Biographies of the Marquis of Weiqi and the Marquis of Wu'an

魏其侯竇嬰者，孝文后從兄子也。父世觀津人。喜賓客。孝文時，嬰為吳相，病免。孝景初即位，為詹事。

The Marquis of Weiqi, Dou Ying, was a nephew of Empress Dowager Dou, consort of Emperor Wen. His family had been natives of Guanjin for generations. He was fond of entertaining guests. During the reign of Emperor Wen, Dou Ying served as chancellor of the kingdom of Wu, but fell ill and was relieved of his duties. When Emperor Jing first ascended the throne, Dou Ying was appointed Director of Ceremonies.

梁孝王者，孝景弟也，其母竇太后愛之。梁孝王朝，因昆弟燕飲。是時上未立太子，酒酣，從容言曰：「千秋之後傳梁王。」太后驩。竇嬰引卮酒進上，曰：「天下者，高祖天下，父子相傳，此漢之約也，上何以得擅傳梁王！」太后由此憎竇嬰。竇嬰亦薄其官，因病免。太后除竇嬰門籍，不得入朝請。

The Filial King of Liang was Emperor Jing's younger brother, and their mother, Empress Dowager Dou, doted on him. When the King of Liang came to court, the brothers held a feast and drank together. At that time the Emperor had not yet named a crown prince. When the wine had gone to their heads, he said casually, "After I am gone, the throne shall pass to the King of Liang." The Empress Dowager was delighted. Dou Ying raised his goblet and offered it to the Emperor, saying, "The realm belongs to Gaozu; it passes from father to son in succession—that is the covenant of Han. How can Your Majesty on your own authority pass it to the King of Liang!" From that moment on, the Empress Dowager bore a grudge against Dou Ying. Dou Ying, for his part, held his position in low regard and, citing illness, resigned from office. The Empress Dowager had Dou Ying's name struck from the palace register, barring him from attending court audiences.

孝景三年，吳楚反，上察宗室諸竇毋如竇嬰賢，乃召嬰。嬰入見，固辭謝病不足任。太后亦慚。於是上曰：「天下方有急，王孫寧可以讓邪？」乃拜嬰為大將軍，賜金千斤。嬰乃言袁盎、欒布諸名將賢士在家者進之。所賜金，陳之廊廡下，軍吏過，輒令財取為用，金無入家者。竇嬰守滎陽，監齊趙兵。七國兵已盡破，封嬰為魏其侯。諸游士賓客爭歸魏其侯。孝景時每朝議大事，條侯、魏其侯，諸列侯莫敢與亢禮。

In the third year of Emperor Jing's reign, the kingdoms of Wu and Chu rose in rebellion. The Emperor surveyed the members of the imperial clan and the Dou family and, finding none as capable as Dou Ying, summoned him to court. When Dou Ying came before the Emperor, he firmly declined, pleading illness and declaring himself unfit for service. Even the Empress Dowager felt ashamed of how she had treated him. The Emperor then said, "The realm is in grave danger. Can you, Wangsun, still refuse to serve?" The Emperor then appointed Dou Ying as Grand General and bestowed upon him a thousand catties of gold. Dou Ying then recommended Yuan Ang, Luan Bu, and other renowned generals and capable scholars who had been living in retirement, bringing them forward for service. As for the gold he had received, he laid it out beneath the corridors, and whenever military officials passed by, he bade them take what they needed. Not a single piece of gold ever entered his own household. Dou Ying held the defense at Xingyang and oversaw the forces of Qi and Zhao. Once the armies of the Seven Kingdoms had been utterly defeated, Dou Ying was enfeoffed as the Marquis of Weiqi. Itinerant scholars and retainers vied with one another to enter the service of the Marquis of Weiqi. During Emperor Jing's reign, whenever great matters were deliberated at court, the Marquis of Tiao and the Marquis of Weiqi held such authority that none of the other marquises dared treat them as equals.

孝景四年，立栗太子，使魏其侯為太子傅。孝景七年，栗太子廢，魏其數爭不能得。魏其謝病，屏居藍田南山之下數月，諸賓客辯士說之，莫能來。梁人高遂乃說魏其曰：「能富貴將軍者，上也；能親將軍者，太后也。今將軍傅太子，太子廢而不能爭；爭不能得，又弗能死。自引謝病，擁趙女，屏閒處而不朝。相提而論，是自明揚主上之過。有如兩宮螫將軍，則妻子毋類矣。」魏其侯然之，乃遂起，朝請如故。

In the fourth year of Emperor Jing's reign, the Crown Prince Li was established, and the Marquis of Weiqi was appointed his tutor. In the seventh year of Emperor Jing's reign, the Crown Prince Li was deposed. The Marquis of Weiqi protested repeatedly but could not reverse the decision. The Marquis of Weiqi withdrew from court, pleading illness, and secluded himself at the foot of the southern mountains near Lantian for several months. His guests and rhetoricians tried to coax him back, but none could draw him out. Gao Sui of Liang then persuaded the Marquis of Weiqi, saying, "He who can enrich and ennoble you, General, is the Emperor; And the one who can bring the general close to power is the Empress Dowager. You are now serving as tutor to the crown prince, yet when the crown prince was deposed you could not prevail in the dispute; You protested but could not prevail, yet you did not lay down your life for the cause. Instead, you withdrew from court, claiming illness, keeping company with women of Zhao, secluding yourself in idle luxury, and refusing to attend court. When people weigh these matters together, it amounts to openly proclaiming the sovereign's errors. Should the Emperor and the Empress Dowager turn against you, General, your household will be left with nothing." The Marquis of Weiqi took his words to heart, roused himself, and resumed attending court audiences as before.

桃侯免相，竇太后數言魏其侯。孝景帝曰：「太后豈以為臣有愛，不相魏其？魏其者，沾沾自喜耳，多易。難以為相，持重。」遂不用，用建陵侯衛綰為丞相。

When the Marquis of Tao was dismissed from the chancellorship, Empress Dowager Dou repeatedly recommended the Marquis of Weiqi for the position. Emperor Jing said, "Does the Empress Dowager think that your subject is partial and would not appoint Weiqi as chancellor? Weiqi is vain and full of self-regard, and much too fickle. He is unfit to be chancellor; he lacks steadiness." And so Dou Ying was passed over, and the Marquis of Jianling, Wei Wan, was appointed chancellor instead.

武安侯田蚡者，孝景后同母弟也，生長陵。魏其已為大將軍後，方盛，蚡為諸郎，未貴，往來侍酒魏其，跪起如子姓。及孝景晚節，蚡益貴幸，為太中大夫。蚡辯有口，學槃盂諸書，王太后賢之。孝景崩，即日太子立，稱制，所鎮撫多有田蚡賓客計筴，蚡弟田勝，皆以太后弟，孝景後三年封蚡為武安侯，勝為周陽侯。

The Marquis of Wu'an, Tian Fen, was a younger brother of Empress Wang, consort of Emperor Jing, born of the same mother. He hailed from Changling. When the Marquis of Weiqi had become Grand General and was at the height of his power, Tian Fen was still a mere palace attendant, not yet of any standing. He would come and go, serving wine to Weiqi, kneeling and rising as deferentially as a son or nephew. In the later years of Emperor Jing's reign, Tian Fen grew increasingly favored at court and was appointed Grand Palace Master. Tian Fen was eloquent and well-spoken, having studied the Panyu and other classical texts. Empress Dowager Wang held him in high regard. When Emperor Jing died, the Crown Prince was enthroned that very day and assumed authority. Many of the measures taken to pacify and secure the realm were devised by Tian Fen and his retainers. Tian Fen's younger brother Tian Sheng—both being brothers of the Empress Dowager—were enfeoffed in the third year after Emperor Jing's death: Tian Fen as the Marquis of Wu'an, and Tian Sheng as the Marquis of Zhouyang.

武安侯新欲用事為相，卑下賓客，進名士家居者貴之，欲以傾魏其諸將相。建元元年，丞相綰病免，上議置丞相、太尉。籍福說武安侯曰：「魏其貴久矣，天下士素歸之。今將軍初興，未如魏其，即上以將軍為丞相，必讓魏其。魏其為丞相，將軍必為太尉。太尉、丞相尊等耳，又有讓賢名。」武安侯乃微言太后風上，於是乃以魏其侯為丞相，武安侯為太尉。籍福賀魏其侯，因弔曰：「君侯資性喜善疾惡，方今善人譽君侯，故至丞相；然君侯且疾惡，惡人眾，亦且毀君侯。君侯能兼容，則幸久；不能，今以毀去矣。」魏其不聽。

The Marquis of Wu'an, now eager to seize power and become chancellor, humbled himself before his retainers, promoted celebrated scholars living in retirement and elevated their status—all with the aim of eclipsing the Marquis of Weiqi and the other generals and chancellors. In the first year of the Jianyuan era, Chancellor Wei Wan was dismissed due to illness, and the Emperor deliberated on appointing a new chancellor and Grand Commandant. Ji Fu said to the Marquis of Wu'an, "The Marquis of Weiqi has been eminent for a long time, and men of learning throughout the realm have long looked to him. You have only recently risen to prominence, General, and your standing is not yet equal to Weiqi's. If the Emperor were to make you chancellor, you would surely have to yield the position to Weiqi. If Weiqi becomes chancellor, then you, General, will surely be appointed Grand Commandant. The Grand Commandant and the chancellor are equal in rank, and you would also gain a reputation for yielding to the worthy." The Marquis of Wu'an then dropped a subtle word to the Empress Dowager, who in turn hinted the matter to the Emperor. And so the Marquis of Weiqi was appointed chancellor and the Marquis of Wu'an was made Grand Commandant. Ji Fu congratulated the Marquis of Weiqi and, by way of warning, said, "My lord, your nature delights in good and hates evil; good men praise you now, and that is why you have become chancellor; Yet you, my lord, are quick to despise wickedness, and those you have antagonized are many—they will surely slander you in turn. If you can be broadly tolerant, you may long enjoy good fortune; if you cannot, you will now be driven from office by slander." But the Marquis of Weiqi paid no heed.

魏其、武安俱好儒術，推轂趙綰為御史大夫，王臧為郎中令。迎魯申公，欲設明堂，令列侯就國，除關，以禮為服制，以興太平。舉適諸竇宗室毋節行者，除其屬籍。時諸外家為列侯，列侯多尚公主，皆不欲就國，以故毀日至竇太后。太后好黃老之言，而魏其、武安、趙綰、王臧等務隆推儒術，貶道家言，是以竇太后滋不說魏其等。及建元二年，御史大夫趙綰請無奏事東宮。竇太后大怒，乃罷逐趙綰、王臧等，而免丞相、太尉，以柏至侯許昌為丞相，武彊侯莊青翟為御史大夫。魏其、武安由此以侯家居。

Both the Marquis of Weiqi and the Marquis of Wu'an favored Confucian learning. They recommended Zhao Wan for the post of Imperial Censor and Wang Cang for Palace Secretary. They welcomed Master Shen of Lu, proposed to establish the Hall of Light, ordered the marquises to take up residence in their fiefs, abolished the border passes, instituted mourning regulations according to ritual propriety—all to usher in an era of great peace. They sought to identify those among the Dou family and the imperial clan who lacked integrity or proper conduct, and to have their names struck from the clan registers. At the time, many relatives of consort families held the rank of marquis, and many marquises had married princesses—none of them wished to leave for their fiefs. Because of this, slanderous reports about the reformers reached Empress Dowager Dou on a daily basis. The Empress Dowager favored the teachings of Huang-Lao, while the Marquis of Weiqi, the Marquis of Wu'an, Zhao Wan, Wang Cang, and their circle strove to promote Confucian learning and disparaged Daoist doctrines. This made Empress Dowager Dou increasingly displeased with the Marquis of Weiqi and his allies. In the second year of the Jianyuan era, Imperial Censor Zhao Wan petitioned that state memorials no longer be forwarded to the Eastern Palace for the Empress Dowager's approval. Empress Dowager Dou flew into a rage. She had Zhao Wan, Wang Cang, and their associates dismissed and banished, and stripped both the chancellor and the Grand Commandant of their posts. The Marquis of Baizhi, Xu Chang, was appointed chancellor, and the Marquis of Wuqiang, Zhuang Qingdi, was made Imperial Censor. From that point on, the Marquis of Weiqi and the Marquis of Wu'an lived at home as mere marquises, without office.

武安侯雖不任職，以王太后故，親幸，數言事多效，天下吏士趨勢利者，皆去魏其歸武安，武安日益橫。建元六年，竇太后崩，丞相昌、御史大夫青翟坐喪事不辦，免。以武安侯蚡為丞相，以大司農韓安國為御史大夫。天下士郡諸侯愈益附武安。

Although the Marquis of Wu'an held no official post, he enjoyed great favor on account of Empress Dowager Wang, and his frequent recommendations often proved effective. Officials and scholars across the realm who pursued power and profit all abandoned the Marquis of Weiqi and attached themselves to Wu'an, whose arrogance grew with each passing day. In the sixth year of the Jianyuan era, Empress Dowager Dou died. Chancellor Xu Chang and Imperial Censor Zhuang Qingdi were found guilty of mismanaging the funeral arrangements and were dismissed. The Marquis of Wu'an, Tian Fen, was appointed chancellor, and the Grand Minister of Agriculture, Han Anguo, was made Imperial Censor. Scholars, commandery officials, and feudal lords throughout the realm attached themselves to Wu'an in ever greater numbers.

武安者，貌侵，生貴甚。又以為諸侯王多長，上初即位，富於春秋，蚡以肺腑為京師相，非痛折節以禮詘之，天下不肅。當是時，丞相入奏事，坐語移日，所言皆聽。薦人或起家至二千石，權移主上。上乃曰：「君除吏已盡未？吾亦欲除吏。」嘗請考工地益宅，上怒曰：「君何不遂取武庫！」是後乃退。嘗召客飲，坐其兄蓋侯南鄉，自坐東鄉，以為漢相尊，不可以兄故私橈。武安由此滋驕，治宅甲諸第。田園極膏腴，而市買郡縣器物相屬於道。前堂羅鐘鼓，立曲旃；後房婦女以百數。諸侯奉金玉狗馬玩好，不可勝數。

The Marquis of Wu'an was ill-favored in appearance, yet he had been born to great privilege. He considered that many of the feudal kings were older in years, while the Emperor had only recently ascended the throne and was still young. As a close kinsman serving as chancellor in the capital, he believed he would need to discipline them rigorously through the force of ritual propriety—otherwise the realm would not be brought to order. At that time, when the chancellor came to court to present his memorials, he would sit and converse with the Emperor for the better part of a day, and every proposal he made was approved. Those he recommended could be elevated from private life to the rank of two-thousand-bushel officials, and his power began to rival the sovereign's own. The Emperor then said, "Have you finished making your appointments? I also want to dismiss officials." On one occasion he requested land from the Directorate of Works to enlarge his residence; the Emperor angrily said, "Why do you not simply take the arsenal!" Only after this did he relent. Once, when he held a banquet for guests, he seated his elder brother, the Marquis of Gai, in the south-facing position, while he himself took the east-facing seat, declaring that as chancellor of the Han, his dignity could not be compromised by private deference to an elder brother. From this point on, the Marquis of Wu'an grew ever more arrogant. He built a residence that surpassed all other mansions in splendor. His fields and gardens occupied the richest soil, and caravans of goods purchased from the commanderies and counties stretched in an unbroken line along the roads. In the front hall bells and drums were displayed, and curved banners were erected; The women kept in his private quarters numbered in the hundreds. The gifts of gold and jade, dogs and horses, and rare curiosities presented to him by the feudal lords were too numerous to count.

魏其失竇太后，益疏不用，無勢，諸客稍稍自引而怠傲，唯灌將軍獨不失故。魏其日默默不得志，而獨厚遇灌將軍。

After the death of Empress Dowager Dou, the Marquis of Weiqi found himself ever more marginalized, without office or influence. His retainers gradually drifted away, growing indifferent and aloof—only General Guan alone remained faithful to their old friendship. Day after day, the Marquis of Weiqi sat in silent frustration, unable to fulfill his ambitions. He alone treated General Guan with warmth and generosity.

灌將軍夫者，潁陰人也。夫父張孟，嘗為潁陰侯嬰舍人，得幸，因進之至二千石，故蒙灌氏姓為灌孟。吳楚反時，潁陰侯灌何為將軍，屬太尉，請灌孟為校尉。夫以千人與父俱。灌孟年老，潁陰侯彊請之，郁郁不得意，故戰常陷堅，遂死吳軍中。軍法，父子俱從軍，有死事，得與喪歸。灌夫不肯隨喪歸，奮曰：「願取吳王若將軍頭，以報父之仇。」於是灌夫被甲持戟，募軍中壯士所善願從者數十人。及出壁門，莫敢前。獨二人及從奴十數騎馳入吳軍，至吳將麾下，所殺傷數十人。不得前，復馳還，走入漢壁，皆亡其奴，獨與一騎歸。夫身中大創十餘，適有萬金良藥，故得無死。夫創少瘳，又復請將軍曰：「吾益知吳壁中曲折，請復往。」將軍壯義之，恐亡夫，乃言太尉，太尉乃固止之。吳已破，灌夫以此名聞天下。

Guan Fu, styled General Guan, was a native of Yingyin. Guan Fu's father, originally named Zhang Meng, had once served as a retainer of the Marquis of Yingyin, Guan Ying, and won his favor. He was promoted to the rank of a two-thousand-bushel official and adopted the Guan surname, becoming known as Guan Meng. During the rebellion of Wu and Chu, the Marquis of Yingyin, Guan He, served as a general under the Grand Commandant and requested that Guan Meng be appointed colonel. Guan Fu accompanied his father with a force of a thousand men. Guan Meng was already old in years. The Marquis of Yingyin had insisted on his appointment, but Guan Meng was disheartened and restless. In battle, he would always charge headlong into the enemy's strongest positions, and he ultimately fell fighting in the ranks of the Wu army. Under military law, when both father and son served in the army and one died in battle, the survivor was permitted to escort the remains home. Guan Fu refused to escort the coffin home and declared boldly, "I wish to take the head of the King of Wu or of one of his generals to avenge my father." Guan Fu then donned his armor, took up his halberd, and recruited several dozen brave soldiers from the camp who admired him and were willing to follow. But when they reached the camp gate, none of them dared go forward. Only two men and about a dozen mounted slaves charged with him into the Wu lines, fighting their way to the foot of the Wu general's standard and killing or wounding scores of the enemy. Unable to press further forward, they wheeled around and galloped back to the Han lines. All the slaves had been lost along the way, and Guan Fu returned with only a single rider. Guan Fu himself had suffered more than ten serious wounds, but he happened to have access to rare and costly medicines, and so he survived. When his wounds had healed somewhat, Guan Fu again requested of the general, saying, "I now know the twists and turns within the Wu ramparts even better; please let me go again." The generals admired his valor, and fearing they might lose him, reported the matter to the Grand Commandant, who firmly ordered Guan Fu to cease his sorties. After Wu was defeated, Guan Fu's name became renowned throughout the realm on account of his exploits.

潁陰侯言之上，上以夫為中郎將。數月，坐法去。後家居長安，長安中諸公莫弗稱之。孝景時，至代相。孝景崩，今上初即位，以為淮陽天下交，勁兵處，故徙夫為淮陽太守。建元元年，入為太仆。二年，夫與長樂衛尉竇甫飲，輕重不得，夫醉，搏甫。甫，竇太后昆弟也。上恐太后誅夫，徙為燕相。數歲，坐法去官，家居長安。

The Marquis of Yingyin commended him to the Emperor, who appointed Guan Fu as General of the Gentlemen of the Household. After several months, he was dismissed for breaking the law. Afterward he lived as a private citizen in Chang'an, where all the great men of the capital spoke highly of him. During Emperor Jing's reign, he rose to the post of chancellor of the kingdom of Dai. After Emperor Jing died and the present Emperor first ascended the throne, it was judged that Huaiyang stood at a strategic crossroads of the realm, requiring a strong military presence. Guan Fu was therefore transferred to serve as Governor of Huaiyang. In the first year of the Jianyuan era, he was summoned to court to serve as Grand Coachman. In the second year, Guan Fu was drinking with Dou Fu, the Guard Commander of the Changle Palace. A dispute arose over a matter of precedence, and Guan Fu, drunk, struck Dou Fu. Dou Fu was a brother of Empress Dowager Dou. The Emperor, fearing that the Empress Dowager would have Guan Fu executed, transferred him to serve as chancellor of the kingdom of Yan. After several years, he was again dismissed from office for a legal offense and retired to private life in Chang'an.

灌夫為人剛直使酒，不好面諛。貴戚諸有勢在己之右，不欲加禮，必陵之；諸士在己之左，愈貧賤，尤益敬，與鈞。稠人廣眾，薦寵下輩。士亦以此多之。

Guan Fu was by nature forthright and unyielding, prone to drinking, and had no tolerance for sycophancy. Toward noble kinsmen and all who held power above him, if he was unwilling to show them courtesy, he was sure to treat them with contempt; The more humble and impoverished a scholar was compared to himself, the more respectfully Guan Fu treated him, as though they were equals. In large gatherings, he would single out and commend those of lower standing. The scholars therefore held him in high regard.

夫不喜文學，好任俠，已然諾。諸所與交通，無非豪桀大猾。家累數千萬，食客日數十百人。陂池田園，宗族賓客為權利，橫於潁川。潁川兒乃歌之曰：「潁水清，灌氏寧；潁水濁，灌氏族。」

Guan Fu had no fondness for literary pursuits but admired the ways of the knight-errant, and once he gave his word, he always kept it. Those he associated with were without exception men of daring—great heroes and cunning rascals alike. His family had amassed a fortune of tens of millions of cash, and each day he fed anywhere from several dozen to a hundred retainers. With his reservoirs, ponds, fields, and gardens, his clansmen and retainers wielded such power and influence that they lorded over the entire commandery of Yingchuan. The people of Yingchuan then sang of it, saying, "When the Ying runs clear, the Guan clan is at peace; when the Ying runs turbid, the Guan clan is destroyed."

灌夫家居雖富，然失勢，卿相侍中賓客益衰。及魏其侯失勢，亦欲倚灌夫引繩批根生平慕之後棄之者。灌夫亦倚魏其而通列侯宗室為名高。兩人相為引重，其游如父子然。相得驩甚，無厭，恨相知晚也。

Though Guan Fu lived in wealth, he had lost his influence. The ministers, palace attendants, and retainers who had once flocked to him steadily fell away. When the Marquis of Weiqi likewise fell from power, he sought to rely on Guan Fu to expose and attack those who had admired him in his days of influence only to abandon him afterward. Guan Fu, for his part, relied on the Marquis of Weiqi's connections to associate with marquises and imperial clansmen, burnishing his own reputation. The two men bolstered each other's standing, and their companionship was like that of a father and son. They delighted in each other's company without limit, regretting only that they had not met sooner.

灌夫有服，過丞相。丞相從容曰：「吾欲與仲孺過魏其侯，會仲孺有服。」灌夫曰：「將軍乃肯幸臨況魏其侯，夫安敢以服為解！請語魏其侯帳具，將軍旦日蚤臨。」武安許諾。灌夫具語魏其侯如所謂武安侯。魏其與其夫人益市牛酒，夜灑埽，早帳具至旦。平明，令門下候伺。至日中，丞相不來。魏其謂灌夫曰：「丞相豈忘之哉？」灌夫不懌，曰：「夫以服請，宜往。」乃駕，自往迎丞相。丞相特前戲許灌夫，殊無意往。及夫至門，丞相尚臥。於是夫入見，曰：「將軍昨日幸許過魏其，魏其夫妻治具，自旦至今，未敢嘗食。」武安鄂謝曰：「吾昨日醉，忽忘與仲孺言。」乃駕往，又徐行，灌夫愈益怒。及飲酒酣，夫起舞屬丞相，丞相不起，夫從坐上語侵之。魏其乃扶灌夫去，謝丞相。丞相卒飲至夜，極驩而去。

Guan Fu, who was in a period of mourning, paid a visit to the chancellor. The chancellor said casually, "I wish to visit the Marquis of Weiqi with you, Zhongru, but it happens that you are in mourning." Guan Fu said, "Since you, General, are willing to honor the Marquis of Weiqi with a visit, how dare I use mourning as an excuse! Please tell the Marquis of Weiqi to prepare his tent and feast; you, General, should come early tomorrow morning." The Marquis of Wu'an agreed. Guan Fu reported to the Marquis of Weiqi exactly what he had said to the Marquis of Wu'an and the response he had received. The Marquis of Weiqi and his wife purchased beef and wine, swept and sprinkled the grounds that evening, and set up the canopies and prepared the feast, working through the night until dawn. At daybreak, he stationed attendants at the gate to watch for the chancellor's arrival. By noon, the chancellor had still not arrived. The Marquis of Weiqi said to Guan Fu, "Can the chancellor have forgotten?" Guan Fu was displeased and said, "I made the request while in mourning; he ought to come." He then had his carriage harnessed and went in person to fetch the chancellor. The chancellor had only casually and jokingly agreed to Guan Fu's invitation and had no real intention of going. When Guan Fu arrived at his gate, the chancellor was still in bed. Guan Fu then went in to see him and said, "Yesterday you graciously promised to visit the Marquis of Weiqi. He and his wife have prepared the feast from dawn until now and have not dared to eat." The Marquis of Wu'an faltered and apologized, saying, "I was drunk yesterday and suddenly forgot what I had said to Zhongru." The chancellor then had his carriage harnessed and set out, but traveled at a leisurely pace. Guan Fu's anger deepened with every passing moment. When the wine had been flowing freely, Guan Fu rose to dance and invited the chancellor to join him. The chancellor refused to rise. From his seat, Guan Fu hurled insults at him. The Marquis of Weiqi took Guan Fu by the arm and led him away, then apologized to the chancellor. The chancellor stayed on drinking until nightfall and departed in fine spirits.

丞相嘗使籍福請魏其城南田。魏其大望曰：「老僕雖棄，將軍雖貴，寧可以勢奪乎！」不許。灌夫聞，怒，罵籍福。籍福惡兩人有郤，乃謾自好謝丞相曰：「魏其老且死，易忍，且待之。」已而武安聞魏其、灌夫實怒不予田，亦怒曰：「魏其子嘗殺人，蚡活之。蚡事魏其無所不可，何愛數頃田？且灌夫何與也？吾不敢複求田。」武安由此大怨灌夫、魏其。

On an earlier occasion, the chancellor had sent Ji Fu to request from the Marquis of Weiqi a tract of farmland south of the city. The Marquis of Weiqi was greatly disappointed and said, "Though I am an old servant cast aside, and though you, General, are noble, can you seize by power!" The Marquis of Weiqi refused. When Guan Fu learned of this, he was furious and cursed Ji Fu for his role. Ji Fu hated the enmity between the two men and so falsely made himself out friendly and apologized to the chancellor, saying, "The Marquis of Weiqi is old and near death; he is easy to endure—wait a while." Before long the Marquis of Wu'an heard that the Marquis of Weiqi and Guan Fu were genuinely angry and would not give the land, and he too grew angry, saying, "The son of the Marquis of Weiqi once killed a man, and I, Fen, kept him alive. In my dealings with the Marquis of Weiqi, I have refused him nothing; why would I grudge him a few qing of fields? And what business is this of Guan Fu's? I will not dare ask for the fields again." From that point on, the Marquis of Wu'an harbored a deep grudge against both Guan Fu and the Marquis of Weiqi.

元光四年春，丞相言灌夫家在潁川，橫甚，民苦之。請案。上曰：「此丞相事，何請。」灌夫亦持丞相陰事，為奸利，受淮南王金與語言。賓客居間，遂止，俱解。

In the spring of the fourth year of the Yuanguang era, the chancellor reported that Guan Fu's family in Yingchuan had grown exceedingly tyrannical and that the people suffered under their oppression. He requested a formal investigation. The Emperor said, "This is the chancellor's affair. Why ask me?" Guan Fu, for his part, held damaging knowledge of the chancellor's secret dealings—how he had pursued corrupt gains and accepted gold and confidential communications from the King of Huainan. Retainers intervened as mediators, and the affair was dropped—both sides stood down.

夏，丞相取燕王女為夫人，有太后詔，召列侯宗室皆往賀。魏其侯過灌夫，欲與俱。夫謝曰：「夫數以酒失得過丞相，丞相今者又與夫有郤。」魏其曰：「事已解。」彊與俱。飲酒酣，武安起為壽，坐皆避席伏。已魏其侯為壽，獨故人避席耳，餘半膝席。灌夫不悅。起行酒，至武安，武安膝席曰：「不能滿觴。」夫怒，因嘻笑曰：「將軍貴人也，屬之！」時武安不肯。行酒次至臨汝侯，臨汝侯方與程不識耳語，又不避席。夫無所發怒，乃罵臨汝侯曰：「生平毀程不識不直一錢，今日長者為壽，乃效女兒呫囁耳語！」武安謂灌夫曰：「程李俱東西宮衛尉，今眾辱程將軍，仲孺獨不為李將軍地乎？」灌夫曰：「今日斬頭陷匈，何知程李乎！」坐乃起更衣，稍稍去。魏其侯去，麾灌夫出。武安遂怒曰：「此吾驕灌夫罪。」乃令騎留灌夫。灌夫欲出不得。籍福起為謝，案灌夫項令謝。夫愈怒，不肯謝。武安乃麾騎縛夫置傳舍，召長史曰：「今日召宗室，有詔。」劾灌夫罵坐不敬，系居室。遂按其前事，遣吏分曹逐捕諸灌氏支屬，皆得棄市罪。魏其侯大媿，為資使賓客請，莫能解。武安吏皆為耳目，諸灌氏皆亡匿，夫系，遂不得告言武安陰事。

That summer, the chancellor married the daughter of the King of Yan. By decree of the Empress Dowager, all marquises and imperial clansmen were summoned to attend and offer their congratulations. The Marquis of Weiqi called on Guan Fu, hoping they might attend together. Guan Fu declined, saying, "I have several times offended the chancellor through drunken misconduct, and he now bears a grudge against me." The Marquis of Weiqi said, "The matter has already been resolved." The Marquis of Weiqi insisted, and they went together. When the wine had been flowing freely, the Marquis of Wu'an rose to offer a toast to the guests' health. Every guest left his seat and prostrated himself. When the Marquis of Weiqi rose to offer his toast, only his old acquaintances left their seats to bow. The rest merely half-rose or stayed where they were. Guan Fu was deeply displeased. He rose to circulate the wine. When he reached the Marquis of Wu'an, the marquis half rose on his knees and said, "I cannot drain the goblet." Guan Fu was angry and, with a mocking laugh, said, "You are a noble man, General—leave it to you!" But the Marquis of Wu'an refused. When the round of toasts reached the Marquis of Linru, he was whispering with Cheng Bushi and did not bother to leave his seat. With no outlet for his anger, Guan Fu cursed the Marquis of Linru, saying, "All your life you have slandered Cheng Bushi as not worth a single cash; today, when an elder offers a longevity toast, you imitate a girl whispering in secret!" The Marquis of Wu'an said to Guan Fu, "Cheng and Li are both Commandants of the Guards, one for the eastern palace and one for the western. Today everyone has insulted General Cheng; will you alone show no regard for General Li?" Guan Fu said, "Even if my head were cut off and my chest pierced today, what would I care about Cheng or Li!" The guests began to rise, ostensibly to relieve themselves, and one by one slipped away. The Marquis of Weiqi rose to leave, beckoning Guan Fu to follow him out. The Marquis of Wu'an then said angrily, "This is my fault for indulging Guan Fu." The Marquis of Wu'an then ordered his riders to detain Guan Fu. Guan Fu tried to leave but was unable to break free. Ji Fu rose and attempted to apologize on Guan Fu's behalf, pushing down on his neck and ordering him to bow and apologize. But Guan Fu only grew angrier and refused to apologize. The Marquis of Wu'an then signaled his riders to bind Guan Fu and hold him at the relay station. He summoned his chief clerk and said, "Today I summoned members of the imperial clan; there is an edict." He impeached Guan Fu for cursing at the banquet and showing gross disrespect, and had him arrested and thrown into confinement. He then dredged up Guan Fu's prior offenses, dispatching officials in separate teams to hunt down and arrest all the members and relatives of the Guan clan. Every one of them was found guilty of crimes punishable by public execution. The Marquis of Weiqi was consumed with guilt. He spent freely and sent his retainers to plead on Guan Fu's behalf, but none could secure his release. The Marquis of Wu'an's officials served as his eyes and ears everywhere. The remaining members of the Guan clan had all fled into hiding. With Guan Fu in prison, there was no one left who could expose the Marquis of Wu'an's secret dealings.

魏其銳身為救灌夫。夫人諫魏其曰：「灌將軍得罪丞相，與太后家忤，寧可救邪？」魏其侯曰：「侯自我得之，自我捐之，無所恨。且終不令灌仲孺獨死，嬰獨生。」乃匿其家，竊出上書。立召入，具言灌夫醉飽事，不足誅。上然之，賜魏其食，曰：「東朝廷辯之。」

The Marquis of Weiqi threw himself body and soul into the effort to save Guan Fu. His wife remonstrated with the Marquis of Weiqi, saying, "General Guan has offended the chancellor and crossed the Empress Dowager's family. Can he really be saved?" The Marquis of Weiqi said, "I gained my marquisate by my own doing; if I lose it by my own doing, I will have no regret. And in the end I will not let Zhongru of Guan die alone while I, Ying, live on alone." He kept his household hidden and secretly submitted a memorial to the throne. He was immediately summoned for an audience, where he laid out the full circumstances of Guan Fu's drunken behavior, arguing that it was far from sufficient grounds for execution. The Emperor approved, served food to the Marquis of Weiqi, and said, "Argue the matter in the eastern court."

魏其之東朝，盛推灌夫之善，言其醉飽得過，乃丞相以他事誣罪之。武安又盛毀灌夫所為橫恣，罪逆不道。魏其度不可奈何，因言丞相短。武安曰：「天下幸而安樂無事，蚡得為肺腑，所好音樂狗馬田宅。蚡所愛倡優巧匠之屬，不如魏其、灌夫日夜招聚天下豪桀壯士與論議，腹誹而心謗，不仰視天而俯畫地，辟倪兩宮間，幸天下有變，而欲有大功。臣乃不知魏其等所為。」於是上問朝臣：「兩人孰是？」御史大夫韓安國曰：「魏其言灌夫父死事，身荷戟馳入不測之吳軍，身被數十創，名冠三軍，此天下壯士，非有大惡，爭杯酒，不足引他過以誅也。魏其言是也。丞相亦言灌夫通奸猾，侵細民，家累巨萬，橫恣潁川，淩轢宗室，侵犯骨肉，此所謂『枝大於本，脛大於股，不折必披』，丞相言亦是。唯明主裁之。」主爵都尉汲黯是魏其。內史鄭當時是魏其，後不敢堅對。餘皆莫敢對。上怒內史曰：「公平生數言魏其、武安長短，今日廷論，局趣效轅下駒，吾並斬若屬矣。」即罷起入，上食太后。太后亦已使人候伺，具以告太后。太后怒，不食，曰：「今我在也，而人皆藉吾弟，令我百歲後，皆魚肉之矣。且帝甯能為石人邪！此特帝在，即錄錄，設百歲後，是屬寧有可信者乎？」上謝曰：「俱宗室外家，故廷辯之。不然，此一獄吏所決耳。」是時郎中令石建為上別言兩人事。

At the eastern court, the Marquis of Weiqi vigorously praised Guan Fu's virtues, arguing that his offenses had merely arisen from excess drinking at a feast, and that the chancellor was using unrelated matters to frame him on false charges. The Marquis of Wu'an in turn vehemently denounced Guan Fu's conduct as arrogant and lawless, declaring his crimes treasonous and unconscionable. Seeing that he could not prevail, the Marquis of Weiqi resorted to attacking the chancellor's own failings. The Marquis of Wu'an said, "Fortunately the realm is peaceful and without trouble. I, Fen, have been able to serve as one of Your Majesty's closest kin, and the things I enjoy are music, dogs, horses, fields, and residences. What Tian Fen enjoys is nothing more than the company of singers, entertainers, and skilled artisans. Far more troubling are the Marquis of Weiqi and Guan Fu, who day and night gather the realm's heroes and warriors to plot and deliberate, harboring slander in their bellies and rebellion in their hearts, gazing downward to trace designs upon the ground rather than looking up to Heaven, spying on the affairs between the two palaces, hoping for upheaval in the realm so they might seize great glory. Your subject has no part in whatever the Marquis of Weiqi and the others are doing." The Emperor then asked the court ministers, "Which of the two men is right?" Imperial Censor Han Anguo said, "The Marquis of Weiqi spoke of how Guan Fu's father died in service; he bore a halberd on his shoulder and galloped into the unpredictable Wu army, suffered dozens of wounds, and his name crowned the three armies—he is a stalwart of the realm. He has committed no great crime; to contend over a cup of wine is insufficient grounds to cite other faults and execute him. The Marquis of Weiqi's arguments are sound. The chancellor also said that Guan Fu consorted with treacherous rogues, oppressed common people, amassed a fortune in the tens of millions, acted lawlessly in Yingchuan, trampled the imperial clan, and violated his own kin. This is what is meant by the saying, "When the branch is larger than the root and the shin larger than the thigh, unless it is broken, it will split." The chancellor's words are also correct. Let the enlightened sovereign decide." The Director of Noble Titles, Ji An, sided with the Marquis of Weiqi. The Prefect of the Capital, Zheng Dangshi, initially sided with the Marquis of Weiqi, but later did not dare to maintain his position. None of the rest dared to speak. The Emperor angrily said to the Prefect of the Capital, "All your life you have repeatedly talked about the merits and faults of the Marquis of Weiqi and the Marquis of Wu'an, yet in today's court debate you crouch and shrink like a colt beneath the shafts. I ought to behead the lot of you." When the debate was adjourned, the Emperor rose and went in to dine with the Empress Dowager. The Empress Dowager had already dispatched people to observe the proceedings, and a full report had been delivered to her. The Empress Dowager was angry and refused to eat, saying, "While I am still alive, everyone tramples on my younger brother. After I am gone, they will carve him up like fish and meat. Can the Emperor really be made of stone! They are timid only while the Emperor is present; suppose that after a hundred years—can any of these people be trusted?" The Emperor apologized, saying, "They are both relatives of the imperial house on the maternal side, so I held a court debate over it. Otherwise, a single prison official could have decided the case." At the time, the Palace Secretary Shi Jian presented a separate report to the Emperor on the affair between the two men.

武安已罷朝，出止車門，召韓御史大夫載，怒曰：「與長孺共一老禿翁，何為首鼠兩端？」韓禦史良久謂丞相曰：「君何不自喜？夫魏其毀君，君當免冠解印綬歸，曰『臣以肺腑幸得待罪，固非其任，魏其言皆是』。如此，上必多君有讓，不廢君。魏其必內愧，杜門齰舌自殺。今人毀君，君亦毀人，譬如賈豎女子爭言，何其無大體也！」武安謝罪曰：「爭時急，不知出此。」

The Marquis of Wu'an had already dismissed court, went out and stopped at the carriage gate, summoned Imperial Censor Han Anguo to ride with him, and said angrily, "Together with Changru you shared one old bald man—why play the rat that looks both ways?" After a long while, Imperial Censor Han said to the chancellor, "Why do you not take pride in yourself? When the Marquis of Weiqi criticized you, you should have removed your cap, untied your seal and ribbon, and gone home, saying, 'Your subject has been fortunate to serve as one of Your Majesty's closest kin, but I am indeed unfit for this office; everything the Marquis of Weiqi says is correct. If you do so, the Emperor will surely commend your magnanimity and will not remove you from office. The Marquis of Weiqi, consumed with shame, will shut his gates, bite his tongue in remorse, and take his own life. Now others slander you, and you slander others—it is like a peddler's boy or a woman quarreling in words; how lacking in great propriety!" The Marquis of Wu'an apologized, saying, "In the urgency of the dispute, I did not think to say this."

於是上使禦史簿責魏其所言灌夫，頗不讎，欺謾。劾系都司空。孝景時，魏其常受遺詔，曰「事有不便，以便宜論上」。及系，灌夫罪至族，事日急，諸公莫敢複明言於上。魏其乃使昆弟子上書言之，幸得複召見。書奏上，而案尚書大行無遺詔。詔書獨藏魏其家，家丞封。乃劾魏其矯先帝詔，罪當棄市。五年十月，悉論灌夫及家屬。魏其良久乃聞，聞即恚，病痱，不食欲死。或聞上無意殺魏其，魏其複食，治病，議定不死矣。乃有蜚語為惡言聞上，故以十二月晦論棄市渭城。

The Emperor then dispatched the Imperial Censor to compile a formal record and examine what the Marquis of Weiqi had claimed about Guan Fu. Many of his statements did not match the facts and were found to be deceitful and reckless. The Marquis of Weiqi was impeached and confined in the prison of the Director of Works. During Emperor Jing's reign, the Marquis of Weiqi had often received a testamentary edict saying, "When matters are inconvenient, report to the throne at your discretion." With both men in prison, Guan Fu's crimes were now judged to warrant the execution of his entire clan. The matter grew more urgent by the day, yet none of the grandees dared speak out to the Emperor on their behalf. The Marquis of Weiqi then had a kinsman submit a memorial on the matter and was fortunate enough to be granted another audience. The memorial was submitted to the throne, but when the records of the Imperial Secretariat were examined, no such posthumous edict was found on file. The edict existed only in the Marquis of Weiqi's household, where it had been sealed away by his household steward. The Marquis of Weiqi was then impeached for forging a decree of the former Emperor—a crime punishable by public execution. In the tenth month of the fifth year, Guan Fu and all his family members were tried and sentenced to death. The Marquis of Weiqi did not learn of this for some time. When he finally heard the news, he was overcome with rage, fell ill with a paralytic condition, refused to eat, and wished only to die. Then it was rumored that the Emperor had no intention of executing the Marquis of Weiqi. Upon hearing this, the Marquis resumed eating and sought treatment for his illness, and it seemed settled that he would be spared. But then malicious rumors and slanderous words reached the Emperor's ears. And so, on the last day of the twelfth month, the Marquis of Weiqi was sentenced to death and publicly executed at Weicheng.

其春，武安侯病，專呼服謝罪。使巫視鬼者視之，見魏其、灌夫共守，欲殺之。竟死。子恬嗣。元朔三年，武安侯坐衣襜褕入宮，不敬。

The following spring, the Marquis of Wu'an fell gravely ill. He was heard constantly crying out and confessing his sins. A shaman with the ability to see ghosts was summoned to examine him. The shaman saw the spirits of the Marquis of Weiqi and Guan Fu standing guard over him, intent on taking his life. In the end, the Marquis of Wu'an died. His son Tian succeeded to the marquisate. In the third year of the Yuanshuo era, the new Marquis of Wu'an was charged with the offense of entering the palace in informal attire, an act of disrespect.

淮南王安謀反覺，治。王前朝，武安侯為太尉，時迎王至霸上，謂王曰：「上未有太子，大王最賢，高祖孫，即宮車晏駕，非大王立當誰哉！」淮南王大喜，厚遺金財物。上自魏其時不直武安，特為太后故耳。及聞淮南王金事，上曰：「使武安侯在者，族矣。」

When the King of Huainan, Liu An, was discovered to have been plotting rebellion, an investigation was launched. When the king had earlier come to court, the Marquis of Wu'an was Grand Commandant. He met the king at Bashang and said to him, "The Emperor has not yet named a crown prince. Your Majesty is the worthiest of Gaozu's grandsons. If the imperial carriage should one day fail to return, who but Your Majesty ought to be enthroned!" The King of Huainan was greatly pleased and lavished him with gold, valuables, and other gifts. From the time of the Marquis of Weiqi's affair, the Emperor had in truth considered the Marquis of Wu'an to be in the wrong, but had indulged him solely on account of the Empress Dowager. When the Emperor heard about the King of Huainan's gift of gold, he said, "If the Marquis of Wu'an were still alive, his entire clan would have been executed."

太史公曰：魏其、武安皆以外戚重，灌夫用一時決筴而名顯。魏其之舉以吳楚，武安之貴在日月之際。然魏其誠不知時變，灌夫無術而不遜，兩人相翼，乃成禍亂。武安負貴而好權，杯酒責望，陷彼兩賢。嗚呼哀哉！遷怒及人，命亦不延。眾庶不載，竟被惡言。嗚呼哀哉！禍所從來矣！

The Grand Historian says: Both the Marquis of Weiqi and the Marquis of Wu'an owed their prominence to maternal kinship; Guan Fu, by a single decisive stratagem of the moment, made his name prominent. The Marquis of Weiqi rose to prominence through the rebellion of Wu and Chu, while the Marquis of Wu'an achieved his nobility in the brief interval between reigns. Yet the Marquis of Weiqi truly failed to read the changing times, and Guan Fu lacked prudence and was intemperate. The two men propped each other up, and in doing so brought about their own ruin. The Marquis of Wu'an relied on his noble birth yet craved power. Over cups of wine he nursed his grievances, and by these means brought down two worthy men. Alas! How pitiful! He turned his wrath upon others, yet his own life was not thereby prolonged. The common people refused to honor his memory, and in the end he was buried in infamy. Alas! How pitiful! Such is the source of calamity!

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