、商君書，益人意智。 聞丞相為寫申、韓、管子、六韜一通已畢，未送，道亡，可自更求聞達。
At first my illness was nothing but flux; then other ailments piled in, and I could barely hold on. A man past fifty is not counted as dying young; I am past sixty, so what is there to regret? I grieve no longer for myself—only you, my sons, are on my mind. When She Jun came, he told me the chancellor praised your mind and judgment—you have grown far beyond what I hoped. If you truly keep to this path, what have I left to fear? Strive—strive hard! Do not commit a wrong because it is small, and do not leave a right undone because it is small. Only worthiness and virtue can win the hearts of others. Your father's virtue was slight—do not take after me. Read the Book of Han and the Record of Rites; when you have time, browse the masters, the Six Secret Teachings, and the Book of Lord Shang—they sharpen the mind. I hear the chancellor copied out for you the Shenzi and Hanfeizi, the Guanzi, and the Six Secret Teachings as a complete set, but it never reached you—lost on the way. See that you pursue learning and make a name for yourself.
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臨終時，呼魯王與語：「吾亡之後，汝兄弟父事丞相，令卿與丞相共事而已。」〉
As he lay dying he summoned the Prince of Lu and said: "When I am gone, you brothers are to treat the chancellor as a father; you are simply to work with him in governing."〉
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亮上言於後主曰：
Zhuge Liang memorialized the Later Lord:
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伏惟大行皇帝邁仁樹德，覆燾無疆，昊天不弔，寢疾彌留，今月二十四日奄忽升遐，臣妾號咷，若喪考妣。 乃顧遺詔，事惟大宗，動容損益； 百寮發哀，滿三日除服，到葬期復如禮； 其郡國太守、相、都尉、縣令長，三日便除服。 臣亮親受敕戒，震畏神靈，不敢有違。 臣請宣下奉行。
The late emperor walked in benevolence and planted deep virtue; his kindness sheltered all without limit. Yet August Heaven was unkind: illness held him, and on the twenty-fourth of this month he passed away in a breath. Your ministers and your ladies weep as for a father and mother. The testament addresses the great succession and sets every detail of mourning and restraint; the hundred officials may mourn three full days, then lay aside mourning dress until the burial, when the full rites resume; for commandery and kingdom grand administrators, chancellors, commandants, magistrates, and chiefs, mourning ends after three days. Your servant Liang received the edict in person and trembles before the spirits—I dare not disregard it. I ask leave to promulgate it below for compliance.
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五月，梓宮自永安還成都，諡曰昭烈皇帝。 秋，八月，葬惠陵。 〈葛洪《神仙傳》曰：仙人李意其，蜀人也。 傳世見之，雲是漢文帝時人。 先主欲伐吳，遣人迎意其。 意其到，先主禮敬之，問以吉凶。 意其不答而求紙筆，畫作兵馬器仗數十紙已，便一一以手裂壞之，又畫作一大人，掘地埋之，便徑去。 先主大不喜。 而自出軍徵吳，大敗還，忿恥發病死，眾人乃知其意。 其畫作大人而埋之者，即是言先主死意。〉
In the fifth month the late emperor's bier was brought from Yongan to Chengdu, and he received the posthumous title Emperor Zhaolie. In the eighth month of autumn he was laid to rest at Huiling. 〈Ge Hong's Traditions of Divine Transcendents names the immortal Li Yiqi, a man of Shu. Later ages record him, saying he lived in the time of Emperor Wen of Han. When the Former Lord was about to campaign against Wu, he sent to bring Li Yiqi in. Li Yiqi came, and the Former Lord received him with full courtesy and asked his fortune. Li Yiqi gave no word but asked for paper and brush. He sketched ranks of men, horses, and arms across dozens of sheets, then tore each drawing to scraps. Next he drew a tall figure, dug a hole, buried the picture, and walked straight out. The Former Lord was deeply displeased. Yet he led the army against Wu himself, suffered a crushing defeat, and died of rage and shame—only then did people grasp what Li Yiqi had meant. The tall figure he buried had foretold the Former Lord's death.〉
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【評】
Evaluative commentary (section heading).
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評曰：先主之弘毅寬厚，知人待士，蓋有高祖之風，英雄之器焉。 及其舉國託孤於諸葛亮，而心神無貳，誠君臣之至公，古今之盛軌也。 機權幹略，不逮魏武，是以基宇亦狹。 然折而不撓，終不為下者，抑揆彼之量必不容己，非唯競利，且以避害云爾。
The commentary states: the Former Lord's fortitude, breadth, and warmth, his eye for men and care for retainers, indeed carried something of Gaozu's style and the bearing of a true champion. When he placed the whole realm and his son in Zhuge Liang's hands with never a flicker of mistrust, he and his minister reached the height of mutual good faith—a model for all ages. In shrewdness, power, and strategic grasp he fell short of the Wei ruler, so his foundations remained narrower. Yet broken he did not bend, and he would never serve another's rule: weighing Cao Cao's measure, he knew there was no room for him—not only to vie for advantage, but to escape ruin as well.