House of Marquis of Liu

留侯張良者，其先韓人也。大父開地，相韓昭侯、宣惠王、襄哀王。父平，相釐王、悼惠王。悼惠王二十三年，平卒。卒二十歲，秦滅韓。良年少，未宦事韓。韓破，良家僮三百人，弟死不葬，悉以家財求客刺秦王，為韓報仇，以大父、父五世相韓故。

Zhang Liang, the Marquis of Liu, was descended from a family of the state of Han. His grandfather Kaidi served as chancellor to Marquis Zhao, King Xuanhui, and King Xiang'ai of Han. His father Ping served as chancellor to King Xi and King Daohui. In the twenty-third year of King Daohui's reign, Ping died. Twenty years after his death, the state of Qin conquered Han. Liang was still young and had not yet entered government service for Han. When Han fell, Liang's household still numbered three hundred servants. Though his younger brother died, he did not pause even to arrange a burial, instead spending the entire family fortune to recruit an assassin to strike down the King of Qin—all to avenge Han, for his grandfather and father had served the state as chancellors for five generations.

良嘗學禮淮陽。東見倉海君。得力士，為鐵椎重百二十斤。秦皇帝東游，良與客狙擊秦皇帝博浪沙中，誤中副車。秦皇帝大怒，大索天下，求賊甚急，為張良故也。良乃更名姓，亡匿下邳。

Liang had once studied the rites at Huaiyang. He traveled east to meet Lord Canghai. There he found a strongman and had an iron mace forged, weighing one hundred and twenty catties. When the First Emperor of Qin traveled east, Liang and his hired strongman ambushed him at Bolangsha, but struck the wrong carriage—the escort vehicle instead. The First Emperor was furious and ordered a great search throughout the empire, hunting the would-be assassins with utmost urgency—all on account of Zhang Liang. Liang changed his name and went into hiding at Xiapi.

良嘗閒從容步游下邳圯上，有一老父，衣褐，至良所，直墮其履圯下，顧謂良曰：「孺子，下取履！」良鄂然，欲毆之。為其老，彊忍，下取履。父曰：「履我！」良業為取履，因長跪履之。父以足受，笑而去。良殊大驚，隨目之。父去里所，復還，曰：「孺子可教矣。後五日平明，與我會此。」良因怪之，跪曰：「諾。」五日平明，良往。父已先在，怒曰：「與老人期，後，何也？」去，曰：「後五日早會。」五日雞鳴，良往。父又先在，復怒曰：「後，何也？」去，曰：「後五日復早來。」五日，良夜未半往。有頃，父亦來，喜曰：「當如是。」出一編書，曰：「讀此則為王者師矣。後十年興。十三年孺子見我濟北，穀城山下黃石即我矣。」遂去，無他言，不復見。旦日視其書，乃太公兵法也。良因異之，常習誦讀之。

One day, Liang was strolling at leisure across a bridge at Xiapi when an old man in rough brown cloth approached him, deliberately dropped his shoe off the bridge, turned to Liang and said, 'Boy! Go down and fetch my shoe!' Liang was stunned, and his first impulse was to strike the man. But seeing how old the man was, he restrained himself, climbed down, and retrieved the shoe. The old man said, 'Put it on for me!' Since Liang had already gone to the trouble of fetching it, he knelt respectfully and placed it on the old man's foot. The old man extended his foot to receive the shoe, laughed, and walked away. Liang stood there in utter astonishment, watching the old man go. After walking about a li, the old man turned back and said, 'This young man can be taught. Five days from now, at dawn, meet me here.' Liang found this strange but knelt and replied, 'Yes, sir.' Five days later at dawn, Liang went to the bridge. The old man was already there. He said angrily, 'You made an appointment with an old man and you arrive late—what is the meaning of this?' He left, saying, 'Come earlier in five days.' Five days later, at the first cock's crow, Liang went. Again the old man was there before him, and again he said angrily, 'Late! Why?' He left, saying, 'Come even earlier in five days.' Five days later, Liang set out before midnight. After a short while the old man arrived as well, and said with satisfaction, 'This is how it should be.' He produced a bound volume and said, 'Study this and you will become the teacher of kings. In ten years, great things will stir. In thirteen years, you will find me again in Jibei—the yellow stone at the foot of Mount Gucheng will be me.' With that he departed, said nothing more, and was never seen again. At daybreak Liang examined the book and found it to be the Art of War of Taigong. Liang marveled at this gift and devoted himself to studying and reciting it.

居下邳，為任俠。項伯常殺人，從良匿。

He remained in Xiapi, living as a wandering knight. Xiang Bo, who had committed murders, took refuge with Liang.

後十年，陳涉等起兵，良亦聚少年百餘人。景駒自立為楚假王，在留。良欲往從之，道還沛公。沛公將數千人，略地下邳西，遂屬焉。沛公拜良為廄將。良數以太公兵法說沛公，沛公善之，常用其策。良為他人者，皆不省。良曰：「沛公殆天授。」故遂從之，不去見景駒。

Ten years later, when Chen She and others raised the banner of revolt, Liang too gathered more than a hundred young men. Jing Ju had proclaimed himself acting King of Chu and was based at Liu. Liang intended to join him, but along the way he encountered the Duke of Pei. The Duke of Pei was leading several thousand men on a campaign west of Xiapi, and Liang joined his forces. The Duke of Pei appointed Liang as Master of the Stables. Liang repeatedly expounded the Art of War of Taigong to the Duke of Pei, who took to it at once and regularly adopted his stratagems. When Liang tried to explain these principles to others, none of them grasped their meaning. Liang said, 'The Duke of Pei must be a gift from Heaven.' So he chose to follow him and abandoned the idea of going to Jing Ju.

及沛公之薛，見項梁。項梁立楚懷王。良乃說項梁曰：「君已立楚後，而韓諸公子橫陽君成賢，可立為王，益樹黨。」項梁使良求韓成，立以為韓王。以良為韓申徒，與韓王將千餘人西略韓地，得數城，秦輒復取之，往來為游兵潁川。

When the Duke of Pei reached Xue, he had an audience with Xiang Liang. Xiang Liang had installed King Huai of Chu on the throne. Liang then counseled Xiang Liang, 'You have already set up a successor to Chu. Among the princes of Han, Lord Hengyang, Han Cheng, is a worthy man. If you install him as King of Han, it will strengthen your alliances.' Xiang Liang sent Liang to find Han Cheng and installed him as King of Han. He appointed Liang as Marshal of Han. Together with the King of Han, Liang led just over a thousand men westward to raid the old Han territories, taking several cities. But Qin forces always retook them, and they ended up roaming the Yingchuan region as a guerrilla force.

沛公之從雒陽南出轘轅，良引兵從沛公，下韓十餘城，擊破楊熊軍。沛公乃令韓王成留守陽翟，與良俱南，攻下宛，西入武關。沛公欲以兵二萬人擊秦嶢下軍，良說曰：「秦兵尚彊，未可輕。臣聞其將屠者子，賈豎易動以利。願沛公且留壁，使人先行，為五萬人具食，益為張旗幟諸山上，為疑兵，令酈食其持重寶啗秦將。」秦將果畔，欲連和俱西襲咸陽，沛公欲聽之。良曰：「此獨其將欲叛耳，恐士卒不從。不從必危，不如因其解擊之。」沛公乃引兵擊秦軍，大破之。（遂）［逐］北至藍田，再戰，秦兵竟敗。遂至咸陽，秦王子嬰降沛公。

When the Duke of Pei marched south from Luoyang through the Xuanyuan Pass, Liang led his troops to join him. Together they took more than ten cities and routed Yang Xiong's army. The Duke of Pei ordered the King of Han, Cheng, to remain and hold Yangzhai, then headed south with Liang, stormed Wan, and entered the Wu Pass to the west. The Duke of Pei wanted to assault the Qin garrison below Yao Pass with twenty thousand men, but Liang cautioned him, 'The Qin forces are still strong—they must not be underestimated. I have heard that their general is a butcher's son—a petty trader, the sort of man easily swayed by profit. I suggest you remain encamped for now and send men ahead to prepare rations for fifty thousand. Plant banners on the surrounding hilltops to create the illusion of a much larger force, and dispatch Li Yiji with lavish treasures to bribe the Qin general.' The Qin general did indeed defect and proposed to join forces for a combined assault on Xianyang. The Duke of Pei was inclined to agree. Liang said, 'It is only the general who wishes to switch sides—I fear his soldiers will not follow. If the soldiers refuse, the danger will be immense. Better to strike while their guard is down.' The Duke of Pei then led his troops against the Qin army and routed them. He pursued the fleeing enemy to Lantian, fought again, and the Qin forces were utterly destroyed. They pressed on to Xianyang, where Ziying, the last King of Qin, surrendered to the Duke of Pei.

沛公入秦宮，宮室帷帳狗馬重寶婦女以千數，意欲留居之。樊噲諫沛公出舍，沛公不聽。良曰：「夫秦為無道，故沛公得至此。夫為天下除殘賊，宜縞素為資。今始入秦，即安其樂，此所謂『助桀為虐』。且『忠言逆耳利於行，毒藥苦口利於病』，願沛公聽樊噲言。」沛公乃還軍霸上。

The Duke of Pei entered the Qin palace. Its halls and chambers, its curtains and canopies, fine horses, rare treasures, and beautiful women numbered in the thousands. He wanted nothing more than to stay. Fan Kuai urged the Duke of Pei to leave the palace, but the Duke would not listen. Liang said, 'It was because Qin abandoned the Way that you were able to come this far. One who would rid the world of a cruel tyrant must show the simplicity of mourning as his standard. You have barely entered Qin and already you settle into its pleasures—this is what is meant by "aiding the tyrant Jie in his cruelty." Besides, "loyal counsel offends the ear but benefits one's conduct; bitter medicine offends the palate but cures the disease." I urge you to heed Fan Kuai's words.' The Duke of Pei then withdrew his army to Bashang.

項羽至鴻門下，欲擊沛公，項伯乃夜馳入沛公軍，私見張良，欲與俱去。良曰：「臣為韓王送沛公，今事有急，亡去不義。」乃具以語沛公。沛公大驚，曰：「為將奈何？」良曰：「沛公誠欲倍項羽邪？」沛公曰：「鯫生教我距關無內諸侯，秦地可盡王，故聽之。」良曰：「沛公自度能卻項羽乎？」沛公默然良久，曰：「固不能也。今為奈何？」良乃固要項伯。項伯見沛公。沛公與飲為壽，結賓婚。令項伯具言沛公不敢倍項羽，所以距關者，備他盜也。及見項羽後解，語在項羽事中。

When Xiang Yu arrived at Hongmen and prepared to attack the Duke of Pei, Xiang Bo rode through the night into the Duke's camp to see Zhang Liang in secret, intending to take him away. Liang said, 'I escorted the Duke of Pei on behalf of the King of Han. Now that crisis is upon us, to flee would be dishonorable.' He then told the Duke of Pei everything. The Duke of Pei was alarmed. 'What shall we do?' he asked. Liang said, 'Did you truly intend to defy Xiang Yu?' The Duke of Pei said, 'Some petty scholar advised me to seal the passes and keep out the other lords, saying I could rule all of Qin's lands. So I followed his advice.' Liang said, 'Do you honestly believe you can withstand Xiang Yu?' The Duke of Pei was silent for a long time. At last he said, 'Of course I cannot. What should I do now?' Liang then pressed Xiang Bo to stay. Xiang Bo met with the Duke of Pei. The Duke of Pei drank toasts with him and pledged a marriage alliance between their families. He asked Xiang Bo to explain to Xiang Yu that the Duke of Pei had no intention of defying him—the reason he sealed the passes was only to guard against bandits. When he later met Xiang Yu, the misunderstanding was resolved. The full account is given in the chapter on Xiang Yu.

漢元年正月，沛公為漢王，王巴蜀。漢王賜良金百鎰，珠二斗，良具以獻項伯。漢王亦因令良厚遺項伯，使請漢中地。項王乃許之，遂得漢中地。漢王之國，良送至襃中，遣良歸韓。良因說漢王曰：「王何不燒絕所過棧道，示天下無還心，以固項王意。」乃使良還。行，燒絕棧道。

In the first month of the first year of Han, the Duke of Pei was made King of Han and given Bashu as his domain. The King of Han bestowed on Liang a hundred yi of gold and two dou of pearls. Liang in turn presented all of it to Xiang Bo. The King of Han also instructed Liang to send generous gifts to Xiang Bo and to petition for the territory of Hanzhong. The King of Xiang agreed, and so the King of Han acquired the Hanzhong region. When the King of Han set out for his domain, Liang escorted him as far as Baozhong, and then the king sent Liang back to Han. Liang then counseled the King of Han, 'Why not burn the plank roads behind you as you go? That will show the world you have no intention of returning, and set the King of Xiang's mind at ease.' He then sent Liang on his way. As he traveled, he burned the plank roads behind him.

良至韓，韓王成以良從漢王故，項王不遣成之國，從與俱東。良說項王曰：「漢王燒絕棧道，無還心矣。」乃以齊王田榮反，書告項王。項王以此無西憂漢心，而發兵北擊齊。

When Liang reached Han, the King of Xiang—because Liang had followed the King of Han—refused to let King Cheng of Han return to his domain and instead forced him to travel east in his retinue. Liang told the King of Xiang, 'The King of Han has burned the plank roads. He has no thought of returning.' He also forwarded a report to the King of Xiang about King Tian Rong of Qi's rebellion. Because of this, the King of Xiang ceased worrying about Han in the west and sent his forces north to attack Qi.

項王竟不肯遣韓王，乃以為侯，又殺之彭城。良亡，間行歸漢王，漢王亦已還定三秦矣。復以良為成信侯，從東擊楚。至彭城，漢敗而還。至下邑，漢王下馬踞鞍而問曰：「吾欲捐關以東等棄之，誰可與共功者？」良進曰：「九江王黥布，楚梟將，與項王有郄；彭越與齊王田榮反梁地：此兩人可急使。而漢王之將獨韓信可屬大事，當一面。即欲捐之，捐之此三人，則楚可破也。」漢王乃遣隨何說九江王布，而使人連彭越。及魏王豹反，使韓信將兵擊之，因舉燕、代、齊、趙。然卒破楚者，此三人力也。

In the end, the King of Xiang refused to release the King of Han, demoted him to a mere marquis, and then had him killed at Pengcheng. Liang escaped and traveled by hidden paths back to the King of Han, who by that time had already returned from Bashu and subdued the Three Qins. He once again enfeoffed Liang as Marquis of Chengxin, and Liang followed him eastward to attack Chu. At Pengcheng the Han forces suffered a devastating defeat and retreated. When they reached Xiayi, the King of Han dismounted and sat upon his saddle, asking, 'I would give up everything east of the passes. Who among the lords is worthy enough to share the task of defeating Chu?' Liang stepped forward and said, 'Ying Bu, King of Jiujiang, is a fearsome Chu commander who bears a grudge against the King of Xiang. Peng Yue has raised a revolt in the Liang region alongside Tian Rong of Qi. These two can be called upon immediately. Among your own generals, Han Xin alone can be trusted with great undertakings and entrusted to hold an independent front. If you are willing to cede those lands, cede them to these three men, and Chu can be defeated.' The King of Han then dispatched Sui He to win over Ying Bu, King of Jiujiang, and sent envoys to make contact with Peng Yue. When King Bao of Wei rebelled, the King of Han sent Han Xin to lead an army against him, and Han Xin went on to conquer Yan, Dai, Qi, and Zhao. In the end, it was these three men whose strength brought about the defeat of Chu.

張良多病，未嘗特將也，常為畫策，時時從漢王。

Zhang Liang was frequently ill and never held an independent command. He served entirely as a strategist and advisor, accompanying the King of Han from time to time.

漢三年，項羽急圍漢王滎陽，漢王恐憂，與酈食其謀橈楚權。食其曰：「昔湯伐桀，封其後於杞。武王伐紂，封其後於宋。今秦失德棄義，侵伐諸侯社稷，滅六國之後，使無立錐之地。陛下誠能復立六國後世，畢已受印，此其君臣百姓必皆戴陛下之德，莫不鄉風慕義，願為臣妾。德義已行，陛下南鄉稱霸，楚必斂衽而朝。」漢王曰：「善。趣刻印，先生因行佩之矣。」

In the third year of Han, Xiang Yu laid a tight siege around the King of Han at Xingyang. The king was fearful and anxious, and he consulted with Li Yiji about ways to undermine Chu's power. Li Yiji said, 'In ancient times, when King Tang overthrew Jie, he enfeoffed Jie's descendants in Qi. When King Wu overthrew Zhou, he enfeoffed Zhou's descendants in Song. Now Qin cast aside virtue and abandoned righteousness, invaded the altars of the feudal lords, and extinguished the descendants of the six states, leaving them without so much as a place to plant a spike. If Your Majesty can truly restore the descendants of the six states and present them with their seals of office, their lords, ministers, and common people will all revere your virtue. Every one of them will turn to face your wind of righteousness and eagerly pledge their allegiance. Once virtue and righteousness have been established, Your Majesty will face south as hegemon, and Chu will have no choice but to gather its robes and present itself at your court.' The King of Han said, 'Excellent! Have the seals carved at once. You may set out and deliver them yourself.'

食其未行，張良從外來謁。漢王方食，曰：「子房前！客有為我計橈楚權者。」其以酈生語告，曰：「於子房何如？」良曰：「誰為陛下畫此計者？陛下事去矣。」漢王曰：「何哉？」張良對曰：「臣請藉前箸為大王籌之。」曰：「昔者湯伐桀而封其後於杞者，度能制桀之死命也。今陛下能制項籍之死命乎？」曰：「未能也。」「其不可一也。武王伐紂封其後於宋者，度能得紂之頭也。今陛下能得項籍之頭乎？」曰：「未能也。」「其不可二也。武王入殷，表商容之閭，釋箕子之拘，封比干之墓。今陛下能封聖人之墓，表賢者之閭，式智者之門乎？」曰：「未能也。」「其不可三也。發鉅橋之粟，散鹿臺之錢，以賜貧窮。今陛下能散府庫以賜貧窮乎？」曰：「未能也。」「其不可四矣。殷事已畢，偃革為軒，倒置干戈，覆以虎皮，以示天下不復用兵。今陛下能偃武行文，不復用兵乎？」曰：「未能也。」「其不可五矣。休馬華山之陽，示以無所為。今陛下能休馬無所用乎？」曰：「未能也。」「其不可六矣。放牛桃林之陰，以示不復輸積。今陛下能放牛不復輸積乎？」曰：「未能也。」「其不可七矣。且天下游士離其親戚，棄墳墓，去故舊，從陛下游者，徒欲日夜望咫尺之地。今復六國，立韓、魏、燕、趙、齊、楚之後，天下游士各歸事其主，從其親戚，反其故舊墳墓，陛下與誰取天下乎？其不可八矣。且夫楚唯無彊，六國立者復橈而從之，陛下焉得而臣之？誠用客之謀，陛下事去矣。」漢王輟食吐哺，罵曰：「豎儒，幾敗而公事！」令趣銷印。

Li Yiji had not yet departed when Zhang Liang arrived from outside to pay his respects. The King of Han was in the middle of a meal. He said, 'Zifang, come here! A retainer has devised a plan for me to undermine the power of Chu." He then recounted Li Yiji's proposal and asked, "What does Zifang think of this?" Zhang Liang replied, "Who devised this plan for Your Majesty? Your Majesty's cause is lost!" The King of Han asked, "How so?" Zhang Liang answered, "Allow me to borrow the chopsticks before you to illustrate my reasoning for Your Majesty." He continued, "In ancient times, King Tang conquered Jie and granted his descendants a fief at Qi only because he was certain he held Jie's life in his hands. Can Your Majesty now claim to hold Xiang Yu's life in your hands?" The king replied, "I cannot." "That is the first reason the plan will fail. King Wu overthrew the tyrant Zhou and granted his descendants a fief at Song only because he was certain he could take Zhou's head. Can Your Majesty now claim to be able to take Xiang Yu's head?" The king replied, "I cannot." "That is the second reason the plan will fail. When King Wu entered the Yin capital, he honored the village gate of Shang Rong, freed Jizi from prison, and raised a memorial mound over the grave of Bigan. Can Your Majesty now honor the graves of sages, mark the gates of the worthy, and pay respects at the doors of the wise?" The king replied, "I cannot." "That is the third reason the plan will fail. King Wu opened the granaries at Juqiao and distributed the treasures of Lutai to relieve the destitute. Can Your Majesty now empty the state treasuries to relieve the poor?" The king replied, "I cannot." "That is the fourth reason the plan will fail. When the conquest of Yin was complete, King Wu converted war chariots into ceremonial carriages, turned weapons upside down and covered them with tiger skins, signaling to all under heaven that the age of warfare was over. Can Your Majesty now set aside the martial and embrace the civil, never again resorting to arms?" The king replied, "I cannot." "That is the fifth reason the plan will fail. He pastured the war horses on the sunny slopes of Mount Hua to show he had no further use for them. Can Your Majesty now put your horses to pasture with no further use for them?" The king replied, "I cannot." "That is the sixth reason the plan will fail. He set the draft oxen free in the forests of Taolin to show that supply trains would never again be needed. Can Your Majesty now release your draft animals and cease all military supply operations?" The king replied, "I cannot." "That is the seventh reason the plan will fail. Moreover, the roving men of talent throughout the realm have left their families, forsaken their ancestral graves, and parted from old friends to follow Your Majesty, hoping day and night for nothing more than a small plot of land to call their own. If you now restore the six states and enthrone the descendants of Han, Wei, Yan, Zhao, Qi, and Chu, every one of these talented men will go home to serve his own lord, rejoin his kinsmen, and tend his ancestral graves. With whom, then, will Your Majesty conquer the empire? That is the eighth reason the plan will fail. Besides, Chu alone remains unchallenged in strength. If the six restored states bow once more to Chu's authority, how could Your Majesty ever hope to make them your subjects? If you truly adopt this man's scheme, Your Majesty's cause is lost beyond recovery." The King of Han threw down his chopsticks, spat out his food, and cursed, "That wretched pedant nearly destroyed everything!" He immediately ordered the newly cast seals to be melted down.

漢四年，韓信破齊而欲自立為齊王，漢王怒。張良說漢王，漢王使良授齊王信印，語在淮陰事中。

In the fourth year of Han, Han Xin conquered Qi and sought to make himself its king. The King of Han was furious. Zhang Liang counseled the King of Han, who then sent Zhang Liang to bestow the royal seal of Qi upon Han Xin. The full account is given in the chapter on the Marquis of Huaiyin.

其秋，漢王追楚至陽夏南，戰不利而壁固陵，諸侯期不至。良說漢王，漢王用其計，諸侯皆至。語在項籍事中。

That autumn, the King of Han pursued Chu south to Yangxia. The battle went badly, and he dug in at Guling, but the allied lords failed to appear at the appointed time. Zhang Liang offered his counsel, and the King of Han adopted his plan. All the lords came at last. The full account is given in the chapter on Xiang Yu.

漢六年正月，封功臣。良未嘗有戰鬬功，高帝曰：「運籌策帷帳中，決勝千里外，子房功也。自擇齊三萬戶。」良曰：「始臣起下邳，與上會留，此天以臣授陛下。陛下用臣計，幸而時中，臣願封留足矣，不敢當三萬戶。」乃封張良為留侯，與蕭何等俱封。

In the first month of the sixth year of Han, the meritorious officials were enfeoffed. Zhang Liang had never won distinction on the battlefield, yet Emperor Gao declared, "To devise strategies within the command tent and determine victory a thousand leagues away — that is Zifang's achievement. Choose for yourself any thirty thousand households in Qi." Zhang Liang replied, "When your servant first set out from Xiapi and met Your Majesty at Liu, it was heaven itself that placed me in your service. Your Majesty has used my plans, and by good fortune they sometimes proved right. I wish only to be enfeoffed at Liu — that is more than enough. I would not dare accept thirty thousand households." And so Zhang Liang was enfeoffed as Marquis of Liu, receiving his title at the same time as Xiao He and the other great ministers.

［六年］上已封大功臣二十餘人，其餘日夜爭功不決，未得行封。上在雒陽南宮，從複道望見諸將往往相與坐沙中語。上曰：「此何語？」留侯曰：「陛下不知乎？此謀反耳。」上曰：「天下屬安定，何故反乎？」留侯曰：「陛下起布衣，以此屬取天下，今陛下為天子，而所封皆蕭、曹故人所親愛，而所誅者皆生平所仇怨。今軍吏計功，以天下不足遍封，此屬畏陛下不能盡封，恐又見疑平生過失及誅，故即相聚謀反耳。」上乃憂曰：「為之奈何？」留侯曰：「上平生所憎，群臣所共知，誰最甚者？」上曰：「雍齒與我故，數嘗窘辱我。我欲殺之，為其功多，故不忍。」留侯曰：「今急先封雍齒以示群臣，群臣見雍齒封，則人人自堅矣。」於是上乃置酒，封雍齒為什方侯，而急趣丞相、御史定功行封。群臣罷酒，皆喜曰：「雍齒尚為侯，我屬無患矣。」

By this time the emperor had enfeoffed more than twenty of the greatest contributors, but the rest quarreled day and night over their respective merits, and no further grants could be made. While residing in the Southern Palace at Luoyang, the emperor looked down from the covered walkway and observed groups of generals sitting together on the sand, deep in conversation. The emperor asked, "What are they talking about?" The Marquis of Liu replied, "Does Your Majesty not realize? They are plotting rebellion." The emperor said, "The empire has only just been pacified. Why would they rebel?" The Marquis of Liu explained, "Your Majesty rose from humble origins and used these very men to conquer the empire. Now that you are Son of Heaven, every title has gone to old friends like Xiao He and Cao Can, while every execution has fallen on men you bore private grudges against. Now the officers tally up their merits and conclude that the whole empire is not large enough to reward them all. They fear Your Majesty cannot possibly enfeoff everyone, and they dread being called to account for past offenses and put to death. So they gather together and plot rebellion." The emperor grew anxious and asked, "What should I do?" The Marquis of Liu asked, "Among all those whom Your Majesty has hated most, and whom every minister knows you despise — who stands foremost?" The emperor said, "Yong Chi and I go back many years, yet time and again he has put me to shame and humiliated me. I have wanted to kill him, but his accomplishments are too great, so I have held back." The Marquis of Liu said, "Then waste no time — enfeoff Yong Chi first, as a signal to all the ministers. When they see that even Yong Chi has received a title, every man among them will feel secure." The emperor at once held a banquet, enfeoffed Yong Chi as Marquis of Shifang, and pressed the Chancellor and the Imperial Secretary to finalize the merit rankings and proceed with the remaining grants. When the banquet was over, the ministers all said happily, "If even Yong Chi has been made a marquis, the rest of us have nothing to worry about."

劉敬說高帝曰：「都關中。」上疑之。左右大臣皆山東人，多勸上都雒陽：「雒陽東有成皋，西有殽黽，倍河，向伊雒，其固亦足恃。」留侯曰：「雒陽雖有此固，其中小，不過數百里，田地薄，四面受敵，此非用武之國也。夫關中左殽函，右隴蜀，沃野千里，南有巴蜀之饒，北有胡苑之利，阻三面而守，獨以一面東制諸侯。諸侯安定，河渭漕輓天下，西給京師；諸侯有變，順流而下，足以委輸。此所謂金城千里，天府之國也，劉敬說是也。」於是高帝即日駕，西都關中。

Liu Jing advised Emperor Gao, "Establish the capital within the passes." The emperor was uncertain. Most of the senior ministers around him hailed from east of the mountains, and they urged him to make Luoyang the capital: "Luoyang has Chenggao to the east and the Xiao and Mian passes to the west, with the Yellow River at its back and the Yi and Luo rivers before it — its defenses are more than adequate." The Marquis of Liu objected, "Though Luoyang has these defenses, the territory within is small — no more than a few hundred leagues across — with thin soil and poor farmland, and it lies exposed to attack from all four directions. This is no land from which to project military power. Guanzhong, by contrast, has the Xiao and Hangu passes to the east and the Long Mountains and Shu to the west, with a thousand leagues of fertile plains. To the south lies the abundance of Ba and Shu; to the north, the pastureland bordering the northern tribes. Shielded on three sides by natural barriers, one need only face east to command all the lords. When the lords are at peace, the Yellow River and the Wei can carry the tribute of the empire westward to supply the capital. Should the lords rebel, you may send troops and supplies swiftly downstream to quell them. This is what is called a fortress of metal a thousand leagues wide, the Storehouse of Heaven. Liu Jing's counsel is sound." That very day Emperor Gao set out westward and established the capital within the passes.

留侯從入關。留侯性多病，即道引不食穀，杜門不出歲餘。

The Marquis of Liu accompanied the court through the passes. The Marquis of Liu was by nature sickly. He took up Daoist breathing exercises, abstained from grain, and shut his gate, not venturing outside for more than a year.

上欲廢太子，立戚夫人子趙王如意。大臣多諫爭，未能得堅決者也。呂后恐，不知所為。人或謂呂后曰：「留侯善畫計筴，上信用之。」呂后乃使建成侯呂澤劫留侯，曰：「君常為上謀臣，今上欲易太子，君安得高枕而臥乎？」留侯曰：「始上數在困急之中，幸用臣筴。今天下安定，以愛欲易太子，骨肉之間，雖臣等百餘人何益。」呂澤彊要曰：「為我畫計。」留侯曰：「此難以口舌爭也。顧上有不能致者，天下有四人。四人者年老矣，皆以為上慢侮人，故逃匿山中，義不為漢臣。然上高此四人。今公誠能無愛金玉璧帛，令太子為書，卑辭安車，因使辯士固請，宜來。來，以為客，時時從入朝，令上見之，則必異而問之。問之，上知此四人賢，則一助也。」於是呂后令呂澤使人奉太子書，卑辭厚禮，迎此四人。四人至，客建成侯所。

The emperor wished to depose the crown prince and enthrone Ruyi, the King of Zhao and son of Lady Qi, in his place. Many senior ministers remonstrated, but none could dissuade the emperor from his resolve. Empress Lu was terrified and at a loss for what to do. Someone advised Empress Lu, "The Marquis of Liu is a master strategist, and the emperor trusts him completely." Empress Lu then sent the Marquis of Jiancheng, Lu Ze, to press the Marquis of Liu, saying, "You have always been the emperor's chief counselor. Now the emperor intends to replace the heir — how can you rest easy?" The Marquis of Liu replied, "In the old days, when the emperor found himself in desperate straits time and again, he was kind enough to take my advice. But now the empire is at peace, and he wishes to change the heir out of personal affection. This is a matter between father and son — even if a hundred of us ministers spoke up, what good would it do?" Lu Ze pressed him insistently: "You must devise a plan for us." The Marquis of Liu said, "This is not something that can be won through argument. But there are four men in the empire whom the emperor has never been able to summon. These four are elderly men who consider the emperor rude and dismissive. They have hidden themselves in the mountains, on principle refusing to serve the Han. Yet the emperor holds them in the highest regard. If you spare no expense in gold, jade, and silks, and have the crown prince write a letter in the most humble terms, sending a comfortable carriage and dispatching persuasive envoys to entreat them sincerely, they should be willing to come. Once they arrive, treat them as honored guests and have them accompany the crown prince to court from time to time. When the emperor sees them, he will surely be astonished and ask who they are. When he learns that these four worthies have attached themselves to the crown prince, it will strengthen the heir's position." Empress Lu accordingly instructed Lu Ze to send envoys bearing the crown prince's letter, couched in the most deferential language and accompanied by lavish gifts, to invite the four men. The four men came and lodged as guests at the residence of the Marquis of Jiancheng.

漢十一年，黥布反，上病，欲使太子將，往擊之。四人相謂曰：「凡來者，將以存太子。太子將兵，事危矣。」乃說建成侯曰：「太子將兵，有功則位不益太子；無功還，則從此受禍矣。且太子所與俱諸將，皆嘗與上定天下梟將也，今使太子將之，此無異使羊將狼也，皆不肯為盡力，其無功必矣。臣聞『母愛者子抱』，今戚夫人日夜待御，趙王如意常抱居前，上曰『終不使不肖子居愛子之上』，明乎其代太子位必矣。君何不急請呂后承間為上泣言：『黥布，天下猛將也，善用兵，今諸將皆陛下故等夷，乃令太子將此屬，無異使羊將狼，莫肯為用，且使布聞之，則鼓行而西耳。上雖病，彊載輜車，臥而護之，諸將不敢不盡力。上雖苦，為妻子自彊。』」於是呂澤立夜見呂后，呂后承間為上泣涕而言，如四人意。上曰：「吾惟豎子固不足遣，而公自行耳。」於是上自將兵而東，群臣居守，皆送至灞上。留侯病，自彊起，至曲郵，見上曰：「臣宜從，病甚。楚人剽疾，願上無與楚人爭鋒。」因說上曰：「令太子為將軍，監關中兵。」上曰：「子房雖病，彊臥而傅太子。」是時叔孫通為太傅，留侯行少傅事。

In the eleventh year of Han, Ying Bu revolted. The emperor was ill and wished to send the crown prince to lead the army against him. The Four Elders conferred among themselves: "We came here for the sole purpose of safeguarding the crown prince. If the crown prince is sent to command the army, his position will be in grave danger." They went to the Marquis of Jiancheng and counseled him, "If the crown prince leads the army and wins, his rank cannot rise any higher than it already is. But if he returns without distinction, disaster will surely follow. Moreover, every general assigned to serve under the crown prince once helped the emperor conquer the empire — battle-hardened veterans all. Setting the crown prince over them is no different from sending a lamb to lead a pack of wolves. None will fight with full effort, and failure is certain. We have heard the saying, 'The child of the favored mother is held in the arms.' Lady Qi attends the emperor day and night, and Ruyi, the King of Zhao, is always at his father's side. The emperor has declared, 'I will never let an unworthy son stand above the son I love.' It is plain that the crown prince will be replaced. You should urge Empress Lu to find the right moment and plead with the emperor through tears: 'Ying Bu is one of the most fearsome generals alive and a master of warfare. The generals you would assign to the crown prince are all men who once fought as your equals. To put the crown prince in command of them is no different from setting a lamb over wolves — not one will obey. And if Ying Bu hears of it, he will march on us without hesitation. Though Your Majesty is ill, you must force yourself into a supply wagon and oversee the campaign even from a reclining position. With you present, none of the generals will dare hold anything back. It will be hard on you, but for the sake of your wife and children, you must bear it.'" Lu Ze went to see Empress Lu that very night. The empress found the right moment, and through her tears she spoke to the emperor exactly as the Four Elders had directed. The emperor said, "I have always known the boy is not up to the task. I shall lead the campaign myself." The emperor then took personal command of the army and marched east. The ministers who remained behind to guard the capital escorted him as far as Bashang. The Marquis of Liu was ill, but he forced himself out of bed and traveled to Quyu to see the emperor. He said, "I ought to accompany you, but my illness is too severe. The men of Chu are fierce and quick to attack. I beg Your Majesty not to meet them head-on." He also advised, "Appoint the crown prince as general to command the garrison troops within the passes." The emperor said, "Zifang, even though you are ill, I ask you to stay at your rest and serve as tutor to the crown prince." At that time Shusun Tong held the office of Grand Tutor, while the Marquis of Liu served as Junior Tutor.

漢十二年，上從擊破布軍歸，疾益甚，愈欲易太子。留侯諫，不聽，因疾不視事。叔孫太傅稱說引古今，以死爭太子。上詳許之，猶欲易之。及燕，置酒，太子侍。四人從太子，年皆八十有餘，鬚眉皓白，衣冠甚偉。上怪之，問曰：「彼何為者？」四人前對，各言名姓，曰東園公，角里先生，綺里季，夏黃公。上乃大驚，曰：「吾求公數歲，公辟逃我，今公何自從吾兒游乎？」四人皆曰：「陛下輕士善罵，臣等義不受辱，故恐而亡匿。竊聞太子為人仁孝，恭敬愛士，天下莫不延頸欲為太子死者，故臣等來耳。」上曰：「煩公幸卒調護太子。」

In the twelfth year of Han, the emperor returned from his victory over Ying Bu's forces. His illness had grown worse, and his desire to replace the crown prince became more pressing than ever. The Marquis of Liu remonstrated, but the emperor would not listen. Pleading illness, the marquis withdrew from public affairs. Grand Tutor Shusun Tong invoked precedents from antiquity and the present, staking his very life on the defense of the crown prince. The emperor feigned agreement, yet in his heart still intended to make the change. At a banquet one evening, wine was served and the crown prince attended upon his father. Four men accompanied the crown prince, all past eighty years of age, with snow-white beards and brows, clad in robes and caps of striking dignity. The emperor was startled and asked, "Who are these men?" The four men stepped forward, and each gave his name: Master Dongyuan, Master Jiaoli, Master Qili, and Master Xiahuang. The emperor was greatly astonished and exclaimed, "I have sought you for years, and you always fled from me. Why have you now chosen to follow my son?" The four men all replied, "Your Majesty despises scholars and is given to cursing them. We could not in good conscience endure such insult, so we withdrew in fear and went into hiding. But we have heard that the crown prince is humane and filial, respectful and fond of scholars. All under heaven crane their necks, eager to lay down their lives for him. That is why we have come." The emperor said, "I am grateful. I ask you to continue looking after the crown prince."

四人為壽已畢，趨去。上目送之，召戚夫人指示四人者曰：「我欲易之，彼四人輔之，羽翼已成，難動矣。呂后真而主矣。」戚夫人泣，上曰：「為我楚舞，吾為若楚歌。」歌曰：「鴻鴈高飛，一舉千里。羽翮已就，橫絕四海。橫絕四海，當可奈何！雖有矰繳，尚安所施！」歌數闋，戚夫人噓唏流涕，上起去，罷酒。竟不易太子者，留侯本招此四人之力也。

When the four men had finished offering their toasts, they withdrew. The emperor watched them go, then summoned Lady Qi and pointed after the four men, saying, "I wanted to replace the heir, but those four now stand behind him. His wings are fully formed — he can no longer be displaced. Empress Lu is truly his protector now." Lady Qi wept. The emperor said, "Dance the dance of Chu for me, and I will sing a song of Chu for you." He sang: "The wild swan soars on high, a thousand leagues in a single flight. Its wings are fully fledged; it sweeps across the four seas. It sweeps across the four seas — what can be done? Though you have arrows tethered with silk, where would you aim them now?" After singing several verses, Lady Qi broke into sobs. The emperor rose and departed, and the banquet came to an end. In the end, the crown prince was never replaced, and this was entirely owing to the Marquis of Liu's stratagem of summoning the Four Elders.

留侯從上擊代，出奇計馬邑下，及立蕭何相國，所與上從容言天下事甚眾，非天下所以存亡，故不著。留侯乃稱曰：「家世相韓，及韓滅，不愛萬金之資，為韓報讐彊秦，天下振動。今以三寸舌為帝者師，封萬戶，位列侯，此布衣之極，於良足矣。願棄人間事，欲從赤松子游耳。」乃學辟穀，道引輕身。會高帝崩，呂后德留侯，乃彊食之，曰：「人生一世間，如白駒過隙，何至自苦如此乎！」留侯不得已，彊聽而食。

The Marquis of Liu accompanied the emperor on the campaign against Dai, devised a brilliant stratagem at Mayi, and played a role in appointing Xiao He as Chancellor of State. He discussed a great many affairs of the realm with the emperor at leisure, but since they did not bear on questions of the empire's survival, they are not recorded here. The Marquis of Liu once declared, "My family served for generations as chancellors of Han. When Han was destroyed, I did not begrudge a fortune of ten thousand pieces of gold to avenge the state against mighty Qin, and the whole empire trembled at my deed. Now, with nothing more than a three-inch tongue, I have become the teacher of an emperor, received a fief of ten thousand households, and attained the rank of marquis. For a man who began as a commoner, this is the summit of achievement. It is more than enough for me. I wish to leave behind the affairs of this world and wander with Master Red Pine." He then took up the practice of abstaining from grain and performed Daoist exercises to lighten his body. When Emperor Gao died, Empress Lu, grateful for all the Marquis of Liu had done, pressed him to eat again, saying, "A man's life in this world is as brief as a white colt flashing past a crack in the wall. Why torment yourself so?" The Marquis of Liu had no choice but to comply, and reluctantly began eating again.

後八年卒，謚為文成侯。子不疑代侯。

Eight years later he died and was given the posthumous title Marquis Wencheng. His son Buyi succeeded to the marquisate.

子房始所見下邳圯上老父與太公書者，後十三年從高帝過濟北，果見穀城山下黃石，取而葆祠之。留侯死，并葬黃石（冢）。每上冢伏臘，祠黃石。

The old man whom Zifang had met on the bridge at Xiapi, the one who gave him the book of Taigong — thirteen years later, while accompanying Emperor Gao through Jibei, Zhang Liang came upon a yellow stone at the foot of Mount Gucheng, just as the old man had foretold. He took it and enshrined it with reverence. When the Marquis of Liu died, the yellow stone was buried with him in his tomb. At each seasonal sacrifice, when the family visited the tomb, they offered rites to the yellow stone as well.

留侯不疑，孝文帝五年坐不敬，國除。

Buyi, the Marquis of Liu, was convicted of lese-majeste in the fifth year of Emperor Wen's reign, and the marquisate was abolished.

太史公曰：學者多言無鬼神，然言有物。至如留侯所見老父予書，亦可怪矣。高祖離困者數矣，而留侯常有功力焉，豈可謂非天乎？上曰：「夫運籌筴帷帳之中，決勝千里外，吾不如子房。」余以為其人計魁梧奇偉，至見其圖，狀貌如婦人好女。蓋孔子曰：「以貌取人，失之子羽。」留侯亦云。

The Grand Historian remarks: Most scholars deny the existence of ghosts and spirits, yet they acknowledge the existence of strange phenomena. As for the old man whom the Marquis of Liu encountered, who bestowed a book upon him — that too is a strange affair indeed. Emperor Gaozu escaped from peril time and again, and each time the Marquis of Liu proved instrumental in his deliverance — can this be called anything but the work of Heaven? The Emperor himself declared: 'When it comes to devising strategies within the command tent and securing victory a thousand li away, I am no match for Zifang.' I had always imagined such a man to be a towering, imposing figure, but when I saw his portrait, his features were as delicate as those of a beautiful woman. As Confucius once said: 'If you judge a man by his appearance, you would have misjudged Ziyu.' The same could well be said of the Marquis of Liu.

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