1
御史大夫韓安國者，梁成安人也，後徙睢陽。 嘗受韓子、雜家說於騶田生所。 事梁孝王為中大夫。 吳楚反時，孝王使安國及張羽為將，捍吳兵於東界。 張羽力戰，安國持重，以故吳不能過梁。 吳楚已破，安國、張羽名由此顯。
The Grand Censor Han Anguo was a native of Cheng'an in the kingdom of Liang, and later moved to Suiyang. He once studied the writings of Han Feizi and the teachings of the Eclectic School under Master Zou Tian. He served King Xiao of Liang as a Palace Grandee. When Wu and Chu rebelled, King Xiao dispatched Anguo and Zhang Yu as generals to defend the eastern border against the forces of Wu. Zhang Yu fought with fierce determination while Anguo held a steady defensive position, and so the armies of Wu were unable to advance past Liang. After Wu and Chu were defeated, the names of Anguo and Zhang Yu became renowned throughout the realm.
2
梁孝王，景帝母弟，竇太后愛之，令得自請置相、二千石，出入游戲，僭於天子。 天子聞之，心弗善也。 太后知帝不善，乃怒梁使者，弗見，案責王所為。 韓安國為梁使，見大長公主而泣曰：「何梁王為人子之孝，為人臣之忠，太后曾弗省也？ 夫前日吳、楚、齊、趙七國反時，自關以東皆合從西鄉，惟梁最親為艱難。 梁王念太后、帝在中，而諸侯擾亂，一言泣數行下，跪送臣等六人，將兵擊卻吳楚，吳楚以故兵不敢西，而卒破亡，梁王之力也。 今太后以小睗苛禮責望梁王。 梁王父兄皆帝王，所見者大，故出稱蹕，入言警，車旗皆帝所賜也，即欲以侘鄙縣，驅馳國中，以夸諸侯，令天下盡知太后、帝愛之也。 今梁使來，輒案責之。 梁王恐，日夜涕泣思慕，不知所為。 何梁王之為子孝，為臣忠，而太后弗恤也？」 大長公主具以告太后，太后喜曰：「為言之帝。」 言之，帝心乃解，而免冠謝太后曰：「兄弟不能相教，乃為太后遺憂。」 悉見梁使，厚賜之。 其後梁王益親驩。 太后、長公主更賜安國可直千餘金。 名由此顯，結於漢。
King Xiao of Liang was Emperor Jing's younger brother by the same mother. Empress Dowager Dou doted on him, allowing him to appoint his own chancellor and officials of two-thousand-shi rank, to come and go at his pleasure, and to adopt ceremonies that exceeded those appropriate for anyone but the Son of Heaven. When the Emperor heard of this, he was displeased. When the Empress Dowager learned of the Emperor's displeasure, she turned her anger upon the envoys from Liang, refusing to grant them audience and instead investigating and censuring the king's conduct. Han Anguo as Liang envoy, saw grand princess and wept: "Why Liang wang conduct filial piety as son, conduct loyalty as subject, empress dowager once not consider? In the past, when the Seven Kingdoms of Wu, Chu, Qi, and Zhao rebelled, all the lands east of the passes united and marched westward, yet it was Liang alone—the kingdom closest to the throne—that bore the hardest fighting. The King of Liang, mindful that the Empress Dowager and the Emperor stood at the center while the feudal lords threw the realm into chaos, wept with every word he spoke, tears streaming down his face. He knelt and sent off six of us as generals, who led troops to drive back Wu and Chu. Because of this, the armies of Wu and Chu dared not advance westward and were ultimately destroyed—all through the efforts of the King of Liang. Now the Empress Dowager, on account of minor suspicions and rigid protocols, censures and finds fault with the King of Liang. The King of Liang's father and brothers were all emperors, so naturally his vision is grand. When he goes abroad he calls for the roads to be cleared, and when he returns he commands the imperial alert—but his carriages and banners were all bestowed upon him by the Emperor himself. He merely wished to display them through the humble counties and ride throughout his kingdom, to impress the feudal lords and let all under heaven know that the Empress Dowager and the Emperor loved him. Yet now, whenever envoys arrive from Liang, they are immediately subjected to interrogation and blame. The King of Liang is terrified, weeping day and night with longing, not knowing what to do. Why Liang wang conduct filial as son, conduct loyal as subject, but empress dowager not cared? Grand princess completely to report empress dowager, empress dowager happy: "Will speak to emperor." Spoke it, emperor heart then resolved, moreover removed hat apologized empress dowager: "Brothers cannot mutually teach, moreover for empress dowager left worry." He received all the envoys from Liang and bestowed generous gifts upon them. After this, the King of Liang enjoyed even closer and warmer relations with the court. The Empress Dowager and the Grand Princess in turn rewarded Anguo with gifts worth over a thousand pieces of gold. His name became illustrious from this, and he forged ties with the Han court.
3
其後安國坐法抵罪，蒙獄吏田甲辱安國。 安國曰：「死灰獨不復然乎？」 田甲曰：「然即溺之。」 居無何，梁內史缺，漢使使者拜安國為梁內史，起徒中為二千石。 田甲亡走。 安國曰：「甲不就官，我滅而宗。」 甲因肉袒謝。 安國笑曰：「可溺矣！ 公等足與治乎？」 卒善遇之。
Later, Anguo was convicted of a crime and imprisoned. While in prison, the jailer Tian Jia humiliated him. Anguo said: "Dead ashes alone not again burn?" Tian Jia said: "Burn then drown it." Before long, the position of Prefect of Liang fell vacant. The Han court sent an envoy to appoint Anguo as Prefect of Liang, raising him from prisoner to an official of two-thousand-shi rank. Tian Jia fled in terror. Anguo said: "Jia not go office, I extinguish your clan." Tian Jia accordingly bared his torso and prostrated himself in apology. Anguo laughed: "Can drown! You all sufficient with govern?" In the end, Anguo treated him with kindness.
4
梁內史之缺也，孝王新得齊人公孫詭，說之，欲請以為內史。 竇太后聞，乃詔王以安國為內史。
When the position of Prefect fell vacant, King Xiao had recently taken a liking to Gongsun Gui, a man from Qi who had won the king's favor through persuasive counsel, and wished to request his appointment as Prefect. When Empress Dowager Dou heard of this, she issued a decree commanding the king to appoint Anguo as Prefect instead.
5
公孫詭、羊勝說孝王求為帝太子及益地事，恐漢大臣不聽，乃陰使人刺漢用事謀臣。 及殺故吳相袁盎，景帝遂聞詭、勝等計畫，乃遣使捕詭、勝，必得。 漢使十輩至梁，相以下舉國大索，月餘不得。 內史安國聞詭、勝匿孝王所，安國入見王而泣曰：「主辱臣死。 大王無良臣，故事紛紛至此。 今詭、勝不得，請辭賜死。」 王曰：「何至此？」 安國泣數行下，曰：「大王自度於皇帝，孰與太上皇之與高皇帝及皇帝之與臨江王親？」 孝王曰：「弗如也。」 安國曰：「夫太上、臨江親父子之閒，然而高帝曰『提三尺劍取天下者朕也』，故太上皇終不得制事，居于櫟陽。 臨江王，適長太子也，以一言過，廢王臨江； 用宮垣事，卒自殺中尉府。 何者？ 治天下終不以私亂公。 語曰：『雖有親父，安知其不為虎？ 雖有親兄，安知其不為狼？』 今大王列在諸侯，悅一邪臣浮說，犯上禁，橈明法。 天子以太后故，不忍致法於王。 太后日夜涕泣，幸大王自改，而大王終不覺寤。 有如太后宮車即晏駕，大王尚誰攀乎？」 語未卒，孝王泣數行下，謝安國曰：「吾今出詭、勝。」 詭、勝自殺。 漢使還報，梁事皆得釋，安國之力也。 於是景帝、太后益重安國。 孝王卒，共王即位，安國坐法失官，居家。
Gongsun Gui and Yang Sheng persuaded King Xiao to seek designation as the Emperor's heir apparent and to petition for additional territory. Fearing that the great ministers of Han would not comply, they secretly sent assassins to murder the influential advisors at the Han court. When they murdered Yuan Ang, the former Chancellor of Wu, Emperor Jing at last learned of the plots of Gongsun Gui and Yang Sheng. He dispatched envoys to arrest them, with orders that they must be captured. Ten groups of Han envoys arrived in Liang, and the Chancellor and all officials below him mobilized the entire kingdom in a great search, but after more than a month they could not find them. Internal affairs Anguo heard Gui, Sheng hid Xiao wang place, Anguo entered saw wang and wept: "Lord disgraced subject dies. Your Majesty has no worthy ministers, and so affairs have descended into this chaos. Now Gui, Sheng not obtained, please resign grant death." Wang said: "Why to this?" Anguo wept several rows down, said: "Great wang self measure with emperor, who with Taishang emperor relation Gao emperor and emperor relation Linjiang wang close?" Xiao wang said: "Not like." Anguo said: "Because Taishang, Linjiang close father son between, but Gao emperor said "raised three chi sword took realm I", therefore Taishang emperor finally not got control matters, resided in Queyang. Linjiang wang, legitimate eldest crown prince, with one word mistake, deposed wang Linjiang; On account of the incident at the palace walls, he ended by taking his own life in the Commandant's office. Why? In governing the realm, he never allowed private interests to disrupt public affairs. Proverb says: "Though have close father, how know he not become tiger? Though have close brother, how know he not become wolf?" Now Your Majesty ranks among the feudal lords, yet you have delighted in the reckless counsel of a treacherous minister, violated the Emperor's prohibitions, and subverted the clear laws. The Emperor, out of regard for the Empress Dowager, cannot bring himself to enforce the law against the king. The Empress Dowager weeps day and night, hoping that Your Majesty will reform on your own, yet Your Majesty never comes to his senses. If like empress dowager palace carriage immediately evening drive, great wang still who cling?" Words not finished, Xiao wang wept several rows down, thanked Anguo: "I now out Gui, Sheng." Gongsun Gui and Yang Sheng took their own lives. When the Han envoys returned with their report, all charges against Liang were dropped—this was entirely through Anguo's efforts. From then on, Emperor Jing and the Empress Dowager valued Anguo even more highly. When King Xiao died and King Gong succeeded him, Anguo was convicted of an offense and stripped of his position, retiring to his home.
6
建元中，武安侯田蚡為漢太尉，親貴用事，安國以五百金物遺蚡。 蚡言安國太后，天子亦素聞其賢，即召以為北地都尉，遷為大司農。 閩越、東越相攻，安國及大行王恢將。 未至越，越殺其王降，漢兵亦罷。 建元六年，武安侯為丞相，安國為御史大夫。
During the Jianyuan reign period, the Marquis of Wuan, Tian Fen, served as Grand Commandant of Han. He wielded power as an intimate of the imperial family, and Anguo presented him with gifts worth five hundred pieces of gold. Tian Fen commended Anguo to the Empress Dowager. The Emperor, who had long heard of his abilities, immediately summoned him and appointed him Commandant of Beidi, then promoted him to Grand Minister of Agriculture. When Minyue and Dongyue attacked each other, Anguo and the Grand Herald Wang Hui were appointed to lead the campaign. Before the army reached Yue, the people of Yue killed their king and surrendered, and the Han forces were recalled. In the sixth year of the Jianyuan reign, the Marquis of Wuan became Chancellor, and Anguo became Grand Censor.
7
匈奴來請和親，天子下議。 大行王恢，燕人也，數為邊吏，習知胡事。 議曰：「漢與匈奴和親，率不過數歲即復倍約。 不如勿許，興兵擊之。」 安國曰：「千里而戰，兵不獲利。 今匈奴負戎馬之足，懷禽獸之心，遷徙鳥舉，難得而制也。 得其地不足以為廣，有其眾不足以為彊，自上古不屬為人。 漢數千里爭利，則人馬罷，虜以全制其敝。 且彊弩之極，矢不能穿魯縞； 沖風之末，力不能漂鴻毛。 非初不勁，末力衰也。 擊之不便，不如和親。」 群臣議者多附安國，於是上許和親。
The Xiongnu sent envoys requesting a marriage alliance, and the Emperor referred the matter to his ministers for deliberation. The Grand Herald Wang Hui was a native of Yan who had served repeatedly as a border official and was well versed in the affairs of the northern tribes. Discussed: "Han with Xiongnu peaceful marriage alliance, generally not pass several years then again break treaty. Not like not permit, raise troops attack them." Anguo said: "Thousand li and battle, troops not obtain profit. The Xiongnu rely on the swiftness of their warhorses, harbor the hearts of beasts, and migrate as freely as flocking birds—they are impossible to seize and control. To conquer their land would not be enough to expand our territory; to absorb their people would not be enough to strengthen our state. Since the most ancient times, they have never been counted among the civilized. If Han marches thousands of li to contend with them, our men and horses will be exhausted, and the enemy will use their fresh forces to exploit our weariness. Moreover strong crossbow extreme, arrow cannot penetrate Lu silk; At the end of a rushing gale, the remaining force cannot even lift a goose feather. It is not that the initial force was not strong—rather, the strength has been spent by the end. Attack them inconvenient, not like peaceful marriage alliance." The majority of the ministers who deliberated sided with Anguo, and so the Emperor approved the marriage alliance.
8
其明年，則元光元年，雁門馬邑豪聶翁壹因大行王恢言上曰：「匈奴初和親，親信邊，可誘以利。」 陰使聶翁壹為閒，亡入匈奴，謂單于曰：「吾能斬馬邑令丞吏，以城降，財物可盡得。」 單于愛信之，以為然，許聶翁壹。 聶翁壹乃還，詐斬死罪囚，縣其頭馬邑城，示單于使者為信。 曰：「馬邑長吏已死，可急來。」 於是單于穿塞將十餘萬騎，入武州塞。
Its next year, namely Yuanguang first year, Yanmen Maiyi hero Nie Wengyi through grand traveler Wang Hui spoke emperor: "Xiongnu initial peaceful marriage alliance, intimate trusted border, can lure with profit." Secretly sent Nie Wengyi as spy, fled entered Xiongnu, told chanyu: "I can behead Maiyi magistrate deputy officials, with city surrender, wealth objects can all obtain." The Chanyu, who trusted and favored him, found the proposal reasonable and granted Nie Wengyi permission to proceed. Nie Wengyi then returned, beheaded a prisoner condemned to death, and hung the head on the walls of Maiyi, displaying it to the Chanyu's envoy as proof. Said: "Maiyi chief officials already died, can urgently come." The Chanyu then breached the frontier and led more than a hundred thousand cavalry through the Wuzhou pass.
9
當是時，漢伏兵車騎材官二十餘萬，匿馬邑旁谷中。 衛尉李廣為驍騎將軍，太仆公孫賀為輕車將軍，大行王恢為將屯將軍，太中大夫李息為材官將軍。 御史大夫韓安國為護軍將軍，諸將皆屬護軍。 約單于入馬邑而漢兵縱發。 王恢、李息、李廣別從代主擊其輜重。 於是單于入漢長城武州塞。 未至馬邑百餘里，行掠鹵，徒見畜牧於野，不見一人。 單于怪之，攻烽燧，得武州尉史。 欲刺問尉史。 尉史曰：「漢兵數十萬伏馬邑下。」 單于顧謂左右曰：「幾為漢所賣！」 乃引兵還。 出塞，曰：「吾得尉史，乃天也。」 命尉史為「天王」。 塞下傳言單于已引去。 漢兵追至塞，度弗及，即罷。 王恢等兵三萬，聞單于不與漢合，度往擊輜重，必與單于精兵戰，漢兵勢必敗，則以便宜罷兵，皆無功。
At that time, the Han had concealed more than two hundred thousand troops—chariots, cavalry, and infantry—in the valleys beside Maiyi. The Captain of the Guard Li Guang was appointed General of Agile Cavalry, the Grand Coachman Gongsun He was appointed General of Light Chariots, the Grand Herald Wang Hui was appointed General of the Garrison, and the Palace Grandee Li Xi was appointed General of Infantry. The Grand Censor Han Anguo was appointed General Protector of the Army, and all the other generals were placed under his command. The plan was that once the Chanyu entered Maiyi, the Han forces would spring their attack. Wang Hui, Li Xi, and Li Guang were to advance separately from Dai to strike the Xiongnu supply train. The Chanyu then entered the Han Great Wall through the Wuzhou pass. When he was still more than a hundred li from Maiyi, he went raiding and plundering, but saw only livestock grazing in the fields and not a single person. The Chanyu grew suspicious, attacked a beacon tower, and captured the garrison officer of Wuzhou. He threatened the officer with torture to extract information. Wei shi said: "Han troops several ten ten thousand ambush Maiyi below." Chanyu turned told left right: "Almost became Han sold!" He then withdrew his forces and turned back. Out pass, said: "I obtained wei shi, namely heaven." Named wei shi as "Heaven wang". Word reached the frontier that the Chanyu had already retreated. The Han forces gave chase as far as the frontier, but judging they could not catch him, they withdrew. Wang Hui and his thirty thousand troops, learning that the Chanyu had not engaged with the Han forces, calculated that if they went to attack the supply train they would inevitably have to fight the Chanyu's elite cavalry and would surely be defeated. He therefore used his discretion to withdraw his forces, and all ended without achievement.
10
天子怒王恢不出擊單于輜重，擅引兵罷也。 恢曰：「始約虜入馬邑城，兵與單于接，而臣擊其輜重，可得利。 今單于聞，不至而還，臣以三萬人眾不敵，禔取辱耳。 臣固知還而斬，然得完陛下士三萬人。」 於是下恢廷尉。 廷尉當恢逗橈，當斬。 恢私行千金丞相蚡。 蚡不敢言上，而言於太后曰：「王恢首造馬邑事，今不成而誅恢，是為匈奴報仇也。」 上朝太后，太后以丞相言告上。 上曰：「首為馬邑事者，恢也，故發天下兵數十萬，從其言，為此。 且縱單于不可得，恢所部擊其輜重，猶頗可得，以慰士大夫心。 今不誅恢，無以謝天下。」 於是恢聞之，乃自殺。
The Emperor was furious that Wang Hui had failed to attack the Chanyu's supply train and had withdrawn his forces without authorization. Hui said: "Initial agreement enemy enter Maiyi city, troops with chanyu engage, and subject attack their baggage heavy, could obtain profit. Now that the Chanyu was forewarned and turned back before arriving, with my thirty thousand men I was no match for him and would only have met with humiliation. Subject firmly knew return and behead, but obtain complete your majesty soldiers three ten thousand people." Wang Hui was thereupon handed over to the Commandant of Justice. The Commandant of Justice charged Hui with delaying and obstructing the campaign, and sentenced him to death. Hui secretly sent a thousand pieces of gold to the Chancellor Tian Fen. Fen not dared speak emperor, but spoke to empress dowager: "Wang Hui first created Maiyi matter, now not succeed and execute Hui, is for Xiongnu avenge." When the Emperor paid his respects to the Empress Dowager, she conveyed the Chancellor's words to him. Emperor said: "First for Maiyi matter, Hui, therefore sent realm troops several ten ten thousand, followed his words, for this. Even if the Chanyu himself could not have been captured, had Hui led his forces to attack the supply train, there would still have been considerable gains to comfort the hearts of the soldiers and officials. Now not execute Hui, nothing to apologize realm." When Hui learned of this, he took his own life.
11
安國為人多大略，智足以當世取合，而出於忠厚焉。 貪嗜於財。 所推舉皆廉士，賢於己者也。 於梁舉壺遂、臧固、郅他，皆天下名士，士亦以此稱慕之，唯天子以為國器。 安國為御史大夫四歲餘，丞相田蚡死，安國行丞相事，奉引墮車蹇。 天子議置相，欲用安國，使使視之，蹇甚，乃更以平棘侯薛澤為丞相。 安國病免數月，蹇愈，上復以安國為中尉。 歲餘，徙為衛尉。
Anguo was a man of broad vision and grand strategy, wise enough to navigate the politics of his age and win favor, and all of this was rooted in his loyalty and generosity of spirit. He was, however, greedy for wealth. Those he recommended were all men of integrity, worthier than himself. While in Liang, he recommended Hu Sui, Zang Gu, and Zhi Ta, all renowned scholars of the realm. The scholarly community praised and admired him for this, and even the Emperor regarded him as a pillar of the state. Anguo served as Grand Censor for more than four years. When the Chancellor Tian Fen died, Anguo assumed the duties of Chancellor. But while leading the imperial procession, he fell from his carriage and injured his leg. The Emperor wished to make Anguo Chancellor and sent an envoy to assess his condition, but his lameness was severe. He therefore appointed the Marquis of Pingji, Xue Ze, as Chancellor instead. Anguo was relieved of his duties for several months due to illness. When his lameness healed, the Emperor reappointed him as Commandant of the Capital. After about a year, he was transferred to the post of Captain of the Guard.
12
車騎將軍衛青擊匈奴，出上谷，破胡蘢城。 將軍李廣為匈奴所得，復失之； 公孫敖大亡卒：皆當斬，贖為庶人。 明年，匈奴大入邊，殺遼西太守，及入鴈門，所殺略數千人。 車騎將軍衛青擊之，出鴈門。 衛尉安國為材官將軍，屯於漁陽。 安國捕生虜，言匈奴遠去。 即上書言方田作時，請且罷軍屯。 罷軍屯月餘，匈奴大入上谷、漁陽。 安國壁乃有七百餘人，出與戰，不勝，復入壁。 匈奴虜略千餘人及畜產而去。 天子聞之，怒，使使責讓安國。 徒安國益東，屯右北平。 是時匈奴虜言當入東方。
The General of Chariots and Cavalry, Wei Qing, attacked the Xiongnu, marching out from Shanggu, and captured the Xiongnu fortress of Longcheng. General Li Guang by Xiongnu obtained, again lost him; Gongsun Ao greatly lost soldiers: all should behead, redeemed as commoners. The following year, the Xiongnu launched a major invasion of the border, killed the Governor of Liaoxi, and penetrated Yanmen, killing and capturing several thousand people. The General of Chariots and Cavalry, Wei Qing, was sent to attack them, marching out from Yanmen. The Captain of the Guard, Anguo, was appointed General of Infantry and garrisoned at Yuyang. Anguo captured prisoners alive, who reported that the Xiongnu had withdrawn far away. He thereupon submitted a memorial stating that it was the farming season and requested that the garrison be temporarily disbanded. Barely a month after the garrison was disbanded, the Xiongnu launched a massive invasion of Shanggu and Yuyang. Anguo's fortress held only some seven hundred men. They sallied forth to fight but could not prevail, and retreated back behind the walls. The Xiongnu captured and carried off more than a thousand people along with their livestock and departed. When the Emperor heard of this, he was furious and sent an envoy to reprimand Anguo. He transferred Anguo further east to garrison Youbeiping. At that time, Xiongnu prisoners reported that an invasion of the eastern regions was imminent.
13
安國始為御史大夫及護軍，後稍斥疏，下遷； 而新幸壯將軍衛青等有功，益貴。 安國既疏遠，默默也； 將屯又為匈奴所欺，失亡多，甚自愧。 幸得罷歸，乃益東徙屯，意忽忽不樂。 數月，病歐血死。 安國以元朔二年中卒。
Anguo began became imperial censor and protect army, later gradually demoted distant, descended demoted; Meanwhile, the newly favored young generals such as Wei Qing had won victories and were rising ever higher in status. Anguo already distant, silent; His garrison command had been outwitted by the Xiongnu, suffering heavy losses, and he was deeply ashamed. When he was finally relieved from the frontier, only to be transferred to a garrison even further east, he fell into a deep melancholy. After several months, he fell ill, vomited blood, and died. Anguo died in the middle of the second year of the Yuanshuo reign.
14
太史公曰：余與壺遂定律歷，觀韓長孺之義，壺遂之深中隱厚。 世之言梁多長者，不虛哉！ 壺遂官至詹事，天子方倚以為漢相，會遂卒。 不然，壺遂之內廉行修，斯鞠躬君子也。
Grand Scribe said: I with Hu Sui determined law calendar, observed Han Changru righteousness, Hu Sui deep middle hidden generous. World speak Liang many elders, not false! Hu Sui rose to the office of Director of Palace Affairs, and the Emperor was on the verge of appointing him Chancellor of Han when Hu Sui died. Had it not been so, given Hu Sui's inner integrity and cultivated conduct, he would truly have been a gentleman devoted body and soul to the state.