Biography of Chancellor Zhang

張丞相蒼者，陽武人也。好書律歷。秦時為御史，主柱下方書。有罪，亡歸。及沛公略地過陽武，蒼以客從攻南陽。蒼坐法當斬，解衣伏質，身長大，肥白如瓠，時王陵見而怪其美士，乃言沛公，赦勿斬。遂從西入武關，至咸陽。沛公立為漢王，入漢中，還定三秦。陳餘擊走常山王張耳，耳歸漢，漢乃以張蒼為常山守。從淮陰侯擊趙，蒼得陳餘。趙地已平，漢王以蒼為代相，備邊寇。已而徙為趙相，相趙王耳。耳卒，相趙王敖。復徙相代王。燕王臧荼反，高祖往擊之。蒼以代相從攻臧荼有功，以六年中封為北平侯，食邑千二百戶。

Chancellor Zhang Cang was a native of Yangwu. He had a passion for written records, legal codes, and calendrical calculations. During the Qin dynasty, he served as a Censor and was responsible for the official documents stored beneath the pillar. Having been found guilty of an offense, he fled and returned home. When the Duke of Pei was campaigning through the region and passed through Yangwu, Cang joined him as a retainer and followed him to attack Nanyang. Cang was later convicted of a crime and sentenced to execution. When he stripped off his robes and lay upon the chopping block, his tall frame and skin as plump and white as a gourd caught the eye of Wang Ling, who marveled at such a fine specimen of a man. Wang Ling spoke to the Duke of Pei on his behalf, and Cang was pardoned. He then followed the army westward through Wuguan Pass and on to Xianyang. After the Duke of Pei was established as King of Han, he withdrew to Hanzhong and then returned to subdue the Three Qin kingdoms. When Chen Yu attacked and drove out Zhang Er, the King of Changshan, Er sought refuge with Han. Han then appointed Zhang Cang as the Governor of Changshan. He accompanied the Marquis of Huaiyin in the campaign against Zhao, and Cang captured Chen Yu. Once the lands of Zhao were pacified, the King of Han appointed Cang as Chancellor of Dai to defend against raids from the northern frontier. Before long, he was transferred to serve as Chancellor of Zhao under King Zhang Er. After Er died, he continued as Chancellor under King Ao of Zhao. He was then transferred once more to serve as Chancellor of Dai. When Zang Tu, the King of Yan, rose in rebellion, Emperor Gaozu personally led a campaign against him. For his meritorious service as Chancellor of Dai in the campaign against Zang Tu, he was enfeoffed in the middle of the sixth year as Marquis of Beiping, with a fief of twelve hundred households.

遷為計相，一月，更以列侯為主計四歲。是時蕭何為相國，而張蒼乃自秦時為柱下史，明習天下圖書計籍。蒼又善用算律歷，故令蒼以列侯居相府，領主郡國上計者。黥布反亡，漢立皇子長為淮南王，而張蒼相之。十四年，遷為御史大夫。

He was promoted to the position of Accounting Chancellor. After one month, he was reassigned to serve as Chief Accountant for four years while retaining his rank as a marquis. At this time Xiao He served as Prime Minister, while Zhang Cang, who had served as the Historian Beneath the Pillar since the Qin dynasty, was thoroughly versed in the empire's maps, documents, and accounting records. Since Cang was also skilled in mathematics, legal codes, and calendrical science, he was ordered to reside in the Prime Minister's office as a ranked marquis, overseeing the account submissions from the commanderies and kingdoms. After Qing Bu rebelled and was destroyed, Han established the imperial prince Chang as King of Huainan, and Zhang Cang served as his chancellor. In the fourteenth year, he was promoted to the position of Censor Grand Master.

周昌者，沛人也。其從兄曰周苛，秦時皆為泗水卒史。及高祖起沛，擊破泗水守監，於是周昌、周苛自卒史從沛公，沛公以周昌為職志，周苛為客。從入關，破秦。沛公立為漢王，以周苛為御史大夫，周昌為中尉。

Zhou Chang was a native of Pei. His elder cousin was named Zhou Ke. During the Qin dynasty, both of them served as junior clerks in the Sishui commandery. When Gaozu rose at Pei and defeated the Sishui Guardian and Inspector, Zhou Chang and Zhou Ke left their positions as junior clerks to follow the Duke of Pei. The Duke appointed Zhou Chang as a duty recorder and Zhou Ke as a retainer. They followed him through the passes and helped bring down the Qin dynasty. When the Duke of Pei was established as King of Han, he appointed Zhou Ke as Censor Grand Master and Zhou Chang as Commandant of the Capital.

漢王四年，楚圍漢王滎陽急，漢王遁出去，而使周苛守滎陽城。楚破滎陽城，欲令周苛將。苛罵曰：「若趣降漢王！不然，今為虜矣！」項羽怒，亨周苛。於是乃拜周昌為御史大夫。常從擊破項籍。以六年中與蕭、曹等俱封：封周昌為汾陰侯；周苛子周成以父死事，封為高景侯。

In the fourth year of the King of Han's reign, Chu laid a desperate siege to the King of Han at Xingyang. The King of Han escaped, leaving Zhou Ke behind to defend the city. When Chu breached the walls of Xingyang, they tried to compel Zhou Ke to serve as a general on their side. Ke cursed and said: 'You hasten to surrender to the Han king!' If not, you will now become captives!' Xiang Yu, enraged, had Zhou Ke boiled alive. Zhou Chang was then appointed as the new Censor Grand Master. He regularly accompanied the campaigns that defeated Xiang Ji. In the middle of the sixth year he was together enfeoffed with Xiao, Cao, and others: Zhou Chang was enfeoffed as Marquis of Fenyin; Zhou Ke's son Zhou Cheng was enfeoffed as Marquis of Gaojing in recognition of his father's death in the line of duty.

昌為人彊力，敢直言，自蕭、曹等皆卑下之。昌嘗燕時入奏事，高帝方擁戚姬，昌還走，高帝逐得，騎周昌項，問曰：「我何如主也？」昌仰曰：「陛下即桀紂之主也。」於是上笑之，然尤憚周昌。及帝欲廢太子，而立戚姬子如意為太子，大臣固爭之，莫能得；上以留侯策即止。而周昌廷爭之彊，上問其說，昌為人吃，又盛怒，曰：「臣口不能言，然臣期期知其不可。陛下雖欲廢太子，臣期期不奉詔。」上欣然而笑。既罷，呂后側耳於東箱聽，見周昌，為跪謝曰：「微君，太子幾廢。」

Chang was a man of great strength and force of character, unafraid to speak his mind. Even Xiao He, Cao Can, and the other ministers all deferred to him. Once during a feast Chang entered to memorialize affairs. The Gao Emperor was just embracing Consort Qi. Chang returned and ran. The Gao Emperor chased and caught him, rode on Zhou Chang's neck, and asked: 'What kind of sovereign am I?' Chang looked up and said: 'Your Majesty is namely a sovereign like Jie and Zhou.' The emperor laughed at this, yet he held Zhou Chang in particular awe. When the emperor wished to abolish the crown prince and establish Consort Qi's son Ruyi as crown prince, the great ministers firmly disputed it, but none could prevail; The emperor abandoned the plan on account of the stratagem devised by the Marquis of Liu. But Zhou Chang disputed it strongly in court. The sovereign asked for his explanation. Chang as a person stuttered, and was greatly angered again, saying: 'This minister's mouth cannot speak, but this minister qi qi knows it is not possible. Even if Your Majesty wishes to depose the Crown Prince, this minister will s-s-steadfastly refuse to obey the decree.' The emperor broke into a delighted laugh. After it was dismissed, Empress Lu inclined her ear to listen from the eastern chamber. Seeing Zhou Chang, she knelt and thanked him saying: 'Without you, the crown prince would almost have been abolished.'

是後戚姬子如意為趙王，年十歲，高祖憂即萬歲之後不全也。趙堯年少，為符璽御史。趙人方與公謂御史大夫周昌曰：「君之史趙堯，年雖少，然奇才也，君必異之，是且代君之位。」周昌笑曰；「堯年少，刀筆吏耳，何能至是乎！」居頃之，趙堯侍高祖。高祖獨心不樂，悲歌，群臣不知上之所以然。趙堯進請問曰：「陛下所為不樂，非為趙王年少而戚夫人與呂后有卻邪？備萬歲之後而趙王不能自全乎？」高祖曰：「然。吾私憂之，不知所出。」堯曰：「陛下獨宜為趙王置貴彊相，及呂后、太子、群臣素所敬憚乃可。」高祖曰：「然。吾念之欲如是，而群臣誰可者？」堯曰：「御史大夫周昌，其人堅忍質直，且自呂后、太子及大臣皆素敬憚之。獨昌可。」高祖曰：「善。」於是乃召周昌，謂曰：「吾欲固煩公，公彊為我相趙王。」周昌泣曰：「臣初起從陛下，陛下獨柰何中道而棄之於諸侯乎？」高祖曰：「吾極知其左遷，然吾私憂趙王，念非公無可者。公不得已彊行！」於是徙御史大夫周昌為趙相。

After this, Consort Qi's son Ruyi was made King of Zhao at the age of ten. Gaozu worried that after his own death, the boy would not be able to preserve himself. Zhao Yao, though young, was serving as the Censor in Charge of Tallies and Seals. A Zhao person Fang Yugong told Censor Grand Master Zhou Chang: 'Your secretary Zhao Yao, though young in years, is nevertheless a strange talent. You must treat him differently. He will replace your position.' Zhou Chang laughed and said: 'Yao is young, just a knife and brush official, how could he reach this!' Before long, Zhao Yao was attending upon Gaozu. Gaozu was troubled at heart and sang melancholy songs, but none of his ministers understood the reason for the emperor's sorrow. Zhao Yao advanced and requested to ask: 'Your Majesty is unhappy because of this - is it not because Zhao king is young in years and Consort Qi has a grudge with Empress Lu?' 'Preparing for after ten thousand years and Zhao king cannot preserve himself?' Gaozu said: 'Correct. I have been worrying about this in private and cannot find a way out.' Yao said: 'Your Majesty alone should establish a noble and strong chancellor for Zhao king, one whom Empress Lu, the crown prince, and the group of ministers have always revered and feared, then it will be possible.' Gaozu said: 'Correct. I think of it and want it to be like this, but which of the group of ministers would be suitable?' Yao said: 'Censor Grand Master Zhou Chang - his person is firm, enduring, simple, and straight, and moreover Empress Lu, the crown prince, and the great ministers have all always revered and feared him. Chang alone would be equal to the task.' Gaozu said: 'Good.' Then he summoned Zhou Chang and said: 'I wish to indeed trouble you. You must strongly serve as my chancellor for Zhao king.' Zhou Chang wept and said: 'This minister initially rose following Your Majesty. How can Your Majesty alone abandon him midway to the feudal lords?' Gaozu said: 'I extremely know this is a demotion for him, but I privately worry about Zhao king. I think there is no one suitable except you. You have no alternative but to go strongly!' And so Censor Grand Master Zhou Chang was transferred to serve as Chancellor of Zhao.

既行久之，高祖持御史大夫印弄之，曰：「誰可以為御史大夫者？」孰視趙堯，曰：「無以易堯。」遂拜趙堯為御史大夫。堯亦前有軍功食邑，及以御史大夫從擊陳豨有功，封為江邑侯。

After he had gone for a long time, Gaozu held the Censor Grand Master seal and played with it, saying: 'Who can serve as Censor Grand Master?' He fixed his gaze on Zhao Yao and said: 'There is no one to change for Yao.' He then appointed Zhao Yao as the new Censor Grand Master. Yao had already earned military merit and a fief, and for his meritorious service accompanying the campaign against Chen Xi as Censor Grand Master, he was enfeoffed as Marquis of Jiangyi.

高祖崩，呂太后使使召趙王，其相周昌令王稱疾不行。使者三反，周昌固為不遣趙王。於是高后患之，乃使使召周昌。周昌至，謁高后，高后怒而罵周昌曰：「爾不知我之怨戚氏乎？而不遣趙王，何？」昌既徵，高后使使召趙王，趙王果來。至長安月餘，飲藥而死。周昌因謝病不朝見，三歲而死。

After Gaozu died, Empress Dowager Lu sent a messenger to summon the King of Zhao. His chancellor Zhou Chang instructed the king to plead illness and refuse the summons. The messenger went back and forth three times, but Zhou Chang steadfastly refused to send the King of Zhao. Empress Dowager Gao grew vexed by this and sent a messenger to summon Zhou Chang himself. Zhou Chang arrived and announced himself to Empress Dowager Gao. Empress Dowager Gao angrily cursed Zhou Chang saying: 'Don't you know of my grudge against the Qi clan?' 'And you don't send Zhao king, why?' Once Chang had been called away, Empress Dowager Gao sent another messenger for the King of Zhao, and the King of Zhao duly came. A little over a month after arriving in Chang'an, he was poisoned and died. Zhou Chang withdrew on the pretext of illness and never appeared at court again. Three years later, he died.

後五歲，高后聞御史大夫江邑侯趙堯高祖時定趙王如意之畫，乃抵堯罪，以廣阿侯任敖為御史大夫。

Five years later, Empress Dowager Gao learned that Censor Grand Master Zhao Yao, the Marquis of Jiangyi, had been the one who devised the plan to protect King Ruyi of Zhao during Gaozu's reign. She had Yao charged with a crime and replaced him with Ren Ao, the Marquis of Guang'a, as Censor Grand Master.

任敖者，故沛獄吏。高祖嘗辟吏，吏系呂后，遇之不謹。任敖素善高祖，怒，擊傷主呂后吏。及高祖初起，敖以客從為御史，守豐二歲，高祖立為漢王，東擊項籍，敖遷為上黨守。陳豨反時，敖堅守，封為廣阿侯，食千八百戶。高后時為御史大夫。三歲免，以平陽侯曹窋為御史大夫。高后崩，（不）與大臣共誅呂祿等。免，以淮南相張蒼為御史大夫。

Ren Ao had formerly been a prison official in Pei. When Gaozu was once evading the authorities, an official arrested Empress Lu and treated her with disrespect. Ren Ao, who had long been on good terms with Gaozu, flew into a rage and struck and wounded the official who had charge of Empress Lu. When Gaozu first rose in rebellion, Ao joined him as a retainer and served as a censor. He defended Feng for two years. After Gaozu was established as King of Han and marched east against Xiang Ji, Ao was transferred to serve as Governor of Shangdang. During the rebellion of Chen Xi, Ao held his ground with determination and was enfeoffed as Marquis of Guang'a, with a fief of eighteen hundred households. During the reign of Empress Dowager Gao, he served as Censor Grand Master. After three years he was dismissed, and Cao Zhu, the Marquis of Pingyang, was appointed Censor Grand Master in his place. After Empress Dowager Gao died, he joined the great ministers in executing Lu Lu and the other members of the Lu clan. He was dismissed from office, and Zhang Cang, the Chancellor of Huainan, was appointed Censor Grand Master.

蒼與絳侯等尊立代王為孝文皇帝。四年，丞相灌嬰卒，張蒼為丞相。

Cang, together with the Marquis of Jiang and the other ministers, honored and enthroned the King of Dai as Emperor Wen. In the fourth year, Chancellor Guan Ying died, and Zhang Cang was appointed chancellor in his place.

自漢興至孝文二十餘年，會天下初定，將相公卿皆軍吏。張蒼為計相時，緒正律歷。以高祖十月始至霸上，因故秦時本以十月為歲首，弗革。推五德之運，以為漢當水德之時，尚黑如故。吹律調樂，入之音聲，及以比定律令。若百工，天下作程品。至於為丞相，卒就之，故漢家言律歷者，本之張蒼。蒼本好書，無所不觀，無所不通，而尤善律歷。

From the founding of Han through more than twenty years into Emperor Wen's reign, as the empire was still settling after the wars, the generals, chancellors, and high officials had all risen from military service. When Zhang Cang served as Accounting Chancellor, he took up the task of revising the legal codes and the calendar. Because Gaozu had first arrived at Bashang in the tenth month, and because the Qin dynasty had originally designated the tenth month as the start of the year, he did not alter this practice. He calculated the cycle of the Five Phases and concluded that the Han dynasty corresponded to the phase of Water, and so continued to honor black as its ceremonial color. He blew the pitch-pipes to tune the court music, integrated their tones into the musical system, and used their proportions to establish the standard measures and regulations. As for the various trades and crafts, he set the standards and specifications for the entire empire. By the time he became chancellor, he had finally brought this work to completion. For this reason, whenever the Han court discussed legal codes and the calendar, they traced the foundations back to Zhang Cang. Cang had always been a lover of learning, with nothing he had not examined and nothing he did not understand, but he was especially accomplished in legal codes and calendrical science.

張蒼德王陵。王陵者，安國侯也。及蒼貴，常父事王陵。陵死後，蒼為丞相，洗沐，常先朝陵夫人上食，然後敢歸家。

Zhang Cang felt a deep gratitude toward Wang Ling. Wang Ling was the Marquis of Anguo. After Cang rose to prominence, he always served Wang Ling with the respect due a father. After Ling died and Cang became chancellor, on every rest day he would first call upon Lady Ling to present her with food before allowing himself to return home.

蒼為丞相十餘年，魯人公孫臣上書言漢土德時，其符有黃龍當見。詔下其議張蒼，張蒼以為非是，罷之。其後黃龍見成紀，於是文帝召公孫臣以為博士，草土德之歷制度，更元年。張丞相由此自絀，謝病稱老。蒼任人為中候，大為姦利，上以讓蒼，蒼遂病免。蒼為丞相十五歲而免。孝景前五年，蒼卒，謚為文侯。子康侯代，八年卒。子類代為侯，八年，坐臨諸侯喪後就位不敬，國除。

After Cang had served as chancellor for more than ten years, a man from Lu named Gongsun Chen submitted a memorial arguing that Han corresponded to the phase of Earth, and that its confirming omen would be the appearance of a yellow dragon. An imperial decree referred the matter to Zhang Cang for deliberation. Zhang Cang judged the argument to be unfounded and dismissed it. Later, a yellow dragon was sighted at Chengji. Emperor Wen thereupon summoned Gongsun Chen and appointed him an Erudite, directing him to draft a new calendar and institutional system based on the phase of Earth, and proclaimed a new first year. Chancellor Zhang was humiliated by these events and withdrew from public life, pleading illness and old age. Cang had appointed a man as a palace guard who engaged in extensive corruption. The emperor rebuked Cang over this, and Cang subsequently resigned on the grounds of illness. In all, Cang served as chancellor for fifteen years before his dismissal. In the fifth year before the reign of Emperor Jing, Cang died and was posthumously honored with the title Marquis Wen. His son, who received the posthumous title Marquis Kang, succeeded him and died after eight years. His son Lei succeeded as marquis. After eight years, he was convicted of behaving disrespectfully upon assuming his seat after attending a feudal lord's funeral, and his marquisate was abolished.

初，張蒼父長不滿五尺，及生蒼，蒼長八尺餘，為侯、丞相。蒼子復長。及孫類，長六尺餘，坐法失侯。蒼之免相後，老，口中無齒，食乳，女子為乳母。妻妾以百數，嘗孕者不復幸。蒼年百有餘歲而卒。

Zhang Cang's father stood less than five chi tall, yet when Cang was born, he grew to over eight chi in height and rose to become both a marquis and a chancellor. Cang's son was likewise tall. But by the time of his grandson Lei, who stood only a little over six chi, the marquisate was lost through a violation of the law. After Cang was dismissed as chancellor, he grew very old and lost all his teeth. He lived on milk, and women were kept as wet nurses to feed him. He had wives and concubines numbering in the hundreds, but any woman who became pregnant he would never again visit. Cang lived to be more than a hundred years old before he died.

申屠丞相嘉者，梁人，以材官蹶張從高帝擊項籍，遷為隊率。從擊黥布軍，為都尉。孝惠時，為淮陽守。孝文帝元年，舉故吏士二千石從高皇帝者，悉以為關內侯，食邑二十四人，而申屠嘉食邑五百戶。張蒼已為丞相，嘉遷為御史大夫。張蒼免相，孝文帝欲用皇后弟竇廣國為丞相，曰：「恐天下以吾私廣國。」廣國賢有行，故欲相之，念久之不可，而高帝時大臣又皆多死，餘見無可者，乃以御史大夫嘉為丞相，因故邑封為故安侯。

Chancellor Shentu Jia was a native of Liang. As a crossbowman in the garrison forces, he followed Emperor Gao in the campaign against Xiang Ji and was promoted to squad leader. He then accompanied the campaign against the army of Qing Bu and was promoted to Commandant. During the reign of Emperor Hui, he served as Governor of Huaiyang. In the first year of Emperor Wen's reign, all former officials and officers of the two-thousand-bushel rank who had served under Emperor Gao were selected and made Marquises Within the Pass with fiefs -- twenty-four men in all -- and Shentu Jia received a fief of five hundred households. After Zhang Cang became chancellor, Jia was promoted to Censor Grand Master. Zhang Cang was dismissed as chancellor. Emperor Xiaowen wished to use the empress's younger brother Dou Guangguo as chancellor, saying: 'I fear the world will think I favor Guangguo privately.' Guangguo was a worthy man of fine conduct, and the emperor wished to make him chancellor. But after long deliberation he concluded it was not feasible. Moreover, most of the great ministers from Emperor Gao's era had already died, and none of the survivors were suitable candidates. He therefore appointed Censor Grand Master Jia as chancellor and enfeoffed him as Marquis of Gu'an, taking his old fief as the basis.

嘉為人廉直，門不受私謁。是時太中大夫鄧通方隆愛幸，賞賜累巨萬。文帝嘗燕飲通家，其寵如是。是時丞相入朝，而通居上傍，有怠慢之禮。丞相奏事畢，因言曰：「陛下愛幸臣，則富貴之；至於朝廷之禮，不可以不肅！」上曰：「君勿言，吾私之。」罷朝坐府中，嘉為檄召鄧通詣丞相府，不來，且斬通。通恐，入言文帝。文帝曰：「汝第往，吾今使人召若。」通至丞相府，免冠，徒跣，頓首謝。嘉坐自如，故不為禮，責曰：「夫朝廷者，高皇帝之朝廷也。通小臣，戲殿上，大不敬，當斬。吏今行斬之！」通頓首，首盡出血，不解。文帝度丞相已困通，使使者持節召通，而謝丞相曰：「此吾弄臣，君釋之。」鄧通既至，為文帝泣曰：「丞相幾殺臣。」

Jia was a man of integrity and directness. His gate was closed to private petitioners. At this time, the Grand Palace Gentleman Deng Tong was at the height of imperial favor, with rewards and gifts lavished upon him that accumulated to enormous sums. Emperor Wen even went so far as to feast and drink at Tong's home -- such was the extent of his favor. Once when the chancellor entered the court, Tong was seated beside the emperor and conducted himself with a negligent lack of ceremony. After the chancellor finished memorializing affairs, he then said: 'Your Majesty loves and favors this minister, then make him wealthy and noble;' 'But as for court ritual, it cannot but be solemn!' The sovereign said: 'You don't speak. I favor him privately.' After court was dismissed, Jia sat in his office and issued an official summons ordering Deng Tong to appear at the chancellor's mansion, with the threat that if he did not come, he would be beheaded. Tong was terrified and hurried to plead his case before Emperor Wen. Emperor Wen said: 'You just go. I will now send someone to summon you.' Tong arrived at the chancellor's mansion, removed his cap, went barefoot, and kowtowed in abject apology. Jia sat as usual, intentionally did not perform ritual, and blamed saying: 'The court is Gao emperor's court. Tong is a petty minister who behaved frivolously in the great hall -- a gross act of disrespect -- and should be beheaded. The official now carry out beheading him!' Tong beat his head on the ground until blood ran freely, but Jia would not relent. Emperor Wen saw that the chancellor had already embarrassed Tong, so he sent a messenger holding a tally to summon Tong, and apologized to the chancellor saying: 'This is my plaything minister. You release him.' When Deng Tong arrived, he wept to Emperor Wen saying: 'The chancellor almost killed this minister.'

嘉為丞相五歲，孝文帝崩，孝景帝即位。二年，晁錯為內史，貴幸用事，諸法令多所請變更，議以謫罰侵削諸侯。而丞相嘉自絀所言不用，疾錯。錯為內史，門東出，不便，更穿一門南出。南出者，太上皇廟堧垣。嘉聞之，欲因此以法錯擅穿宗廟垣為門，奏請誅錯。錯客有語錯，錯恐，夜入宮上謁，自歸景帝。至朝，丞相奏請誅內史錯。景帝曰：「錯所穿非真廟垣，乃外堧垣，故他官居其中，且又我使為之，錯無罪。」罷朝，嘉謂長史曰：「吾悔不先斬錯，乃先請之，為錯所賣。」至舍，因歐血而死。謚為節侯。子共侯蔑代，三年卒。子侯去病代，三十一年卒。子侯臾代，六歲，坐為九江太守受故官送有罪，國除。

Jia served as chancellor for five years. When Emperor Wen died, Emperor Jing ascended the throne. In the second year, Chao Cuo was serving as Prefect of the Capital. Highly favored and wielding great influence, he proposed numerous changes to the laws and regulations, advocating the use of censure and punishment to encroach upon and diminish the feudal lords. Chancellor Jia found himself marginalized and his counsel ignored, and he grew to despise Cuo. As Prefect of the Capital, Cuo's gate opened to the east, which he found inconvenient. He had a new gate cut through to open to the south. But the south gate opened through the outer wall of the temple of the Grand Supreme Emperor. When Jia learned of this, he saw an opportunity to bring charges against Cuo for having unlawfully breached the wall of an ancestral temple to make a gate, and prepared a memorial requesting Cuo's execution. One of Cuo's retainers warned him of the plot. Frightened, Cuo stole into the palace by night for an audience and threw himself upon the mercy of Emperor Jing. The next morning at court, the chancellor submitted his memorial requesting the execution of Prefect Cuo. Emperor Jing said: 'What Cuo dug was not the true temple wall, but the outer side wall. Therefore other officials dwell among it, and moreover I made him do it. Cuo has no crime.' After dismissing court, Jia told the chief clerk: 'I regret not first beheading Cuo, but first requesting it, and being sold by Cuo.' Upon returning to his residence, he vomited blood and died. He was posthumously honored with the title Marquis Jie, the Steadfast. His son Mie, known posthumously as Marquis Gong, succeeded him and died after three years. His son, the Marquis Qubing, succeeded him and died after thirty-one years. His son, the Marquis Yu, succeeded him. After six years, he was convicted of accepting gifts from former officials while serving as Governor of Jiujiang, and his marquisate was abolished.

自申屠嘉死之後，景帝時開封侯陶青、桃侯劉舍為丞相。及今上時，柏至侯許昌、平棘侯薛澤、武彊侯莊青翟、高陵侯趙周等為丞相。皆以列侯繼嗣，娖娖廉謹，為丞相備員而已，無所能發明功名有著於當世者。

After the death of Shentu Jia, during Emperor Jing's reign, Tao Qing the Marquis of Kaifeng and Liu She the Marquis of Tao each served in turn as chancellor. In the time of the present emperor, Xu Chang the Marquis of Baizhi, Xue Ze the Marquis of Pingji, Zhuang Qingdi the Marquis of Wuqiang, Zhao Zhou the Marquis of Gaoling, and others have each served as chancellor. All of them succeeded to the position as ranked marquises by inheritance. They were meticulous and incorruptible, but merely filled the chancellorship as seat-warmers, with none achieving any distinction or accomplishment worthy of note in their own age.

太史公曰：「張蒼文學律歷，為漢名相，而絀賈生、公孫臣等言正朔服色事而不遵，明用秦之顓頊歷，何哉？周昌，木彊人也。任敖以舊德用。申屠嘉可謂剛毅守節矣，然無術學，殆與蕭、曹、陳平異矣。

The Grand Historian says: 'Zhang Cang had literary learning in laws and calendars, served as Han's famous chancellor, but rejected Jia Sheng, Gongsun Chen and others' words about correcting the calendar beginning and clothing colors matters and did not follow them, clearly using Qin's Zhuan Xu calendar - why?' Zhou Chang was a man of unbending stubbornness. Ren Ao was employed on the strength of his long-standing merit. Shentu Jia may well be called a man of rigid resolve who upheld his principles. Yet lacking in statecraft and learning, he was indeed a very different sort from Xiao He, Cao Can, and Chen Ping.

孝武時丞相多甚，不記，莫錄其行起居狀略，且紀征和以來。

During the reign of Emperor Wu, the chancellors were exceedingly numerous. I shall not record them all here, as no one set down even a brief account of their conduct and daily affairs. Instead, I shall record only from the Zhenghe era onward.

有車丞相，長陵人也。卒而有韋丞相代。韋丞相賢者，魯人也。以讀書術為吏，至大鴻臚。有相工相之，當至丞相。有男四人，使相工相之，至第二子，其名玄成。相工曰：「此子貴，當封。」韋丞相言曰：「我即為丞相，有長子，是安從得之？」後竟為丞相，病死，而長子有罪論，不得嗣，而立玄成。玄成時佯狂，不肯立，竟立之，有讓國之名。後坐騎至廟，不敬，有詔奪爵一級，為關內侯，失列侯，得食其故國邑。韋丞相卒，有魏丞相代。

There was Chancellor Che, who was a native of Changling. He died, and Chancellor Wei succeeded him. Chancellor Wei Xian was a native of Lu. He entered the civil service through his scholarly training and rose to the position of Grand Herald. A physiognomist examined his features and predicted that he would one day become chancellor. He had four sons. He had the physiognomist examine them as well. When the reading came to the second son, whose name was Xuancheng, the physiognomist made a remarkable prediction. The physiognomy artisan said: 'This son will be noble and should be enfeoffed.' Chancellor Wei said: 'If I become chancellor and have an eldest son, where would this nobility come from?' Later Wei Xian did indeed become chancellor and eventually died of illness. His eldest son was convicted of a crime and could not inherit the title, so Xuancheng was established as heir. At the time, Xuancheng feigned madness and refused the succession, but he was established as heir nonetheless, gaining a reputation for modestly yielding the inheritance. Later he was found guilty of disrespectfully riding his horse to the temple. By imperial decree, his rank was reduced one degree: he was demoted to Marquis Within the Pass, losing his full marquisate, though he retained the revenues from his former fief. When Chancellor Wei died, Chancellor Wei Xiang succeeded him.

魏丞相相者，濟陰人也。以文吏至丞相。其人好武，皆令諸吏帶劍，帶劍前奏事。或有不帶劍者，當入奏事，至乃借劍而敢入奏事。其時京兆尹趙君，丞相奏以免罪，使人執魏丞相，欲求脫罪而不聽。復使人脅恐魏丞相，以夫人賊殺待婢事而私獨奏請驗之，發吏卒至丞相舍，捕奴婢笞擊問之，實不以兵刃殺也。而丞相司直繁君奏京兆尹趙君迫脅丞相，誣以夫人賊殺婢，發吏卒圍捕丞相舍，不道；又得擅屏騎士事，趙京兆坐要斬。又有使掾陳平等劾中尚書，疑以獨擅劫事而坐之，大不敬，長史以下皆坐死，或下蠶室。而魏丞相竟以丞相病死。子嗣。後坐騎至廟，不敬，有詔奪爵一級，為關內侯，失列侯，得食其故國邑。魏丞相卒，以御史大夫邴吉代。

Chancellor Wei Xiang was a native of Jiyin. He rose through the civil service to become chancellor. He was a man who admired military ways. He ordered all his officials to wear swords and to present their reports before him wearing swords. If any official happened not to be carrying a sword, upon arriving for an audience he would have to borrow one before daring to enter and present his report. At that time, Zhao Jun, the Prefect of the Capital, was the subject of a memorial by the chancellor requesting his removal for offenses. Zhao sent men to seize Chancellor Wei, hoping to escape punishment, but Wei refused to yield. Zhao then sent men to threaten and intimidate Chancellor Wei, and privately submitted a memorial accusing the chancellor's wife of murdering a maidservant, requesting an investigation. He dispatched officials and soldiers to the chancellor's residence, where they seized the household slaves and interrogated them under the lash -- yet in truth no weapons had been used in any killing. But the chancellor's superintendent of justice Fan Jun memorialized that Jing Zhao prefect Zhao Jun coerced and threatened the chancellor, falsely accusing him of his wife bandit-killing the maid, sending officials and soldiers to surround and capture the chancellor's residence - not the proper way; Additionally, charges were brought regarding his unauthorized dismissal of cavalry officers. Zhao, the Prefect of the Capital, was convicted and sentenced to execution. Furthermore, Zhao had dispatched his assistants Chen Ping and others to impeach an official of the Imperial Secretariat, suspecting him of unauthorized seizure of property and convicting him of gross disrespect. The Chief Clerk and all those below him were sentenced to death, or remanded to the silkworm chamber for castration. Chancellor Wei, however, ultimately died of illness while still in office. His son inherited the title. Later the son was found guilty of disrespectfully riding his horse to the temple. By imperial decree his rank was reduced one degree to Marquis Within the Pass, losing his full marquisate, though he retained the revenues from his former fief. After Chancellor Wei died, Censor Grand Master Bing Ji was appointed to succeed him.

邴丞相吉者，魯國人也。以讀書好法令至御史大夫。孝宣帝時，以有舊故，封為列侯，而因為丞相。明於事，有大智，後世稱之。以丞相病死。子顯嗣。後坐騎至廟，不敬，有詔奪爵一級，失列侯，得食故國邑。顯為吏至太仆，坐官秏亂，身及子男有姦贓，免為庶人。

Chancellor Bing Ji was a native of the state of Lu. Through his scholarship and mastery of the laws and regulations, he rose to the position of Censor Grand Master. During the reign of Emperor Xuan, on account of an old connection, he was enfeoffed as a ranked marquis and subsequently appointed chancellor. He was perceptive in his handling of affairs and possessed great wisdom. Later generations spoke of him with admiration. He died of illness while still serving as chancellor. His son Xian inherited the title. Later he was found guilty of disrespectfully riding his horse to the temple. By imperial decree his rank was reduced one degree, losing his full marquisate, though he retained the revenues from his former fief. Xian rose through the civil service to the position of Grand Coachman. He was convicted of malfeasance and administrative disorder, and both he and his sons were found guilty of corruption and bribery. He was stripped of his rank and reduced to the status of a commoner.

邴丞相卒，黃丞相代。長安中有善相工田文者，與韋丞相、魏丞相、邴丞相微賤時會於客家，田文言曰：「今此三君者，皆丞相也。」其後三人竟更相代為丞相，何見之明也。

When Chancellor Bing died, Chancellor Huang succeeded him. In Chang'an there was a good physiognomy artisan named Tian Wen who, when Chancellor Wei, Chancellor Wei, and Chancellor Bing were lowly and humble, met them at a guest's home. Tian Wen said: 'Now these three gentlemen, they are all chancellors.' In the end, all three men did indeed succeed one another as chancellor -- what remarkable foresight the physiognomist had shown!

黃丞相霸者，淮陽人也。以讀書為吏，至潁川太守。治潁川，以禮義條教喻告化之。犯法者，風曉令自殺。化大行，名聲聞。孝宣帝下制曰：「潁川太守霸，以宣布詔令治民，道不拾遺，男女異路，獄中無重囚。賜爵關內侯，黃金百斤。」徵為京兆尹而至丞相，復以禮義為治。以丞相病死。子嗣，後為列侯。黃丞相卒，以御史大夫于定國代。于丞相已有廷尉傳，在張廷尉語中。于丞相去，御史大夫韋玄成代。

Chancellor Huang Ba was a native of Huaiyang. Through his scholarship, he entered the civil service and rose to become Governor of Yingchuan. In governing Yingchuan, he used the principles of propriety and righteousness to instruct, enlighten, and transform the people. For those who violated the law, he would subtly hint that they should take their own lives. His moral transformation was remarkably effective, and his fame spread far and wide. Emperor Xiaoxuan issued a decree saying: 'Yingchuan governor Ba, through announcing and proclaiming imperial orders to govern the people, the roads have no lost things picked up, men and women take different paths, prisons have no serious prisoners.' He was granted the rank of Marquis Within the Pass and a gift of one hundred catties of gold.' He was summoned to serve as Prefect of the Capital and eventually rose to chancellor, continuing to govern through the principles of propriety and righteousness. He died of illness while still serving as chancellor. His son inherited the title and later became a ranked marquis. When Chancellor Huang died, Censor Grand Master Yu Dingguo was appointed to succeed him. Chancellor Yu already has a biography in his capacity as Commandant of Justice, which can be found in the chapter on Commandant of Justice Zhang. When Chancellor Yu retired, Censor Grand Master Wei Xuancheng succeeded him.

韋丞相玄成者，即前韋丞相子也。代父，後失列侯。其人少時好讀書，明於詩、論語。為吏至衛尉，徙為太子太傅。御史大夫薛君免，為御史大夫。于丞相乞骸骨免，而為丞相，因封故邑為扶陽侯。數年，病死。孝元帝親臨喪，賜賞甚厚。子嗣後。其治容容隨世俗浮沈，而見謂諂巧。而相工本謂之當為侯代父，而後失之；復自游宦而起，至丞相。父子俱為丞相，世閒美之，豈不命哉！相工其先知之。韋丞相卒，御史大夫匡衡代。

Chancellor Wei Xuancheng was none other than the son of the former Chancellor Wei. He succeeded his father but later lost his full marquisate. In his youth he was a devoted reader, with a thorough mastery of the Book of Songs and the Analerta. He rose through the civil service to become Commandant of the Guards, and was then transferred to serve as Grand Tutor to the Crown Prince. When Censor Grand Master Xue Jun was dismissed, Xuancheng was appointed Censor Grand Master in his place. When Chancellor Yu petitioned to retire on account of his age, Xuancheng was appointed chancellor and was enfeoffed as Marquis of Fuyang, taking his former fief as the basis. After several years in the position, he died of illness. Emperor Yuan personally attended the funeral and bestowed extremely generous gifts. His son succeeded to the title. His style of governance was accommodating and drifted along with the prevailing customs of the times, and he was regarded by many as obsequious and cunning. But the physiognomy artisan originally said he should become a marquis to replace his father, but later lost it; Yet he rose again through the ranks of the civil service and ultimately attained the chancellorship. Father and son both became chancellor, the world praised it - how is this not fate! The physiognomist had foreseen all of this in advance. When Chancellor Wei died, Censor Grand Master Kuang Heng succeeded him.

丞相匡衡者，東海人也。好讀書，從博士受詩。家貧，衡傭作以給食飲。才下，數射策不中，至九，乃中丙科。其經以不中科故明習。補平原文學卒史。數年，郡不尊敬。御史徵之，以補百石屬薦為郎，而補博士，拜為太子少傅，而事孝元帝。孝元好詩，而遷為光祿勳，居殿中為師，授教左右，而縣官坐其旁聽，甚善之，日以尊貴。御史大夫鄭弘坐事免，而匡君為御史大夫。歲餘，韋丞相死，匡君代為丞相，封樂安侯。以十年之閒，不出長安城門而至丞相，豈非遇時而命也哉！

Chancellor Kuang Heng was a native of Donghai. He loved to read and studied the Book of Songs under an Erudite. His family was poor, and Heng worked as a hired laborer to earn enough for food and drink. His examination scores were poor; he sat the policy examinations multiple times without passing, and only on the ninth attempt did he achieve the third-class grade. Precisely because he had failed so many times, his command of the classics became exceptionally thorough. He was appointed as a Literary Clerk in Pingyuan commandery. After several years, the commandery officials showed him no respect. The Censor summoned him and, through a recommendation as a hundred-bushel subordinate, appointed him as a Gentleman. He was then made an Erudite and appointed Junior Tutor to the Crown Prince, in which capacity he served the future Emperor Yuan. Emperor Yuan was fond of the Book of Songs, and so Heng was promoted to Superintendent of the Imperial Household. He dwelt in the palace as a teacher, instructing those around him, while the emperor himself would sit beside him to listen. The emperor regarded him very highly, and his honor and standing grew by the day. When Censor Grand Master Zheng Hong was dismissed for misconduct, Kuang Heng was appointed Censor Grand Master. A little over a year later, Chancellor Wei died, and Kuang Heng succeeded him as chancellor, being enfeoffed as Marquis of Le'an. In the space of ten years, without leaving Chang'an's city gates he reached chancellor - how is this not encountering the times and fate!

太史公曰：深惟士之游宦所以至封侯者，微甚。然多至御史大夫即去者。諸為大夫而丞相次也，其心冀幸丞相物故也。或乃陰私相毀害，欲代之。然守之日久不得，或為之日少而得之，至於封侯，真命也夫！御史大夫鄭君守之數年不得，匡君居之未滿歲，而韋丞相死，即代之矣，豈可以智巧得哉！多有賢聖之才，困妯囡者眾甚也。

The Grand Historian says: 'Deeply considering the reasons gentlemen wandering as officials arrive at being enfeoffed as marquises - it is very subtle.' Yet many of those who reached the position of Censor Grand Master were soon removed from office. Those who serve as grand masters and stand next in line for the chancellorship secretly hope in their hearts for the chancellor to die. Some even go so far as to scheme in secret, slandering and undermining the chancellor in hopes of taking his place. However, guarding it for long days without obtaining it, or being it for few days and obtaining it, arriving at being enfeoffed as marquis - it is truly fate! Censor Grand Master Zheng gentleman guarded it for several years without obtaining it, Gentleman Kuang dwelt in it less than a full year, but Chancellor Wei died and he immediately replaced him - how can this be obtained with wisdom and skill! Many possess the talents of worthies and sages, yet those who languish in hardship and obscurity are exceedingly numerous.

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