1
梁孝王武者，孝文皇帝子也，而與孝景帝同母。 母，竇太后也。
King Xiao of Liang, whose given name was Wu, was a son of Emperor Wen, born of the same mother as Emperor Jing. Their mother was Empress Dowager Dou.
2
孝文帝凡四男：長子曰太子，是為孝景帝； 次子武； 次子參； 次子勝。 孝文帝即位二年，以武為代王，以參為太原王，以勝為梁王。 二歲，徙代王為淮陽王。 以代盡與太原王，號曰代王。 參立十七年，孝文後二年卒，謚為孝王。 子登嗣立，是為代共王。 立二十九年，元光二年卒。 子義立，是為代王。 十九年，漢廣關，以常山為限，而徙代王王清河。 清河王徙以元鼎三年也。
Emperor Wen had four sons in all. The eldest was appointed Crown Prince and would later become Emperor Jing. The second was Wu. The third was Shen. And the fourth was Sheng. In the second year after Emperor Wen ascended the throne, he enfeoffed Wu as King of Dai, Shen as King of Taiyuan, and Sheng as King of Liang. Two years later, he transferred the King of Dai to serve as King of Huaiyang. The territory of Dai was given entirely to the King of Taiyuan, who then assumed the title King of Dai. Shen reigned for seventeen years and died in the second year of the Later Reign of Emperor Wen. He was posthumously titled King Xiao. His son Deng succeeded him and became King Gong of Dai. He reigned for twenty-nine years and died in the second year of the Yuanguang era. His son Yi succeeded him and became King of Dai. Nineteen years later, the Han court extended the frontier passes, setting Mount Changshan as the boundary, and transferred the King of Dai to rule over Qinghe. This transfer to Qinghe took place in the third year of the Yuanding era.
3
初，武為淮陽王十年，而梁王勝卒，謚為梁懷王。 懷王最少子，愛幸異於他子。 其明年，徙淮陽王武為梁王。 梁王之初王梁，孝文帝之十二年也。 梁王自初王通歷已十一年矣。
Earlier, Wu had served as King of Huaiyang for ten years when the King of Liang, Sheng, died and was posthumously titled King Huai of Liang. King Huai had been the youngest son and was loved and favored far more than his brothers. The following year, the King of Huaiyang, Wu, was transferred to become King of Liang. The King of Liang first received his fief in the twelfth year of Emperor Wen's reign. By this time, the King of Liang had already held a royal title for eleven years since his first enfeoffment.
4
梁王十四年，入朝。 十七年，十八年，比年入朝，留，其明年，乃之國。 二十一年，入朝。 二十二年，孝文帝崩。 二十四年，入朝。 二十五年，復入朝。 是時上未置太子也。 上與梁王燕飲，嘗從容言曰：「千秋萬歲後傳於王。」 王辭謝。 雖知非至言，然心內喜。 太后亦然。
In his fourteenth year, the King of Liang traveled to the capital for a court audience. In his seventeenth and eighteenth years, he attended court in consecutive years and stayed on, returning to his kingdom only the following year. In his twenty-first year, he again attended court. In his twenty-second year, Emperor Wen passed away. In his twenty-fourth year, he attended court. In his twenty-fifth year, he attended court once more. At that time, the emperor had not yet designated a crown prince. During a private banquet with the King of Liang, the emperor once remarked casually, "When I am gone, I shall pass the throne to you." The king politely declined. Though he knew the words were not meant in earnest, he was secretly delighted. The Empress Dowager felt the same.
5
其春，吳楚齊趙七國反。 吳楚先擊梁棘壁，殺數萬人。 梁孝王城守睢陽，而使韓安國、張羽等為大將軍，以距吳楚。 吳楚以梁為限，不敢過而西，與太尉亞夫等相距三月。 吳楚破，而梁所破殺虜略與漢中分。 明年，漢立太子。 其後梁最親，有功，又為大國，居天下膏腴地。 地北界泰山，西至高陽，四十餘城，皆多大縣。
That spring, the seven kingdoms — Wu, Chu, Qi, Zhao, and the rest — rose in rebellion. Wu and Chu first struck at the fortress of Jibi in Liang, killing tens of thousands. King Xiao of Liang held fast within the walls of Suiyang, dispatching Han Anguo, Zhang Yu, and others as grand generals to resist Wu and Chu. Wu and Chu were checked by Liang and dared not press westward, remaining locked in a standoff with Grand Commandant Zhou Yafu and his forces for three months. When Wu and Chu were finally crushed, the enemy forces that Liang had routed, slain, and captured rivaled the tally of the imperial armies. The following year, the Han court formally established a crown prince. After these events, Liang stood closest to the throne in kinship, had earned great merit, and ranked among the largest kingdoms, its lands encompassing the most fertile territory in the empire. Its territory stretched north to Mount Tai and west to Gaoyang, comprising more than forty cities, all of them large and populous counties.
6
孝王，竇太后少子也，愛之，賞賜不可勝道。 於是孝王筑東苑，方三百餘里。 廣睢陽城七十里。 大治宮室，為複道，自宮連屬於平臺三十餘里。 得賜天子旌旗，出從千乘萬騎。 東西馳獵，擬於天子。 出言蹕，入言警。 招延四方豪桀，自山以東游說之士。 莫不畢至，齊人羊勝、公孫詭、鄒陽之屬。 公孫詭多奇邪計，初見王，賜千金，官至中尉，梁號之曰公孫將軍，梁多作兵器弩弓矛數十萬，而府庫金錢且百巨萬，珠玉寶器多於京師。
King Xiao was the youngest son of Empress Dowager Dou, who loved him dearly and showered him with gifts and rewards beyond reckoning. King Xiao built the Eastern Park, which stretched more than three hundred li on each side. He expanded the walls of Suiyang by seventy li. He built grand palaces and constructed covered walkways that ran from the palace to the Terrace, extending more than thirty li without interruption. He was granted the imperial banners of the Son of Heaven, and when he went abroad, a thousand chariots and ten thousand horsemen followed in his train. He hunted east and west in a splendor rivaling that of the Son of Heaven himself. When he went abroad, heralds cried 'Clear the way!' and when he returned, they called 'Be alert!' He recruited heroes and men of talent from every quarter, as well as itinerant persuaders from east of the mountains. All of them flocked to his court — men of Qi such as Yang Sheng, Gongsun Gui, and Zou Yang. Gongsun Gui was a man of many cunning and unorthodox schemes. At his first audience with the king, he was granted a thousand catties of gold, and his rank rose to Commandant of the Capital. In Liang he was known as General Gongsun. The kingdom manufactured hundreds of thousands of weapons — crossbows, bows, and spears — while its treasury held nearly a hundred million in gold and cash, and its pearls, jade, and precious objects exceeded those of the imperial capital.
7
二十九年十月，梁孝王入朝。 景帝使使持節乘輿駟馬，迎梁王於關下。 既朝，上疏因留，以太后親故。 王入則侍景帝同輦，出則同車游獵，射禽獸上林中。 梁之侍中、郎、謁者著籍引出入天子殿門，與漢宦官無異。
In the tenth month of his twenty-ninth year, King Xiao of Liang traveled to court. Emperor Jing dispatched envoys bearing the imperial tally, with a chariot drawn by four horses, to welcome the King of Liang at the pass. After attending court, he submitted a memorial requesting permission to remain in the capital, citing his close bond with the Empress Dowager. At court the king rode in the same carriage as Emperor Jing; abroad they hunted together, shooting birds and beasts in the Shanglin Park. Liang's palace attendants, gentlemen, and ushers were registered and allowed to pass freely through the gates of the Son of Heaven's palace, no differently from the Han court officials themselves.
8
十一月，上廢栗太子，竇太后心欲以孝王為後嗣。 大臣及袁盎等有所關說於景帝，竇太后義格，亦遂不復言以梁王為嗣事由此。 以事秘，世莫知。 乃辭歸國。
In the eleventh month, the emperor deposed Crown Prince Li. Empress Dowager Dou secretly wished to make King Xiao the heir apparent. The great ministers and Yuan Ang remonstrated with Emperor Jing. Empress Dowager Dou, moved by considerations of propriety, relented and from that point on never again raised the matter of making the King of Liang the heir. Because the affair was kept secret, the world at large knew nothing of it. The king then took his leave and returned to his kingdom.
9
其夏四月，上立膠東王為太子。 梁王怨袁盎及議臣，乃與羊勝、公孫詭之屬陰使人刺殺袁盎及他議臣十餘人。 逐其賊，未得也。 於是天子意梁王，逐賊，果梁使之。 乃遣使冠蓋相望於道，覆按梁，捕公孫詭、羊勝。 公孫詭、羊勝匿王後宮。 使者責二千石急，梁相軒丘豹及內史韓安國進諫王，王乃令勝、詭皆自殺，出之。 上由此怨望於梁王。 梁王恐，乃使韓安國因長公主謝罪太后，然后得釋。
That summer, in the fourth month, the emperor established the King of Jiaodong as crown prince. The King of Liang harbored a deep grudge against Yuan Ang and the other ministers who had spoken against him. Together with Yang Sheng, Gongsun Gui, and their associates, he secretly dispatched assassins who murdered Yuan Ang and more than ten of the other ministers who had advised against the succession. The authorities pursued the assassins but failed to apprehend them. The Son of Heaven suspected the King of Liang, and when the assassins were tracked down, it was indeed confirmed that Liang had sent them. He dispatched envoys in such numbers that their carriages stretched in an unbroken line along the road, to investigate Liang and arrest Gongsun Gui and Yang Sheng. Gongsun Gui and Yang Sheng hid within the king's inner palace. The imperial envoys pressed Liang's senior officials relentlessly. The Chancellor of Liang, Xuanqiu Bao, and the Chamberlain Han Anguo went before the king to remonstrate. At last the king ordered Yang Sheng and Gongsun Gui to take their own lives, and their bodies were handed over. From this point on, the emperor bore a lasting resentment toward the King of Liang. The King of Liang, now fearful, sent Han Anguo to intercede through the Grand Princess and beg the Empress Dowager's forgiveness. Only then was the matter set aside.
10
上怒稍解，因上書請朝。 既至關，茅蘭說王，使乘布車，從兩騎入，匿於長公主園。 漢使使迎王，王已入關，車騎盡居外，不知王處。 太后泣曰：「帝殺吾子！」 景帝憂恐。 於是梁王伏斧質於闕下，謝罪，然後太后、景帝大喜，相泣，復如故。 悉召王從官入關。 然景帝益疏王，不同車輦矣。
When the emperor's anger had subsided somewhat, the king submitted a memorial requesting permission to attend court. When they reached the pass, Mao Lan advised the king to ride in a plain cloth-covered cart, enter with only two horsemen as escort, and conceal himself in the Grand Princess's garden. The Han court sent envoys to welcome the king, but he had already slipped through the pass. His chariots and cavalry were all left outside, and no one knew where the king had gone. The Empress Dowager wept and cried, "The emperor has killed my son!" Emperor Jing was deeply alarmed. The King of Liang then appeared before the palace gate, prostrating himself beside the executioner's axe and block to beg forgiveness for his crimes. The Empress Dowager and Emperor Jing were overjoyed, wept together, and all was restored as before. All of the king's attendants and retinue were then summoned through the pass. Yet from that time on, Emperor Jing grew increasingly distant from the king and no longer shared a carriage with him.
11
三十五年冬，復朝。 上疏欲留，上弗許。 歸國，意忽忽不樂。 北獵良山，有獻牛，足出背上，孝王惡之。 六月中，病熱，六日卒，謚曰孝王。
In the winter of his thirty-fifth year, he again traveled to court. He petitioned to remain in the capital, but the emperor refused. He returned to his kingdom in a state of restless melancholy. While hunting in the north at Mount Liang, someone presented him with a monstrous ox whose legs protruded from its back. King Xiao took this as an evil omen. In the middle of the sixth month, he fell ill with a fever and died after six days. He was posthumously titled King Xiao.
12
孝王慈孝，每聞太后病，口不能食，居不安寢，常欲留長安侍太后。 太后亦愛之。 及聞梁王薨，竇太后哭極哀，不食，曰：「帝果殺吾子！」 景帝哀懼，不知所為。 與長公主計之，乃分梁為五國，盡立孝王男五人為王，女五人皆食湯沐邑。 於是奏之太后，太后乃說，為帝加壹湌。
King Xiao was devoted and filial. Whenever he heard that the Empress Dowager was ill, he could not eat and could not sleep, always wishing to remain in Chang'an to attend her in person. The Empress Dowager loved him dearly in return. When she learned that the King of Liang had died, Empress Dowager Dou wept inconsolably, refused to eat, and cried, "The emperor has truly killed my son!" Emperor Jing was stricken with grief and fear, at a loss for what to do. He consulted with the Grand Princess, and together they divided Liang into five kingdoms, enfeoffing all five of King Xiao's sons as kings. His five daughters were each granted revenue from a bathing fief. When this plan was reported to the Empress Dowager, she was pleased and took an extra meal for the emperor's sake.
13
梁孝王長子買為梁王，是為共王； 子明為濟川王； 子彭離為濟東王； 子定為山陽王； 子不識為濟陰王。
King Xiao's eldest son, Mai, became King of Liang — he was King Gong. His son Ming became King of Jichuan. His son Pengli became King of Jidong. His son Ding became King of Shanyang. And his son Bushi became King of Jiyin.
14
孝王未死時，財以巨萬計，不可勝數。 及死，藏府餘黃金尚四十餘萬斤，他財物稱是。
Before King Xiao died, his wealth was reckoned in the tens of millions, too vast to count. At his death, the treasury still held more than four hundred thousand catties of gold, and his other possessions were proportionate.
15
梁共王三年，景帝崩。 共王立七年卒，子襄立，是為平王。
In the third year of King Gong of Liang, Emperor Jing passed away. King Gong reigned for seven years before dying. His son Xiang succeeded him and became King Ping.
16
梁平王襄十四年，母曰陳太后。 共王母曰李太后。 李太后，親平王之大母也。 而平王之后姓任，曰任王后。 任王后甚有寵於平王襄。 初，孝王在時，有罍樽，直千金。 孝王誡後世，善保罍樽，無得以與人。 任王后聞而欲得罍樽。 平王大母李太后曰：「先王有命，無得以罍樽與人。 他物雖百巨萬，猶自恣也。」 任王后絕欲得之。 平王襄直使人開府取罍樽，賜任王后。 李太后大怒，漢使者來，欲自言，平王襄及任王后遮止，閉門，李太后與爭門，措指，遂不得見漢使者。 李太后亦私與食官長及郎中尹霸等士通亂，而王與任王后以此使人風止李太后，李太后內有淫行，亦已。 後病薨。 病時，任后未嘗請病； 薨，又不持喪。
In the fourteenth year of King Ping of Liang, Xiang — his mother was known as Empress Dowager Chen. King Gong's mother was known as Empress Dowager Li. Empress Dowager Li was King Ping's paternal grandmother. King Ping's queen bore the surname Ren and was known as Queen Ren. Queen Ren was greatly favored by King Ping. In earlier times, when King Xiao was still alive, the house possessed a ceremonial wine vessel worth a thousand catties of gold. King Xiao had left strict instructions to his descendants to guard this vessel well and never give it away. Queen Ren heard of it and coveted the vessel. King Ping's grandmother, Empress Dowager Li, declared, "The former king left explicit orders that the vessel must not be given to anyone. As for other treasures, even those worth a hundred million, you may dispose of them as you please." But Queen Ren was determined to have it. King Ping simply ordered his men to open the treasury, remove the vessel, and present it to Queen Ren. Empress Dowager Li was furious. When the Han envoys arrived, she wished to speak with them herself, but King Ping and Queen Ren barred her way and shut the gates. The Empress Dowager struggled at the doors, pointing and shouting, but in the end was prevented from seeing the Han envoys. Empress Dowager Li had also been carrying on illicit affairs with the Chief of the Food Office and the Gentleman-in-Attendance Yin Ba, among others. The king and Queen Ren used this knowledge to send people to silence her, and since the Empress Dowager was compromised by her own misconduct, the matter was dropped. Later she fell ill and died. During her illness, Queen Ren never once inquired after her health. When she died, the queen did not observe the mourning rites.
17
元朔中，睢陽人類犴反者，人有辱其父，而與淮陽太守客出同車。 太守客出下車，類犴反殺其仇於車上而去。 淮陽太守怒，以讓梁二千石。 二千石以下求反甚急，執反親戚。 反知國陰事，乃上變事，具告知王與大母爭樽狀。 時丞相以下見知之，欲以傷梁長吏，其書聞天子。 天子下吏驗問，有之。 公卿請廢襄為庶人。 天子曰：「李太后有淫行，而梁王襄無良師傅，故陷不義。」 乃削梁八城，梟任王后首于市。 梁餘尚有十城。 襄立三十九年卒，謚為平王。 子無傷立為梁王也。
During the Yuanshuo era, a man from Suiyang named Lei Qianfan nursed a grudge against someone who had insulted his father. This enemy happened to ride out in the same carriage as a guest of the Governor of Huaiyang. When the governor's guest stepped down from the carriage, Lei Qianfan stabbed his enemy to death on the spot and fled. The Governor of Huaiyang was incensed and reprimanded the senior officials of Liang. The officials of two thousand bushels and below pursued the fugitive relentlessly and arrested his kinsmen. The fugitive, who knew the kingdom's hidden scandals, reported these irregularities to the authorities, giving a full account of how the king and his grandmother had quarreled over the ceremonial vessel. The Chancellor and other officials at court saw in this an opportunity to bring charges against Liang's senior administrators, and the report reached the Son of Heaven. The Son of Heaven dispatched officials to investigate, and the charges proved true. The high ministers petitioned to have Xiang deposed and reduced to commoner status. The Son of Heaven said, "Empress Dowager Li was guilty of misconduct, and King Xiang of Liang had no worthy tutors to guide him, so he fell into wrongdoing." He stripped Liang of eight cities and had Queen Ren beheaded, her head displayed in the marketplace. Liang was left with only ten cities. Xiang reigned for thirty-nine years before dying. He was posthumously titled King Ping. His son Wushang succeeded him as King of Liang.
18
濟川王明者，梁孝王子，以桓邑侯孝景中六年為濟川王。 七歲，坐射殺其中尉，漢有司請誅，天子弗忍誅，廢明為庶人。 遷房陵，地入于漢為郡。
King Ming of Jichuan was a son of King Xiao. Formerly the Marquis of Huanyi, he was made King of Jichuan in the sixth year of the middle reign of Emperor Jing. After seven years, he was convicted of shooting and killing his Commandant of the Capital. The Han officials petitioned for his execution, but the Son of Heaven could not bring himself to carry it out and instead deposed Ming to the status of a commoner. He was exiled to Fangling, and his territory was absorbed into the Han empire as a commandery.
19
濟東王彭離者，梁孝王子，以孝景中六年為濟東王。 二十九年，彭離驕悍，無人君禮，昏暮私與其奴、亡命少年數十人行剽殺人，取財物以為好。 所殺發覺者百餘人，國皆知之，莫敢夜行。 所殺者子上書言。 漢有司請誅，上不忍，廢以為庶人，遷上庸，地入于漢，為大河郡。
King Pengli of Jidong was a son of King Xiao who was made King of Jidong in the sixth year of the middle reign of Emperor Jing. Over twenty-nine years, Pengli grew arrogant and savage, heedless of the deportment expected of a ruler. Under cover of darkness, he would steal out with his slaves and bands of fugitive youths, dozens strong, to rob and murder travelers, taking their goods for his amusement. More than a hundred murders were eventually discovered. Everyone in the kingdom knew of his crimes, and no one dared travel after dark. The son of one of his victims submitted a memorial denouncing him. The Han officials again petitioned for execution, but the emperor could not bring himself to agree. Pengli was deposed to commoner status and exiled to Shangyong. His territory was absorbed into the Han empire as the Commandery of Dahe.
20
山陽哀王定者，梁孝王子，以孝景中六年為山陽王。 九年卒，無子，國除，地入于漢，為山陽郡。
King Ai of Shanyang, whose name was Ding, was a son of King Xiao. He was made King of Shanyang in the sixth year of the middle reign of Emperor Jing. He died after nine years on the throne, leaving no heir. The kingdom was abolished and its territory absorbed into the Han empire as the Commandery of Shanyang.
21
濟陰哀王不識者，梁孝王子，以孝景中六年為濟陰王。 一歲卒，無子，國除，地入于漢，為濟陰郡。
King Ai of Jiyin, whose name was Bushi, was a son of King Xiao. He was made King of Jiyin in the sixth year of the middle reign of Emperor Jing. He died after only one year, leaving no heir. The kingdom was abolished and its territory absorbed into the Han empire as the Commandery of Jiyin.
22
太史公曰：梁孝王雖以親愛之故，王膏腴之地，然會漢家隆盛，百姓殷富，故能植其財貨，廣宮室，車服擬於天子。 然亦僭矣。
The Grand Historian remarks: Although King Xiao of Liang was granted fertile lands on account of the close affection he enjoyed, it was because his reign coincided with the flourishing of the Han dynasty, when the common people were prosperous and well-off, that he was able to amass such wealth, expand his palaces, and adopt carriages and robes rivaling those of the Son of Heaven. Even so, this was presumptuous indeed.
23
褚先生曰：臣為郎時，聞之於宮殿中老郎吏好事者稱道之也。 竊以為令梁孝王怨望，欲為不善者，事從中生。 今太后，女主也，以愛少子故，欲令梁王為太子。 大臣不時正言其不可狀，阿意治小，私說意以受賞賜，非忠臣也。 齊如魏其侯竇嬰之正言也，何以有後禍？ 景帝與王燕見，侍太后飲，景帝曰：「千秋萬歲之後傳王。」 太后喜說。 竇嬰在前，據地言曰：「漢法之約，傳子適孫，今帝何以得傳弟，擅亂高帝約乎！」 於是景帝默然無聲。 太后意不說。
Master Chu says: When I served as a Gentleman at court, I heard this tale from old officials in the palace halls who were fond of recounting such stories. I believe that the resentment that drove King Xiao of Liang to contemplate wrongdoing arose from within the court itself. The Empress Dowager, a woman wielding power, wished out of love for her youngest son to make the King of Liang the crown prince. The great ministers failed to speak up forthrightly against this impropriety at the proper time. Instead they flattered and dealt in trivialities, whispering agreeable words in hopes of rewards — the behavior not of loyal ministers. Had they all spoken as forthrightly as the Marquis of Weiqi, Dou Ying, what later calamity could have arisen? Emperor Jing and the king attended a banquet together, serving the Empress Dowager wine. Emperor Jing said, "When I am gone, I shall pass the throne to you." The Empress Dowager was overjoyed. But Dou Ying stepped forward, struck the ground, and declared, "The covenant of Han law mandates succession from father to son and grandson. How can the emperor pass the throne to his brother and recklessly violate the compact established by Emperor Gaozu!" Emperor Jing fell silent. The Empress Dowager was displeased.
24
故成王與小弱弟立樹下，取一桐葉以與之，曰：「吾用封汝。」 周公聞之，進見曰：「天王封弟，甚善。」 成王曰：「吾直與戲耳。」 周公曰：「人主無過舉，不當有戲言，言之必行之。」 於是乃封小弟以應縣。 是後成王沒齒不敢有戲言，言必行之。 《孝經》曰：「非法不言，非道不行。」 此聖人之法言也。 今主上不宜出好言於梁王。 梁王上有太后之重，驕蹇日久，數聞景帝好言，千秋萬世之後傳王，而實不行。
In ancient times, King Cheng of Zhou stood with his young brother beneath a tree, plucked a paulownia leaf, and said, "With this I shall enfeoff you." When the Duke of Zhou heard of this, he came forward and said, "The Son of Heaven has enfeoffed his younger brother — this is most excellent." King Cheng replied, "I was only playing." The Duke of Zhou said, "A ruler must make no careless gesture and speak no idle word. What the ruler says, he must carry out." And so the young brother was indeed enfeoffed with the district of Ying. From that day forward, King Cheng never dared to speak in jest for the rest of his life; every word he uttered, he carried out. The Classic of Filial Piety says, "Speak nothing that is contrary to propriety; do nothing that is contrary to the Way." These are the guiding words of the sages. The sovereign should never have spoken such encouraging words to the King of Liang. The King of Liang, backed by the Empress Dowager's formidable influence, had long grown arrogant and willful. He had repeatedly heard Emperor Jing's promise that the throne would pass to him after a thousand autumns and ten thousand years, yet this promise was never fulfilled.
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又諸侯王朝見天子，漢法凡當四見耳。 始到，入小見； 到正月朔旦，奉皮薦璧玉賀正月，法見； 後三日，為王置酒，賜金錢財物； 後二日，復入小見，辭去。 凡留長安不過二十日。 小見者，燕見於禁門內，飲於省中，非士人所得入也。 今梁王西朝，因留，且半歲。 入與人主同輦，出與同車。 示風以大言而實不與，令出怨言，謀畔逆，乃隨而憂之，不亦遠乎！ 非大賢人，不知退讓。 今漢之儀法，朝見賀正月者，常一王與四侯俱朝見，十餘歲一至。 今梁王常比年入朝見，久留。 鄙語曰「驕子不孝」，非惡言也。 故諸侯王當為置良師傅，相忠言之士，如汲黯、韓長孺等，敢直言極諫，安得有患害！
Furthermore, when feudal kings attend court before the Son of Heaven, Han law prescribes only four audiences in all. Upon first arriving, there is an informal audience. On New Year's Day, the king presents leather, recommends jade discs, and offers congratulations at a formal audience. Three days later, a banquet is held in the king's honor, and he is presented with gifts of gold, money, and valuables. Two days after that, there is a final informal audience, after which the king takes his leave and departs. In total, the stay in Chang'an should not exceed twenty days. The informal audience is a private meeting within the palace gates, with drinking in the inner chambers — a privilege not extended to ordinary scholars. Yet the King of Liang came west to court and stayed on for nearly half a year. At court he rode in the same carriage as the emperor, and abroad he shared the emperor's chariot. To make grand promises in word while refusing to deliver in deed, thereby provoking resentment and scheming, and then to follow up with anxiety over the consequences — is this not the height of shortsightedness! Only a person of the highest virtue knows when to yield and step back. Under Han ritual protocol, those attending the New Year court audience are normally one king and four marquises at a time, and each comes only once every ten or more years. Yet the King of Liang attended court year after year and stayed for prolonged periods. The common saying goes, "A spoiled son is an unfilial son" — and this is no idle proverb. This is why feudal kings should be given worthy tutors and chancellors, men of loyal counsel such as Ji An and Han Changru, who dare to speak frankly and remonstrate without reserve. If this were done, how could any calamity arise!
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蓋聞梁王西入朝，謁竇太后，燕見，與景帝俱侍坐於太后前，語言私說。 太后謂帝曰：「吾聞殷道親親，周道尊尊，其義一也。 安車大駕，用梁孝王為寄。」 景帝跪席舉身曰：「諾。」 罷酒出，帝召袁盎諸大臣通經術者曰：「太后言如是，何謂也？」 皆對曰：「太后意欲立梁王為帝太子。」 帝問其狀，袁盎等曰：「殷道親親者，立弟。 周道尊尊者，立子。 殷道質，質者法天，親其所親，故立弟。 周道文，文者法地，尊者敬也，敬其本始，故立長子。 周道，太子死，立適孫。 殷道。 太子死，立其弟。」 帝曰：「於公何如？」 皆對曰：「方今漢家法周，周道不得立弟，當立子。 故春秋所以非宋宣公。 宋宣公死，不立子而與弟。 弟受國死，復反之與兄之子。 弟之子爭之，以為我當代父後，即刺殺兄子。 以故國亂，禍不絕。 故春秋曰『君子大居正，宋之禍宣公為之』。 臣請見太后白之。」 袁盎等入見太后：「太后言欲立梁王，梁王即終，欲誰立？」 太后曰：「吾復立帝子。」 袁盎等以宋宣公不立正，生禍，禍亂後五世不絕，小不忍害大義狀報太后。 太后乃解說，即使梁王歸就國。 而梁王聞其義出於袁盎諸大臣所，怨望，使人來殺袁盎。 袁盎顧之曰：「我所謂袁將軍者也，公得毋誤乎？」 刺者曰：「是矣！」 刺之，置其劍，劍著身。 視其劍，新治。 問長安中削厲工，工曰：「梁郎某子來治此劍。」 以此知而發覺之，發使者捕逐之。 獨梁王所欲殺大臣十餘人，文吏窮本之，謀反端頗見。 太后不食，日夜泣不止。 景帝甚憂之，問公卿大臣，大臣以為遣經術吏往治之，乃可解。 於是遣田叔、呂季主往治之。 此二人皆通經術，知大禮。 來還，至霸昌廄，取火悉燒梁之反辭，但空手來對景帝。 景帝曰：「何如？」 對曰：「言梁王不知也。 造為之者，獨其幸臣羊勝、公孫詭之屬為之耳。 謹以伏誅死，梁王無恙也。」 景帝喜說，曰：「急趨謁太后。」 太后聞之，立起坐湌，氣平復。 故曰，不通經術知古今之大禮，不可以為三公及左右近臣。 少見之人，如從管中闚天也。
I have heard that the King of Liang traveled west to court, paid his respects to Empress Dowager Dou, and was granted a private audience. He sat together with Emperor Jing before the Empress Dowager, and they spoke freely among themselves. The Empress Dowager said to the emperor, "I have heard that the way of the Yin dynasty was to cherish kinship, while the way of the Zhou was to honor authority, and in principle these amount to the same thing. When the great carriage and imperial procession pass to another, let King Xiao of Liang be the one entrusted with them." Emperor Jing straightened on his mat, bowed, and said, "Yes." When the wine was finished and they withdrew, the emperor summoned Yuan Ang and other ministers learned in the classics and asked, "The Empress Dowager speaks thus. What does she mean?" They all replied, "The Empress Dowager intends to establish the King of Liang as the imperial heir." The emperor asked them to explain. Yuan Ang and the others said, "The way of the Yin dynasty was to cherish kinship, and so the younger brother was made heir. The way of the Zhou was to honor seniority, and so the son was made heir. The way of Yin valued substance. Substance follows Heaven, which draws close those who are nearest, and so the younger brother was made heir. The way of Zhou valued refinement. Refinement follows Earth, which honors authority — and to honor authority is to respect one's origins, so the eldest son was made heir. Under the Zhou system, if the crown prince dies, the legitimate grandson succeeds. Under the Yin system — if the crown prince dies, his younger brother succeeds." The emperor asked, "What is your view, gentlemen?" They all replied, "The Han house now follows the Zhou system. Under the way of Zhou, a younger brother cannot be made heir; the son must succeed. This is why the Spring and Autumn Annals censures Duke Xuan of Song. When Duke Xuan of Song died, he did not establish his son but passed the throne to his younger brother. When the younger brother received the state and later died, he returned it to his elder brother's son. But the younger brother's son disputed this, reasoning that he should succeed his own father, and so he assassinated the elder brother's son. As a result, the state was thrown into chaos and calamities followed without end. Therefore the Spring and Autumn Annals declares, 'The gentleman holds fast to what is correct; the calamity that befell Song was brought about by Duke Xuan.'" We request permission to see the Empress Dowager and explain this to her." Yuan Ang and the others went in to see the Empress Dowager and asked, "Your Majesty wishes to establish the King of Liang as heir. But if the King of Liang should die, whom would you then wish to establish?" The Empress Dowager said, "Then I would establish the emperor's son." Yuan Ang and the others presented the case of Duke Xuan of Song, who had failed to follow the proper line of succession and thereby brought about a calamity that plagued his state for five generations. They explained to the Empress Dowager how a small indulgence could undermine the greater good. The Empress Dowager was persuaded and abandoned the idea, immediately directing the King of Liang to return to his kingdom. When the King of Liang learned that the arguments against him had come from Yuan Ang and the other ministers, he was consumed with resentment and sent men to assassinate Yuan Ang. Yuan Ang turned to face the assassin and said, "I am the one known as General Yuan. Are you sure you have the right man?" The assassin replied, "You are the one!" He stabbed him and left the sword behind, still lodged in the body. When they examined the sword, they found it was newly forged. They inquired among the sword-smiths of Chang'an, and one of them said, "A young attendant from Liang came to have this sword made." This led to the discovery of the plot, and envoys were dispatched to apprehend and pursue the culprits. In all, the King of Liang had targeted more than ten ministers for assassination. When the legal officials traced the matter to its source, clear signs of a conspiracy to rebel emerged. The Empress Dowager refused to eat and wept day and night without ceasing. Emperor Jing was deeply troubled and consulted his ministers. They advised that officials well-versed in the classics be sent to handle the matter, as this was the only way to resolve the crisis. Accordingly, Tian Shu and Lu Jizhu were dispatched to handle the matter. Both men were thoroughly versed in the classics and understood the demands of high propriety. On their return journey, when they reached the Bachang post station, they set fire to all the incriminating documents from Liang and came before Emperor Jing with empty hands. Emperor Jing asked, "What did you find?" They replied, "The King of Liang knew nothing of the plot. The conspirators were solely his favored ministers Yang Sheng, Gongsun Gui, and their associates. They have already submitted to the law and been put to death. The King of Liang is well and bears no guilt." Emperor Jing was delighted and said, "Go at once and report this to the Empress Dowager." When the Empress Dowager heard the news, she rose at once, took a meal, and her spirits were restored. Therefore it is said: those who are not versed in the classics and do not understand the great principles of propriety, both ancient and modern, are unfit to serve as one of the Three Excellencies or as a minister close to the throne. Those of narrow vision are like men trying to see the sky through a tube.