1
__FORCETOC___
—
2
起旃蒙協洽,盡柔兆涒灘,凡二年。
From Zhanmeng Xiehe through Rouzhao Tuantan—two years in all.
3
1冬,十月,沛公至霸上。 秦王子嬰素車、白馬,系頸以組,封皇帝璽、符、節,降軹道旁。 諸將或言誅秦王。 沛公曰:「始懷王遣我,固以能寬容。 且人已降,殺之不祥。」 乃以屬吏。
1. In the tenth month of winter the Duke of Pei reached Bashang. King Ziying of Qin came in a plain cart drawn by a white horse, a cord about his neck, bearing the imperial seal, tallies, and batons, and surrendered by the road at Zhi. Some generals urged that the king of Qin be put to death. The Duke of Pei said: "King Huai sent me because I know how to show forbearance. And he has already surrendered—to kill him would be ill-omened." He handed him over to the officials instead.
4
::賈誼論曰:秦以區區之地致萬乘之權,招八州而朝同列,百有餘年,然後以六合為家,殽、函為宮。 一夫作難而七廟墮,身死人手,為天下笑者,何也? 仁誼不施而攻守之勢異也。
:: Jia Yi writes: From a scrap of land Qin won the power of ten thousand chariots, drew the eight provinces to court, and for a century and more made peers bow; only then did it take all within the four seas as its house and Xiao and Han as its walls. One man rebelled and the seven temples crumbled; he died in another's hands and became the world's jest—why? Because benevolence and righteousness were never shown, and the balance of attack and defense had changed.
5
沛公西入咸陽,諸將皆爭走金帛財物之府分之。 蕭何獨先入收秦丞相府圖籍藏之,以此沛公得具知天下□厄塞、戶口多少、強弱之處。 沛公見秦宮室、帷帳、狗馬、重寶、婦女以千數,意欲留居之。 樊噲諫曰:「沛公欲有天下耶,將為富家翁耶? 凡此奢麗之物,皆秦所以亡也,沛公何用焉! 願急還霸上,無留宮中!」 沛公不聽。 張良曰:「秦為無道,故沛公得至此。 夫為天下除殘賊,宜縞素為資。 今始入秦,即安其樂,此所謂『助桀為虐』。 且忠言逆耳利於行,毒藥苦口利於病,願沛公聽樊噲言!」 沛公乃還軍霸上。 十一月,沛公悉召諸縣父老、豪桀,謂曰:「父老苦秦苛法久矣! 吾與諸侯約,先入關者王之,吾當王關中。 與父老約法三章耳:殺人者死,傷人及盜抵罪。 餘悉除去秦法,諸吏民皆案堵如故。 凡吾所以來,為父老除害,非有所侵暴,無恐。 且吾所以還軍霸上,待諸侯至而定約束耳。」 乃使人與秦吏行縣、鄉、邑,告諭之。 秦民大喜。 爭持牛、羊、酒食獻饗軍士。 沛公又讓不受,曰:「倉粟多,非乏,不欲費民。」 民又益喜,唯恐沛公不為秦王。----
The Duke of Pei marched west into Xianyang. Every general raced to the vaults of gold, silk, and goods to seize a share. Xiao He alone went in first, gathered the maps and registers from the Qin chancellor's office, and hid them away. Thus the Duke of Pei came to know every chokepoint □ across the realm, every count of households, and where power lay strong or weak. The Duke of Pei saw Qin's palaces, hangings, hounds and horses, heavy treasure, and women by the thousand—and meant to stay. Fan Kuai urged him: "Do you mean to win the realm, my lord, or only to become a rich man? All this luxury is what destroyed Qin—what use is it to you! Return to Bashang at once—do not linger in the palace!" The Duke of Pei would not listen. Zhang Liang said: "Qin lost the Way—that is why you stand here. A man who rids the realm of tyrants should dress in mourning white. To enter Qin and at once take its ease—this is what men call 'helping Jie torment his people.'" Loyal counsel grates on the ear yet serves the deed; bitter medicine tastes foul yet cures the sickness. Hear Fan Kuai, my lord!" The Duke of Pei withdrew his army to Bashang. In the eleventh month the Duke of Pei summoned the elders and leading men of every county and said: "You have suffered Qin's harsh laws long enough! I swore with the lords that whoever entered the passes first would rule them—and I entered first. I ought to be king in Guanzhong. I give you only three laws: murderers die; wounders and thieves answer for their crimes. Every other Qin statute I abolish. Clerks and people alike shall live undisturbed as before. I came only to lift harm from you—not to plunder. Have no fear. I withdrew to Bashang only to wait until the lords arrive and we settle our covenants." He sent men with Qin clerks through every county, district, and township to proclaim it. The people of Qin rejoiced. They vied to bring oxen, sheep, wine, and food to feast the troops. The Duke of Pei refused again: "The granaries are full—we are not in want, and I will not burden the people." The people rejoiced all the more—and feared only that he would not become king of Qin.
6
2項羽既定河北,率諸侯兵欲西入關。 先是,諸侯吏卒、繇使、屯戍過秦中者,秦中吏卒遇之多無狀。 及章邯以秦軍降諸侯,諸侯吏卒乘勝多奴虜使之,輕折辱秦吏卒。 秦吏卒多怨,竊言曰:「章將軍等詐吾屬降諸侯。 今能入關破秦,大善; 即不能,諸侯虜吾屬而東,秦又盡誅吾父母妻子,奈何?」 諸將微聞其計,以告項羽。 項羽召黥布、蒲將軍計曰:「秦吏卒尚眾,其心不服,至關不聽,事必危。 不如擊殺之,而獨與章邯、長史欣、都尉翳入秦。」 於是楚軍夜擊坑秦卒二十餘萬人新安城南。
2. Xiang Yu, Hebei pacified, led the allied armies west toward the passes. Before this, whenever allied officers, corvée men, or garrison troops passed through Guanzhong, the Qin soldiers they met behaved abominably. When Zhang Han surrendered the Qin army, allied soldiers, drunk on victory, enslaved them wholesale and heaped humiliation on Qin officers and men. Qin officers and men nursed bitter grievances and whispered: "Zhang and the rest tricked us into surrendering to the allies. If we can enter the passes now and break Qin, well and good; if not, the allies will drag us east while Qin executes our fathers, mothers, wives, and children—what then?" The generals caught wind of the plot and told Xiang Yu. Xiang Yu called Qing Bu and General Pu to counsel: "Qin soldiers are still many and their hearts are not ours. At the passes they will refuse to obey—the affair will turn deadly. Better strike them down, and enter Qin with Zhang Han, Chief Clerk Xin, and Commandant Yi alone." That night the Chu army struck and buried more than two hundred thousand Qin soldiers alive south of Xinan.
7
或說沛公曰:「秦富十倍天下,地形強。 聞項羽號章邯為雍王,王關中,今則來,沛公恐不得有此。 可急使兵守函谷關,無內諸侯軍; 稍征關中兵以自益,距之。」 沛公然其計,從之。 已而項羽至關,關門閉。 聞沛公已定關中,大怒,使黥布等攻破函谷關。 十二月,項羽進至戲。 沛公左司馬曹無傷使人言項羽曰:「沛公欲王關中,令子嬰為相,珍寶盡有之。」 欲以求封。 項羽大怒,饗士卒,期旦日擊沛公軍。 當是時,項羽兵四十萬,號百萬,在新豐鴻門; 沛公兵十萬,號二十萬,在霸上。 范增說項羽曰:「沛公居山東時,貪財好色。 今入關,財物無所取,婦女無所幸,此其志不在小。 吾令人望其氣,皆為龍虎,成五采,此天子氣也。 急擊勿失!」
Someone urged the Duke of Pei: "Qin is ten times wealthier than the rest of the realm, and its terrain is strong. Xiang Yu has made Zhang Han King of Yong over Guanzhong. He is coming now—you may lose everything. Send troops at once to hold Hangu Pass and admit no allied army; levy Guanzhong's forces to strengthen yourself and hold them off." The Duke of Pei thought it sound and did as advised. Soon Xiang Yu reached the pass—and found the gates closed. Learning that the Duke of Pei had already taken Guanzhong, he flew into a rage and sent Qing Bu to break the pass. In the twelfth month Xiang Yu advanced to Xi. The Duke of Pei's Left Major, Cao Wushang, sent word to Xiang Yu: "The Duke of Pei means to be king in Guanzhong, make Ziying his chancellor, and keep every treasure for himself." He hoped thereby to win a fief. Xiang Yu raged, feasted his troops, and set the morrow to destroy the Duke of Pei's army. At that time Xiang Yu had four hundred thousand men—he called them a million—at Hong Gate in Xinfeng; the Duke of Pei had one hundred thousand—he called them two hundred thousand—at Bashang. Fan Zeng urged Xiang Yu: "East of the mountains the Duke of Pei was greedy for gold and fond of women. Now in the passes he takes no goods and enjoys no women. His ambition is no small thing. I had his aura watched: dragon and tiger, the five colors mingled—the aura of a Son of Heaven. Strike now—do not let the chance slip!"
8
楚左尹項伯者,項羽季父也,素善張良,乃夜馳之沛公軍,私見張良,具告以事,欲呼與俱去,曰:「毋俱死也!」 張良曰:「臣為韓王送沛公。 沛公今有急,亡去不義,不可不語。」 良乃入,具告沛公。 沛公大驚。 良曰:「料公士卒足以當項羽乎?」 沛公默然曰:「固不如也。 且為之奈何?」 張良曰:「請往謂項伯,言沛公之不敢叛也。」 沛公曰:「君安與項伯有故?」 張良曰:「秦時與臣游,嘗殺人,臣活之。 今事有急,故幸來告良。」 沛公曰:「孰與君少長?」 良曰:「長於臣。」 沛公曰:「君為我呼入,吾得兄事之。」 張良出,固要項伯; 項伯即入見沛公。 沛公奉卮酒為壽,約為婚姻,曰:「吾入關,秋毫不敢有所近,籍吏民,封府庫而待將軍。 所以遣將守關者,備他盜之出入與非常也。 日夜望將軍至,豈敢反乎! 願伯具言臣之不敢倍德也。」 項伯許諾,謂沛公曰:「旦日不可不蚤自來謝。」 沛公曰:「諾。」 於是項伯復夜去,至軍中,具以沛公言報項羽,因言曰:「沛公不先破關中,公豈敢入乎? 今人有大功而擊之,不義也。 不如因善遇之。」 項羽許諾。
Xiang Bo, Left Minister of Chu and Xiang Yu's uncle, had long been close to Zhang Liang. He galloped by night to the Duke of Pei's camp, met Zhang Liang in secret, told him everything, and urged him to flee together: "Do not die with them!" Zhang Liang said: "I was sent by the king of Han to serve the Duke of Pei. He is in peril now. To flee would be unrighteous. I must tell him." Liang went in and told the Duke of Pei everything. The Duke of Pei was stricken with alarm. Liang said: "Do you judge your soldiers a match for Xiang Yu?" The Duke of Pei was silent. "They are not," he said at last. What can be done?" Zhang Liang said: "Let me tell Xiang Bo that you do not dare rebel." The Duke of Pei said: "How do you know Xiang Bo?" Zhang Liang said: "In Qin times we were companions. He once killed a man, and I saved his life. Now the crisis is upon us, and he has come to warn me." The Duke of Pei said: "Which of you is older?" Liang said: "He is older than I." The Duke of Pei said: "Bring him in. I shall treat him as an elder brother." Zhang Liang went out and pressed Xiang Bo to enter; and Xiang Bo entered at once to see the Duke of Pei. The Duke of Pei offered wine to wish him long life, pledged marriage between their houses, and said: "When I entered the passes I touched nothing—not the smallest thing. I registered clerks and people, sealed the treasuries, and wait for the general. I posted men at the pass only to guard against robbers and emergencies. Day and night I have watched for your arrival—how would I dare rebel! Tell him fully that I do not dare betray his grace." Xiang Bo agreed. "Tomorrow you must come early in person to apologize." The Duke of Pei said: "I will." Xiang Bo rode back by night, told Xiang Yu everything the Duke of Pei had said, and added: "If the Duke of Pei had not broken Guanzhong first, how would you have dared enter? To strike a man of great merit is unrighteous. Better treat him generously." Xiang Yu agreed.
9
沛公旦日從百餘騎來見項羽鴻門,謝曰:「臣與將軍戮力而攻秦,將軍戰河北,臣戰河南。 不自意能先入關破秦,得復見將軍於此。 今者有小人之言,令將軍與臣有隙。」 項羽曰:「此沛公左司馬曹無傷言之,不然,籍何以生此!」 項羽因留沛公與飲。 范增數目項羽,舉所佩玉□夬以示之者三。 項羽默然不應。 范增起,出,召項莊,謂曰:「君王為人不忍。 若入前為壽,壽畢,以劍舞,因擊沛公於坐,殺之。 不者,若屬皆且為所虜!」 莊則入為壽,壽畢,曰:「軍中無以為樂,請以劍舞。」 項羽曰:「諾。」 項莊拔劍起舞。 項伯亦拔劍起舞,常以身翼蔽沛公,莊不得擊。
At dawn the Duke of Pei came with a little more than a hundred riders to Hong Gate, apologized to Xiang Yu, and said: "My lord and I joined strength against Qin—you fought in Hebei, I in Henan. I never expected to enter the passes first, break Qin, and meet you again here. Now petty men's words have set a rift between us." Xiang Yu said: "That was the Duke of Pei's Left Major, Cao Wushang—not otherwise. How else would I have come to this!" Xiang Yu kept the Duke of Pei to drink with him. Fan Zeng signaled Xiang Yu again and again with his eyes and three times raised the jade□ ring at his belt. Xiang Yu stayed silent and would not answer. Fan Zeng rose, went out, called Xiang Zhuang, and said: "Our lord's heart is not hard enough. Go in, offer a toast for long life, and when it is done dance with your sword—strike the Duke of Pei where he sits and kill him. If you fail, every one of you will be taken captive!" Zhuang entered, offered the toast, and when it was done said: "The camp lacks amusement—I beg leave to dance with my sword." Xiang Yu said: "Very well." Xiang Zhuang drew his sword and danced. Xiang Bo also drew his sword and danced, repeatedly shielding the Lord of Pei with his body; Zhuang could not land a blow.
10
於是張良至軍門見樊噲。 噲曰:「今日之事何如?」 良曰:「今項莊拔劍舞,其意常在沛公也。」 噲曰:「此迫矣,臣請入,與之同命!」 噲即帶劍擁盾入。 軍門衛士欲止不內,樊噲側其盾以撞,衛士僕地。 遂入,披帷立,瞋目視項羽,頭髮上指,目眥盡裂。 項羽按劍而跽曰:「客何為者?」 張良曰:「沛公之參乘樊噲也。」 項羽曰:「壯士! 賜之卮酒!」 則與斗卮酒。 噲拜謝,起,立而飲之。 項羽曰:「賜之彘肩。」 則與一生彘肩。 樊噲覆其盾於地,加彘肩其上,拔劍切而啖之。 項羽曰:「壯士能復飲乎?」 樊噲曰:「臣死且不避,卮酒安足辭? 夫秦有虎狼之心,殺人如不能舉,刑人如恐不勝; 天下皆叛之。 懷王與諸將約曰:『先破秦入咸陽者,王之。』 今沛公先破秦入咸陽,豪毛不敢有所近,還軍霸上以待將軍。 勞苦而功高如此,未有封爵之賞,而聽細人之說,欲誅有功之人,此亡秦之續耳,竊為將軍不取也!」 項羽未有以應,曰:「坐!」 樊噲從良坐。 坐須臾,沛公起如廁,因招樊噲出。 公曰:「今者出,未辭也,為之奈何?」 樊噲曰:「如今人方為刀俎,我方為魚肉,何辭為?」 於是遂去。 鴻門去霸上四十里,沛公則置車騎,脫身獨騎; 樊噲、夏侯嬰、靳強、紀信等四人持劍、盾步走,從驪山下道芷陽,間行趣霸上。 留張良使謝項羽,以白璧獻羽,玉斗與亞父。 沛公謂良曰:「從此道至吾軍,不過二十里耳。 度我至軍中,公乃入。」 沛公已去,間至軍中,張良入謝曰:「沛公不勝杯杓,不能辭,謹使臣良奉白璧一雙,再拜獻將軍足下; 玉斗一雙,再拜奉亞父足下。」 項羽曰:「沛公安在?」 良曰:「聞將軍有意督過之,脫身獨去,已至軍矣。」 項羽則受璧,置之坐上。 亞父受玉斗,置之地,拔劍撞而破之,曰:「唉! 豎子不足與謀! 奪將軍天下者,必沛公也。 吾屬今為之虜矣!」 沛公至軍,立誅殺曹無傷。 居數日,項羽引兵西,屠咸陽,殺秦降王子嬰,燒秦宮室,火三月不滅。 收其貨寶、婦女而東。 秦民大失望。 韓生說項羽曰:「關中阻山帶河,四塞之地,地肥饒,可都以霸。」 項羽見秦宮室皆已燒殘破,又心思東歸,曰:「富貴不歸故鄉,如衣繡夜行,誰知之者?」 韓生退曰:「人言楚人沐猴而冠耳,果然!」 項羽聞之,烹韓生。----
Zhang Liang then went to the camp gate and met Fan Kuai. Fan Kuai said, “How do things stand today?” Zhang Liang said, “Xiang Zhuang is dancing with his sword drawn—his aim is always at the Lord of Pei.” Fan Kuai said, “This is desperate! I beg to go in and stake my life with his!” Fan Kuai at once entered with sword and shield. The gate guards tried to block him; Fan Kuai angled his shield and charged; the guards fell sprawling. He entered, pushed aside the curtain, and stood glaring at Xiang Yu, hair bristling on end and eyes bloodshot to the corners. Xiang Yu hand on sword, rose to his knees and said, “Stranger, what do you want?” Zhang Liang said, “He is Fan Kuai, the Lord of Pei’s outrider.” Xiang Yu said, “A brave man! Give him a cup of wine!” They gave him a full cup of wine. Fan Kuai bowed his thanks, rose, stood, and drained it. Xiang Yu said, “Give him a pork shoulder.” They gave him a whole raw pork shoulder. Fan Kuai set his shield on the ground, laid the shoulder on it, drew his sword, cut it up, and ate. Xiang Yu said, “Brave man, can you drink more?” Fan Kuai said, “I would not shrink from death—why refuse a cup of wine? Qin had a tiger-and-wolf heart—killing men as if it could never kill enough, punishing men as if it feared not to exceed every limit; all under Heaven turned against it. King Huai agreed with the generals: ‘Whoever first defeats Qin and enters Xianyang shall be king. ’ The Lord of Pei was first to defeat Qin and enter Xianyang; he did not dare touch the slightest thing, withdrew his army to Bashang to await Your Lordship. After such labor and such merit, there is no enfeoffment—yet you heed petty men and would kill men of merit. This continues Qin’s way; I venture it is not what Your Lordship should do!” Xiang Yu had no answer and said, “Sit!” Fan Kuai sat with Zhang Liang. After a short while the Lord of Pei rose as if for the privy and beckoned Fan Kuai out. The Lord of Pei said, “We have left without farewell—what shall we do?” Fan Kuai said, “They are the cleaver and we are the meat on the block—why bother with farewells?” They left at once. Hong Gate was forty li from Bashang; the Lord of Pei left his chariot and escort and rode off alone; Fan Kuai, Xiahou Ying, Jin Qiang, and Ji Xin and the others went on foot with swords and shields, taking the road down from Mount Li through Zhiyang by secret paths to reach Bashang. He left Zhang Liang to make his excuses to Xiang Yu, offering the white jade disc to Yu and the jade goblet to the Senior Lord. The Lord of Pei told Zhang Liang, “From this road to my camp is no more than twenty li. When you judge I have reached camp, then go in.” The Lord of Pei was already gone and had reached camp by a side path; Zhang Liang went in to apologize: “The Lord of Pei could not hold his wine and could not take his leave; he respectfully sends me with a pair of white jade discs, bowing twice to present them to Your Lordship; and a pair of jade goblets, bowing twice to present them to the Senior Lord.” Xiang Yu said, “Where is the Lord of Pei?” Zhang Liang said, “Hearing that Your Lordship meant to hold him to account, he slipped away alone and is already at his camp.” Xiang Yu accepted the disc and set it on his seat. The Senior Lord took the jade goblet, set it on the ground, drew his sword and smashed it, crying, “Alas! That boy is not worth plotting with! The one who will take Your Lordship’s empire will surely be the Lord of Pei. We are all about to become his prisoners!” When the Lord of Pei reached camp, he had Cao Wushang executed at once. Several days later Xiang Yu marched west, sacked Xianyang, killed the surrendered King of Qin Ziying, and burned the Qin palaces; the fires burned for three months. He gathered its treasure and women and marched east. The people of Qin were deeply disappointed. Han Sheng urged Xiang Yu: “The land within the Passes is barred by mountains and girded by rivers—a fortress on four sides, rich soil; you could make it your capital and rule as hegemon.” Xiang Yu saw the Qin palaces already burned and ruined, and his heart was set on going east; he said, “Wealth and honor without returning home is like wearing brocade at night—who would know?” Han Sheng withdrew, muttering, “They say Chu men are monkeys dressed in caps—and how true!” Xiang Yu heard of it and had Han Sheng boiled alive.
11
3項羽使人致命懷王,懷王曰:「如約。」 項羽怒曰:「懷王者,吾家所立耳,非有功伐,何以得專主約? 天下初發難時,假立諸侯後以伐秦。 然身被堅執銳首事,暴露於野三年,滅秦定天下者,皆將相諸君與籍之力也。 懷王雖無功,固當分其地而王之。」 諸將皆曰:「善!」 春,正月,羽陽尊懷王為義帝,曰:「古之帝者,地方千里,必居上游。」 乃徙義帝於江南,都郴。
3. Xiang Yu sent word to King Huai; King Huai said, “As agreed.” Xiang Yu raged: “King Huai was enthroned by my family—not for merit in the field; how can he alone dictate the pact? When the revolt first began, we set up the lords’ descendants in name to attack Qin. Yet I wore armor and bore arms from the start, exposed in the field three years—destroying Qin and settling the empire was the work of you generals and ministers and of Ji. King Huai had no merit, yet he should still receive a share of land and be made king.” The generals all said, “Well said!” In spring, the first month, at Yang, Yu honored King Huai as Emperor Yi, saying, “Ancient emperors held a thousand li and had to dwell upstream.” He moved Emperor Yi south of the Yangzi, with his capital at Chen.
12
二月,羽分天下王諸將。 羽自立為西楚霸王,王梁、楚地九郡,都彭城。 羽與范增疑沛公,而業已講解,又惡負約,乃陰謀曰:「巴、蜀道險,秦之遷人皆居之。」 乃曰:「巴、蜀亦關中地也。」 故立沛公為漢王,王巴、蜀、漢中,都南鄭。 而三分關中,王秦降將,以距塞漢路。 章邯為雍王,王咸陽以西,都廢丘。 長史欣者,故為櫟陽獄掾,嘗有德於項梁; 都尉董翳者,本勸章邯降楚。 故立欣為塞王,王咸陽以東,至河,都櫟陽; 立翳為翟王,王上郡,都高奴。 項羽欲自取梁地,乃徙魏王豹為西魏王,王河東,都平陽。 瑕丘申陽者,張耳嬖臣也,先下河南郡,迎楚河上,故立申陽為河南王,都洛陽。 韓王成因故都,都陽翟。 趙將司馬卬定河內,數有功,故立卬為殷王,王河內,都朝歌。 徙趙王歇為代王。 趙相張耳素賢,又從入關,故立耳為常山王,王趙地,治襄國。 當陽君黥布為楚將,常冠軍,故立布為九江王,都六。 番君吳芮率百越佐諸侯,又從入關,故立芮為衡山王,都邾。 義帝柱國共敖將軍擊南郡,功多,因立敖為臨江王,都江陵。 徙燕王韓廣為遼東王,都無終。 燕將臧荼從楚救趙,因從入關,故立荼為燕王,都薊。 徙齊王田市為膠東王,都即墨。 齊將田都從楚救趙,因從入關,故立都為齊王,都臨菑。 項羽方渡河救趙,田安下濟北數城,引其兵降項羽,故立安為濟北王,都博陽。 田榮數負項梁,又不肯將兵從楚擊秦,以故不封。 成安君陳餘棄將印去,不從入關,亦不封。 客多說項羽曰:「張耳、陳餘,一體有功於趙,今耳為王,餘不可以不封。」 羽不得已,聞其在南皮,因環封之三縣。 番君將梅鋗功多,封十萬戶侯。----
In the second month, Yu divided the empire and enfeoffed the generals as kings. Yu made himself Hegemon-King of Western Chu, ruling nine commanderies of Liang and Chu, with his capital at Pengcheng. Yu and Fan Zeng distrusted the Lord of Pei; peace had been made, yet they hated to break the pact openly, so they plotted in secret: “Ba and Shu have treacherous roads; Qin’s exiles all live there.” They said, “Ba and Shu are also within the Passes.” So they made the Lord of Pei King of Han, ruling Ba, Shu, and Hanzhong, capital at Nanzheng. They divided Guanzhong three ways and made Qin’s surrendered generals kings to block the Han. Zhang Han was made King of Yong, ruling west of Xianyang, capital at Feiqiu. Chief Clerk Xin had been a prison clerk at Liyang and had once done Xiang Liang a kindness; Commandant Dong Yi had originally urged Zhang Han to surrender to Chu. So Xin was made King of Sai, ruling east of Xianyang to the Yellow River, capital at Liyang; Yi was made King of Di, ruling Shang commandery, capital at Gaonu. Xiang Yu wanted Liang for himself, so he moved King Bao of Wei to Western Wei, ruling Hedong, capital at Pingyang. Shen Yang of Xiaqiu was Zhang Er’s favorite; he had first taken Henan and received Chu north of the river, so he was made King of Henan, capital at Luoyang. King Cheng of Han kept his former territory, capital at Yangzhai. The Zhao general Sima Ang had secured Henei with repeated merit, so Ang was made King of Yin, ruling Henei, capital at Chaoge. King Xie of Zhao was moved to Dai. Zhao’s chancellor Zhang Er was known for worth and had entered the Passes with the army, so Er was made King of Changshan, ruling Zhao lands from Xiangguo. Lord Dangyang Ying Bu was a Chu general who often led the van, so Bu was made King of Jiujiang, capital at Lu. Lord Fan Wu Rui had led the Yue in aiding the allies and entered the Passes with them, so Rui was made King of Hengshan, capital at Zhu. Emperor Yi’s pillar Gong Ao had attacked Nan commandery with great merit, so Ao was made King of Linjiang, capital at Jiangling. King Guang of Yan was moved to Liaodong, capital at Wuzhong. The Yan general Zang Tu had marched with Chu to save Zhao and entered the Passes with them, so Tu was made King of Yan, capital at Ji. King Shi of Qi was moved to Jiaodong, capital at Jimo. The Qi general Tian Du had marched with Chu to save Zhao and entered the Passes with them, so Du was made King of Qi, capital at Linzi. While Xiang Yu was crossing the river to save Zhao, Tian An took several Jibei cities and brought his troops over to Yu, so An was made King of Jibei, capital at Boyang. Tian Rong had repeatedly crossed Xiang Liang and refused to march with Chu against Qin, so he received no fief. Lord Cheng’an Chen Yu had cast aside his general’s seal and left, did not enter the Passes, and was not enfeoffed either. Advisers often told Xiang Yu: “Zhang Er and Chen Yu shared one merit for Zhao; Er is now king—Yu must not go without a fief.” Yu reluctantly heard he was at Nanpi and enfeoffed him with three counties in a ring. Lord Fan’s general Mei Xie had great merit and was made marquis of one hundred thousand households.
13
4漢王怒,欲攻項羽,周勃、灌嬰、樊噲皆勸之。 蕭何諫曰:「雖王漢中之惡,不猶愈於死乎?」 漢王曰:「何為乃死也?」 何曰:「今眾弗如,百戰百敗,不死何為? 夫能詘於一人之下而信於萬乘之上者,湯、武是也。 臣願大王王漢中,養其民以致賢人,收用巴、蜀,還定三秦,天下可圖也。」 漢王曰:「善!」 乃遂就國,以何為丞相。 漢王賜張良金百鎰,珠二斗; 良具以獻項伯。 漢王亦因令良厚遺項伯,使盡請漢中地,項王許之。 夏,四月,諸侯罷戲下兵,各就國。 項王使卒三萬人從漢王之國。 楚與諸侯之慕從者數萬人,從杜南入蝕中。 張良送至褒中,漢王遣良歸韓; 良因說漢王燒絕所過棧道,以備諸侯盜兵,且示項羽無東意。----
4. The King of Han was furious and meant to attack Xiang Yu; Zhou Bo, Guan Ying, and Fan Kuai all dissuaded him. Xiao He urged: “However bad ruling Hanzhong may be, is it not better than death?” The King of Han said, “Why should it mean death?” Xiao He said, “Our forces are weaker; fight a hundred times, lose a hundred times—if not death, what then? To bow beneath one man yet win trust above ten thousand chariots—that was Tang and Wu. I urge Your Majesty to take Hanzhong, nurture the people and draw worthies, hold Ba and Shu, then recover the Three Qins—the empire can still be won.” The King of Han said, “Well said!” He went to his kingdom and made Xiao He chancellor. The King of Han gave Zhang Liang a hundred yi of gold and two dou of pearls; Liang had everything prepared and presented it to Xiang Bo. The King of Han also had Liang send Xiang Bo generous gifts and ask that all the Hanzhong territory be granted; the King of Xiang agreed. In summer, the fourth month, the feudal lords dismissed their armies at Xià and each returned to his domain. The King of Xiang sent thirty thousand men to escort the King of Han to his domain. Several tens of thousands of Chu men and followers from the other lords entered Zhi from the south of Du. Zhang Liang escorted him to Baozhong; the King of Han sent Liang back to Han; Liang then urged the King of Han to burn the plank roads along their route, to guard against raids by other lords and to show Xiang Yu that he had no intention of marching east.
14
5田榮聞項羽徙齊王市於膠東,而以田都為齊王,大怒。 五月,榮發兵距擊田都,都亡走楚。 榮留齊王市,不令之膠東。 市畏項羽,竊亡之國。 榮怒,六月,追擊殺市於即墨,自立為齊王。 是時,彭越在巨野,有眾萬餘人,無所屬。 榮與越將軍印,使擊濟北。 秋,七月,越擊殺濟北王安。 榮遂並王三齊之地,又使越擊楚。 項王命蕭公角將兵擊越,越大破楚軍。----
5. When Tian Rong heard that Xiang Yu had moved King Shi of Qi to Jiaodong and made Tian Du king of Qi, he was furious. In the fifth month, Rong raised troops to resist Tian Du; Du fled to Chu. Rong detained King Shi of Qi and would not let him proceed to Jiaodong. Shi, fearing Xiang Yu, secretly fled back to his domain. Enraged, in the sixth month Rong pursued him, killed Shi at Jimo, and declared himself king of Qi. At this time Peng Yue was at Juye with more than ten thousand men and no lord to follow. Rong gave Yue a general’s seal and sent him to attack Jibei. In autumn, the seventh month, Yue attacked and killed King An of Jibei. Rong then united the Three Qi domains and again sent Yue to attack Chu. The King of Xiang ordered Lord Jiao of Xiao to attack Yue; Yue routed the Chu army.
15
6張耳之國,陳餘益怒曰:「張耳與餘,功等也。 今張耳王,餘獨侯,此項羽不平!」 乃陰使張同、夏說說齊王榮曰:「項羽為天下宰不平,盡王諸將善地,徙故王於丑地。 今趙王乃北居代,餘以為不可。 聞大王起兵,不聽不義。 願大王資餘兵擊常山,復趙王,請以趙為扞蔽!」 齊王許之,遣兵從陳餘。----
6. In Zhang Er’s domain, Chen Yu grew angrier and said: “Zhang Er and I have equal merit. Now Zhang Er is king while I alone am a marquis—this is Xiang Yu’s injustice!” He secretly sent Zhang Tong and Xia Shuo to persuade King Rong of Qi: “As arbiter of the realm Xiang Yu is unjust—he makes his generals kings in the best lands and moves the former kings to the worst. Now the King of Zhao is forced to live north in Dai—I consider that unacceptable. Hearing that Your Majesty has raised troops, he will not heed what is unrighteous. I beg Your Majesty to supply me with troops to attack Changshan, restore the King of Zhao, and let Zhao serve as your shield!” The King of Qi agreed and sent troops to follow Chen Yu.
16
7項王以張良從漢王,韓王成又無功,故不遣之國,與俱至彭城,廢以為穰侯; 已,又殺之。----
7. Because Zhang Liang had followed the King of Han and King Cheng of Han had achieved no merit, the King of Xiang did not send him to his domain but took him to Pengcheng, deposed him, and made him Marquis of Rang; then killed him.
17
8初,淮陰人韓信,家貧,無行,不得推擇為吏,又不能治生商賈,常從人寄食飲,人多厭之。 信釣於城下,有漂母見信饑,飯信。 信喜,謂漂母曰:「吾必有以重報母。」 母怒曰:「大丈夫不能自食,吾哀王孫而進食,豈望報乎?」 淮陰屠中少年有侮信者曰:「若雖長大,好帶刀劍,中情怯耳。」 因眾辱之曰:「信能死,刺我; 不能死,出我胯下!」 於是信孰視之,俛出胯下,蒲伏。 一市人皆笑信,以為怯。 及項梁渡淮,信杖劍從之。 居麾下,無所知名。 項梁敗,又屬項羽,羽以為郎中。 數以策干羽,羽不用。 漢王之入蜀,信亡楚歸漢,未知名。 為連敖,坐當斬。 其輩十三人皆已斬,次至信,信乃仰視,適見滕公,曰:「上不欲就天下乎? 何為斬壯士?」 滕公奇其言,壯其貌,釋而不斬。 與語,大說之,言於王。 王拜以為治粟都尉,亦未之奇也。 信數與蕭何語,何奇之。 漢王至南鄭,諸將及士卒皆歌謳思東歸,多道亡者。 信度何等已數言王,王不我用,即亡去。 何聞信亡,不及以聞,自追之。 人有言王曰:「丞相何亡。」 王大怒,如失左右手。 居一二日,何來謁王。 王且怒且喜,罵何曰:「若亡,何也?」 何曰:「臣不敢亡也,臣追亡者耳。」 王曰:「若所追者誰?」 何曰:「韓信也。」 王復罵曰:「諸將亡者以十數,公無所追。 追信,詐也。」 何曰:「諸將易得耳。 至如信者,國士無雙。 王必欲長王漢中,無所事信,必欲爭天下,非信無可與計事者。 顧王策安所決耳。」 王曰:「吾亦欲東耳,安能鬱鬱久居此乎?」 何曰:「計必欲東,能用信,信即留; 不能用信,終亡耳。」 王曰:「吾為公以為將。」 何曰:「雖為將,信不留。」 王曰:「以為大將。」 何曰:「幸甚!」 於是王欲召信拜之。 何曰:「王素慢無禮。 今拜大將,如呼小兒,此乃信所以去也。 王必欲拜之,擇良日,齋戒,設壇場,具禮,乃可耳。」 王許之。 諸將皆喜,人人各自以為得大將。 至拜大將,乃韓信也,一軍皆驚。
8. Initially, Han Xin of Huaiyin was from a poor family and of base conduct; he could not be recommended for office nor make a living in trade, and often ate at others’ tables—many despised him. Xin was fishing by the city wall when a washerwoman saw him hungry and fed him. Xin was pleased and said to her: “I shall surely repay you generously, mother.” She snapped: “A grown man who cannot feed himself—I pitied you and gave you food; did I expect repayment?” A butcher’s lad who bullied Xin said: “Though you are tall and fond of wearing a sword, at heart you are a coward.” Before the crowd he mocked him: “If you have the nerve to die, stab me; if not, crawl between my legs!” Xin stared at him, then bent low and crawled between his legs. The whole market laughed at Xin and thought him a coward. When Xiang Liang crossed the Huai, Xin took sword in hand and followed him. He served under his banner and remained unknown. After Xiang Liang’s defeat he joined Xiang Yu, who made him a palace attendant. Several times he offered plans to Yu; Yu ignored them. When the King of Han entered Shu, Xin fled Chu for Han and was still unknown. He was made a senior camp officer and was sentenced to beheading. His thirteen companions had already been executed; when his turn came, Xin looked up, saw the Lord of Teng, and said: “Does Your Majesty not wish to gain the realm? Why behead a stalwart?” The Lord of Teng marveled at his words and was struck by his bearing; he released him and did not execute him. He spoke with him, was greatly pleased, and reported him to the king. The king appointed him Director of Grain but still did not regard him as extraordinary. Xin often spoke with Xiao He, who was struck by his talent. When the King of Han reached Nanzheng, officers and men sang songs of longing to return east, and many deserted along the way. Xin reckoned that He had already spoken for him several times yet the king would not employ him, and prepared to flee. When He heard that Xin had fled, he had no time to report it and pursued him himself. Someone told the king: “Chancellor He has fled.” The king was furious, as if he had lost both hands. A day or two later, He came to see the king. The king was angry yet relieved and cursed him: “You fled—why?” He said: “I did not flee; I was pursuing a deserter.” The king asked: “Whom did you pursue?” He said: “Han Xin.” The king cursed again: “Dozens of generals have deserted and you pursued none of them. Pursuing Xin is a lie.” He said: “Generals are easily replaced. But one like Xin is matchless in the realm. If Your Majesty wishes only to hold Hanzhong, you need not use Xin; if you wish to contend for the realm, apart from Xin there is no one with whom to plan. It depends on which course Your Majesty chooses.” The king said: “I too wish to go east—how could I stay here in dejection?” He said: “If you are resolved to go east, employ Xin and he will stay; if you cannot employ him, in the end he will leave.” The king said: “For your sake I will make him a general.” He said: “Even as a general, Xin will not stay.” The king said: “Make him grand commander.” He said: “Excellent!” The king then wished to summon Xin and appoint him. He said: “Your Majesty has always been casual and discourteous. To appoint a grand commander as you would summon a child—that is why Xin left. If you truly wish to appoint him, choose an auspicious day, fast, set up an altar, and perform the full rites—only then will it suffice.” The king agreed. The generals were pleased; each thought he would be named grand commander. When the grand commander was appointed, it was Han Xin, and the whole army was astonished.
18
信拜禮畢,上坐。 王曰:「丞相數言將軍,將軍何以教寡人計策?」 信辭謝,因問王曰:「今東鄉爭權天下,豈非項王耶?」 漢王曰:「然。」 曰:「大王自料勇悍仁強孰與項王?」 漢王默然良久,曰:「不如也。」 信再拜賀曰:「惟信亦以為大王不如也。 然臣嘗事之,請言項王之為人也。 項王暗噁叱吒,千人皆廢,然不能任屬賢將,此特匹夫之勇耳。 項王見人,恭敬慈愛,言語嘔嘔,人有疾病,涕泣分食飲; 至使人,有功當封爵者,印刓敝,忍不能予,此所謂婦人之仁也。 項王雖霸天下而臣諸侯,不居關中而都彭城; 背義帝之約,而以親愛王諸侯,不平; 逐其故主而王其將相,又遷逐義帝置江南; 所過無不殘滅,百姓不親附,特劫於威強耳。 名雖為霸,實失天下心,故其強易弱。 今大王誠能反其道,任天下武勇,何所不誅以? 天下城邑封功臣,何所不服? 以義兵從思東歸之士,何所不散? 且三秦王為秦將,將秦子弟數歲矣,所殺亡不可勝計; 又欺其眾降諸侯,至新安,項王詐坑秦降卒二十餘萬,唯獨邯、欣、翳得脫。 秦父兄怨此三人,痛入骨髓。 今楚強以威王此三人,秦民莫愛也。 大王之入武關,秋毫無所害; 除秦苛法,與秦民約法三章; 秦民無不欲得大王王秦者。 於諸侯之約,大王當王關中,民鹹知之; 大王失職入漢中,秦民無不恨者。 今大王舉而東,三秦可傳檄而定也。」 於是漢王大喜,自以為得信晚,遂聽信計,部署諸將所擊。 留蕭何收巴、蜀租,給軍糧食。----
When the ceremony of appointment was finished, Xin took his seat. The king said: “The chancellor has spoken of you often—what plans will you teach me?” Xin declined politely and asked: “In contending for the realm facing east today, is not your rival the King of Xiang?” The King of Han said: “Yes.” He said: “Which do you judge the stronger—yourself or the King of Xiang—in courage, fierceness, benevolence, and strength?” The King of Han was silent a long while and said: “I am not his equal.” Xin bowed again and said: “I too believe Your Majesty is not his equal. Yet I once served him; let me describe the King of Xiang’s character. The King of Xiang with a glare and shout can terrify a thousand men, yet he cannot entrust command to worthy generals—this is merely the courage of a common brawler. The King of Xiang is respectful and kindly in person, gentle in speech, and when someone is ill he weeps and shares his food; yet when men deserve enfeoffment for merit, his seals are worn smooth and he cannot bear to grant them—this is what is called a woman’s kindness. Though the King of Xiang hegemonized the realm and made the lords his ministers, he did not hold Guanzhong but made Pengcheng his capital; he broke his pact with Emperor Yi and enfeoffed lords by favoritism—unjust; he drove out former kings and made his own generals and ministers kings, and banished Emperor Yi to the south; wherever he marched he laid waste; the people do not love him—they submit only to his might. Though called hegemon, he has lost the hearts of the realm; his strength can easily be broken. If Your Majesty can truly reverse his course and employ the brave of the realm, what enemy could you not destroy? Enfeoff your meritorious men with the cities of the realm—who would not submit? Lead righteous troops with men who long to return east—what foe could stand? Moreover, the Three Kings of Qin were Qin generals who led Qin’s sons for years and killed untold numbers; they deceived their men into surrendering to the lords; at Xin’an the King of Xiang treacherously buried alive more than two hundred thousand surrendered Qin soldiers—only Zhang Han, Sima Xin, and Dong Yi escaped. The elders of Qin hate these three men to the marrow. Now Chu by force makes them kings, and the people of Qin love none of them. When Your Majesty entered Wu Pass, not the slightest harm was done; you abolished Qin's harsh laws and pledged the three articles of law to the Qin people; every man in Qin wished to see you made king of Qin. by the covenant among the allies you were to be king in Guanzhong, and the people all knew it; when you were displaced into Hanzhong, every Qin man resented it. Now if you march east, the Three Qins can be won by proclamation alone.” The King of Han was overjoyed, regretted only that he had found Xin so late, adopted his plan, and assigned each general his objective. He left Xiao He to gather rents from Ba and Shu and provision the army.
19
9八月,漢王引兵從故道出,襲雍; 雍王章邯迎擊漢陳倉。 雍兵敗,還走; 止,戰好畤,又敗,走廢丘。 漢王遂定雍地,東至咸陽,引兵圍雍王於廢丘,而遣諸將略地。 塞王欣、翟王翳皆降,以其地為渭南、河上、上郡。 將軍薛歐、王吸出武關,因王陵兵以迎太公、呂后。 項王聞之,發兵距之陽夏,不得前。 王陵者,沛人也,先聚黨數千人,居南陽,至是始以兵屬漢。 項王取陵母置軍中,陵使至,則東鄉坐陵母,欲以招陵。 陵母私送使者,泣曰:「願為老妾語陵:善事漢王,漢王長者,終得天下,毋以老妾故持二心。 妾以死送使者!」 遂伏劍而死。 項王怒。 烹陵母。
9 In the eighth month, the King of Han marched out by the old road and surprised Yong; the King of Yong, Zhang Han, met him at Chencang. The Yong army was beaten and fell back; they halted to fight at Haozhi, were beaten again, and fled to Feiqiu. The King of Han then secured Yong, reached Xianyang in the east, besieged the King of Yong at Feiqiu, and sent his generals to overrun the countryside. the Kings of Sai and Di, Sima Xin and Dong Yi, both surrendered; their territories became Weinan, Heshang, and Shang commanderies. Generals Xue Ou and Wang Xi marched out through Wu Pass and, with Wang Ling's force, went to fetch the Grand Duke and Empress Lü. the King of Xiang heard of it, sent troops to block them at Yangxia, and they could not get through. Wang Ling was from Pei; he had first gathered several thousand followers and held Nanyang, and only now brought his force under Han. the King of Xiang seized Ling's mother and kept her in camp; when Ling's envoy came, he seated her facing east to lure Ling back. Ling's mother secretly sent the envoy away and wept: “Tell Ling for me: serve the King of Han well. He is a man of virtue and will win the realm in the end—do not waver on my account. I die to send you off!” She then fell on her sword and died. The King of Xiang was furious. He had Ling's mother boiled alive.
20
項王以故吳令鄭昌為韓王,以距漢。
The King of Xiang made the former Wu magistrate Zheng Chang King of Han to hold back Han.
21
張良遺項王書曰:「漢王失職,欲得關中,如約即止,不敢東。」 又以齊、梁反書遺項王曰:「齊欲與趙並滅楚。」 項王以此故無西意,而北擊齊。----
Zhang Liang sent the King of Xiang a letter: “The King of Han was displaced and wants Guanzhong back; once the covenant is honored he will stop and not march east.” He also sent a forged letter from Qi and Liang saying, “Qi intends to join Zhao in destroying Chu.” For this reason the King of Xiang gave up any thought of going west and marched north against Qi.
22
10燕王廣不肯之遼東,臧荼擊殺之,並其地。----
10 The King of Yan, Guang, refused to go to Liaodong; Zang Tu attacked and killed him and took his lands.
23
11是歲,以內史沛周苛為御史大夫。----
11 That year Zhou Ke of Pei, the metropolitan administrator, was appointed grand censor.
24
12項王使趣義帝行,其群臣、左右稍稍叛之。----
12 The King of Xiang pressed Emperor Yi to move on; his ministers and attendants gradually deserted him.
25
1冬,十月,項王密使九江、衡山、臨江王擊義帝,殺之江中。----
1 In winter, the tenth month, the King of Xiang secretly sent the kings of Jiujiang, Hengshan, and Linjiang against Emperor Yi and had him killed in the Yangtze.
26
2陳餘悉三縣兵,與齊兵共襲常山。 常山王張耳敗,走漢,謁漢王於廢丘,漢王厚遇之。 陳餘迎趙王於代,復為趙王。 趙王德陳餘,立以為代王。 陳餘為趙王弱,國初定,不之國,留傅趙王; 而使夏說以相國守代。----
2 Chen Yu raised the troops of three counties and, with Qi, jointly attacked Changshan. the King of Changshan, Zhang Er, was defeated, fled to Han, and met the King of Han at Feiqiu, who received him with great favor. Chen Yu brought the King of Zhao back from Dai and restored him to the throne. The King of Zhao, grateful to Chen Yu, made him King of Dai. Chen Yu judged the King of Zhao too young and the state too newly settled to leave; he stayed to tutor the king; and sent Xia Yue as chancellor to hold Dai.
27
3張良自韓間行歸漢,漢王以為成信侯。 良多病,未嘗特將,常為畫策臣,時時從漢王。----
3 Zhang Liang slipped back to Han from Han territory by a secret route and was made Marquis of Chengxin. Liang was often ill, never held independent command, and regularly served as strategist, sometimes accompanying the king.
28
4漢王如陝,鎮撫關外父老。----
4 The King of Han went to Shan to reassure the elders east of the passes.
29
5河南王申陽降,置河南郡。----
5 The King of Henan, Shen Yang, surrendered and his territory was made Henan commandery.
30
6漢王以韓襄王孫信為韓太尉,將兵略韓地。 信急擊韓王昌於陽城,昌降。 十一月,立信為韓王,常將韓兵從漢王。----
6 The King of Han made Sun Xin, grandson of King Xiang of Han, Grand Commandant of Han and sent him to overrun Han territory. Xin pressed King Chang of Han at Yangcheng until he surrendered. In the eleventh month Xin was made King of Han and regularly led Han troops with the King of Han.
31
7漢王還都櫟陽。----
7 The King of Han returned and established his capital at Liyang.
32
8諸將拔隴西。----
8 The generals captured Longxi.
33
9春,正月,項王北至城陽。 齊王榮將兵會戰,敗,走平原,平原民殺之。 項王復立田假為齊王。 遂北至北海,燒夷城郭、室屋,坑田榮降卒,系虜其老弱、婦女,所過多所殘滅。 齊民相聚叛之。----
9 In spring, the first month, the King of Xiang marched north to Chengyang. the King of Qi, Rong, met him in battle, was defeated, fled to Pingyuan, and the people there killed him. The King of Xiang reinstalled Tian Jia as King of Qi. He then marched north to the sea, burned towns and houses, buried Tian Rong's surrendered troops alive, bound up the old, weak, and women as captives, and left devastation wherever he passed. The people of Qi rose everywhere in revolt against him.
34
10漢將拔北地,虜雍王弟平。----
10 Han generals took Beidi and captured Ping, the King of Yong's younger brother.
35
11三月,漢王自臨晉渡河。 魏王豹降,將兵從; 下河內,虜殷王卬,置河內郡。----
11 In the third month the King of Han crossed the Yellow River from Linjin. the King of Wei, Bao, surrendered and followed with his troops; he took Henei, captured the King of Yin, Ang, and made it Henei commandery.
36
12初,陽武人陳平,家貧,好讀書。 里中社,平為宰,分肉食甚均。 父老曰:「善,陳孺子之為宰!」 平曰:「嗟乎,使平得宰天下,亦如是肉矣!」 及諸侯叛秦,平事魏王咎於臨濟,為太僕,說魏王,不聽。 人或讒之,平亡去。 後事項羽,賜爵為卿。 殷王反楚,項羽使平擊降之。 還,拜為都尉,賜金二十鎰。 居無何,漢王攻下殷。 項王怒,將誅定殷將吏。 平懼,乃封其金與印,使使歸項王; 而挺身間行,杖劍亡,渡河,歸漢王於脩武,因魏無知求見漢王。 漢王召入,賜食,遣罷就舍。 平曰:「臣為事來,所言不可以過今日。」 於是漢王與語而說之。 問曰:「子之居楚何官?」 曰:「為都尉。」 是日,即拜平為都尉,使為參乘,典護軍。 諸將盡讙曰:「大王一日得楚之亡卒,未知其高下,而即與同載,反使監護長者!」 漢王聞之,愈益幸平。----
12 Earlier, Chen Ping of Yangwu was poor but loved books. At the ward sacrifice Ping served as steward and divided the meat with perfect fairness. The elders said, “Well done, Young Chen as steward!” Ping said, “Ah—if I could govern all under Heaven, I would divide it just as evenly as this meat!” When the allies rebelled against Qin, Ping served King Jia of Wei at Linji as grand steward; he remonstrated with the king, who would not listen. Someone slandered him and he fled. Later he served Xiang Yu and was ennobled as minister. When the King of Yin rebelled against Chu, Xiang Yu sent Ping to crush him. On his return he was made commandant and given twenty yi of gold. Before long the King of Han captured Yin. The King of Xiang was furious and was about to execute the Yin officers who had held the region. Ping was afraid; he sealed up his gold and seal and sent them back to the King of Xiang; then slipped away alone with sword in hand, crossed the river, joined the King of Han at Xiuyang, and through Wei Wuzhi asked for an audience. The King of Han received him, gave him a meal, and sent him to his quarters. Ping said, “I came on urgent business; what I have to say cannot wait until tomorrow.” The king talked with him and was delighted. He asked, “What office did you hold in Chu?” He said, “Commandant.” That same day he was made commandant, chariot companion, and put in charge of the army guard. The generals all grumbled: “In one day you took in a Chu runaway whose ability you do not yet know, yet you ride with him and set him to oversee us veterans!” When the king heard this, he favored Chen Ping all the more.
37
13漢王南渡平陰津,至洛陽新城。 三老董公遮說王曰:「臣聞『順德者昌,逆德者亡』; 『兵出無名,事故不成』。 故曰:『明其為賊,敵乃可服。』 項羽為無道,放殺其主,天下之賊也。 夫仁不以勇,義不以力,大王宜率三軍之眾為之素服,以告諸侯而伐之,則四海之內莫不仰德,此三王之舉也。」 於是漢王為義帝發喪,袒而大哭,哀臨三日,發使告諸侯曰:「天下共立義帝,北面事之。 今項羽放殺義帝江南,大逆無道! 寡人悉發關中兵,收三河士,南浮江、漢以下,願從諸侯王擊楚之殺義帝者!」 使者至趙,陳餘曰:「漢殺張耳,乃從。」 於是漢王求人類張耳者斬之,持其頭遺陳餘; 餘乃遣兵助漢。----
13 The King of Han crossed the Pingyin ford southward and reached Xincheng near Luoyang. the village elder Dong Gong stopped the king and said, “I have heard, ‘He who follows virtue flourishes; he who defies virtue perishes’; ‘When an army marches without a righteous cause, the enterprise fails.’ Hence the saying, ‘Show him plainly as a villain, and the enemy can be overcome. ’ Xiang Yu is lawless; he deposed and killed his sovereign—the villain of the realm. Benevolence needs no brute courage, nor righteousness brute force; Your Majesty should lead the army in mourning dress, proclaim this to the allies, and attack him—then all within the seas will look up to your virtue. This is the way of the three sage kings.” The King of Han then mourned Emperor Yi, bared one shoulder and wailed, observed mourning for three days, and sent envoys to the allies: “All under Heaven jointly set up Emperor Yi and served him as sovereign. Now Xiang Yu deposed and murdered Emperor Yi in the south—great treason and lawlessness! I will muster all Guanzhong's forces, gather the warriors of the Three Rivers, sail south on the Yangtze and Han, and ask the allied kings to join me in punishing Chu for killing Emperor Yi!” When the envoy reached Zhao, Chen Yu said, “If Han kills Zhang Er, I will follow.” The King of Han found a man who resembled Zhang Er, beheaded him, and sent the head to Chen Yu; Yu then sent troops to help Han.
38
14田榮弟橫收散卒,得數萬人,起城陽,夏,四月,立榮子廣為齊王,以拒楚。 項王因留,連戰,未能下。 雖聞漢東,既擊齊,欲遂破之而後擊漢,漢王以故得率諸侯兵凡五十六萬人伐楚。 到外黃,彭越將其兵三萬餘人歸漢。 漢王曰:「彭將軍收魏地得十餘城,欲急立魏後。 今西魏王豹,真魏後。」 乃拜彭越為魏相國,擅將其兵略定梁地。 漢王遂入城,收其貨寶、美人,日置酒高會。
14 Tian Rong's younger brother Heng gathered scattered troops to several tens of thousands, rose at Chengyang, and in summer, the fourth month, made Rong's son Guang King of Qi to resist Chu. The King of Xiang therefore remained, fought repeatedly, and could not subdue them. Though he heard Han was marching east, he was already attacking Qi and meant to crush Qi before turning on Han; the King of Han therefore led five hundred sixty thousand allied troops against Chu. At Waihuang, Peng Yue rejoined Han with more than thirty thousand men. The King of Han said, “General Peng has recovered more than ten cities in Wei and wishes to set up a successor of Wei at once. The King of Western Wei, Bao, is the true heir of Wei.” He then made Peng Yue Chancellor of Wei with independent command to secure Liang. The King of Han then entered the city, took its treasures and beauties, and daily held grand banquets.
39
項王聞之,令諸將擊齊,而自以精兵三萬人南,從魯出胡陵至蕭。 晨,擊漢軍而東至彭城,日中,大破漢軍。 漢軍皆走,相隨入穀、泗水,死者十餘萬人。 漢卒皆南走山,楚又追擊至靈壁東睢水上; 漢軍卻,為楚所擠,卒十餘萬人皆入睢水,水為之不流。 圍漢王三匝。 會大風從西北起,折木,發屋,揚沙石,窈冥晝晦,逢迎楚軍,大亂壞散,而漢王乃得與數十騎遁去。 欲過沛收家室,而楚亦使人之沛取漢王家。 家皆亡,不與漢王相見。
The King of Xiang heard of it, left his generals to finish Qi, and himself marched south with thirty thousand elite troops from Lu through Huling to Xiao. At dawn he struck the Han army; by midday, reaching Pengcheng, he had routed it utterly. The Han army fled in masses into the Gu and Si rivers; more than a hundred thousand drowned or were killed. Han troops fled south into the hills; Chu pursued to the Sui River east of Lingbi; The Han army fell back, pressed by Chu; more than a hundred thousand men plunged into the Sui River until the water ceased to flow. They surrounded the King of Han in three rings. Then a gale rose from the northwest, snapping trees, ripping off roofs, and whipping up sand and stones; day turned dark as night; it struck the Chu army head-on; they broke apart in chaos, and the King of Han escaped with a few dozen riders. He meant to pass through Pei to fetch his household, but Chu also sent men to Pei to seize the King of Han's family. His household had all fled and never met him.
40
漢王道逢孝惠、魯元公主,載以行。 楚騎追之,漢王急,推墮二子車下。 滕公為太僕,常下收載之。 如是者三,曰:「今雖急,不可以驅,奈何棄之!」 故徐行。 漢王怒,欲斬之者十餘; 滕公卒保護,脫二子。 審食其從太公、呂后間行求漢王,不相遇,反遇楚軍。 楚軍與歸,項王常置軍中為質。
On the road the King of Han met the Filial and Kind Prince and the Princess of Lu Yuan and took them into his carriage. Chu cavalry pursued; in his panic the King of Han pushed the two children off the carriage. The Duke of Teng, grand coachman, kept leaping down to scoop them up and set them back aboard. This happened three times; he said, “We are in peril, but we cannot drive hard—how can we cast them away!” So they went slowly. The King of Han was furious and more than ten times meant to behead him; the Duke of Teng shielded them to the end and saved both children. Shen Yishi escorted the Grand Duke and Empress Lü by secret route to find the King of Han; they missed him and ran into the Chu army instead. Chu took them back; the King of Xiang kept them in camp as hostages.
41
是時,呂后兄周呂侯為漢將兵,居下邑。 漢王間往從之,稍稍收其士卒。 諸侯皆背漢,復與楚。 塞王欣、翟王翳亡降楚。----
At this time the Empress Lü's elder brother, the Marquis of Zhou Lü, commanded Han troops at Xiayi. The King of Han slipped away to join him and little by little regathered his troops. The allies all deserted Han and returned to Chu. the Kings of Sai and Di, Sima Xin and Dong Yi, fled and surrendered to Chu.
42
15田橫進攻田假,假走楚,楚殺之。 橫遂復定三齊之地。----
15 Tian Heng attacked Tian Jia; Jia fled to Chu, and Chu killed him. Heng then re-established the Three Qi.
43
16漢王問群臣曰:「吾欲捐關以東,等棄之,誰可與共功者?」 張良曰:「九江王布,楚梟將,與項王有隙; 彭越與齊反梁地; 此兩人可急使。 而漢王之將,獨韓信可屬大事,當一面。 即欲捐之,捐之此三人,則楚可破也!」
16 The King of Han asked his ministers, “I am ready to give up everything east of the passes and share it out—who can work with me to win the realm?” Zhang Liang said, “The King of Jiujiang, Ying Bu, is a formidable Chu commander and is at odds with the King of Xiang; Peng Yue, with Qi, is stirring rebellion in Liang; these two should be enlisted at once. Of Your Majesty's generals, only Han Xin can be entrusted with a major command and hold an entire front. If you mean to give territory away, give it to these three, and Chu can be broken!"
44
初,項王擊齊,徵兵九江,九江王布稱病不在,遣將將軍數千人行。 漢之破楚彭城,布又稱病不佐楚。 楚王由此怨布,婁使使者誚讓,召布。 布愈恐,不敢往。 項王方北憂齊、趙,西患漢,所與者獨九江王; 又多布材,欲親用之,以故未之擊。 漢王自下邑徙軍碭,遂至虞,謂左右曰:「如彼等者,無足與計天下事!」 謁者隨何進曰:「不審陛下所謂。」 漢王曰:「孰能為我使九江,令之發兵倍楚? 留項王數月,我之取天下可以百全。」 隨何曰:「臣請使之!」 漢王使與二十人俱。----
Earlier, when the King of Xiang attacked Qi, he called on Jiujiang for troops; the King of Jiujiang, Bu, pleaded illness and stayed away, sending a general with several thousand men. When Han routed Chu at Pengcheng, Bu again pleaded illness and refused to aid Chu. The King of Chu therefore resented Bu and again and again sent envoys to rebuke and summon him. Bu grew more afraid and would not go. The King of Xiang was then hard pressed in the north by Qi and Zhao and in the west by Han; his sole ally was the King of Jiujiang; he also valued Bu's talent and wished to keep him close; for that reason he did not strike at him. The King of Han moved his army from Xiayi to Dang, then reached Yu, and told his attendants, “Men like these are not fit to plan the conquest of the realm!” Yeoman Sui He stepped forward and said, “I do not understand what Your Majesty means.” The King of Han said, “Who can go to Jiujiang for me and make them raise troops and turn on Chu? Hold the King of Xiang for several months, and my conquest of the realm will be wholly assured.” Sui He said, “Let me go!” The King of Han sent him with twenty companions.
45
17五月,漢王至滎陽,諸敗軍皆會,蕭何亦發關中老弱未傅者悉詣滎陽,漢軍復大振。 楚起於彭城,常乘勝逐北,與漢戰滎陽南京、索間。 楚騎來眾,漢王擇軍中可為騎將者,皆推故奉騎士重泉人李必、駱甲。 漢王欲拜之,必、甲曰:「臣故秦民,恐軍不信; 願得大王左右善騎者傅之。」 乃拜灌嬰為中大夫令,李必、駱甲為左右校尉,將騎兵擊楚騎於滎陽東,大破之,楚以故不能過滎陽而西。 漢王軍滎陽,築甬道屬之河,以取敖倉粟。----
17 In the fifth month the King of Han reached Xingyang; the scattered forces rallied; Xiao He also sent every able man in Guanzhong not yet conscripted to Xingyang, and the Han army revived. Chu advanced from Pengcheng, always pressing a victorious pursuit northward, and fought Han between the Nanjing and Suo sectors south of Xingyang. Chu cavalry came in force; the King of Han looked for cavalry commanders, and all named the former Fengxiang horsemen Li Bi and Luo Jia of Zhongquan. The King of Han meant to appoint them; Bi and Jia said, “We are former Qin subjects; the army may not trust us; we ask for skilled riders from Your Majesty's staff to assist us.” He appointed Guan Ying director of lieutenant-commandants, Li Bi and Luo Jia as left and right commandants; they led cavalry against Chu east of Xingyang, routed them, and Chu could not break through west of Xingyang. The King of Han held Xingyang, built a covered causeway to the river, and drew grain from Aocang.
46
18周勃、灌嬰等言於漢王曰:「陳平雖美如冠玉,其中未必有也。 臣聞平居家時盜其嫂; 事魏不容,亡歸楚; 不中,又亡歸漢。 今日大王尊官之,令護軍。 臣聞平受諸將金,金多者得善處,金少者得惡處。 平,反覆亂臣也,願王察之!」 漢王疑之,召讓魏無知。 無知曰:「臣所言者能也,陛下所問者行也。 今有尾生、孝己之行,而無益勝負之數,陛下何暇用之乎! 楚、漢相距,臣進奇謀之士,顧其計誠足以利國家不耳。 盜嫂、受金,又何足疑乎!」 漢王召讓平曰:「先生事魏不中,事楚而去,今又從吾游,信者固多心乎!」 平曰:「臣事魏王,魏王不能用臣說,故去; 事項王,項王不能信人,其所任愛,非諸項,即妻之昆弟,雖有奇士不能用。 聞漢王能用人,故歸大王。 臣裸身來,不受金無以為資。 誠臣計畫有可采乎,願大王用之; 使無可用者,金具在,請封輸官,得其骸骨。」 漢王乃謝,厚賜,拜為護軍中尉,盡護諸將。 諸將乃不敢復言。----
18 Zhou Bo, Guan Ying, and others told the King of Han, “Chen Ping may look like jade on a cap, but there may be nothing inside. We hear that at home he seduced his sister-in-law; serving Wei he was not kept and fled to Chu; failing there, he fled again to Han. Now Your Majesty honors him and puts him in charge of the army. We hear he takes gold from the generals—large gifts win good posts, small gifts win poor ones. Ping is a faithless schemer—may Your Majesty look into it!” The King of Han was troubled and summoned Wei Wuzhi to rebuke him. Wuzhi said, “I spoke of his ability; Your Majesty asks about his conduct. If a man had the integrity of Wei Sheng or Xiaoji yet it did nothing for victory or defeat, why would Your Majesty bother with him! With Chu and Han locked in struggle, I recommend men of daring stratagem—only whether their plans truly benefit the state matters. Seducing a sister-in-law or taking gold—what is there to doubt!” The King of Han summoned Chen Ping and rebuked him: “You failed in Wei, left Chu, and now follow me—are trustworthy men always so changeable!” Ping said, “I served the King of Wei; he would not heed me, so I left; I served the King of Xiang; he cannot trust outsiders—those he favors are Xiang clansmen or his wife's kin; even when extraordinary men appear, he will not use them. I heard that the King of Han knows how to use men, so I came to Your Majesty. I came with nothing; without gifts I had no means to live. If my plans are worth adopting, I beg Your Majesty to use them; if not, the gold is all still here—seal it for the treasury and let me go home to die.” The King of Han apologized, richly rewarded him, made him lieutenant of the army protectorate with authority over all the generals. The generals then dared say no more.
47
19魏王豹謁歸視親疾; 至則絕河津,反為楚。----
19 The King of Wei, Bao, asked leave to go home and tend a parent's illness; but on arriving he sealed the river crossings and went over to Chu.
48
20六月,漢王還櫟陽。----
20 In the sixth month the King of Han returned to Liyang.
49
21壬午,立子盈為太子; 赦罪人。----
21 On the day renwu he made his son Ying crown prince; and pardoned criminals.
50
22漢兵引水灌廢丘,廢丘降,章邯自殺。 盡定雍地,以為中地、北地、隴西郡。----
22 Han troops diverted water against Feiqiu; Feiqiu surrendered and Zhang Han killed himself. Yong was wholly pacified and divided into Zhong, Beidi, and Longxi commanderies.
51
23關中大饑,米斛萬錢,人相食。 令民就食蜀、漢。
23 Guanzhong suffered terrible famine; grain cost ten thousand cash per picul and men ate one another. He ordered the people to migrate to Shu and Han for food.
52
初,秦之亡也,豪傑爭取金玉,宣曲任氏獨窖倉粟。 及楚、漢相距滎陽,民不得耕種,而豪傑金玉盡歸任氏,任以此起,富者數世。----
When Qin was collapsing, the powerful scrambled for gold and jade; only the Ren clan of Xuqu hoarded grain in cellars. When Chu and Han fought at Xingyang and farming ceased, the gold and jade of the powerful all flowed to the Ren clan, who rose on it and stayed rich for generations.
53
24秋,八月,漢王如滎陽,命蕭何守關中,侍太子,為法令約束,立宗廟、社稷、宮室、縣邑; 事有不及奏決者,輒以便宜施行,上來,以聞。 計關中戶口,轉漕、調兵以給軍,未嘗乏絕。----
24 In autumn, the eighth month, the King of Han went to Xingyang and left Xiao He to hold Guanzhong, attend the crown prince, enforce laws, and establish temples, altars, palaces, counties, and towns; what could not wait for the king's decision he might handle on his own authority and report when the king returned. He tallied Guanzhong households, moved grain and shifted troops to the front, and the army was never left short.
54
25漢王使酈食其往說魏王豹,且召之。 豹不聽,曰:「漢王慢而侮人,罵詈諸侯、群臣如罵奴耳,吾不忍復見也。」 於是漢王以韓信為左丞相,與灌嬰、曹參俱擊魏。 漢王問食其:「魏大將誰也?」 對曰:「柏直。」 王曰:「是口尚乳臭,安能當韓信! 騎將誰也?」 曰:「馮敬。」 曰:「是秦將馮無擇子也,雖賢,不能當灌嬰。」 「步卒將誰也?」 曰:「項佗。」 曰:「不能當曹參。 吾無患矣!」 韓信亦問酈生:「魏得無用周叔為大將乎?」 酈生曰:「柏直也。」 信曰:「豎子耳。」 遂進兵。
25 The King of Han sent Li Yiji to persuade the King of Wei, Bao, and summon him back. Bao refused and said, “The King of Han is arrogant and insulting; he reviles allies and ministers like slaves—I will not see him again.” The King of Han then made Han Xin left chancellor and sent him with Guan Ying and Cao Shen against Wei. The King of Han asked Yiji, “Who is Wei's chief general?” He answered, “Bo Zhi.” The king said, “He still smells of milk—how can he stand against Han Xin! Who commands the cavalry?” He said, “Feng Jing.” He said, “He is the son of the Qin general Feng Wuji; able as he is, he cannot match Guan Ying.” “And who commands the infantry?” He said, “Xiang Tuo.” He said, “He cannot match Cao Shen. I have nothing to fear!” Han Xin also asked Li Yiji, “Will Wei perhaps use Zhou Shu as chief general?” Yiji said, “Bo Zhi.” Xin said, “A mere boy.” He then marched.
55
魏王盛兵蒲板以塞臨晉。 信乃益為疑兵,陳船欲渡臨晉,而伏兵從夏陽以木罌流軍,襲安邑。 魏王豹驚,引兵迎信。 九月,信擊虜豹,傳詣滎陽; 悉定魏地,置河東、上黨、太原郡。----
The King of Wei massed troops at Puban to block the crossing at Linjin. Xin then staged decoys, lined up boats as if to cross at Linjin, while hidden troops from Xiayang floated the army on wooden jars and struck Anyi. The King of Wei, Bao, was alarmed and marched out to meet Han Xin. In the ninth month Han Xin attacked, captured Bao, and sent him under escort to Xingyang; He fully pacified Wei territory and established Hedong, Shangdang, and Taiyuan commanderies.
56
26漢之敗於彭城而西也,陳餘亦覺張耳不死,即背漢。 韓信既定魏,使人請兵三萬人,願以北舉燕、趙,東擊齊,南絕楚糧道。 漢王許之,乃遣張耳與俱,引兵東,北擊趙、代。 後九月,信破代兵,禽夏說於閼與。 信之下魏破代,漢輒使人收其精兵詣滎陽以距楚。
26 When Han was defeated at Pengcheng and retreated west, Chen Yu too realized Zhang Er was alive and at once rebelled against Han. After Han Xin had pacified Wei, he sent envoys requesting thirty thousand troops, offering to take Yan and Zhao in the north, strike Qi in the east, and cut off Chu's grain routes in the south. The King of Han agreed, sent Zhang Er to accompany him, led his army east, and attacked Zhao and Dai in the north. In the intercalary ninth month Han Xin routed the Dai army and captured Xia Yue at Yan Yu. Whenever Han Xin took Wei or defeated Dai, the King of Han would promptly send men to gather his elite troops to Xingyang to hold Chu at bay.