1
陳勝者，陽城人也，字涉。 吳廣者，陽夏人也，字叔。 陳涉少時，嘗與人傭耕，輟耕之壟上，悵恨久之，曰：「茍富貴，無相忘。」 庸者笑而應曰：「若為庸耕，何富貴也？」 陳涉太息曰：「嗟乎，燕雀安知鴻鵠之志哉！」
Chen Sheng was a native of Yangcheng, styled She. Wu Guang was a native of Yangxia, styled Shu. In his youth, Chen She once worked as a hired laborer plowing fields alongside others. He stopped his plowing and climbed to the top of a ridge, where he stood brooding for a long while before saying, 'If any of us should ever become wealthy and noble, let us not forget one another.' The other laborers laughed and replied, 'You are nothing but a hired hand plowing fields — how could you ever become wealthy and noble?' Chen She heaved a deep sigh and said, 'Alas, how can sparrows and swallows comprehend the ambitions of a great swan?'
2
二世元年七月，發閭左適戍漁陽，九百人屯大澤鄉。 陳勝、吳廣皆次當行，為屯長。 會天大雨，道不通，度已失期。 失期，法皆斬。 陳勝、吳廣乃謀曰：「今亡亦死，舉大計亦死，等死，死國可乎？」 陳勝曰：「天下苦秦久矣。 吾聞二世少子也，不當立，當立者乃公子扶蘇。 扶蘇以數諫故，上使外將兵。 今或聞無罪，二世殺之。 百姓多聞其賢，未知其死也。 項燕為楚將，數有功，愛士卒，楚人憐之。 或以為死，或以為亡。 今誠以吾眾詐自稱公子扶蘇、項燕，為天下唱，宜多應者。」 吳廣以為然。 乃行卜。 卜者知其指意，曰：「足下事皆成，有功。 然足下卜之鬼乎！」 陳勝、吳廣喜，念鬼，曰：「此教我先威眾耳。」 乃丹書帛曰「陳勝王」，置人所罾魚腹中。 卒買魚烹食，得魚腹中書，固以怪之矣。 又彊令吳廣之次所旁叢祠中，夜篝火，狐鳴呼曰「大楚興，陳勝王」。 卒皆夜驚恐。 旦日，卒中往往語，皆指目陳勝。
In the seventh month of the first year of the Second Emperor's reign, a levy was raised to conscript commoners for garrison duty at Yuyang. Nine hundred men were assembled at Daze Township. Chen Sheng and Wu Guang were both among those called up, and they were appointed as squad leaders. Heavy rains fell without cease, the roads became impassable, and they reckoned they had already missed the deadline. Under the law, the penalty for missing the deadline was death for all. Chen Sheng and Wu Guang conferred in secret: 'If we flee now, we die. If we rise up in revolt, we also die. Since death awaits us either way, would it not be better to die fighting for our country?' Chen Sheng said, 'The empire has suffered under Qin for far too long. I have heard that the Second Emperor is the younger son and was never meant to take the throne. The rightful heir was Prince Fusu. Because Fusu remonstrated with his father on many occasions, the emperor sent him away to command troops on the frontier. Now word has it that, though Fusu committed no crime, the Second Emperor had him killed. The common people have heard much of his virtue but have not yet learned of his death. Xiang Yan served as a general of Chu, won many victories, and cared deeply for his soldiers. The people of Chu mourned him. Some believe he is dead; others say he has fled into exile. If we now rally our men and raise a banner in the names of Prince Fusu and Xiang Yan, issuing a call to the empire, many will surely answer.' Wu Guang agreed. They went to consult a diviner. The diviner perceived their true intent and said, 'All your endeavors will succeed, and you will win great merit. But have you consulted the spirits about this?' Chen Sheng and Wu Guang were delighted. Reflecting on the mention of spirits, they said, 'He is telling us to first overawe the men with supernatural signs.' So they wrote 'Chen Sheng shall be king' in cinnabar on a strip of silk and slipped it into the belly of a fish that someone had caught in a net. When the soldiers bought the fish and cooked it, they discovered the writing inside its belly and were already astonished. Then they had Wu Guang steal into a shrine in a thicket near the camp at night. There he lit a fire inside a basket and, imitating the cry of a fox, called out, 'Great Chu shall rise again! Chen Sheng shall be king!' The soldiers were all terrified in the night. The next morning, the soldiers whispered among themselves, casting sidelong glances at Chen Sheng and pointing him out to one another.
3
吳廣素愛人，士卒多為用者。 將尉醉，廣故數言欲亡，忿恚尉，令辱之，以激怒其眾。 尉果笞廣。 尉劍挺，廣起，奪而殺尉。 陳勝佐之，并殺兩尉。 召令徒屬曰：「公等遇雨，皆已失期，失期當斬。 藉弟令毋斬，而戍死者固十六七。 且壯士不死即已，死即舉大名耳，王侯將相寧有種乎！」 徒屬皆曰：「敬受命。」 乃詐稱公子扶蘇、項燕，從民欲也。 袒右，稱大楚。 為壇而盟，祭以尉首。 陳勝自立為將軍，吳廣為都尉。 攻大澤鄉，收而攻蘄。 蘄下，乃令符離人葛嬰將兵徇蘄以東。 攻铚、酂、苦、柘、譙皆下之。 行收兵。 比至陳，車六七百乘，騎千餘，卒數萬人。 攻陳，陳守令皆不在，獨守丞與戰譙門中。 弗勝，守丞死，乃入據陳。 數日，號令召三老、豪傑與皆來會計事。 三老、豪傑皆曰：「將軍身被堅執銳，伐無道，誅暴秦，復立楚國之社稷，功宜為王。」 陳涉乃立為王，號為張楚。
Wu Guang had always treated others with kindness, and many of the soldiers were devoted to him. When the commanding officer was drunk, Wu Guang deliberately spoke again and again of deserting, provoking the officer into a fury so that he would publicly humiliate him — all to stir the anger of the men. The officer did indeed have Wu Guang flogged. When the officer's sword slipped from its scabbard, Wu Guang sprang to his feet, seized the blade, and killed him. Chen Sheng rushed to his aid, and together they slew both officers. They summoned all their men and addressed them: 'You have been delayed by the rains and have already missed the deadline. The penalty for missing the deadline is execution. Even if by some chance you were spared the blade, six or seven out of every ten who serve on the frontier will die there regardless. Besides, when a true man dies, he should die winning a name for the ages. Are kings and nobles born to their stations?' The men all answered, 'We are at your command.' They then raised their banner in the names of Prince Fusu and Xiang Yan, following the will of the people. They bared their right shoulders as a pledge and proclaimed themselves the army of Great Chu. They built an earthen altar and swore a solemn oath, offering the officers' heads as a sacrifice. Chen Sheng declared himself general, and Wu Guang was made commandant. They attacked Daze Township, took it, and then marched on Qi. After Qi fell, they ordered Ge Ying, a man of Fuli, to lead troops and sweep the territory east of Qi. They attacked and captured Zhi, Zan, Ku, Zhe, and Qiao, taking each one in turn. Along the way, they gathered more troops to their cause. By the time they reached the city of Chen, their force had swelled to six or seven hundred chariots, over a thousand cavalry, and tens of thousands of infantry. They attacked Chen. The governor and the magistrate were both absent; only the deputy governor remained to fight them at the city gate. The deputy could not hold them back and was killed, and the rebels entered and occupied Chen. After several days, they issued a proclamation summoning the local elders and men of influence to gather and deliberate on the affairs of state. The elders and men of standing all declared, 'The general has donned armor and taken up arms to strike down tyranny, punish the brutal Qin, and restore the altars of the state of Chu. By such merit, he deserves to be made king.' Chen She was thus enthroned as king, and his state was named Zhang Chu — 'Expanding Chu.'
4
當此時，諸郡縣苦秦吏者，皆刑其長吏，殺之以應陳涉。 乃以吳叔為假王，監諸將以西擊滎陽。 令陳人武臣、張耳、陳餘徇趙地，令汝陰人鄧宗徇九江郡。 當此時，楚兵數千人為聚者，不可勝數。
At that time, across the commanderies and counties that had long suffered under Qin's officials, the people punished and killed their local administrators to answer Chen She's call. Wu Guang was appointed acting king to supervise the generals in the westward campaign against Xingyang. Wu Chen, Zhang Er, and Chen Yu — all men of Chen — were ordered to subdue the Zhao territories, while Deng Zong of Ruyin was sent to pacify the Commandery of Jiujiang. At that time, bands of Chu soldiers numbering in the thousands sprang up everywhere, too many to count.
5
葛嬰至東城，立襄彊為楚王。 嬰後聞陳王已立，因殺襄彊，還報。 至陳，陳王誅殺葛嬰。 陳王令魏人周市北徇魏地。 吳廣圍滎陽。 李由為三川守，守滎陽，吳叔弗能下。 陳王徵國之豪傑與計，以上蔡人房君蔡賜為上柱國。
Ge Ying reached Dongcheng and set up Xiang Qiang as the King of Chu. When Ge Ying later learned that Chen She had already been crowned king, he killed Xiang Qiang and returned to report. When Ge Ying arrived in Chen, the king had him executed. The King of Chen ordered Zhou Shi, a man of Wei, to march north and pacify the Wei territories. Wu Guang laid siege to Xingyang. Li You, the Governor of Sanchuan, defended Xingyang, and Wu Guang could not take it. The King of Chen summoned the outstanding men of the realm to consult on strategy and appointed Cai Ci, Lord of Fang from Shangcai, as Supreme Pillar of State.
6
周文，陳之賢人也，嘗為項燕軍視日，事春申君，自言習兵，陳王與之將軍印，西擊秦。 行收兵至關，車千乘，卒數十萬，至戲，軍焉。 秦令少府章邯免酈山徒、人奴產子生，悉發以擊楚大軍，盡敗之。 周文敗，走出關，止次曹陽二三月。 章邯追敗之，復走次澠池十餘日。 章邯擊，大破之。 周文自剄，軍遂不戰。
Zhou Wen was a man of ability from Chen who had once served as a diviner for Xiang Yan's army and had been in the retinue of Lord Chunshen. He claimed expertise in military affairs, so the King of Chen bestowed upon him a general's seal and sent him west to attack Qin. Gathering troops along the march, by the time he reached the passes his army numbered a thousand chariots and several hundred thousand soldiers. He advanced to Xi and encamped. Qin ordered the Privy Treasurer Zhang Han to pardon the convict laborers at Mount Li and the sons born to slaves, arming them all and sending them against the great army of Chu. They routed it utterly. Zhou Wen was defeated and fled east out of the passes, halting at Caoyang where he held his position for two or three months. Zhang Han pursued and defeated him again. Zhou Wen retreated to Mianchi, where he held out for just over ten days. Zhang Han struck once more and crushed his forces. Zhou Wen cut his own throat, and his army disbanded without further resistance.
7
武臣到邯鄲，自立為趙王，陳餘為大將軍，張耳、召騷為左右丞相。 陳王怒，捕系武臣等家室，欲誅之。 柱國曰：「秦未亡而誅趙王將相家屬，此生一秦也。 不如因而立之。」 陳王乃遣使者賀趙，而徙系武臣等家屬宮中，而封耳子張敖為成都君，趣趙兵亟入關。 趙王將相相與謀曰：「王王趙，非楚意也。 楚已誅秦，必加兵於趙。 計莫如毋西兵，使使北徇燕地以自廣也。 趙南據大河，北有燕、代，楚雖勝秦，不敢制趙。 若楚不勝秦，必重趙。 趙乘秦之獘，可以得志於天下。」 趙王以為然，因不西兵，而遣故上谷卒史韓廣將兵北徇燕地。
Wu Chen arrived at Handan and declared himself King of Zhao. Chen Yu was made Grand General, and Zhang Er and Zhao Sao became the Left and Right Chancellors. The King of Chen was furious. He seized the families of Wu Chen and his associates, intending to put them to death. The Supreme Pillar of State objected: 'If, while Qin has not yet fallen, you execute the families of the King of Zhao and his generals and ministers, you will only create another Qin. Better to accept the situation and recognize him.' The King of Chen then sent envoys to congratulate Zhao. He moved the detained families of Wu Chen and the others into the palace, enfeoffed Zhang Er's son Zhang Ao as Lord of Chengdu, and urged the Zhao forces to hasten west into the passes. The King of Zhao and his generals and ministers deliberated among themselves: 'The king became King of Zhao without Chu's approval. Once Chu has destroyed Qin, it will surely turn its armies against Zhao. The best plan is not to send troops westward but to dispatch forces north to take the Yan territories and expand our base. With the Yellow River to our south and Yan and Dai to the north, even if Chu defeats Qin, it would not dare try to subdue Zhao. And if Chu fails to defeat Qin, it will be forced to rely on Zhao. If Zhao exploits Qin's weakness, we can achieve our ambitions in the empire.' The King of Zhao agreed. Rather than sending his forces west, he dispatched Han Guang, formerly a minor official in Shanggu, to lead an army north and subdue the Yan territories.
8
燕故貴人豪傑謂韓廣曰：「楚已立王，趙又已立王。 燕雖小，亦萬乘之國也，願將軍立為燕王。」 韓廣曰：「廣母在趙，不可。」 燕人曰：「趙方西憂秦，南憂楚，其力不能禁我。 且以楚之彊，不敢害趙王將相之家，趙獨安敢害將軍之家！」 韓廣以為然，乃自立為燕王。 居數月，趙奉燕王母及家屬歸之燕。
The old aristocrats and men of influence in Yan said to Han Guang, 'Chu has already set up a king, and Zhao has done likewise. Though Yan is small, it too was once a state of ten thousand chariots. We beg the general to declare himself King of Yan.' Han Guang replied, 'My mother is in Zhao. I cannot accept.' The men of Yan said, 'Zhao is beset by Qin to the west and Chu to the south — it has no strength to threaten us. Moreover, even mighty Chu has not dared to harm the families of the King of Zhao and his ministers. How then would Zhao alone dare harm the general's family?' Han Guang found their reasoning persuasive and declared himself King of Yan. After several months, Zhao indeed returned the King of Yan's mother and his family to Yan.
9
當此之時，諸將之徇地者，不可勝數。 周市北徇地至狄，狄人田儋殺狄令，自立為齊王，以齊反擊周市。 市軍散，還至魏地，欲立魏後故甯陵君咎為魏王。 時咎在陳王所，不得之魏。 魏地已定，欲相與立周市為魏王，周市不肯。 使者五反，陳王乃立甯陵君咎為魏王，遣之國。 周市卒為相。
At this time, the various generals campaigning across the land were too numerous to count. Zhou Shi marched north as far as Di, where Tian Dan, a man of Di, killed the local magistrate, declared himself King of Qi, and turned the forces of Qi against Zhou Shi. Zhou Shi's forces were scattered. He withdrew to the Wei territories, intending to install Jiu, the Lord of Ningling and a descendant of the Wei royal house, as King of Wei. At the time, however, Jiu was with the King of Chen and could not be sent to Wei. With the Wei territories already secured, the people wished to make Zhou Shi the King of Wei, but Zhou Shi refused. Envoys traveled back and forth five times before the King of Chen finally installed the Lord of Ningling, Jiu, as King of Wei and sent him to his domain. Zhou Shi ultimately served as his chancellor.
10
將軍田臧等相與謀曰：「周章軍已破矣，秦兵旦暮至，我圍滎陽城弗能下，秦軍至，必大敗。 不如少遺兵，足以守（熒）［滎］陽，悉精兵迎秦軍。 今假王驕，不知兵權，不可與計，非誅之，事恐敗。」 因相與矯王令以誅吳叔，獻其首於陳王。 陳王使使賜田臧楚令尹印，使為上將。 田臧乃使諸將李歸等守滎陽城，自以精兵西迎秦軍於敖倉。 與戰，田臧死，軍破。 章邯進兵擊李歸等滎陽下，破之，李歸等死。
General Tian Zang and the other officers conferred among themselves: 'Zhou Zhang's army has already been destroyed, and the Qin forces will be upon us any day now. We have laid siege to Xingyang but cannot take it. When the Qin army arrives, we will surely be routed. Better to leave a small garrison sufficient to hold Xingyang and lead all our best troops out to meet the Qin army in the field. The acting king has grown arrogant and knows nothing of military strategy. It is impossible to plan with him. Unless we remove him, our cause is doomed.' So they forged the king's orders to execute Wu Guang and presented his head to the King of Chen. The King of Chen sent an envoy to bestow upon Tian Zang the seal of the Chu Prime Minister and appointed him Supreme General. Tian Zang ordered General Li Gui and others to hold the siege at Xingyang, while he himself led his best troops west to engage the Qin army at Aocang. They joined battle, and Tian Zang was killed. His army was destroyed. Zhang Han then advanced and attacked Li Gui and the others at Xingyang, smashing their forces. Li Gui and the rest were killed.
11
陽城人鄧說將兵居郯，章邯別將擊破之，鄧說軍散走陳。 铚人伍徐將兵居許，章邯擊破之，伍徐軍皆散走陳。 陳王誅鄧說。
Deng Yue of Yangcheng had stationed troops at Tan. One of Zhang Han's subordinate generals attacked and routed them, and the remnants of Deng Yue's army scattered and fled to Chen. Wu Xu of Zhi had stationed troops at Xu. Zhang Han attacked and defeated them as well, and Wu Xu's entire force scattered and fled back to Chen. The King of Chen had Deng Yue executed.
12
陳王初立時，陵人秦嘉、铚人董緶符離人朱雞石、取慮人鄭布、徐人丁疾等皆特起，將兵圍東海守慶於郯。 陳王聞，乃使武平君畔為將軍，監郯下軍。 秦嘉不受命，嘉自立為大司馬，惡屬武平君。 告軍吏曰：「武平君年少，不知兵事，勿聽！」 因矯以王命殺武平君畔。
When the King of Chen was first enthroned, Qin Jia of Ling, Dong Xie of Zhi, Zhu Jishi of Fuli, Zheng Bu of Qulü, Ding Ji of Xu, and others had each risen independently. They led their troops to besiege Qing, the Governor of Donghai, at Tan. When the King of Chen heard of this, he appointed Pan, the Lord of Wuping, as general to supervise the forces besieging Tan. Qin Jia refused to accept these orders. He declared himself Grand Marshal and resented being placed under the Lord of Wuping. He told the army officers, 'The Lord of Wuping is young and knows nothing of warfare. Do not take orders from him!' He then forged a royal order and had the Lord of Wuping killed.
13
章邯已破伍徐，擊陳，柱國房君死。 章邯又進兵擊陳西張賀軍。 陳王出監戰，軍破，張賀死。
After defeating Wu Xu, Zhang Han attacked Chen itself. The Supreme Pillar of State, the Lord of Fang, was killed. Zhang Han then advanced further and struck the forces of Zhang He to the west of Chen. The King of Chen himself went out to oversee the battle, but his army was shattered and Zhang He was killed.
14
臘月，陳王之汝陰，還至下城父，其御莊賈殺以降秦。 陳勝葬碭，謚曰隱王。
In the twelfth month, the King of Chen traveled to Ruyin. On his return, at Xiachengfu, his own charioteer Zhuang Jia murdered him and surrendered to Qin. Chen Sheng was buried at Dang and given the posthumous title of 'the Hidden King.'
15
陳王故涓人將軍呂臣為倉頭軍，起新陽，攻陳下之，殺莊賈，復以陳為楚。
General Lü Chen, a former palace attendant of the King of Chen, raised an army of 'Granary Heads.' He launched his campaign from Xinyang, attacked and retook the city of Chen, killed Zhuang Jia, and restored Chen to the banner of Chu.
16
初，陳王至陳，令铚人宋留將兵定南陽，入武關。 留已徇南陽，聞陳王死，南陽復為秦。 宋留不能入武關，乃東至新蔡，遇秦軍，宋留以軍降秦。 秦傳留至咸陽，車裂留以徇。
Earlier, when the King of Chen first arrived at Chen, he had ordered Song Liu of Zhi to lead troops to pacify Nanyang and enter the Wu Pass. Song Liu had already subdued Nanyang, but upon hearing that the King of Chen was dead, Nanyang reverted to Qin. Unable to enter the Wu Pass, Song Liu retreated eastward to Xincai, where he encountered a Qin army and surrendered his forces. Qin had Song Liu transferred to Xianyang, where he was torn apart by chariots as a public warning.
17
秦嘉等聞陳王軍破出走，乃立景駒為楚王，引兵之方與，欲擊秦軍定陶下。 使公孫慶使齊王，欲與并力俱進。 齊王曰：「聞陳王戰敗，不知其死生，楚安得不請而立王！」 公孫慶曰：「齊不請楚而立王，楚何故請齊而立王！ 且楚首事，當令於天下。」 田儋誅殺公孫慶。
When Qin Jia and the others heard that the King of Chen's army had been destroyed and he had fled, they set up Jing Ju as the new King of Chu, marched their forces to Fangyu, and prepared to attack the Qin army at Dingtao. They sent Gongsun Qing as an envoy to the King of Qi, hoping to join forces and advance together. The King of Qi said, 'I have heard that the King of Chen has been defeated in battle, and no one knows whether he is alive or dead. How dare Chu set up a new king without consulting anyone?' Gongsun Qing retorted, 'Qi did not consult Chu before setting up its own king — why should Chu consult Qi? Moreover, it was Chu that first raised the standard of revolt — it is Chu that should command the empire.' Tian Dan had Gongsun Qing put to death.
18
秦左右校復攻陳，下之。 呂將軍走，收兵復聚。 鄱盜當陽君黥布之兵相收，復擊秦左右校，破之青波，復以陳為楚。 會項梁立懷王孫心為楚王。
The Qin Left and Right Colonels attacked Chen once more and captured it. General Lü fled but rallied his troops and reformed his forces. He joined forces with the bandit chief of Po and the troops of Qing Bu, Lord of Dangyang. Together they attacked the Qin Left and Right Colonels, defeated them at Qingbo, and once again restored Chen to the banner of Chu. At this juncture, Xiang Liang installed Xin, a grandson of King Huai of Chu, as the new King of Chu.
19
陳勝王凡六月。 已為王，王陳。 其故人嘗與庸耕者聞之，之陳，扣宮門曰：「吾欲見涉。」 宮門令欲縛之。 自辯數，乃置，不肯為通。 陳王出，遮道而呼涉。 陳王聞之，乃召見，載與俱歸。 入宮，見殿屋帷帳，客曰：「夥頤！ 涉之為王沈沈者！」 楚人謂多為夥，故天下傳之，夥涉為王，由陳涉始。 客出入愈益發舒，言陳王故情。 或說陳王曰：「客愚無知，顓妄言，輕威。」 陳王斬之。 諸陳王故人皆自引去，由是無親陳王者。 陳王以朱房為中正，胡武為司過，主司群臣。 諸將徇地，至，令之不是者，系而罪之，以苛察為忠。 其所不善者，弗下吏，輒自治之。 陳王信用之。 諸將以其故不親附，此其所以敗也。
Chen Sheng reigned as king for a total of six months. Having been made king, he ruled from the city of Chen. An old companion from his days as a hired laborer heard the news and traveled to Chen. He knocked at the palace gate and said, 'I wish to see She.' The officer at the gate was about to have him seized. After the man pleaded his case several times, the guards let him go but refused to announce him. When the King of Chen came out on the road, the man blocked his path and called out, 'She!' The King of Chen heard him and summoned him to an audience. He took the man into his carriage and returned to the palace together. Upon entering the palace and seeing the great halls hung with curtains and drapes, the visitor exclaimed, 'What abundance! She's palace as king is truly grand and deep!' In the dialect of Chu, the word for 'much' is 'huo.' From this arose the saying known throughout the empire: 'How grand She has become as king!' — a phrase that originated with Chen She. As the visitor came and went more freely, he grew increasingly at ease and began to speak openly of the king's humble past. Someone advised the King of Chen, 'This guest is a fool who speaks recklessly and diminishes your royal dignity.' The King of Chen had the man beheaded. After this, all of the King of Chen's old friends withdrew. From that time on, no one dared draw close to him. The King of Chen appointed Zhu Fang as Arbiter of Rectitude and Hu Wu as Inspector of Faults, entrusting them with overseeing his ministers. When generals returned from their campaigns, any who fell short of expectations were arrested and punished. These officials mistook petty severity for loyal service. Those they took a dislike to were not referred to the proper authorities but dealt with on their own. The King of Chen placed his full trust in these men. Because of this, the generals refused to give him their loyalty. This was the root cause of his downfall.
20
陳勝雖已死，其所置遣侯王將相竟亡秦，由涉首事也。 高祖時為陳涉置守冢三十家碭，至今血食。
Though Chen Sheng himself was already dead, the lords, kings, generals, and ministers he had appointed and dispatched ultimately destroyed Qin. It was She who lit the first flame. In the time of Emperor Gaozu, thirty households were established at Dang to tend Chen She's tomb. To this day, sacrifices are offered there.
21
褚先生曰：地形險阻，所以為固也； 兵革刑法，所以為治也。 猶未足恃也。 夫先王以仁義為本，而以固塞文法為枝葉，豈不然哉！ 吾聞賈生之稱曰：
Master Chu remarked: Rugged terrain is what provides a state with its defenses; arms, armor, punishments, and laws are what provide it with governance. Yet none of these alone is sufficient to rely upon. The former kings took benevolence and righteousness as the root, and fortifications and written law as the branches and leaves. Is this not so? I have heard the words of Jia Yi, who said:
22
秦孝公據殽函之固，擁雍州之地，君臣固守，以窺周室。 有席卷天下，包舉宇內，囊括四海之意，并吞八荒之心。 當是時也，商君佐之，內立法度，務耕織，修守戰之備； 外連衡而鬬諸侯。 於是秦人拱手而取西河之外。
Duke Xiao of Qin held the strongholds of Xiao and Hangu, commanded the lands of Yongzhou, and with ruler and ministers holding fast, cast his gaze upon the royal house of Zhou. He harbored the ambition to roll up the empire like a mat, to sweep all within the four seas into his arms, to engulf the eight horizons. At that time, Lord Shang assisted him: within, he established laws and standards, promoted agriculture and weaving, and built up the means of defense and war; without, he forged horizontal alliances to set the feudal lords against one another. Thus the people of Qin took the lands beyond the West River with folded arms.
23
孝公既沒，惠文王、武王、昭王蒙故業，因遺策，南取漢中，西舉巴蜀，東割膏腴之地，收要害之郡。 諸侯恐懼，會盟而謀弱秦。 不愛珍器重寶肥饒之地，以致天下之士。 合從締交，相與為一。 當此之時，齊有孟嘗，趙有平原，楚有春申，魏有信陵：此四君者，皆明知而忠信，寬厚而愛人，尊賢而重士。 約從連衡，兼韓、魏、燕、趙、宋、衛、中山之眾。 於是六國之士有甯越、徐尚、蘇秦、杜赫之屬為之謀，齊明、周聚、陳軫、邵滑、樓緩、翟景、蘇厲、樂毅之徒通其意，吳起、孫臏、帶他、兒良、王廖、田忌、廉頗、趙奢之倫制其兵。 嘗以什倍之地，百萬之師，仰關而攻秦。 秦人開關而延敵，九國之師遁逃而不敢進。 秦無亡矢遺鏃之費，而天下固已困矣。 於是從散約敗，爭割地而賂秦。 秦有餘力而制其獘，追亡逐北，伏尸百萬，流血漂櫓，因利乘便，宰割天下，分裂山河，彊國請服，弱國入朝。
After Duke Xiao's death, Kings Huiwen, Wu, and Zhao carried on his legacy and followed his grand strategy. They seized Hanzhong to the south, conquered Ba and Shu to the west, carved away the fertile lands to the east, and secured the strategically vital commanderies. The feudal lords were filled with dread. They convened alliances and plotted to weaken Qin. They spared no expense — neither precious vessels, rare treasures, nor fertile lands — all to attract the finest men the empire could offer. They forged the Vertical Alliance and bound themselves together as one. At that time, Qi had Lord Mengchang, Zhao had Lord Pingyuan, Chu had Lord Chunshen, and Wei had Lord Xinling. These four lords were all men of keen discernment and steadfast loyalty, generous of spirit and devoted to their followers, who honored the worthy and valued men of talent. They pledged vertical and horizontal alliances and united the forces of Han, Wei, Yan, Zhao, Song, Wey, and Zhongshan. The six states thus had men like Ning Yue, Xu Shang, Su Qin, and Du He to devise their strategies; Qi Ming, Zhou Ju, Chen Zhen, Shao Hua, Lou Huan, Di Jing, Su Li, and Yue Yi to serve as their intermediaries; and Wu Qi, Sun Bin, Dai Tuo, Ni Liang, Wang Liao, Tian Ji, Lian Po, and Zhao She to command their armies. Once, commanding territory tenfold greater than Qin's and armies a million strong, they marched upon the passes and attacked. Yet when the Qin opened their gates and advanced to meet them, the armies of the nine states turned and fled, not daring to engage. Qin did not lose a single arrow or arrowhead, yet the empire had already been brought to its knees. The Vertical Alliance disintegrated and its pacts collapsed. The states vied with one another to cede territory and bribe Qin. Qin, with strength to spare, exploited their rivals' exhaustion. It pursued the routed and chased down the fleeing. Corpses lay in heaps of a million; blood ran until it could float shields. Seizing every advantage, Qin carved up the empire, partitioned mountains and rivers. The strong states begged for submission; the weak presented themselves at court.
24
施及孝文王、莊襄王，享國之日淺，國家無事。 及至始皇，奮六世之餘烈，振長策而御宇內，吞二周而亡諸侯，履至尊而制六合，執敲樸以鞭笞天下，威振四海。 南取百越之地，以為桂林、象郡，百越之君俛首系頸，委命下吏。 乃使蒙恬北筑長城而守藩籬，卻匈奴七百餘里，胡人不敢南下而牧馬，士亦不敢貫弓而報怨。 於是廢先王之道，燔百家之言，以愚黔首。 墮名城，殺豪俊，收天下之兵聚之咸陽，銷鋒鍉，鑄以為金人十二，以弱天下之民。 然後踐華為城，因河為池，據億丈之城，臨不測之谿以為固。 良將勁弩，守要害之處，信臣精卒，陳利兵而誰何。 天下已定，始皇之心，自以為關中之固，金城千里，子孫帝王萬世之業也。
The reigns of Kings Xiaowen and Zhuangxiang were brief, and the state knew no great upheaval. Then came the First Emperor. He took up the accumulated might of six generations, cracked his long whip and drove the whole world before him. He swallowed the Two Zhous and extinguished the feudal lords, ascended to the supreme position and imposed his will upon all within the six directions, wielding his rod to flog the empire into submission. His power shook the four seas. To the south, he seized the lands of the Hundred Yue and made them the commanderies of Guilin and Xiang. The chiefs of the Hundred Yue bowed their heads, placed ropes about their own necks, and entrusted their fates to Qin's petty officials. He then sent Meng Tian to build the Great Wall to the north as a bulwark, driving the Xiongnu back more than seven hundred li. The Hu peoples no longer dared ride south to graze their horses, and warriors no longer dared string their bows to seek vengeance. Thereupon he cast aside the Way of the former kings and burned the writings of the Hundred Schools, all to keep the common people in ignorance. He razed the great walls of famous cities, slaughtered the heroes and men of talent, confiscated all the weapons in the empire and gathered them at Xianyang, where he melted down the blades and arrowheads and cast them into twelve colossal bronze figures — all to weaken the people of the empire. Then he set Mount Hua as his rampart and the Yellow River as his moat, perched atop walls ten thousand feet high, and looked down upon fathomless gorges as his defense. Able generals with powerful crossbows guarded every strategic pass. Trusted ministers and elite soldiers arrayed their keen weapons and challenged all who approached. With the empire settled, the First Emperor believed in his heart that the stronghold within the passes, that impregnable fortress stretching a thousand li, would be the foundation of an imperial dynasty lasting ten thousand generations.
25
始皇既沒，餘威振於殊俗。 然而陳涉甕牖繩樞之子，甿隸之人，而遷徙之徒也。 材能不及中人，非有仲尼、墨翟之賢，陶朱、猗頓之富也。 躡足行伍之閒，俛仰仟佰之中，率罷散之卒，將數百之眾，轉而攻秦。 斬木為兵，揭竿為旗，天下雲會響應，贏糧而景從，山東豪俊遂并起而亡秦族矣。
After the First Emperor died, his lingering authority still overawed distant peoples. Yet Chen She was the son of a family so poor their windows were broken jars and their door-hinges were made of rope — a field laborer and a conscript exile. His talents did not surpass those of an ordinary man. He possessed neither the wisdom of Confucius or Mozi, nor the wealth of Tao Zhu or Yi Dun. He rose from the ranks of common soldiers, looked about him amid the files and columns, led a ragged band of weary conscripts — a force of a mere few hundred — and turned to attack Qin. They cut down trees for weapons and raised bamboo poles for banners. The people of the empire gathered like clouds, answered like echoes, carried their provisions on their backs, and followed like shadows. The heroes east of the mountains rose as one and brought the house of Qin to ruin.
26
且天下非小弱也； 雍州之地，殽函之固自若也。 陳涉之位，非尊於齊、楚、燕、趙、韓、魏、宋、衛、中山之君也； 鉏耰棘矜，非铦於句戟長鎩也； 適戍之眾，非儔於九國之師也； 深謀遠慮，行軍用兵之道，非及鄉時之士也。 然而成敗異變，功業相反也。 嘗試使山東之國與陳涉度長絜大，比權量力，則不可同年而語矣。 然而秦以區區之地。 致萬乘之權，抑八州而朝同列，百有餘年矣。 然後以六合為家，殽函為宮。 一夫作難而七廟墮，身死人手，為天下笑者，何也？ 仁義不施，而攻守之勢異也。
Now, the empire had not grown smaller or weaker; the lands of Yongzhou and the fortress of Xiao and Hangu were as formidable as ever. Chen She's station was not more exalted than the lords of Qi, Chu, Yan, Zhao, Han, Wei, Song, Wey, and Zhongshan; hoes and rakes and sharpened stakes were no match for hooked halberds and long spears; a band of garrison conscripts could not compare with the armies of nine states; and in grand strategy and the arts of war, Chen She could not approach the statesmen and generals of earlier times. And yet the outcome was the very opposite of what one might expect: their successes and failures were completely reversed. If one were to compare the states east of the mountains with Chen She — measuring their territory, weighing their power and resources — they could not even be mentioned in the same breath. Yet Qin, starting from its modest territory, rose to command a force of ten thousand chariots, subjugated the eight provinces, and forced its peers to pay court — for more than a hundred years. Then at last it made all within the six directions its home and the passes of Xiao and Hangu its palace. Yet a single commoner raised a revolt and the seven ancestral temples came crashing down. The ruler died at the hands of others and became the laughingstock of the empire. Why? Because benevolence and righteousness were not practiced, and the balance between offensive and defensive power had shifted.