1
起玄黓攝提格,盡昭陽赤奮若,凡十二年。
From Xuanji Shotige through Zhaoyang Chifenruo—twelve years in all.
2
1冬,上東擊韓王信餘寇於東垣,過柏人。 貫高等壁人於廁中,欲以要上。 上欲宿,心動,問曰:「縣名為何?」 曰:「柏人。」 上曰:「柏人者,迫於人也。」 遂不宿而去。 十二月,帝行自東垣至。 ----2春,三月,行如洛陽。 ----3令賈人毋得衣錦、繡、綺、縠、絺、紵、罽,操兵、乘、騎馬。 ----4秋,九月,行自洛陽至; 淮南王、梁王、趙王、楚王皆從。 ----5匈奴冒頓數苦北邊。 上患之,問劉敬,劉敬曰:「天下初定,士卒罷於兵,未可以武服也。 冒頓殺父代立,妻群母,以力為威,未可以仁義說也。 獨可以計久遠,子孫為臣耳; 然恐陛下不能為。」 上曰:「奈何?」 對曰:「陛下誠能以適長公主妻之,厚奉遺之,彼必慕,以為閼氏,生子,必為太子。 陛下以歲時漢所餘,彼所鮮,數問遺,因使辨士風諭以禮節。 冒頓在,固為子婿; 死,則外孫為單于; 豈嘗聞外孫敢與大父抗禮者哉! 可無戰以漸臣也。 若陛下不能遣長公主,而令宗室及後宮詐稱公主,彼知,不肯貴近,無益也。」 帝曰:「善!」 欲遣長公主。 呂后日夜泣曰:「妾唯太子、一女,奈何棄之匈奴?」 上竟不能遣。 ----1冬,上取家人子名為長公主,以妻單于; 使劉敬往結和親約。
1. In winter the Emperor marched east against the remnant rebels of King Xin of Han at Dongyuan, passing through Bo Ren. Guan Gao and others posted assassins in the privy, intending to strike the Emperor there. The Emperor meant to lodge for the night; his heart stirred, and he asked: "What is this county called?" They said, "Bo Ren." The Emperor said, "'Bo Ren'—that is, one who forces himself upon others." He would not stay and went on. In the twelfth month the Emperor's procession returned from Dongyuan. ----2 In spring, the third month, he traveled to Luoyang. ----3 An edict forbade merchants to wear brocade, embroidery, damask, fine gauze, ramie, hemp, or felt, or to carry arms, ride in chariots, or ride horses. ----4 In autumn, the ninth month, his procession returned from Luoyang; and the kings of Huainan, Liang, Zhao, and Chu all followed. ----5 Modu of the Xiongnu repeatedly harried the northern frontier. The Emperor was troubled and asked Liu Jing. Liu Jing said: "The realm is newly settled and the troops are weary of war—we cannot yet subdue them by force. Modu killed his father and seized the throne, took his father's consorts to wife, and rules by force alone—he will not heed benevolence or righteousness. Only a long-term design can make his descendants your subjects; yet I fear Your Majesty may not be able to do it." The Emperor said, "What then?" He answered, "If Your Majesty will give him the eldest princess by the proper wife, send her with rich gifts, he will surely esteem her and make her khatun; when she bears a son, that son will surely be heir. Each season send what Han has in surplus and they lack, again and again; send eloquent persuaders to teach them ritual and propriety by example. While Modu lives, he will be your son-in-law; when he dies, your grandson will be chanyu; who has ever heard of a daughter's grandson daring to stand as equal to his mother's father! You may make them subjects by degrees without fighting. If Your Majesty cannot send the eldest princess but has clansmen and palace women falsely pose as princesses, once they know it they will not honor or draw near—and it will do no good." The Emperor said, "Excellent!" He meant to send the eldest princess. Empress Lü wept day and night: "I have only the heir and one daughter—how can we cast her away to the Xiongnu?" The Emperor in the end could not send her. ----1 In winter the Emperor took a family member's daughter, styled her the eldest princess, and gave her to the chanyu in marriage; and sent Liu Jing to conclude a treaty of harmonious kinship.
3
::臣光曰:建信侯謂冒頓殘賊,不可以仁義說,而欲與為婚姻,何前後之相違也! 夫骨肉之恩,尊卑之敘,唯仁義之人為能知之; 奈何欲以此服冒頓哉! 蓋上世帝王之御夷狄也,服則懷之以德,叛則震之以威,未聞與為婚姻也。 且冒頓視其父如禽獸而獵之,奚有於婦翁! 建信侯之術,固已疏矣; 況魯元已為趙后,又可奪乎! ----2劉敬從匈奴來,因言:「匈奴河南白羊、樓煩王,去長安近者七百里,輕騎一日一夜可以至秦中。 秦中新破,少民,地肥饒,可益實。 夫諸侯初起時,非齊諸田、楚昭、屈、景莫能興。 今陛下雖都關中,實少民,東有六國之強族,一日有變,陛下亦未得高枕而臥也。 臣願陛下徙六國後及豪桀、名家居關中,無事可以備胡,諸侯有變,亦足率以東伐。 此強本弱末之術也。」 上曰:「善!」 十一月,徙齊、楚大族昭氏、屈氏、景氏、懷氏、田氏五族及豪桀於關中,與利田、宅,凡十餘萬口。 ----3十二月,上行如洛陽。 ----4貫高怨家知其謀,上變告之。 於是上逮捕趙王及諸反者。 趙午等十餘人皆爭自剄,貫高獨怒罵曰:「誰令公為之? 今王實無謀,而並捕王。 公等皆死,誰白王不反者?」 乃轞車膠致,與王詣長安。 高對獄曰:「獨吾屬為之,王實不知。」 吏治,搒笞數千,刺剟,身無可擊者,終不復言。 呂后數言:「張王以公主故,不宜有此。」 上怒曰:「使張敖據天下,豈少而女乎!」 不聽。
:: Your servant Guang says: The Marquis of Jianxin called Modu a cruel bandit who could not be moved by benevolence and righteousness, yet wished to ally with him by marriage—how his words contradict themselves! The bonds of flesh and bone, the order of honor and baseness—only men of benevolence and righteousness can truly know them; how then could you hope to subdue Modu by this! Emperors and kings of high antiquity governed the barbarians thus: if they submitted, they cherished them with virtue; if they rebelled, they awed them with might—one has never heard of marrying them. Moreover, Modu treated his father as a beast to be hunted—what regard would he have for a father-in-law! The Marquis of Jianxin's stratagem was already feeble; and when Yuan of Lu was already queen of Zhao, could she even be taken away! ----2 Liu Jing returned from the Xiongnu and said: "The White Sheep and Loufan kings of the Xiongnu south of the Yellow River lie, at their nearest, seven hundred li from Chang'an; light horsemen can reach the heart of Qin in a day and a night. The heart of Qin was newly pacified and has few people, yet the land is rich and fertile—it can be filled and strengthened. When the lords first rose, none but the Tians of Qi and the Zhao, Qu, and Jing of Chu could stir. Your Majesty has made his capital in the passes, yet in truth has few people; eastward stand the powerful clans of the Six States—if trouble comes one day, Your Majesty cannot sleep on a high pillow either. Your servant wishes Your Majesty to move the descendants of the Six States, heroes, champions, and eminent families to dwell in the passes; in peace they can guard against the Hu, and if the lords rebel, they are enough to lead an eastern campaign. This is the method of strengthening the root and weakening the branches." The Emperor said, "Excellent!" In the eleventh month he moved the great clans of Qi and Chu—the Zhao, Qu, Jing, Huai, and Tian families, five clans—and heroes and champions to the passes, granting them profitable fields and dwellings—more than a hundred thousand people in all. ----3 In the twelfth month the Emperor traveled to Luoyang. ----4 Guan Gao's enemies, learning of his plot, submitted a secret report. Thereupon the Emperor arrested the king of Zhao and all the rebels. Zhao Wu and more than ten others all strove to cut their own throats; Guan Gao alone raged and cursed: "Who ordered you to do this? The king in truth had no plot, yet you seize the king together with us. When you are all dead, who will declare to the world that the king did not rebel?" He then had a barred cart sealed with glue and went with the king to Chang'an. Gao answered at trial: "Only our sort did it; the king in truth did not know." The clerks prosecuted him; he was flogged thousands of times and stabbed and pierced until no inch of flesh remained to strike—yet he would not speak again. Empress Lü pleaded again and again: "For the princess's sake, King Zhang ought not suffer this." The Emperor said in anger: "Had Zhang Ao possessed the realm, would he have lacked your daughter!" He would not listen.
4
廷尉以貫高事辭聞。 上曰:「壯士! 誰知者? 以私問之。」 中大夫洩公曰:「臣之邑子,素知之,此固趙國立義不侵,為然諾者也。」 上使洩公持節往問之箯輿前。 洩公與相勞苦,如生平歡,因問:「張王果有計謀不?」 高曰:「人情寧不各愛其父母、妻子乎? 今吾三族皆以論死,豈愛王過於吾親哉? 顧為王實不反,獨吾等為之。」 具道本指所以為者、王不知狀。 於是洩公入,具以報上。 春,正月,上赦趙王敖,廢為宣平侯,徒代王如意為趙王。
The commandant of justice reported Guan Gao's case and testimony to the Emperor. The Emperor said, "A valiant man! Who knows him? Question him privately." Grandee Xie said, "A man of my native place—I have long known him. He is one who stands on righteousness in Zhao and keeps his word." The Emperor sent Xie with credentials to question him before his bamboo litter. Xie exchanged greetings with him as in former days' friendship, then asked: "Did King Zhang truly have a plot or not?" Gao said, "Would any man not love his own parents, wife, and children? Now my three clans are all condemned to death—how could I love the king more than my own kin? Only that the king in truth did not rebel—it was we alone who did it." He fully set forth their original intent, why they had acted, and that the king did not know. Thereupon Xie entered and fully reported to the Emperor. In spring, the first month, the Emperor pardoned King Ao of Zhao, reduced him to Marquis of Xuanping, and moved King Ruyi of Dai to Zhao.
5
上賢貫高為人,使洩公具告之曰:「張王已出。」 因赦貫高。 貫高喜曰:「吾王審出乎?」 洩公曰:「然。」 洩公曰:「上多足下,故赦足下。」 貫高曰:「所以不死,一身無餘者,白張王不反也。 今王已出,吾責已塞,死不恨矣。 且人臣有篡弒之名,何面目復事上哉? 縱上不殺我,我不愧於心乎?」 乃仰絕亢,遂死。
The Emperor admired Guan Gao's character and had Xie tell him in full: "King Zhang has been released." He therefore pardoned Guan Gao. Guan Gao said joyfully, "Has my king truly been released?" Xie said, "It is so." Xie said, "The Emperor thinks much of you, and therefore pardoned you." Gao said, "The reason I would not die though they left nothing of my body was to declare that King Zhang did not rebel. Now the king is released and my charge fulfilled—to die is without regret. Moreover, a minister who bears the name of regicide—what face has he to serve the Emperor again? Even if the Emperor did not kill me, would I not be ashamed in my own heart?" He threw back his head and cut his throat, and died.
6
::荀悅論曰:貫高首為亂謀,殺主之賊; 雖能證明其王,小亮不塞大逆,私行不贖公罪。 《春秋》之義大居正,罪無赦可也。
:: Xun Yue writes: Guan Gao was first to plot rebellion—the assassin of his lord; though he could prove his king innocent, a small loyalty cannot offset a great crime; private conduct cannot redeem public guilt. The Spring and Autumn Annals holds that the great must dwell in the correct—his crime admits no pardon.
7
::臣光曰:高祖驕以失臣,貫高狠以亡君。 使貫高謀逆者,高祖之過也; 使張敖亡國者,貫高之罪也。 ----5詔:「丙寅前有罪,殊死已下,皆赦之。」 ----6二月,行自洛陽至。 ----7初,上詔:「趙群臣賓客敢從張王者,皆族。」 郎中田叔、客孟舒皆處髡鉗為王家奴以從。 及張敖既免,上賢田叔、孟舒等。 召見,與語,漢廷臣無能出其右者。 上盡拜為郡守、諸侯相。 ----8夏,六月,乙未晦,日有食之。 ----9是歲,更以丞相何為相國。----
:: Your servant Guang says: The High Ancestor through arrogance lost his ministers; Guan Gao through fierceness destroyed his lord. That Guan Gao plotted rebellion was the High Ancestor's fault; that Zhang Ao lost his kingdom was Guan Gao's crime. ----5 An edict: "For crimes before bingyin, all from capital punishment downward are pardoned." ----6 In the second month his procession returned from Luoyang. ----7 At first the Emperor had decreed: "Among the ministers and retainers of Zhao, any who dared follow King Zhang—their clans shall be extinguished." Gentleman-of-the-palace Tian Shu and retainer Meng Shu both submitted to shaving and fetters to become the king's household slaves and followed. When Zhang Ao was released, the Emperor admired Tian Shu, Meng Shu, and the others. He summoned them and spoke with them—none among the Han court ministers could surpass them. The Emperor appointed them all governors of commanderies and chancellors of feudal states. ----8 In summer, the sixth month, on the last day yiwei, there was a solar eclipse. ----9 This year Chancellor He was made Chancellor of State.
8
1夏,五月,太上皇崩於櫟陽宮。 秋,七月,癸卯,葬太上皇於萬年。 楚王、梁王皆來送葬。 赦櫟陽囚。 ----2定陶戚姬有寵於上,生趙王如意。 上以太子仁弱,謂如意類己; 雖封為趙王,常留之長安。 上之關東,戚姬常從,日夜啼泣,欲立其子。 呂后年長,常留守,益疏。 上欲廢太子而立趙王,大臣爭之,皆莫能得。 御史大夫周昌廷爭之強,上問其說。 昌為人吃,又盛怒,曰:「臣口不能言,然臣期期知其不可! 陛下欲廢太子,臣期期不奉詔!」 上欣然而笑。 呂后側耳於東廂聽,既罷,見昌,為跪謝,曰:「微君,太子幾廢!」
1. In summer, the fifth month, the Grand Imperial Father died at the Liyang Palace. In autumn, the seventh month, on guimao, the Grand Imperial Father was buried at Wannian. The kings of Chu and Liang both came to attend the funeral. Prisoners at Liyang were pardoned. ----2. Consort Qi of Dingtao had the Emperor's favor and bore the king of Zhao, Ruyi. The Emperor, finding the heir apparent benevolent and weak, said that Ruyi resembled him; though enfeoffed as king of Zhao, constantly kept him at Chang'an. When the Emperor went east of the passes, Consort Qi often followed, weeping day and night, wishing to make her son heir. Empress Lü was older and constantly remained to guard the capital, growing ever more estranged. The Emperor wished to depose the heir apparent and establish the king of Zhao; the great ministers contended against it, yet none could prevail. Grandee Secretary Zhou Chang contended strongly in court; the Emperor asked his reasoning. Chang was a stutterer and was moreover in great anger. He said: "Your servant's mouth cannot speak, yet your servant ji-ji knows it cannot be done! If Your Majesty wishes to depose the heir apparent, your servant ji-ji will not obey the edict!" The Emperor was pleased and laughed. Empress Lü listened from the eastern wing. When it was over she saw Chang, knelt to thank him, and said: "Without you, sir, the heir apparent would nearly have been deposed!"
9
時趙王年十歲,上憂萬歲之後不全也; 符璽御史趙堯請為趙王置貴強相,及呂后、太子、群臣素所敬憚者。 上曰:「誰可者?」 堯曰:「御史大夫昌,其人也。」 上乃以昌相趙,而以堯代昌為御史大夫。 ----3初,上以陽夏侯陳豨為相國,監趙、代邊兵; 豨過辭淮陰侯。 淮陰侯挈其手,辟左右,與之步於庭,仰天歎曰:「子可與言乎?」 豨曰:「唯將軍令之!」 淮陰侯曰:「公之所居,天下精兵處也; 而公,陛下之信幸臣也。 人言公之畔,陛下必不信; 再至,陛下乃疑矣; 三至,必怒而自將。 吾為公從中起,天下可圖也。」 陳豨素知其能也,信之,曰:「謹奉教!」
At that time the king of Zhao was ten years old; the Emperor worried that after his death Ruyi would not be kept safe; Chief Clerk of Seals and Tallies Zhao Yao requested a noble and strong chancellor for the king of Zhao—one whom the empress, the heir apparent, and the assembled ministers had always respected and feared. The Emperor said: "Who will do?" Yao said: "Grandee Secretary Chang—that is the man." The Emperor thereupon made Chang chancellor of Zhao and replaced Chang with Yao as Grandee Secretary. ----3. Earlier, the Emperor had made Marquis of Yangxia Chen Xi chancellor of state, overseeing the border troops of Zhao and Dai; Xi, passing by, took leave of the Marquis of Huaiyin. The Marquis of Huaiyin took his hand, cleared away attendants, and walked with him in the courtyard, sighing to Heaven: "May I speak with you?" Xi said: "Only await the general's command!" The Marquis of Huaiyin said: "Where you dwell is where the elite troops of all under Heaven are; and you, sir, are a trusted and favored subject of Your Majesty. If men say you have rebelled, Your Majesty will surely not believe it; a second time, Your Majesty will then suspect; a third time, he will surely be angry and lead the army himself. I will rise for you from within; all under Heaven may be taken." Chen Xi had always known his ability and trusted him, saying: "I respectfully receive your instruction!"
10
豨常慕魏無忌之養士,及為相守邊,告歸,過趙,賓客隨之者千餘乘,邯鄲官舍皆滿。 趙相周昌求入見上,具言豨賓客甚盛,擅兵於外數歲,恐有變。 上令人覆案豨客居代者諸不法事,多連引豨。 豨恐,韓王信因使王黃、曼丘臣等說誘之。
Xi had always admired Lord Xinling of Wei's nurturing of knights. When he became chancellor and guarded the border, on requesting leave to return he passed through Zhao; retainers following him numbered more than a thousand chariots, and the official lodgings of Handan were all full. Zhao's chancellor Zhou Chang sought audience with the Emperor, reporting fully that Xi's retainers were very numerous, that he had held troops abroad for several years, and that there might be trouble. The Emperor sent men to re-investigate unlawful matters involving Xi's guests in Dai; many implicated Xi. Xi was afraid; Han Xin the king of Han sent Wang Huang, Manqiu Chen, and others to persuade and entice him.
11
太上皇崩,上使人召豨,豨稱病不至; 九月,遂與王黃等反,自立為代王,劫略趙、代。 上自東擊之。 至邯鄲,喜曰:「豨不南據邯鄲而阻漳水,吾知其無能為矣。」
The Grand Supreme Sovereign died; the Emperor sent men to summon Xi, but Xi claimed illness and did not come; in the ninth month he rebelled with Wang Huang and others, declared himself king of Dai, and plundered Zhao and Dai. The Emperor himself went east to attack him. Reaching Handan, he was pleased and said: "Xi did not seize Handan to the south and block the Zhang River—I know he can do nothing."
12
周昌奏:「常山二十五城,亡其二十城; 請誅守、尉。」 上曰:「守、尉反乎?」 對曰:「不。」 上曰:「是力不足,亡罪。」
Zhou Chang memorialized: "Of Changshan's twenty-five cities, twenty are lost; I request that the governors and commandants be executed." The Emperor said: "Did the governors and commandants rebel?" He replied: "No." The Emperor said: "Their strength was insufficient—no crime."
13
上令周昌選趙壯士可令將者,白見四人。 上嫚罵曰:「豎子能為將乎?」 四人慚,皆伏地; 上封各千戶,以為將。 左右諫曰; 「從入蜀、漢,伐楚,賞未遍行; 今封此,何功?」 上曰:「非汝所知。 陳豨反,趙、代地皆豨有。 吾以羽檄征天下兵,未有至者,今計唯獨邯鄲中兵耳。 吾何愛四千戶,不以慰趙子弟!」 皆曰:「善!」
The Emperor ordered Zhou Chang to select stalwart men of Zhao fit to be made generals; he presented four men. The Emperor insulted and reviled them: "Can striplings be generals?" The four were ashamed and all prostrated themselves; the Emperor enfeoffed each with a thousand households and made them generals. Attendants at his side remonstrated: "From entering Shu and Han and attacking Chu, rewards have not yet been fully carried out; now you enfeoff these—what merit?" The Emperor said: "This is not for you to know. Chen Xi has rebelled; the lands of Zhao and Dai are all in Xi's possession. I have summoned the troops of all under Heaven with urgent dispatch, yet none have arrived; at present the plan relies only on the troops within Handan. Why should I begrudge four thousand households and not use them to comfort the youths of Zhao!" All said: "Excellent!"
14
又聞豨將皆故賈人,上曰:「吾知所以與之矣。」 乃多以金購豨將,豨將多降。 ----1冬,上在邯鄲。 陳豨將侯敞將萬餘人遊行,王黃將騎千餘軍曲逆,張春將卒萬餘人渡河攻聊城。 漢將軍郭蒙與齊將擊,大破之。 太尉周勃道太原入定代地,至馬邑,不下,攻殘之。 趙利守東垣,帝攻拔之,更命曰真定。 帝購王黃、曼丘臣以千金,其麾下皆生致之。 於是陳豨軍遂敗。
He also heard that Xi's generals were all former merchants. The Emperor said: "I know how to deal with them." He thereupon used much gold to buy over Xi's generals; many of Xi's generals surrendered. ----1. In winter the Emperor was at Handan. Chen Xi's general Hou Chang led more than ten thousand men on the march; Wang Huang led more than a thousand horsemen and encamped at Quyi; Zhang Chun led more than ten thousand soldiers across the river to attack Liaocheng. Han general Guo Meng joined with a Qi general to attack and inflicted a great defeat. Grand Commandant Zhou Bo went by way of Taiyuan to settle Dai; reaching Mayi, it would not submit, so he attacked and ravaged it. Zhao Li held Dongyuan; the Emperor attacked and took it and renamed it Zhending. The Emperor offered a thousand in gold for Wang Huang and Manqiu Chen; their subordinates were all captured alive and delivered. Thereupon Chen Xi's army was defeated.
15
淮陰侯信稱病,不從擊豨,陰使人至豨所,與通謀。 信謀與家臣夜詐詔赦諸官徒、奴,欲發以襲呂后、太子; 部署已定,待豨報。 其舍人得罪於信,信囚,欲殺之。 春,正月,舍人弟上變,告信欲反狀於呂后。 呂后欲召,恐其儻不就,乃與蕭相國謀,詐令人從上所來,言豨已得,死,列侯、群臣皆賀。 相國紿信曰:「雖疾,強入賀。」 信入,呂后使武士縛信,斬之長樂鐘室。 信方斬,曰:「吾悔不用蒯徹之計,乃為兒女子所詐,豈非天哉?」 遂夷信三族。
The Marquis of Huaiyin Xin claimed illness and did not follow in attacking Xi, but secretly sent men to Xi's camp to conspire with him. Xin plotted with household retainers by night to forge an edict pardoning all convict laborers and slaves, intending to raise them to strike Empress Lü and the heir apparent; the deployment was already settled, awaiting Xi's report. A house steward had offended Xin; Xin imprisoned him and wished to kill him. In spring, the first month, the steward's younger brother reported the emergency, informing Empress Lü of Xin's intended rebellion. Empress Lü wished to summon him but feared he might not come; she plotted with Chancellor Xiao, falsely sending a man from the Emperor's camp saying that Xi had been taken and was dead, and that marquises and assembled ministers all congratulated. The chancellor deceived Xin: "Though ill, force yourself to enter and congratulate." Xin entered; Empress Lü had warriors bind Xin and behead him in the Bell Room of Changle. As Xin was about to be beheaded he said: "I regret not using Kuai Che's plan—to be deceived by women and children, is this not Heaven's doing?" He thereupon exterminated Xin's three clans.
16
::臣光曰:世或以韓信為首建大策,與高祖起漢中,定三秦,遂分兵以北,禽魏,取代,僕趙,脅燕,東擊齊而有之,南滅楚垓下,漢之所以得天下者,大抵皆信之功也。 觀其距蒯徹之說,迎高祖於陳,豈有反心哉? 良由失職怏怏,遂陷悖逆。 夫以盧綰里閈舊恩,猶南面王燕,信乃以列侯奉朝請,豈非高祖亦有負於信哉? 臣以為高祖用詐謀禽信於陳,言負則有之; 雖然,信亦有以取之也。 始,漢與楚相距滎陽,信滅齊,不還報而自王; 其後漢追楚至固陵,與信期共攻楚而信不至。 當是之時,高祖固有取信之心矣,顧力不能耳。 及天下已定,則信復何恃哉? 夫乘時以徼利者,市井之志也; 酬功而報德者,士君子之心也。 信以市井之志利其身,而以君子之心望於人,不亦難哉? 是故太史公論之曰:「假令韓信學道謙讓,不伐己功,不矜其能,則庶幾哉? 於漢家勳,可以比周、召、太公之徒,後世血食矣! 不務出此,而天下已集,乃謀畔逆; 夷滅宗族,不亦宜乎?」 ----2將軍柴武斬韓王信於參合。 ----3上還洛陽,聞淮陰侯之死,且喜且憐之,問呂后曰:「信死亦何言?」 呂后曰:「信言恨不用蒯徹計。」 上曰:「是齊辯士蒯徹也。」 乃詔齊捕蒯徹。 蒯徹至,上曰:「若教淮陰侯反乎?」 對曰:「然,臣固教之。 豎子不用臣之策,故令自夷於此。 如用臣之計,陛下安得而夷之乎?」 上怒曰:「烹之!」 徹曰:「嗟乎! 冤哉烹也!」 上曰:「君教韓信反,何冤?」 對曰:「秦失其鹿,天下共逐之,高材疾足者先得焉。 跖之狗吠堯,堯非不仁,狗固吠非其主。 當是時,臣唯獨知韓信,非知陛下也。 且天下銳精持鋒欲為陛下所為者甚眾,顧力不能耳,又可盡烹之邪?」 上曰:「置之。」 ----4立子恆為代王,都晉陽。 ----5大赦天下。 ----6上之擊陳豨也,徵兵於梁; 梁王稱病,使將將兵詣邯鄲。 上怒,使人讓之。 梁王恐,欲自往謝。 其將扈輒曰:「王始不往,見讓而往,往則為禽矣。 不如遂發兵反。」 梁王不聽。 梁太僕得罪,亡走漢,告梁王與扈輒謀反。 於是上使使掩梁王,梁王不覺,遂囚之洛陽。 有司治「反形已具,請論如法」,上赦以為庶人,傳處蜀青衣。 西至鄭,逢呂后從長安來。 彭王為呂后泣涕,自言無罪,願處故昌邑。 呂后許諾,與俱東。 至洛陽,呂后白上曰:「彭王壯士,今徙之蜀,此自遺患; 不如遂誅之。 妾謹與俱來。」 於是呂后乃令其舍人告彭越復謀反。 廷尉王恬關奏請族之,上可其奏。 三月,夷越三族。 梟越首洛陽,下詔:「有收視者,輒捕之。」
:: Your servant Guang says: The age sometimes takes Han Xin as the first to frame the great design, rising with the High Ancestor from Hanzhong, settling the Three Qins, then dividing troops northward—capturing Wei, taking Dai, subduing Zhao, coercing Yan, striking east to take Qi, and south destroying Chu at Gaixia. That Han won all under Heaven was, broadly speaking, mostly Xin's achievement. Observing how he rejected Kuai Che's counsel yet received the High Ancestor at Chen—how could he have had a rebellious heart? It was truly because, losing his post, he was resentful and discontented, and so fell into rebellion. That Lu Wan, through old neighborhood ties, still faced south as king of Yan, while Xin merely as a ranked marquis attended court—is this not that the High Ancestor too had wronged Xin? Your servant considers that the High Ancestor used deceitful stratagems to capture Xin at Chen—to speak of wronging him is so; even so, Xin too had grounds on which he brought it upon himself. At the beginning, when Han and Chu faced each other at Yingyang, Xin destroyed Qi, did not return to report, and made himself king; afterward Han pursued Chu to Guling and fixed a date with Xin to attack Chu together, yet Xin did not come. At that time the High Ancestor already had a mind to take Xin in, only his strength was insufficient. When all under Heaven was already settled, what could Xin again rely upon? To seize the moment and seek profit is the ambition of the marketplace; to repay merit and return kindness is the heart of the gentleman and scholar. Xin used the marketplace ambition to profit himself, yet with the gentleman's heart expected it of others—is this not difficult? Therefore the Grand Historian judged: "Suppose Han Xin had studied the Way, been modest and yielding, not boasted of his own merit, not prided himself on his ability—then might he not have fared thus? Among Han's meritorious servants he could have been compared to the Duke of Zhou, the Duke of Shao, and Grand Duke Jiang, and later ages would have offered blood sacrifice! Not pursuing this course, yet when all under Heaven was already gathered he plotted rebellion; to exterminate his clan—was it not fitting?" ----2. General Chai Wu beheaded Han Xin the king of Han at Canhe. ----3. The Emperor returned to Luoyang. Hearing of the Marquis of Huaiyin's death, he was both pleased and pitying, and asked Empress Lü: "What did Xin say at his death?" Empress Lü said: "Xin said he regretted not using Kuai Che's plan." The Emperor said: "That is Kuai Che the persuader of Qi." He thereupon issued an edict to Qi to arrest Kuai Che. When Kuai Che arrived, the Emperor said: "Did you teach the Marquis of Huaiyin to rebel?" He replied: "Yes—I indeed taught him. The stripling did not use my stratagem, and so caused himself to be exterminated here. Had he used my plan, how could Your Majesty have exterminated him?" The Emperor angrily said: "Boil him!" Che said: "Alas! To be boiled is a grievous wrong!" The Emperor said: "You taught Han Xin to rebel—what wrong is there in boiling you?" He replied: "Qin lost the realm; all under Heaven joined the chase, and those of greatest talent and swiftest feet seized it first. Zhi's dog barked at Yao—Yao was not unkind; dogs naturally bark at anyone who is not their master. At that time I knew only Han Xin, not Your Majesty. Moreover, countless men under Heaven sharpen their wits and grip their blades wishing to do what Your Majesty has done—only that their strength fails; could you boil them all?" The Emperor said: "Let it go." ----4 He made his son Heng King of Dai, with his capital at Jinyang. ----5 A general amnesty was proclaimed for the realm. ----6 When the Emperor campaigned against Chen Xi, he called up troops from Liang; the King of Liang pleaded illness and sent a general to lead troops to Handan. The Emperor was angry and sent a man to rebuke him. The King of Liang was afraid and wished to go in person to apologize. His general Hu Zhe said: "Your Majesty at first did not go; now, rebuked, if you go you will be seized. Better to raise troops and rebel at once." The King of Liang did not listen. The Grand Steward of Liang offended someone, fled to Han, and reported that the King of Liang and Hu Zhe were plotting rebellion. Thereupon the Emperor sent envoys to seize the King of Liang; he did not perceive it and was imprisoned at Luoyang. The relevant officials prosecuted that "the marks of rebellion are complete; we request judgment according to law"; the Emperor pardoned him and made him a commoner, sending him under escort to Qingyi in Shu. Going west he reached Zheng and met Empress Lü coming from Chang'an. King Peng wept before Empress Lü, declared himself guiltless, and asked to remain at his former seat of Changyi. Empress Lü promised and traveled east with him. Reaching Luoyang, Empress Lü told the Emperor: "King Peng is a stalwart man; exiling him to Shu now is to leave trouble for yourself; better to execute him at once. I have deliberately brought him with me." Thereupon Empress Lü had her house steward report that Peng Yue was plotting rebellion again. Minister of Justice Wang Tian Guan memorialized requesting extinction of his clan; the Emperor approved the memorial. In the third month, Peng Yue's clan was extinguished to the third degree. Peng Yue's head was displayed at Luoyang; an edict: "Whoever collects and views it shall be arrested at once."
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梁大夫欒布使於齊,還,奏事越頭下,祠而哭之。 吏捕以聞。 上召布,罵,欲烹之。 方提趨湯,布顧曰:「願一言而死。」 上曰:「何言?」 布曰:「方上之困於彭城,敗滎陽、成皋間,項王所以遂不能西者,徒以彭王居梁地,與漢合從苦楚也。 當是之時,王一顧,與楚則漢破,與漢則楚破。 且垓下之會,微彭王,項氏不亡。 天下已定,彭王剖符受封,亦欲傳之萬世。 今陛下一徵兵於梁,彭王病不行。 而陛下疑以為反; 反形未具,以苛小案誅滅之。 臣恐功臣人人自危也。 今彭王已死,臣生不如死,請就烹。」 於是上乃釋布罪,拜為都尉。 ----7丙午,立皇子恢為梁王。 丙寅,立皇子友為淮陽王。 罷東郡,頗益梁; 罷穎川郡,頗益淮陽。 ----8夏,四月,行自洛陽至。 ----9五月,詔立秦南海尉趙佗為南粵王,使陸賈即授璽綬,與剖符通使,使和集百越,無為南邊患害。
Luan Bu, a great officer of Liang, had been envoy to Qi; on his return he reported his business beneath Peng Yue's head, sacrificed, and wept for him. Officers arrested him and reported it. The Emperor summoned Bu, reviled him, and wished to boil him alive. Just as they were dragging him toward the cauldron, Bu looked back and said: "Let me speak one word before I die." The Emperor said: "What word?" Bu said: "When Your Majesty was cornered at Pengcheng and defeated between Xingyang and Chenggao, the reason the King of Xiang could not advance west was solely that King Peng held Liang and united with Han to harass Chu from the east. At that time one turn of his head—if with Chu, Han was broken; if with Han, Chu was broken. And at Gaixia, but for King Peng, the house of Xiang would not have perished. The realm was settled; King Peng split tally and received enfeoffment and also wished to pass his realm on for ten thousand generations. Now Your Majesty summoned troops from Liang once, and King Peng, ill, did not go. yet Your Majesty suspected him of rebellion; before the marks of rebellion were complete, on a harsh petty charge you executed and extinguished him. I fear that every meritorious minister will feel peril in himself. Now King Peng is dead; living is worse than death for me—I ask to go to the cauldron." Thereupon the Emperor released Bu and appointed him Commandant. ----7 On bingwu, he made Prince Hui King of Liang. On bingyin, he made Prince You King of Huaiyang. He abolished Dong commandery and largely added its territory to Liang; abolished Yingchuan commandery and largely added its territory to Huaiyang. ----8 In summer, the fourth month, the imperial procession returned from Luoyang. ----9 In the fifth month, an edict made Zhao Tuo, Qin's Commandant of Nanhai, King of Nanyue, sent Lu Jia to invest him with seal and ribbon at once, split tally for mutual envoys, and harmonize the hundred Yue so they would not trouble the southern border.
18
初,秦二世時,南海尉任囂病且死。 召龍川令趙佗,語曰:「秦為無道,天下苦之。 聞陳勝等作亂,天下未知所安。 南海僻遠,吾恐盜兵侵地至此,欲興兵絕新道自備,待諸侯變; 會病甚。 且番禺負山險,阻南海,東西數千里,頗有中國人相輔; 此亦一州之主也,可以立國。 郡中長吏,無足與言者,故召公告之。」 即被佗書,行南海尉事。 囂死,佗即移檄告橫浦、陽山、湟谿關曰:「盜兵且至,急絕道,聚兵自守!」 因稍以法誅秦所置長吏,以其黨為假守。 秦已破滅,佗即擊並桂林、象郡,自立為南越武王。
Earlier, in the reign of Qin Er Shi, Commandant of Nanhai Ren Xiao was ill and near death. He summoned Longchuan magistrate Zhao Tuo and said: "Qin is without the Way; all under Heaven suffer from it. Hearing that Chen Sheng and others have risen in disorder, the realm does not know where it will settle. Nanhai is remote; I fear bandit troops may invade as far as here; I wish to raise troops, cut the new road, and defend ourselves, waiting for changes among the feudal lords; but I am gravely ill. Moreover Panyu backs on mountain defiles and blocks the South Sea; east and west it spans several thousand li, with many men of the Central States to assist; this too can sustain a whole province; one may establish a state here. Among the commandery's senior officials there is no one fit to speak with; therefore I summoned you, sir, to tell you." Thereupon he invested Tuo with the writ and charged him with the affairs of Commandant of Nanhai. Xiao died; Tuo at once issued a proclamation to the passes of Hengpu, Yangshan, and Huangxi: "Bandit troops are about to arrive—hasten to cut the roads, gather troops, and defend yourselves!" Then gradually, by law, he executed the senior officials Qin had placed and made his own followers acting administrators. After Qin was broken and extinguished, Tuo attacked and annexed Guilin and Xiang commanderies and made himself Martial King of Nanyue.
19
陸生至,尉佗魋結、箕倨見陸生。 陸生說佗曰:「足下中國人,親戚、昆弟墳墓在真定。 今足下反天性,棄冠帶,欲以區區之越與天子抗衡為敵國,禍且及身矣。 且夫秦失其政,諸族、豪桀並起,唯漢王先入關,據咸陽。 項羽倍約,自立為西楚霸王,諸侯皆屬,可謂至強。 然漢王起巴、蜀,鞭笞天下,遂誅項羽,滅之。 五年之間,海內平定。 此非人力,天之所建也。 天子聞君王王南越,不助天下誅暴逆,將相欲移兵而誅王。 天子憐百姓新勞苦,故且休之,遣臣授君王印,剖符通使。 君王宜郊迎,北面稱臣; 乃欲以新造未集之越,屈強於此! 漢誠聞之,掘燒王先人塚,夷滅宗族,使一偏將將十萬眾臨越,則越殺王降漢如反覆手耳。」 於是尉佗乃蹶然起坐,謝陸生曰:「居蠻夷中久,殊失禮義。」 因問陸生曰:「我孰與蕭何、曹參、韓信賢?」 陸生曰:「王似賢也。」 復曰:「我孰與皇帝賢?」 陸生曰:「皇帝繼五帝、三皇之業,統理中國; 中國之人以億計,地方萬里,萬物殷富; 政由一家,自天地剖判未始有也。 今王眾不過十萬,皆蠻夷,崎嶇山海間,譬若漢一郡耳,何乃比於漢?」 尉佗大笑曰:「吾不起中國,故王此; 使我居中國,何遽不若漢?」 乃留陸生與飲。 數月,曰:「越中無足與語。 至生來,令我日聞所不聞。」 賜陸生橐中裝直千金,他送亦千金。 陸生卒拜尉佗為南越王,令稱臣,奉漢約。 歸報,帝大悅,拜賈為太中大夫。
When Master Lu arrived, Zhao Tuo wore his hair in a chignon and received him sitting with legs spread insolently. Master Lu urged him: "You are a man of the Central States; your kinsmen and your brothers' graves are at Zhending. Now you turn against your nature, cast off cap and sash, and wish with mere Yue to oppose the Son of Heaven as an enemy state—disaster will reach you. Moreover Qin lost its government; clans and powerful heroes rose everywhere, yet only the King of Han entered the passes first and held Xianyang. Xiang Yu broke faith, made himself Western Chu Overlord, and all feudal lords submitted—he was supremely strong. Yet the King of Han rose from Ba and Shu, whipped the realm, and in the end executed Xiang Yu and destroyed him. Within five years the realm was pacified. This is not human strength—it is what Heaven has established. The Son of Heaven heard that you ruled Southern Yue and did not aid the realm in punishing violent rebels; ministers and generals wished to move troops to execute you. The Son of Heaven pitied the people, newly wearied and toiled, so for now he rested them and sent me to invest you with the king's seal and split tally for mutual envoys. Your Majesty ought to meet him in the suburbs and face north as subject; yet you wish with newly made, not yet gathered Yue to stand defiant here! If Han truly heard of it, they would dig up and burn your forefathers' graves, extinguish your clan, and send one wing general with a host of a hundred thousand against Yue—then Yue would kill its king and surrender to Han like turning the hand." Thereupon Zhao Tuo suddenly rose and sat, apologizing to Master Lu: "Dwelling long among barbarians, I have utterly lost rites and propriety." Then he asked Master Lu: "Compared with Xiao He, Cao Shen, and Han Xin—which of us is the worthier?" Master Lu said: "Your Majesty seems worthy." Again he asked: "Compared with the Emperor—which of us is the worthier?" Master Lu said: "The Emperor continues the enterprise of the Five Emperors and Three August Ones and governs the Central States; its people number in the hundreds of millions; its territory spans ten thousand li; all things are abundant and rich; government from one house—from when Heaven and Earth were first split there has never been such. Now Your Majesty's masses are no more than a hundred thousand, all barbarians in rugged mountains and seas—comparable to but one commandery of Han; how then compare with Han?" Zhao Tuo laughed loudly: "I did not rise in the Central States, therefore I am king here; had you placed me in the Central States, how would I suddenly fail to match Han?" Thereupon he detained Master Lu to drink with him. After several months he said: "Within Yue there is no one fit to speak with. When the Gentleman came, he made me day by day hear what I had never heard." He bestowed on Master Lu goods in his sack worth a thousand in gold, and other gifts also worth a thousand in gold. Master Lu in the end enfeoffed Zhao Tuo as King of Nanyue, ordering him to call himself subject and observe Han's covenant. On his return he reported; the Emperor was greatly pleased and appointed Jia Grand Master of the Palace.
20
陸生時時前說稱《詩》、《書》,帝罵之曰:「乃公居馬上而得之,安事《詩》、《書》?」 陸生曰:「居馬上得之,寧可以馬上治之乎? 且湯、武逆取而以順守之; 文武並用,長久之術也。 昔者吳王夫差、智伯、秦始皇,皆以極武而亡。 鄉使秦已並天下,行仁義,法先聖,陛下安得而有之?」 帝有慚色,曰:「試為我著秦所以失天下、吾所以得之者及古成敗之國。」 陸生乃粗述存亡之征,凡著十二篇。 每奏一篇,帝未嘗不稱善,左右呼萬歲; 號其書曰《新語》。 ----10帝有疾,惡見人,臥禁中,詔戶者無得入群臣,群臣絳、灌等莫敢入,十餘日。 舞陽侯樊噲排闥直入,大臣隨之。 上獨枕一宦者臥。 噲等見上,流涕曰:「始陛下與臣等起豐、沛,定天下,何其壯也? 今天下已定,又何憊也? 且陛下病甚,大臣震恐; 不見臣等計事,顧獨與一宦者絕乎? 且陛下獨不見趙高之事乎?」 帝笑而起。 ----11秋,七月,淮南王布反。
Master Lu from time to time advanced and praised the Odes and Documents; the Emperor reviled him: "Your daddy got it on horseback—what business have the Odes and Documents?" Master Lu said: "You got it on horseback—can you govern it on horseback? Moreover Tang and Wu took it by force but guarded it by compliance; civil and martial employed together—that is the art of long endurance. In the past King Fuchai of Wu, Earl Zhi, and the First Emperor of Qin all perished through extreme martialism. If Qin had already united the realm and practiced benevolence and righteousness, taking the former sages as model, how would Your Majesty have obtained it?" The Emperor looked ashamed and said: "Try to write for me how Qin lost the realm, how I obtained it, and the success and failure of states in antiquity." Master Lu then roughly set forth the signs of survival and perdition, composing twelve chapters in all. Each time he presented a chapter, the Emperor never failed to praise it, and those at his sides cried "ten thousand years"; they styled his book New Discourses. ----10 The Emperor fell ill, loathed seeing anyone, and lay in the inner palace; he ordered doorkeepers not to admit ministers, and for more than ten days Zhou Bo, Guan Ying, and the rest dared not enter. Marquis of Wuyang Fan Kuai pushed through the side door and went straight in, and the great ministers followed. The Emperor lay alone with his head pillowed on a eunuch. When Fan Kuai and the others saw him they wept and said, “When Your Majesty rose with us from Feng and Pei and settled the realm, how stalwart you were! Now the realm is settled—why so weary? Your Majesty is gravely ill and the ministers are terrified; you will not see us to plan affairs, yet shut yourself off with a single eunuch? Has Your Majesty forgotten what happened with Zhao Gao?” The Emperor laughed and got up. ----11 In autumn, the seventh month, King Bu of Huainan rebelled.
21
初,淮陰侯死,布已心恐。 及彭越誅,醢其肉以賜諸侯。 使者至淮南,淮南王方獵,見醢,因大恐,陰令人部聚兵,候伺旁郡警急。 布所幸姬病就醫,醫家與中大夫賁赫對門,赫乃厚饋遺,從姬飲醫家; 王疑其與亂,欲捕赫。 赫乘傳詣長安上變,言:「布謀反有端,可先未發誅也。」 上讀其書,語蕭相國,相國曰:「布不宜有此,恐仇怨妄誣之。 請系赫,使人微驗淮南王。」 淮南王布見赫以罪亡上變,固已疑其言國陰事; 漢使又來,頗有所驗; 遂族赫家,發兵反。 反書聞,上乃赦賁赫,以為將軍。
Earlier, when the Marquis of Huaiyin was executed, Bu was already afraid. When Peng Yue was executed, his flesh was minced into paste and sent to the feudal lords. When the envoy reached Huainan the king was hunting; seeing the paste he was terrified and secretly ordered troops gathered and watches set on neighboring commanderies. A favorite concubine of Bu fell ill and sought a physician; the physician lived opposite Palace Grandee Ben He, who sent lavish gifts and drank with the concubine at the physician's house; the king suspected him of plotting rebellion and meant to arrest He. He took relay horses to Chang'an and reported: “Bu's rebellion has clear signs; he can be executed before he rises.” The Emperor read his report and consulted Chancellor Xiao, who said, “Bu is unlikely to do this; I fear an enemy falsely accused him. Detain He and send men to investigate the King of Huainan discreetly.” King Bu of Huainan, seeing He flee after a crime to report him, already suspected He had revealed state secrets; Han envoys came again and found much confirmed; so he wiped out He's clan and rose in arms. When news of the rebellion arrived, the Emperor pardoned Ben He and made him a general.
22
上召諸將問計,皆曰:「發兵擊之,坑豎子耳,何能為乎?」 汝陰侯滕公召故楚令尹薛公問之。 令尹曰:「是固當反。」 滕公曰:「上裂地而封之,疏爵而王之; 其反何也?」 令尹曰:「往年殺彭越,前年殺韓信; 此三人者,同功一體之人也,自疑禍及身,故反耳。」 滕公言之上,上乃召見,問薛公,薛公對曰:「布反不足怪也。 使布出於上計,山東非漢之有也; 出於中計,勝敗之數未可知也; 出於下計,陛下安枕而臥矣。」 上曰:「何謂上計?」 對曰:「東取吳,西取楚,並齊,取魯,傳檄燕、趙,固守其所,山東非漢之有也。」 「何謂中計?」 「東取吳,西取楚,並韓,取魏,據敖倉之粟,塞成皋之口,勝敗之數未可行也。」 「何謂下計?」 「東取吳,西取下蔡,歸重於越,身歸長沙,陛下安枕而臥,漢無事矣。」 上曰:「是計將安出?」 對曰:「出下計。」 上曰:「何謂廢上、中計而出下計?」 對曰:「布,故麗山之徒也,自致萬乘之主,此皆為身,不顧後、為百姓萬世慮者也。 故曰出下計。」 上曰:「善!」 封薛公千戶。 乃立皇子長為淮南王。
The Emperor summoned the generals for counsel; all said, “Send troops and crush him—he's just a brat; what can he do?” Marquis of Ruyin the Lord of Teng summoned the former Chu prime minister, the Lord of Xue, and asked him. The prime minister said, “He was bound to rebel.” The Lord of Teng said, “Your Majesty carved out lands and enfeoffed him, raised his rank and made him a king; why would he rebel?” The prime minister said, “Last year Peng Yue was killed; the year before, Han Xin; these three were men of equal merit and one mold; fearing disaster would reach them, they rebelled.” The Lord of Teng told the Emperor, who summoned the Lord of Xue and asked him; he replied, “Bu's rebellion is no surprise. If Bu adopts the upper plan, the east will no longer belong to Han; if the middle plan, victory and defeat are uncertain; if the lower plan, Your Majesty may sleep in peace.” The Emperor said, “What is the upper plan?” He replied, “Take Wu in the east and Chu in the west, absorb Qi, seize Lu, send proclamations to Yan and Zhao, and hold his ground—the east will no longer belong to Han.” “What is the middle plan?” “Take Wu in the east and Chu in the west, absorb Han, seize Wei, hold the Ao granary's grain, block Chenggao—the outcome cannot yet be told.” “What is the lower plan?” “Take Wu in the east and Xiapi in the west, shift his weight to Yue, return in person to Changsha—Your Majesty may sleep in peace and Han will be untroubled.” The Emperor said, “Which plan will he choose?” He replied, “The lower plan.” The Emperor said, “Why abandon the upper and middle plans for the lower?” He replied, “Bu was once a captive at Mount Li and made himself lord of ten thousand chariots—such men act for themselves, heedless of consequences and of the people for generations to come. So I say he will take the lower plan.” The Emperor said, “Good!” He enfeoffed the Lord of Xue with one thousand households. He then made his son Chang King of Huainan.
23
是時,上有疾,欲使太子往擊黥布。 太子客東園公、綺里季、夏黃公、角里先生說建成侯呂釋之曰:「太子將兵,有功則位不益,無功則從此受禍矣。 君何不急請呂后,承間為上泣言:『黥布,天下猛將也,善用兵。 今諸將皆陛下故等夷,乃令太子將此屬,無異使羊將狼,莫肯為用; 且使布聞之,則鼓行而西耳! 上雖病,強載輜車,臥而護之,諸將不敢不盡力。 上雖苦,為妻子自強!』」 於是呂釋之立夜見呂后。 呂后承間為上泣涕而言,如四人意。 上曰:「吾惟豎子固不足遣,而公自行耳。」
At that time the Emperor was ill and meant to send the crown prince against Qing Bu. The crown prince's retainers Dongyuan Gong, Qili Ji, Xia Huang Gong, and Master Jueli urged Marquis of Jian'cheng Lü Shizhi: “If the crown prince commands troops, success will not raise his standing, and failure will bring disaster. Urge Empress Lü at once to seize a moment and weep before the Emperor: ‘Qing Bu is the realm's fiercest general and a master of war. The generals are all Your Majesty's old equals, yet you would put the crown prince over them—it is like setting a sheep to lead wolves; none will obey; and if Bu hears of it he will beat his drums and march west at once! Though Your Majesty is ill, force yourself into the supply wagon and lead them lying down—the generals will not dare hold back. Though it pains you, strive on for your wife and son!" ’” Thereupon Lü Shizhi went to Empress Lü that very night. Empress Lü seized a moment, wept before the Emperor, and spoke as the four had urged. The Emperor said, “I knew the boy was not fit to send; I will go myself."
24
於是上自將兵而東,群臣居守,皆送至霸上。 留侯病,自強起,至曲郵,見上曰:「臣宜從,病甚。 楚人剽疾,願上無與爭鋒!」 因說上令太子為將軍,監關中兵。 上曰:「子房雖病,強臥而傅太子。」 是時,叔孫通為太傅,留侯行少傅事。 發上郡、北地、隴西車騎、巴蜀材官及中尉卒三萬人為皇太子衛,軍霸上。
The Emperor then led the army east in person; the ministers stayed behind and escorted him to Bashang. The Marquis of Liu was ill but forced himself up; at Qu'e he saw the Emperor and said, “I ought to follow, but I am too ill. The men of Chu are swift and fierce; do not meet them head-on!” He urged the Emperor to make the crown prince general and supervise the Guanzhong forces. The Emperor said, “Though Zifang is ill, force yourself to tutor the crown prince from your bed.” Shusun Tong was grand tutor and the Marquis of Liu acted as junior tutor. He mobilized chariots and cavalry from Shang, Beidi, and Longxi, elite troops from Ba and Shu, and thirty thousand capital guardsmen for the crown prince and encamped them at Bashang.
25
布之初反,謂其將曰:「上老矣,厭兵,必不能來。 使諸將,諸將獨患淮陰、彭越,今皆已死,餘不足畏也。」 故遂反。 果如薛公之言,東擊荊。 荊王賈走死富陵; 盡劫其兵,渡淮擊楚。 楚發兵與戰徐、僮間。 為三軍,欲以相救為奇。 或說楚將曰:「布善用兵,民素畏之。 且兵法:『諸侯自戰其地為散地』,今別為三,彼敗吾一軍,餘皆走,安能相救!」 不聽。 布果破其一軍,其二軍散走; 布遂引兵而西。----
When Bu first rebelled he told his generals, “The Emperor is old and sick of war; he will not come. If he sends his generals, they feared only Huaiyin and Peng Yue, and both are dead—the rest are nothing to fear.” So he rebelled. It turned out as the Lord of Xue had said: he attacked Jing in the east. King Jia of Jing fled and died at Fuling; seized all his troops, crossed the Huai, and attacked Chu. Chu sent troops and fought him between Xu and Tong. Chu split into three armies, hoping mutual rescue would be their advantage. Someone urged the Chu commander: “Bu is skilled in war and the people have long feared him. Moreover the art of war says, ‘When lords fight on their own soil it is scattered ground’; split three ways, if he routs one army the rest will flee—how can they rescue each other!” He would not listen. Bu routed one army as predicted; the other two scattered; Bu then marched west.
26
1冬,十月,上與布兵遇於蘄西,布兵精甚。 上壁庸城,望布軍置陳如項籍軍,上惡之。 與布相望見,遙謂布曰:「何苦而反?」 布曰:「欲為帝耳!」 上怒罵之,遂大戰。 布軍敗走,渡淮,數止戰,不利,與百餘人走江南,上令別將追之。 ----2上還,過沛,留,置酒沛宮,悉召故人、父老、諸母、子弟佐酒,道舊故為笑樂。 酒酣,上自為歌,起舞,慷慨傷懷,泣數行下,謂沛父兄曰:「遊子悲故鄉。 朕自沛公以誅暴逆,遂有天下; 其以沛為朕湯沐邑,復其民,世世無有所與。」 樂飲十餘日,乃去。 ----3漢別將擊英布軍洮水南、北,皆大破之。 布故與番君婚,以故長沙成王臣使人誘布,偽欲與亡走越,布信而隨之。 番陽人殺布茲鄉民田舍。 ----4周勃悉定代郡、雁門、雲中地,斬陳豨於當城。 ----5上以荊王賈無後,更以荊為吳國。 辛丑,立兄仲之子濞為吳王,王三郡、五十三城。 ----6十一月,上過魯,以太牢祠孔子。 ----7上從破黥布歸,疾益甚,愈欲易太子。 張良諫不聽,因疾不視事。 叔孫通諫曰:「昔者晉獻公以驪姬之故,廢太子,立奚齊,晉國亂者數十年,為天下笑。 秦以不蚤定扶蘇,令趙高得以詐立胡亥,自使滅祀,此陛下所親見。 今太子仁孝,天下皆聞之。 呂后與陛下攻苦食淡,其可背哉? 陛下必欲廢適而立少,臣願先伏誅,以頸血污地。」 帝曰:「公罷矣,吾直戲耳。」 叔孫通曰:「太子,天下本,本一搖,天下振動; 奈何以天下為戲乎?」 時大臣固爭者多; 上知群臣心皆不附趙王,乃止不立。 ----8相國何以長安地狹,上林中多空地,棄; 願令民得入田,毋收蒿,為禽獸食。 上大怒曰:「相國多受賈人財物,乃為請吾苑!」 下相國廷尉,械系之。 數日,王衛尉侍,前問曰:「相國何大罪,陛下系之暴也?」 上曰:「吾聞李斯相秦皇帝,有善歸主,有惡自與。 今相國多受賈豎金,而為之請吾苑以媚於民,故系治之。」 王衛尉曰:「夫職事苟有便於民而請之,真宰相事; 陛下奈何乃疑相國受賈人錢乎? 且陛下距楚數歲,陳豨、黥布反,陛下自將而往; 當是時,相國守關中,關中搖足,則關以西非陛下有也! 相國不以此時為利,今乃利賈人之金乎? 且秦以不聞其過亡天下; 李斯之分過,又何足法哉? 陛下何疑宰相之淺也!」 帝不懌。 是日,使使持節赦出相國。 相國年老,素恭謹,入,徒跣謝。 帝曰:「相國休矣! 相國為民請苑,吾不許,我不過為桀、紂王,而相國為賢相。 吾故系相國,欲令百姓聞吾過也。」 ----9陳豨之反也,燕王綰發兵擊其東北。 當是時,陳豨使王黃求救匈奴; 燕王綰亦使其臣張勝於匈奴,言豨等軍破。 張勝至胡,故燕王藏荼子衍出亡在胡,見張勝曰:「公所以重於燕者,以習胡事也; 燕所以久存者,以諸侯數反,兵連不決也。 今公為燕,欲急滅豨等; 豨等已盡,次亦至燕,公等亦且為虜矣。 公何不令燕且緩陳豨,而與胡和? 事寬,得長王燕; 即有漢急,可以安國。」 張勝以為然,乃私令匈奴助豨等擊燕。 燕王綰疑張勝與胡反,上書請族張勝。 勝還,具道所以為者; 燕王乃詐論他人,脫勝家屬,使得為匈奴間。 而陰使范齊之陳豨所,欲令久亡,連兵勿決。
1 In winter, the tenth month, the Emperor met Bu at Qixi; Bu's troops were very sharp. The Emperor fortified Yongcheng; seeing Bu's array laid out like Xiang Yu's, he was repelled. Facing Bu across the field he called, “Why rebel at such cost?” Bu said, “I want to be emperor, that's all!” The Emperor cursed him and they joined battle. Bu's army broke and fled; crossing the Huai he fought again and again without success, and fled south of the Yangtze with a little over a hundred men while the Emperor sent other generals in pursuit. ----2 On his return he passed through Pei, stayed, and held a feast at the Pei palace, calling all old friends, elders, neighborhood mothers, and younger kin to drink with him and reliving old times in laughter. Deep in wine the Emperor sang, danced, was moved to generous grief, wept freely, and told the elders of Pei, “The wanderer grieves for home. I rose as Duke of Pei to punish the violent and rebellious and thereby gained the realm; let Pei be my personal fief, exempt its people, and never levy anything on them for all generations.” They feasted for more than ten days before he left. ----3 Han's separate generals attacked Ying Bu south and north of the Tao River and routed him utterly. Bu had once been allied by marriage to the Lord of Pan; King Cheng of Changsha, Chen, sent men to lure him, pretending they would flee together to Yue; Bu believed them and followed. Men of Poyang killed Bu in a village hut at Zixiang. ----4 Zhou Bo fully pacified Dai, Yanmen, and Yunzhong and beheaded Chen Xi at Dangcheng. ----5 Because King Jia of Jing had no heir, the Emperor made Jing into the state of Wu. On xinchou he made his elder brother Zhong's son Liu Pi King of Wu, ruling three commanderies and fifty-three cities. ----6 In the eleventh month the Emperor passed through Lu and sacrificed to Confucius with the grand offering. ----7 When the Emperor returned from defeating Qing Bu his illness grew worse and he wished all the more to replace the crown prince. Zhang Liang remonstrated in vain and, pleading illness, ceased attending to affairs. Shusun Tong remonstrated: “Formerly Duke Xian of Jin, for Lady Li's sake, deposed his heir and made Xi Qi crown prince; Jin was torn by disorder for decades and became the world's laughingstock. Qin, because it did not settle Fusu early, let Zhao Gao install Huhai by fraud and destroy its line—Your Majesty saw this yourself. The crown prince is benevolent and filial; all the realm knows it. The Empress Lü and Your Majesty endured hardship and ate plain fare—how could one betray that? If Your Majesty must depose the heir and install the younger son, your servant begs to die first and stain the ground with his neck's blood.” The Emperor said, “Enough, sir—I was only jesting.” Shusun Tong said, “The crown prince is the root of the realm; shake the root once and the realm trembles; how can you treat the realm as a jest?” Many great ministers remonstrated firmly; the Emperor saw that none of the ministers favored the King of Zhao and dropped the plan. ----8 The Chancellor, because Chang'an's territory was cramped, [said that] much land in the Shanglin park lay vacant and wasted; he wished to let the people farm it without brushwood fees, for birds and beasts to feed on. The Emperor was furious: “The Chancellor has taken so much from merchants that he petitions My park for them!” He sent the Chancellor to the commandant of justice and had him shackled and detained. Days later Wang the commandant of the guard attended and asked, “What great crime has the Chancellor committed that Your Majesty detained him so harshly?” The Emperor said, “I have heard that when Li Si served the First Emperor of Qin, he credited the ruler with good and took blame on himself. Now the Chancellor has taken much gold from merchants and petitions My park to curry favor with the people—that is why I detained him.” Wang the commandant of the guard said, “If an official duty benefits the people and one petitions for it, that is truly a chancellor's work; why should Your Majesty suspect the Chancellor of taking merchants' money? Moreover Your Majesty was years away fighting in Chu; when Chen Xi and Qing Bu rebelled, Your Majesty led the army in person; then the Chancellor held Guanzhong—if Guanzhong stirred, everything west of the pass would no longer be Yours! The Chancellor did not profit then—would he profit from merchants' gold now? Moreover Qin lost the realm because its faults went unheard; Li Si's way of shifting blame—what is there to emulate? How shallow Your Majesty's suspicion of the chancellor!” The Emperor was displeased. That day he sent an envoy with credentials to pardon and release the Chancellor. The Chancellor was old and always deferential; he came in barefoot to apologize. The Emperor said, “Chancellor, enough! The Chancellor petitioned the park for the people and I refused—I would have been no better than Jie and Zhou, while the Chancellor proved himself worthy. I detained the Chancellor so the people would hear of My fault.” ----9 When Chen Xi rebelled, King Liu Wan of Yan sent troops against his northeast. At that time Chen Xi sent Wang Huang to beg the Xiongnu for aid; King Liu Wan of Yan also sent his minister Zhang Sheng to the Xiongnu, reporting that Chen Xi's forces were broken. Zhang Sheng reached the Hu; Yan, son of the former King of Yan Zang Tu, who had fled into exile among the Hu, saw Zhang Sheng and said, “You are valued in Yan because you know Hu affairs; Yan has lasted because the lords rebel again and again and war drags on without end. Now you act for Yan and wish to destroy Chen Xi and his men at once; when they are gone, Yan will be next—and you will soon be captives yourselves. Why not have Yan hold back against Chen Xi for now and make peace with the Hu? If matters ease, you can rule Yan for long; if Han presses hard, you can still secure your state.” Zhang Sheng agreed and secretly ordered the Xiongnu to help Chen Xi attack Yan. King Liu Wan suspected Zhang Sheng of colluding with the Hu and memorialized to wipe out Zhang Sheng's clan. Sheng returned and explained fully what he had done; the king then framed others, freed Sheng's kin, and let him serve as a Xiongnu spy. and secretly sent Fan Qi to Chen Xi's camp to prolong the war and keep the armies locked without decision.
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漢擊黥布,豨常將兵居代; 漢擊斬豨,其裨將降,言燕王綰使范齊通計謀於豨所。 帝使使召盧綰,綰稱病; 上又使辟陽侯審食其、御史大夫趙堯往迎燕王,因驗問左右。 綰愈恐,閉匿,謂其幸臣曰:「非劉氏而王,獨我與長沙耳。 往年春,漢族淮陰,夏,誅彭越,皆呂氏計。 令上病,屬任呂后; 呂后婦人,專欲以事誅異姓王者及大功臣。」 乃遂稱病不行,其左右皆亡匿。 語頗洩,辟陽侯聞之,歸,具報上,上益怒。 又得匈奴降者,言張勝亡在匈奴為燕使。 於是上曰:「盧綰果反矣!」 春,二月,使樊噲以相國將兵擊綰,立皇子建為燕王。 ----10詔曰:「南武侯織,亦粵之世也,立以為南海王。」 ----11上擊布時,為流矢所中,行道,疾甚。 呂后迎良醫。 醫入見,曰:「疾可治。」 上嫚罵之曰:「吾以布衣提三尺取天下,此非天命乎? 命乃在天,雖扁鵲何益?」 遂不使治疾,賜黃金五十斤,罷之。 呂后問曰:「陛下百歲後,蕭相國既死,誰令代之?」 上曰:「曹參可。」 問其次,曰:「王陵可,然少戇,陳平可以助之。 陳平知有餘,然難獨任。 周勃重厚少文,然安劉氏者必勃也,可令為太尉。」 呂后復問其次,上曰:「此後亦非乃所知也。」 夏,四月,甲辰,帝崩於長樂宮。 丁未,發喪,大赦天下。 ----12盧綰與數千人居塞下候伺,幸上疾愈,自入謝。 聞帝崩,遂亡入匈奴。 ----13五月,丙寅,葬高帝於長陵。
While Han attacked Qing Bu, Xi often held troops in Dai; when Han attacked and killed Xi, a lieutenant general surrendered and said King Liu Wan of Yan had sent Fan Qi to Chen Xi with plans. The Emperor sent to summon Liu Wan; Wan claimed illness; the Emperor again sent Marquis of Piyang Shen Yishi and Grand Secretary Zhao Yao to welcome the King of Yan and question his attendants. Wan grew more afraid, shut himself away, and told his favorites, “Of non-Liu kings, only I and Changsha remain. Last spring Han wiped out Huaiyin's clan; in summer Peng Yue was executed—all the Lü clan's doing. The Emperor is ill and has entrusted power to Empress Lü; Empress Lü is a woman bent on finding pretexts to kill non-Liu kings and great merit-holders.” He then pleaded illness and would not go; his attendants all fled into hiding. Word leaked; Shen Yishi heard, returned, and reported in full; the Emperor grew angrier. A Xiongnu defector also said Zhang Sheng had fled to the Xiongnu as Yan's envoy. The Emperor then said, “Liu Wan has truly rebelled!” In spring, the second month, he sent Fan Kuai as chancellor to attack Wan and made his son Jian King of Yan. ----10 An edict said, “Marquis of Nanwu Zhi is also of Yue's line; establish him as King of Nanhai.” ----11 When the Emperor attacked Bu he was struck by a stray arrow; on the march his illness grew grave. Empress Lü summoned a skilled physician. The physician came in and said, “The illness can be cured.” The Emperor scornfully cursed him: “I took the realm as a commoner with a three-foot sword—is that not Heaven's mandate? Fate lies with Heaven—what use is even Bian Que?” He would not let him treat the illness, gave him fifty jin of gold, and sent him away. Empress Lü asked, “After Your Majesty passes, when Chancellor Xiao is gone, who should replace him?” The Emperor said, “Cao Shen.” Asked who was next, he said, “Wang Ling, though he is somewhat blunt; Chen Ping can assist him. Chen Ping's talents exceed what is needed, yet he is hard to entrust alone. Zhou Bo is stolid and unpolished, yet whoever secures the Liu clan will be Bo; make him grand commandant.” Empress Lü asked again; the Emperor said, “Beyond that is not for you to know.” In summer, the fourth month, on jiachen the Emperor died at Changle Palace. On dingwei mourning was proclaimed and the realm was granted a great amnesty. ----12 Liu Wan with several thousand men waited below the passes, hoping the Emperor would recover so he could come in person to apologize. Hearing the Emperor had died, he fled into the Xiongnu. ----13 In the fifth month, on bingyin, the High Emperor was buried at Changling.
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初,高祖不修文學,而性明達,好謀,能聽,自監門、戍卒,見之如舊。 初順民心作三章之約。 天下既定,命蕭何次律、令,韓信申軍法,張蒼定章程,叔孫通制禮儀; 又與功臣剖符作誓,丹書、鐵契,金匱、石室,藏之宗廟。 雖日不暇給,規摹弘遠矣。 ----14己巳,太子即皇帝位,尊皇后曰皇太后。 ----15初,高帝病甚,人有惡樊噲,云:「黨於呂氏,即一日上晏駕,欲以兵誅趙王如意之屬。」 帝大怒,用陳平謀,召絳侯周勃受詔床下,曰:「陳平亟馳傳載勃代噲將; 平至軍中,即斬噲頭!」 二人既受詔,馳傳,未至軍,行計之曰:「樊噲,帝之故人也,功多,且又呂后弟呂嬃之夫,有親且貴。 帝以仇怒故欲斬之,則恐後悔; 寧囚而致上,上自誅之。」 未至軍,為壇,以節召樊噲。 噲受詔,即反接,載檻車傳詣長安; 而令絳侯勃代將,將兵定燕反縣。
At first the High Ancestor did not cultivate letters, yet he was clear-sighted, loved counsel, and listened well; from gatekeepers to garrison soldiers he treated old acquaintances as before. At first he followed the people's will in making the Three-Article Covenant. When the realm was settled he had Xiao He compile laws and ordinances, Han Xin set forth military law, Zhang Cang fix regulations and statutes, and Shusun Tong establish ritual observances; he also split tally-fish with the merit-holders and swore oaths—red writing on iron contracts, gold caskets and stone chambers—and stored them in the ancestral temple. Though day by day left no leisure, the design was vast and far-reaching. ----14 On jisi the crown prince took the throne and honored the empress as empress dowager. ----15 When the High Emperor was gravely ill, someone slandered Fan Kuai, saying, “He sides with the Lü clan; when the Emperor passes he means to use troops to kill King Ruyi of Zhao and his kin.” The Emperor was furious; using Chen Ping's plan he summoned Marquis of Jiang Zhou Bo to take the edict beneath the bed: “Chen Ping, take relay horses at once, bring Bo, and replace Kuai as general; when Ping reaches the army, behead Kuai at once!” The two took the edict and galloped relay; before reaching the army they reasoned: “Fan Kuai is an old companion of the Emperor, his merit great, and husband to Empress Lü's brother Lü Xu'ou's daughter—close kin and high in rank. The Emperor, in anger and enmity, wants him killed—we fear he will regret it; better to imprison him and present him to the Emperor and let the Emperor kill him himself.” Before reaching the army they built an altar and summoned Fan Kuai with credentials. Kuai received the edict and was bound at once, loaded on a caged cart, and relayed to Chang'an; and had Marquis of Jiang Bo replace him and lead troops to pacify Yan's rebel counties.
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平行,聞帝崩,畏呂嬃讒之於太后,乃馳傳先去。 逢使者,詔平與灌嬰屯滎陽。 平受詔,立復馳至宮,哭殊悲; 因固請得宿衛中。 太后乃以為郎中令,使傅教惠帝。 是後呂嬃讒乃不得行。 樊噲至,則赦,復爵邑。 ----16太后令永巷囚戚夫人,髡鉗,衣赭衣,令舂。 遣使召趙王如意。 使者三反,趙相周昌謂使者曰:「高帝屬臣趙王,趙王年少,竊聞太后怨戚夫人,欲召趙王並誅之,臣不敢遣王。 王且亦病,不能奉詔。」 太后怒,先使人召昌。 昌至長安,乃使人復召趙王。 王來,未到; 帝知太后怒,自迎趙王霸上,與入宮,自挾與起居飲食。 太后欲殺之,不得間。
Ping went on; hearing the Emperor had died, fearing Lü Xu'ou would slander him to the empress dowager, he galloped ahead by relay. He met an envoy with an edict for Ping and Guan Ying to garrison Xingyang. Ping took the edict, galloped straight back to the palace, and wept with extraordinary grief; and firmly asked to lodge in the inner guard. The empress dowager then made him director of the palace gentlemen to tutor and instruct Emperor Hui. After that Lü Xu'ou's slander could not proceed. When Fan Kuai arrived he was pardoned and his rank and fief restored. ----16 The empress dowager had Lady Qi imprisoned in the everlasting alleys, shorn and shackled, dressed in ochre robes, and set to pounding grain. She sent an envoy to summon King Ruyi of Zhao. The envoy came three times; Chancellor of Zhao Zhou Chang told him, “The High Emperor entrusted the King of Zhao to me; the king is young. I hear the empress dowager resents Lady Qi and means to summon the King of Zhao and kill him with her—I dare not send the king. The king is also ill and cannot obey the edict.” The Empress Dowager was furious and first sent men to summon Zhou Chang. Once Chang reached Chang'an, she sent men again to summon the King of Zhao. The king set out but had not yet arrived; the Emperor, knowing the Empress Dowager was angry, went himself to meet the King of Zhao at Bashang, brought him into the palace, and personally kept him at his side day and night for meals and daily life. The Empress Dowager wished to kill him but found no opportunity.
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1冬,十二月,帝晨出射。 趙王少,不能蚤起; 太后使人持鴆飲之。 犁明,帝還,趙王已死。 太后遂斷戚夫人手足,去眼,煇耳,飲喑藥,使居廁中,命曰「人彘」。 居數日,乃召帝觀人彘。 帝見,問知其戚夫人,乃大哭,因病,歲餘不能起。 使人請太后曰:「此非人所為。 臣為太后子,終不能治天下。」 帝以此日飲為淫樂,不聽政。
1 In winter, the twelfth month, the Emperor went out early to hunt. The King of Zhao was young and could not rise early; the Empress Dowager sent men with poisoned wine and made him drink it. At dawn the Emperor returned and found the King of Zhao already dead. The Empress Dowager then cut off Lady Qi's hands and feet, gouged out her eyes, deafened her ears, forced a drug that left her mute, and had her kept in the privy, calling her “the human swine.” After several days she summoned the Emperor to see the human swine. The Emperor saw her, learned it was Lady Qi, and wept bitterly; he fell ill and for more than a year could not get up. He sent someone to tell the Empress Dowager: “This is not what a human being would do. I am Your Majesty's son, yet in the end I cannot govern the realm.” From that day the Emperor drowned himself in wine and pleasure and ceased to attend to government.
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::臣光曰:為人子者,父母有過則諫; 諫而不聽,則號泣而隨之。 安有守高祖之業,為天下之主,不忍母之殘酷,遂棄國家而不恤,縱酒色以傷生? 若孝惠者,可謂篤於小仁而未知大誼也。 ----2徙淮陽王友為趙王。 ----3春,正月,始作長安城西北方。
:: Your servant Guang says: As a son, when parents err one should remonstrate; if they will not listen, then weep and follow them. How can one hold the High Ancestor's legacy, be lord of the realm, unable to bear his mother's cruelty, then abandon the state without a thought and indulge in wine and women to ruin one's health? Emperor Hui may be called devoted to petty kindness yet ignorant of great duty. ----2 King You of Huaiyang was transferred to be King of Zhao. ----3 In spring, the first month, construction began on the northwest section of Chang'an's walls.
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1冬,十月,齊悼惠王來朝,飲於太后前。 帝以齊王,兄也,置之上坐。 太后怒,酌鴆酒置前,賜齊王為壽。 齊王起,帝亦起取卮; 太后恐,自起泛帝卮。 齊王怪之,因不敢飲,佯醉去; 問知其鴆,大恐。 齊內史士說王,使獻城陽郡為魯元公主湯沐邑。 太后喜,乃罷歸齊王。 ----2春,正月,癸酉,有兩龍見蘭陵家人井中。 ----3隴西地震。 ----4夏,旱。 ----5郃陽侯仲薨。 ----6酇文終侯蕭何病,上親自臨視,因問曰:「君即百歲後,誰可代君者?」 對曰:「知臣莫如主。」 帝曰:「曹參何如?」 何頓首曰:「帝得之矣,臣死不恨!」
1 In winter, the tenth month, King Daohui of Qi came to court and drank in the Empress Dowager's presence. The Emperor, treating the King of Qi as his elder brother, gave him the seat of honor. The Empress Dowager was angry, poured poison wine, set it before him, and offered it to the King of Qi as a toast for long life. The King of Qi rose; the Emperor rose as well to take the cup; the Empress Dowager was alarmed and rose herself to spill the Emperor's cup. The King of Qi found it strange, dared not drink, feigned drunkenness, and left; and on inquiry learned it was poisoned—he was terrified. Qi's interior secretary admonished the king and had him offer Chengyang commandery as Princess Yuan of Lu's fief. The Empress Dowager was pleased and let the King of Qi return to Qi. ----2 In spring, the first month, on guiyou, two dragons were seen in a commoner's well at Lanling. ----3 Longxi was shaken by an earthquake. ----4 In summer there was drought. ----5 Marquis of Heyang Zhong died. ----6 Marquis of Pei Wenzhong Xiao He fell ill; the Emperor visited him in person and asked, “When you are gone, who can replace you?” He replied, “No one knows a minister like his lord.” The Emperor said, “What of Cao Shen?” He kowtowed and said, “Your Majesty has the right man; I die without regret!"
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秋,七月,辛未,何薨。 何置田宅,必居窮僻處,為家,不治垣屋。 曰:「後世賢,師吾儉; 不賢,毋為勢家所奪。」
In autumn, the seventh month, on xinwei, Xiao He died. When Xiao He acquired land and houses he always chose poor, remote sites; as head of the household he would not build high walls or fine roofs. He said, “If later generations are worthy, let them learn thrift from me; if unworthy, let them not be seized by powerful families."
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癸巳,以曹參為相國。 參聞何薨,告舍人:「趣治行! 吾將入相。」 居無何,使者果召參。 始,參微時,與蕭何善; 及為將相,有隙; 至何且死,所推賢唯參。 參代何為相,舉事無所變更,一遵何約束:擇郡國吏木訥於文辭、重厚長者,即召除為丞相史; 吏之言文刻深、欲務聲名者,輒斥去之。 日夜飲醇酒。 卿、大夫以下吏及賓客見參不事事,來者皆欲有言,參輒飲以醇酒; 間欲有所言,復飲之,醉而後去,終莫得開說,以為常。 見人有細過,專掩匿覆蓋之,府中無事。
On guisi, Cao Shen was appointed chancellor of state. When Shen heard Xiao He had died, he told his retainers, “Pack at once for the journey! I am about to become chancellor.” Before long an envoy did summon Shen. Early on, when Shen was still obscure, he and Xiao He were close; when they became general and chancellor they fell out; yet when Xiao He was dying, the worthy man he recommended was Shen alone. Shen succeeded Xiao He as chancellor; he changed nothing and followed Xiao He's rules entirely: he chose commandery and state officials who were plain and awkward in rhetoric, men of substance and long experience, and at once summoned them to be the chancellor's clerks; officials who spoke in sharp, ornate prose and sought fame he promptly dismissed. Day and night he drank strong wine. When ministers, grandees, subordinate officials, and guests saw that Shen attended to nothing and came wishing to speak, he at once plied them with strong wine; if they still wished to speak, he would ply them again; they left drunk and never got to make their point—this became routine. When he saw minor faults he would cover them up; the chancellor's office was untroubled.
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參子窋為中大夫。 帝怪相國不治事,以為「豈少朕與?」 使窋歸,以其私問參。 參怒,笞窋二百,曰:「趣入侍! 天下事非若所當言也!」 至朝時,帝讓參曰:「乃者我使諫君也。」 參免冠謝曰:「陛下自察聖武孰與高帝?」 上曰:「朕乃安敢望先帝!」 又曰:「陛下觀臣能孰與蕭何賢?」 上曰:「君似不及也。」 參曰:「陛下言之是也。 高帝與蕭何定天下,法令既明。 今陛下垂拱,參等守職,遵而勿失,不亦可乎?」 帝曰:「善!」
Shen's son Zhu was a palace grandee. The Emperor wondered that the chancellor neglected affairs and thought, “Does he think I am too young?” He sent Zhu home to question Shen privately. Shen was furious and flogged Zhu two hundred strokes, saying, “Get back to court at once! Affairs of the realm are not for you to discuss!” At court the Emperor reproached Shen: “Just now I had you admonish your father.” Shen removed his cap and apologized: “Your Majesty, consider—whose sagely prowess compares with the High Emperor's?” The Emperor said, “How would I dare compare myself to the late Emperor!” He said again, “Your Majesty, consider—whose ability compares with Xiao He's?” The Emperor said, “You seem not to match him.” Shen said, “Your Majesty speaks rightly. The High Emperor and Xiao He settled the realm; the laws are already clear. Now Your Majesty reigns at ease; Shen and the rest keep their posts and hold to what was established without loss—is that not enough?” The Emperor said, “Good!"
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參為相國,出入三年,百姓歌之曰:「蕭何為法,較若畫一; 曹參代之,守而勿失。 載其清淨,民以寧壹。」 ----1春,發長安六百里內男女十四萬六千人城長安,三十日罷。 ----2以宗室女為公主,嫁匈奴冒頓單于。 是時,冒頓方強,為書,使使遺高后,辭極褻嫚。 高后大怒,召將相大臣,議斬其使者,發兵擊之。 樊噲曰:「臣願得十萬眾橫行匈奴中!」 中郎將季布曰:「噲可斬也! 前匈奴圍高帝於平城,漢兵三十二萬,噲為上將軍,不能解圍。 今歌吟之聲未絕,傷夷者甫起,而噲欲搖動天下,妄言以十萬眾橫行,是面謾也。 且夷狄譬如禽獸,得其善言不足喜,惡言不足怒也。」 高后曰:「善!」 令大謁者張釋報書,深自謙遜以謝之,並遺以車二乘,馬二駟。 冒頓復使使來謝,曰:「未嘗聞中國禮義,陛下幸而赦之。」 因獻馬,遂和親。 ----3夏,五月,立閩越君搖為東海王。 搖與無諸,皆越王句踐之後也,從諸侯滅秦,功多,其民便附,故立之。 都東甌,世號東甌王。 ----4六月,發諸侯王、列侯徒隸二萬人城長安。 ----5秋,七月,都廄災。 ----6是歲,蜀湔氐反,擊平之。
Shen served as chancellor for three years; the people sang: “Xiao He made the laws, uniform as if drawn with one stroke; Cao Shen replaced him and kept them without loss. He carried on that quiet rule; the people were at peace.” ----1 In spring, one hundred forty-six thousand men and women within six hundred li of Chang'an were mobilized to wall the city; after thirty days they were dismissed. ----2 An imperial clanswoman was made a princess and married to Maodun, chanyu of the Xiongnu. At that time Maodun was at the height of his power; he wrote a letter and sent an envoy to Empress Gao with wording that was grossly lewd and insulting. Empress Gao was furious, summoned generals, chancellors, and ministers, and debated executing the envoy and sending troops to attack. Fan Kuai said, “Give me one hundred thousand men and I will march at will through the Xiongnu!” Palace gentleman-general Ji Bu said, “Kuai deserves execution! When the Xiongnu besieged the High Emperor at Pingcheng, Han had three hundred twenty thousand troops and Kuai was supreme general, yet could not break the siege. The songs of victory have barely ended and the wounded have just risen, yet Kuai would shake the realm and boast of marching at will with one hundred thousand—this is bare-faced deceit. Moreover barbarians are like birds and beasts: fine words are not worth rejoicing over, nor foul words worth anger.” Empress Gao said, “Good!” She ordered Grand Usher Zhang Shi to reply with a deeply humble apology and also send two carriages and two teams of four horses as gifts. Maodun sent another envoy to apologize: “I had never heard of China's rites and righteousness; Your Majesty was gracious to pardon me.” He presented horses, and peace through marriage followed. ----3 In summer, the fifth month, Lord Yao of Minyue was made King of Donghai. Yao and Wuzhu were both descendants of King Goujian of Yue; they followed the lords in destroying Qin with great merit, and their people were readily loyal—therefore they were enfeoffed. His capital was at Dong'ou; for generations he was called King of Dong'ou. ----4 In the sixth month, twenty thousand convict laborers of feudal kings and marquises were mobilized to wall Chang'an. ----5 In autumn, the seventh month, the imperial stables burned. ----6 That year the Qian Di of Shu Jian rebelled and were suppressed.
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1冬,十月,立皇后張氏。 -{后}-,帝姊魯元公主女也,太后欲為重親,故以配帝。 ----2春,正月,舉民孝、弟、力田者,復其身。 ----3三月,甲子,皇帝冠,赦天下。 ----4省法令妨吏民者; 除挾書律。 ----5帝以朝太后於長樂宮及間往,數蹕煩民,乃築覆道於武庫南。 奉常叔孫通諫曰:「此高帝月出遊衣冠之道也,子孫奈何乘宗廟道上行哉!」 帝懼曰:「急壞之!」 通曰:「人主無過舉。 今已作,百姓皆知之矣。 願陛下為原廟渭北,衣冠月出遊之,益廣宗廟,大孝之本。」 上乃詔有司立原廟。
1 In winter, the tenth month, Empress Zhang was installed. -{the cited text}-: she was the daughter of the Emperor's elder sister, Princess Yuan of Lu; the Empress Dowager wished to strengthen kin ties and therefore matched her to the Emperor. ----2 In spring, the first month, commoners noted for filial piety, fraternity, and diligence in farming were exempted from service and taxes. ----3 In the third month, on jiazi, the Emperor came of age and amnestied the realm. ----4 Laws that hindered officials and people were trimmed; the law against keeping books was abolished. ----5 Because the Emperor's visits to pay court to the Empress Dowager at Changle Palace and his occasional trips there repeatedly cleared the streets and troubled the people, he built a covered corridor south of the armory. Chamberlain for Ceremonials Shusun Tong remonstrated: “This is the road the High Emperor used when he went out monthly to attend the spirit garments and caps—how can descendants travel along the ancestral temple road!” The Emperor was alarmed and said, “Tear it down at once!” Shusun Tong said, “A ruler makes no mistaken actions. It is already built and all the common people know of it. I wish Your Majesty would establish a Yuan temple north of the Wei and each month bring out the spirit robes and caps to tour it, thereby broadening the ancestral temples—this is the root of great filial piety.” The Emperor then decreed that the relevant officials establish the Yuan temple.
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::臣光曰:過者,人之所必不免也,惟聖賢為能知而改之。 古之聖王,患其有過而不自知也,故設誹謗之木,置敢諫之鼓,豈畏百姓之聞其過哉! 是以仲虺美成湯曰:「改過不吝。」 傅說戒高宗曰:「無恥過作非。」 由是觀之,則為人君者,固不以無過為賢,而以改過為美也。 今叔孫通諫孝惠,乃雲「人主無過舉」,是教人君以文過遂非也,豈不繆哉! ----6長樂宮鴻台災。 ----7秋,七月,乙亥,未央宮凌室災; 丙子,織室災。 ----1冬,雷; 桃李華,棗實。 ----2春,正月,復發長安六百里內男女十四萬五千人城長安,三十日罷。 ----3夏,大旱,江河水少,谿谷水絕。 ----4秋,八月,己丑,平陽懿侯曹參薨。 ----1冬,十月,以王陵為右丞相,陳平為左丞相。 ----2齊悼惠王肥薨。 ----3夏,留文成侯張良薨。 ----4以周勃為太尉。 ----1冬,發車騎、材官詣滎陽,太尉灌嬰將。 ----2春,正月,辛丑朔,日有食之。 ----3夏,五月,丁卯,日有食之,既。 ----4秋,八月,戊寅,帝崩於未央宮。 大赦天下。 九月,辛丑,葬安陵。
:: Your servant Guang says: Faults are what no one can avoid; only the sage and worthy can recognize them and correct them. The sage kings of old, fearing they might err yet not know it, set up the timber for slander and placed the drum for bold remonstrance—were they afraid of the people hearing their faults! Therefore Zhong Hui praised Cheng Tang, saying, “To amend faults without regret.” Fuyue admonished Gaozong, saying, “Be not ashamed of faults and doing wrong.” From this we see that for a ruler it is surely not to be without fault that is admirable, but to amend faults that is praiseworthy. Now when Shusun Tong remonstrated with Emperor Hui he said, “A ruler makes no mistaken actions”—this teaches rulers to gloss over faults and persist in error; is that not absurd! ----6 The Hong Terrace of Changle Palace caught fire. ----7 In autumn, the seventh month, on yihai day, the Ling chamber of Weiyang Palace caught fire; on bingzi day, the weaving chamber caught fire. ----1 In winter, thunder; peach and plum trees blossomed, and jujubes bore fruit. ----2 In spring, the first month, again one hundred forty-five thousand men and women within six hundred li of Chang'an were mobilized to wall Chang'an; after thirty days the work ceased. ----3 In summer there was great drought; the Yangtze and Yellow rivers ran low, and streams and ravines dried up. ----4 In autumn, the eighth month, on jichou day, Marquis Yi of Pingyang Cao Shen died. ----1 In winter, the tenth month, Wang Ling was made right chancellor and Chen Ping left chancellor. ----2 King Daohui of Qi, Fei, died. ----3 In summer, Marquis Wen of Liu Zhang Liang died. ----4 Zhou Bo was made grand commandant. ----1 In winter, chariots, cavalry, and elite troops were sent to Xingyang under Grand Commandant Guan Ying. ----2 In spring, the first month, on the new moon xinchou, there was a solar eclipse. ----3 In summer, the fifth month, on dingmao day, there was a total solar eclipse. ----4 In autumn, the eighth month, on wuyin day, the Emperor died in Weiyang Palace. A general amnesty was proclaimed throughout the realm. In the ninth month, on xinchou day, he was buried at Anling.
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初,呂太后命張皇后取他人子養之,而殺其母,以為太子。 既葬,太子即皇帝位,年幼; 太后臨朝稱制。
Earlier, Empress Dowager Lü ordered Empress Zhang to take another woman's child to rear and killed the mother, making him crown prince. After the burial the crown prince took the throne; he was young; the empress dowager presided over court and ruled in her own name.