← Back to 史記

傅靳蒯成列傳

Biographies of Fu, Jin, and the Marquis of Kuaicheng

Chapter 98 of 史記 ✓ Translated
← Previous Chapter
Chapter 98
Next Chapter →
1
The Marquis of Yangling, Fu Kuan, had held the Wei rank of Fifth-Rank Grandee and served as a cavalry general. He joined as a retainer, first rising at Hengyang. He took part in the attacks on Anyang and Gangli, engaged Zhao Ben's army at Kaifeng, and fought Yang Xiong at Quyu and Yangwu. He took twelve heads and was granted the rank of Minister. He followed the army to Bashang. When the Lord of Pei was made King of Han, the king bestowed upon Fu Kuan the title Lord of Shared Virtue. He followed the king into Hanzhong and was promoted to General of the Right Cavalry. He took part in pacifying the Three Qin kingdoms and was granted the revenue fief of Diaoyin. He joined the campaign against Xiang Ji, stationed at Huai, and was granted the title Marquis of Tongde. He took part in the campaigns against Xiang Guan, Zhou Lan, and Long Ju. The troops under his command beheaded a cavalry general at Ao, and his fief was enlarged.
2
Serving under the Marquis of Huaiyin, he shattered the Qi army at Lixia and defeated Tian Jie. Serving under Chancellor Cao Can, he ravaged Bo, and his fief was enlarged. For his role in pacifying the territory of Qi, he received a bronze tally guaranteeing his line in perpetuity and was enfeoffed as Marquis of Yangling with two thousand six hundred households, superseding all previous fiefs. He served as Right Chancellor of Qi and was charged with its defense. He held the post of Chancellor of Qi for five years.
3
In the fourth month, he joined the campaign against Chen Xi under Grand Commandant Zhou Bo, replacing Chancellor Kuai as chancellor in the attack on Xi. After one month, he was transferred to serve as Chancellor of Dai and commanded the garrison there. For two years he served as Chancellor of Dai and commanded the garrison.
4
He died in the fifth year of Emperor Xiaohui's reign and was posthumously titled Marquis Jing. His son Jing succeeded him as Marquis Qing and died after twenty-four years. His son Ze succeeded him as Marquis Gong and died after twelve years. His son Yan succeeded as marquis. After thirty-one years, he was convicted of conspiring with the King of Huainan to rebel, was put to death, and his state was abolished.
5
The Marquis of Xinwu, Jin Xi, joined as an inner attendant, first rising at Wanqu. He attacked Jiyang. He defeated the army of Li You. He engaged the Qin army south of Bo and northeast of Kaifeng, beheading a commander of a thousand cavalry, taking fifty-seven heads, and capturing seventy-three prisoners. He was granted a noble rank and the title Lord of Linping. He fought again north of Lantian, beheading two chariot marshals and one cavalry captain, taking twenty-eight heads, and capturing fifty-seven prisoners. He reached Bashang. When Pei Gong was established as Han King, he granted Jin Xi the marquisate of Jianwu Hou and promoted him to Cavalry Commandant's Assistant.
6
西西西
He took part in pacifying the Three Qin kingdoms. He was detached westward to attack Zhang Ping's army at Longxi and defeated it, pacifying six counties in the region. The troops under his command beheaded four chariot marshals, four scouts, and twelve cavalry captains. He followed the eastward campaign against Chu, reaching Pengcheng. When the Han army was defeated and fell back, he defended Yongqiu, then went to attack the rebel Wang Wu and his confederates. He raided Liang territory, separately led troops to strike Xing Yue's army south of Zi, broke it. He personally captured two of Yue's commandant's assistants, twelve assistant directors and scouts, and induced the surrender of 4,180 officials and soldiers. He routed the Chu army east of Xingyang. In the third year, he was granted a revenue fief of four thousand two hundred households.
7
He was detached to Henei, where he attacked the army of the Zhao general Ben Hao at Zhaoge and defeated it. The troops under his command captured two cavalry generals and two hundred fifty chariot-and-horse teams. He joined the advance east of Anyang, reaching Jipu, and took seven counties. He was detached to attack and defeat a Zhao army, capturing two of its marshals and four scouts, and inducing the surrender of two thousand four hundred officers and soldiers. He took part in the assault on Handan and its capture. He separately took Pingyang, personally beheading the defending chancellor. The troops under his command beheaded one garrison commander and one commandery governor, and induced the surrender of Ye. He joined the attacks on Zhaoge and Handan, and separately defeated a Zhao army, inducing the surrender of six counties of Handan Commandery. He returned the army to Aocang, defeated Xiang Ji's forces south of Chenggao, and cut off the Chu supply line from Xingyang to Xiangyi. He defeated Xiang Guan's army at Lu. He raided territory eastward as far as Zeng, Tan, and Xiapi, and southward to Qi and Zhuyi. He attacked Xiang Han at Jiyang. He turned back to attack Xiang Ji at Chen and defeated him. He was detached to pacify Jiangling, inducing the surrender of eight officials including the Pillar of State and the Grand Marshal. He personally captured the King of Jiangling and delivered him alive to Luoyang, thereby pacifying Nan Commandery. He followed the army to Chen and seized the King of Chu, Han Xin. He received a bronze tally guaranteeing his line in perpetuity, was granted a fixed fief of four thousand six hundred households, and was titled Marquis of Xinwu.
8
As Cavalry Commandant's Assistant he followed in striking Dai, attacked Han Xin below Pingcheng, and returned the army to Dongyuan. For his merit, he was promoted to General of Chariot and Cavalry, commanding the combined chariot and cavalry forces of Liang, Zhao, Qi, Yan, and Chu. He was detached to attack Chen Xi's chancellor Chang, defeated him, and thereby induced the surrender of Quni. He took part in the campaign against Qing Bu and distinguished himself, so his fief was increased to a fixed allotment of five thousand three hundred households. Altogether he beheaded ninety heads and captured 132 prisoners;' He separately broke fourteen armies, induced the surrender of fifty-nine cities, pacified one commandery and one state each, and twenty-three counties;' He captured one king and one Pillar of State, and thirty-nine officials ranging from the two-thousand-bushel rank down to five hundred bushels.
9
In the fifth year of Empress Dowager Gao's reign, Jin Xi died and was posthumously titled Marquis Su. His son Ting succeeded to the marquisate. After twenty-one years, he was convicted in connection with subjects of his fief who had violated the law. In the third year after Emperor Xiaowen, his marquisate was stripped and his state abolished.
10
西
The Marquis of Kuaicheng, Xie, was a man of Pei, surnamed Zhou. He regularly served as Gaozu's chariot companion and followed him as a retainer when he first rose at Pei. He marched to Bashang, went west into Shu and Han, returned to pacify the Three Qin kingdoms, and received the revenue fief of Chiyang. He cut the eastern corridor road, crossed Pingyin on campaign, and met the Marquis of Huaiyin's forces at Xiangguo. Though the army's fortunes swung between victory and defeat, he never wavered in his devotion to the sovereign. Therefore, 'Zhou was made Marquis Wu and given a fief of 3,300 households.' In the twelfth year of Gaozu's reign, Xie was made Marquis of Kuaicheng, superseding all previous fiefs.
11
使 殿
When the Sovereign desired to personally strike Chen Xi, the Marquis of Kuaicheng wept and said: 'When Qin began attacking and breaking all under heaven, it never personally went.' Now the Sovereign often goes personally—is this because there is no one who can be dispatched?' The Sovereign considered it 'love for me' and granted him entry to the palace gate without hastening, and that killing a person would not be punishable by death.
12
In the fifth year of Emperor Xiaowen's reign, Xie died of old age and was posthumously titled Marquis Zhen. His son Chang succeeded to the marquisate but was found guilty of a crime, and his state was abolished. In the second year of Emperor Xiaojing's middle reign period, Xie's son Ju was enfeoffed as a successor marquis. In the third year of the Yuanding era, Ju was serving as Grand Master of Ceremonies when he was found guilty of a crime, and his state was abolished.
13
The Grand Historian says: The Marquis of Yangling Fu Kuan and the Marquis of Xinwu Jin Xi both held high marquisates. They followed Gaozu arising from Shandong, attacked Xiang Ji, executed famous generals, broke armies and induced the surrender of cities numbering in the tens, and never experienced distress or humiliation. This too was heaven's bestowal. The Marquis of Kuaicheng, Zhou Xie, was steadfast and upright in his convictions, and his loyalty was never called into question. Whenever the sovereign intended to take the field, Xie never failed to weep. His was the bearing of one whose heart truly ached for his lord. He may well be called a man of deep and genuine devotion.
← Previous Chapter
Back to Chapters
Next Chapter →