1
李將軍廣者，隴西成紀人也。 其先曰李信，秦時為將，逐得燕太子丹者也。 故槐裏，徙成紀。 廣家世世受射。 孝文帝十四年，匈奴大入蕭關，而廣以良家子從軍擊胡，用善騎射，殺首虜多，為漢中郎。 廣從弟李蔡亦為郎，皆為武騎常侍，秩八百石。 嘗從行，有所衝陷折關及格猛獸，而文帝曰：「惜乎，子不遇時！ 如令子當高帝時，萬戶侯豈足道哉！」
General Li Guang was a native of Chengji in Longxi. His ancestor Li Xin had served as a general under the Qin and was the man who pursued and captured Dan, the Crown Prince of Yan. The family was originally from Huaili but later moved to Chengji. For generations, the Li family had handed down the art of archery. In the fourteenth year of Emperor Wen's reign, the Xiongnu launched a major invasion through the Xiao Pass. Guang, as the son of a respectable family, joined the army to fight the barbarians. His skill in horsemanship and archery allowed him to kill a great many of the enemy, and he was appointed as an Attendant at the Han court. Guang's younger cousin Li Cai also served as an Attendant. Both were appointed as Regular Attendants of the Martial Cavalry, with a salary rank of eight hundred shi. Once followed campaign, had what charged broke barriers and fought fierce beasts, and Emperor Wen said: "Pity, you not meet time! If let you meet Gao emperor time, ten thousand households marquis how sufficient speak!"
2
及孝景初立，廣為隴西都尉，徙為騎郎將。 吳楚軍時，廣為驍騎都尉，從太尉亞夫擊吳楚軍，取旗，顯功名昌邑下。 以梁王授廣將軍印，還，賞不行。 徙為上谷太守，匈奴日以合戰。 典屬國公孫昆邪為上泣曰：「李廣才氣，天下無雙，自負其能，數與虜敵戰，恐亡之。」 於是乃徙為上郡太守。 後廣轉為邊郡太守，徙上郡。 嘗為隴西、北地、鴈門、代郡、雲中太守，皆以力戰為名。
When Emperor Jing first ascended the throne, Guang was appointed Commandant of Longxi and later transferred to the post of Captain of the Cavalry. During the Rebellion of Wu and Chu, Guang served as Commandant of the Brave Cavalry. He followed Grand Commandant Zhou Yafu in the attack against the rebel armies, captured an enemy battle standard, and won renown at the walls of Changyi. But because the King of Liang had bestowed upon him a general's seal, he received no reward from the court upon his return. He was transferred to serve as Governor of Shanggu, where he fought the Xiongnu in battle day after day. Director of barbarian affairs Gongsun Kunxie wept for emperor: "Li Guang talent spirit, realm without equal, self relied his ability, repeatedly with enemy engaged battle, feared lose him." He was thereupon transferred to serve as Governor of Shangjun. Later Guang was rotated through the border commanderies, and was transferred to Shangjun. At one time or another he served as Governor of Longxi, Beidi, Yanmen, Dai, and Yunzhong, winning fame at each post through fierce combat.
3
匈奴大入上郡，天子使中貴人從廣勒習兵擊匈奴。 中貴人將騎數十縱，見匈奴三人，與戰。 三人還射，傷中貴人，殺其騎且盡。 中貴人走廣。 廣曰：「是必射雕者也。」 廣乃遂從百騎往馳三人。 三人亡馬步行，行數十里。 廣令其騎張左右翼，而廣身自射彼三人者，殺其二人，生得一人，果匈奴射雕者也。 已縛之上馬，望匈奴有數千騎，見廣，以為誘騎，皆驚，上山陳。 廣之百騎皆大恐，欲馳還走。 廣曰：「吾去大軍數十里，今如此以百騎走，匈奴追射我立盡。 今我留，匈奴必以我為大軍［之］誘（之），必不敢擊我。」 廣令諸騎曰：「前！」 前未到匈奴陳二里所，止，令曰：「皆下馬解鞍！」 其騎曰：「虜多且近，即有急，柰何？」 廣曰：「彼虜以我為走，今皆解鞍以示不走，用堅其意。」 於是胡騎遂不敢擊。 有白馬將出護其兵，李廣上馬與十餘騎奔射殺胡白馬將，而復還至其騎中，解鞍，令士皆縱馬臥。 是時會暮，胡兵終怪之，不敢擊。 夜半時，胡兵亦以為漢有伏軍於旁欲夜取之，胡皆引兵而去。 平旦，李廣乃歸其大軍。 大軍不知廣所之，故弗從。
When the Xiongnu launched a major invasion into Shangjun, the Emperor sent a palace eunuch to join Guang in drilling the troops and leading the attack against the Xiongnu. The eunuch, leading several dozen cavalry on a foray, encountered three Xiongnu horsemen and engaged them in combat. The three men wheeled around and shot back, wounding the eunuch and killing nearly all of his cavalry. The eunuch fled back to Guang. Guang said: "This must be shooting eagle ones." Guang thereupon took a hundred horsemen and rode out in pursuit of the three men. The three men had lost their horses and were traveling on foot. After a chase of some tens of li, Guang ordered his horsemen to fan out to the left and right while he himself shot at the three men, killing two and taking one alive. They were indeed Xiongnu eagle shooters. After they had bound the prisoner and mounted their horses, they spotted several thousand Xiongnu cavalry in the distance. The Xiongnu saw Guang's men and, taking them for a decoy force, were alarmed and drew up in battle formation on the hillside. Guang's hundred horsemen were seized with terror and wanted to gallop back to safety. Guang said: "I from main army several ten li, now like this with hundred cavalry flee, Xiongnu pursue shoot me immediately finish. Now I stay, Xiongnu must consider me main army lure cavalry, must not dare attack me." Guang ordered various cavalry: "Forward!" Forward not arrived Xiongnu array two li place, stopped, ordered: "All dismount loosen saddles!" His cavalry said: "Enemy many moreover near, if have emergency, what do?" Guang said: "Those enemy consider me fleeing, now all loosen saddles to show not flee, use strengthen their intent." And so the barbarian cavalry did not dare to attack. A barbarian general on a white horse rode out to marshal his troops. Li Guang mounted up and, with a dozen or so riders, galloped forward and shot the white-horse general dead. He then returned to his own men, unsaddled the horses, and ordered the soldiers to release the horses and lie down. By then dusk had fallen. The barbarian troops, deeply suspicious, still did not dare to attack. At midnight, the barbarian troops, now convinced that the Han had an ambush force hidden nearby waiting to strike under cover of darkness, withdrew their forces and departed. At dawn, Li Guang led his men back to the main army. The main army, not knowing where Guang had gone, had been unable to provide support.
4
居久之，孝景崩，武帝立，左右以為廣名將也，於是廣以上郡太守為未央衛尉，而程不識亦為長樂衛尉。 程不識故與李廣俱以邊太守將軍屯。 及出擊胡，而廣行無部伍行陳，就善水草屯，舍止，人人自便，不擊刀鬬以自衛，莫府省約文書籍事，然亦遠斥候，未嘗遇害。 程不識正部曲行伍營陳，擊刀鬬，士吏治軍簿至明，軍不得休息，然亦未嘗遇害。 不識曰：「李廣軍極簡易，然虜卒犯之，無以禁也； 而其士卒亦佚樂，咸樂為之死。 我軍雖煩擾，然虜亦不得犯我。」 是時漢邊郡李廣、程不識皆為名將，然匈奴畏李廣之略，士卒亦多樂從李廣而苦程不識。 程不識孝景時以數直諫為太中大夫。 為人廉，謹於文法。
Some time later, Emperor Jing passed away and Emperor Wu ascended the throne. The Emperor's advisors considered Guang a renowned general, and so he was transferred from his post as Governor of Shangjun to become Commander of the Weiyang Palace Guard, while Cheng Bushi was made Commander of the Changle Palace Guard. Cheng Bushi had formerly served alongside Li Guang as a border governor and garrison commander. When they marched out to fight the barbarians, Guang imposed no formal ranks or battle formations. He camped wherever there was good water and grass, and let each man see to his own needs. He did not use sentries beating watch clappers for defense, and his headquarters kept its paperwork to a minimum. Yet he always sent scouts far afield and was never taken by surprise. Cheng Bushi, by contrast, maintained strict formations and encampments, posted sentries with watch clappers, and kept his officers working on military records until dawn. His troops got little rest, but he too was never taken by surprise. Bushen said: "Li Guang army extremely simple easy, but enemy suddenly violate it, nothing to prohibit; Yet his soldiers lived at their ease and were content, and every one of them would gladly have died for him. My army though troublesome, but enemy also not able violate me." At that time, Li Guang and Cheng Bushi were both renowned generals of the Han border commanderies. But the Xiongnu feared Li Guang's cunning, and the soldiers too preferred to serve under Li Guang, finding service under Cheng Bushi a hardship. During the reign of Emperor Jing, Cheng Bushi had been appointed Grand Palace Master for his repeated candid remonstrances. He was a man of integrity who was scrupulous in his adherence to regulations.
5
後漢以馬邑城誘單于，使大軍伏馬邑旁谷，而廣為驍騎將軍，領屬護軍將軍。 是時單于覺之，去，漢軍皆無功。 其後四歲，廣以衛尉為將軍，出鴈門擊匈奴。 匈奴兵多，破敗廣軍，生得廣。 單于素聞廣賢，令曰：「得李廣必生致之。」 胡騎得廣，廣時傷病，置廣兩馬閒，絡而盛臥廣。 行十餘里，廣詳死，睨其旁有一胡兒騎善馬，廣暫騰而上胡兒馬，因推墮兒，取其弓，鞭馬南馳數十里，復得其餘軍，因引而入塞。 匈奴捕者騎數百追之，廣行取胡兒弓，射殺追騎，以故得脫。 於是至漢，漢下廣吏。 吏當廣所失亡多，為虜所生得，當斬，贖為庶人。
Later, the Han used the city of Mayi to lure the Chanyu into a trap, stationing the main army in ambush in the valleys around Mayi. Guang served as the General of the Brave Cavalry, under the command of the General of the Guard. But the Chanyu discovered the trap and withdrew, and the Han army accomplished nothing. Four years later, Guang, in his capacity as Commander of the Palace Guard, was given command of an army and marched out from Yanmen to attack the Xiongnu. The Xiongnu, vastly outnumbering him, routed his army and took Guang alive. Chanyu long heard Guang worthy, ordered: "Get Li Guang must alive bring him." When the barbarian cavalry seized Guang, he was wounded and ill. They slung a rope net between two horses and laid Guang in it. After they had traveled some ten li, Guang feigned death. Glancing to the side, he spotted a barbarian boy riding a fine horse. In a flash, Guang sprang onto the boy's horse, shoved the boy off, seized his bow, and whipped the horse southward. After galloping for several tens of li, he rejoined the remnants of his army and led them back through the frontier pass. Several hundred Xiongnu horsemen gave chase, but Guang used the barbarian boy's bow to shoot and kill his pursuers, and so made his escape. When he returned to Han territory, he was turned over to the judicial officials. The officials judged that Guang had lost too many men and had been captured alive by the enemy, crimes punishable by death. He was allowed to ransom himself and was reduced to the status of a commoner.
6
頃之，家居數歲。 廣家與故潁陰侯孫屏野居藍田南山中射獵。 嘗夜從一騎出，從人田間飲。 還至霸陵亭，霸陵尉醉，呵止廣。 廣騎曰：「故李將軍。」 尉曰：「今將軍尚不得夜行，何乃故也！」 止廣宿亭下。 居無何，匈奴入殺遼西太守，敗韓將軍，後韓將軍徙右北平。 於是天子乃召拜廣為右北平太守。 廣即請霸陵尉與俱，至軍而斬之。
Before long, he retired to his home, where he lived for several years. Guang lived with a grandson of the former Marquis of Yingyin in the mountains south of Lantian, where they went hunting. One night, he rode out with a single companion and drank with some people in the fields. On the way back, when they reached the Baling postal station, the duty officer, who was drunk, shouted at Guang to halt. Guang cavalry said: "Former Li general." Wei said: "Now general still not able night travel, why moreover former!" He detained Guang and made him spend the night at the station. Not long afterward, the Xiongnu invaded and killed the Governor of Liaoxi, defeated General Han Anguo, and Han Anguo was transferred to Youbeiping. The Emperor thereupon summoned Guang and appointed him Governor of Youbeiping. Guang immediately requested that the Baling duty officer accompany him to his post, and upon reaching the army, had the man beheaded.
7
廣居右北平，匈奴聞之，號曰「漢之飛將軍」，避之數歲，不敢入右北平。
Guang resided right Beiping, Xiongnu heard it, called "Han flying general", avoided him several years, not dared enter right Beiping.
8
廣出獵，見草中石，以為虎而射之，中石沒鏃，視之石也。 因復更射之，終不能復入石矣。 廣所居郡聞有虎，嘗自射之。 及居右北平射虎，虎騰傷廣，廣亦竟射殺之。
Once, when Guang was out hunting, he saw a rock among the grass and, mistaking it for a tiger, shot at it. The arrow struck the rock and sank in up to the arrowhead. When he looked more closely, he saw it was only a stone. He shot at it again, but could never again make an arrow penetrate the stone. Whenever a tiger was reported in the commandery where Guang was stationed, he would always go out to hunt it himself. While stationed at Youbeiping, he went out to shoot a tiger. The tiger sprang at him and wounded him, but Guang managed to shoot and kill it.
9
廣廉，得賞賜輒分其麾下，飲食與士共之。 終廣之身，為二千石四十餘年，家無餘財，終不言家產事。 廣為人長，猨臂，其善射亦天性也，雖其子孫他人學者，莫能及廣。 廣訥口少言，與人居則畫地為軍陳，射闊狹以飲。 專以射為戲，竟死。 廣之將兵，乏絕之處，見水，士卒不盡飲，廣不近水，士卒不盡食，廣不嘗食。 寬緩不苛，士以此愛樂為用。 其射，見敵急，非在數十步之內，度不中不發，發即應弦而倒。 用此，其將兵數困辱，其射猛獸亦為所傷云。
Guang was a man without avarice. Whenever he received a reward or gift, he distributed it among his men, and he shared his food and drink with his soldiers. Throughout his life, Guang held a salary rank of two thousand shi for over forty years, yet his household had no surplus wealth. He never spoke of family property. Guang was tall, with unusually long arms like those of an ape. His skill in archery was a gift of nature, and though his sons, grandsons, and others studied the art, none could equal him. Guang was a man of few words. When he was with others, he would draw diagrams of battle formations on the ground, and then set up archery contests to determine who would drink, making the targets wider or narrower. Archery was his sole pastime, and it remained so until the day he died. When Guang led his troops through desolate country and they came upon water, he would not go near it until every soldier had drunk his fill. He would not touch his food until every soldier had eaten. He was lenient and easygoing, never harsh, and for this his soldiers loved him and served him gladly. When he shot at the enemy, he would not release an arrow unless his target was within a few dozen paces and he was certain of hitting it. When he did let fly, the target fell the instant the bowstring sang. Because of this habit of closing to short range, he was on several occasions trapped and hard-pressed when leading troops, and when hunting fierce beasts he was sometimes wounded by them as well.
10
居頃之，石建卒，於是上召廣代建為郎中令。 元朔六年，廣復為後將軍，從大將軍軍出定襄，擊匈奴。 諸將多中首虜率，以功為侯者，而廣軍無功。 後二歲，廣以郎中令將四千騎出右北平，博望侯張騫將萬騎與廣俱，異道。 行可數百里，匈奴左賢王將四萬騎圍廣，廣軍士皆恐，廣乃使其子敢往馳之。 敢獨與數十騎馳，直貫胡騎，出其左右而還，告廣曰：「胡虜易與耳。」 軍士乃安。 廣為圜陳外向，胡急擊之，矢下如雨。 漢兵死者過半，漢矢且盡。 廣乃令士持滿毋發，而廣身自以大黃射其裨將，殺數人，胡虜益解。 會日暮，吏士皆無人色，而廣意氣自如，益治軍。 軍中自是服其勇也。 明日，復力戰，而博望侯軍亦至，匈奴軍乃解去。 漢軍罷，弗能追。 是時廣軍幾沒，罷歸。 漢法，博望侯留遲後期，當死，贖為庶人。 廣軍功自如，無賞。
Shortly afterward, Shi Jian died, and the Emperor summoned Guang to replace him as Superintendent of the Imperial Household. In the sixth year of the Yuanshuo era, Guang was again appointed General of the Rear and followed the Grand General's army out of Dingxiang to attack the Xiongnu. Many of the other generals met the required kill quotas and were enfeoffed as marquises for their achievements, but Guang's forces earned no distinction. Two years later, Guang, in his capacity as Superintendent of the Imperial Household, led four thousand cavalry out of Youbeiping. The Marquis of Bowang, Zhang Qian, led ten thousand cavalry on a parallel route. After they had advanced several hundred li, the Left Worthy King of the Xiongnu descended upon them with forty thousand cavalry and surrounded Guang. His soldiers were all terrified. Guang sent his son Li Gan to ride out against the enemy. Gan alone with several ten cavalry galloped, straight penetrated Hu cavalry, out their left right returned, told Guang: "Hu enemy easy with." Only then did the soldiers' courage steady. Guang formed his men into a circular formation facing outward. The barbarians attacked furiously, and arrows fell like rain. More than half the Han soldiers were killed, and their arrows were nearly exhausted. Guang ordered his soldiers to draw their bows fully but hold their fire, while he himself took up a powerful crossbow and shot at the enemy's deputy commanders, killing several. The barbarian assault gradually slackened. As dusk fell, every officer and soldier had gone pale with fear, but Guang remained as composed as ever, rallying his troops with ever greater resolve. From that time on, every man in the army admired his courage. The next day, they fought on fiercely, and the army of the Marquis of Bowang arrived at last. The Xiongnu withdrew. The Han army was too exhausted to give chase. Guang's army had been all but annihilated, and the survivors straggled home. Under Han law, the Marquis of Bowang was charged with arriving late past the appointed rendezvous, a crime punishable by death. He was allowed to ransom himself and was reduced to the status of a commoner. As for Guang, his army's gains and losses canceled each other out, and he received no reward.
11
初，廣之從弟李蔡與廣俱事孝文帝。 景帝時，蔡積功勞至二千石。 孝武帝時，至代相。 以元朔五年為輕車將車，從大將軍擊右賢王，有功中率，封為樂安侯。 元狩二年中，代公孫弘為丞相。 蔡為人在下中，名聲出廣下甚遠，然廣不得爵邑，官不過九卿，而蔡為列侯，位至三公。 諸廣之軍吏及士卒或取封侯。 廣嘗與望氣王朔燕語，曰：「自漢擊匈奴而廣未嘗不在其中，而諸部校尉以下，才能不及中人，然以擊胡軍功取侯者數十人，而廣不為後人，然無尺寸之功以得封邑者，何也？ 豈吾相不當侯邪？ 且固命也？」 朔曰：「將軍自念，豈嘗有所恨乎？」 廣曰：「吾嘗為隴西守，羌嘗反，吾誘而降，降者八百餘人，吾詐而同日殺之。 至今大恨獨此耳。」 朔曰：「禍莫大於殺已降，此乃將軍所以不得侯者也。」
Earlier, Guang's younger cousin Li Cai had entered service alongside Guang under Emperor Wen. Under Emperor Jing, Cai had accumulated enough merit to attain the rank of two thousand shi. Under Emperor Wu, he rose to become Chancellor of Dai. In the fifth year of the Yuanshuo era, he served as General of the Light Chariots and followed the Grand General in an attack on the Right Worthy King. He met the required kill quota and was enfeoffed as the Marquis of Le'an. In the second year of the Yuanshou era, he succeeded Gongsun Hong as Imperial Chancellor. Cai was a man of middling ability at best, and his reputation fell far below Guang's. Yet Guang never received a noble title or a fief, and his office never rose above that of one of the Nine Ministers, while Cai became a full marquis and attained the rank of one of the Three Excellencies. Even officers and soldiers who had served under Guang were among those enfeoffed as marquises. Guang once with fortune teller Wang Shuo Yan talked, said: "Since Han attacked Xiongnu and Guang never not in among them, but various commandery colonels below, abilities not match middle people, but with attacked Hu army merit took marquises several ten people, but Guang not became marquis person, but without inch merit to get sealed fief, why? How my appearance not should marquis? Moreover firmly fate? Shuo said: "General self reflect, how once had what regret?" Guang said: "I once as Longxi governor, Qiang once rebelled, I lured and surrendered, surrendered eight hundred remainder people, I deceived and same day killed them. Until now big regret only this. Shuo said: "Calamity not greater than kill already surrendered, this namely general so not get marquis.
12
後二歲，大將軍、驃騎將軍大出擊匈奴，廣數自請行。 天子以為老，弗許； 良久乃許之，以為前將軍。 是歲，元狩四年也。
Two years later, the Grand General and the General of the Swift Cavalry launched a major campaign against the Xiongnu. Guang repeatedly petitioned to join them. Emperor considered old, not permitted; After a long delay, the Emperor relented and appointed him General of the Vanguard. This was the fourth year of the Yuanshou era.
13
廣既從大將軍青擊匈奴，既出塞，青捕虜知單于所居，乃自以精兵走之，而令廣并於右將軍軍，出東道。 東道少回遠，而大軍行水草少，其勢不屯行。 廣自請曰：「臣部為前將軍，今大將軍乃徙令臣出東道，且臣結發而與匈奴戰，今乃一得當單于，臣願居前，先死單于。」 大將軍青亦陰受上誡，以為李廣老，數奇，毋令當單于，恐不得所欲。 而是時公孫敖新失侯，為中將軍從大將軍，大將軍亦欲使敖與俱當單于，故徙前將軍廣。 廣時知之，固自辭於大將軍。 大將軍不聽，令長史封書與廣之莫府，曰：「急詣部，如書。」 廣不謝大將軍而起行，意甚慍怒而就部，引兵與右將軍食其合軍出東道。 軍亡導，或失道，後大將軍。 大將軍與單于接戰，單于遁走，弗能得而還。 南絕幕，遇前將軍、右將軍。 廣已見大將軍，還入軍。 大將軍使長史持糒醪遺廣，因問廣、食其失道狀，青欲上書報天子軍曲折。 廣未對，大將軍使長史急責廣之幕府對簿。 廣曰：「諸校尉無罪，乃我自失道。 吾今自上簿。」
Guang marched with Grand General Wei Qing to attack the Xiongnu. After they had crossed the frontier, Qing learned from captured prisoners where the Chanyu was camped. He took his best troops to go after the Chanyu himself and ordered Guang to merge his forces with the General of the Right and advance by the eastern route. The eastern route was circuitous and far, with little water or grass along the way, making it difficult for a large force to march and encamp. Guang self requested: "Subject command as front general, now grand general then moved ordered subject out east road, moreover subject tied hair and with Xiongnu fought, now then once got face chanyu, subject wish reside front, first die chanyu." Grand General Qing had also received secret instructions from the Emperor: Li Guang was old and had always been unlucky; he must not be allowed to face the Chanyu, for fear that the desired result would not be achieved. Moreover, Gongsun Ao had recently lost his marquisate and was serving as General of the Center under the Grand General. The Grand General wished to give Ao the chance to face the Chanyu alongside him, and so he reassigned Guang from the vanguard. Guang understood what was happening and firmly protested to the Grand General. Grand general not listened, ordered chancellor secretary sealed letter to Guang headquarters, said: "Urgently go to command, like letter." Guang departed without taking leave of the Grand General, seething with resentment. He went to take up his command and led his troops eastward with the General of the Right, Zhao Shiqi. The army had no guide and lost its way, falling behind the Grand General's schedule. The Grand General engaged the Chanyu in battle, but the Chanyu escaped and could not be captured, so the Grand General turned back. As he crossed south through the desert, he encountered the General of the Vanguard and the General of the Right. After Guang had met with the Grand General, he returned to his own camp. The Grand General sent his chief clerk to bring Guang dried rations and wine, and at the same time to question Guang and Zhao Shiqi about how they had lost their way, for Qing wished to submit a report to the Emperor on the course of the campaign. Guang made no reply. The Grand General then sent his chief clerk to summon Guang urgently to headquarters to answer formal charges. Guang said: "Various colonels no crime, namely I self lost road. I now self go up trial.
14
至莫府，廣謂其麾下曰； 「廣結發與匈奴大小七十餘戰，今幸從大將軍出接單于兵，而大將軍又徙廣部行回遠，而又迷失道，豈非天哉！ 且廣年六十餘矣，終不能復對刀筆之吏。」 遂引刀自剄。 廣軍士大夫一軍皆哭。 百姓聞之，知與不知，無老壯皆為垂涕。 而右將軍獨下吏，當死，贖為庶人。
Arrived headquarters, Guang told his command below said; "Guang tied hair with Xiongnu big small seventy remainder battles, now fortunately followed grand general out engaged chanyu troops, but grand general moreover moved Guang command march winding distant, and moreover confused lost road, how not heaven! Moreover Guang age sixty remainder, finally not able again face sword brush officials. With that, he drew his sword and cut his own throat. The officers and men of Guang's entire army wept. When the common people heard the news, whether they had known him or not, old and young alike shed tears for him. As for the General of the Right, he alone was turned over to the judicial officials. Found guilty of a capital offense, he ransomed himself and was reduced to the status of a commoner.
15
廣子三人，曰當戶、椒、敢，為郎。 天子與韓嫣戲，嫣少不遜，當戶擊嫣，嫣走。 於是天子以為勇。 當戶早死，拜椒為代郡太守，皆先廣死。 當戶有遺腹子名陵。 廣死軍時，敢從驃騎將軍。 廣死明年，李蔡以丞相坐侵孝景園壖地，當下吏治，蔡亦自殺，不對獄，國除。 李敢以校尉從驃騎將軍擊胡左賢王，力戰，奪左賢王鼓旗，斬首多，賜爵關內侯，食邑二百戶，代廣為郎中令。 頃之，怨大將軍青之恨其父，乃擊傷大將軍，大將軍匿諱之。 居無何，敢從上雍，至甘泉宮獵。 驃騎將軍去病與青有親，射殺敢。 去病時方貴幸，上諱云鹿觸殺之。 居歲餘，去病死。 而敢有女為太子中人，愛幸，敢男禹有寵於太子，然好利，李氏陵遲衰微矣。
Guang had three sons, named Danghu, Jiao, and Gan, all of whom served as Imperial Attendants. Once, when the Emperor was amusing himself with his favorite Han Yan, Yan behaved disrespectfully. Danghu struck Yan, who fled. The Emperor regarded Danghu as a man of courage for this. Danghu died young. Jiao was appointed Governor of Dai Commandery. Both sons died before their father. Danghu left behind a posthumous son named Li Ling. At the time of Guang's death in the field, his son Gan was serving under the General of the Swift Cavalry. The year after Guang died, Li Cai, then serving as Imperial Chancellor, was charged with encroaching on the land around Emperor Jing's funerary park. Facing prosecution, Cai too took his own life rather than submit to interrogation, and his fief was abolished. Li Gan, serving as a colonel under the General of the Swift Cavalry, had fought valiantly against the Left Worthy King of the Xiongnu, seizing the enemy's war drums and battle standards and taking many heads. He was granted the title of Marquis Within the Passes with a fief of two hundred households, and succeeded his father as Superintendent of the Imperial Household. Before long, Gan, harboring resentment against Grand General Qing for having driven his father to his death, attacked and wounded the Grand General. The Grand General concealed the incident. Not long afterward, Gan accompanied the Emperor on a journey to Yong and went hunting at the Ganquan Palace. The General of the Swift Cavalry, Huo Qubing, who was related to Wei Qing, shot and killed Gan. Huo Qubing was at the height of imperial favor at the time, and the Emperor covered up the deed, declaring that Gan had been killed by a charging deer. A little more than a year later, Huo Qubing died. Gan had a daughter who served in the Crown Prince's household and was favored by him. Gan's son Li Yu also enjoyed the Crown Prince's patronage, but he was a man who cared only for profit, and the Li family gradually declined.
16
李陵既壯，選為建章監，監諸騎。 善射，愛士卒。 天子以為李氏世將，而使將八百騎。 嘗深入匈奴二千餘里，過居延視地形，無所見虜而還。 拜為騎都尉，將丹陽楚人五千人，教射酒泉、張掖以屯衛胡。
When Li Ling came of age, he was selected to serve as Superintendent of the Jianzhang Palace, in charge of the cavalry. He was a skilled archer who treated his soldiers with care. The Emperor, considering the Li family a line of hereditary generals, gave him command of eight hundred cavalry. He once penetrated more than two thousand li into Xiongnu territory, passing through Juyan to survey the terrain, but encountered no enemy and returned. He was appointed Commandant of Cavalry and given command of five thousand men from Danyang and Chu, whom he trained in archery at Jiuquan and Zhangye to garrison the frontier against the barbarians.
17
數歲，天漢二年秋，貳師將軍李廣利將三萬騎擊匈奴右賢王於祁連天山，而使陵將其射士步兵五千人出居延北可千餘里，欲以分匈奴兵，毋令專走貳師也。 陵既至期還，而單于以兵八萬圍擊陵軍。 陵軍五千人，兵矢既盡，士死者過半，而所殺傷匈奴亦萬餘人。 且引且戰，連鬬八日，還未到居延百餘里，匈奴遮狹絕道，陵食乏而救兵不到，虜急擊招降陵。 陵曰：「無面目報陛下。」 遂降匈奴。 其兵盡沒，餘亡散得歸漢者四百餘人。
Several years later, in the autumn of the second year of the Tianhan era, General Li Guangli of Ershi led thirty thousand cavalry to attack the Right Worthy King of the Xiongnu in the Qilian and Tianshan mountains. Li Ling was ordered to lead his five thousand archers and infantry north from Juyan, about a thousand li deep, to draw off part of the Xiongnu forces and prevent them from concentrating against Li Guangli. When Ling had reached the appointed rendezvous and was turning back, the Chanyu descended upon him with eighty thousand men and surrounded his army. Ling's army of five thousand fought until their weapons and arrows were exhausted. More than half his men were killed, but they had also killed or wounded more than ten thousand of the Xiongnu. Fighting as they retreated, they battled for eight days straight. When they were still more than a hundred li from Juyan, the Xiongnu blocked the narrow passes and cut off their route. Ling's provisions were spent and no reinforcements came. The enemy pressed their attack and called on Ling to surrender. Ling said: "No face repay your majesty." And so he surrendered to the Xiongnu. His forces were completely destroyed. Of the survivors who fled and scattered, only some four hundred managed to make their way back to Han territory.
18
單于既得陵，素聞其家聲，及戰又壯，乃以其女妻陵而貴之。 漢聞，族陵母妻子。 自是之後，李氏名敗，而隴西之士居門下者皆用為恥焉。
After the Chanyu had taken Ling captive, he had long heard of the Li family's reputation, and Ling had fought with great valor. He therefore gave Ling one of his own daughters in marriage and honored him. When the Han court learned of this, it had Ling's mother, wife, and children executed. From that time on, the name of the Li family was disgraced, and the men of Longxi who had once been proud to call themselves their retainers now felt only shame.
19
太史公曰：傳曰：「其身正，不令而行； 其身不正，雖令不從。」 其李將軍之謂也？ 余睹李將軍悛悛如鄙人，口不能道辭。 及死之日，天下知與不知，皆為盡哀。 彼其忠實心誠信於士大夫也？ 諺曰「桃李不言，下自成蹊」。 此言雖小，可以諭大也。
Grand Scribe said: Tradition says: "His person correct, not command and goes; His person not correct, though command not follows." This Li general what called? I once saw General Li in person. He was as plain and unassuming as a common farmer, and he could scarcely string two words together. Yet on the day of his death, everyone in the realm, whether they had known him or not, grieved for him with all their hearts. That his loyal solid heart sincere trustworthy with scholar officials? Proverb says "peach plum not speak, below self forms path". This saying may seem a small thing, but it speaks to something great.