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__FORCETOC__
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起昭陽大荒落，盡閼逢敦牂，凡二年。
From Zhaoyang Dahuanluo through Emao Dunzang—two years in all.
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1冬，十月，泗川監平將兵圍沛公於豐，沛公出與戰，破之，令雍齒守豐。 十一月，沛公引兵之薛。 泗川守壯兵敗於薛，走至戚，沛公左司馬得殺之。----
1. In the tenth month of winter, Sishui supervisor Ping besieged the Duke of Pei at Feng. The duke marched out, routed him, and left Yong Chi to hold the city. In the eleventh month the Duke of Pei marched on Xue. The grand administrator of Sishui, Zhuang, was beaten at Xue and fled to Qi; the Duke of Pei's Left Major overtook and killed him.
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2周章出關，止屯曹陽，二月餘，章邯追敗之。 復走澠池，十餘日，章邯擊，大破之。 周文自刎，軍遂不戰。
2. Zhou Zhang marched out through the pass and camped at Caoyang for more than two months before Zhang Han caught up and routed him. He fell back on Mianchi; after a fortnight Zhang Han attacked and shattered his army. Zhou Wen killed himself; his troops would fight no more.
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吳叔圍滎陽，李由為三川守，守滎陽，叔弗能下。 楚將軍田臧等相與謀曰：「周章軍已破矣，秦兵旦暮至。 我圍滎陽城弗能下，秦兵至，必大敗，不如少遺兵守滎陽，悉精兵迎秦軍。 今假王驕，不知兵權，不足與計事，恐敗。」 因相與矯王令以誅吳叔，獻其首於陳王。 陳王使使賜田臧楚令尹印，使為上將。
Wu Shu besieged Xingyang. Li You, grand administrator of Sanchuan, held the city, and Shu could not bring it down. Chu general Tian Zang and his officers took counsel: "Zhou Zhang's army is already destroyed. Qin will be here any day. We cannot take Xingyang. When Qin comes we are finished. Better leave a skeleton force at the walls and march every able man to meet them. The fake king is proud and knows nothing of command. He is no partner in counsel—we will lose everything." They forged a royal order, killed Wu Shu, and sent his head to King Chen. King Chen sent envoys with the seal of Chu grand minister and made Tian Zang supreme general.
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田臧乃使諸將李歸等守滎陽，自以精兵西迎秦軍於敖倉，與戰。 田臧死，軍破。 章邯進兵擊李歸等滎陽下，破之，李歸等死。 陽城人鄧說將兵居郯，章邯別將擊破之。 銍人伍逢將兵居許，章邯擊破之。 兩軍皆散，走陳，陳王誅鄧說。----
Tian Zang left Li Gui and the other generals at Xingyang and marched west with his best men to meet Qin at Aocang. Tian Zang fell; his army was destroyed. Zhang Han pressed on, struck Li Gui and his fellows below Xingyang, broke them, and killed them all. Deng Shuo of Yangcheng held Tan with his troops; one of Zhang Han's lieutenants routed him. Wu Feng of Zhi held Xu; Zhang Han broke him there. Both hosts broke and fled to Chen. King Chen had Deng Shuo executed.
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3二世數誚讓李斯：「居三公位，如何令盜如此！」 李斯恐懼，重爵祿，不知所出，乃阿二世意，以書對曰：「夫賢主者，必能行督責之術者也。 故申子曰『有天下而不恣睢，命之曰以天下為桎梏』者，無他焉，不能督責，而顧以其身勞於天下之民，若堯、禹然，故謂之桎梏也。 夫不能修申、韓之明術，行督責之道，專以天下自適也； 而徒務苦形勞神，以身徇百姓，則是黔首之役，非畜天下者也，何足貴哉！ 故明主能行督責之術以獨斷於上，則權不在臣下，然後能滅仁義之塗，絕諫說之辯，犖然行恣睢之心，而莫之敢逆。 如此，群臣、百姓救過不給，何變之敢圖！」 二世說，於是行督責益嚴，稅民深者為明吏，殺人眾者為忠臣，刑者相半於道，而死人日成積於市，秦民益駭懼思亂。----
3. The Second Emperor berated Li Si again and again: "You sit among the Three Excellencies—how did you let rebels run wild like this!" Li Si was terrified. Rank and emolument weighed on him; he saw no way out. He bent to the emperor's mood and wrote back: "A true sovereign must practice stern oversight and blame. That is why Shenzi says: 'To hold the realm and yet not do as you please is to wear the world as shackles.' Nothing more: if you cannot oversee and blame, but instead wear yourself out for the people like Yao or Yu, the throne becomes a chain. He who will not master Shen and Han's clear methods, who will not walk the path of oversight and blame, but seeks only his own ease across the realm— who only breaks his body and drains his mind to serve the masses is a slave to the people, not a shepherd of the realm. What honor is there in that? The enlightened ruler practices oversight and blame, decides alone above, and keeps power from his ministers. Then he can stamp out the road of benevolence, silence every remonstrance, and follow his whim without a soul daring to resist. Then ministers and people will have no breath to spare for fault or plot—who would dare dream of rebellion?" The Second Emperor was delighted. Oversight and blame grew harsher still. Heavy taxers were called good officials; prolific executioners, loyal ministers. Half the highways were flogging-grounds; the markets filled with corpses day by day. Qin trembled—and dreamed of revolt.
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4趙李良已定常山，還報趙王。 趙王復使良略太原。 至石邑，秦兵塞井陘，未能前。 秦將詐為二世書以招良。 良得書未信，還之邯鄲，益請兵。 未至，道逢趙王姊出飲，從百餘騎，良望見，以為王，伏謁道旁。 王姊醉，不知其將，使騎謝李良。 李良素貴，起，慚其從官。 從官有一人曰：「天下畔秦，能者先立。 且趙王素出將軍下，今女兒乃不為將軍下車，請追殺之！」 李良已得秦書，固欲反趙，未決，因此怒，遣人追殺王姊，因將其兵襲邯鄲。 邯鄲不知，竟殺趙王、邵騷。 趙人多為張耳、陳餘耳目者，以故二人獨得脫。----
4. Li Liang of Zhao had pacified Changshan and returned to report to the king of Zhao. The king sent him out again to take Taiyuan. At Shiyi, Qin blocked the Jingxing pass; he could not advance. A Qin general forged a letter in the Second Emperor's name to win Li Liang over. Li Liang took the letter but did not trust it. He went back to Handan and asked for reinforcements. On the road he met the king of Zhao's elder sister out drinking, with a hundred-odd riders. Li Liang mistook her for the king and bowed in the dust by the roadside. She was drunk and did not know he was a general. She sent a rider to apologize. Li Liang had always held high rank. He rose, burning with shame before his men. One attendant said: "The realm rebels against Qin. The able man rises first. The king of Zhao has always ranked below you. Now his sister would not even step down from her carriage—pursue her and kill her!" Li Liang already held Qin's letter and had been weighing defection. This insult decided him. He sent men after the king's sister, killed her, and marched on Handan. Handan was taken unawares. He killed the king of Zhao and Shao Sao. Many in Zhao were Zhang Er's and Chen Yu's eyes and ears; for that the two alone escaped.
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5陳人秦嘉、符離人朱雞石等起兵，圍東海守於郯。 陳王聞之，使武平君畔為將軍，監郯下軍。 秦嘉不受命，自立為大司馬，惡屬武平君，告軍吏曰：「武平君年少，不知兵事，勿聽！」 因矯以王命殺武平君畔。----
5. Qin Jia of Chen, Zhu Jishi of Fuli, and others rose and besieged the grand administrator of Donghai at Tan. King Chen heard and sent Lord Wuping Pan as general to oversee the army at Tan. Qin Jia refused the order, declared himself Grand Marshal, and scorned serving under Lord Wuping. He told the officers: "Lord Wuping is young and knows nothing of war. Pay him no heed!" He forged a royal order and killed Lord Wuping Pan.
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6二世益遣長史司馬欣、董翳佐章邯擊盜。 章邯已破伍逢，擊陳柱國房君，殺之。 又進擊陳西張賀軍。 陳王出監戰。 張賀死。----
6. The Second Emperor sent chief clerks Sima Xin and Dong Yi to assist Zhang Han against the rebels. Zhang Han had already broken Wu Feng. He struck Lord Fang, pillar of state of Chen, and killed him. He pressed west against Zhang He's army. King Chen came out in person to oversee the fight. Zhang He fell.
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7臘月，陳王之汝陰，還，至下城父，其御莊賈殺陳王以降。 初，陳涉既為王，其故人皆往依之。 妻之父亦往焉，陳王以眾賓待之，長揖不拜。 妻之父怒曰：「怙亂僭號，而傲長者，不能久矣！」 不辭而去。 陳王跪謝，遂不為顧。 客出入愈益發舒，言陳王故情。 或說陳王曰：「客愚無知，顓妄言，輕威。」 陳王斬之。 諸故人皆自引去，由是無親陳王者。 陳王以朱防為中正，胡武為司過，主司群臣。 諸將徇地至，令之不是，輒系而罪之。 以苛察為忠，其所不善者，弗下吏，輒自治之。 諸將以其故不親附，此其所以敗也。
7. In the twelfth month King Chen went to Ruyin. On his return, at Xiachengfu, his charioteer Zhuang Jia killed him and surrendered. When Chen She first became king, every old friend came to cling to him. His father-in-law came too. Chen treated him as one guest among many—a long bow, no full obeisance. The father-in-law raged: "You ride rebellion to a royal title, yet scorn your elders—you will not last!" He left without farewell. Chen knelt to apologize. The old man would not turn back. Guests grew bolder at every visit, retailing Chen's old life in the fields. Someone warned him: "These guests are fools. Their loose tongues cheapen your majesty." Chen had the man beheaded. Every old friend slipped away. After that, none remained close to Chen. Chen made Zhu Fang Director of the Center and Hu Wu Director of Faults to oversee his ministers. Generals returning from conquered lands were bound and punished if their reports displeased him. He mistook harshness for loyalty. Those he disliked he punished himself, without troubling the clerks. The generals would not stand by him. That is why he fell.
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陳王故涓人將軍呂臣為蒼頭軍，起新陽，攻陳，下之，殺莊賈，復以陳為楚。 葬陳王於碭，謚曰隱王。
Chen's old palace attendant, General Lü Chen, raised the Servant Army at Xinyang, retook Chen, killed Zhuang Jia, and made Chu of Chen again. They buried King Chen at Dang with the posthumous name Hidden King.
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初，陳王令銍人宋留將兵定南陽，入武關。 留已徇南陽，聞陳王死，南陽復為秦，宋留以軍降，二世車裂留以徇。----
Earlier Chen had ordered Song Liu of Zhi to pacify Nanyang and enter Wu Pass. Liu had taken Nanyang. When he heard Chen was dead, Nanyang went back to Qin. Song Liu surrendered with his army. The Second Emperor had him torn apart by chariots as a warning.
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8魏周市將兵略地豐、沛，使人招雍齒。 雍齒雅不欲屬沛公，即以豐降魏。 沛公攻之，不克。----
8. Zhou Shi of Wei marched to take Feng and Pei and sent to win over Yong Chi. Yong Chi had never wished to serve the Duke of Pei. He surrendered Feng to Wei. The Duke of Pei attacked and could not take it.
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9趙張耳、陳餘收其散兵，得數萬人，擊李良。 良敗，走歸章邯。
9. Zhang Er and Chen Yu of Zhao gathered their scattered men—several tens of thousands—and struck Li Liang. Li Liang was beaten and fled to Zhang Han.
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客有說耳、餘曰：「兩君羈旅，而欲附趙，難可獨立。 立趙後，輔以誼，可就功。」 乃求得趙歇。 春，正月，耳、餘立歇為趙王，居信都。----
A guest told Zhang Er and Chen Yu: "You are strangers in a strange land, clinging to Zhao. You cannot stand alone. Set up a scion of Zhao, serve him with loyalty, and you may win through." They found Zhao Xie. In the first month of spring they made Xie king of Zhao and held court at Xindu.
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10東陽寧君、秦嘉聞陳王軍敗，乃立景駒為楚王，引兵之方與，欲擊秦軍定陶下； 使公孫慶使齊，欲與之並力俱進。 齊王曰：「陳王戰敗，不知其死生，楚安得不請而立王！」 公孫慶曰：「齊不請楚而立王，楚何故請齊而立王！ 且楚首事，當令於天下。」 田儋殺公孫慶。----
10. Ning Jun of Dongyang and Qin Jia, hearing Chen's army was broken, made Jing Ju king of Chu, marched to Fangyu, and meant to strike Qin below Dingtao; they sent Gongsun Qing to Qi to join forces and advance together. The king of Qi said: "Chen was beaten in battle. We do not know if he lives. How dare Chu set up a king without asking us!" Gongsun Qing said: "Qi never asked Chu before making a king. Why should Chu ask Qi? Chu rose first. Chu ought to give orders under Heaven." Tian Dan killed Gongsun Qing.
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11秦左、右校復攻陳，下之。 呂將軍走，徼兵復聚，與番盜黥布相遇，攻擊秦左、右校，破之青波，復以陳為楚。
11. Qin's Left and Right Commandants attacked Chen again and took it. General Lü fled, rallied his scattered men, met the bandit lord of Fan, Qing Bu, struck the Left and Right Commandants, broke them at Qingbo, and made Chu of Chen once more.
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黥布者，六人也，姓英氏，坐法黥，以刑徒論輸驪山。 驪山之徒數十萬人，布皆與其徒長豪傑交通，乃率其曹耦，亡之江中為群盜。 番陽令吳芮，甚得江湖間心，號曰番君。 布往見之，其眾已數千人。 番君乃以女妻之，使將其兵擊秦。----
Qing Bu was from Liu, of the Ying clan. Convicted, he was tattooed and sent as a convict laborer to Mount Li. Tens of thousands labored at Mount Li. Bu made common cause with every gang leader and strong man there, then led his band south to the Yangtze and became a river pirate. Wu Rui, magistrate of Poyang, held the loyalty of the river world and was called Lord of Fan. Bu went to him with several thousand men at his back. Lord of Fan gave him his daughter in marriage and set him at the head of the army against Qin.
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12楚王景駒在留，沛公往從之。 張良亦聚少年百餘人，欲往從景駒，道遇沛公，遂屬焉。 沛公拜良為廄將。 良數以太公兵法說沛公，沛公善之，常用其策。 良為他人言，皆不省。 良曰：「沛公殆天授！」 故遂從不去。 沛公與良俱見景駒，欲請兵以攻豐。 時章邯司馬屍二將兵北定楚地，屠相，至碭。 東陽寧君、沛公引兵西，戰蕭西，不利，還，收兵聚留。 二月，攻碭，三日，拔之。 收碭兵得六千人，與故合九千人。 三月，攻下邑，拔之。 還擊豐，不下。----
12. King Jing Ju of Chu held Liu. The Duke of Pei went to join him. Zhang Liang too had gathered a hundred-odd youths and was bound for Jing Ju. On the road he met the Duke of Pei and attached himself to him instead. The Duke of Pei made Zhang Liang Stable General. Zhang Liang spoke again and again from the Grand Duke's Art of War. The duke delighted in it and often followed his counsel. When Zhang Liang spoke to anyone else, none understood. Zhang Liang said: "The Duke of Pei is Heaven's chosen!" So he followed and never left. The Duke of Pei and Zhang Liang went together to Jing Ju and asked for troops to retake Feng. Meanwhile Zhang Han's marshal, Shi the Second, was marching north to pacify Chu, sacked Xiang, and reached Dang. Ning Jun of Dongyang and the Duke of Pei marched west, fought west of Xiao, were beaten, fell back, and rallied at Liu. In the second month, he attacked Dang; in three days he took it. He gathered six thousand troops from Dang; together with his existing force, he had nine thousand men. In the third month, he attacked Xiayi and captured it. He turned back to attack Feng but could not capture it.
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13廣陵人召平為陳王徇廣陵，未下。 聞陳王敗走，章邯且至，乃渡江，矯陳王令，拜項梁為楚上柱國，曰：「江東已定，急引兵西擊秦！」 梁乃以八千人渡江而西。 聞陳嬰已下東陽，使使欲與連和俱西。 陳嬰者，故東陽令史，居縣中，素信謹，稱為長者。 東陽少年殺其令，相聚得二萬人，欲立嬰為王。 嬰母謂嬰曰：「自我為汝家婦，未嘗聞汝先世之有貴者。 今暴得大名，不祥； 不如有所屬。 事成，猶得封侯； 事敗，易以亡，非世所指名也。」 嬰乃不敢為王，謂其軍吏曰：「項氏世世將家，有名於楚，今欲舉大事，將非其人不可。 我倚名族，亡秦必矣！」 其眾從之，乃以兵屬梁。----
13. Zhao Ping of Guangling was campaigning for King Chen against Guangling but had not yet captured it. Hearing that King Chen had been defeated and was fleeing, and that Zhang Han was approaching, he crossed the Yangzi, forged an order in King Chen’s name, and appointed Xiang Liang Grand Pillar of State of Chu, saying: “The lands east of the Yangzi are settled—lead your troops west at once to attack Qin!” Liang then crossed the river westward with eight thousand men. Hearing that Chen Ying had already captured Dongyang, he sent envoys to propose a joint advance west. Chen Ying had been a clerk to the magistrate of Dongyang; living in the county seat, he was known for trustworthiness and prudence and was called an elder. The young men of Dongyang killed their magistrate, gathered twenty thousand men, and wished to make Ying their king. Ying’s mother said to him: “Since I married into your family, I have never heard of any distinguished ancestor among your forebears. To rise suddenly to great fame is ill-omened; it is better to place yourself under someone else’s leadership. If things succeed, you may still be enfeoffed as a marquis; if they fail, you can escape easily—you will not be the name the world singles out.” Ying then dared not become king and told his officers: “The Xiang clan has been a military house for generations, famous in Chu; to undertake a great enterprise now, we must have the right commander. If I rely on a great house, Qin’s destruction is assured!” His troops agreed, and he submitted his forces to Liang.
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14英布既破秦軍，引兵而東； 聞項梁西渡淮，布與蒲將軍皆以其兵屬焉。 項梁眾凡六七萬人，軍下邳。 景駒、秦嘉軍彭城東，欲以距梁。 梁謂軍吏曰：「陳王先首事，戰不利，未聞所在。 今秦嘉倍陳王而立景駒，逆無道！」 乃進兵擊秦嘉，秦嘉軍敗走。 追之，至胡陵，嘉還戰。 一日，嘉死，軍降； 景駒走死梁地。
14. After Ying Bu had defeated the Qin army, he led his troops east; hearing that Xiang Liang had crossed the Huai westward, Bu and General Pu both placed their troops under his command. Xiang Liang’s forces totaled some sixty or seventy thousand men; he encamped at Xiapi. Jing Ju and Qin Jia encamped east of Pengcheng, intending to block Liang. Liang told his officers: “King Chen was first to raise the revolt; the fighting went badly, and we do not know where he is. Now Qin Jia has betrayed King Chen and enthroned Jing Ju—this is treason!” He advanced to attack Qin Jia; Qin Jia’s army was defeated and fled. Pursuing them to Huling, Jia turned to fight. In a single day Jia was killed and his army surrendered; Jing Ju fled and was killed in Liang’s territory.
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梁已並秦嘉軍，軍胡陵，將引軍而西。 章邯軍至栗，項梁使別將朱雞石、餘樊君與戰。 餘樊君死，朱雞石軍敗，亡走胡陵。 梁乃引兵入薛，誅朱雞石。
Liang had absorbed Qin Jia’s army, encamped at Huling, and was preparing to march west. When Zhang Han’s army reached Li, Xiang Liang sent the detached generals Zhu Jishi and Yu Fanjun to fight them. Yu Fanjun was killed; Zhu Jishi’s army was defeated and fled to Huling. Liang then marched into Xue and executed Zhu Jishi.
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沛公從騎百餘往見梁，梁與沛公卒五千人，五大夫將十人。 沛公還，引兵攻豐，拔之。 雍齒奔魏。
The Lord of Pei went with a little over a hundred horsemen to see Liang; Liang gave him five thousand infantry and ten commanders of the fifth rank. The Lord of Pei returned, led his troops against Feng, and captured it. Yong Chi fled to Wei.
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項梁使項羽別攻襄城，襄城堅守不下； 已拔，皆坑之，還報。
Xiang Liang sent Xiang Yu on a separate mission to attack Xiangcheng; the city held firm and would not fall; once it fell, he buried the defenders alive and returned to report.
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梁聞陳王定死，召諸別將會薛計事，沛公亦往焉。 居鄛人范增，年七十，素居家，好奇計，往說項梁曰：「陳勝敗，固當。 夫秦滅六國，楚最無罪。 自懷王入秦不反，楚人憐之至今。 故楚南公曰：『楚雖三戶，亡秦必楚。』 今陳勝首事，不立楚後而自立，其勢不長。 今君起江東，楚蜂起之將皆爭附君者，以君世世楚將，為能復立楚之後也。」 於是項梁然其言，乃求得楚懷王孫心於民間，為人牧羊。 夏，六月，立以為楚懷王，從民望也。 陳嬰為上柱國，封五縣，與懷王都盱眙。 項梁自號為武信君。
Hearing that King Chen was certainly dead, Liang summoned the detached generals to a council at Xue; the Lord of Pei went as well. Fan Zeng of Juqi, seventy years old, had long lived in retirement and delighted in clever stratagems; he went to advise Xiang Liang: “Chen Sheng’s defeat was inevitable. Of the Six States Qin destroyed, Chu was the most blameless. Ever since King Huai entered Qin and never returned, the people of Chu have pitied him to this day. Hence Lord Nan of Chu said: ‘Though Chu has but three households, it will be Chu that destroys Qin. ’ Chen Sheng was first to raise the revolt yet did not restore a descendant of Chu and made himself ruler—such power cannot endure. You have risen east of the Yangzi; the Chu commanders who have sprung up everywhere flock to you because you are a Chu general for generations and can restore a descendant of Chu.” Xiang Liang agreed and found Xin, grandson of King Huai of Chu, among the people—he had been tending sheep. in summer, the sixth month, enthroned him as King Huai of Chu, to satisfy popular expectation. Chen Ying became Grand Pillar of State, received five districts as his fief, and joined King Huai at the capital in Xuyi. Xiang Liang styled himself Lord Martial and Faithful.
27
張良說項梁曰：「君已立楚後，而韓諸公子橫陽君成最賢，可立為王，益樹黨。」 項梁使良求韓成，立以為韓王，以良為司徒，與韓王將千餘人西略韓地，得數城，秦輒復取之； 往來為遊兵穎川。----
Zhang Liang urged Xiang Liang: “You have already restored Chu’s royal line; among Han’s princes, Cheng, Lord of Hengyang, is the worthiest and should be made king—this will strengthen your party.” Xiang Liang sent Zhang Liang to find Han Cheng, enthroned him as King of Han, made Zhang Liang Minister over the Masses, and with the King of Han and a little over a thousand men campaigned west into Han territory, capturing several cities that Qin soon recaptured; they ranged back and forth as roving troops in Yingchuan.
28
15章邯已破陳王，乃進兵擊魏王於臨濟。 魏王使周市出，請救於齊、楚。 齊王儋及楚將項它皆將兵隨市救魏。 章邯夜銜枚擊，大破齊、楚軍於臨濟下，殺齊王及周市。 魏王咎為其民約降，約定，自燒殺。 其弟豹亡走楚，楚懷王予魏豹數千人，復徇魏地。 齊田榮收其兄儋餘兵，東走東阿，章邯追圍之。 齊人聞齊王儋死，乃立故齊王建之弟假為王，田角為相，角弟間為將，以距諸侯。
15. After Zhang Han had defeated King Chen, he advanced to attack the King of Wei at Linji. The King of Wei sent Zhou Shi to seek aid from Qi and Chu. King Dan of Qi and the Chu general Xiang Ta both led troops with Zhou Shi to rescue Wei. Zhang Han attacked by night with gags in the soldiers’ mouths, routed the Qi and Chu armies below Linji, and killed the King of Qi and Zhou Shi. King Jiu of Wei negotiated surrender for his people’s sake; when terms were agreed, he burned himself to death. His younger brother Bao fled to Chu; King Huai gave Wei Bao several thousand men, and he campaigned again through Wei territory. Tian Rong of Qi gathered his brother Dan’s remaining troops, fled east to Dong’e, and Zhang Han pursued and besieged him. When the people of Qi heard that King Dan was dead, they enthroned Jia, younger brother of the former King Jian of Qi; Tian Jiao became chancellor and Jiao’s younger brother Jian became general, to resist the allied lords.
29
秋，七月，大霖雨。 武信君引兵攻亢父，聞田榮之急，乃引兵擊破章邯軍東阿下，章邯走而西。 田榮引兵東歸齊。 武信君獨追北，使項羽、沛公別攻城陽，屠之。 楚軍軍濮陽東，復與章邯戰，又破之。 章邯復振，守濮陽，環水。 沛公、項羽去，攻定陶。
In autumn, the seventh month, there were torrential rains. Lord Martial and Faithful marched to attack Kangfu; hearing that Tian Rong was in peril, he turned and defeated Zhang Han’s army below Dong’e; Zhang Han fled west. Tian Rong led his troops east back into Qi. Lord Martial and Faithful alone pursued north; he sent Xiang Yu and the Lord of Pei on separate missions to attack Chengyang and put it to the sword. The Chu army encamped east of Puyang, fought Zhang Han again, and defeated him again. Zhang Han rallied, held Puyang, and ringed it with moats. The Lord of Pei and Xiang Yu left and attacked Dingtao.
30
八月，田榮擊逐齊王假，假亡走楚，田角亡走趙。 田間前救趙，因留不敢歸。 田榮乃立儋子市為齊王，榮相之，田橫為將，平齊地。 章邯兵益盛，項梁數使使告齊、趙發兵共擊章邯。 田榮曰：「楚殺田假，趙殺角、間，乃出兵。」 楚、趙不許。 田榮怒，終不肯出兵。----
In the eighth month, Tian Rong attacked and drove out King Jia of Qi; Jia fled to Chu and Tian Jiao fled to Zhao. Tian Jian had earlier gone to aid Zhao and therefore stayed there, not daring to return. Tian Rong enthroned Dan’s son Shi as King of Qi; Rong became chancellor, Tian Heng became general, and they pacified Qi. Zhang Han’s forces grew stronger; Xiang Liang repeatedly sent envoys urging Qi and Zhao to raise troops and join him against Zhang Han. Tian Rong said: “If Chu kills Tian Jia and Zhao kills Jiao and Jian, then I will send troops.” Chu and Zhao refused. Tian Rong was enraged and in the end refused to send troops.
31
16郎中令趙高恃恩專恣，以私怨誅殺人眾多，恐大臣入朝奏事言之，乃說二世曰：「天子之所以貴者，但以聞聲，群臣莫得見其面故也。 且陛下富於春秋，未必盡通諸事。 今坐朝廷，譴舉有不當者，則見短於大臣，非所以示神明於天下也。 陛下不如深拱禁中，與臣及侍中習法者待事，事來有以揆之。 如此，則大臣不敢奏疑事，天下稱聖主矣。」 二世用其計，乃不坐朝廷見大臣，常居禁中。 趙高侍中用事，事皆決於趙高。
16. Zhao Gao, Director of the Palace, relied on imperial favor and acted arbitrarily; he executed many people over private grudges. Fearing that ministers reporting at court would speak of this, he persuaded the Second Emperor: “The Son of Heaven is held august because men hear his voice while ministers cannot see his face. Moreover Your Majesty is still young and may not yet understand all affairs thoroughly. If you sit in court now and your rebukes or recommendations are ever improper, you will be exposed before the ministers—this is not how to display divine wisdom to the realm. Your Majesty would do better to withdraw deep into the inner palace; with me and the attendants-in-ordinary versed in law you can await business and weigh each matter as it comes. Then ministers will not dare present doubtful matters, and the realm will call you a sage ruler.” The Second Emperor adopted his plan, stopped holding court and seeing ministers, and constantly remained in the inner palace. Zhao Gao held power as attendant-in-ordinary; all affairs were decided by Zhao Gao.
32
高聞李斯以為言，乃見丞相曰：「關東群盜多，今上急，益發繇，治阿房宮，聚狗馬無用之物。 臣欲諫，為位賤，此真君侯之事。 君何不諫？」 李斯曰：「固也，吾欲言之久矣。 今時上不坐朝廷，常居深宮。 吾所言者，不可傳也。 欲見，無閒。」 趙高曰：「君誠能諫，請為君侯上閒，語君。」 於是趙高待二世方燕樂，婦女居前，使人告丞相：「上方閒，可奏事。」 丞相至宮門上謁。 如此者三。 二世怒曰：「吾常多閒日，丞相不來； 吾方燕私，丞相輒來請事！ 丞相豈少我哉，且固我哉？」 趙高因曰：「夫沙丘之謀，丞相與焉。 今陛下已立為帝，而丞貴不益，此其意亦望裂地而王矣。 且陛下不問臣，臣不敢言。 丞相長男李由為三川守，楚盜陳勝等皆丞相傍縣之子，以故楚盜公行，過三川城，守不肯擊。 高聞其文書相往來，未得其審，故未敢以聞。 且丞相居外，權重於陛下。」 二世以為然，欲案丞相，恐其不審，乃先使人按驗三川守與盜通狀。
Gao heard that Li Si was speaking of this and went to the chancellor: “Bandits east of the passes are numerous; the emperor is in distress, yet corvée is increased, Epang Palace is being built, and useless things like dogs and horses are gathered. I wish to remonstrate, but my rank is too low—this is truly your affair, my lord. Why do you not remonstrate?” Li Si said: “Indeed—I have long wished to speak. Now the emperor does not hold court but constantly dwells deep in the palace. What I would say cannot be relayed by others. I wish to see him but have no opportunity.” Zhao Gao said: “If you truly wish to remonstrate, let me secure an audience for you and inform you.” Zhao Gao waited until the Second Emperor was feasting at leisure with women before him, then sent word to the chancellor: “His Majesty has leisure; you may report.” The chancellor came to the palace gate and requested audience. This happened three times. The Second Emperor said angrily: “I often have much leisure, yet the chancellor does not come; just when I am privately feasting, the chancellor keeps coming to report! Does the chancellor despise me, or is he trying to constrain me?” Zhao Gao then said: “The chancellor shared in the plot at Shaxiu. Your Majesty is already emperor, yet the chancellor’s honors have not increased—his intent is surely to carve out territory and make himself a king. Had Your Majesty not asked me, I would not have dared to speak. The chancellor’s eldest son Li You is governor of Sanchuan; the Chu rebels Chen Sheng and the rest are all from districts neighboring the chancellor’s fief—therefore the Chu rebels travel openly, and when they pass Sanchuan’s cities the governor will not attack. I have heard their correspondence goes back and forth; I have not obtained proof, and therefore did not dare report it. Moreover the chancellor acts outside the palace, and his authority outweighs Your Majesty’s.” The Second Emperor agreed, wished to move against the chancellor, but feared the evidence was not firm; he first sent men to investigate whether the San River governor had colluded with the rebels.
33
李斯聞之，因上書言趙高之短曰：「高擅利擅害，與陛下無異。 昔田常相齊簡公，竊其恩威，下得百姓，上得群臣，卒弒齊簡公而取齊國，此天下所明知也。 今高有邪佚之志，危反之行，私家之富，若田氏之於齊矣，而又貪慾無厭，求利不止，列勢次主，其欲無窮，劫陛下之威信，其志若韓□為韓安相也。 陛下不圖，臣恐其必為變也。」 二世曰：「何哉！ 夫高，故宦人也，然不為安肆志，不以危易心，潔行修善，自使至此，以忠得進，以信守位，朕實賢之。 而君疑之，何也？ 且朕非屬趙君，當誰任哉！ 且趙君為人，精廉強力，下知人情，上能適朕，君其勿疑！」 二世雅愛信高，恐李斯殺之，乃私告趙高。 高曰：「丞相所患者獨高，高已死，丞相即欲為田常所為。」
When Li Si heard of this, he memorialized the throne on Zhao Gao’s faults: “Gao wields profit and punishment at will and is no different from Your Majesty. Formerly Tian Chang was chancellor to Duke Jian of Qi, stole his favor and authority, won the people below and the ministers above, and finally assassinated Duke Jian and seized Qi—this all the world knows. Now Gao harbors perverse designs and conduct that threatens rebellion; his private wealth rivals the Tian clan’s hold on Qi. He is insatiably greedy, his power ranks just below the throne, his desires know no limit, and he usurps Your Majesty’s prestige and authority—his intent is like Han□ as chancellor to Lord An of Han. If Your Majesty does not act, I fear he will surely rebel.” The Second Emperor said: “What nonsense! Gao is a former palace eunuch, yet he does not indulge himself in comfort or change his heart in danger; he has cultivated his conduct and risen to this post through loyalty and trustworthiness. I truly esteem him. Why do you suspect him? Besides, if I do not entrust affairs to Lord Zhao, whom should I employ? Lord Zhao is refined, incorruptible, and forceful; he understands men below and suits me above—you must not doubt him!” The Second Emperor had long favored and trusted Gao; fearing Li Si would kill him, he told Zhao Gao in private. Gao said: “The chancellor’s only worry is me. Once I am dead, he will do what Tian Chang did.”
34
是時，盜賊益多，而關中捽髮東擊盜者無已。 右丞相馮去疾、左丞相李斯、將軍馮劫進諫曰：「關東群盜並起，秦發兵追擊，所殺亡甚眾，然猶不止。 盜多，皆以戍、漕、轉、作事苦，稅賦大也。 請且止阿房宮作者，減省四邊戍、轉。」 二世曰：「凡所為貴有天下者，得肆意極欲，主重明法，下不敢為非，以制御海內矣。 夫虞、夏之主，貴為天子，親處窮苦之實以徇百姓，尚何於法！ 且先帝起諸侯，兼天下，天下已定，外攘四夷以安邊境，作宮室以章得意，而君觀先帝功業有緒。 今朕即位，二年之間，群盜並起，君不能禁，又欲罷先帝之所為，是上無以報先帝，次不為朕盡忠力，何以在位！」 下去疾、斯、劫吏，案責他罪。 去疾、劫自殺，獨李斯就獄。 二世以屬趙高治之，責斯與子由謀反狀，皆收捕宗族、賓客。 趙高治斯，榜掠千餘，不勝痛，自誣服。
At this time rebels grew ever more numerous, while within the passes men were pressed into service and sent east to fight rebels without cease. The right chancellor Feng Quji, the left chancellor Li Si, and General Feng Jie remonstrated: “Rebels east of the passes have risen everywhere; Qin sends troops in pursuit and kills vast numbers, yet they still do not stop. Rebels multiply because frontier service, canal transport, relay transport, and corvée labor are crushing, and taxes are heavy. We ask that work on Epang Palace be halted for now and that frontier garrisons and transport on all sides be reduced.” The Second Emperor said: “Whoever is honored with possessing the realm may indulge his will to the utmost. The ruler is august and makes the laws clear; those below dare not do wrong—thus he controls the empire. The rulers of Yu and Xia, though honored as Sons of Heaven, personally endured poverty to yield to the people—what need had they of law! Moreover, the late emperor rose from the feudal lords and united the realm; once it was settled, he drove back the four barbarians to secure the borders and built palaces to display his triumph—and you see his achievements taking shape. I have reigned barely two years, yet rebels rise everywhere and you cannot stop them—and now you wish to abandon the late emperor’s works! Above, you fail the late emperor; below, you fail me—how can you hold office!” He handed Quji, Si, and Jie over to the law officers and had them prosecuted on other charges. Quji and Jie killed themselves; only Li Si was imprisoned. The Second Emperor entrusted the case to Zhao Gao, charged Li Si and his son You with rebellion, and had their entire clans and retainers arrested. Zhao Gao tried Li Si and flogged him more than a thousand times; unable to bear the pain, he falsely confessed.
35
斯所以不死者，自負其辯，有功，實無反心，欲上書自陳，幸二世寤而赦之。 乃從獄中上書曰：「臣為丞相治民，三十餘年矣。 逮秦地之狹隘，不過千里，兵數十萬。 臣盡薄材，陰行謀臣，資之金玉，使遊說諸侯； 陰修甲兵，飭政教，官鬥士，尊功臣； 故終以脅韓，弱魏，破燕、趙，夷齊、楚，卒兼六國，虜其王，立秦為天子。 又北逐胡、貉，南定北越，以見秦之強。 更克畫，平斗斛、度量，文章布之天下，以樹秦之名。 此皆臣之罪也，臣當死久矣！ 上幸盡其能力，乃得至今。 願陛下察之！」 書上，趙高使吏棄去不奏，曰：「囚安得上書！」
Li Si did not die because he trusted in his eloquence and his achievements and knew he had no heart of rebellion; he hoped to submit a memorial and win the Second Emperor’s pardon. He then memorialized from prison: “Your servant has served as chancellor governing the people for more than thirty years. When Qin’s territory was narrow and confined, it did not exceed a thousand li, and its troops numbered only several hundred thousand. I exhausted my slight talents, secretly sent plotting ministers, supplied them with gold and jade, and had them go to persuade the feudal lords; secretly repaired armor and weapons, rectified government and teaching, assigned offices to fighting men, and honored meritorious ministers; and so in the end coerced Han, weakened Wei, broke Yan and Zhao, extinguished Qi and Chu, united the Six States, captured their kings, and established Qin as Son of Heaven. I also drove off the Hu and Mo in the north and settled Northern Yue in the south, showing Qin’s strength. I further devised reforms, standardized bushels, weights, and measures, and spread written ordinances throughout the realm to establish Qin’s name. All these are my crimes; I ought to have died long ago! Your Majesty was gracious enough to use me to the full, and only thus have I survived until now. I beg Your Majesty to consider this!” When the memorial was submitted, Zhao Gao had the clerk discard it and not present it, saying: “How may a prisoner submit a memorial!”
36
趙高使其客十餘輩詐為御史、謁者、侍中，更往覆訊斯，斯更以其實對，輒使人復榜之。 後二世使人驗斯，斯以為如前，終不更言。 辭服，奏當上。 二世喜曰：「微趙君，幾為丞相所賣！」 及二世所使案三川守由者至，則楚兵已擊殺之。 使者來，會職責相下吏，高皆妄為反辭以相傅會，遂具斯五刑，論腰斬咸陽市。 斯出獄，與其中子俱執。 顧謂其中子曰：「吾欲與若復牽黃犬，俱出上蔡東門逐狡兔，豈可得乎！」 遂父子相哭，而夷三族。 二世乃以趙高為丞相，事無大小皆決焉。----
Zhao Gao had more than ten retainers pose as censors, petitioners, and palace attendants and repeatedly re-examine Li Si; each time Si answered truthfully, they had him flogged again. Later, when the Second Emperor sent men to verify the case, Li Si thought it was the same as before and would not change his testimony. He confessed; the sentence was reported to the throne. The Second Emperor was pleased and said: “But for Lord Zhao, I would nearly have been betrayed by the chancellor!” When the men the Second Emperor had sent to investigate San River governor You arrived, Chu troops had already attacked and killed him. When the envoys arrived, the case was being handed to subordinate officers; Gao fabricated charges of rebellion to fit the case, imposed the full five punishments on Li Si, and sentenced him to be cut in two at the waist in the Xianyang marketplace. Li Si came out of prison and was seized together with his second son. He turned to his second son and said: “I wish I could go with you again, leading a yellow dog out the eastern gate of Shangcai to chase hares—how could that be now!” Father and son wept together, and all three clans were exterminated. The Second Emperor then made Zhao Gao chancellor; great and small affairs were all decided by him.
37
17項梁已破章邯於東阿，引兵西，北至定陶，再破秦軍。 項羽、沛公又與秦軍戰於雍丘，大破之，斬李由。 項梁益輕秦，有驕色。 宋義諫曰：「戰勝而將驕卒惰者，敗。 今卒少惰矣，秦兵日益，臣為君畏之。」 項梁弗聽。 餘乃使宋義使於齊，道遇齊使者高陵君顯，曰：「公將見武信君乎？」 曰：「然。」 曰：「臣論武信君軍必敗。 公徐行即免死，疾行則及禍。」 二世悉起兵益章邯擊楚軍，大破之定陶，項梁死。
17. Xiang Liang had already defeated Zhang Han at Dong’e, marched west to Dingtao, and again defeated Qin forces. Xiang Yu and the Lord of Pei again fought Qin at Yongqiu, routed them, and beheaded Li You. Xiang Liang grew increasingly contemptuous of Qin and showed arrogance. Song Yi remonstrated: “When the general grows arrogant and the soldiers slack after victory—defeat follows. Your soldiers are already growing slack while Qin’s forces grow daily—I fear this for you, my lord.” Xiang Liang would not listen. Yu then sent Song Yi on a mission to Qi; on the road he met the Qi envoy Lord Xian of Gaoling and said: “Are you going to see Lord Xinwu?” He said: “Yes.” Song Yi said: “I predict Lord Xinwu’s army will surely be defeated. Go slowly and you will escape death; go swiftly and you will meet disaster.” The Second Emperor mustered all troops to reinforce Zhang Han; he routed the Chu army at Dingtao and Xiang Liang was killed.
38
時連雨，自七月至九月。 項羽、沛公攻外黃未下，去，攻陳留。 聞武信君死，士卒恐，乃與將軍呂臣引兵而東，徙懷王自盱眙都彭城。 呂臣軍彭城東，項羽軍彭城西，沛公軍碭。
Rain fell continuously from the seventh month through the ninth. Xiang Yu and the Lord of Pei attacked Waihuang without success, withdrew, and attacked Chenliu. Hearing that Lord Xinwu was dead, the troops were afraid; they marched east with General Lü Chen and moved King Huai from Xuyi to Pengcheng as his capital. Lü Chen encamped east of Pengcheng, Xiang Yu west of Pengcheng, and the Lord of Pei at Dang.
39
魏豹下魏二十餘城，楚懷王立豹為魏王。
Wei Bao took more than twenty cities of Wei, and King Huai of Chu made him king of Wei.
40
後九月，楚懷王並呂臣、項羽軍，自將之； 以沛公為碭郡長，封武安侯，將碭郡兵； 封項羽為長安侯，號為魯公； 呂臣為司徒，其父呂青為令尹。----
In the intercalary ninth month, King Huai of Chu combined the armies of Lü Chen and Xiang Yu and took command himself; he made the Lord of Pei magistrate of Dang commandery, enfeoffed him as Marquis of Wu’an, and put him in command of Dang troops; he enfeoffed Xiang Yu as Marquis of Chang’an with the title Lord of Lu; he made Lü Chen Minister of the Masses and his father Lü Qing Grand Minister.
41
18章邯已破項梁，以為楚地兵不足憂，乃渡河，北擊趙，大破之。 引兵至邯鄲，皆徙其民河內，夷其城郭。 張耳與趙王歇走入巨鹿城，王離圍之。 陳餘北收常山兵，得數萬人，軍巨鹿北。 章邯軍巨鹿南棘原。 趙數請救於楚。
18. Zhang Han, having defeated Xiang Liang, thought Chu’s forces were no longer a concern; he crossed the river north, attacked Zhao, and routed them. He marched to Handan, relocated all its people to Henei, and leveled its walls. Zhang Er and King Xie of Zhao fled into Julu; Wang Li besieged them. Chen Yu gathered Changshan troops in the north, raised several tens of thousands of men, and encamped north of Julu. Zhang Han’s army lay south of Julu at Jiyuan. Zhao repeatedly asked Chu for aid.
42
高陵君顯在楚，見楚王曰：「宋義論武信君之軍必敗，居數日，軍果敗。 兵未戰而先見敗征，此可謂知兵矣。」 王召宋義與計事而大說之，因置以為上將軍。 項羽為次將，范增為末將，以救趙。 諸別將皆屬宋義，號為「卿子冠軍」。
Lord Xian of Gaoling was in Chu; he saw the King of Chu and said: “Song Yi predicted that Lord Xinwu’s army would be defeated, and within days it was. He foresaw defeat before battle was joined—this may be called understanding warfare.” The king summoned Song Yi to discuss strategy, was greatly pleased, and made him supreme general. Xiang Yu was made second general and Fan Zeng last general, to rescue Zhao. All subordinate generals were placed under Song Yi, who was styled “Lordling Champion.”
43
初，楚懷王與諸將約：「先入定關中者王之。」 當是時，秦兵強，常乘勝逐北，諸將莫利先入關。 獨項羽怨秦之殺項梁，奮勢願與沛公西入關。 懷王諸老將皆曰：「項羽為人，慓悍猾賊，嘗攻襄城，襄城無遺類，皆坑之，諸所過無不殘滅。 且楚數進取，前陳王、項梁皆敗，不如更遣長者，扶義而西，告諭秦父兄。 秦父兄苦其主久矣，今誠得長者往，無侵暴，宜可下。 項羽不可遣，獨沛公素寬大長者，可遣。」 懷王乃不許項羽，而遣沛公西略地，收陳王、項梁散卒以伐秦。
Earlier, King Huai of Chu had agreed with his generals: “Whoever first enters and settles Guanzhong shall be king.” At that time Qin was strong and always pursued defeated foes; none of the generals thought it profitable to enter Guanzhong first. Only Xiang Yu, resenting Qin for killing Xiang Liang, was eager to march west into Guanzhong with the Lord of Pei. King Huai’s veteran generals all said: “Xiang Yu is fierce, violent, and treacherous. He once attacked Xiangcheng and buried every survivor alive; everywhere he passes he leaves nothing but ruin. Moreover Chu has repeatedly attacked and failed; King Chen and Xiang Liang both met defeat. It is better to send a worthy elder west in the name of righteousness to win over the elders of Qin. The people of Qin have long suffered under their ruler; if a worthy elder goes who does not brutalize them, the region should submit. Xiang Yu must not be sent; only the Lord of Pei, who has always been magnanimous and worthy, should go.” King Huai therefore refused Xiang Yu and sent the Lord of Pei west to seize territory, gathering the scattered troops of King Chen and Xiang Liang to attack Qin.
44
沛公道碭，至陽城與槓里，攻秦壁，破其二軍。
The Lord of Pei marched by way of Dang to Yangcheng and Gangli, attacked Qin fortified camps, and broke two of their armies.
45
1冬，十月，齊將田都畔田榮，助楚救趙。----
1. In winter, the tenth month, the Qi general Tian Du broke with Tian Rong and aided Chu in rescuing Zhao.
46
2沛公攻破東郡尉於成武。----
2. The Lord of Pei defeated the commandant of Dong commandery at Chengwu.
47
3宋義行至安陽，留四十六日不進。 項羽曰：「秦圍趙急，宜疾引兵渡河； 楚擊其外，趙應其內，破秦軍必矣。」 宋義曰：「不然。 夫搏牛之虻，不可以破蟣虱。 今秦攻趙，戰勝則兵疲，我承其敝； 不勝，則我引兵鼓行而西，必舉秦矣。 故不如先斗秦、趙。 夫被堅執銳，義不如公； 坐運籌策，公不如義。」 因下令軍中曰：「有猛如虎，狠如羊，貪如狼，強不可使者，皆斬之！」 乃遣其子宋襄相齊，身送之至無鹽，飲酒高會。 天寒，大雨，士卒凍饑。 項羽曰：「將戮力而攻秦，久留不行。 今歲饑民貧，士卒食半菽，軍無見糧，乃飲酒高會； 不引兵渡河，因趙食，與趙並力攻秦，乃曰『承其敝』。 夫以秦之強，攻新造之趙，其勢必舉。 趙舉秦強，何敝之承！ 且國兵新破，王坐不安席，掃境內而專屬於將軍，國家安危，在此一舉。 今不恤士卒而徇其私，非社稷之臣也！」
3. Song Yi reached Anyang and halted forty-six days without advancing. Xiang Yu said: “Qin is pressing the siege of Zhao; we ought to cross the river at once; Chu strikes from without and Zhao responds from within—the Qin army is sure to be broken.” Song Yi said: “Not so. The gadfly that strikes an ox cannot be used to crush lice. If Qin attacks Zhao and wins, its troops will be weary and we can take advantage of their exhaustion; if it does not win, we march west with drums beating and will surely take Qin. Therefore it is better to let Qin and Zhao fight first. In wearing armor and wielding sharp weapons, I am not your equal; but in sitting and plotting strategy, you are not my equal.” He then ordered the army: “Any man fierce as a tiger, ruthless as a sheep, greedy as a wolf, or so overbearing he cannot be commanded—all shall be beheaded!” He then sent his son Song Xiang as envoy to Qi, personally escorted him to Wuyan, and held a grand feast with wine.” The weather turned cold and rain poured down; the troops froze and went hungry. Xiang Yu said, “We were to unite and strike Qin, yet we have lingered here without advancing. This year the people are starving and poor; the men eat half rations of beans, the army has no grain in sight, yet you hold grand banquets; you will not cross the river to draw on Zhao's supplies and join Zhao in attacking Qin, yet talk of ‘waiting until they are worn out.’ With Qin's might against a newly founded Zhao, Zhao is sure to fall. Once Zhao falls, Qin only grows stronger—what ‘exhaustion’ is there to reap! Moreover our army has just been beaten; the king cannot sit at ease, has swept the realm and entrusted everything to you—the fate of the state hangs on this one move. You show no care for the troops yet indulge yourself—you are no true servant of the state!"
48
十一月，項羽晨朝將軍宋義，即其帳中斬宋義頭。 出令軍中曰：「宋義與齊謀反楚，楚王陰令籍誅之！」 當是時，諸將皆懾服，莫敢枝梧，皆曰：「首立楚者，將軍家也，今將軍誅亂。」 乃相與共立羽為假上將軍。 使人追宋義子，及之齊，殺之。 使桓楚報命於懷王。 懷王因使羽為上將軍。----
In the eleventh month, Xiang Yu attended General Song Yi at dawn and beheaded him in his tent. He proclaimed to the army, “Song Yi conspired with Qi against Chu; King Huai secretly ordered Ji to kill him!” At that time every general submitted in awe; none dared resist, and all said, “Your house first raised Chu; now you have put down treason.” They then jointly made Yu acting supreme general. He sent men after Song Yi's son; overtaking him in Qi, they killed him. He sent Huan Chu to report to King Huai. King Huai then appointed Yu supreme general.
49
4十二月，沛公引兵至栗，遇剛武侯，奪其軍四千餘人，並之； 與魏將皇欣、武滿軍合攻秦軍，破之。----
4 In the twelfth month, the Duke of Pei marched to Li, met Marquis Wu of Gang, took over his force of more than four thousand men, and absorbed them; then joined Wei generals Huang Xin and Wu Man to attack the Qin army and routed it.
50
5故齊王建孫安下濟北，從項羽救趙。
5 An, grandson of the former King Jian of Qi, came down from Jibei to follow Xiang Yu in rescuing Zhao.
51
章邯築甬道屬河，餉王離。 王離兵食多，急攻巨鹿。 巨鹿城中食盡、兵少，張耳數使人召前陳餘。 陳餘度兵少，不敵秦，不敢前。 數月，張耳大怒，怨陳餘，使張黶、陳澤往讓陳餘曰：「始吾與公為刎頸交，今王與耳旦暮且死，而公擁兵數萬，不肯相救，安在其相為死！ 苟必信，胡不赴秦軍俱死，且有十一二相全。」 陳餘曰：「吾度前終不能救趙，徒盡亡軍。 且餘所以不俱死，欲為趙王、張君報秦。 今必俱死，如以肉委餓虎，何益！」 張黶、陳澤要以俱死，乃使黶、澤將五千人先嘗秦軍，至，皆沒。 當是時，齊師、燕師皆來救趙，張敖亦北收代兵，得萬餘人，來，皆壁餘旁，未敢擊秦。
Zhang Han built a supply road along the river to feed Wang Li. Wang Li's troops were well supplied and pressed hard on Julu. Inside Julu food ran out and troops were few; Zhang Er repeatedly sent for Chen Yu to advance. Chen Yu judged his force too small to face Qin and did not dare move forward. After months Zhang Er flew into a rage at Chen Yu and sent Zhang Yan and Chen Ze to rebuke him: “We were sworn friends; now the king and I face death any day, yet you hold tens of thousands of men and will not save us—what happened to dying for each other! If you still trust us, why not march against the Qin army and die together—perhaps one or two in ten might survive.” Chen Yu said, “I reckon an advance still cannot save Zhao—it would only wipe out the army for nothing. The reason I do not die with you is that I mean to avenge the King of Zhao and Lord Zhang against Qin. To die together now is only to throw meat to a starving tiger—what good would it do!” Zhang Yan and Chen Ze insisted on dying together; Chen Yu sent them with five thousand men to probe the Qin army—they were wiped out to a man. By then Qi and Yan had come to Zhao's aid; Zhang Ao too gathered more than ten thousand men from Dai in the north—all encamped near Chen Yu and none dared attack Qin.
52
項羽已殺卿子冠軍，威震楚國，乃遣當陽君、薄將軍將卒二萬渡河救巨鹿。 戰少利，絕章邯甬道，王離軍乏食。 陳餘復請兵。 項羽乃悉引兵渡河，皆沈船，破釜、甑，燒廬舍，持三日糧，以示士卒必死，無一還心。 於是至則圍王離，與秦軍遇，九戰，大破之，章邯引兵卻。 諸侯兵乃敢進擊秦軍，遂殺蘇角，虜王離； 涉間不降，自燒殺。 當是時，楚兵冠諸侯軍。 救巨鹿者十餘壁，莫敢縱兵。 及楚擊秦，諸侯將皆從壁上觀。 楚戰士無不一當十，呼聲動天地，諸侯軍無不人人惴恐。 於是已破秦軍，項羽召見諸侯將。 諸侯將入轅門，無不膝行而前，莫敢仰視。 項羽由是始為諸侯上將軍。 諸侯皆屬焉。
Xiang Yu had killed the Young Lord Champion and awed all Chu; he sent Lord Dangyang and General Bo with twenty thousand men across the river toward Julu. After minor successes they severed Zhang Han's supply line, and Wang Li's army ran short of food. Chen Yu again asked for reinforcements. Xiang Yu then brought his whole army across the river, scuttled the boats, smashed the pots, burned the camps, and allowed only three days' rations—showing the men they must fight to the death with no thought of return. On arrival he besieged Wang Li; meeting the Qin army he fought nine engagements, crushed them, and Zhang Han withdrew. Only then did the allied armies dare press the attack; they killed Su Jiao and captured Wang Li; She Jian refused to surrender and burned himself alive. At that time the Chu army led all the allied forces. More than a dozen allied camps had come to relieve Julu, yet none dared commit their troops. When Chu attacked Qin, the allied generals only watched from their walls. Every Chu soldier fought as ten; their battle cries shook heaven and earth, and every man in the allied armies trembled with fear. After defeating the Qin army, Xiang Yu summoned the allied generals. Entering his camp gate, the allied generals all crawled forward on their knees and none dared look up at him. From this Xiang Yu became supreme commander of the allied armies. All the allies placed themselves under his command.
53
於是趙王歇及張耳乃得出巨鹿城謝諸侯。 張耳與陳餘相見，責讓陳餘以不肯救趙； 及問張黶、陳澤所在，疑陳餘殺之，數以問餘。 餘怒曰：「不意君之望臣深也！ 豈以臣為重去將印哉？」 乃脫解印綬，推予張耳，張耳亦愕不受。 陳餘起如廁。 客有說張耳曰：「臣聞『天與不取，反受其咎。』 今陳將軍與君印，君不受，反天不祥，急取之！」 張耳乃佩其印，收其麾下。 而陳餘還，亦望張耳不讓，遂趨出，獨與麾下所善數百人之河上澤中漁獵。 趙王歇還信都。----
Then King Xie of Zhao and Zhang Er were able to leave Julu and thank the allied armies. Zhang Er met Chen Yu and rebuked him for refusing to save Zhao; when he asked where Zhang Yan and Chen Ze were, he suspected Chen Yu had killed them and questioned him again and again. Yu said angrily, “I did not expect you to demand so much of me! Do you think I clung to the seal out of greed?” He then stripped off the seal cord and thrust it at Zhang Er, who in astonishment refused to take it. Chen Yu rose and went to relieve himself. A guest urged Zhang Er: “I have heard, ‘What Heaven offers, if you do not take, you will suffer for it. ’ General Chen offers you the seal and you refuse—that offends Heaven; take it at once!” Zhang Er then fastened on the seal and took command of Chen Yu's troops. When Chen Yu returned and saw Zhang Er would not yield the seal, he rushed out and withdrew with a few hundred trusted followers to fish and hunt in the riverside marshes. King Xie of Zhao returned to Xindu.
54
6春，二月，沛公北擊昌邑，遇彭越，彭越以其兵從沛公。 越，昌邑人，常漁巨野澤中，為群盜。 陳勝、項梁之起，澤間少年相聚百餘人，往從彭越曰：「請仲為長。」 越謝曰：「臣不願也。」 少年強請，乃許，與期旦日日出會，後期者斬。 旦日日出，十餘人後，後者至日中。 於是越謝曰：「臣老，諸君強以為長。 今期而多後，不可盡誅，誅最後者一人。」 令校長斬之。 皆笑曰：「何至於是！ 請後不敢。」 於是越引一人斬之，設壇祭，令徒屬，徒屬皆大驚，莫敢仰視。 乃略地，收諸侯散卒，得千餘人，遂助沛公攻昌邑。
6 In spring, the second month, the Duke of Pei marched north against Changyi, met Peng Yue, and Peng Yue joined him with his troops. Yue was from Changyi and had long fished in the Juze marshes as leader of a band of robbers. When Chen Sheng and Xiang Liang rose, more than a hundred young men from the marshes came to Peng Yue and said, “We ask you, Zhong, to lead us.” Yue declined: “I am unwilling.” The youths pressed him until he agreed, fixing a meeting at dawn the next day—latecomers would be beheaded. At dawn the next day more than ten men were late; the last did not arrive until noon. Yue then said, “I am old, and you forced me to be your leader. So many of you were late that I cannot kill you all—I will kill only the last to arrive.” He ordered the company commander to behead that man. They all laughed and said, “Surely not to that extent! We promise never to be late again.” Yue then had one man brought forward and beheaded, set up an altar and made sacrifice, and assembled the men—all were terrified and none dared look up. He then raided the countryside, gathered scattered allied troops to more than a thousand men, and helped the Duke of Pei attack Changyi.
55
昌邑未下，沛公引兵西過高陽。 高陽人酈食其，家貧落魄，為里監門，沛公麾下騎士適食其里中人，食其見，謂曰：「諸侯將過高陽者數十人，吾問其將皆握齪，好苛禮，自用，不能聽大度之言。 吾聞沛公慢而易人，多大略，此真吾所願從游，莫為我先。 若見沛公，謂曰：『臣里中有酈生，六十餘，長八尺，人皆謂之狂生。 生自謂「我非狂生」。』」 騎士曰：「沛公不好儒，諸客冠儒冠來者，沛公輒解其冠，溲溺其中，與人言，常大罵，未可以儒生說也。」 酈生曰：「第言之。」 騎士從容言，如酈生所誡者。
Changyi did not fall; the Duke of Pei marched west past Gaoyang. Li Yi of Gaoyang was poor and down on his luck and served as gatekeeper of his ward. A cavalryman under the Duke of Pei happened to be from his town; Li Yi saw him and said, “Dozens of allied commanders have passed through Gaoyang—I have asked about them all, and they are petty, fussy about ritual, self-willed, and deaf to large-minded counsel. I hear the Duke of Pei is easygoing, approachable, and full of grand design—he is truly the man I wish to serve; do not let anyone reach him before me. If you see the Duke of Pei, tell him: ‘In my ward there is Master Li, over sixty and eight feet tall; everyone calls him the Mad Scholar. He himself says, “I am no mad scholar.” ’” The cavalryman said, “The Duke of Pei dislikes scholars; when guests arrive in scholar's caps he snatches off the cap and urinates in it. He talks in great oaths—you cannot win him over as a Confucian scholar.” Li Yi said, “Tell him anyway.” The cavalryman spoke to him at his ease, exactly as Li Yi had directed.
56
沛公至高陽傳舍，使人召酈生。 酈生至，入謁。 沛公方倨床使兩女子洗足，而見酈生。 酈生入，則長揖不拜，曰：「足下欲助秦攻諸侯乎？ 且欲率諸侯破秦也？」 沛公罵曰：「豎儒！ 天下同苦秦久矣，故諸侯相率而攻秦，何謂助秦攻諸侯乎！」 酈生曰：「必聚徒合義兵誅無道秦，不宜倨見長者！」 於是沛公輟洗，起，攝衣，延酈生上坐，謝之。 酈生因言六國從橫時。 沛公喜，賜酈生食，問曰：「計將安出？」 酈生曰：「足下起糾合之眾，收散亂之兵，不滿萬人； 欲以徑入強秦，此所謂探虎口者也。 夫陳留，天下之沖，四通五達之郊也，今其城中又多積粟。 臣善其令，請得使之令下足下。 即不聽，足下引兵攻之，臣為內應。」 於是遣酈生行，沛公引兵隨之，遂下陳留。 號酈食其為廣野君。 酈生言其弟商。 時商聚少年得四千人，來屬沛公，沛公以為將，將陳留兵以從，酈生常為說客，使諸侯。
When the Duke of Pei reached the Gaoyang post-house, he sent for Li Yi. Li Yi came and was admitted to audience. The Duke of Pei was lounging on a couch having two women wash his feet when he received Li Yi. Li Yi entered, bowed with a long salute but did not prostrate himself, and said, “Do you mean to help Qin attack the allies? Or do you mean to lead the allies to destroy Qin?” The Duke of Pei swore, “You wretched scholar! The whole realm has long groaned under Qin; the allies have risen together against it—what do you mean by helping Qin attack the allies!” Li Yi said, “You must rally men and righteous armies to destroy lawless Qin—you should not receive an elder sprawled on your couch!” The Duke of Pei stopped the washing, rose, straightened his clothes, seated Li Yi in the place of honor, and apologized. Li Yi then discoursed on the age of the Six States' alliances. The Duke of Pei was delighted, gave Li Yi a meal, and asked, “What is your plan?” Li Yi said, “You have raised a hastily gathered host and picked up scattered troops—fewer than ten thousand men; yet you mean to march straight into mighty Qin—that is what they call thrusting your hand into a tiger's maw. Chenliu is the hub of the realm, a crossroads where all roads meet, and its granaries are full. I am on good terms with its magistrate; let me have him surrender the city to you. If he refuses, you may attack, and I will act as your agent within the walls.” He sent Li Yi ahead; the Duke of Pei followed with his army and took Chenliu. He enfeoffed Li Yi as Lord of Guangye. Li Yi recommended his younger brother Shang. Shang had by then gathered four thousand youths and came to join the Duke of Pei, who made him a general commanding Chenliu troops on campaign; Li Yi often served as envoy to the allied states.
57
三月，沛公攻開封，未拔。 西與秦將楊熊會戰白馬，又戰曲遇東，大破之。 楊熊走之滎陽，二世使使者斬之以徇。
In the third month the Duke of Pei attacked Kaifeng but failed to capture it. He marched west, met Qin general Yang Xiong at Baima, fought again east of Quyu, and routed him. Yang Xiong fled to Xingyang; the Second Emperor sent an envoy to execute him and expose the corpse as a warning.
58
夏，四月，沛公南攻穎川，屠之。 因張良，遂略韓地。 時趙別將司馬卬方欲渡河入關。 沛公乃北攻平陰，絕河津南，戰洛陽東。 軍不利，南出轘轅。 張良引兵從沛公。 沛公令韓王成留守陽翟，與良俱南。
In summer, the fourth month, the Duke of Pei marched south against Yingchuan and put it to the sword. With Zhang Liang's help, he then overran Han territory. At that time Zhao's detached general Sima Ang was about to cross the river and enter the passes. The Duke of Pei then marched north against Pingyin, cut the southern river crossings, and fought east of Luoyang. The army fared poorly and withdrew south through Huanyuan Pass. Zhang Liang brought his troops to join the Duke of Pei. The Duke of Pei left King Cheng of Han to hold Yangzhai and marched south with Liang.
59
六月，與南陽守齮戰犨東，破之，略南陽郡； 南陽守走保城，守宛。 沛公引兵過宛，西。 張良諫曰：「沛公雖欲急入關，秦兵尚眾，距險。 今不下宛，宛從後擊，強秦在前，此危道也。」 於是沛公乃夜引軍從他道還，偃旗幟，遲明，圍宛城三匝。 南陽守欲自剄，共舍人陳恢曰：「死未晚也。」 乃逾城見沛公曰：「臣聞足下約先入咸陽者王之。 今足下留守宛，宛郡縣連城數十，其吏民自以為降必死，故皆堅守乘城。 今足下盡日上攻，士死傷者必多。 引兵去宛，宛必隨足下後。 足下前則失咸陽之約，後有強宛之患。 為足下計，莫若約降，封其守； 因使止守，引其甲卒與之西。 諸城未下者，聞聲爭開門而待足下，足下通行無所累。」 沛公曰：「善！」 秋，七月，南陽守齮降，封為殷侯，封陳恢千戶。 引兵西，無不下者。 至丹水，高武侯鰓、襄侯王陵降。 還攻胡陽，遇番君別將梅鋗，與偕攻析、酈，皆降。 所過亡得鹵掠，秦民皆喜。----
In the sixth month he fought Grand Administrator Zhi of Nanyang east of Bi, routed him, and overran Nanyang commandery; The grand administrator fled to a fortified city and held Wan. The Duke of Pei marched past Wan and continued west. Zhang Liang remonstrated: “Though you wish to hurry into the passes, Qin still has many troops holding difficult ground. If you do not take Wan now, Wan will strike from behind while strong Qin blocks the way ahead—this is a deadly course.” Thereupon the Duke of Pei by night led his army back by another route, lowered banners and flags, and at dawn had Wan surrounded three deep. The grand administrator of Nanyang was about to cut his throat when his senior clerk Chen Hui said, “It is not yet too late to die.” He then went over the wall to see the Duke of Pei and said, “I have heard that by your agreement whoever enters Xianyang first shall be king. Now you have left Wan behind. Nanyang has dozens of linked cities; its officials and people all believe surrender means death, so they hold the walls and fight on. If you assault all day, your dead and wounded will surely be many. If you march away from Wan, Wan will surely follow at your heels. Ahead you break the Xianyang pact; behind you face the menace of strong Wan. For your own sake, nothing is better than accepting surrender and enfeoffing the defender; then have him keep holding the city and lead his armored troops west with you. Cities not yet taken will hear the news and vie to open their gates for you; you will march on without hindrance.” The Duke of Pei said, “Excellent!” In autumn, the seventh month, Grand Administrator Zhi of Nanyang surrendered; he was made Marquis Yin, and Chen Hui received a fief of one thousand households. He marched west, and every place he reached submitted. At Dan River, Marquis Wu of Gaoyang E and Marquis Xiang Wang Ling surrendered. He turned back to attack Huyang, met Fan Jun's detached general Mei Xuan, and together they attacked Xi and Li—both surrendered. Where they passed no one could plunder; the people of Qin were all pleased.
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7王離軍既沒，章邯軍棘原，項羽軍漳南，相持未戰。 秦軍數卻，二世使人讓章邯。 章邯恐，使長史欣請事。 至咸陽，留司馬門三日，趙高不見，有不信之心。 長史欣恐，還走其軍，不敢出故道。 趙高果使人追之，不及。 欣至軍，報曰：「趙高用事於中，下無可為者。 今戰能勝，高必疾妒吾功，不能勝，不免於死。 願將軍孰計之！」 陳餘亦遺章邯書曰：「白起為秦將，南征鄢郢，北坑馬服，攻城略地，不可勝計，而竟賜死。 蒙恬為秦將，北逐戎人，開榆中地數千里，竟斬陽周。 何者？ 功多，秦不能盡封，因以法誅之。 今將軍為秦將三歲矣，所亡失以十萬數，而諸侯並起滋益多。 彼趙高素諛日久，今事急，亦恐二世誅之，故欲以法誅將軍以塞責，使人更代將軍以脫其禍。 夫將軍居外久，多內郤，有功亦誅，無功亦誅。 且天之亡秦，無愚智皆知之。 今將軍內不能直諫，外為亡國將，孤特獨立而欲常存，豈不哀哉！ 將軍何不還兵與諸侯為從，約共攻秦，分王其地，南面稱孤！ 此孰與身伏鈇質、妻子為戮乎？」
7 After Wang Li's army was destroyed, Zhang Han camped at Jiyuan and Xiang Yu south of the Zhang—they faced each other but did not fight. The Qin army kept falling back; the Second Emperor sent men to rebuke Zhang Han. Zhang Han was afraid and sent Chief Clerk Xin to report to court. Reaching Xianyang, he waited three days at the Sima Gate; Zhao Gao would not see him, and he began to doubt. Chief Clerk Xin was afraid, fled back to the army, and did not dare return by the old road. Zhao Gao did send men in pursuit but could not overtake him. When Xin reached the army he reported: “Zhao Gao holds power at court; below there is nothing we can do. If we fight and win, Gao will surely envy our merit; if we lose, we cannot escape death. I beg the general to weigh this carefully!” Chen Yu also wrote Zhang Han: “Bai Qi was Qin's general—south he took Yan and Ying, north he destroyed the Lord of Ma-fu, besieged cities and seized land beyond counting, yet in the end was put to death. Meng Tian was Qin's general—north he drove off the Rong and opened several thousand li in Yuzhong, yet in the end was executed at Yangzhou. Why? Their merit was too great for Qin to reward fully, so they were killed under the law. You have been Qin's general three years; your losses run into the tens of thousands, while the allies rise ever more numerous. Zhao Gao has long flattered the throne; now in crisis he fears the Second Emperor will kill him—so he means to kill you under the law to answer for failures and send another general in your place to save himself. You have long been abroad with many enemies at court—win and you are killed, lose and you are killed. Moreover Heaven is destroying Qin—fool and sage alike know it. Now you cannot remonstrate at court, without you are a general of a dying state—standing alone yet hoping to survive forever. Is it not pitiful! Why not turn your army, join the allies, agree to attack Qin together, divide its land into kingdoms, and face south as a king in your own right! Which is better than laying your neck on the block and seeing your wife and children slaughtered?"
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章邯狐疑，陰使候始成使項羽，欲約。 約未成，項羽使蒲將日夜引兵度三戶，軍漳南，與秦軍戰，再破之。 項羽悉引兵擊秦軍汙水上，大破之。 章邯使人見項羽，欲約。 項羽召軍吏謀曰：「糧少，欲聽其約。」 軍吏皆曰：「善。」 項羽乃與期洹水殷虛上。 已盟，章邯見項羽而流涕，為言趙高。 項羽乃立章邯為雍王，置楚軍中，使長史欣為上將軍，將秦軍為前行。
Zhang Han wavered and secretly sent scout Shi Cheng to Xiang Yu to negotiate. Before the pact was made, Xiang Yu sent General Pu day and night to lead troops across Sanhu, camp south of the Zhang, fight the Qin army, and defeat it twice. Xiang Yu then brought his whole army against the Qin force on the Wushui and crushed it. Zhang Han sent envoys to Xiang Yu to negotiate. Xiang Yu called his officers to counsel and said, “Our grain is low; I wish to accept their terms.” The officers all said, “Good.” Xiang Yu then set a meeting at Yin Xu on the Huan River. After the pact was sworn, Zhang Han met Xiang Yu in tears and spoke of Zhao Gao. Xiang Yu then made Zhang Han King of Yong, kept him with the Chu army, appointed Chief Clerk Xin supreme general, and set him to lead the Qin troops as vanguard.
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瑕丘申陽下河南，引兵從項羽。----
Shen Yang of Xiaqiu came down into Henan and led his troops to follow Xiang Yu.
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8初，中丞相趙高欲專秦權，恐群臣不聽，乃先設驗，持鹿獻於二世曰：「馬也。」 二世笑曰：「丞相誤邪，謂鹿為馬！」 問左右，左右或默，或言馬以阿順趙高，或言鹿者。 高因陰中諸言鹿者以法。 後群臣皆畏高，莫敢言其過。 高前數言「關東盜無能為也」，及項羽虜王離等，而章邯等軍數敗，上書請益助。 自關以東，大抵盡畔秦吏，應諸侯，諸侯鹹率其眾西鄉。 八月，沛公將數萬人攻武關，屠之。 高恐二世怒，誅及其身，乃謝病，不朝見。
8 At first Grand Minister Zhao Gao wished to monopolize Qin's power and feared the ministers would not obey him, so he first set a test: he brought a deer and presented it to the Second Emperor, saying, “A horse.” The Second Emperor laughed and said, “Has the chancellor made a mistake, calling a deer a horse!” He asked those beside him; some were silent, some said horse to flatter Zhao Gao, and some said deer. Gao then secretly punished by law all who had said deer. Afterward the ministers all feared Gao and none dared speak of his faults. Gao had repeatedly said, “The rebels east of the passes can do nothing”—yet when Xiang Yu captured Wang Li and Zhang Han's army was beaten again and again, he memorialized asking for more reinforcements. East of the passes nearly all Qin officials rebelled and answered the allies, and the allies all led their hosts west. In the eighth month the Duke of Pei led tens of thousands against Wuguan and put it to the sword. Gao feared the Second Emperor's wrath would reach him, pleaded illness, and stopped attending court.
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二世夢白虎嚙其左驂馬，殺之，心不樂，怪問占夢。 卜曰：「涇水為祟。」 二世乃齋於望夷宮，欲祠涇水，沈四白馬。 使使責讓高以盜賊事。 高懼，乃陰與其婿咸陽令閻樂及弟趙成謀曰：「上不聽諫。 今事急，欲歸禍於吾。 吾欲易置上，更立子嬰。 子嬰仁儉，百姓皆載其言。」 乃使郎中令為內應，詐為有大賊，令樂召吏發兵追，劫樂母置高舍。 遣樂將吏卒千餘人至望夷宮殿門，縛衛令僕射，曰：「賊入此，何不止？」 衛令曰：「周廬設卒甚謹，安得賊敢入宮！」 樂遂斬衛令，直將吏入，行射郎、宦者。 郎、宦者大驚，或走，或格。 格者輒死，死者數十人。 郎中令與樂俱入，射上幄坐幃。 二世怒，召左右，左右皆惶擾不鬥。 旁有宦者一人侍，不敢去。 二世入內，謂曰：「公何不早告我，乃至於此！」 宦者曰：「臣不敢言，故得全。 使臣早言，皆已誅，安得至今！」 閻樂前即二世，數曰：「足下驕恣，誅殺無道，天下共畔足下。 足下其自為計！」 二世曰：「丞相可得見否？」 樂曰：「不可！」 二世曰：「吾願得一郡為王。」 弗許。 又曰：「願為萬戶侯。」 弗許。 曰：「願與妻子為黔首，比諸公子。」 閻樂曰：「臣受命於丞相，為天下誅足下。 足下雖多言，臣不敢報！」 麾其兵進。 二世自殺。 閻樂歸報趙高。 趙高乃悉召諸大臣、公子，告以誅二世之狀，曰：「秦故王國，始皇君天下，故稱帝。 今六國復自立，秦地益小，乃以空名為帝，不可。 宜為王如故，便。」 乃立子嬰為秦王。 以黔首葬二世社南宜春苑中。
The Second Emperor dreamed a white tiger bit and killed his left outer horse; uneasy at heart, he asked the dream interpreter what it meant. Divination said, “The Jing River is the source of harm.” The Second Emperor then fasted at Wangyi Palace, prepared to sacrifice to the Jing River, and sank four white horses. He sent envoys to rebuke Gao over the rebel troubles. Gao was afraid and secretly plotted with his son-in-law, the magistrate of Xianyang Yan Le, and his younger brother Zhao Cheng, saying, “The emperor will not heed remonstrance. Now that things are desperate, he means to shift the blame onto us. We mean to replace the emperor and set up Ziying instead. Ziying is humane and frugal, and the people all praise him.” He had the Court Commandant act as inside agent, pretended there were great bandits, ordered Le to summon officers and raise troops in pursuit, and seized Le's mother and held her at Gao's house. He sent Le with more than a thousand officers and soldiers to the gate of Wangyi Palace, bound the Guard Commandant's Master of Chariots, and said, “Bandits entered here—why did you not stop them?” The Guard Commandant said, “The encircling guards are posted with great care—how could bandits dare enter the palace!” Le then beheaded the Guard Commandant, led his officers straight in, and shot down palace gentlemen and eunuchs as he went. The gentlemen and eunuchs were terrified—some fled, some fought back. Those who resisted were killed on the spot; several tens died. The Court Commandant entered with Le and shot at the emperor behind his curtain. The Second Emperor was furious and called his attendants, but they were all panicked and would not fight. One eunuch still attended at his side and did not dare leave. The Second Emperor went inside and said to him, “Why did you not tell me sooner—it has come to this!” The eunuch said, “I did not dare speak—that is why I am still alive. Had I spoken earlier, I would already have been killed—how could I be here today!” Yan Le stepped forward to the Second Emperor and said, “Your Grace is arrogant and lawless in killing; all under Heaven rebels against you. Plan for yourself!” The Second Emperor said, “May I see the chancellor?” Le said, “No!” The Second Emperor said, “I wish to have one commandery and be king.” This was refused. Again he said, “I wish to be a marquis of ten thousand households.” This too was refused. He said, “I wish to live as a commoner with my wife and children, like the other imperial sons.” Yan Le said, “I have orders from the chancellor to execute you on behalf of all under Heaven. Though you speak much, I dare not report it!” He waved his troops forward. The Second Emperor killed himself. Yan Le returned and reported to Zhao Gao. Zhao Gao then summoned all the great ministers and princes, told them how the Second Emperor had been killed, and said, “Qin was originally a feudal kingdom; the First Emperor ruled the realm, and therefore was called Emperor. Now the Six States have risen again and Qin territory grows ever smaller—to hold the empty title of Emperor will not do. It is fitting to be king as before—that is best.” He then made Ziying King of Qin. He buried the Second Emperor as a commoner south of the altar in the Yichun Garden.
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九月，趙高令子嬰齋戒，當廟見，受玉璽。 齋五日。 子嬰與其子二人謀曰：「丞相高殺二世望夷宮，恐群臣誅之，乃佯以義立我。 我聞趙高乃與楚約，滅秦宗室而分王關中。 今使我齋、見廟，此欲因廟中殺我。 我稱病不行，丞相必自來，來則殺之。」 高使人請子嬰數輩，子嬰不行。 高果自往，曰：「宗廟重事，王奈何不行？」 子嬰遂刺殺高於齋宮，三族高家以徇。
In the ninth month Zhao Gao ordered Ziying to fast and purify himself; he was to appear at the ancestral temple and receive the jade seal. He fasted for five days. Ziying and his two sons plotted, saying, “Chancellor Gao killed the Second Emperor at Wangyi Palace, fearing the ministers would execute him; he therefore pretended to establish me out of righteousness. I hear Zhao Gao has made a pact with Chu to destroy the Qin imperial clan and divide Guanzhong into separate kingdoms. Now he makes me fast and appear at the temple—he intends to kill me there. If I claim illness and do not go, the chancellor will surely come in person; when he comes, we kill him.” Gao sent men to summon Ziying several times; Ziying did not go. Gao did indeed come in person and said, “Affairs of the ancestral temple are weighty—why does Your Majesty not go?” Ziying then stabbed and killed Gao in the fasting palace; Gao's three clans were exterminated and exposed as a warning.
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遣將兵距嶢關，沛公欲擊之。 張良曰：「秦兵尚強，未可輕。 願先遣人益張旗幟於山上為疑兵，使酈食其、陸賈往說秦將，啖以利。」 秦將果欲連和，沛公欲許之。 張良曰：「此獨其將欲叛，恐其士卒不從； 不如因其懈怠擊之。」 沛公引兵繞嶢關，逾蕢山，擊秦軍，大破之藍田南。 遂至藍田，又戰其北，秦兵大敗。
He sent troops to hold Yao Pass; the Duke of Pei wished to attack. Zhang Liang said, “Qin troops are still strong—they must not be treated lightly. I beg first to send men to multiply banners on the mountains as decoys, and send Li Yiji and Lu Jia to persuade the Qin general, tempting him with gain.” The Qin general indeed wished to ally; the Duke of Pei wished to agree. Zhang Liang said, “Only the general wishes to rebel—I fear his soldiers will not follow; better to strike them while they are slack.” The Duke of Pei led his army around Yao Pass, crossed Zhi Mountain, attacked the Qin army, and routed them south of Lantian. He then reached Lantian and fought again to the north; the Qin army was routed utterly.