Biographies of Zhang Er and Chen Yu

張耳者，大梁人也。其少時，及魏公子毋忌為客。張耳嘗亡命游外黃。外黃富人女甚美，嫁庸奴，亡其夫，去抵父客。父客素知張耳，乃謂女曰：「必欲求賢夫，從張耳。」女聽，乃卒為請決，嫁之張耳。張耳是時脫身游，女家厚奉給張耳，張耳以故致千里客。乃宦魏為外黃令。名由此益賢。陳餘者，亦大梁人也，好儒術，數游趙苦陘。富人公乘氏以其女妻之，亦知陳餘非庸人也。餘年少，父事張耳，兩人相與為刎頸交。

Zhang Er was a native of Daliang. In his youth, he served as a retainer to Lord Xinling of Wei. Zhang Er once fled as a fugitive and wandered to Waihuang. A wealthy man's daughter in Waihuang was a great beauty. She had been married to a worthless man, but after her husband died, she went to lodge with one of her father's guests. This guest had long been acquainted with Zhang Er, and he told the woman, 'If you want a husband of true worth, then marry Zhang Er.' The woman consented, and the guest arranged everything and wed her to Zhang Er. Zhang Er was then a wandering adventurer. His wife's family lavished resources upon him, and with these means he attracted followers from a thousand li around. He then entered the service of Wei and was appointed Magistrate of Waihuang. His fame grew steadily as a man of virtue. Chen Yu was also a native of Daliang. He was devoted to Confucian learning and often traveled to Kuxing in the state of Zhao. A wealthy man of the Gongcheng clan gave him his daughter in marriage, recognizing that Chen Yu was no ordinary man. Chen Yu was the younger of the two and looked up to Zhang Er as a father. Together they became the closest of friends, each willing to die for the other.

秦之滅大梁也，張耳家外黃。高祖為布衣時，嘗數從張耳游，客數月。秦滅魏數歲，已聞此兩人魏之名士也，購求有得張耳千金，陳餘五百金。張耳、陳餘乃變名姓，俱之陳，為里監門以自食。兩人相對。里吏嘗有過笞陳餘，陳餘欲起，張耳躡之，使受笞。吏去，張耳乃引陳餘之桑下而數之曰：「始吾與公言何如？今見小辱而欲死一吏乎？」陳餘然之。秦詔書購求兩人，兩人亦反用門者以令里中。

When Qin destroyed Daliang, Zhang Er was living in Waihuang. When the future Emperor Gaozu was still a commoner, he visited Zhang Er on several occasions and stayed as his guest for months at a time. Several years after Qin conquered Wei, word reached the court that these two men were celebrated figures of the former state. Qin posted bounties of a thousand gold pieces for Zhang Er and five hundred for Chen Yu. Zhang Er and Chen Yu assumed false names and fled together to the city of Chen, where they took positions as village gatekeepers to earn their keep. The two men stood watch side by side. Once, a village official flogged Chen Yu for some petty infraction. Chen Yu was about to leap up in fury, but Zhang Er trod on his foot and forced him to endure the beating. After the official had gone, Zhang Er pulled Chen Yu under a mulberry tree and rebuked him. 'What did I tell you at the start?' 'Would you throw your life away over a petty official's insult?' Chen Yu acknowledged he was right. Even as Qin circulated warrants for their arrest, the two men turned their role as gatekeepers to their advantage, exercising authority over the village.

陳涉起蘄，至入陳，兵數萬。張耳、陳餘上謁陳涉。涉及左右生平數聞張耳、陳餘賢，未嘗見，見即大喜。

When Chen She raised his rebellion at Qi and marched into the city of Chen, he commanded an army of tens of thousands. Zhang Er and Chen Yu went to present themselves before Chen She. Chen She and his attendants had heard for years of the fame and virtue of Zhang Er and Chen Yu, though they had never met in person. When they finally did, Chen She was overjoyed.

陳中豪傑父老乃說陳涉曰：「將軍身被堅執銳，率士卒以誅暴秦，復立楚社稷，存亡繼絕，功德宜為王。且夫監臨天下諸將，不為王不可，願將軍立為楚王也。」陳涉問此兩人，兩人對曰：「夫秦為無道，破人國家，滅人社稷，絕人後世，罷百姓之力，盡百姓之財。將軍瞋目張膽，出萬死不顧一生之計，為天下除殘也。今始至陳而王之，示天下私。願將軍毋王，急引兵而西，遣人立六國後，自為樹黨，為秦益敵也。敵多則力分，與眾則兵彊。如此野無交兵，縣無守城，誅暴秦，據咸陽以令諸侯。諸侯亡而得立，以德服之，如此則帝業成矣。今獨王陳，恐天下解也。」陳涉不聽，遂立為王。

The local leaders and elders of Chen urged Chen She, 'General, you have donned armor and taken up the blade, leading your soldiers to punish the tyranny of Qin. You have restored the altars of Chu and revived what was lost. Such deeds merit nothing less than the title of king.' 'Moreover, to command all the generals under heaven, you must take the royal title. We beg you to proclaim yourself King of Chu.' Chen She consulted the two men, and they replied, 'Qin has ruled without righteousness. It destroyed other states, toppled their altars, severed their lines of succession, exhausted the strength of the common people, and drained their wealth.' 'You, General, widened your eyes and steeled your courage, braving ten thousand deaths without a thought for your own life, all to rid the world of this tyranny.' 'Yet if you declare yourself king the moment you arrive at Chen, you will appear selfish in the eyes of the world.' 'We urge you not to claim the royal title. Instead, march your forces west at once and send envoys to restore the heirs of the six fallen states. In this way you will build a network of allies and multiply the enemies ranged against Qin.' 'The more enemies Qin faces, the thinner its forces will be spread; the more allies you gather, the mightier your army will grow.' 'Then there will be no armies to fight in the field, no cities to besiege. You will destroy the Qin tyranny, occupy Xianyang, and issue commands to the lords of the realm.' 'The lords whose states were destroyed will owe their restoration to you. Win them over through virtue, and the foundation of an empire will be laid.' 'But if you simply set yourself up as king here in Chen, we fear the world's resolve will slacken.' Chen She did not heed their counsel and proclaimed himself king.

陳餘乃復說陳王曰：「大王舉梁、楚而西，務在入關，未及收河北也。臣嘗游趙，知其豪桀及地形，願請奇兵北略趙地。」於是陳王以故所善陳人武臣為將軍，邵騷為護軍，以張耳、陳餘為左右校尉，予卒三千人，北略趙地。

Chen Yu then addressed King Chen again: 'Your Majesty has rallied the forces of Liang and Chu and pressed westward, focused on entering the Pass. But you have not yet secured the territory north of the Yellow River.' 'Your servant has traveled through Zhao and knows its leading men and its terrain. Grant me a detachment of picked troops, and I will march north to take the land of Zhao.' King Chen accordingly appointed his old friend Wu Chen, a native of Chen, as general, with Shao Sao as protector of the army and Zhang Er and Chen Yu as colonels of the left and right. He gave them three thousand soldiers and sent them north to conquer the land of Zhao.

武臣等從白馬渡河，至諸縣，說其豪桀曰：「秦為亂政虐刑以殘賊天下，數十年矣。北有長城之役，南有五嶺之戍，外內騷動，百姓罷敝，頭會箕斂，以供軍費，財匱力盡，民不聊生。重之以苛法峻刑，使天下父子不相安。陳王奮臂為天下倡始，王楚之地，方二千里，莫不響應，家自為怒，人自為鬬，各報其怨而攻其讎，縣殺其令丞，郡殺其守尉。今已張大楚，王陳，使吳廣、周文將卒百萬西擊秦。於此時而不成封侯之業者，非人豪也。諸君試相與計之！夫天下同心而苦秦久矣。因天下之力而攻無道之君，報父兄之怨而成割地有土之業，此士之一時也。」豪桀皆然其言。乃行收兵，得數萬人，號武臣為武信君。下趙十城，餘皆城守，莫肯下。

Wu Chen and his officers crossed the Yellow River at Baima and visited the counties along their route, rallying the local leaders with these words: 'For decades, Qin has tyrannized the realm with misrule and savage punishments.' 'In the north, the people toil on the Great Wall; in the south, they garrison the Five Ridges. The whole realm is in turmoil. The people are worn out, taxed head by head, their wealth swept up to fund the army until nothing remains and they can no longer survive.' 'On top of this, harsh laws and cruel punishments weigh upon them, until fathers and sons can no longer live together in peace.' 'King Chen raised his arm and led the world in revolt, claiming the land of Chu across two thousand li. All responded to his call. Every household burned with anger, every man took up arms, each one avenging old grudges—killing county magistrates and commandery governors alike.' 'He has already expanded the domain of Chu, established his court at Chen, and dispatched Wu Guang and Zhou Wen to lead a million soldiers west against Qin.' 'Any man who fails to seize this moment and win a lordship for himself is no hero.' 'Consider this together, gentlemen!' 'The whole world is united in its resentment of Qin, and has suffered under its yoke for far too long.' 'To harness the strength of the world to bring down a tyrant, to avenge the wrongs done to our fathers and brothers while carving out a domain of our own—this is the chance of a lifetime.' The local leaders all agreed with his words. They marched on, rallying troops as they went, and gathered tens of thousands of men. Wu Chen was given the title Lord of Wuxin. They captured ten cities in Zhao, but the rest fortified their walls and refused to surrender.

乃引兵東北擊范陽。范陽人蒯通說范陽令曰：「竊聞公之將死，故弔。雖然，賀公得通而生。」范陽令曰：「何以弔之？」對曰：「秦法重，足下為范陽令十年矣，殺人之父，孤人之子，斷人之足，黥人之首，不可勝數。然而慈父孝子莫敢倳刃公之腹中者，畏秦法耳。今天下大亂，秦法不施，然則慈父孝子且倳刃公之腹中以成其名，此臣之所以弔公也。今諸侯畔秦矣，武信君兵且至，而君堅守范陽，少年皆爭殺君，下武信君。君急遣臣見武信君，可轉禍為福，在今矣。」

They then led their army northeast to attack Fanyang. Kuai Tong, a native of Fanyang, went to the magistrate and said, 'I have heard that you are about to die, so I have come to offer my condolences.' 'And yet I also congratulate you—for by meeting me, you may yet survive.' The magistrate asked, 'Why do you offer condolences?' Kuai Tong replied, 'The laws of Qin are brutal. You have been magistrate of Fanyang for ten years. You have put fathers to death, left children orphans, amputated feet, and branded faces—the victims are beyond counting.' 'The only reason that loving fathers and dutiful sons have not yet plunged a blade into your belly is their fear of Qin's laws.' 'Now the realm is in chaos and Qin's laws no longer hold. Those grieving fathers and sons will thrust a blade into your belly to win fame for themselves. That is why I offer my condolences.' 'The lords have already turned against Qin, and the army of the Lord of Wuxin is nearly at your gates. If you stubbornly defend Fanyang, the young men of the city will fight one another for the honor of killing you and presenting your head to the Lord of Wuxin.' 'Send me to the Lord of Wuxin at once. You can still turn disaster into fortune, but only if you act now.'

范陽令乃使蒯通見武信君曰：「足下必將戰勝然後略地，攻得然後下城，臣竊以為過矣。誠聽臣之計，可不攻而降城，不戰而略地，傳檄而千里定，可乎？」武信君曰：「何謂也？」蒯通曰：「今范陽令宜整頓其士卒以守戰者也，怯而畏死，貪而重富貴，故欲先天下降，畏君以為秦所置吏，誅殺如前十城也。然今范陽少年亦方殺其令，自以城距君。君何不齎臣侯印，拜范陽令，范陽令則以城下君，少年亦不敢殺其令。令范陽令乘朱輪華轂，使驅馳燕、趙郊。燕、趙郊見之，皆曰此范陽令，先下者也，即喜矣，燕、趙城可毋戰而降也。此臣之所謂傳檄而千里定者也。」武信君從其計，因使蒯通賜范陽令侯印。趙地聞之，不戰以城下者三十餘城。

The magistrate of Fanyang accordingly sent Kuai Tong to see the Lord of Wuxin. Kuai Tong said, 'My lord, your strategy is to win battles before claiming territory and to storm cities before accepting their surrender. With all respect, I believe this is an error.' 'If you heed my counsel, you can take cities without a siege, claim territory without a battle, and pacify a thousand li with nothing more than dispatches. Would that not be better?' The Lord of Wuxin asked, 'What do you mean?' Kuai Tong said, 'The magistrate of Fanyang ought to marshal his troops and fight. But he is a coward who fears death and a greedy man who craves wealth and rank. He longs to be the first to surrender, but fears that you will treat him as a Qin official and execute him as you did the magistrates of the last ten cities.' 'Meanwhile, the young hotheads of Fanyang are on the verge of killing the magistrate themselves and using the city to resist you.' 'Why not give me a lord's seal to bestow upon the magistrate? He will surrender the city to you at once, and the young men will not dare to lay a hand on him.' 'Then let the magistrate ride forth in a carriage with vermilion wheels and gilded hubs, parading through the borderlands of Yan and Zhao.' 'When the people of Yan and Zhao see him, they will say, "That is the magistrate of Fanyang, the first to submit," and they will rejoice. The cities of Yan and Zhao will then surrender without a fight.' 'This is what I meant by pacifying a thousand li with dispatches alone.' The Lord of Wuxin adopted his plan and sent Kuai Tong to bestow a lord's seal upon the magistrate of Fanyang. When word of this spread through the land of Zhao, more than thirty cities surrendered without a fight.

至邯鄲，張耳、陳餘聞周章軍入關，至戲卻；又聞諸將為陳王徇地，多以讒毀得罪誅，怨陳王不其筴不以為將而以為校尉。乃說武臣曰：「陳王起蘄，至陳而王，非必立六國後。將軍今以三千人下趙數十城，獨介居河北，不王無以填之。且陳王聽讒，還報，恐不脫於禍。又不如立其兄弟；不，即立趙後。將軍毋失時，時閒不容息。」武臣乃聽之，遂立為趙王。以陳餘為大將軍，張耳為右丞相，邵騷為左丞相。

When they reached Handan, Zhang Er and Chen Yu received word that the army of Zhou Zhang had entered the Pass and advanced as far as Xi before being driven back. They also heard that many of the generals who had conquered territory for King Chen had been slandered and put to death. They resented King Chen for ignoring their counsel and for appointing them merely as colonels rather than generals. They then spoke to Wu Chen: 'King Chen rose in revolt at Qi and proclaimed himself king at Chen without bothering to restore the heirs of the six states.' 'You, General, have taken dozens of cities in Zhao with only three thousand men and now hold a vast territory north of the Yellow River. Without the title of king, you cannot hold it together.' 'Moreover, King Chen heeds slander. If you go back to report to him, you may well not escape disaster.' 'Better to establish one of your brothers as king;' 'or failing that, restore a descendant of the royal house of Zhao.' 'General, do not let this moment slip away. There is not a breath of time to spare.' Wu Chen heeded their counsel and proclaimed himself King of Zhao. He appointed Chen Yu as Grand General, Zhang Er as Right Chancellor, and Shao Sao as Left Chancellor.

使人報陳王，陳王大怒，欲盡族武臣等家，而發兵擊趙。陳王相國房君諫曰：「秦未亡而誅武臣等家，此又生一秦也。不如因而賀之，使急引兵西擊秦。」陳王然之，從其計，徙系武臣等家宮中，封張耳子敖為成都君。

When word reached King Chen, he was furious. He wanted to exterminate the families of Wu Chen and the others and send an army to attack Zhao. His chancellor, Lord Fang, remonstrated: 'Qin has not yet fallen. If you execute the families of Wu Chen and his companions, you will only create another Qin.' 'Better to congratulate them and order them to march their forces west against Qin at once.' King Chen agreed and adopted this plan. He moved the families of Wu Chen and the others into the palace as hostages and enfeoffed Zhang Er's son Zhang Ao as Lord of Chengdu.

陳王使使者賀趙，令趣發兵西入關。張耳、陳餘說武臣曰：「王王趙，非楚意，特以計賀王。楚已滅秦，必加兵於趙。願王毋西兵，北徇燕、代，南收河內以自廣。趙南據大河，北有燕、代，楚雖勝秦，必不敢制趙。」趙王以為然，因不西兵，而使韓廣略燕，李良略常山，張黡略上黨。

King Chen dispatched envoys to congratulate the King of Zhao and urge him to send his forces west through the Pass at once. Zhang Er and Chen Yu counseled Wu Chen: 'Your kingship over Zhao was never Chu's true desire. They congratulated you only as a matter of strategy.' 'Once Chu has destroyed Qin, they will surely turn their armies against Zhao.' 'We urge Your Majesty not to send troops west. Instead, expand northward into Yan and Dai and southward to seize Henei, thereby strengthening your own position.' 'With the Yellow River guarding Zhao to the south and Yan and Dai to the north, even if Chu defeats Qin, it will never dare to challenge you.' The King of Zhao agreed. He did not send his troops west, but instead dispatched Han Guang to take Yan, Li Liang to take Changshan, and Zhang Yan to take Shangdang.

韓廣至燕，燕人因立廣為燕王。趙王乃與張耳、陳餘北略地燕界。趙王閒出，為燕軍所得。燕將囚之，欲與分趙地半，乃歸王。使者往，燕輒殺之以求地。張耳、陳餘患之。有廝養卒謝其舍中曰：「吾為公說燕，與趙王載歸。」舍中皆笑曰：「使者往十餘輩，輒死，若何以能得王？」乃走燕壁。燕將見之，問燕將曰：「知臣何欲？」燕將曰：「若欲得趙王耳。」曰：「君知張耳、陳餘何如人也？」燕將曰：「賢人也。」曰：「知其志何欲？」曰：「欲得其王耳。」趙養卒乃笑曰：「君未知此兩人所欲也。夫武臣、張耳、陳餘杖馬箠下趙數十城，此亦各欲南面而王，豈欲為卿相終己邪？夫臣與主豈可同日而道哉，顧其勢初定，未敢參分而王，且以少長先立武臣為王，以持趙心。今趙地已服，此兩人亦欲分趙而王，時未可耳。今君乃囚趙王。此兩人名為求趙王，實欲燕殺之，此兩人分趙自立。夫以一趙尚易燕，況以兩賢王左提右挈，而責殺王之罪，滅燕易矣。」燕將以為然，乃歸趙王，養卒為御而歸。

When Han Guang arrived in Yan, the people of Yan made him their king. The King of Zhao then marched north with Zhang Er and Chen Yu to seize territory along the Yan border. The King of Zhao ventured out with a light escort and was captured by the army of Yan. The Yan generals held him prisoner and demanded half of Zhao's territory as the price of his return. Every envoy sent to negotiate was killed by Yan, which continued to press its demands for territory. Zhang Er and Chen Yu were gravely troubled. A lowly camp servant bid farewell to his companions and said, 'I will go and persuade Yan, and bring the King of Zhao home.' They all laughed at him. 'More than ten envoys have gone, and every one has been killed. What makes you think you can succeed?' But the servant went straight to the Yan camp. When he was brought before the Yan general, the servant asked, 'Do you know what I have come for?' The Yan general said, 'You want the King of Zhao returned.' The servant replied, 'Do you know what kind of men Zhang Er and Chen Yu are?' The general said, 'They are men of great ability.' 'And do you know what they truly desire?' The general replied, 'They want their king back, nothing more.' The servant laughed. 'You do not understand what those two men truly want.' 'Wu Chen, Zhang Er, and Chen Yu conquered dozens of cities in Zhao with nothing but riding crops. Each of them wants to face south and rule as king. Do you really think they are content to remain ministers forever?' 'How can a minister be compared to a sovereign? It is simply that the situation was not yet settled, and they did not dare divide the territory among themselves. So they set up Wu Chen as king first, by seniority, to hold the loyalty of Zhao.' 'Now that Zhao is subdued, the two of them also wish to divide it and claim their own kingdoms. The time is simply not yet ripe.' 'And now you have imprisoned the King of Zhao.' 'These two men claim they want the king returned, but in truth they hope Yan will kill him, so they can divide Zhao between themselves and each claim a throne.' 'A single Zhao could already overpower Yan. Imagine two capable kings joining forces, using the murder of their sovereign as their pretext for war. Destroying Yan would be child's play.' The Yan general was persuaded. He released the King of Zhao, and the camp servant drove the carriage that brought the king home.

李良已定常山，還報，趙王復使良略太原。至石邑，秦兵塞井陘，未能前。秦將詐稱二世使人遺李良書，不封，曰：「良嘗事我得顯幸。良誠能反趙為秦，赦良罪，貴良。」良得書，疑不信。乃還之邯鄲，益請兵。未至，道逢趙王姊出飲，從百餘騎。李良望見，以為王，伏謁道旁。王姊醉，不知其將，使騎謝李良。李良素貴，起，慚其從官。從官有一人曰：「天下畔秦，能者先立。且趙王素出將軍下，今女兒乃不為將軍下車，請追殺之。」李良已得秦書，固欲反趙，未決，因此怒，遣人追殺王姊道中，乃遂將其兵襲邯鄲。邯鄲不知，竟殺武臣、邵騷。趙人多為張耳、陳餘耳目者，以故得脫出。收其兵，得數萬人。客有說張耳曰：「兩君羈旅，而欲附趙，難；獨立趙後，扶以義，可就功。」乃求得趙歇，立為趙王，居信都。李良進兵擊陳餘，陳餘敗李良，李良走歸章邯。

Li Liang had already pacified Changshan and returned to report. The King of Zhao then sent him to take Taiyuan. When he reached Shiyi, he found the Jingxing Pass blocked by Qin forces and was unable to advance. A Qin general then forged a letter in the name of the Second Emperor and sent it to Li Liang, deliberately leaving it unsealed. It read: 'Liang once served me and won great favor.' 'If Liang truly turns against Zhao and serves Qin, his crimes shall be pardoned and he shall be raised to high rank.' When Li Liang received the letter, he was suspicious and did not trust it. He turned back toward Handan to request reinforcements. Before he reached Handan, he encountered the King of Zhao's elder sister on the road, heading out to a banquet with an escort of more than a hundred riders. Li Liang saw the procession from a distance and, mistaking it for the king's retinue, prostrated himself at the roadside in greeting. The king's sister was drunk and did not recognize him as a general. She sent a rider to dismiss him with a casual wave. Li Liang, accustomed to being treated with deference, rose to his feet mortified in front of his own officers. One of his officers said, 'The whole realm has turned against Qin. The capable are the first to rise.' 'Besides, the King of Zhao himself has always ranked below you. Yet this woman did not even dismount from her carriage for you. I urge you to pursue her and put her to death.' Li Liang had already received the Qin letter and had been inclined to betray Zhao, though he had not yet made up his mind. Now, in his fury, he sent men to pursue and kill the king's sister on the road, then led his troops in a surprise attack on Handan. Handan was caught completely off guard, and Wu Chen and Shao Sao were both killed. Many among the people of Zhao served as informants for Zhang Er and Chen Yu, and thanks to their warnings the two men managed to escape. They rallied the scattered troops and assembled an army of tens of thousands. One of their retainers counseled Zhang Er: 'You two are outsiders here. To win the allegiance of Zhao by your own authority alone will be difficult.' 'But if you restore a descendant of the Zhao royal house and support him in the name of righteousness, you can achieve great things.' They searched out Zhao Xie, a scion of the old royal house, and established him as King of Zhao, with his court at Xindu. Li Liang advanced to attack Chen Yu, but Chen Yu defeated him. Li Liang fled and joined the Qin general Zhang Han.

章邯引兵至邯鄲，皆徙其民河內，夷其城郭。張耳與趙王歇走入鉅鹿城，王離圍之。陳餘北收常山兵，得數萬人，軍鉅鹿北。章邯軍鉅鹿南棘原，筑甬道屬河，餉王離。王離兵食多，急攻鉅鹿。鉅鹿城中食盡兵少，張耳數使人召前陳餘，陳餘自度兵少，不敵秦，不敢前。數月，張耳大怒，怨陳餘，使張黶、陳澤往讓陳餘曰：「始吾與公為刎頸交，今王與耳旦暮且死，而公擁兵數萬，不肯相救，安在其相為死！茍必信，胡不赴秦軍俱死？且有十一二相全。」陳餘曰：「吾度前終不能救趙，徒盡亡軍。且餘所以不俱死，欲為趙王、張君報秦。今必俱死，如以肉委餓虎，何益？」張黶、陳澤曰：「事已急，要以俱死立信，安知後慮！」陳餘曰：「吾死顧以為無益。必如公言。」乃使五千人令張黶、陳澤先嘗秦軍，至皆沒。

Zhang Han led his forces to Handan, deported the entire population to Henei, and leveled the city walls. Zhang Er and King Zhao Xie retreated into the city of Julu, where Wang Li besieged them. Chen Yu marched north and gathered the troops of Changshan, assembling tens of thousands of men. He encamped to the north of Julu. Zhang Han encamped at Jiyuan to the south of Julu and built a walled corridor to the river through which he supplied Wang Li with provisions. With ample troops and provisions, Wang Li pressed his assault on Julu relentlessly. Inside Julu, food had run out and the garrison was thin. Zhang Er repeatedly sent messengers urging Chen Yu to come to their aid, but Chen Yu judged his forces too few to challenge Qin and did not dare advance. After months of this, Zhang Er was consumed with fury and resentment toward Chen Yu. He sent Zhang Yan and Chen Ze to reproach him: 'We swore we would die for each other. Now the king and I face death at any moment, and yet you sit with tens of thousands of troops and refuse to come to our rescue. What has become of your oath?' 'If your word still means anything, why not throw yourself against the Qin army and die alongside us?' 'At the very least, there is a chance—one in ten, perhaps—that together we might survive.' Chen Yu replied, 'I have calculated the odds. Advancing now would not save Zhao—it would only destroy my entire army for nothing.' 'The reason I do not throw my life away is that I still hope to avenge the King of Zhao and you, Lord Zhang, against Qin.' 'To insist that we all die together now would be like throwing meat to a starving tiger. What good would that do?' Zhang Yan and Chen Ze said, 'The situation is desperate. You must prove your faith by dying together with them. This is no time to think about the future!' Chen Yu said, 'My death would accomplish nothing.' 'But let it be as you say.' He gave Zhang Yan and Chen Ze five thousand men to probe the Qin lines. They advanced and were annihilated to the last man.

當是時，燕、齊、楚聞趙急，皆來救。張敖亦北收代兵，得萬餘人，來，皆壁餘旁，未敢擊秦。項羽兵數絕章邯甬道，王離軍乏食，項羽悉引兵渡河，遂破章邯。章邯引兵解，諸侯軍乃敢擊圍鉅鹿秦軍，遂虜王離。涉閒自殺。卒存鉅鹿者，楚力也。

At that time, Yan, Qi, and Chu heard of Zhao's peril and all sent forces to its aid. Zhang Ao likewise went north and gathered more than ten thousand troops from Dai. He arrived and encamped alongside Chen Yu, but like the others, none of them dared to engage the Qin forces. Xiang Yu's forces repeatedly cut Zhang Han's supply corridor. When Wang Li's army began to run short of provisions, Xiang Yu led his entire army across the river and routed Zhang Han. Zhang Han pulled back his forces in retreat. Only then did the armies of the other lords dare to attack the Qin troops besieging Julu, and they captured Wang Li. She Jian took his own life. In the end, it was the might of Chu that saved Julu.

於是趙王歇、張耳乃得出鉅鹿，謝諸侯。張耳與陳餘相見，責讓陳餘以不肯救趙，及問張黶、陳澤所在。陳餘怒曰：「張黶、陳澤以必死責臣，臣使將五千人先嘗秦軍，皆沒不出。」張耳不信，以為殺之，數問陳餘。陳餘怒曰：「不意君之望臣深也！豈以臣為重去將哉？」乃脫解印綬，推予張耳。張耳亦愕不受。陳餘起如廁。客有說張耳曰：「臣聞『天與不取，反受其咎』。今陳將軍與君印，君不受，反天不祥。急取之！」張耳乃佩其印，收其麾下。而陳餘還，亦望張耳不讓，遂趨出。張耳遂收其兵。陳餘獨與麾下所善數百人之河上澤中漁獵。由此陳餘、張耳遂有卻。

King Zhao Xie and Zhang Er were finally able to leave Julu. They expressed their gratitude to the assembled lords. When Zhang Er met Chen Yu, he upbraided him for refusing to come to Zhao's rescue and demanded to know where Zhang Yan and Chen Ze were. Chen Yu replied angrily, 'Zhang Yan and Chen Ze demanded that I die alongside them. I gave them five thousand men to test the Qin lines, and every last one of them perished.' Zhang Er did not believe him. He suspected Chen Yu of having killed them and pressed him repeatedly. Chen Yu said in a fury, 'I never imagined your resentment toward me ran so deep!' 'Do you truly believe I deliberately sent those men to their deaths?' He tore off his seal of office and thrust it toward Zhang Er. Zhang Er was taken aback and refused to accept it. Chen Yu rose and left to use the privy. A retainer urged Zhang Er, 'There is a saying: "When Heaven offers a gift and you refuse it, you will suffer for your refusal."' 'General Chen has offered you his seal of command. If you refuse it, you defy Heaven, and that will bring misfortune.' 'Take it at once!' Zhang Er put on the seal and took command of Chen Yu's forces. When Chen Yu returned and saw that Zhang Er had not refused the seal, he was filled with resentment and stormed out. Zhang Er thereupon absorbed all of Chen Yu's troops. Chen Yu departed with only a few hundred loyal followers and went to fish and hunt in the marshes along the river. From that point on, the rift between Chen Yu and Zhang Er became irreparable.

趙王歇復居信都。張耳從項羽諸侯入關。漢元年二月，項羽立諸侯王，張耳雅游，人多為之言，項羽亦素數聞張耳賢，乃分趙立張耳為常山王，治信都。信都更名襄國。

King Zhao Xie returned to his capital at Xindu. Zhang Er accompanied Xiang Yu and the other lords through the Pass into the heartland of Qin. In the second month of the first year of Han, Xiang Yu divided the realm and enfeoffed the lords as kings. Zhang Er was well connected, and many spoke on his behalf. Xiang Yu himself had long heard of Zhang Er's reputation, so he carved off part of Zhao and made Zhang Er King of Changshan, with his capital at Xindu. Xindu was renamed Xiangguo.

陳餘客多說項羽曰：「陳餘、張耳一體有功於趙。」項羽以陳餘不從入關，聞其在南皮，即以南皮旁三縣以封之，而徙趙王歇王代。

Many of Chen Yu's retainers petitioned Xiang Yu, arguing that Chen Yu and Zhang Er had served Zhao as partners with equal merit. But because Chen Yu had not accompanied the army through the Pass, Xiang Yu only granted him three counties around Nanpi, where he was residing. He transferred King Zhao Xie to rule as King of Dai.

張耳之國，陳餘愈益怒，曰：「張耳與餘功等也，今張耳王，餘獨侯，此項羽不平。」及齊王田榮畔楚，陳餘乃使夏說說田榮曰：「項羽為天下宰不平，盡王諸將善地，徙故王王惡地，今趙王乃居代！願王假臣兵，請以南皮為捍蔽。」田榮欲樹黨於趙以反楚，乃遣兵從陳餘。陳餘因悉三縣兵襲常山王張耳。張耳敗走，念諸侯無可歸者，曰：「漢王與我有舊故，而項羽又彊，立我，我欲之楚。」甘公曰：「漢王之入關，五星聚東井。東井者，秦分也。先至必霸。楚雖彊，後必屬漢。」故耳走漢。漢王亦還定三秦，方圍章邯廢丘。張耳謁漢王，漢王厚遇之。

When Zhang Er departed for his kingdom, Chen Yu's anger deepened. 'Zhang Er and I rendered equal service,' he said. 'Yet Zhang Er is made a king while I receive a mere marquisate. Xiang Yu's judgment is unjust.' When Tian Rong, the King of Qi, rebelled against Chu, Chen Yu sent Xia Yue to Tian Rong with this message: 'Xiang Yu has divided the realm unjustly. He grants the best territories to his own generals and banishes the rightful kings to wasteland. The King of Zhao has been exiled to Dai!' 'I beg Your Majesty to lend me troops. I will use Nanpi as a bulwark to shield your border.' Tian Rong wished to build an alliance in Zhao to strengthen his opposition to Chu, so he sent troops to support Chen Yu. Chen Yu then mustered all the troops from his three counties and launched an attack on Zhang Er, the King of Changshan. Zhang Er was routed and fled. Considering which lord might take him in, he said, 'The King of Han and I are old friends. Though Xiang Yu is powerful and it was he who made me king, I should go to Han.' His adviser Master Gan said, 'When the King of Han entered the Pass, the five planets converged in the constellation of the Eastern Well.' 'The Eastern Well corresponds to the domain of Qin.' 'The one who arrives there first is destined to rule.' 'Though Chu is mighty now, in the end all will belong to Han.' And so Zhang Er fled to Han. The King of Han had by then returned and pacified the Three Qin, and was laying siege to Zhang Han at Feiqiu. Zhang Er presented himself before the King of Han, who received him with great generosity.

陳餘已敗張耳，皆復收趙地，迎趙王於代，復為趙王。趙王德陳餘，立以為代王。陳餘為趙王弱，國初定，不之國，留傅趙王，而使夏說以相國守代。

After defeating Zhang Er, Chen Yu recovered all the territory of Zhao. He welcomed King Zhao Xie back from Dai and restored him to the throne of Zhao. The King of Zhao, grateful for Chen Yu's service, made him King of Dai. Because the King of Zhao was young and the state newly restored, Chen Yu did not depart for his own kingdom. Instead he remained to serve as the king's tutor, while sending Xia Yue to govern Dai as chancellor.

漢二年，東擊楚，使使告趙，欲與俱。陳餘曰：「漢殺張耳乃從。」於是漢王求人類張耳者斬之，持其頭遺陳餘。陳餘乃遣兵助漢。漢之敗於彭城西，陳餘亦復覺張耳不死，即背漢。

In the second year of Han, the King of Han marched east against Chu and sent envoys to Zhao, inviting them to join the campaign. Chen Yu replied, 'We will join you only after Han puts Zhang Er to death.' The King of Han found a man who resembled Zhang Er, had him beheaded, and sent the head to Chen Yu. Chen Yu then dispatched troops to assist Han. After Han's defeat west of Pengcheng, Chen Yu discovered that Zhang Er was in fact still alive, and he immediately turned against Han.

漢三年，韓信已定魏地，遣張耳與韓信擊破趙井陘，斬陳餘泜水上，追殺趙王歇襄國。漢立張耳為趙王。漢五年，張耳薨，謚為景王。子敖嗣立為趙王。高祖長女魯元公主為趙王敖后。

In the third year of Han, after Han Xin had pacified the territory of Wei, he and Zhang Er were sent to attack Zhao. They shattered the Zhao army at Jingxing, beheaded Chen Yu on the banks of the Zhi River, and pursued King Zhao Xie to Xiangguo, where he was killed. Han then established Zhang Er as King of Zhao. In the fifth year of Han, Zhang Er died. He was given the posthumous title King Jing. His son Zhang Ao succeeded him as King of Zhao. Emperor Gaozu's eldest daughter, Princess Luyuan, became the queen of King Ao of Zhao.

漢七年，高祖從平城過趙，趙王朝夕袒韛蔽，自上食，禮甚卑，有子婿禮。高祖箕踞詈，甚慢易之。趙相貫高、趙午等年六十餘，故張耳客也。生平為氣，乃怒曰：「吾王孱王也！」說王曰：「夫天下豪桀并起，能者先立。今王事高祖甚恭，而高祖無禮，請為王殺之！」張敖齧其指出血，曰：「君何言之誤！且先人亡國，賴高祖得復國，德流子孫，秋豪皆高祖力也。願君無復出口。」貫高、趙午等十餘人皆相謂曰：「乃吾等非也。吾王長者，不倍德。且吾等義不辱，今怨高祖辱我王，故欲殺之，何乃汙王為乎？令事成歸王，事敗獨身坐耳。」

In the seventh year of Han, Emperor Gaozu passed through Zhao on his return from Pingcheng. The King of Zhao attended him morning and evening, baring his arms and tying on an apron to serve the food himself. His deference was extreme, befitting a son-in-law rather than a king. Emperor Gaozu sat sprawled with his legs apart, swearing and berating him. He treated the King of Zhao with open contempt. The chancellor of Zhao, Guan Gao, along with Zhao Wu and other men over sixty years of age, had all been retainers of Zhang Er. These were men of fierce pride, and they said in fury, 'Our king is a weakling!' They went to the king and said, 'Heroes have risen across the realm, and the capable are the first to stake their claim.' 'Your Majesty serves Emperor Gaozu with the deepest reverence, yet the Emperor shows you nothing but contempt. Allow us to kill him for you!' Zhang Ao bit his finger until it bled and cried, 'What terrible things you say!' 'My father lost his kingdom, and it was Emperor Gaozu who restored it. This grace extends to his descendants—every last bit of it was Gaozu's doing.' 'I beg you, never speak of this again.' Guan Gao, Zhao Wu, and more than ten others conferred among themselves: 'We were wrong to involve the king.' 'Our king is a man of integrity. He will not betray a debt of gratitude.' 'Our code of honor will not suffer insult. We resent Gaozu for humiliating our king, and so we wish to kill him. Why should we drag the king into this disgrace?' 'If we succeed, the credit goes to the king. If we fail, we alone will bear the consequences.'

漢八年，上從東垣還，過趙，貫高等乃壁人柏人，要之置廁。上過欲宿，心動，問曰：「縣名為何？」曰：「柏人。」「柏人者，迫於人也！」不宿而去。

In the eighth year of Han, as the Emperor was returning from Dongyuan and passing through Zhao, Guan Gao and his conspirators hid assassins in the walls of the lodging at Bairen, intending to ambush him. The Emperor was about to spend the night there when he felt a sudden unease. He asked, 'What is the name of this county?' The answer came: 'Bairen.' 'Bairen!' he exclaimed. 'That sounds like "pressed by men"!' He refused to spend the night and departed at once.

漢九年，貫高怨家知其謀，乃上變告之。於是上皆并逮捕趙王、貫高等。十餘人皆爭自剄，貫高獨怒罵曰：「誰令公為之？今王實無謀，而并捕王；公等皆死，誰白王不反者！」乃轞車膠致，與王詣長安。治張敖之罪。上乃詔趙群臣賓客有敢從王皆族。貫高與客孟舒等十餘人，皆自髡鉗，為王家奴，從來。貫高至，對獄，曰：「獨吾屬為之，王實不知。」吏治榜笞數千，刺剟，身無可擊者，終不復言。呂后數言張王以魯元公主故，不宜有此。上怒曰：「使張敖據天下，豈少而女乎！」不聽。廷尉以貫高事辭聞，上曰：「壯士！誰知者，以私問之。」中大夫泄公曰：「臣之邑子，素知之。此固趙國立名義不侵為然諾者也。」上使泄公持節問之箯輿前。仰視曰：「泄公邪？」泄公勞苦如生平驩，與語，問張王果有計謀不。高曰：「人情寧不各愛其父母妻子乎？今吾三族皆以論死，豈以王易吾親哉！顧為王實不反，獨吾等為之。」具道本指所以為者王不知狀。於是泄公入，具以報，上乃赦趙王。

In the ninth year of Han, enemies of Guan Gao learned of the plot and reported it to the throne. The Emperor ordered the arrest of the King of Zhao along with Guan Gao and all the other conspirators. More than ten of the conspirators tried to slit their own throats, but Guan Gao alone raged at them: 'Who told you to do this?' 'The king truly had no part in our plot, yet they have arrested him too.' 'If all of you die now, who will be left to prove that the king is innocent?' They were loaded into sealed prison carts and transported to Chang'an along with the king. An investigation was opened into Zhang Ao's crimes. The Emperor then issued an edict declaring that any minister or retainer of Zhao who dared follow the king would have their entire clan put to death. Guan Gao, along with Meng Shu and more than ten other retainers, shaved their heads and clamped iron collars around their necks, disguising themselves as the king's household slaves in order to follow him. When Guan Gao was brought to trial, he declared, 'We alone are responsible. The king truly knew nothing of it.' The officials flogged him thousands of times and pricked his flesh with needles until there was not a spot left on his body to strike, but he never changed his testimony. Empress Lu repeatedly argued that Zhang Ao, as the husband of Princess Luyuan, should not be treated this way. The Emperor said in a fury, 'If Zhang Ao held the whole realm, do you think he would lack for women? Your daughter would mean nothing to him!' He refused to relent. When the Commandant of Justice presented the details of Guan Gao's testimony, the Emperor exclaimed, 'A brave man indeed!' 'Does anyone know him? Have someone question him in private.' The Palace Grandee Xie Gong said, 'He is from my hometown. I have known him all my life.' 'He is one of those men of Zhao renowned for their honor and for keeping their word at any cost.' The Emperor sent Xie Gong, bearing the imperial staff of authority, to question Guan Gao before his prison litter. Guan Gao looked up and said, 'Is that Xie Gong?' Xie Gong consoled him warmly, speaking as though they were old friends, and asked whether King Zhang had truly been involved in the plot. Guan Gao said, 'Is it not human nature to love one's own parents, wife, and children?' 'All three branches of my clan have been condemned to death. Do you think I would sacrifice my own family to shield the king?' 'But the truth is that the king did not rebel. We alone are responsible.' He then gave a full account of the original plot and the circumstances proving that the king had known nothing of it. Xie Gong returned to the palace and reported everything. The Emperor thereupon pardoned the King of Zhao.

上賢貫高為人能立然諾，使泄公具告之，曰：「張王已出。」因赦貫高。貫高喜曰：「吾王審出乎？」泄公曰：「然。」泄公曰：「上多足下，故赦足下。」貫高曰：「所以不死一身無餘者，白張王不反也。今王已出，吾責已塞，死不恨矣。且人臣有篡殺之名，何面目復事上哉！縱上不殺我，我不愧於心乎？」乃仰絕骯，遂死。當此之時，名聞天下。

The Emperor admired Guan Gao as a man who kept his word. He sent Xie Gong to tell him, 'King Zhang has been released.' He also pardoned Guan Gao. Guan Gao was overjoyed. 'Has my king truly been released?' he asked. Xie Gong said, 'He has.' Xie Gong added, 'The Emperor admires your character, and so he pardons you as well.' Guan Gao said, 'The only reason I held on to life when I had nothing left was to prove that King Zhang did not rebel.' 'Now the king has been freed and my duty is fulfilled. I can die without regret.' 'Besides, as a minister who bears the disgrace of plotting assassination, how could I ever face the Emperor again?' 'Even if the Emperor spares my life, would I not be ashamed before my own conscience?' He threw back his head and cut his own throat, and so he died. His name became renowned throughout the realm.

張敖已出，以尚魯元公主故，封為宣平侯。於是上賢張王諸客，以鉗奴從張王入關，無不為諸侯相、郡守者。及孝惠、高后、文帝、孝景時，張王客子孫皆得為二千石。

After his release, Zhang Ao was enfeoffed as Marquis of Xuanping on account of his marriage to Princess Luyuan. The Emperor admired the retainers of King Zhang who had disguised themselves as collared slaves to follow the king to the capital. Every one of them was eventually appointed chancellor of a feudal state or governor of a commandery. Through the reigns of Emperor Hui, Empress Dowager Gao, Emperor Wen, and Emperor Jing, the descendants of King Zhang's retainers all attained high office.

張敖，高后六年薨。子偃為魯元王。以母呂后女故，呂后封為魯元王。元王弱，兄弟少，乃封張敖他姬子二人：壽為樂昌侯，侈為信都侯。高后崩，諸呂無道，大臣誅之，而廢魯元王及樂昌侯、信諸侯。孝文帝即位，復封故魯元王偃為南宮侯，續張氏。

Zhang Ao died in the sixth year of Empress Dowager Gao's regency. His son Zhang Yan became the King of Luyuan. Because his mother was a daughter of Empress Lu, the Empress enfeoffed him as King of Luyuan. Since the young king had few brothers, two sons of Zhang Ao by other consorts were also enfeoffed: Shou as Marquis of Lechang and Chi as Marquis of Xindu. After Empress Dowager Gao died, the Lu clan overreached and was destroyed by the senior ministers, who also deposed the King of Luyuan and stripped the Marquises of Lechang and Xindu of their titles. When Emperor Wen ascended the throne, he re-enfeoffed the former King of Luyuan, Zhang Yan, as Marquis of Nangong to continue the Zhang family line.

太史公曰：張耳、陳餘，世傳所稱賢者；其賓客廝役，莫非天下俊桀，所居國無不取卿相者。然張耳、陳餘始居約時，相然信以死，豈顧問哉。及據國爭權，卒相滅亡，何鄉者相慕用之誠，後相倍之戾也！豈非以勢利交哉？名譽雖高，賓客雖盛，所由殆與大伯、延陵季子異矣。

The Grand Historian remarks: Zhang Er and Chen Yu were celebrated by their contemporaries as men of extraordinary virtue. Their retainers and attendants were without exception the most brilliant men of their day, and wherever they settled they invariably rose to the highest offices. Yet when Zhang Er and Chen Yu first lived in poverty together, they pledged their faith to each other unto death. Who could have doubted their sincerity then? But once they held states and contended for power, they ended by destroying each other. How fervent was their early devotion, and how savage their later betrayal! Was their bond not, in the end, a friendship founded upon power and self-interest? Though their fame was great and their following numerous, the path they walked was far removed from that of Taibo and Jizi of Yanling.

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