1
陳丞相平者，陽武戶牖鄉人也。 少時家貧，好讀書，有田三十畝，獨與兄伯居。 伯常耕田，縱平使游學。 平為人長［大］美色。 人或謂陳平曰：「貧何食而肥若是？」 其嫂嫉平之不視家生產，曰：「亦食糠覈耳。 有叔如此，不如無有。」 伯聞之，逐其婦而棄之。
Chancellor Chen Ping was a native of Huyou Township in the district of Yangwu. In his youth, his family was poor, yet he loved to read. He owned just thirty mu of farmland and lived alone with his elder brother Bo. Bo worked the fields without cease, letting Ping roam freely in pursuit of learning. Ping was tall, imposing, and strikingly handsome. Someone once asked Chen Ping, "You are so poor—what do you eat to look so well fed?" His sister-in-law, who resented Ping for never tending to the family livelihood, snapped, "He eats nothing but chaff and husks. Better to have no brother-in-law at all than one like him." When Bo heard this, he drove his wife out and divorced her.
2
及平長，可娶妻，富人莫肯與者，貧者平亦恥之。 久之，戶牖富人有張負，張負女孫五嫁而夫輒死，人莫敢娶。 平欲得之。 邑中有喪，平貧，侍喪，以先往後罷為助。 張負既見之喪所，獨視偉平，平亦以故後去。 負隨平至其家，家乃負郭窮巷，以獘席為門，然門外多有長者車轍。 張負歸，謂其子仲曰：「吾欲以女孫予陳平。」 張仲曰：「平貧不事事，一縣中盡笑其所為，獨柰何予女乎？」 負曰：「人固有好美如陳平而長貧賤者乎？」 卒與女。 為平貧，乃假貸幣以聘，予酒肉之資以內婦。 負誡其孫曰：「毋以貧故，事人不謹。 事兄伯如事父，事嫂如母。」 平既娶張氏女，齎用益饒，游道日廣。
When Ping came of age to marry, no wealthy family would give him a daughter, and Ping for his part was too proud to marry into a poor one. After some time, there was a wealthy man in Huyou named Zhang Fu whose granddaughter had been married five times, and every husband had died—so no one dared take her as a wife. Ping wished to marry her. When there was a funeral in the village, Ping, too poor to offer gifts, helped instead by arriving first and leaving last. Zhang Fu noticed him at the funeral and watched Ping with admiration. Ping, for his part, deliberately lingered before leaving. Zhang Fu followed Ping home. The dwelling stood in a poor lane just outside the city wall, with nothing but a ragged mat for a door—yet the ground outside was rutted with the tracks of distinguished visitors' carriages. Zhang Fu returned home and told his son Zhong, "I intend to give my granddaughter in marriage to Chen Ping." Zhang Zhong replied, "Ping is poor and does nothing useful. The whole county laughs at him—why on earth would you give him your granddaughter?" Zhang Fu answered, "Has there ever been a man as fine-looking as Chen Ping who stayed poor and lowly forever?" In the end, he gave his granddaughter to Ping. Because Ping was poor, Zhang Fu lent him money for the betrothal gifts and provided the funds for the wedding feast so he could bring home his bride. Zhang Fu admonished his granddaughter, "Do not let poverty make you careless in serving others. Serve your brother-in-law Bo as you would your own father, and serve your sister-in-law as you would your own mother." After Ping married into the Zhang family, his means grew more abundant and his circle of acquaintances expanded by the day.
3
裏中社，平為宰，分肉食甚均。 父老曰：「善，陳孺子之為宰！」 平曰：「嗟乎，使平得宰天下，亦如是肉矣！」
At the village sacrificial feast, Ping served as the steward and divided the sacrificial meat with perfect fairness. The village elders exclaimed, "Splendid! What a fine steward young Chen makes!" Ping sighed, "Ah, if only I could govern all under heaven, I would apportion it just as I have this meat!"
4
陳涉起而王陳，使周市略定魏地，立魏咎為魏王，與秦軍相攻於臨濟。 陳平固已前謝其兄伯，從少年往事魏王咎於臨濟。 魏王以為太仆。 說魏王不聽，人或讒之，陳平亡去。
Chen She rose in rebellion and declared himself King of Chen, dispatching Zhou Shi to subjugate the old Wei territories. He installed Wei Jiu as King of Wei, who then clashed with the Qin armies at Linji. Chen Ping had already taken leave of his brother Bo and joined a band of young men to serve King Wei Jiu at Linji. The King of Wei appointed him Grand Coachman. He offered counsel to the King of Wei, but was ignored. When someone slandered him at court, Chen Ping fled.
5
久之，項羽略地至河上，陳平往歸之，從入破秦，賜平爵卿。 項羽之東王彭城也，漢王還定三秦而東，殷王反楚。 項羽乃以平為信武君，將魏王咎客在楚者以往，擊降殷王而還。 項王使項悍拜平為都尉，賜金二十溢。 居無何，漢王攻下殷（王）。 項王怒，將誅定殷者將吏。 陳平懼誅，乃封其金與印，使使歸項王，而平身閒行杖劍亡。 渡河，船人見其美丈夫獨行，疑其亡將，要中當有金玉寶器，目之，欲殺平。 平恐，乃解衣躶而佐刺船，船人知其無有，乃止。
Some time later, Xiang Yu swept through the territory as far as the Yellow River. Chen Ping went to join him, followed him into the campaign that destroyed Qin, and was rewarded with the noble rank of minister. When Xiang Yu went east to rule from Pengcheng, the King of Han returned to pacify the Three Qin regions and then marched east. The King of Yin revolted against Chu. Xiang Yu thereupon named Ping Lord of Xinwu, placed him in command of the former retainers of King Wei Jiu who had remained in Chu, and sent them to subdue the King of Yin. They forced his surrender and returned. The King of Xiang dispatched Xiang Han to formally appoint Ping as Commandant and bestow upon him twenty measures of gold. Before long, the King of Han attacked and conquered the territory of Yin. The King of Xiang was furious and resolved to execute the generals and officers who had been responsible for pacifying Yin. Chen Ping, fearing execution, sealed up his gold and official seal and sent a messenger to return them to the King of Xiang. Then, carrying only his sword, he slipped away alone. When he came to cross the Yellow River, the boatman saw this tall, handsome man traveling alone and suspected he was a deserting general whose belt surely concealed gold, jade, and other treasures. The boatman eyed him hungrily and wanted to kill him. Alarmed, Ping stripped off his clothes and, naked, helped pole the boat. When the boatman saw he carried nothing of value, he abandoned his designs.
6
平遂至修武降漢，因魏無知求見漢王，漢王召入。 是時萬石君奮為漢王中涓，受平謁，入見平。 平等七人俱進，賜食。 王曰：「罷，就舍矣。」 平曰：「臣為事來，所言不可以過今日。」 於是漢王與語而說之，問曰：「子之居楚何官？」 曰：「為都尉。」 是日乃拜平為都尉，使為參乘，典護軍。 諸將盡讙，曰：「大王一日得楚之亡卒，未知其高下，而即與同載，反使監護軍長者！」 漢王聞之，愈益幸平。 遂與東伐項王。 至彭城，為楚所敗。 引而還，收散兵至滎陽，以平為亞將，屬於韓王信，軍廣武。
Ping made his way to Xiuwu and surrendered to Han. Through Wei Wuzhi he secured an audience with the King of Han, who summoned him inside. At that time, Shi Fen, later known as Lord Wanshi, was serving as the King of Han's personal attendant. He received Ping's request for an audience and ushered him in. Ping and his six companions all came forward and were given a meal. The king said, "You may retire to your quarters now." Ping replied, "I have come on a matter of urgency. What I wish to say cannot wait another day." The King of Han then spoke with him privately and was delighted. He asked, "What office did you hold when you served Chu?" Ping answered, "I served as Commandant." That very day the king appointed Ping as Commandant, made him ride as his chariot companion, and charged him with overseeing the military guard. The generals were all in an uproar. "The Great King picks up a deserter from Chu," they grumbled, "knows nothing of his merit or character, yet rides in the same chariot with him and even sets him over the senior officers!" When the King of Han heard their complaints, he only trusted and favored Ping the more. He then set out eastward with Ping to campaign against the King of Xiang. They reached Pengcheng, where Chu dealt them a crushing defeat. They retreated, rallying scattered soldiers as they fell back to Xingyang. Ping was appointed deputy general under King Han Xin of Han, and the army encamped at Guangwu.
7
絳侯、灌嬰等咸讒陳平曰：「平雖美丈夫，如冠玉耳，其中未必有也。 臣聞平居家時，盜其嫂； 事魏不容，亡歸楚； 歸楚不中，又亡歸漢。 今日大王尊官之，令護軍。 臣聞平受諸將金，金多者得善處，金少者得惡處。 平，反覆亂臣也，願王察之。」 漢王疑之，召讓魏無知。 無知曰：「臣所言者，能也； 陛下所問者，行也。 今有尾生、孝己之行而無益處於勝負之數，陛下何暇用之乎？ 楚漢相距，臣進奇謀之士，顧其計誠足以利國家不耳。 且盜嫂受金又何足疑乎？」 漢王召讓平曰：「先生事魏不中，遂事楚而去，今又從吾游，信者固多心乎？」 平曰：「臣事魏王，魏王不能用臣說，故去事項王。 項王不能信人，其所任愛，非諸項即妻之昆弟，雖有奇士不能用，平乃去楚。 聞漢王之能用人，故歸大王。 臣躶身來，不受金無以為資。 誠臣計畫有可采者，（顧）［願］大王用之； 使無可用者，金具在，請封輸官，得請骸骨。」 漢王乃謝，厚賜，拜為護軍中尉，盡護諸將。 諸將乃不敢復言。
The Marquis of Jiang, Guan Ying, and others all spoke against Chen Ping: "Ping may be a handsome fellow, but he is like jade on a cap—all show on the outside, with nothing of substance within. We have heard that while he lived at home, he had an affair with his sister-in-law; that he served Wei but was cast out, and fled to Chu; that he did not fit in at Chu either, and fled again to Han. Now the Great King has honored him with high office and set him over the army. We hear that Ping accepts gold from the generals—those who give generously receive favorable assignments, while those who give little are sent to the worst posts. Ping is a faithless, disloyal minister. We beg Your Majesty to look into the matter." The King of Han grew suspicious and summoned Wei Wuzhi to reprimand him. Wei Wuzhi replied, "What I recommended him for was his ability; what Your Majesty is asking about is his personal conduct. Even if a man possessed the virtue of Weisheng or Xiaoji, yet contributed nothing to the reckoning of victory and defeat, would Your Majesty have the leisure to employ him? With Chu and Han locked in a standoff, your servant recommends men of extraordinary stratagem. The only question is whether their plans can truly benefit the state. Besides, even if he did seduce a sister-in-law or accept some gold—what does that matter?" The King of Han summoned Ping and rebuked him: "Sir, you served Wei without gaining their trust, then served Chu and left there too. Now you follow me—should a man of such shifting loyalties not arouse suspicion?" Ping replied, "Your servant served the King of Wei, but he would not heed my counsel, so I left and went to serve the King of Xiang. The King of Xiang cannot trust others. Those he favors and appoints are either members of the Xiang clan or his wife's kinsmen—even men of extraordinary talent find no place with him. So I left Chu. I heard that the King of Han knows how to employ men of talent, so I came to serve Your Majesty. I arrived with nothing but the clothes on my back. Without accepting some gold, I would have had no means to sustain myself. If my plans have any merit worth adopting, I beg the Great King to employ them; if they are of no use, the gold is all still here—seal it and return it to the treasury, and grant me leave to retire." The King of Han thereupon apologized, bestowed generous gifts upon him, and formally appointed him Commandant Protector of the Army, placing all the generals under his supervision. After that, none of the generals dared raise the matter again.
8
其後，楚急攻，絕漢甬道，圍漢王於滎陽城。 久之，漢王患之，請割滎陽以西以和。 項王不聽。 漢王謂陳平曰：「天下紛紛，何時定乎？」 陳平曰：「項王為人，恭敬愛人，士之廉節好禮者多歸之。 至於行功爵邑，重之，士亦以此不附。 今大王慢而少禮，士廉節者不來； 然大王能饒人以爵邑，士之頑鈍嗜利無恥者亦多歸漢。 誠各去其兩短，襲其兩長，天下指麾則定矣。 然大王恣侮人，不能得廉節之士。 顧楚有可亂者，彼項王骨鯁之臣亞父、鐘離眛、龍且、周殷之屬，不過數人耳。 大王誠能出捐數萬斤金，行反閒，閒其君臣，以疑其心，項王為人意忌信讒，必內相誅。 漢因舉兵而攻之，破楚必矣。」 漢王以為然，乃出黃金四萬斤，與陳平，恣所為，不問其出入。
Thereafter, Chu launched a fierce assault, cut the Han supply corridors, and besieged the King of Han inside the city of Xingyang. As the siege dragged on, the King of Han grew desperate and proposed ceding all the territory west of Xingyang in exchange for peace. The King of Xiang refused. The King of Han said to Chen Ping, "All under heaven is in turmoil—when will it ever be settled?" Chen Ping replied, "The King of Xiang is courteous by nature and treats people with kindness, so scholars of integrity who value propriety flock to him. Yet when it comes to rewarding merit with titles and fiefs, he is stingy, and for this reason men of talent do not attach themselves to him. Now Your Majesty is careless and lacking in courtesy, so scholars of integrity will not come to you; yet Your Majesty is generous in bestowing titles and fiefs, so shrewd, profit-seeking, and shameless men of ambition flock to Han in great numbers. If each of you could shed your respective weaknesses and adopt each other's strengths, the realm could be settled at a single stroke. But Your Majesty persists in treating people with contempt, and so cannot attract men of integrity. But consider this: Chu has a vulnerability. The King of Xiang's most steadfast ministers—men like Yafu, Zhongli Mei, Long Ju, and Zhou Yin—number no more than a handful. If Your Majesty would spend tens of thousands of catties of gold to sow discord between the King of Xiang and his ministers, breeding suspicion in their hearts—the King of Xiang is by nature jealous and quick to believe slander—they would surely turn on one another. Han could then raise its armies and strike. The destruction of Chu would be certain." The King of Han agreed, and handed over forty thousand catties of gold to Chen Ping, giving him a free hand to use it as he saw fit and asking no questions about his expenditures.
9
陳平既多以金縱反閒於楚軍，宣言諸將鐘離眛等為項王將，功多矣，然而終不得裂地而王，欲與漢為一，以滅項氏而分王其地。 項羽果意不信鐘離眛等。 項王既疑之，使使至漢。 漢王為太牢具，舉進。 見楚使，即詳驚曰：「吾以為亞父使，乃項王使！」 復持去，更以惡草具進楚使。 楚使歸，具以報項王。 項王果大疑亞父。 亞父欲急攻下滎陽城，項王不信，不肯聽。 亞父聞項王疑之，乃怒曰：「天下事大定矣，君王自為之！ 願請骸骨歸！」 歸未至彭城，疽發背而死。 陳平乃夜出女子二千人滎陽城東門，楚因擊之，陳平乃與漢王從城西門夜出去。 遂入關，收散兵復東。
Chen Ping lavished the gold on double agents inside the Chu army and spread rumors that generals like Zhongli Mei had served the King of Xiang with great distinction yet had never been granted territories of their own, and now wished to join forces with Han, destroy the house of Xiang, and carve up its lands as their own kingdoms. Sure enough, Xiang Yu grew suspicious of Zhongli Mei and the others. Once his suspicions took hold, the King of Xiang dispatched envoys to Han. The King of Han prepared a lavish feast of the finest sacrificial meats and had it brought out. When the Chu envoys appeared, he feigned astonishment and exclaimed, "I thought you were envoys from Yafu—but you come from the King of Xiang!" He had the feast taken away and replaced with coarse, meager fare to serve the Chu envoys. When the Chu envoys returned, they reported everything to the King of Xiang. The King of Xiang, as expected, grew deeply suspicious of Yafu. When Yafu urged an immediate assault on the city of Xingyang, the King of Xiang no longer trusted him and refused to heed his advice. When Yafu learned that the King of Xiang doubted him, he cried in fury, "The affairs of the realm are all but decided—let my lord manage them himself! I beg leave to take these old bones home!" On the way home, before he reached Pengcheng, a carbuncle broke out on his back and he died. Chen Ping then sent two thousand women out through Xingyang's east gate under cover of night. When the Chu forces rushed to attack them, Chen Ping and the King of Han slipped out through the west gate in the darkness. They made their way through the passes, rallied their scattered troops, and marched east once more.
10
其明年，淮陰侯破齊，自立為齊王，使使言之漢王。 漢王大怒而罵，陳平躡漢王。 漢王亦悟，乃厚遇齊使，使張子房卒立信為齊王。 封平以戶牖鄉。 用其奇計策，卒滅楚。 常以護軍中尉從定燕王臧荼。
The following year, the Marquis of Huaiyin conquered Qi and proclaimed himself its king, then sent envoys to inform the King of Han. The King of Han flew into a rage and began to curse, but Chen Ping trod on his foot. The King of Han caught himself, treated the envoys from Qi with lavish courtesy, and sent Zhang Liang to formally install Han Xin as King of Qi. He enfeoffed Ping with the township of Huyou. Through his extraordinary stratagems, Chu was at last destroyed. Serving as Commandant Protector of the Army, he accompanied the campaign to pacify Zang Tu, King of Yan.
11
漢六年，人有上書告楚王韓信反。 高帝問諸將，諸將曰：「亟發兵阬豎子耳。」 高帝默然。 問陳平，平固辭謝，曰：「諸將云何？」 上具告之。 陳平曰：「人之上書言信反，有知之者乎？」 曰：「未有。」 曰：「信知之乎？」 曰：「不知。」 陳平曰：「陛下精兵孰與楚？」 上曰：「不能過。」 平曰：「陛下將用兵有能過韓信者乎？」 上曰：「莫及也。」 平曰：「今兵不如楚精，而將不能及，而舉兵攻之，是趣之戰也，竊為陛下危之。」 上曰：「為之柰何？」 平曰：「古者天子巡狩，會諸侯。 南方有雲夢，陛下弟出偽游雲夢，會諸侯於陳。 陳，楚之西界，信聞天子以好出游，其勢必無事而郊迎謁。 謁，而陛下因禽之，此特一力士之事耳。」 高帝以為然，乃發使告諸侯會陳，「吾將南游雲夢」。 上因隨以行。 行未至陳，楚王信果郊迎道中。 高帝豫具武士，見信至，即執縛之，載後車。 信呼曰：「天下已定，我固當烹！」 高帝顧謂信曰：「若毋聲！ 而反，明矣！」 武士反接之。 遂會諸侯于陳，盡定楚地。 還至雒陽，赦信以為淮陰侯，而與功臣剖符定封。
In the sixth year of Han, someone submitted a memorial accusing Han Xin, King of Chu, of plotting rebellion. Emperor Gaozu consulted his generals. They all said, "Send troops at once and crush the wretch." Emperor Gaozu said nothing. He asked Chen Ping. Ping at first demurred and asked, "What have the generals advised?" The emperor told him everything. Chen Ping asked, "The person who submitted this accusation that Han Xin is plotting rebellion—does anyone else know of it?" The emperor said, "No one." "Does Han Xin himself know about the accusation?" "He does not." Chen Ping asked, "How do Your Majesty's best troops compare with those of Chu?" The emperor replied, "They cannot surpass his." Ping asked, "Among Your Majesty's generals, is there anyone who surpasses Han Xin in the art of war?" The emperor said, "No one comes close." Ping said, "Our soldiers are not as seasoned as those of Chu, and our generals cannot match theirs. To raise an army and attack him would be rushing headlong into battle—I secretly fear for Your Majesty." The emperor asked, "Then what should we do?" Ping said, "In ancient times, the Son of Heaven would make inspection tours and assemble the feudal lords. In the south there is Yunmeng. Your Majesty need only pretend to make a pleasure tour of Yunmeng and summon the feudal lords to assemble at Chen. Chen lies on the western border of Chu. When Han Xin hears that the Son of Heaven is on an innocent pleasure tour, he will surely think nothing is amiss and come out to welcome you on the road. When he comes to pay his respects, Your Majesty can seize him on the spot—it would be the work of a single strong man." Emperor Gaozu approved the plan and sent envoys to summon the feudal lords to assemble at Chen, announcing, "I intend to tour Yunmeng in the south." The emperor thereupon set out on the journey. Before he had even reached Chen, King Han Xin of Chu came out to welcome him along the road, just as predicted. Emperor Gaozu had armed warriors ready in advance. The moment he saw Han Xin arrive, he had him seized, bound, and loaded onto a prison cart. Han Xin cried out, "Now that the realm is at peace, it is only natural that I should be boiled alive!" Emperor Gaozu turned to Han Xin and said, "Silence! Your treason is plain for all to see!" The warriors bound his arms behind his back. The emperor then assembled the feudal lords at Chen and brought the entire territory of Chu under control. On the return, when they reached Luoyang, the emperor pardoned Han Xin and reduced his rank to Marquis of Huaiyin. He then divided tally tokens with his meritorious officials and confirmed their fiefs.
12
於是與平剖符，世世勿絕，為戶牖侯。 平辭曰：「此非臣之功也。」 上曰：「吾用先生謀計，戰勝剋敵，非功而何？」 平曰：「非魏無知臣安得進？」 上曰； 「若子可謂不背本矣。」 乃復賞魏無知。 其明年，以護軍中尉從攻反者韓王信於代。 卒至平城，為匈奴所圍，七日不得食。 高帝用陳平奇計，使單于閼氏，圍以得開。 高帝既出，其計祕，世莫得聞。
He divided a tally token with Ping, granting him an enfeoffment to be passed down through the generations without end, as Marquis of Huyou. Ping declined, saying, "This was not due to my own merit." The emperor said, "I relied on your stratagems to win battles and overcome our enemies—if that is not merit, what is?" Ping replied, "Without Wei Wuzhi, how would your servant ever have been introduced?" The emperor said, "A man like you can truly be said never to forget his roots." And so he rewarded Wei Wuzhi as well. The following year, serving as Commandant Protector of the Army, he accompanied the campaign against King Han Xin of Han, who had rebelled in Dai. They advanced as far as Pingcheng, where the Xiongnu surrounded them. For seven days they went without provisions. Emperor Gaozu employed one of Chen Ping's extraordinary stratagems, working through the Chanyu's consort, and the siege was lifted. After Emperor Gaozu escaped, the details of the stratagem were kept secret, and to this day no one knows what it was.
13
高帝南過曲逆，上其城，望見其屋室甚大，曰：「壯哉縣！ 吾行天下，獨見洛陽與是耳。」 顧問御史曰：「曲逆戶口幾何？」 對曰：「始秦時三萬餘戶，閒者兵數起，多亡匿，今見五千戶。」 於是乃詔御史，更以陳平為曲逆侯，盡食之，除前所食戶牖。
Emperor Gaozu passed through Quni on his way south. He climbed the city walls, surveyed the grand buildings below, and exclaimed, "What a magnificent city! In all my travels across the realm, only Luoyang can compare with this." He turned and asked the Censor, "How many households are there in Quni?" The Censor replied, "In the time of Qin there were over thirty thousand households, but with all the wars since, many have fled or gone into hiding. Now there are only five thousand." Thereupon the emperor issued an edict to the Censor making Chen Ping Marquis of Quni, with the entire district as his fief, replacing his former fief of Huyou.
14
其後常以護軍中尉從攻陳豨及黥布。 凡六出奇計，輒益邑，凡六益封。 奇計或頗祕，世莫能聞也。
Afterwards, still serving as Commandant Protector of the Army, he accompanied the campaigns against Chen Xi and Qing Bu. In all, he devised six extraordinary stratagems, each time earning an increase to his fief—six increases in total. Some of these stratagems were kept strictly secret, and to this day no one has learned what they were.
15
高帝從破布軍還，病創，徐行至長安。 燕王盧綰反，上使樊噲以相國將兵攻之。 既行，人有短惡噲者。 高帝怒曰：「噲見吾病，乃冀我死也。」 用陳平謀而召絳侯周勃受詔床下，曰：「陳平亟馳傳載勃代噲將，平至軍中即斬噲頭！」 二人既受詔，馳傳未至軍，行計之曰：「樊噲，帝之故人也，功多，且又乃呂后弟呂媭之夫，有親且貴，帝以忿怒故，欲斬之，則恐後悔。 寧囚而致上，上自誅之。」 未至軍，為壇，以節召樊噲。 噲受詔，即反接載檻車，傳詣長安，而令絳侯勃代將，將兵定燕反縣。
Emperor Gaozu returned from the campaign that defeated Qing Bu's army, suffering from his battle wounds. He traveled slowly back to Chang'an. When Lu Wan, King of Yan, rebelled, the emperor sent Fan Kuai as Chancellor to lead an army against him. After Fan Kuai had departed, someone came forward to speak ill of him. Emperor Gaozu said in fury, "Fan Kuai sees that I am ill and hopes I will die." Following Chen Ping's plan, he summoned the Marquis of Jiang, Zhou Bo, to receive a secret edict at his bedside. The emperor commanded, "Chen Ping is to ride the imperial relay at full speed, taking Zhou Bo to replace Fan Kuai as commander. The moment Ping reaches the army, he is to behead Fan Kuai!" The two men received the edict and rode the relay, but before reaching the army they conferred along the way. "Fan Kuai is an old companion of the emperor," they reasoned, "a man of great merit, and moreover the husband of Empress Lu's sister Lu Xu—he has both kinship and rank. The emperor wishes to behead him out of anger, but may well regret it later. Better to arrest him and deliver him to the emperor, so the emperor can decide his fate himself." Before reaching the army camp, they set up an altar of authority and used the imperial tally to summon Fan Kuai. Fan Kuai received the edict and was immediately bound with his arms behind his back, loaded into a prison cart, and sent by relay to Chang'an. The Marquis of Jiang, Zhou Bo, replaced him as commander and led the troops to pacify the rebellious districts of Yan.
16
平行聞高帝崩，平恐呂太后及呂媭讒怒，乃馳傳先去。 逢使者詔平與灌嬰屯於滎陽。 平受詔，立復馳至宮，哭甚哀，因奏事喪前。 呂太后哀之，曰：「君勞，出休矣。」 平畏讒之就，因固請得宿衛中。 太后乃以為郎中令，曰：「傅教孝惠。」 是後呂媭讒乃不得行。 樊噲至，則赦復爵邑。
While on the road, Ping received word that Emperor Gaozu had died. Fearing that Empress Dowager Lu and Lu Xu would slander him in their anger, he raced ahead by relay. On the way he encountered a messenger bearing an edict ordering Ping and Guan Ying to garrison Xingyang. Ping received the edict but immediately galloped to the palace, where he wept with great sorrow and made his report before the funeral bier. Empress Dowager Lu was moved by his grief and said, "You have labored hard. Go and rest." Ping feared the slanders that might befall him if he left, so he insisted on being allowed to remain in the palace as a guard. The Empress Dowager thereupon appointed him Palace Counselor, saying, "Serve as tutor and guide to Emperor Xiaohui." From then on, Lu Xu's slanders could gain no purchase. When Fan Kuai arrived at the capital, he was pardoned and had his title and fief restored.
17
孝惠帝六年，相國曹參卒，以安國侯王陵為右丞相，陳平為左丞相。
In the sixth year of Emperor Xiaohui's reign, Chancellor Cao Can died. Wang Ling, Marquis of Anguo, was appointed Right Chancellor, and Chen Ping became Left Chancellor.
18
王陵者，故沛人，始為縣豪，高祖微時，兄事陵。 陵少文，任氣，好直言。 及高祖起沛，入至咸陽，陵亦自聚黨數千人，居南陽，不肯從沛公。 及漢王之還攻項籍，陵乃以兵屬漢。 項羽取陵母置軍中，陵使至，則東鄉坐陵母，欲以招陵。 陵母既私送使者，泣曰：「為老妾語陵，謹事漢王。 漢王，長者也，無以老妾故，持二心。 妾以死送使者。」 遂伏劍而死。 項王怒，烹陵母。 陵卒從漢王定天下。 以善雍齒，雍齒，高帝之仇，而陵本無意從高帝，以故晚封，為安國侯。
Wang Ling was originally from Pei and had been a local strongman. In the days when Emperor Gaozu was still a commoner, he looked up to Ling as an elder brother. Ling was a man of few letters, spirited in temperament, and fond of speaking bluntly. When Emperor Gaozu rose from Pei and marched to Xianyang, Ling also gathered several thousand followers of his own and held Nanyang, refusing to join the Lord of Pei. Only when the King of Han returned to fight Xiang Ji did Ling bring his forces under Han's command. Xiang Yu seized Ling's mother and held her in his camp. When Ling's envoy arrived, Xiang Yu seated Ling's mother in the place of honor facing east, hoping to use her to lure Ling over to his side. But Ling's mother, after secretly seeing the envoy off, wept and said, "Tell Ling for this old woman: serve the King of Han faithfully. The King of Han is a worthy man. Do not waver on account of this old woman. I will see the envoy off with my death." She then fell upon a sword and died. The King of Xiang, enraged, had Ling's mother boiled alive. Ling eventually followed the King of Han and helped pacify the realm. Because he had been friendly with Yong Chi—who was Emperor Gaozu's sworn enemy—and because he had originally had no intention of following Gaozu, he was enfeoffed late, receiving the title of Marquis of Anguo.
19
安國侯既為右丞相，二歲，孝惠帝崩。 高后欲立諸呂為王，問王陵，王陵曰：「不可。」 問陳平，陳平曰：「可。」 呂太后怒，乃詳遷陵為帝太傅，實不用陵。 陵怒，謝疾免，杜門竟不朝請，七年而卒。
After the Marquis of Anguo had served as Right Chancellor for two years, Emperor Xiaohui died. Empress Dowager Gao wished to enfeoff members of the Lu clan as kings. She asked Wang Ling, who replied, "It must not be done." She asked Chen Ping, who answered, "It may be done." Empress Dowager Lu was furious. She made a show of promoting Ling to Grand Tutor of the Emperor, but in reality stripped him of all power. Ling was enraged. He pleaded illness, resigned his post, shut his gates, and never again attended court. He died seven years later.
20
陵之免丞相，呂太后乃徙平為右丞相，以辟陽侯審食其為左丞相。 左丞相不治，常給事於中。
When Ling was dismissed as Chancellor, Empress Dowager Lu transferred Ping to Right Chancellor and appointed Shen Yiji, Marquis of Piyang, as Left Chancellor. The Left Chancellor did not handle government affairs but served constantly within the inner palace.
21
食其亦沛人。 漢王之敗彭城西，楚取太上皇、呂后為質，食其以舍人侍呂后。 其後從破項籍為侯，幸於呂太后。 及為相，居中，百官皆因決事。
Shen Yiji was also a native of Pei. When the King of Han was defeated west of Pengcheng and Chu took the Supreme Emperor and Empress Lu hostage, Yiji served as a retainer attending upon Empress Lu. Afterwards he took part in the campaign that destroyed Xiang Ji and was made a marquis. He enjoyed the special favor of Empress Dowager Lu. When he became Chancellor, he took up residence in the inner palace, and all officials went through him to have matters decided.
22
呂媭常以前陳平為高帝謀執樊噲，數讒曰：「陳平為相非治事，日飲醇酒，戲婦女。」 陳平聞，日益甚。 呂太后聞之，私獨喜。 面質呂媭於陳平曰：「鄙語曰『兒婦人口不可用』，顧君與我何如耳。 無畏呂媭之讒也。」
Lu Xu, still bearing a grudge because Chen Ping had once counseled Emperor Gaozu to arrest Fan Kuai, repeatedly slandered him: "Chen Ping as Chancellor does not attend to affairs of state—he spends his days drinking fine wine and dallying with women." When Chen Ping heard this, he only indulged more. Empress Dowager Lu heard about it and was secretly delighted. She confronted Lu Xu in Chen Ping's presence and said, "As the common saying goes, 'Pay no heed to the words of women and children.' All that matters is how he serves me. Do not fear Lu Xu's slanders."
23
呂太后立諸呂為王，陳平偽聽之。 及呂太后崩，平與太尉勃合謀，卒誅諸呂，立孝文皇帝，陳平本謀也。 審食其免相。
When Empress Dowager Lu installed members of the Lu clan as kings, Chen Ping feigned compliance. When Empress Dowager Lu died, Ping conspired with Grand Commandant Zhou Bo and in the end exterminated the entire Lu faction, placing Emperor Wen on the throne. The original plot was Chen Ping's. Shen Yiji was dismissed as Chancellor.
24
孝文帝立，以為太尉勃親以兵誅呂氏，功多； 陳平欲讓勃尊位，乃謝病。 孝文帝初立，怪平病，問之。 平曰：「高祖時，勃功不如臣平。 及誅諸呂，臣功亦不如勃。 願以右丞相讓勃。」 於是孝文帝乃以絳侯勃為右丞相，位次第一； 平徙為左丞相，位次第二。 賜平金千斤，益封三千戶。
When Emperor Wen took the throne, he judged that Grand Commandant Zhou Bo had personally led troops to destroy the Lu clan and therefore deserved the greatest credit; Chen Ping wished to yield the senior position to Zhou Bo, and so he pleaded illness. Emperor Wen, newly enthroned, found it strange that Ping had fallen ill and asked him about it. Ping replied, "In Emperor Gaozu's time, Zhou Bo's merit did not match your servant's. But in the destruction of the Lu clan, your servant's merit cannot match Zhou Bo's. I beg to yield the position of Right Chancellor to Zhou Bo." Accordingly, Emperor Wen made the Marquis of Jiang, Zhou Bo, Right Chancellor, ranking first in precedence; Ping was transferred to Left Chancellor, ranking second. The emperor bestowed upon Ping a thousand catties of gold and increased his fief by three thousand households.
25
居頃之，孝文皇帝既益明習國家事，朝而問右丞相勃曰：「天下一歲決獄幾何？」 勃謝曰：「不知。」 問：「天下一歲錢穀出入幾何？」 勃又謝不知，汗出沾背，愧不能對。 於是上亦問左丞相平。 平曰：「有主者。」 上曰：「主者謂誰？」 平曰：「陛下即問決獄，責廷尉； 問錢穀，責治粟內史。」 上曰：「茍各有主者，而君所主者何事也？」 平謝曰：「主臣！ 陛下不知其駑下，使待罪宰相。 宰相者，上佐天子理陰陽，順四時，下育萬物之宜，外鎮撫四夷諸侯，內親附百姓，使卿大夫各得任其職焉。」 孝文帝乃稱善。 右丞相大慚，出而讓陳平曰：「君獨不素教我對！」 陳平笑曰：「君居其位，不知其任邪？ 且陛下即問長安中盜賊數，君欲彊對邪？」 於是絳侯自知其能不如平遠矣。 居頃之，絳侯謝病請免相，陳平專為一丞相。
Before long, Emperor Wen, who had by then grown more experienced in the affairs of state, held court and asked the Right Chancellor Zhou Bo, "How many criminal cases are decided across the realm in a year?" Zhou Bo apologized and said, "I do not know." The emperor asked, "How much money and grain flows in and out of the realm in a year?" Again Zhou Bo apologized, saying he did not know. Sweat poured down his back, and he was mortified that he could not answer. The emperor then turned to the Left Chancellor, Chen Ping, with the same questions. Ping replied, "Each of those matters has an official in charge." The emperor asked, "And who might these officials be?" Ping said, "If Your Majesty wishes to inquire about judicial decisions, that is the responsibility of the Commandant of Justice; if about money and grain, that belongs to the Superintendent of Grain." The emperor said, "If each matter has its own official, then what exactly are you in charge of?" Ping bowed and replied, "I deserve this reproach! Your Majesty, unaware of my inadequacy, has charged me with serving as Chancellor. The duty of the Chancellor is this: above, to assist the Son of Heaven in harmonizing yin and yang and following the four seasons; below, to nurture all things as their nature requires; abroad, to pacify the barbarian peoples and the feudal lords; at home, to draw the common people close and win their loyalty; and to ensure that each minister and grandee is able to fulfill the duties of his office." Emperor Wen expressed his approval. The Right Chancellor was deeply mortified. When they left court, he reproached Chen Ping: "Why didn't you coach me on how to answer beforehand!" Chen Ping laughed and said, "You hold the office—do you not even know what it entails? Besides, if the emperor had asked how many bandits and thieves there are in Chang'an, would you have tried to answer that too?" From that moment, the Marquis of Jiang understood that his ability fell far short of Ping's. Before long, the Marquis of Jiang pleaded illness, resigned the chancellorship, and Chen Ping became sole Chancellor.
26
孝文帝二年，丞相陳平卒，謚為獻侯。 子共侯買代侯。 二年卒，子簡侯恢代侯。 二十三年卒，子何代侯。 二十三年，何坐略人妻，棄市，國除。
In the second year of Emperor Wen's reign, Chancellor Chen Ping died. He was given the posthumous title of Marquis Xian. His son Mai inherited the marquisate, bearing the title Marquis Gong. He died after two years, and his son Hui inherited, bearing the title Marquis Jian. He died after twenty-three years, and his son He inherited the marquisate. After twenty-three years, He was convicted of abducting another man's wife. He was executed in the marketplace, and the marquisate was abolished.
27
始陳平曰：「我多陰謀，是道家之所禁。 吾世即廢，亦已矣，終不能復起，以吾多陰禍也。」 然其後曾孫陳掌以衛氏親貴戚，願得續封陳氏，然終不得。
Earlier, Chen Ping had said, "I have engaged in too many secret intrigues—something the Way forbids. If my line is cut off, so be it. It can never rise again, for I have brought too much hidden calamity upon it." In later years his great-grandson Chen Zhang, who had connections to the powerful Wei clan through marriage, petitioned for the restoration of the Chen family's fief, but in the end his request was never granted.
28
太史公曰：陳丞相平少時，本好黃帝、老子之術。 方其割肉俎上之時，其意固已遠矣。 傾側擾攘楚魏之閒，卒歸高帝。 常出奇計，救紛糾之難，振國家之患。 及呂后時，事多故矣，然平竟自脫，定宗廟，以榮名終，稱賢相，豈不善始善終哉！ 非知謀孰能當此者乎？
The Grand Historian remarks: Chancellor Chen Ping in his youth was devoted to the teachings of the Yellow Emperor and Laozi. Even as he carved meat at the village altar, his ambitions already reached far beyond. He navigated the chaos between Chu and Wei, tilting this way and that, until at last he found his place with Emperor Gaozu. Time and again he devised extraordinary stratagems, rescuing the state from desperate entanglements and relieving the empire of its gravest perils. During the reign of Empress Lu, when affairs grew perilous beyond measure, Ping still managed to extricate himself, safeguard the imperial ancestral temples, and end his days with an honored name, acclaimed as a worthy chancellor. Was this not a man who began well and ended well! Who but a man of wisdom and cunning could have achieved all this?