1
吳王濞者，高帝兄劉仲之子也。 高帝已定天下七年，立劉仲為代王。 而匈奴攻代，劉仲不能堅守，棄國亡，閒行走雒陽，自歸天子。 天子為骨肉故，不忍致法，廢以為郃陽侯。 高帝十一年秋，淮南王英布反，東并荊地，劫其國兵，西度淮，擊楚，高帝自將往誅之。 劉仲子沛侯濞年二十，有氣力，以騎將從破布軍蘄西，會甀，布走。 荊王劉賈為布所殺，無後。 上患吳、會稽輕悍，無壯王以填之，諸子少，乃立濞於沛為吳王，王三郡五十三城。 已拜受印，高帝召濞相之，謂曰：「若狀有反相。」 心獨悔，業已拜，因拊其背，告曰：「漢後五十年東南有亂者，豈若邪？ 然天下同姓為一家也，慎無反！」 濞頓首曰：「不敢。」
The King of Wu, Bi, was the son of Liu Zhong, the elder brother of Emperor Gao. In the seventh year after Emperor Gao had pacified the realm, he appointed Liu Zhong as the King of Dai. When the Xiongnu attacked Dai, Liu Zhong could not hold his ground. He abandoned his kingdom and fled, traveling in secret to Luoyang, where he surrendered himself to the emperor. Because they were bound by blood, the emperor could not bring himself to impose the full penalty of the law. He stripped Liu Zhong of his kingship and demoted him to the Marquis of Heyang. In the autumn of Emperor Gao's eleventh year, Ying Bu, the King of Huainan, rose in rebellion. He annexed the territory of Jing to the east, commandeered its troops, crossed the Huai River westward, and attacked Chu. Emperor Gao personally led an army to put him down. Liu Zhong's son Bi, the Marquis of Pei, was twenty years old and a man of great vigor. Serving as a cavalry commander, he joined the campaign that defeated Ying Bu's forces west of Qi. They converged at Zhui, and Ying Bu fled. Liu Jia, the King of Jing, had been killed by Ying Bu and left no heir. The emperor was troubled that the people of Wu and Kuaiji were fierce and unruly, yet there was no strong king to keep them in check. Since all his own sons were still young, he appointed Bi as the King of Wu at Pei, granting him dominion over three commanderies and fifty-three cities. After Bi had received the seal of investiture, Emperor Gao summoned him, looked him over, and said, "Your features have the look of a rebel." In his heart he regretted it, but the appointment was already made. He therefore patted Bi on the back and warned, "Fifty years after the founding of Han, if there is turmoil in the southeast, would it not be you? Yet all who share the Liu surname under heaven are one family—take care not to rebel!" Bi kowtowed and said, "I dare not."
2
會孝惠、高后時，天下初定，郡國諸侯各務自拊循其民。 吳有豫章郡銅山，濞則招致天下亡命者（益）［盜］鑄錢，煮海水為鹽，以故無賦，國用富饒。
During the reigns of Emperor Hui and Empress Dowager Gao, the realm had only recently been pacified, and the lords of each commandery and kingdom devoted themselves to winning the hearts of their people. Wu possessed the copper mountain in Yuzhang commandery. Bi summoned fugitives from across the empire to cast coins and boiled seawater to make salt. Because of this there were no tax levies, and the kingdom's treasury grew rich.
3
孝文時，吳太子入見，得侍皇太子飲博。 吳太子師傅皆楚人，輕悍，又素驕，博，爭道，不恭，皇太子引博局提吳太子，殺之。 於是遣其喪歸葬。 至吳，吳王慍曰：「天下同宗，死長安即葬長安，何必來葬為！」 復遣喪之長安葬。 吳王由此稍失藩臣之禮，稱病不朝。 京師知其以子故稱病不朝，驗問實不病，諸吳使來，輒系責治之。 吳王恐，為謀滋甚。 及後使人為秋請，上復責問吳使者，使者對曰：「王實不病，漢系治使者數輩，以故遂稱病。 且夫『察見淵中魚，不祥』。 今王始詐病，及覺，見責急，愈益閉，恐上誅之，計乃無聊。 唯上棄之而與更始。」 於是天子乃赦吳使者歸之，而賜吳王几杖，老，不朝。 吳得釋其罪，謀亦益解。 然其居國以銅鹽故，百姓無賦。 卒踐更，輒與平賈。 歲時存問茂材，賞賜閭里。 佗郡國吏欲來捕亡人者，訟共禁弗予。 如此者四十餘年，以故能使其眾。
During the reign of Emperor Wen, the crown prince of Wu came to court and was given the privilege of drinking and playing board games with the imperial heir. The crown prince of Wu had been raised by tutors from Chu, rough and fierce men, and he himself was given to arrogance. During a game, he quarreled over a move and showed disrespect. The imperial heir seized the gaming board and struck the crown prince of Wu dead. The body was sent back to Wu for burial. When the coffin reached Wu, the King of Wu said angrily, "All under heaven are one clan. If my son died in Chang'an, he should be buried in Chang'an—why did you bring him back here for burial?" He sent the coffin back to Chang'an to be buried there instead. From this point on, the King of Wu gradually abandoned the courtesies owed by a vassal, feigning illness to avoid attending court. The court knew full well that he was feigning illness on account of his son's death. Upon investigation, they confirmed he was not truly ill, and whenever envoys arrived from Wu, they were detained and punished. The King of Wu grew fearful, and his scheming intensified. Later, when envoys were sent to request the autumn audience at court, the emperor again questioned the Wu envoys. They replied, "The king is truly not ill. The Han court has arrested and punished our envoys on several occasions, and for this reason he finally claimed illness. Besides, as the saying goes, "To see fish in the deep pool is inauspicious." The king first feigned illness, but once this was discovered and the reproaches grew urgent, he withdrew all the more. He feared the emperor would have him executed, and his position became desperate. Only if Your Majesty abandons the matter and grants him a fresh start." The emperor then pardoned the envoys from Wu and sent them home. He bestowed upon the King of Wu a ceremonial armrest and walking staff, granting him leave as an elder to be excused from court attendance. Having been absolved of his offenses, the King of Wu's designs also eased for a time. Yet because his kingdom possessed copper mines and salt works, the people were spared from taxation. When conscripts were called for corvée service, he always paid them a fair wage in compensation. At the turn of each season, he would inquire after men of talent and bestow gifts upon their villages. When officials from other commanderies and kingdoms came to arrest fugitives, he blocked them and refused to hand anyone over. He carried on in this fashion for more than forty years, and by these means won the devotion of his people.
4
晁錯為太子家令，得幸太子，數從容言吳過可削。 數上書說孝文帝，文帝寬，不忍罰，以此吳日益橫。 及孝景帝即位，錯為御史大夫，說上曰：「昔高帝初定天下，昆弟少，諸子弱，大封同姓，故王孽子悼惠王王齊七十餘城，庶弟元王王楚四十餘城，兄子濞王吳五十餘城：封三庶孽，分天下半。 今吳王前有太子之郄，詐稱病不朝，於古法當誅，文帝弗忍，因賜几杖。 德至厚，當改過自新。 乃益驕溢，即山鑄錢，煮海水為鹽，誘天下亡人，謀作亂。 今削之亦反，不削之亦反。 削之，其反亟，禍小； 不削，反遲，禍大。」 三年冬，楚王朝，晁錯因言楚王戊往年為薄太后服，私姦服舍，請誅之。 詔赦，罰削東海郡。 因削吳之豫章郡、會稽郡。 及前二年趙王有罪，削其河閒郡。 膠西王卬以賣爵有姦，削其六縣。
Chao Cuo served as steward of the crown prince's household and enjoyed the heir's favor. On several occasions he spoke candidly, arguing that Wu's transgressions warranted the reduction of its territory. He repeatedly submitted memorials urging Emperor Wen to act, but the emperor was lenient by nature and could not bring himself to punish Wu. As a result, Wu grew more brazen by the day. When Emperor Jing took the throne, Chao Cuo became imperial censor and said to the emperor, "Formerly, when Emperor Gao first pacified the realm, his brothers were few and his sons weak, so he greatly enfeoffed those of the same surname. He made his illegitimate son Prince Daohui king of Qi with more than seventy cities, his younger brother Prince Yuan king of Chu with more than forty cities, and his brother's son Bi king of Wu with more than fifty cities. Three illegitimate sons were enfeoffed, dividing half the realm. The King of Wu harbored a grudge over the death of his crown prince and feigned illness to avoid court. By the ancient statutes, he should have been put to death, but Emperor Wen could not bring himself to do so and instead bestowed upon him the ceremonial armrest and staff. Such grace was exceedingly generous, and the king ought to have reformed his ways and made a fresh start. Instead, he grew ever more arrogant. He minted coins from the copper of his mountains, boiled seawater to make salt, lured fugitives from across the realm to his domain, and plotted rebellion. If we reduce his territories now, he will rebel; if we do not, he will rebel all the same. If we reduce his territories now, his rebellion will come quickly and the calamity will be small; if we do not, his revolt will come late, and the disaster will be great." In the winter of the third year, the King of Chu came to court. Chao Cuo took the occasion to charge that King Wu of Chu had committed adultery in the mourning quarters during the period of grief for Empress Dowager Bo the previous year, and requested his execution. An imperial edict pardoned him but stripped away the commandery of Donghai as punishment. At the same time, the commanderies of Yuzhang and Kuaiji were taken from Wu. Two years earlier, the King of Zhao had been found guilty of offenses, and his commandery of Hejian had been taken away. King Ang of Jiaoxi had been found guilty of corruption in the sale of noble ranks, and six of his counties were stripped away.
5
漢廷臣方議削吳。 吳王濞恐削地無已，因以此發謀，欲舉事。 念諸侯無足與計謀者，聞膠西王勇，好氣，喜兵，諸齊皆憚畏，於是乃使中大夫應高誂膠西王。 無文書，口報曰：「吳王不肖，有宿夕之憂，不敢自外，使喻其驩心。」 王曰：「何以教之？」 高曰：「今者主上興於姦，飾於邪臣，好小善，聽讒賊，擅變更律令，侵奪諸侯之地，徵求滋多，誅罰良善，日以益甚。 里語有之，『舐糠及米』。 吳與膠西，知名諸侯也，一時見察，恐不得安肆矣。 吳王身有內病，不能朝請二十餘年，嘗患見疑，無以自白，今脅肩累足，猶懼不見釋。 竊聞大王以爵事有適，所聞諸侯削地，罪不至此，此恐不得削地而已。」 王曰：「然，有之。 子將柰何？」 高曰：「同惡相助，同好相留，同情相成，同欲相趨，同利相死。 今吳王自以為與大王同憂，願因時循理，棄軀以除患害於天下，億亦可乎？」 王瞿然駭曰：「寡人何敢如是？ 今主上雖急，固有死耳，安得不戴？」 高曰：「御史大夫晁錯，熒惑天子，侵奪諸侯，蔽忠塞賢，朝廷疾怨，諸侯皆有倍畔之意，人事極矣。 彗星出，蝗蟲數起，此萬世一時，而愁勞聖人之所以起也。 故吳王欲內以晁錯為討，外隨大王後車，彷徉天下，所鄉者降，所指者下，天下莫敢不服。 大王誠幸而許之一言，則吳王率楚王略函谷關，守滎陽敖倉之粟，距漢兵。 治次舍，須大王。 大王有幸而臨之，則天下可并，兩主分割，不亦可乎？」 王曰：「善。」 高歸報吳王，吳王猶恐其不與，乃身自為使，使於膠西，面結之。
The ministers at the Han court were just then deliberating over the further reduction of Wu's territories. The King of Wu, Bi, feared the territorial reductions would never end. This drove him to plot in earnest, and he resolved to rise in revolt. He considered the other feudal lords and found none worthy of being taken into his confidence. But he had heard that the King of Jiaoxi was brave, spirited, and fond of war, and that all the lords of Qi stood in awe of him. He therefore dispatched his court gentleman Ying Gao to sound out the King of Jiaoxi. There was no written document; Ying Gao reported orally, "The King of Wu is unworthy and lives in worry day and night. He dares not keep himself apart from you and sends me to explain his loyal heart." The king said, "How am I to instruct him?" Gao said, "Now the ruler has risen through wickedness and is adorned by evil ministers. He favors petty goodness, listens to slanderers and traitors, arbitrarily changes laws and commands, invades and seizes the lands of the feudal lords, demands ever more, and executes and punishes the good and worthy—daily growing more severe. There is a village saying: "Lick the bran, and you soon reach the rice." Wu and Jiaoxi are well-known among the feudal lords. Once the court turns its scrutiny upon them, I fear they will never again know peace. The King of Wu has suffered from an internal ailment and has been unable to attend court for over twenty years. He has long been troubled by the suspicion cast upon him, with no way to clear his name. Even now, hunching his shoulders and treading with care, he still fears he will never be absolved. I have heard in secret that Your Majesty had an offense in the matter of selling noble ranks, and that the feudal lords' lands are being reduced—yet the crime does not warrant this. I fear it will not stop at reducing lands alone." The king said, "Yes, there is that. What will you do?" Gao said, "Those who share the same hatred assist one another; those who share the same likes detain one another; those who share the same feelings accomplish things together; those who share the same desires hurry together; those who share the same profit die for one another. Now the King of Wu considers himself to share Your Majesty's worries and wishes, following the times and complying with principle, to abandon his body and remove the harm threatening the realm—might that also be possible?" The king, startled and alarmed, said, "How would I dare be like that? Now the ruler, though pressed, still has death as his lot—how could he fail to wear the crown?" Gao said, "The imperial censor Chao Cuo bewilders the Son of Heaven, invades and seizes the feudal lords' lands, blocks the loyal and shuts out the worthy. The court hates and resents him, and all the feudal lords harbor intentions of rebellion. Human affairs have reached an extreme. A comet has appeared and locusts have swarmed time and again. This is a once-in-ten-thousand-generations moment, the very sort of crisis from which sages have always risen. The King of Wu intends to use the punishment of Chao Cuo as his rallying cry at home, while abroad he would follow in the wake of Your Majesty's chariot, sweeping across the realm. All who face them will surrender, all whom they point to will submit, and none under heaven will dare refuse allegiance. If Your Majesty would graciously consent with but a single word, then the King of Wu will lead the King of Chu to seize Hangu Pass, hold the granaries at Xingyang and Ao, and block the Han forces. He will prepare quarters along the way and await Your Majesty's arrival. If Your Majesty is fortunate enough to come there in person, then the realm can be united and two rulers can divide the territory—is that not also possible?" The king said, "Good." Ying Gao returned and reported to the King of Wu. Still fearing that the King of Jiaoxi might not commit, the King of Wu went in person to Jiaoxi as his own envoy, sealing their pact face to face.
6
膠西群臣或聞王謀，諫曰：「承一帝，至樂也。 今大王與吳西鄉，弟令事成，兩主分爭，患乃始結。 諸侯之地不足為漢郡什二，而為畔逆以憂太后，非長策也。」 王弗聽。 遂發使約齊、菑川、膠東、濟南、濟北，皆許諾，而曰「城陽景王有義，攻諸呂，勿與，事定分之耳」。
Some ministers of Jiaoxi heard of the king's plot and remonstrated, saying, "To serve one emperor is the greatest happiness. If Your Majesty marches west together with Wu, then even if the undertaking succeeds, two rulers will struggle over the prize, and only then will the real trouble begin. The lands of the feudal lords are not equal to one-tenth of the Han commanderies, yet you would rebel and worry the empress dowager—this is no long-term strategy." The king refused to listen. He therefore sent envoys to make covenants with Qi, Zichuan, Jiaodong, Jinan, and Jibei. They all agreed, but he said, "Prince Jing of Chengyang acted righteously by attacking the Lu clan; do not bring him in. Once the affair is settled, we will share territory with him."
7
諸侯既新削罰，振恐，多怨晁錯。 及削吳會稽、豫章郡書至，則吳王先起兵，膠西正月丙午誅漢吏二千石以下，膠東、菑川、濟南、楚、趙亦然，遂發兵西。 齊王後悔，飲藥自殺，畔約。 濟北王城壞未完，其郎中令劫守其王，不得發兵。 膠西為渠率，膠東、菑川、濟南共攻圍臨菑。 趙王遂亦反，陰使匈奴與連兵。
The feudal lords, having just been subjected to new reductions and penalties, were shaken with fear and harbored deep resentment toward Chao Cuo. When the edict arrived stripping Wu of Kuaiji and Yuzhang, the King of Wu raised his troops at once. In Jiaoxi, on the bingwu day of the first month, all Han officials of two-thousand-bushel rank and below were put to death. Jiaodong, Zichuan, Jinan, Chu, and Zhao followed suit, and together they marched their armies westward. The King of Qi, seized by regret, drank poison and took his own life, breaking the pact. The walls of the King of Jibei's city were damaged and not yet rebuilt. His Commandant of the Palace Guard seized control and kept the king under watch, preventing him from dispatching troops. Jiaoxi took the lead, and together with Jiaodong, Zichuan, and Jinan, they besieged the city of Linzi. The King of Zhao also rose in rebellion, secretly dispatching envoys to forge a military alliance with the Xiongnu.
8
七國之發也，吳王悉其士卒，下令國中曰：「寡人年六十二，身自將。 少子年十四，亦為士卒先。 諸年上與寡人比，下與少子等者，皆發。」 發二十餘萬人。 南使閩越、東越，東越亦發兵從。
When the seven kingdoms rose, the King of Wu mustered all his soldiers and issued an order within the kingdom, saying, "I am sixty-two years old and shall lead in person. His youngest son, only fourteen years old, also rode at the head of the troops. All those whose age is above mine and below my youngest son alike shall be mobilized." In all, he mobilized more than two hundred thousand men. He sent envoys south to Minyue and Dongyue, and Dongyue also dispatched troops to join him.
9
孝景帝三年正月甲子，初起兵於廣陵。 西涉淮，因并楚兵。 發使遺諸侯書曰：「吳王劉濞敬問膠西王、膠東王、菑川王、濟南王、趙王、楚王、淮南王、衡山王、廬江王、故長沙王子：幸教寡人！ 以漢有賊臣，無功天下，侵奪諸侯地，使吏劾系訊治，以僇辱之為故，不以諸侯人君禮遇劉氏骨肉，絕先帝功臣，進任姦宄，詿亂天下，欲危社稷。 陛下多病志失，不能省察。 欲舉兵誅之，謹聞教。 敝國雖狹，地方三千里； 人雖少，精兵可具五十萬。 寡人素事南越三十餘年，其王君皆不辭分其卒以隨寡人，又可得三十餘萬。 寡人雖不肖，願以身從諸王。 越直長沙者，因王子定長沙以北，西走蜀、漢中。 告越、楚王、淮南三王，與寡人西面； 齊諸王與趙王定河閒、河內，或入臨晉關，或與寡人會雒陽； 燕王、趙王固與胡王有約，燕王北定代、雲中，摶胡眾入蕭關，走長安，匡正天子，以安高廟。 願王勉之。 楚元王子、淮南三王或不沐洗十餘年，怨入骨髓，欲一有所出之久矣，寡人未得諸王之意，未敢聽。 今諸王茍能存亡繼絕，振弱伐暴，以安劉氏，社稷之所願也。 敝國雖貧，寡人節衣食之用，積金錢，彊兵革，聚穀食，夜以繼日，三十餘年矣。 凡為此，願諸王勉用之。 能斬捕大將者，賜金五千斤，封萬戶； 列將，三千斤，封五千戶； 裨將，二千斤，封二千戶； 二千石，千斤，封千戶； 千石，五百斤，封五百戶：皆為列侯。 其以軍若城邑降者，卒萬人，邑萬戶，如得大將； 人戶五千，如得列將； 人戶三千，如得裨將； 人戶千，如得二千石； 其小吏皆以差次受爵金。 佗封賜皆倍軍法。 其有故爵邑者，更益勿因。 願諸王明以令士大夫，弗敢欺也。 寡人金錢在天下者往往而有，非必取於吳，諸王日夜用之弗能盡。 有當賜者告寡人，寡人且往遺之。 敬以聞。」
On the jiazi day of the first month in the third year of Emperor Jing's reign, he first raised his troops at Guangling. He crossed the Huai River westward and merged his forces with those of Chu. He sent envoys presenting a letter to the feudal lords, saying, "King Wu Liu Bi respectfully asks the kings of Jiaoxi, Jiaodong, Zichuan, Jinan, Zhao, Chu, Huainan, Hengshan, and Lujiang, and the son of the former King of Changsha: kindly instruct me! The Han court harbors treacherous ministers who have rendered no service to the realm. They encroach upon and seize the lands of the feudal lords, dispatch officials to impeach, arrest, interrogate, and punish them, with the deliberate aim of humiliating them. They fail to treat the flesh and blood of the Liu house with the courtesy due to sovereign lords. They cast aside the meritorious ministers of the former emperor, promote and employ villains, throw the realm into disorder, and seek to endanger the altars of state. His Majesty is beset by illness and has lost his clarity of purpose, leaving him unable to discern these wrongs. We wish to raise an army to punish him, and respectfully await your instruction. Though my kingdom is narrow, its territory spans three thousand li; Though our population is small, we can muster five hundred thousand seasoned troops. I have cultivated ties with Nanyue for more than thirty years, and their kings and lords would not refuse to lend me a portion of their soldiers. From them, I can obtain another three hundred thousand men. Though I am unworthy, I am willing to commit myself to the cause alongside the other kings. The Yue forces facing Changsha shall, through the prince, pacify everything north of Changsha, then push westward into Shu and Hanzhong. I ask the kings of Yue and Chu and the three kings of Huainan to march west with me; The kings of Qi and the King of Zhao should secure Hejian and Henei, either entering through Linjin Pass or joining me at Luoyang; The King of Yan and the King of Zhao have already made a pact with the Hu king. The King of Yan will pacify Dai and Yunzhong in the north, rally the Hu forces, enter through Xiao Pass, march on Chang'an, set the emperor right, and restore peace to the temple of Emperor Gao. I urge all the kings to exert themselves to the utmost. The sons of the former King Yuan of Chu and the three kings of Huainan have nursed their grievances for more than ten years, with bitterness sunk deep into their marrow. They have long wished for a chance to act, but I had not yet learned the intentions of the other kings and dared not give the word. If the kings can now preserve those on the brink of ruin, carry on the extinguished lines, strengthen the weak, and strike down the tyrannical, they will thereby secure the house of Liu. This is the fondest wish of the altars of state. Though my kingdom is poor, I have economized on food and clothing, hoarded gold and coin, strengthened our arms and armor, and stockpiled grain, working day and night for more than thirty years. All of this has been for this very purpose, and I urge all the kings to put it to good use. Whoever can behead or capture a great general shall be rewarded with five thousand jin of gold and enfeoffed with ten thousand households; for a deputy general, three thousand jin of gold and an estate of five thousand households; for an assistant general, two thousand jin of gold and an estate of two thousand households; officials of two thousand bushels, one thousand jin of gold, enfeoffment of one thousand households; for officials ranked at one thousand stone, five hundred jin of gold and an estate of five hundred households. All of them shall be made marquises. Those who come over with an army or a walled city, bringing ten thousand soldiers or a city of ten thousand households, shall be rewarded as though they had captured a great general; those who bring five thousand households shall be rewarded as though they had captured a deputy general; those who bring three thousand households shall be rewarded as though they had captured an assistant general; those who bring one thousand households shall be rewarded as though they had captured a two-thousand-stone official; Minor officials shall all receive noble ranks and gold according to their grade. All other enfeoffments and rewards shall be doubled beyond the standard military scale. Those who already hold ranks and fiefs shall receive additional grants, not merely a continuation of what they had before. I ask the kings to proclaim this clearly to all their officers, for I would not dare deceive them. I have stores of gold and coin scattered throughout the realm, not drawn solely from Wu. Even if the kings were to spend them day and night, they could not exhaust them. If there are those who deserve rewards, let me know, and I shall send the gifts myself. Respectfully submitted for your hearing."
10
七國反書聞天子，天子乃遣太尉條侯周亞夫將三十六將軍，往擊吳楚； 遣曲周侯酈寄擊趙； 將軍欒布擊齊； 大將軍竇嬰屯滎陽，監齊趙兵。
When word of the rebellion by the seven kingdoms reached the Son of Heaven, he dispatched the Grand Commandant, the Marquis of Tiao Zhou Yafu, to lead thirty-six generals against Wu and Chu; he dispatched Li Ji, Marquis of Quzhou, to attack Zhao; General Luan Bu to attack Qi; The Grand General Dou Ying was stationed at Xingyang to keep watch over the forces of Qi and Zhao.
11
吳楚反書聞，兵未發，竇嬰未行，言故吳相袁盎。 盎時家居，詔召入見。 上方與晁錯調兵笇軍食，上問袁盎曰：「君嘗為吳相，知吳臣田祿伯為人乎？ 今吳楚反，於公何如？」 對曰：「不足憂也，今破矣。」 上曰：「吳王即山鑄錢，煮海水為鹽，誘天下豪桀，白頭舉事。 若此，其計不百全，豈發乎？ 何以言其無能為也？」 袁盎對曰：「吳有銅鹽利則有之，安得豪桀而誘之！ 誠令吳得豪桀，亦且輔王為義，不反矣。 吳所誘皆無賴子弟，亡命鑄錢姦人，故相率以反。」 晁錯曰：「袁盎策之善。」 上問曰：「計安出？」 盎對曰：「願屏左右。」 上屏人，獨錯在。 盎曰：「臣所言，人臣不得知也。」 乃屏錯。 錯趨避東廂，恨甚。 上卒問盎，盎對曰：「吳楚相遺書，曰『高帝王子弟各有分地，今賊臣晁錯擅適過諸侯，削奪之地』。 故以反為名，西共誅晁錯，復故地而罷。 方今計獨斬晁錯，發使赦吳楚七國，復其故削地，則兵可無血刃而俱罷。」 於是上嘿然良久，曰：「顧誠何如，吾不愛一人以謝天下。」 盎曰：「臣愚計無出此，願上孰計之。」 乃拜盎為太常，吳王弟子德侯為宗正。 盎裝治行。 後十餘日，上使中尉召錯，紿載行東市。 錯衣朝衣斬東市。 則遣袁盎奉宗廟，宗正輔親戚，使告吳如盎策。 至吳，吳楚兵已攻梁壁矣。 宗正以親故，先入見，諭吳王使拜受詔。 吳王聞袁盎來，亦知其欲說己，笑而應曰：「我已為東帝，尚何誰拜？」 不肯見盎而留之軍中，欲劫使將。 盎不肯，使人圍守，且殺之，盎得夜出，步亡去，走梁軍，遂歸報。
When word of the rebellion by Wu and Chu reached the court, the troops had not yet been dispatched, and Dou Ying had not yet set out. Someone mentioned Yuan Ang, the former chancellor of Wu. Yuan Ang was living at home at the time. An imperial summons was issued, calling him to an audience. The emperor was then with Chao Cuo arranging troops and calculating army provisions. He asked Yuan Ang, "You once served as chancellor of Wu—do you know the character of Wu's minister Tian Lubo? Wu and Chu have now rebelled. What is your view of it?" He replied, "Not worth worrying about—they will be broken now." The emperor said, "The King of Wu mints coins from his mountains, boils seawater for salt, lures the empire's heroic men, and at white-haired age has raised troops. If that is so, his plan is far from certain. How could he have dared to begin the revolt? Why do you say he cannot succeed?" Yuan Ang replied, "Wu has the profit of copper and salt—that much is true; but how could it obtain heroic men to lure! Had Wu truly obtained men of outstanding character, they would have guided the king toward righteousness, and there would have been no rebellion. The men Wu has enticed are all worthless young fellows, fugitives who cast coin, and criminal types; that is why they have dragged one another into rebellion." Chao Cuo said, "Yuan Ang's strategy is good." The emperor asked, "Where should the plan come from?" Ang replied, "I wish to dismiss those at your left and right." The emperor dismissed everyone from the chamber, leaving only Chao Cuo present. Ang said, "What I am about to say must not be known to other ministers." He then had Chao Cuo dismissed as well. Chao Cuo hurried away to the eastern wing, seething with resentment. The emperor finally asked Ang, and Ang replied, "Wu and Chu have sent each other letters saying, 'Emperor Gao's sons and younger brothers each had allotted lands; now the traitor minister Chao Cuo has arbitrarily found fault with the feudal lords and reduced and seized their lands. They have used the rebellion as a pretext, marching westward together to demand the execution of Chao Cuo and the restoration of their former lands, after which they would stop. The only plan now is to behead Chao Cuo, send envoys to pardon Wu, Chu, and the seven kingdoms, and restore the lands previously cut away from them. Then the armies can all stand down without bloodying their blades." The emperor was then silent for a long time and said, "Indeed—how could it be otherwise? I would not spare one man to apologize to the realm." Ang said, "My foolish plan cannot exceed this; I wish Your Majesty would carefully consider it." He then appointed Yuan Ang as Grand Master of Ceremonies and the Marquis De, a nephew of the King of Wu, as Director of the Imperial Clan. Yuan Ang packed his things and prepared to set off. More than ten days later, the emperor sent the Commandant of Justice to summon Chao Cuo, who was tricked into a cart and taken to the Eastern Market. Chao Cuo was beheaded at the Eastern Market, still wearing his court robes. The emperor then dispatched Yuan Ang to attend to the ancestral temples, with the Director of the Imperial Clan to assist as a kinsman, sending them to deliver a message to Wu in accordance with Yuan Ang's plan. By the time they reached Wu, the armies of Wu and Chu had already attacked the fortifications of Liang. The Director of the Imperial Clan, being a kinsman, went in first to see the king and urged him to bow and accept the imperial edict. When the King of Wu heard that Yuan Ang had come, he also knew Ang wished to persuade him. He laughed and replied, "I have already made myself Eastern Emperor—whom else should I bow to?" He refused to see Yuan Ang but detained him in the army camp, intending to coerce him into serving as a commander. Yuan Ang refused. Guards were posted around him with orders to kill him, but that night he managed to slip away on foot. He fled to the army of Liang and from there returned to make his report.
12
條侯將乘六乘傳，會兵滎陽。 至雒陽，見劇孟，喜曰：「七國反，吾乘傳至此，不自意全。 又以為諸侯已得劇孟，劇孟今無動。 吾據滎陽，以東無足憂者。」 至淮陽，問父絳侯故客鄧都尉曰：「策安出？」 客曰：「吳兵銳甚，難與爭鋒。 楚兵輕，不能久。 方今為將軍計，莫若引兵東北壁昌邑，以梁委吳，吳必盡銳攻之。 將軍深溝高壘，使輕兵絕淮泗口，塞吳馕道。 彼吳梁相敝而糧食竭，乃以全彊制其罷極，破吳必矣。」 條侯曰：「善。」 從其策，遂堅壁昌邑南，輕兵絕吳馕道。
The Marquis of Tiao, commanding the expedition, rode relay carriages drawn by six horses and assembled his forces at Xingyang. When he reached Luoyang, he saw Ju Meng and said with joy, "The seven kingdoms have rebelled; I rode post carriages to arrive here—I did not expect to remain whole. He had also feared that the rebel lords might have recruited Ju Meng, but Ju Meng had not made any move. If I hold Xingyang, there will be nothing east of it worth fearing." When he reached Huaiyang, he asked his father the Marquis of Jiang's former guest, Commandant Deng, saying, "Where should the strategy come from?" The guest said, "Wu's troops are very sharp; it is hard to contend with them head-on. The troops of Chu are lightly equipped and cannot sustain a prolonged campaign. The best strategy for the general at present would be to lead the army northeast and fortify a position at Changyi, leaving Liang to bear the brunt of Wu's assault. Wu will be forced to throw all its best troops against Liang. The general should dig deep trenches and raise high ramparts, while sending light troops to cut off the junction of the Huai and Si rivers and block Wu's supply lines. When Wu and Liang have worn each other down and Wu's provisions are spent, our forces, fresh and at full strength, can strike them at their most exhausted. Victory over Wu will be assured." The Marquis of Tiao said, "Good." He adopted this strategy, fortifying a position south of Changyi and dispatching light troops to sever Wu's supply lines.
13
吳王之初發也，吳臣田祿伯為大將軍。 田祿伯曰：「兵屯聚而西，無佗奇道，難以就功。 臣願得五萬人，別循江淮而上，收淮南、長沙，入武關，與大王會，此亦一奇也。」 吳王太子諫曰：「王以反為名，此兵難以藉人，藉人亦且反王，柰何？ 且擅兵而別，多佗利害，未可知也，徒自損耳。」 吳王即不許田祿伯。
When the King of Wu first launched his campaign, his minister Tian Lubo served as Grand General. Tian Lubo said, "With troops massed and marching west, without some other surprise route, it will be hard to achieve success. I request fifty thousand men to lead a separate force along the Yangtze and the Huai, taking Huainan and Changsha, then entering through Wu Pass to rendezvous with Your Majesty. This would be a master stroke." The crown prince of the King of Wu remonstrated, saying, "Your Majesty has taken rebellion as your name; these troops are hard to lend to others, and those you lend them to will in turn rebel against Your Majesty—what then? Besides, if you take control of the army for yourself and go off separately, there are many further gains and dangers that cannot yet be known. You would only injure yourself." The King of Wu refused Tian Lubo's request.
14
吳少將桓將軍說王曰：「吳多步兵，步兵利險； 漢多車騎，車騎利平地。 願大王所過城邑不下，直棄去，疾西據雒陽武庫，食敖倉粟，阻山河之險以令諸侯，雖毋入關，天下固已定矣。 即大王徐行，留下城邑，漢軍車騎至，馳入梁楚之郊，事敗矣。」 吳王問諸老將，老將曰：「此少年推鋒之計可耳，安知大慮乎！」 於是王不用桓將軍計。
The young general Huan said to the king, "Wu has many foot soldiers, and foot soldiers are advantaged in difficult terrain; The Han have many chariots and cavalry, and chariots and cavalry hold the advantage on level ground. I urge Your Majesty to bypass any cities that do not immediately fall, abandoning them without pause, and to drive swiftly westward to seize the arsenal at Luoyang and the grain stores of Ao. With the mountains and rivers as your bulwark, you may issue commands to all the feudal lords. Even without entering the passes, the realm will already be decided. But if Your Majesty advances slowly and lingers to take cities, the Han chariots and cavalry will arrive, sweeping into the borderlands of Liang and Chu, and the whole enterprise will be lost." The King of Wu asked the old generals, and they said, "This is a young man's plan of charging the front—it will do; how would he know great strategy!" But the king refused to adopt General Huan's plan.
15
吳王專并將其兵，未度淮，諸賓客皆得為將、校尉、候、司馬，獨周丘不得用。 周丘者，下邳人，亡命吳，酤酒無行，吳王濞薄之，弗任。 周丘上謁，說王曰：「臣以無能，不得待罪行閒。 臣非敢求有所將，願得王一漢節，必有以報王。」 王乃予之。 周丘得節，夜馳入下邳。 下邳時聞吳反，皆城守。 至傳舍，召令。 令入戶，使從者以罪斬令。 遂召昆弟所善豪吏告曰：「吳反兵且至，至，屠下邳不過食頃。 今先下，家室必完，能者封侯矣。」 出乃相告，下邳皆下。 周丘一夜得三萬人，使人報吳王，遂將其兵北略城邑。 比至城陽，兵十餘萬，破城陽中尉軍。 聞吳王敗走，自度無與共成功，即引兵歸下邳。 未至，疽發背死。
The King of Wu personally took sole command of his forces. Before they had even crossed the Huai, every one of his retainers had been appointed a general, colonel, scout commander, or commandant, with the sole exception of Zhou Qiu. Zhou Qiu was a man of Xiapi who had fled to Wu as a fugitive, sold wine, and was a disreputable man; the King of Wu, Bi, despised him and did not employ him. Zhou Qiu went up for an audience and spoke to the king, saying, "I am without ability and cannot wait among those who perform military service. I do not dare ask to command troops. I only wish to receive from the king one Han tally; I will surely find some way to repay Your Majesty." The king then granted it to him. After Zhou Qiu received the tally, he galloped through the night into Xiapi. The people of Xiapi had by then heard of Wu's rebellion and had barricaded themselves behind their walls in defense. Arriving at the relay station, he summoned the county magistrate. When the magistrate entered the building, Zhou Qiu had his attendants charge the man with a crime and behead him on the spot. He then summoned the heroic officials whom his brothers favored and told them, "Wu's rebel troops are about to arrive; when they arrive, they will slaughter Xiapi in no more than the time to eat a meal. Those who surrender now will keep their families safe, and the capable among them shall be enfeoffed as marquises." The people went out and spread the word to one another, and all of Xiapi surrendered. In a single night Zhou Qiu gathered thirty thousand men. He sent messengers to report to the King of Wu, then led his troops north to seize cities. By the time he reached Chengyang, his forces numbered more than a hundred thousand, and he defeated the army of the Commandant of Chengyang. When he heard that the King of Wu had been defeated and had fled, he judged that there was no one left to share in a final victory. He immediately led his troops back to Xiapi. Before he arrived, an abscess erupted on his back, and he died.
16
二月中，吳王兵既破，敗走，於是天子制詔將軍曰：「蓋聞為善者天報之以福； 為非者天報之以殃。 高皇帝親表功德，建立諸侯，幽王、悼惠王絕無後，孝文皇帝哀憐加惠，王幽王子遂、悼惠王子卬等，令奉其先王宗廟，為漢藩國，德配天地，明并日月。 吳王濞倍德反義，誘受天下亡命罪人，亂天下幣，稱病不朝二十餘年，有司數請濞罪，孝文皇帝寬之，欲其改行為善。 今乃與楚王戊、趙王遂、膠西王卬、濟南王辟光、菑川王賢、膠東王雄渠約從反，為逆無道，起兵以危宗廟，賊殺大臣及漢使者，迫劫萬民，夭殺無罪，燒殘民家，掘其丘冢，甚為暴虐。 今卬等又重逆無道，燒宗廟，鹵御物，朕甚痛之。 朕素服避正殿，將軍其勸士大夫擊反虜。 擊反虜者，深入多殺為功，斬首捕虜比三百石以上者皆殺之，無有所置。 敢有議詔及不如詔者，皆要斬。」
In the middle of the second month, the King of Wu's army had already been broken, and he fled in defeat. The Son of Heaven then formulated a decree to the generals, saying, "It is heard that those who do good Heaven repays with fortune; Those who do wrong are repaid by Heaven with calamity. Emperor Gao himself honored merit and virtue and established the feudal lords. When King You and King Daohui died without heirs, Emperor Wen, out of pity and benevolence, enfeoffed Sui, the son of King You, and Ang, the son of King Daohui, among others, commanding them to maintain the ancestral temples of their forebears and serve as vassal states of Han. His virtue rivaled that of Heaven and Earth, and his brilliance matched the sun and moon. Yet the King of Wu, Bi, turned his back on this grace and defied righteousness. He harbored fugitives and criminals from across the realm and debased its coinage. He feigned illness and refused to attend court for more than twenty years. His officials repeatedly requested that he be charged with his crimes, but Emperor Wen dealt leniently with him, hoping he would mend his ways. Now he has conspired with King Wu of Chu, King Sui of Zhao, King Ang of Jiaoxi, King Biguang of Jinan, King Xian of Zichuan, and King Xiongqu of Jiaodong to rise in rebellion. Their acts are treasonous and without principle. They have raised armies to endanger the ancestral temples, murdered great ministers and Han envoys, coerced and terrorized the common people, slaughtered the innocent, burned and destroyed homes, and desecrated graves and tombs. Their cruelty has been extreme. Now Ang and the rest have compounded their treachery by burning the ancestral temples and plundering the imperial stores. We are deeply grieved by this. We have donned plain robes and withdrawn from the main hall. Let the generals exhort their officers to strike down the rebel traitors. Those who fight the rebel forces shall be credited for every kill they make in deep penetration. Any enemy captured or slain who holds a rank of three hundred bushels or above shall be put to death without exception. Any who dare to question this edict or fail to obey it shall be cut in half at the waist."
17
初，吳王之度淮，與楚王遂西敗棘壁，乘勝前，銳甚。 梁孝王恐，遣六將軍擊吳，又敗梁兩將，士卒皆還走梁。 梁數使使報條侯求救，條侯不許。 又使使惡條侯於上，上使人告條侯救梁，復守便宜不行。 梁使韓安國及楚死事相弟張羽為將軍，乃得頗敗吳兵。 吳兵欲西，梁城守堅，不敢西，即走條侯軍，會下邑。 欲戰，條侯壁，不肯戰。 吳糧絕，卒饑，數挑戰，遂夜奔條侯壁，驚東南。 條侯使備西北，果從西北入。 吳大敗，士卒多饑死，乃畔散。 於是吳王乃與其麾下壯士數千人夜亡去，度江走丹徒，保東越。 東越兵可萬餘人，乃使人收聚亡卒。 漢使人以利啗東越，東越即紿吳王，吳王出勞軍，即使人鏦殺吳王，盛其頭，馳傳以聞。 吳王子子華、子駒亡走閩越。 吳王之棄其軍亡也，軍遂潰，往往稍降太尉、梁軍。 楚王戊軍敗，自殺。
At first, when the King of Wu crossed the Huai and joined with King Sui of Chu, they defeated the garrison at Jibili to the west. Riding on their momentum, they pressed forward with great ferocity. King Xiao of Liang grew alarmed and dispatched six generals to attack Wu, but Wu defeated two of Liang's commanders, and the soldiers all retreated back to Liang. Liang sent envoy after envoy to the Marquis of Tiao, begging for relief, but the marquis refused every time. Liang also sent envoys to the emperor to speak ill of the Marquis of Tiao. The emperor dispatched messengers ordering the marquis to come to Liang's rescue, but again he held to his own judgment and did not move. Liang then appointed Han Anguo and Zhang Yu, the younger brother of the chancellor who had died in the line of duty in Chu, as generals. With their help, they managed to inflict several defeats on Wu's forces. Wu's forces wanted to push westward, but with Liang's defenses holding firm, they dared not proceed. Instead, they turned toward the army of the Marquis of Tiao and engaged him at Xiayi. They sought battle, but the Marquis of Tiao stayed behind his ramparts and refused to engage. Wu's provisions ran out and its soldiers starved. After issuing repeated challenges to no avail, they launched a night assault on the marquis's ramparts, creating a feint to the southeast. The Marquis of Tiao had reinforced the northwest, and sure enough, the main attack came from the northwest. Wu suffered a crushing defeat. Many of its soldiers died of hunger, and the rest deserted and scattered. The King of Wu then fled under cover of night with several thousand of his bravest followers, crossed the Yangtze to Dantu, and sought refuge with Dongyue. Dongyue had perhaps more than ten thousand troops, and he sent men to gather the soldiers who had scattered. Han agents tempted Dongyue with rewards. Dongyue then deceived the King of Wu; when he came out to comfort the army, they sent men to spear him to death, packed up his head, and rushed the report by relay to the capital. The King of Wu's sons Zihua and Ziju fled to Minyue. When the King of Wu abandoned his army and fled, the army disintegrated. In ones and twos, the soldiers gradually surrendered to the Grand Commandant and the forces of Liang. King Wu of Chu, his army shattered, took his own life.
18
三王之圍齊臨菑也，三月不能下。 漢兵至，膠西、膠東、菑川王各引兵歸。 膠西王乃袒跣，席槁，飲水，謝太后。 王太子德曰：「漢兵遠，臣觀之已罷，可襲，願收大王餘兵擊之，擊之不勝，乃逃入海，未晚也。」 王曰：「吾士卒皆已壞，不可發用。」 弗聽。 漢將弓高侯穨當遺王書曰：「奉詔誅不義，降者赦其罪，復故； 不降者滅之。 王何處，須以從事。」 王肉袒叩頭漢軍壁，謁曰：「臣卬奉法不謹，驚駭百姓，乃苦將軍遠道至于窮國，敢請菹醢之罪。」 弓高侯執金鼓見之，曰：「王苦軍事，願聞王發兵狀。」 王頓首膝行對曰：「今者，晁錯天子用事臣，變更高皇帝法令，侵奪諸侯地。 卬等以為不義，恐其敗亂天下，七國發兵，且以誅錯。 今聞錯已誅，卬等謹以罷兵歸。」 將軍曰：「王茍以錯不善，何不以聞？ （及）［乃］未有詔虎符，擅發兵擊義國。 以此觀之，意非欲誅錯也。」 乃出詔書為王讀之。 讀之訖，曰：「王其自圖。」 王曰：「如卬等死有餘罪。」 遂自殺。 太后、太子皆死。 膠東、菑川、濟南王皆死，國除，納于漢。 酈將軍圍趙十月而下之，趙王自殺。 濟北王以劫故，得不誅，徙王菑川。
The three kings who had besieged Linzi in Qi held the siege for three months but could not take the city. When the Han forces arrived, the Kings of Jiaoxi, Jiaodong, and Zichuan each withdrew their armies and returned home. The King of Jiaoxi stripped to the waist, went barefoot, sat on a straw mat, drank only water, and begged forgiveness from the Empress Dowager. The crown prince De said, "The Han troops are far away; I observe that they are already tired and can be attacked. I wish to gather Your Majesty's remaining troops and strike them. If the attack does not succeed, then flee to the sea—it is not yet too late." The king said, "My soldiers are all already worn out and cannot be mobilized." He refused to listen. The Han general, the Marquis of Gonggao Yi Dang, sent the king a letter, saying, "By decree we execute the unrighteous; those who surrender shall be pardoned of their crimes and restored to their former state; Those who do not surrender shall be annihilated. Where will the king go? We await your orders." The king, baring his flesh, kowtowed at the Han army's rampart and presented himself, saying, "Your subject Ang was not careful in upholding the law, startled and terrified the people, and has toiled the general to come on a long road to this poor kingdom—I dare request the crime of being pickled and minced." The Marquis of Gonggao, holding drum and bell, received him and said, "The king has toiled in military affairs; I wish to hear the circumstances of Your Majesty's raising troops." The king kowtowed, advancing on his knees, and replied, "Now Chao Cuo is the Son of Heaven's minister in power; he has changed and raised Emperor Gao's laws and commands and invaded and seized the feudal lords' lands. Ang and the others considered these acts unjust and feared they would bring ruin to the realm. The seven kingdoms raised their armies with the stated purpose of punishing Chao Cuo. Now that we have heard Chao Cuo has already been executed, we, Ang and the others, respectfully halt our troops and return." The general said, "If the king considered Chao Cuo not good, why did you not report it? Without an imperial decree or tiger tally, you sent out troops on your own authority and attacked loyal states. Seen from this, your real intention was not to execute Chao Cuo." He then produced the imperial edict and read it aloud to the king. When the reading was finished, he said, "Your Majesty must decide for yourself." The king said, "Ang and the others deserve to die many times over." He then took his own life. The Empress Dowager and the crown prince both perished as well. The Kings of Jiaodong, Zichuan, and Jinan all died. Their kingdoms were abolished, and their territories were absorbed into the Han domain. General Li besieged Zhao for ten months before taking it. The King of Zhao killed himself. The King of Jibei, because he had been coerced, was spared execution and was transferred to rule as the King of Zichuan.
19
初，吳王首反，并將楚兵，連齊趙。 正月起兵，三月皆破，獨趙後下。 復置元王少子平陸侯禮為楚王，續元王後。 徙汝南王非王吳故地，為江都王。
At the outset, the King of Wu was the first to rebel. He took command of the forces of Chu and forged alliances with Qi and Zhao. The revolt began in the first month and within three months all the rebels had been crushed. Only Zhao held out and fell later. Li, the Marquis of Pinglu and youngest son of the former King Yuan, was appointed as the new King of Chu to carry on King Yuan's line. Fei, the King of Runan, was transferred to rule over the former territories of Wu and became the King of Jiangdu.
20
太史公曰：吳王之王，由父省也。 能薄賦斂，使其眾，以擅山海利。 逆亂之萌，自其子興。 爭技發難，卒亡其本； 親越謀宗，竟以夷隕。 晁錯為國遠慮，禍反近身。 袁盎權說，初寵後辱。 故古者諸侯地不過百里，山海不以封。 「毋親夷狄，以疏其屬」，蓋謂吳邪？ 「毋為權首，反受其咎」，豈盎、錯邪？
The Grand Historian says: The King of Wu owed his kingship to his father's demotion. He was able to keep taxes light, command the loyalty of his people, and monopolize the profits of the mountains and the sea. The seeds of his rebellion first stirred with the death of his son. A quarrel over a game brought calamity on him, and in the end he lost the foundation of his house; He entrusted himself to the Yue and plotted against the imperial house, only to perish at the hands of those very barbarians. Chao Cuo planned far ahead for the sake of the state, yet calamity fell upon his own person. Yuan Ang relied on persuasion and expedience, winning favor at first but meeting disgrace in the end. In ancient times, therefore, a feudal lord's territory did not exceed a hundred li, and mountains and seas were never granted as fiefs. "Do not draw close to the Yi and Di and thereby estrange your own kin"—surely this speaks of Wu? "Do not stand at the head of intrigue, lest its blame return upon you"—surely this speaks of Yuan Ang and Chao Cuo?