1
起強圉大荒落，盡玄黓閹茂，凡六年。
From Qiangyu Dahuangluo through Xuanyi Yanmao—six years in all.
2
1冬，十一月，乙丑，薛澤免。 以公孫弘為丞相，封平津侯。 丞相封侯自弘始。
1. In winter, the eleventh month, on yichou, Xue Ze was dismissed. Gongsun Hong was made Chancellor and enfeoffed as Marquis of Pingjin. The enfeoffment of a chancellor as marquis began with Hong.
3
時上方興功業，弘於是開東閤以延賢人，與參謀議。 每朝覲奏事，因言國家便宜，上亦使左右文學之臣與之論難。 弘嘗奏言：「十賊彍弩，百吏不敢前。 請禁民毋得挾弓弩，便。」 上下其議。 侍中吾丘壽王對曰：「臣聞古者作五兵，非以相害，以禁暴討邪也。 秦兼天下，銷甲兵，折鋒刃； 其後民以耰鋤、棰梃相撻擊，犯法滋眾，盜賊不勝，卒以亂亡。 故聖王務教化而省禁防，知其不足恃也。 禮曰：『男子生，桑弧、蓬矢以舉之，』明示有事也。 大射之禮，自天子降及庶人，三代之道也。 愚聞聖王合射以明教矣，未聞弓矢之為禁也。 且所為禁者，為盜賊之以攻奪也； 攻奪之罪死，然而不止者，大奸之於重誅，固不避也。 臣恐邪人挾之而吏不能止，良民以自備而抵法禁，是擅賊威而奪民救也。 竊以為大不便。」 書奏，上以難弘，弘詘服焉。
The emperor was then raising great undertakings; Hong opened the eastern gate to receive worthy men and take counsel with them. At each audience, as he reported on affairs, he would speak of what served the state; the emperor also set literary scholars at his side to debate him. Hong once memorialized, saying, "Ten thieves with drawn crossbows, and a hundred officials dare not advance. Forbid the people to carry bow and crossbow—that would be expedient." The memorial was circulated for discussion. Attendant-in-Ordinary Wuqiu Shouwang replied, "I have heard that in antiquity the five weapons were made not to harm one another but to restrain violence and punish wickedness. Qin united the realm, melted armor and weapons, and broke every sharp blade; afterward the people took up hoes and clubs to strike one another; lawbreakers multiplied, bandits could not be checked, and the dynasty perished in disorder. Hence sage kings devoted themselves to teaching and reduced prohibitions and guards, knowing they could not be relied upon. The Rites say, 'When a boy is born, a mulberry bow and rush arrows are raised for him'—openly showing that life holds duties to perform. The rites of the great archery contest, from the Son of Heaven down to the common people, were the Way of the Three Dynasties. I have heard that sage kings joined archery to make teaching clear; I have never heard of bow and arrow as a prohibition. Moreover, what should be prohibited is what bandits use for attack and seizure; attack and seizure are capital crimes, yet those who do not cease are great villains—they do not shrink from heavy punishment. I fear wicked men will carry them while officers cannot stop them, and good people who arm themselves for defense will run afoul of the law—this is to hand bandits power and strip the people of their means of rescue. I humbly believe it would be greatly inexpedient." When the memorial was submitted, the emperor used it to press Hong, and Hong was defeated and yielded.
4
弘性意忌，外寬內深。 諸嘗與弘有隙，無近遠，雖陽與善，後竟報其過。 董仲舒為人廉直，以弘為從諛，弘嫉之。 膠西王端驕恣，數犯法，所殺傷二千石甚眾。 弘乃薦仲舒為膠西相； 仲舒以病免。 汲黯常毀儒，面觸弘，弘欲誅之以事，乃言上曰：「右內史界部中多貴臣、宗室，難治，非素重臣不能任，請徙黯為右內史。」 上從之。 ----2春，大旱。 ----3匈奴右賢王數侵擾朔方。 天子令車騎將軍青將三萬騎出高闕，衛尉蘇建為游擊將軍，左內史李沮為強弩將軍，太僕公孫賀為騎將軍，代相李蔡為輕車將軍，皆領屬車騎將軍，俱出朔方； 大行李息、岸頭侯張次公為將軍，俱出右北平； 凡十餘萬人，擊匈奴。 右賢王以為漢兵遠，不能至，飲酒，醉。 衛青等兵出塞六七百里，夜至，圍右賢王。 右賢王驚，夜逃，獨與壯騎數百馳，潰圍北去。 得右賢裨王十餘人，眾男女萬五千餘人，畜數十百萬，於是引兵而還。
Hong was by nature suspicious and jealous, outwardly lenient but inwardly deep. All who had once crossed him, near or far, though he treated them kindly to their faces, in the end he repaid every fault. Dong Zhongshu was upright and incorruptible; he regarded Hong as a flatterer, and Hong resented him. King Duan of Jiaoxi was arrogant and willful, repeatedly broke the law, and killed or wounded a great many senior officials. Hong then recommended Zhongshu as Chancellor of Jiaoxi; Zhongshu resigned on grounds of illness. Ji An often disparaged the Ru and confronted Hong to his face; Hong wished to destroy him by other means and told the emperor, "The Right Metropolitan Steward's jurisdiction holds many noble ministers and members of the imperial clan; it is hard to govern, and only a minister of longstanding weight can bear the post—I request that Ji An be transferred to Right Metropolitan Steward." The emperor agreed. ----2 In spring, there was a great drought. ----3 The Xiongnu Right Worthy King repeatedly harassed Shuofang. The emperor ordered Chariots and Cavalry General Qing to lead thirty thousand horsemen out through Gaoque Pass; Commandant of the Guard Su Jian was made Mobile Strike General, Left Metropolitan Steward Li Ju Powerful Crossbow General, Grand Master of the Stud Gongsun He Cavalry General, and Chancellor of Dai Li Cai Light Chariot General—all under the Chariots and Cavalry General, marching together from Shuofang; Grand Herald Li Xi and Marquis of Antou Zhang Cigong were made generals and marched out together from Right Beiping; More than a hundred thousand men in all struck the Xiongnu. The Right Worthy King thought the Han troops were far away and could not reach him; he drank himself drunk. Wei Qing and the others marched six or seven hundred li beyond the pass, arrived by night, and surrounded the Right Worthy King. The Right Worthy King was alarmed, fled by night, and with only several hundred stalwart horsemen galloped north alone, breaking through the encirclement. They took more than ten of the Right Worthy King's subordinate kings, more than fifteen thousand men and women, and livestock numbering in the tens of millions; thereupon they led the army back.
5
至塞，天子使使者持大將軍印，即軍中拜衛青為大將軍，諸將皆屬焉。 夏，四月，乙未，復益封青八千七百戶，封青三子伉、不疑、登皆為列侯。 青固謝曰：「臣幸得待罪行間，賴陛下神靈，軍大捷，皆諸校尉力戰之功也。 陛下幸已益封臣青； 臣青子在襁褓中，未有勤勞，上列地封為三侯，非臣待罪行間所以勸士力戰之意也。」 天子曰：「我非忘諸校尉功也。」 乃封護軍都尉公孫敖為合騎侯，都尉韓說為龍額侯，公孫賀為南窌侯，李蔡為樂安侯，校尉李朔為涉軹侯，趙不虞為隨成侯，公孫戎奴為從平侯，李沮、李息及校尉豆如意皆賜爵關內侯。
At the pass the emperor sent an envoy bearing the Grand General's seal and, right in camp, invested Wei Qing as Grand General; all the generals were placed under him. In summer, the fourth month, on yiwei, Qing's fief was again increased by eight thousand seven hundred households, and his three sons Kang, Buyi, and Deng were all enfeoffed as full marquises. Qing firmly declined, saying, "I have been fortunate to serve in the ranks of those who bear punishment; relying on Your Majesty's numinous power, the army won a great victory—all of it is the merit of the colonels' fierce fighting. Your Majesty has already been pleased to increase my fief; my sons are still in swaddling clothes and have done no labor; to rank them with territories and enfeoff them as three marquises is not what I mean by encouraging officers to fight fiercely." The emperor said, "I have not forgotten the colonels' merit." Thereupon Protector-General of the Army Colonel Gongsun Ao was enfeoffed as Marquis of Heqi, Colonel Han Shuo as Marquis of Long'e, Gongsun He as Marquis of Nanjiao, Li Cai as Marquis of Le'an, Colonel Li Shuo as Marquis of Shezhi, Zhao Buyu as Marquis of Suicheng, Gongsun Rongnu as Marquis of Congping, and Li Ju, Li Xi, and Colonel Dou Ruyi were all granted the rank of Marquis within the Passes.
6
於是青尊寵，於群臣無二，公卿以下皆卑奉之，獨汲黯與亢禮。 人或說黯曰：「自天子欲群臣下大將軍，大將軍尊重，君不可以不拜。」 黯曰：「夫以大將軍，有揖客反不重邪！」 大將軍聞，愈賢黯，數請問國家朝廷所疑，遇黯加於平日。 大將軍青雖貴，有時侍中，上踞廁而視之； 丞相弘燕見，上或時不冠； 至如汲黯見，上不冠不見也。 上嘗坐武帳中，黯前奏事，上不冠，望見黯，避帳中，使人可其奏。 其見敬禮如此。 ----4夏，六月，詔曰：「蓋聞導民以禮，風之以樂。 今禮壞、樂崩，朕甚閔焉。 其令禮官勸學興禮以為天下先！」 於是丞相弘等奏：「請為博士官置弟子五十人，復其身，第其高下，以補郎中、文學、掌故。 即有秀才異等，輒以名聞； 其不事學若下材，輒罷之。 又，吏通一藝以上者，請皆選擇以補右職。」 上從之。 自此公卿、大夫、士、吏彬彬多文學之士矣。 ----5秋，匈奴萬騎入代，殺都尉朱英，略千餘人。 ----6初，淮南王安，好讀書屬文，喜立名譽，招致賓客方術之士數千人。 其群臣、賓客，多江、淮間輕薄士，常以厲王遷死感激安。 建元六年，彗星見，或說王曰：「先吳軍時，彗星出，長數尺，然尚流血千里。 今彗星竟天，天下兵當大起。」 王心以為然，乃益治攻戰具，積金錢。
Thereupon Qing's honor and favor had no peer among the ministers; from high ministers down all served him humbly—only Ji An matched him in ceremony. Someone urged Ji An, saying, "Since the emperor wishes the ministers to rank below the Grand General, and the Grand General is honored in rank, you cannot fail to bow." Ji An said, "For a Grand General to have a guest who bows with joined hands—would that not rather show honor!" When the Grand General heard this, he esteemed Ji An all the more, repeatedly asked him about what the state and court doubted, and treated Ji An even better than on ordinary days. Though Grand General Qing was honored, when he sometimes attended within the palace, the emperor would squat on the privy and look at him; when Chancellor Hong was received informally, the emperor sometimes went without his cap; but when it came to receiving Ji An, if the emperor was not capped he would not see him. The emperor once sat in the military tent; Ji An came forward to report on affairs; the emperor was not capped; when he saw Ji An he withdrew within the tent and had someone approve his memorial. The respect and ceremony shown him were like this. ----4 In summer, the sixth month, an edict said, "I have heard that one guides the people with ritual and edifies them with music. Now ritual is broken and music collapsed—I am deeply grieved. Let the officials of ritual urge learning and raise ritual to lead all under Heaven!" Thereupon Chancellor Hong and others memorialized, "We request fifty disciples for the Erudites' offices, exemption from corvée, ranking by merit, and appointment as Palace Gentlemen, literary officers, and clerks. Whenever there are those of outstanding talent and unusual grade, report their names at once; those who do not pursue learning or are of inferior material, dismiss them at once. Moreover, among officials proficient in one art or more, we request that all be selected to fill senior posts." The emperor agreed. From this time forward, among high ministers, grandees, gentlemen, and clerks, many were refined and literary. ----5 In autumn, ten thousand Xiongnu horsemen entered Dai, killed Commandant Zhu Ying, and carried off more than a thousand. ----6 At the outset, the Prince of Huainan, Liu An, loved reading and composing texts, delighted in making a name, and gathered several thousand guest retainers and masters of formulas and arts. His ministers and guests were mostly frivolous gentlemen from between the Yangtze and Huai, who constantly stirred An's feelings with the death of King Li in exile. In the sixth year of Jianyuan a comet appeared; someone told the prince, "When the armies of Wu rose first, a comet appeared several chi in length, yet still blood flowed for a thousand li. Now the comet fills the sky—armies under Heaven will surely rise on a great scale." The prince took this to heart, and thereupon increased his preparation of weapons for attack and defense and amassed gold and money.
7
郎中雷被獲罪於太子遷，時有詔，欲從軍者輒詣長安，被即願奮擊匈奴。 太子惡被於王，斥免之，欲以禁後。 是歲，被亡之長安，上書自明。 事下廷尉治，蹤跡連王，公卿請逮捕治王。 太子遷謀令人衣衛士衣，持戟居王旁，漢使有非是者，即刺殺之，因發兵反。 天子使中尉宏即訊王，王視中尉顏色和，遂不發。 公卿奏：「安壅閼奮擊匈奴者，格明詔，當棄市。」 詔削二縣。 既而安自傷曰：「吾行仁義，反見削地。」 恥之，於是為反謀益甚。
Palace Gentleman Lei Bei had offended the heir apparent Qian; at that time an edict said whoever wished to join the army should go at once to Chang'an—Bei immediately wished to strike the Xiongnu with all his might. The heir apparent hated Bei before the prince, dismissed and removed him, and wished thereby to forbid what might follow. That year Bei fled to Chang'an and memorialized to clear himself. The affair was handed down to the Commandant of Justice for trial; the trail of evidence connected to the prince, and the high ministers requested that the prince be arrested and tried. The heir apparent Qian plotted to have men dress as guards, hold halberds, and stand beside the prince; if any Han envoy did wrong, they were to stab and kill him at once and thereby raise troops in revolt. The emperor sent Commandant of the Guards Hong to question the prince on the spot; the prince saw that the commandant's expression was mild and therefore did not rise. The high ministers memorialized, "An obstructed those who wished to strike the Xiongnu with all their might, resisted the clear edict, and should be executed in the marketplace." An edict ordered two counties stripped from his fief. Afterward An wounded himself, saying, "I practiced benevolence and righteousness, yet in return my territory was cut." Shamed by this, he thereupon plotted revolt all the more fiercely.
8
安與衡山王賜相責望，禮節間不相能。 衡山王聞淮南王有反謀，恐為所并，亦結賓客為反具，以為淮南已西，欲發兵定江、淮之間而有之。 衡山-{王后}-徐來譖太子爽於王，欲廢之而立其弟孝。 王囚太子而佩孝以王印，令招致賓客。 賓客來者微知淮南、衡山有逆計，日夜從容勸之。 王乃使孝客江都人枚赫、陳喜作輣車、鍛矢，刻天子璽、將相軍吏印。 秋，衡山王當入朝，過淮南； 淮南王乃昆弟語，除前隙，約束反具。 衡山王即上書謝病，上賜書不朝。----
An and the Prince of Hengshan, Liu Ci, reproached and looked askance at each other; in ritual and courtesy they could not get along. The Prince of Hengshan heard that the Prince of Huainan plotted revolt, feared being swallowed by him, and also gathered guests to prepare for revolt, thinking that once Huainan lay to his west he would raise troops, settle the region between the Yangtze and Huai, and possess it. The -{the cited text}- of Hengshan, Xu Lai, slandered the heir apparent Shuang before the prince, wishing to depose him and establish his younger brother Xiao. The prince imprisoned the heir apparent and hung the prince's seal on Xiao, ordering him to gather guests. Guests who came gradually learned that Huainan and Hengshan plotted rebellion and day and night, at their ease, urged them on. The prince then had Xiao's guests, Mei He of Jiangdu and Chen Xi, make war chariots, forge arrows, and carve the emperor's seal and the seals of generals, ministers, and army officers. In autumn, when the Prince of Hengshan was to enter court and passed through Huainan; the Prince of Huainan spoke with him as brothers, removed their former rift, and agreed on their means of revolt. The Prince of Hengshan at once memorialized to plead illness; the emperor granted a letter excusing him from court.
9
1春，二月，大將軍青出定襄，擊匈奴； 以合騎侯公孫敖為中將軍，太僕公孫賀為左將軍，翕侯趙信為前將軍，衛尉蘇建為右將軍，郎中令李廣為後將軍，左內史李沮為強弩將軍，咸屬大將軍。 斬首數千級而還，休士馬於定襄、雲中、雁門。 ----2赦天下。 ----3夏，四月，衛青復將六將軍出定襄，擊匈奴，斬首虜萬餘人。 右將軍建、前將軍信並軍三千餘騎獨逢單于兵，與戰一日餘，漢兵且盡。 信故胡小王，降漢，漢封為翕侯，及敗，匈奴誘之，遂將其餘騎可八百降匈奴。 建盡亡其軍，脫身亡，自歸大將軍。
1. In spring, the second month, Grand General Qing marched out from Dingxiang to strike the Xiongnu; Marquis of Heqi Gongsun Ao was made Lieutenant General, Grand Master of the Stud Gongsun He Left General, Marquis of Xi Zhao Xin Forward General, Commandant of the Guard Su Jian Right General, Director of the Secretariat Li Guang Rear General, and Left Metropolitan Steward Li Ju Powerful Crossbow General—all under the Grand General. They beheaded several thousand and returned, resting men and horses at Dingxiang, Yunzhong, and Yanmen. ----2 There was an amnesty for all under Heaven. ----3 In summer, the fourth month, Wei Qing again led the six generals out from Dingxiang to strike the Xiongnu and beheaded and captured more than ten thousand. Right General Jian and Forward General Xin combined their armies—more than three thousand horsemen—and alone encountered the chanyu's troops; they fought for more than a day, and the Han troops were nearly exhausted. Xin had formerly been a minor king of the Hu; he surrendered to Han and Han enfeoffed him as Marquis of Xi; when defeated, the Xiongnu lured him, and he led his remaining horsemen, about eight hundred, to surrender to the Xiongnu. Jian lost his entire army, escaped alive, and returned on his own to the Grand General.
10
議郎周霸曰：「自大將軍出，未嘗斬裨將。 今建棄軍，可斬，以明將軍之威。」 軍正閎、長史安曰：「不然。 《兵法》：『小敵之堅，大敵之禽也。』 今建以數千當單于數萬，力戰一日餘，士盡，不敢有二心，自歸，而斬之，是示後無反意也，不當斬。」 大將軍曰：「青幸得以肺腑待罪行間，不患無威，而霸說我以明威，甚失臣意。 且使臣職雖當斬將，以臣之尊寵而不敢擅誅於境外，而具歸天子，天子自裁之，於以見為人臣不敢專權，不亦可乎？」 軍吏皆曰：「善！」 遂囚建詣行在所。
Palace Counselor Zhou Ba said, "Since the Grand General marched out, he has never beheaded a subordinate general. Now Jian abandoned his army—he should be beheaded to make clear the general's majesty." Army Rectifier Hong and Chief Clerk An said, "Not so. The Art of War says, 'When a small enemy is obstinate, a great enemy takes him.' 』 Now Jian with several thousand faced the Chanyu's tens of thousands, fought fiercely for more than a day until his men were spent, dared not harbor a second thought, and surrendered of his own accord—yet to execute him is to show those who follow that there is no point in returning; he ought not to be put to death." 」 The Great General said, "Having been fortunate to serve among capital offenders with the emperor's close trust, I do not worry about lacking authority, yet Ba urges me to display authority clearly—this greatly misses what a subject ought to do. Moreover, though my office might require executing a general, given my honored favor I dare not put him to death on my own authority beyond the borders, but should present him intact to the Son of Heaven for the Son of Heaven to judge—thereby showing that as a subject one dare not monopolize authority—is that not acceptable?" 」 The army officers all said, "Excellent! 」 They then imprisoned Jian and brought him to the emperor's traveling residence.
11
初，平陽縣吏霍仲孺給事平陽侯家，與青姊衛少兒私通，生霍去病。 去病年十八，為侍中，善騎射，再從大將軍擊匈奴，為嫖姚校尉，與輕騎勇八百，直棄大軍數百里赴利，斬捕首虜過當。 於是天子曰：「嫖姚校尉去病，斬首虜二千餘級，得相國、當戶，斬單于大父行藉若侯產，生捕季父羅姑，比再冠軍，封去病為冠軍侯。 上谷太守郝賢四從大將軍，捕斬首虜二千餘級，封賢為眾利侯。」
At the outset, Pingyang county clerk Huo Zhongru served in the household of the Marquis of Pingyang, had a secret liaison with Wei's younger sister Wei Shao'er, and fathered Huo Qubing. Qubing at eighteen was a palace attendant, skilled in mounted archery, and again followed the Great General in attacking the Xiongnu as Colonel of Swift Cavalry; with eight hundred light horsemen of courage he straightway left the main army several hundred li to seize gain, and beheaded and captured enemy heads and prisoners beyond the quota. Thereupon the emperor said, "Colonel of Swift Cavalry Qubing beheaded over two thousand enemy heads and prisoners, captured the Xiangguo and Danghu, slew the Chanyu's grandfather's rank Jieruo Marquis Chan, and took alive the younger paternal uncle Luo Gu; comparable to twice being champion—Qubing was enfeoffed as Marquis of Champion. Shanggu Administrator Hao Xian four times followed the Great General, captured and beheaded over two thousand enemy heads and prisoners, and Xian was enfeoffed as Marquis of All Profit."
12
是歲，失兩將軍，亡翕侯，軍功不多，故大將軍不益封，止賜千金。 右將軍建至，天子不誅，贖為庶人。
That year two generals were lost and the Marquis of Harmony defected; military achievement was not great, so the Great General received no added enfeoffment and was granted only a thousand jin of gold. When General of the Right Jian arrived, the emperor did not execute him but ransomed him to commoner status.
13
單于既得翕侯，以為自次王，用其姊妻之，與謀漢。 信教單于益北絕幕，以誘罷漢兵，徼極而取之，無近塞。 單于從其計。
Once the Chanyu had obtained the Marquis of Harmony, he made him his own secondary king, married him to the Chanyu's elder sister, and plotted against Han with him. Xin instructed the Chanyu to move further north beyond the desert curtain to lure and wear out Han troops, wait until they reached extremity and then take them, and not approach the frontier passes. The Chanyu followed his plan.
14
是時，漢比歲發十餘萬眾擊胡，斬捕首虜之士受賜黃金二十餘萬斤，而漢軍士馬死者十餘萬，兵甲轉漕之費不與焉。 於是大司農經用竭，不足以奉戰士。 六月，詔令民得買爵及贖禁錮，免臧罪。 置賞官，名曰武功爵，級十七萬，凡直三十餘萬金。 諸買武功爵至千夫者，得先除為吏。 吏道雜而多端，官職耗廢矣。----
At that time Han year after year sent out over a hundred thousand men to attack the Hu; soldiers who beheaded and captured heads and prisoners received grants of gold totaling over two hundred thousand jin, while Han army soldiers and horses who died numbered over a hundred thousand—the costs of armor, weapons, and transport were not included. Thereupon the Grand Minister of Agriculture's regular expenditures were exhausted and insufficient to supply the warriors. In the sixth month, an edict allowed the people to buy noble ranks and redeem imprisonment, exempting capital crimes. Reward offices were established, named Martial Achievement Nobility, with seventeen grades in all, altogether worth more than three hundred thousand in gold. All who bought Martial Achievement nobility up to the rank of Thousand Husband could be appointed as clerks ahead of others. The path of office became complex and many-sided; official posts were worn out and wasted.
15
1冬，十月，上行幸雍，祠五畤，獲獸，一角而足有五蹄。 有司言：「陛下肅祗郊祀，上帝報享，錫一角獸，蓋麟雲。」 於是以慶五畤，畤加一牛，以燎。 久之，有司又言：「元宜以天瑞命，不宜以一二數，一元曰建，二元以長星曰光，今元以郊得一角獸曰狩雲。」 於是濟北王以為天子且封禪，上書獻太山及其旁邑。 天子以他縣償之。 ----2淮南王安與賓客左吳等日夜為反謀，按輿地圖，部署兵所從入。 諸使者道長安來，為妄言，言「上無男，漢不治」，即喜； 即言「漢廷治，有男」，王怒，以為妄言，非也。
1 In winter, the tenth month, the emperor traveled in favor to Yong, sacrificed at the Five Altars, and obtained a beast with one horn and feet having five hooves. The responsible officials said, "Your Majesty reverently performed suburban sacrifice; the Supreme Lord responded with enjoyment and bestowed a one-horned beast—perhaps a qilin." Thereupon he celebrated at the Five Altars, adding one ox to each altar, and burned them as offerings. After some time the responsible officials again said, "The era name ought to be taken from heavenly omens, not from one or two counts; the first era was called Jian, the second, from the long star, was called Guang; now the era, from obtaining a one-horned beast at the suburban sacrifice, should be called Shouyun." Thereupon the Prince of Jibei, thinking the emperor was about to perform the Feng and Shan rites, memorialized offering Mount Tai and the neighboring towns. The emperor compensated him with other counties. ----2 King An of Huainan and his retainers Zuo Wu and others day and night plotted rebellion, consulted the geographical maps, and deployed where troops would enter. Envoys coming by the road from Chang'an spoke reckless words, saying "The emperor has no sons; Han will not endure"—then he rejoiced; when they spoke "The Han court endures; there is a son," the king was angry and took it as reckless talk, not true.
16
王召中郎伍被與謀反事，被曰：「王安得此亡國之言乎？ 臣見宮中生荊棘，露霑衣也。」 王怒，系伍被父母，囚之。 三月，復召問之，被曰：「昔秦為無道，窮奢極虐，百姓思亂者十家而六七。 高皇帝起於行陳之中，立為天子，此所謂蹈瑕候間，因秦之亡而動者也。 今大王見高皇帝得天下之易也，獨不觀近世之吳、楚乎！ 夫吳王王四郡，國富民眾，計定謀成，舉兵而西； 然破於大梁，奔走而東，身死祀絕者何？ 誠逆天道而不知時也。 方今大王之兵，眾不能十分吳、楚之一，天下安寧，萬倍吳、楚之時，大王不從臣之計，今見大王棄千乘之君，賜絕命之書，為群臣先死於東宮也。」 王涕泣而起。
The king summoned Palace Gentleman Wu Bei to discuss rebellion; Bei said, "How does Your Majesty obtain such state-destroying words? I see brambles growing in the palace and dew soaking one's robes." The king was angry, seized Wu Bei's parents, and imprisoned them. In the third month he summoned and questioned him again; Bei said, "Formerly Qin was without the Way, exhausting luxury and reaching the utmost in cruelty; of the common people, six or seven in ten households wished for disorder. The High Emperor rose from within the battle ranks and was established as emperor—this is what is called treading a flaw and watching for an opening, moving because Qin was perishing. Now Your Majesty sees how easily the High Emperor obtained all under Heaven—will you alone not observe the recent cases of Wu and Chu! The King of Wu ruled four commanderies, the state was rich and the people numerous, plans were settled and schemes completed, and he raised troops and marched west; yet he was broken at Daliang, fled east, and his person died and sacrifices ended—why? Truly he opposed Heaven's Way and did not know the times. Now Your Majesty's troops in number cannot reach one-tenth of Wu and Chu's; all under Heaven is tranquil, ten thousand times the time of Wu and Chu—if Your Majesty does not follow my plan, I now see Your Majesty abandoning a lord of a thousand chariots, bestowing a letter of severed fate, and going before the ministers to die in the Eastern Palace." The king wept and rose.
17
王有孽子不害，最長，王弗愛，王后、太子皆不以為子、兄數。 不害有子建，材高有氣，常怨望太子，陰使人告太子謀殺漢中尉事，下廷尉治。
The king had an illegitimate son Buhai, the eldest; the king did not love him, and the queen and crown prince both did not treat him with the count due a son or elder brother. Buhai had a son Jian, talented and high-spirited, who constantly resented and looked askance at the crown prince; he secretly sent men to accuse the crown prince of plotting to kill the Commandant of Hanzhong, and the case was sent down to the Court Commandant for judgment.
18
王患之，欲發，復問伍被曰：「公以為吳興兵，是邪？ 非邪？」 被曰：「非也。 臣聞吳王悔之甚，願王無為吳王之所悔。」 王曰：「吳何知反！ 漢將一日過成皋者四十餘人，今我絕成皋之口，據三川之險，招山東之兵，舉事如此，左吳、趙賢、朱驕如皆以為什事九成，公獨以為有禍無福，何也？ 必如公言，不可徼幸邪？」 被曰：「必不得已，被有愚計。 當今諸侯無異心，百姓無怨氣，可偽為丞相、御史請書，徙郡國豪桀高貲於朔方，益發甲卒，急其會日； 又偽為詔獄書，逮諸侯太子、幸臣。 如此，則民怨，諸侯懼，即使辯士隨而說之，儻可徼幸什得一乎！」 王曰：「此可也。 雖然，吾以為不至若此。」
The king was troubled by this and wished to rise in revolt; he again asked Wu Bei, saying, "Do you think Wu's raising troops was right? Or not?" Bei said, "It was not. I have heard the King of Wu regretted it deeply; I wish Your Majesty not to do what the King of Wu regretted." The king said, "How would Wu know to rebel! In one day over forty Han generals passed through Chenggao; now if I cut off the mouth of Chenggao, hold the peril of the Three Rivers, recruit the troops of Shandong, and raise the affair thus—Zuo Wu, Zhao Xian, Zhu Jiaoru all think nine-tenths of ten things assured, yet you alone think there is misfortune without blessing—why? If it must be as you say, may one not hope for good fortune?" Bei said, "If it must be done, Bei has a foolish plan. Now the feudal lords have no divergent hearts and the common people have no resentment; one may forge a memorial from the Chancellor and Imperial Secretary requesting to relocate the powerful and wealthy of the commanderies and kingdoms to Shuofang, increase the dispatch of armored soldiers, and hurry the assembly date; also forge an imperial prison edict arresting the crown princes and favored ministers of the feudal lords. If so, the people will resent and the feudal lords will fear; then even if persuasive scholars follow to speak to them, perhaps one might hope for good fortune and get one in ten!" The king said, "This will do. Even so, I think it will not come to that."
19
於是王乃作皇帝璽，丞相、御史大夫、將軍、軍吏、中二千石及旁近郡太守、都尉印，漢使節。 欲使人偽得罪而西，事大將軍，一日發兵，即刺殺大將軍。 且曰：「漢廷大臣，獨汲黯好直諫，守節死義，難惑以非； 至如說丞相弘等，如發蒙振落耳！」
Thereupon the king made the emperor's seal, seals of Chancellor, Grand Secretary, generals, army officers, officials of two-thousand-dan rank and above, and the administrators and commandants of neighboring commanderies, and Han envoy credentials. He wished to send men who would feign guilt and go west to serve the Great General, and on the day troops were raised immediately assassinate the Great General. Moreover he said, "Among Han court great ministers, only Ji An loves straight remonstrance and keeps his integrity unto death in righteousness—hard to confuse with wrong; but as for persuading the Chancellor Hong and the rest, it would be like lifting a blindfold and shaking off fallen leaves!"
20
王欲發國中兵，恐其相、二千石不聽，王乃與伍被謀先殺相、二千石。 又欲令人衣求盜衣，持羽檄從東方來，呼曰：「南越兵入界！」 欲因以發兵。
The king wished to mobilize troops within the state but feared the Chancellor and the two-thousand-dan officials would not obey; the king then plotted with Wu Bei first to kill the Chancellor and the two-thousand-dan officials. He also wished to have men dress in robber-seeking garb, hold feather dispatch slips coming from the east, and cry, "Southern Yue troops have crossed the border!" intending thereby to raise troops.
21
會廷尉逮捕淮南太子，淮南王聞之，與太子謀，召相、二千石，欲殺而發兵。 召相，相至，內史、中尉皆不至。 王念，獨殺相無益也，即罷相。 王猶豫，計未決。 太子即自剄，不殊。
Just then the Court Commandant arrested the crown prince of Huainan; when the King of Huainan heard, he plotted with the crown prince, summoned the Chancellor and two-thousand-dan officials, and wished to kill them and raise troops. He summoned the Chancellor; the Chancellor arrived, but the Inner Scribe and Commandant of the Guards both did not come. The king reflected that killing the Chancellor alone would be of no use and dismissed him. The king hesitated and his plan was not settled. The crown prince immediately cut his own throat but did not die.
22
伍被自詣吏，告與淮南王謀反蹤跡如此。 吏因捕太子、王后，圍王宮，盡求捕王所與謀反賓客在國中者，索得反具，以上。 下公卿治其黨與，使宗正以符節治王。 未至，淮南王安自剄。 殺王后荼、太子遷，諸所與謀反者皆族。
Wu Bei went on his own to the officials and reported the traces of his rebellion plotting with the King of Huainan as follows. The officials thereupon arrested the crown prince and queen, surrounded the royal palace, thoroughly sought and arrested within the state all the king's retainers who had plotted rebellion with him, obtained the rebel equipment, and presented it above. The case was sent down to the excellencies and ministers to judge his cliques and associates, and the Director of the Imperial Clan was sent with credentials to judge the king. Before he arrived, King An of Huainan cut his own throat. Queen Cha, Crown Prince Qian, and all who had plotted rebellion with him were executed and their clans exterminated.
23
天子以伍被雅辭多引漢之美，欲勿誅。 廷尉湯曰：「被首為王畫反計，罪不可赦。」 乃誅被。 侍中莊助素與淮南王相結交，私論議，王厚賂遺助； 上薄其罪，欲勿誅。 張湯爭，以為：「助出入禁門，腹心之臣，而外與諸侯交私如此，不誅，後不可治。」 助竟棄市。
The emperor, because Wu Bei's elegant words often cited Han's excellence, wished not to execute him. Court Commandant Tang said, "Bei was the first to draw up rebellion plans for the king; the crime cannot be pardoned." Bei was then executed. Palace Attendant Zhuang Zhu had long been friendly with the King of Huainan, discussed matters in private, and the king richly bribed and sent him gifts; the emperor lightened his crime and wished not to execute him. Zhang Tang disputed, holding, "Zhu went in and out of the forbidden gates as a bosom-and-belly minister, yet privately associated with feudal lords like this—if not executed, later it cannot be governed." Zhu was finally executed at the market.
24
衡山王上書，請廢太子爽，立其弟孝為太子。 爽聞，即遣所善白嬴之長安上書，言「孝作輣車、鍛矢，與王御者奸」，欲以敗孝。 會有司捕所與淮南謀反者，得陳喜於衡山王子孝家，吏劾孝首匿喜。 孝聞「律：先自告，除其罪」，即先自告所與謀反者枚赫、陳喜等。 公卿請逮捕衡山王治之，王自剄死。 王后徐來、太子爽及孝皆棄市，所與謀反者皆族。
The Prince of Hengshan memorialized requesting to depose Crown Prince Shuang and establish his younger brother Xiao as crown prince. Shuang heard and immediately sent his favorite Bai Ying to Chang'an to memorialize, saying "Xiao makes armored wagons and forges arrows and has illicit relations with the king's charioteer," intending thereby to ruin Xiao. Just then the responsible officials were arresting those who had plotted rebellion with Huainan; Chen Xi was found in the home of the Prince of Hengshan's son Xiao, and the clerks impeached Xiao for first concealing Xi. Xiao heard "The law: whoever first reports himself is exempted from his crime," and immediately first reported himself concerning those who had plotted rebellion with him—Mei He, Chen Xi, and others. The excellencies and ministers requested arresting the Prince of Hengshan to judge him; the king cut his own throat and died. Queen Xu Lai, Crown Prince Shuang, and Xiao were all executed at the market; those who had plotted rebellion with them were all clan-exterminated.
25
凡淮南、衡山二獄，所連引列侯、二千石、豪桀等，死者數萬人。 ----3夏，四月，赦天下。 ----4丁卯，立皇子據為太子，年七歲。 ----5五月，乙巳晦，日有食之。 ----6匈奴萬人入上谷，殺數百人。 ----7初，張騫自月氏還，具為天子言西域諸國風俗：「大宛在漢正西，可萬里。 其俗土著，耕田； 多善馬，馬汗血； 有城郭、室屋，如中國。 其東北則烏孫，東則-{于窴}-。 -{于窴}-之西，則水皆西流注西海，其東，水東流注鹽澤。 鹽澤潛行地下，其南則河源出焉。 鹽澤去長安可五千里。 匈奴右方居鹽澤以東，至隴西長城，南接羌，鬲漢道焉。 烏孫、康居、奄蔡、大月氏，皆行國，隨畜牧，與匈奴同俗。 大夏在大宛西南，與大宛同俗。 臣在大夏時，見邛竹杖、蜀布，問曰：『安得此？』 大夏國人曰：『吾賈人往市之身毒。』 身毒在大夏東南可數千里，其俗土著，與大夏同。 以騫度之，大夏去漢萬二千里，居漢西南； 今身毒國又居大夏東南數千里，有蜀物，此其去蜀不遠矣。 今使大夏，從羌中，險，羌人惡之； 少北，則為匈奴所得； 從蜀，宜徑，又無寇。」
In all, in the two cases of Huainan and Hengshan, those implicated and drawn in—marquises, two-thousand-dan officials, powerful men, and the like—who died numbered tens of thousands. ----3 In summer, the fourth month, an amnesty was proclaimed for all under Heaven. ----4 On dingmao, the emperor's son Ju was established as crown prince, aged seven. ----5 In the fifth month, on the last day of yisi, there was a solar eclipse. ----6 Ten thousand Xiongnu entered Shanggu and killed several hundred people. ----7 At the outset, Zhang Qian returned from the Yuezhi and fully reported to the emperor the customs of the Western Region states: "Dayuan lies due west of Han, perhaps ten thousand li. Their custom is settled on the soil and plowing fields; they have many good horses, horses that sweat blood; they have ramparts, walls, and houses like the Middle Kingdom. To their northeast is Wusun; to the east is -{the cited text}-. West of -{the cited text}-, all waters flow west and enter the Western Sea; east of it, waters flow east and enter the Salt Marsh. The Salt Marsh runs underground; south of it the Yellow River's source emerges. The Salt Marsh is perhaps five thousand li from Chang'an. The Xiongnu right wing dwells east of the Salt Marsh to the Longxi Wall, south connecting with the Qiang, blocking the Han road. Wusun, Kangju, Yancai, and the Great Yuezhi are all traveling states, following their herds in pasture, of the same custom as the Xiongnu. Bactria (Da Xia) lies southwest of Ferghana (Dayuan), with the same customs as Dayuan. When your servant was in Bactria, he saw Qiong bamboo staffs and Shu cloth and asked, 'How did you obtain these?' The people of Bactria said, 'Our merchants go to trade in India (Shendu).' India lies several thousand li southeast of Bactria; the people are sedentary, and their customs are the same as Bactria's. By Zhang Qian's estimate, Bactria is twelve thousand li from Han and lies southwest of Han; Now India also lies several thousand li southeast of Bactria and has goods from Shu—this shows it cannot be far from Shu. To send envoys to Bactria now by the Qiang route is dangerous, and the Qiang dislike it; a little to the north and one falls into Xiongnu hands; from Shu the route should be direct, and there are no bandits."
26
天子既聞大宛及大夏、安息之屬皆大國，多奇物，土著，頗與中國同業，而兵弱，貴漢財物。 其北有大月氏、康居之屬，兵強，可以賂遺設利朝也。 誠得而以義屬之，則廣地萬里，重九譯，致殊俗，威德遍於四海，欣然以騫言為然。 乃令騫因蜀、犍為發間使-{王然于}-等四道並出：出駹，出冉，出徙，出邛、僰，指求身毒國，各行一二千里，其北方閉氐、莋，南方閉巂、昆明。 昆明之屬無君長，善寇盜，輒殺略漢使，終莫得通。 於是漢以求身毒道，始通滇國。 滇王當羌謂漢使者曰：「漢孰與我大？」 及夜郎侯亦然。 以道不通，故各自以為一州主，不知漢廣大。 使者還，因盛言滇大國，足事親附； 天子注意焉，乃復事西南夷。 ----1冬，十月，上幸雍，祠五畤。 ----2三月，戊寅，平津獻侯公孫弘薨。 壬辰，以御史大夫樂安侯李蔡為丞相，廷尉張湯為御史大夫。 ----3霍去病為驃騎將軍，將萬騎出隴西，擊匈奴，歷五王國，轉戰六日，過焉支山千餘里，殺折蘭王，斬盧侯王，執渾邪王子及相國、都尉，獲首虜八千九百餘級，收休屠王祭天金人。 詔益封去病二千戶。
The Son of Heaven had heard that Ferghana, Bactria, Parthia (Anxi), and their kind were all great states rich in rare goods, with settled populations and industries somewhat like China's, yet militarily weak and valuing Han wealth. To their north were the Greater Yuezhi, Kangju, and their kind—strong in arms and susceptible to bribes that could win favorable relations. If they could truly be won and brought under righteous allegiance, territory would extend ten thousand li, messages would pass through nine interpreters to reach foreign peoples, and prestige would spread through the four seas—he gladly approved Zhang Qian's proposal. He then ordered Zhang Qian, through Shu and Jianwei, to send secret envoys including Wang Ranyu and others by four routes at once: from Qiang, from Ran, from Xi, and from Qiong and Bo—all seeking India; each went one or two thousand li, but the north was blocked by the Di and Zhuo, and the south by Xi and Kunming. The Kunming and their kind had no rulers, were skilled at raiding, repeatedly killed and plundered Han envoys, and in the end the route never opened. Thus, in seeking a route to India, Han first established contact with the state of Dian. The King of Dian, Dangqiang, said to the Han envoys, "Is Han as large as we are?" And the Marquis of Yelang said the same. Because the routes did not open, each thought himself the ruler of a whole province and did not know how vast Han was. When the envoys returned, they spoke at length of Dian as a great state fit for kinship and allegiance; the Son of Heaven took notice and again turned to affairs with the Southwest Yi. ----1 In winter, the tenth month, the emperor visited Yong and sacrificed at the Five Altars. ----2 In the third month, on wuyin, Marquis Xian of Pingjin Gongsun Hong died. On renchen, Grand Counsellor Le'an Marquis Li Cai was appointed Chancellor, and Commandant of Justice Zhang Tang was appointed Grand Counsellor. ----3 Huo Qubing was made General of Swift Cavalry and led ten thousand horsemen out from Longxi to attack the Xiongnu; he passed through five kingdoms, fought for six days, and went more than a thousand li beyond Yanzhi Mountain; he killed King Zhelan, beheaded King Luhou, seized the son of King Hunye along with a chancellor and commandant, took eight thousand nine hundred-odd heads and captives, and captured the Xiutu King's golden image for sacrificing to Heaven. An edict increased Qubing's fief by two thousand households.
27
夏，去病復與合騎侯公孫敖將數萬騎俱出北地，異道。 衛尉張騫、郎中令李廣俱出右北平，異道。 廣將四千騎先行，可數百里，騫將萬騎在後。 匈奴左賢王將四萬騎圍廣，廣軍士皆恐； 廣乃使其子敢獨與數十騎馳貫胡騎，出其左右而還，告廣曰：「胡虜易與耳！」 軍士乃安。 廣為圜陳，外向。 胡急擊之，矢下如雨。 漢兵死者過半，漢矢且盡。 廣乃令士持滿毋發，而廣身自以大黃射其裨將，殺數人，胡虜益解。 會日暮，吏士皆無人色，而廣意氣自如，益治軍，軍中皆服其勇。 明日，復力戰，死者過半，所殺亦過當。 會博望侯軍亦至，匈奴軍乃解去。 漢軍罷，弗能追，罷歸。 漢法：博望侯留遲後期，當死，贖為庶人。 廣軍功自如，無賞。 而驃騎將軍去病深入二千餘里，與合騎侯失，不相得。 驃騎將軍逾居延，過小月氏，至祁連山，得單桓、酋塗王，及相國、都尉以眾降者二千五百人，斬首虜三萬二百級，獲裨小王七十餘人。 天子益封去病五千戶，封其裨將有功者鷹擊司馬趙破奴為從驃侯，校尉高不識為宜冠侯，校尉僕多為煇渠侯。 合騎侯敖坐行留不與驃騎會，當斬，贖為庶人。
In summer Qubing again led several tens of thousands of horsemen out from Beidi together with Marquis of Combined Cavalry Gongsun Ao, by separate routes. Commandant of Guards Zhang Qian and Palace Attendant Li Guang both marched out from Right Beiping by separate routes. Guang led four thousand horsemen ahead by several hundred li; Qian led ten thousand horsemen behind. The Xiongnu Worthy King of the Left with forty thousand horsemen surrounded Guang; Guang's troops were all terrified; Guang then sent his son Gan alone with several dozen horsemen to charge through the Xiongnu cavalry, break out to their flanks, and return; he told Guang, "The Hu are easy to handle!" The troops were then reassured. Guang formed a circular formation facing outward. The Xiongnu pressed the attack fiercely; arrows fell like rain. More than half the Han soldiers were dead, and their arrows were nearly gone. Guang then ordered his men to hold their bows drawn but not shoot; he himself used a powerful crossbow to shoot their vice-commander and killed several men, and the Xiongnu slackened their attack. At sunset the officers and soldiers were ashen, yet Guang's bearing was calm as ever and he redoubled his command of the army; all in camp admired his courage. The next day they fought again with all their strength; more than half died, but those they killed also exceeded their own losses. When Marquis of Expansive Vision Zhang Qian's army also arrived, the Xiongnu force withdrew. The Han army was exhausted and could not pursue; they withdrew and returned. By Han law, Marquis of Expansive Vision Zhang Qian, for arriving late, faced death but ransomed his life and was reduced to commoner status. Guang's military achievement counted as even; he received no reward. Meanwhile General of Swift Cavalry Qubing penetrated more than two thousand li but missed Marquis of Combined Cavalry and failed to link up. General of Swift Cavalry Qubing crossed Juyan, passed the Lesser Yuezhi, and reached the Qilian Mountains; he took Kings Danhuan and Qiutu, along with a chancellor and commandant, with twenty-five hundred who surrendered; he beheaded thirty-two thousand and took more than seventy vice-kings. The Son of Heaven increased Qubing's fief by five thousand households and enfeoffed his meritorious subordinates: Hawk-strike Major Zhao Ponu as Follower Swift-Cavalry Marquis, Colonel Gao Bushi as Proper-Cap Marquis, and Colonel Pudu as Huiqu Marquis. Marquis of Combined Cavalry Gongsun Ao, for lingering and failing to join Swift Cavalry, faced decapitation but ransomed his life and became a commoner.
28
是時，諸宿將所將士、馬、兵皆不如驃騎，驃騎所將常選，然亦敢深入，常與壯騎先其大軍； 軍亦有天幸，未嘗困絕也。 而諸宿將常留落不偶，由此驃騎日以親貴，比大將軍矣。
At this time the soldiers, horses, and arms under the veteran generals were all inferior to Swift Cavalry's; Qubing's troops were always picked men, yet he also dared to penetrate deep, often riding ahead of the main army with elite horsemen; his army also enjoyed heaven's favor and was never trapped to the point of ruin. while the veteran generals often lagged behind without comparable success; thus Swift Cavalry grew daily more intimate and honored, rivaling the Grand General.
29
匈奴入代、雁門，殺略數百人。 ----4江都王建與其父易王所幸淖姬等及女弟徵臣奸。 建游雷陂，天大風，建使郎二人乘小船入陂中。 船覆，兩郎溺，攀船，乍見乍沒。 建臨觀大笑，令勿救，皆死。 凡殺不辜三十五人，專為淫虐。 自知罪多，恐誅，與其-{后}-成光共使越婢下神，祝詛上。 又聞淮南、衡山陰謀，建亦作兵器，刻皇帝璽，為反具。 事發覺，有司請捕誅，建自殺，-{后}-成光等皆棄市，國除。 ----5膠東康王寄薨。 ----6秋，匈奴渾邪王降。 是時，單于怒渾邪王、休屠王居西方為漢所殺虜數萬人，欲召誅之。 渾邪王與休屠王恐，謀降漢，先遣使向邊境要遮漢人，令報天子。 是時，大行李息將城河上，得渾邪王使，馳傳以聞。 天子聞之，恐其以詐降而襲邊，乃令驃騎將軍將兵往迎之。 休屠王後悔，渾邪王殺之，并其眾。 驃騎既渡河，與渾邪王眾相望。 渾邪王裨將見漢軍，而多不欲降者，頗遁去。 驃騎乃馳入，得與渾邪王相見，斬其欲亡者八千人，遂獨遣渾邪王乘傳詣至行在所，盡將其眾渡河。 降者四萬餘人，號稱十萬。 既至長安，天子所以賞賜者數十巨萬； 封渾邪王萬戶，為漯陰侯，封其裨王呼毒尼等四人皆為列侯。 益封驃騎千七百戶。
The Xiongnu entered Dai and Yanmen and killed and plundered several hundred people. ----4 King Jian of Jiangdu committed incest with Nao Ji and others whom his father King Yi had favored, and with his younger sister Zheng Chen. Jian toured Lei Marsh during a great wind and sent two gentlemen-in-attendance in a small boat into the marsh. The boat capsized; both men drowned, clinging to the boat and now appearing, now sinking from sight. Jian watched from the shore and laughed; he ordered that they not be rescued, and both died. In all he killed thirty-five innocents and devoted himself to debauchery and cruelty. Knowing his crimes were many and fearing execution, he and his queen Chengguang together had a Yue slave-woman summon spirits and curse the emperor. Also hearing of the secret plots at Huainan and Hengshan, Jian made weapons, carved the emperor's seal, and prepared equipment for rebellion. When the matter was discovered, the responsible offices requested arrest and execution; Jian killed himself, Chengguang and others were all executed in the market, and the kingdom was abolished. ----5 King Kang of Jiaodong Ji died. ----6 In autumn the Xiongnu King Hunye surrendered. At this time the chanyu was angry that Kings Hunye and Xiutu in the west had had tens of thousands of their men killed and captured by Han and intended to summon and execute them. Kings Hunye and Xiutu were afraid and plotted to surrender to Han; they first sent envoys to the border to intercept Han men and order them to report to the Son of Heaven. At this time Grand Herald Li Xi was fortifying the river and obtained Hunye's envoy; he sent a relay-post report. When the Son of Heaven heard this, he feared they might feign surrender to raid the border and ordered General of Swift Cavalry to lead troops to receive them. King Xiutu repented, but King Hunye killed him and absorbed his followers. After Swift Cavalry had crossed the river, he and King Hunye's forces faced each other from a distance. When Hunye's vice-generals saw the Han army, many who did not wish to surrender fled in considerable numbers. Swift Cavalry then galloped in, met King Hunye, and beheaded eight thousand who wished to flee; he then sent King Hunye alone by relay carriage to the emperor's traveling residence and led all his followers across the river. The surrenderers numbered more than forty thousand, though they claimed one hundred thousand. Once they reached Chang'an, the Son of Heaven's rewards amounted to several tens of millions; he enfeoffed King Hunye with ten thousand households as Marquis of Luoyin and enfeoffed his vice-kings Huduni and four others as full marquises. He increased Swift Cavalry's fief by seventeen hundred households.
30
渾邪之降也，漢發車二萬乘以迎之，縣官無錢，從民貰馬，民或匿馬，馬不具。 上怒，欲斬長安令，右內史汲黯曰：「長安令無罪，獨斬臣黯，民乃肯出馬。 且匈奴畔其主而降漢，漢徐以縣次傳之，何至令天下騷動，罷敝中國而以事夷狄之人乎！」 上默然。 及渾邪至，賈人與市者坐當死五百餘人，黯請間見高門，曰：「夫匈奴攻當路塞，絕和親，中國興兵誅之，死傷者不可勝計，而費以巨萬百數。 臣愚以為陛下得胡人，皆以為奴婢，以賜從軍死事者家，所鹵獲，因予之，以謝天下之苦，塞百姓之心。 今縱不能，渾邪率數萬之眾來降，虛府庫賞賜，發良民侍養，譬若奉驕子，愚民安知市買長安中物，而文吏繩以為闌出財物於邊關乎！ 陛下縱不能得匈奴之資以謝天下，又以微文殺無知者五百餘人，是所謂庇其葉而傷其枝者也。 臣竊為陛下不取也。」 上默然不許，曰：「吾久不聞汲黯之言，今又復妄發矣。」
At Hunye's surrender Han dispatched twenty thousand carriages to receive him; the government had no money and borrowed horses from the people, but some people hid their horses and the horses were not sufficient. The emperor was angry and wished to behead the Magistrate of Chang'an; Right Metropolitan Superintendent Ji An said, "The Magistrate of Chang'an is guiltless; only behead your servant Ji An, and then the people will be willing to lend horses. Moreover the Xiongnu turned against their lord and surrendered to Han; Han should convey them leisurely by relay stages from county to county—why stir all under Heaven to exhaustion and wear out China to serve barbarian men!" The emperor was silent. When Hunye arrived, more than five hundred merchants who had traded with them faced death; Ji An requested a private audience at Gaomen Gate and said, "The Xiongnu attacked the frontier passes, severed the marriage alliance, and China raised troops to punish them; the dead and wounded are beyond counting, and the cost runs to hundreds of tens of millions. Your servant foolishly thinks that whatever Hu captives Your Majesty obtains should all be made slaves and maidservants and given to the families of men who followed the army and died in service, and whatever booty is seized should be given them as well—to repay the suffering of all under Heaven and satisfy the people's hearts. Now even if that cannot be done, Hunye has led tens of thousands to surrender, emptying the treasury in rewards and sending good citizens to attend them, as if tending a spoiled child; how would foolish people know how to buy goods in Chang'an, yet clerk officials bind them for smuggling property out past the border pass! Your Majesty, even if unable to use Xiongnu wealth to repay all under Heaven, yet kills more than five hundred ignorant men on petty legal grounds—this is what is called sheltering the leaves while harming the branches. Your servant privately considers that Your Majesty should not do this." The emperor was silent and did not grant his request, saying, "I have long not heard Ji An's words; now again he speaks rashly."
31
居頃之，乃分徙降者邊五郡故塞外，而皆在河南，因其故俗為五屬國。 而金城河西，西並南山至鹽澤，空無匈奴，匈奴時有候者到而希矣。
Before long they divided and relocated the surrenderers to the old lands outside the passes in the five border commanderies—all south of the Yellow River—and, according to their existing customs, established five dependent states. West of Jincheng and Hexi, west along the southern mountains to Salt Marsh, the land was empty of Xiongnu; when Xiongnu scouts occasionally came, they were few.
32
休屠王太子日磾與母閼氏、弟倫俱沒入官，輸黃門養馬。 久之，帝游宴，見馬，後宮滿側，日磾等數十人牽馬過殿下，莫不竊視，至日磾獨不敢。 日磾長八尺二寸，容貌甚嚴，馬又肥好，上異而問之，具以本狀對。 對奇焉，即日賜湯沐、衣冠，拜為馬監，遷侍中、駙馬都尉、光祿大夫。 日磾既親近，未嘗有過失，上甚信愛之，賞賜累千金，出則驂乘，入侍左右。 貴戚多竊怨曰：「陛下妄得一胡兒，反貴重之。」 上聞，愈厚焉。 以休屠作金人為祭天主，故賜日磾姓金氏。----
Xiutu King's crown prince Rizi, his mother the chanyu's wife, and his brother Lun were all confiscated by the government and sent to the Yellow Gate to raise horses. Long afterward, at an imperial feast the emperor saw horses; the inner palace filled both sides; Rizi and several dozen others led horses past the hall steps—all stole glances, but when it came to Rizi alone he did not dare. Rizi was eight chi two cun tall, of very stern appearance, and the horses were fat and fine; the emperor found it strange and asked him; he fully reported his origins. The emperor was strangely pleased with his answer; that very day he bestowed bath funds, cap, and robes, appointed him Horse Supervisor, and promoted him to Palace Attendant, Commandant of Chariots for the Empress's Carriages, and Household Counsellor. Once Rizi was close at hand he never had a fault; the emperor greatly trusted and loved him, bestowed rewards totaling thousands in gold, had him ride alongside when going out, and attend at his left and right when entering. Many among the noble kin secretly complained, "Your Majesty randomly obtained a Hu child, yet instead honors him heavily." When the emperor heard this, he treated him all the more generously. Because Xiutu had made a golden man as lord of Heaven for sacrifice, he gave Rizi the surname Jin (Gold).
33
1春，有星孛於東方。 ----2夏，五月。 赦天下。 ----3淮南王之謀反也，膠東康王寄微聞其事，私作戰守備。 及吏治淮南事，辭出之。 寄母王夫人，即皇太后之女弟也，於上最親，意自傷，發病而死，不敢置後。 上聞而憐之，立其長子賢為膠東王。 又封其所愛少子慶為六安王，王故衡山王地。 ----4秋，匈奴入右北平、定襄，各數萬騎，殺略千餘人。 ----5山東大水，民多饑乏。 天子遣使者虛郡國倉癐以振貧民，猶不足，又募豪富吏民能假貸貧民者以名聞，尚不能相救。 乃徙貧民於關以西及充朔方以南新秦中七十餘萬口，衣食皆仰給縣官，數歲假予產業。 使者分部護之，冠蓋相望。 其費以億計，不可勝數。 ----6漢既得渾邪王地，隴西、北地、上郡益少胡寇，詔減三郡戍卒之半，以寬天下之繇。 ----7上將討昆明，以昆明有滇池方三百里，乃作昆明池以習水戰。 是時法既益嚴，吏多廢免。 兵革數動，民多買復及五大夫，征發之士益鮮。 於是除千夫、五大夫為吏，不欲者出馬，以故吏弄法，皆謫令伐棘上林，穿昆明池。 ----8是歲，得神馬於渥窪水中。 上方立樂府，使司馬相如等造為詩賦，以宦者李延年為協律都尉，佩二千石印； 弦次初詩以合八音之調。 詩多《爾雅》之文，通一經之士不能獨知其辭，必集會《五經》家相與共講習讀之，乃能通知其意。 及得神馬，次以為歌。 汲黯曰：「凡王者作樂，上以承祖宗，下以化兆民。 今陛下得馬，詩以為歌，協於宗廟，先帝百姓豈能知其音邪？」 上默然不說。
1 In spring a broom star appeared in the east. ----2 In summer, the fifth month. There was an amnesty for all under Heaven. ----3 When the King of Huainan plotted rebellion, King Kang of Jiaodong Ji faintly heard of it and privately made preparations for war and defense. When officials investigated the Huainan affair, testimony brought it to light. Ji's mother Lady Wang was the Empress Dowager's younger sister and was closest to the emperor; grieving on her own account, she fell ill and died and dared not arrange a successor. When the emperor heard, he pitied them and established the eldest son Xian as King of Jiaodong. He also enfeoffed the beloved younger son Qing as King of Lu'an, granting him the former lands of the King of Hengshan. ----4 In autumn the Xiongnu entered Right Beiping and Dingxiang with several ten thousand horsemen each and killed and plundered more than a thousand people. ----5 In the lands east of the passes there was great flooding, and many among the people were hungry and destitute. The emperor sent envoys to empty the commanderies' and kingdoms' granaries to relieve the poor; still it was not enough, and he recruited wealthy officials and commoners who could lend to the poor to have their names reported—yet they still could not rescue one another. Thereupon more than seven hundred thousand poor people were moved west of the pass and settled in the new Qin territory south of Shuofang; food and clothing were all supplied by the government, and for several years they were lent land and property. Envoys were assigned in districts to escort them, with official canopies and banners in sight everywhere. The expense ran to hundreds of millions and could not be reckoned. ----6 Once Han had taken the lands of King Hunye, Longxi, Beidi, and Shang commandery saw fewer Xiongnu raids; an edict cut the garrison troops of the three commanderies by half to ease corvée labor throughout the realm. ----7 The emperor planned to attack Kunming; because Kunming had Dian Lake, some three hundred li square, he built Kunming Pool to practice naval warfare. At this time the laws had grown stricter, and many officials were dismissed. Campaigns were frequent; many people bought exemption from service and the rank of grand master of five, and conscripts grew ever scarcer. Thereupon thousand-leaders and grandees of five were made officials; those unwilling provided horses instead; and because former officials twisted the law, all were banished to cut thorns in Shanglin and excavate Kunming Pool. ----8 This year a divine horse was obtained in the Wowa waters. The emperor established the Music Bureau, had Sima Xiangru and others compose poems and rhapsodies, and made the eunuch Li Yanian Director of Harmonizing the Pitch Pipes, with a two-thousand-bushel seal; string instruments set the new poems to the modes of the eight sounds. The poems mostly used the language of the Erya; even a scholar who had mastered one classic could not know their wording alone—they had to gather masters of the Five Classics to study and read them together before they could fully grasp their meaning. When the divine horse was obtained, it was next set as a song. Ji An said, "In general when kings make music, above it carries on the ancestors, below it transforms the myriad people. Now Your Majesty has obtained a horse and made a poem into a song for the ancestral temple—can the former emperor's common people know its sound?" The emperor was silent and displeased.
34
上招延士大夫，常如不足； 然性嚴峻，群臣雖素所愛信者，或小有犯法，或欺罔，輒按誅之，無所寬假。 汲黯諫曰：「陛下求賢甚勞，未盡其用，輒已殺之。 以有限之士恣無已之誅，臣恐天下賢才將盡，陛下誰與共為治乎！」 黯言之甚怒，上笑而諭之曰：「何世無才，患人不能識之耳，苟能識之，何患無人！ 夫所謂才者，猶有用之器也，有才而不肯盡用，與無才同，不殺何施！」 黯曰：「臣雖不能以言屈陛下，而心猶以為非。 願陛下自今改之，無以臣為愚而不知理也。」 上顧群臣曰：「黯自言為便辟則不可，自言為愚，豈不信然乎！」----
The emperor recruited scholar-officials, always as if there were never enough; yet his nature was stern; among the ministers, even those he had long loved and trusted—if they slightly broke the law or deceived—he would immediately investigate and execute them without lenience. Ji An remonstrated, saying, "Your Majesty seeks the worthy with great toil, yet before their use is exhausted you have already killed them. With a limited supply of men you indulge unending executions—your servant fears the realm's worthy talents will be exhausted; with whom will Your Majesty govern?" Ji An spoke in great anger; the emperor smiled and instructed him, saying, "What age lacks talent? The trouble is only that men cannot recognize it; if one can recognize it, why fear there will be no men! What is called talent is like a vessel with a use; having talent yet unwilling to use it fully is the same as having no talent—if you do not kill them, what is the use!" Ji An said, "Your servant, though unable by words to bend Your Majesty, in heart still thinks it wrong. Your servant wishes Your Majesty from now to change this and not take your servant for a fool who knows nothing of principle." The emperor looked at the ministers and said, "If Ji An calls himself a fawning partisan, that will not do; if he calls himself a fool, is that not truly so!"
35
1冬，有司言：「縣官用度太空，而富商大賈冶鑄、煮鹽，財或累萬金，不佐國家之急。 請更錢造幣以贍用，而摧浮淫并兼之徒。」 是時，禁苑有白鹿而少府多銀、錫，乃以白鹿皮方尺，緣以藻繢，為皮幣，直四十萬。 王侯、宗室，朝覲、聘享，必以皮幣薦璧，然後得行。 又造銀、錫為白金三品：大者圜之，其文龍，直三千； 次方之，其文馬，直五百； 小者橢之，其文龜，直三百。 令縣官銷半兩錢，更鑄三銖錢，盜鑄諸金錢罪皆死； 而吏民之盜鑄白金者不可勝數。
1 In winter, the responsible officials said, "Government expenditures are greatly depleted, yet great wealthy merchants smelt, cast, and boil salt; wealth sometimes piles to tens of thousands in gold, yet they do not assist the state's urgent needs. We request to remint currency to supply expenditures and to crush those who grow fat on extravagance and monopoly." At this time the imperial park had a white deer and the Privy Treasury had much silver and tin; they took a square foot of white deer skin, edged it with embroidered ornament, and made leather currency worth four hundred thousand cash. When kings, marquises, and the imperial clan attended court or made offerings, they had to present jade bi with leather currency and only then could proceed. Moreover they made silver and tin into white metal in three grades: the large was made round, inscribed with a dragon, worth three thousand; the next was made square, inscribed with a horse, worth five hundred; the small was made oval, inscribed with a turtle, worth three hundred. The government was ordered to melt down banliang coins and remint three-zhu coins; counterfeiting any metal currency was punishable by death; yet among officials and people those who counterfeited white metal were countless.
36
於是以東郭咸陽、孔僅為大農丞，領鹽鐵事； 桑弘羊以計算用事。 咸陽，齊之大煮鹽； 僅，南陽大冶，皆致生累千金。 弘羊，洛陽賈人之子，以心計，年十三侍中。 三人言利，事析秋毫矣。
Thereupon Dongguo Xianyang and Kong Jin were made aides to the Grand Farmer to oversee salt and iron; Sang Hongyang handled affairs through reckoning and calculation. Xianyang was Qi's great salt-boiler; Jin of Nanyang was a great smelter; both had amassed wealth of a thousand jin of gold. Hongyang was a Luoyang merchant's son; by mental calculation, at age thirteen he became Palace Attendant. The three men spoke of profit and analyzed affairs down to the finest hair.
37
詔禁民敢私鑄鐵器、煮鹽者釱左趾，沒入其器物。 公卿又請令諸賈人末作各以其物自占，率緡錢二千而一算； 及民有軺車若船五丈以上者，皆有算。 匿不自占，占不悉，戍邊一歲，沒入緡錢。 有能告者，以其半畀之。 其法大抵出張湯。 湯每朝奏事，語國家用，日晏，天子忘食。 丞相充位，天下事皆決於湯。 百姓騷動，不安其生，咸指怨湯。 ----2初，河南人卜式，數請輸財縣官以助邊，天子使使問式：「欲官乎？」 式曰：「臣少田牧，不習仕宦，不願也。」 使者問曰：「家豈有冤，欲言事乎？」 式曰：「臣生與人無分爭，邑人貧者貸之，不善者教之，所居人皆從式，式何故見冤於人！ 無所欲言也。」 使者曰：「苟如此，子何欲而然？」 式曰：「天子誅匈奴，愚以為賢者宜死節於邊，有財者宜輸委，如此而匈奴可滅也。」 上由是賢之，欲尊顯以風百姓，乃召拜式為中郎，爵左庶長，賜田十頃，佈告下天，使明知之。 未幾，又擢式為齊太傅。 ----3春，有星孛於東北。 夏，有長星出於西北。 ----4上與諸將議曰：「翕侯趙信為單于畫計，常以為漢兵不能度幕輕留，今大發士卒，其勢必得所欲。」 乃粟馬十萬，令大將軍青、驃騎將軍去病各將五萬騎，私負從馬復四萬匹，步兵轉者踵軍後又數十萬人，而敢力戰深入之士皆屬驃騎。 驃騎始為出定襄，當單于，捕虜言單于東，乃更令驃騎出代郡，令大將軍出定襄。 郎中令李廣數自請行，天子以為老，弗許； 良久，乃許之，以為前將軍。 太僕公孫賀為左將軍，主爵都尉趙食其為右將軍，平陽侯曹瓤為後將軍，皆屬大將軍。 趙信為單于謀曰：「漢兵既度幕，人馬罷，匈奴可坐收虜耳。」 乃悉遠北其輜重，以精兵待幕北。
An edict forbade the people to dare privately cast iron tools or boil salt—offenders were branded on the left toe and their goods confiscated. The dukes and ministers further requested that all merchants and craftsmen report their goods themselves, with a levy of two thousand cash per calculation unit; and for people who owned light carriages or boats of more than five zhang, levies applied as well. Those who concealed goods and did not report, or reported incompletely, were garrisoned on the border for one year and their cash was confiscated. Informers received half the confiscated sum. The law mostly came from Zhang Tang. Whenever Tang presented affairs at court and spoke of state expenditures, the day grew late and the emperor forgot his meal. The chancellor filled the post in name; affairs of all under Heaven were all decided by Tang. The people were disturbed and unsettled in their livelihoods; all blamed Tang. ----2 Initially Bu Shi of Henan several times offered to give wealth to the government to assist the border; the emperor sent an envoy to ask Shi, "Do you wish an office?" Shi said, "Your servant from youth has farmed and herded; I am not practiced in office and do not wish it." The envoy asked, "Does your family perhaps have a grievance you wish to report?" Shi said, "Your servant has had no quarrels with others in life; when townsmen were poor I lent to them, when they were unskilled I taught them—where I have lived, people all followed Shi; why should Shi be wronged by anyone! There is nothing I wish to say." The envoy said, "If it is so, why do you wish to do this?" Shi said, "The emperor punishes the Xiongnu; your servant thinks the worthy ought to die holding the border and the wealthy ought to surrender their goods—thus the Xiongnu can be destroyed." The emperor thereby considered him worthy and wished to honor him to instruct the people; he summoned and appointed Shi as Palace Attendant, granted him the rank of left commoner chief and ten qing of fields, and proclaimed it throughout the realm. Before long, Shi was further promoted to Grand Tutor of Qi. ----3 In spring, a comet appeared in the northeast. In summer, a long comet appeared in the northwest. ----4 The emperor deliberated with the generals, saying, "Marquis of Xi Zhao Xin advised the chanyu, always thinking Han troops cannot cross the desert and linger lightly; now with a great dispatch of troops, their momentum is certain to obtain what they desire." Thereupon a hundred thousand grain-fed horses were gathered; the Great General Wei Qing and Swift Cavalry General Huo Qubing were each to lead fifty thousand horsemen, with privately carried follower horses adding forty thousand more; infantry transport troops following the rear numbered several hundred thousand more; and the men who dared fight fiercely and penetrate deep all belonged to Huo Qubing. Huo Qubing was at first to go out from Dingxiang to meet the chanyu; captives said the chanyu was to the east, so the order was changed: Huo Qubing was to go out from Dai commandery and the Great General from Dingxiang. Director of the Secretariat Li Guang several times requested to go on campaign; the emperor thought him old and did not permit it; after a long while he permitted it and made him Forward General. Grand Master of the Stud Gongsun He was made Left General, Chief Commandant of Nobility Zhao Shiyi Right General, and Marquis of Pingyang Cao Rang Rear General—all subordinate to the Great General. Zhao Xin advised the chanyu, saying, "Once Han troops have crossed the desert, men and horses will be exhausted—the Xiongnu can sit and take the captives." Thereupon they moved all baggage far north and waited north of the desert with picked troops.
38
大將軍青既出塞，捕虜知單于所居，乃自以精兵走之，而令前將軍廣并於右將軍軍，出東道。 東道回遠而水草少，廣自請曰：「臣部為前將軍，今大將軍乃徙令臣出東道。 且臣結髮而與匈奴戰，今乃一得當單于，臣願居前，先死單于。」 大將軍亦陰受上誡，以為「李廣老，數奇，毋令當單于，恐不得所欲。」 而公孫敖新失侯，大將軍亦欲使敖與俱當單于，故徙前將軍廣。 廣知之，固自辭於大將軍； 大將軍不聽，廣不謝而起行，意甚慍怒。
The Great General Wei Qing having gone out beyond the frontier, captives knew where the chanyu dwelt; he himself hurried there with picked troops and ordered Forward General Li Guang merged into the Right General's army to go out by the eastern route. The eastern route was circuitous and far, with little water and grass; Guang himself requested, saying, "Your servant's command was Forward General; now the Great General has moved and ordered your servant out by the eastern route. Moreover your servant has fought the Xiongnu since boyhood; now at last I may meet the chanyu—your servant wishes to stand forward and face the chanyu first." The Great General had also secretly received the emperor's warning, thinking, "Li Guang is old and his fate is odd—do not let him meet the chanyu, lest he fail to obtain what is desired." Moreover Gongsun Ao had newly lost his marquisate; the Great General also wished to have Ao meet the chanyu together—therefore he moved Forward General Guang. Guang knew this and firmly declined before the Great General; the Great General would not listen; Guang did not thank him and rose to go, deeply resentful.
39
大將軍出塞千餘里，度幕，見單于兵陳而待。 於是大將軍令武剛車自環為營，而縱五千騎往當匈奴。 匈奴亦縱可萬騎。 會日且入，大風起，砂礫擊面，兩軍不相見，漢益縱左右翼繞單于。 單于視漢兵多而士馬尚強，自度戰不能如漢兵，單于遂乘六騾，壯騎可數百，直冒漢圍，西北馳去。 時已昏，漢匈奴相紛拏，殺傷大當。 當軍左校捕虜言，單于未昏而去，漢軍發輕騎夜追之，大將軍軍因隨其後，匈奴兵亦散走。 遲明，行二百餘里，不得單于，捕斬首虜萬九千級，遂至窴顏山趙信城，得匈奴積粟食軍，留一日，悉燒其城餘粟而歸。
The Great General went out more than a thousand li beyond the frontier, crossed the desert, and saw the chanyu's troops arrayed and waiting. Thereupon the Great General ordered armored war wagons to ring themselves into a camp and sent five thousand horsemen forward to meet the Xiongnu. The Xiongnu also sent out perhaps ten thousand horsemen. As the sun was about to set, a great wind rose, sand and pebbles struck the face, and the two armies could not see one another; Han further sent the left and right wings to circle around the chanyu. The chanyu saw Han troops were many and men and horses still strong; judging he could not match Han in battle, he mounted six piebald steeds with several hundred picked horsemen, dashed straight through the Han encirclement, and fled northwest. It was already dusk; Han and Xiongnu grappled with one another, and killing and wounding were roughly equal. Captives of the army's Left Colonel said the chanyu had left before dusk; Han sent light cavalry to pursue by night, and the Great General's army followed after; Xiongnu troops also scattered and fled. At dawn, having marched more than two hundred li, they did not catch the chanyu; they took nineteen thousand heads and captives; they then reached Zhijian Mountain and Zhao Xin's city, used Xiongnu stored grain to feed the army, stayed one day, burned the city's remaining grain, and returned.
40
前將軍廣與右將軍食其軍無導，惑失道，後大將軍，不及單于戰。 大將軍引還，過幕南，乃遇二將軍。 大將軍使長史責問廣、食其失道狀，急責廣之幕府對簿。 廣曰：「諸校尉無罪，乃我自失道，吾今自上簿至莫府」。 廣謂其麾下曰：「廣結髮與匈奴大小七十餘戰，今幸從大將軍出接單于兵，而大將軍徙廣部行回遠，而又迷失道，豈非天哉！ 且廣年六十餘矣，終不能復對刀筆之吏！」 遂引刀自剄。 廣為人廉，得賞賜輒分其麾下，飲食與士共之，為二千石四十餘年，家無餘財。 猿臂，善射，度不中不發。 將兵，乏絕之處見水，士卒不盡飲，廣不近水，士卒不盡食，廣不嘗食。 士以此愛樂為用。 及死，一軍皆哭。 百姓聞之，知與不知，無老壯皆為垂涕。 而右將軍獨下吏，當死，贖為庶人。
Forward General Guang and Right General Shiyi's army had no guide; confused, they lost the way, fell behind the Great General, and missed the battle with the chanyu. The Great General led the return, passed south of the desert, and there met the two generals. The Great General sent the chief clerk to reproach Guang and Shiyi for losing the way and urgently summoned Guang to headquarters for judgment. Guang said, "The colonels are without guilt—it was I myself who lost the way; I will now go myself to account at headquarters." Guang said to his subordinates, "I have fought the Xiongnu in more than seventy great and small battles since boyhood; now, fortunate to follow the Great General out to meet the chanyu, the Great General moved my division on a circuitous far route, and moreover we lost the way—is this not Heaven! Moreover I am more than sixty years old—I cannot again face the clerks with knife and brush!" Thereupon he drew his sword and cut his own throat. Guang was incorrupt; whenever he received rewards he at once divided them among his men; he shared food and drink with the soldiers; as a two-thousand-bushel official for more than forty years, his household had no surplus wealth. With arms like an ape's, he was skilled at archery; if he judged he would not hit, he did not release. When leading troops, in places where supplies ran out, if the soldiers had not all drunk at water, Guang did not approach the water; if they had not all eaten, Guang did not taste food. The soldiers for this loved him and delighted to serve under him. When he died, the whole army wept. When the people heard it, whether they knew him or not, young and old alike shed tears. But the Right General alone was sent to the officials; he should have died but was ransomed and made a commoner.
41
單于之遁走，其兵往往與漢兵相亂而隨單于，單于久不與其大眾相得。 其右谷蠡王以為單于死，乃自立為單于。 十餘日，真單于復得其眾，而右谷蠡王乃去其單于號。
As the chanyu fled, his troops often mingled in disorder with Han troops while following him; for a long time the chanyu did not rejoin his main force. His Right Guli King thought the chanyu was dead and thereupon declared himself chanyu. After more than ten days the true chanyu regained his followers, and the Right Guli King thereupon abandoned his chanyu title.
42
驃騎將軍騎兵車重與大將軍軍等，而無裨將，悉以李敢等為大校，當裨將，出代、右北平二千餘里，絕大幕，直左方兵，獲屯頭王、韓王等三人，將軍、相國、當戶、都尉八十三人，封狼居胥山，禪於姑衍，登臨翰海，鹵獲七萬四百四十三級。 天子以五千八百戶益封驃騎將軍； 又封其所部右北平太守路博德等四人列侯，從驃侯破奴等二人益封，校尉敢為關內侯，食邑； 軍吏卒為官、賞賜甚多。 而大將軍不得益封，軍吏卒皆無封侯者。
Swift Cavalry General Huo Qubing's cavalry, chariots, and baggage matched the Great General's force, yet he had no lieutenant generals; he used Li Gan and others as grand colonels in their place; marching from Dai and Right Beiping more than two thousand li, he crossed the great desert, struck straight at the left-wing troops, captured Tuntou King, Han King, and three others plus eighty-three generals, chancellors, household heads, and commandants; he sealed Mount Langjuxu, performed the feng at Guyuan, and ascended to look upon the Han Sea; captive booty totaled seventy thousand four hundred forty-three heads. The emperor increased Huo Qubing's fief by five thousand eight hundred households; moreover he enfeoffed four men of his command including Right Beiping Administrator Lu Bode as full marquises, increased the fiefs of two men including Marquis of Congpiao Ponu, and made Colonel Li Gan a Marquis within the Passes with a food fief; army officers and soldiers received offices and rewards in great number. But the Great General received no increase in fief, and none of his army officers or soldiers were enfeoffed as marquises.
43
兩軍之出塞，塞閱官及私馬凡十四萬匹，而復入塞者不滿三萬匹。
When the two armies went out beyond the frontier, government and private horses totaled one hundred forty thousand; yet fewer than thirty thousand re-entered the frontier.
44
乃益置大司馬位，大將軍、驃騎將軍皆為大司馬，定令，令驃騎將軍秩祿與大將軍等。 自是之後，大將軍青日退而驃騎日益貴。 大將軍故人、門下士多去事,驃騎，輒得官爵，唯任安不肯。
Thereupon the post of Grand Marshal was established; the Great General and Swift Cavalry General were both made Grand Marshals, and it was fixed that Huo Qubing's rank and salary should equal Wei Qing's. From this onward Wei Qing daily declined while Huo Qubing daily grew more honored. Wei Qing's old acquaintances and retainers mostly went to serve Huo Qubing and at once obtained offices and titles; only Ren An would not.
45
驃騎將軍為人，少言不洩，有氣敢往。 天子嘗欲教之孫、吳兵法，對曰：「顧方略何如耳，不至學古兵法。」 天子為治第，令驃騎視之，對曰：「匈奴未滅，無以家為也！」 由此上益重愛之。 然少貴，不省士，其從軍，天子為遣太官賫數十乘，既還，重車餘棄粱肉，而士有饑者； 其在塞外，卒乏糧或不能自振，而驃騎尚穿域蹋鞠，事多此類。 大將軍為人仁，喜士退讓，以和柔自媚於上。 兩人志操如此。
Huo Qubing spoke little and kept secrets; he had spirit and dared advance. The emperor once wished to teach him Sun and Wu's art of war; he replied, "Just look at whether the stratagem is right—that is all; there is no need to study ancient military texts." The emperor had a residence built for him and ordered Huo Qubing to view it; he replied, "The Xiongnu are not yet destroyed—how can I make a home my concern!" From this the emperor valued and loved him all the more. Yet from youth he was honored and did not care for his men; on campaign the emperor sent the Grand Provisioner with several tens of loads; when he returned, heavy wagons still discarded grain and meat while some of his soldiers went hungry; when he was beyond the frontier, soldiers lacked grain or could not support themselves, yet Huo Qubing still played cuju in camp—affairs were mostly of this kind. Wei Qing was benevolent, delighted in scholars and yielded, and used gentleness to please the emperor. The two men's character was thus.
46
是時，漢所殺虜匈奴合八九萬，而漢士卒物故亦數萬。 是後匈奴遠遁，而幕南無王庭。 漢渡河自朔方以西至令居，往往通渠，置田官，吏卒五六萬人，稍蠶食匈奴以北； 然亦以馬少，不復大出擊匈奴矣。
At this time Han killed and captured eighty or ninety thousand Xiongnu, while Han soldiers who died also numbered in the tens of thousands. After this the Xiongnu fled far away, and south of the desert there was no royal court. Han crossed the river from west of Shuofang to Lingju, opened canals everywhere, established field offices, and with fifty or sixty thousand officials and soldiers gradually encroached north of the Xiongnu; yet because horses were few, they no longer mounted great expeditions against the Xiongnu.
47
匈奴用趙信計，遣使於漢，好辭請和親。 天子下其議，或言和親，或言遂臣之。 丞相長史任敞曰：「匈奴新破困，宜可使為外臣，朝請於邊。」 漢使任敞於單于，單于大怒，留之不遣。 是時，博士狄山議以為和親便，上以問張湯，湯曰：「此愚儒無知。」 狄山曰：「臣固愚，愚忠。 若御史大夫湯，乃詐忠。」 於是上作色曰：「吾使生居一郡，能無使虜入盜乎？」 曰：「不能。」 曰：「居一縣？」 對曰：「不能。」 復曰：「居一障間？」 山自度辯窮且下吏，曰：「能。」 於是上遣山乘障，至月餘，匈奴斬山頭而去。 自是之後，群臣震懾，無敢忤湯者。 ----5是歲，汲黯坐法免，以定襄太守義縱為右內史，河內太守王溫舒為中尉。
The Xiongnu used Zhao Xin's plan and sent envoys to Han with pleasing words to request a marriage alliance. The emperor circulated the matter for discussion; some spoke of a marriage alliance, some of subjugating them at once. Chancellor Chief Clerk Ren Chang said, "The Xiongnu are newly defeated and distressed—it is fitting to make them outer subjects who attend court at the frontier." Han sent Ren Chang to the chanyu; the chanyu was greatly angered and detained him without sending him back. At this time Academician Di Shan argued that a marriage alliance was expedient; the emperor asked Zhang Tang; Tang said, "These foolish Ru are ignorant." Di Shan said, "Your servant is indeed foolish—foolishly loyal. As for Censor-in-Chief Tang, he is falsely loyal." Thereupon the emperor changed color and said, "If I place you in charge of one commandery, can you keep the barbarians from raiding it?" He said, "I cannot." He said, "In charge of one county?" He replied, "I cannot." Again he said, "In charge of one beacon interval?" Shan judged his argument exhausted and that he would be sent to the officials, and said, "I can." Thereupon the emperor sent Shan to man the beacon; after more than a month the Xiongnu cut off his head and left. From this onward the ministers were shaken and in awe; none dared oppose Tang. ----5 This year Ji An was dismissed for violating the law; Dingxiang Administrator Yi Zong was made Right Metropolitan Steward, and Henei Administrator Wang Wenshu Commandant of the Capital.
48
先是，寧成為關都尉，吏民出入關者號曰：「寧見乳虎，無值寧成之怒。」 及義縱為南陽太守，至關，寧成側行送迎。 至郡，遂按寧氏，破碎其家； 南陽吏民重足一跡。 後徙定襄太守，初至，掩定襄獄中重罪輕系二百餘人，及賓客、昆弟私人視亦二百餘人，一捕，鞠曰「為死罪解脫」。 是日，皆報殺四百餘人。 其後郡中不寒而慄。 是時，趙禹、張湯以深刻為九卿。 然其治尚輔法而行； 縱專以鷹擊為治。
Earlier Ning Cheng was Frontier Pass Commandant; officials and people passing through the pass said, "Better to meet a suckling tiger than to meet Ning Cheng's wrath." When Yi Zong became Administrator of Nanyang and reached the pass, Ning Cheng walked sideways to see him off and welcome him. On reaching the commandery he investigated the Ning clan and shattered their household; Nanyang's officials and people stepped as if on overlapping feet with one trace. Later he was transferred to Administrator of Dingxiang; when he first arrived he seized more than two hundred prisoners in Dingxiang jail who were heavily guilty yet lightly held, plus more than two hundred guests, brothers, and private visitors; he captured them all at once and tried them for "aiding escape from capital crimes." That day more than four hundred were reported executed. Afterward the whole commandery shivered though it was not cold. At this time Zhao Yu and Zhang Tang, by their harsh severity, were among the Nine Ministers. Yet their governance still assisted the law in execution; Zong alone governed by hawk-like strikes.
49
王溫舒始為廣平都尉，擇郡中豪敢往吏十餘人，以為爪牙，皆把其陰重罪，而縱使督盜賊。 快其意所欲得，此人雖有百罪，弗法； 即有避，因其事夷之，亦滅宗。 以其故，齊、趙之郊盜賊不敢近廣平，廣平聲為道不拾遺。 遷河內太守，以九月至，令郡具私馬五十匹為驛，捕郡中豪猾，相連坐千餘家。 上書請，大者至族，小者乃死，家盡沒入償臧。 奏行不過二三日得可，事論報，至流血十餘里，河內皆怪其奏，以為神速。 盡十二月，郡中毋聲，毋敢夜行，野無犬吠之盜。 其頗不得，失之旁郡國，追求。 會春，溫舒頓足歎曰：「嗟乎！ 令冬月益展一月，足吾事矣！」
Wang Wenshu at first was Commandant of Guangping; he chose more than ten bold officials of the commandery as his claws and teeth, all holding their hidden capital crimes over them, and set them loose to hunt bandits. When they pleased him in what he wished to obtain, though such a man had a hundred crimes, no law was applied; if there was evasion, he exterminated them on that pretext and destroyed the clan as well. Because of this, bandits in the outskirts of Qi and Zhao did not dare approach Guangping; Guangping's reputation was that nothing was left on the road. Transferred to Administrator of Henei, he arrived in the ninth month, ordered the commandery to supply fifty private horses as relay mounts, captured the commandery's powerful scoundrels, and by linked guilt implicated more than a thousand households. He memorialized requesting that the great cases reach clan extermination, the small end in death, and households all confiscated to repay stolen goods. Memorials went out and in no more than two or three days received approval; when cases were judged and reported, blood flowed for more than ten li; all in Henei marveled at his memorials, thinking them divinely swift. By the end of the twelfth month the commandery was silent; none dared travel at night; in the wilds there were no bandits to set dogs barking. Those he largely could not catch he pursued into neighboring commanderies and kingdoms. It happened to be spring; Wenshu stamped his foot and sighed, saying, "Alas! If only the winter month could be extended one more month, it would be enough for my work!"
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天子聞之，皆以為能，故擢為中二千石。 ----6齊人少翁，以鬼神方見上。 上有所幸王夫人卒，少翁以方夜致鬼，如王夫人之貌，天子自帷中望見焉。 於是乃拜少翁為文成將軍，賞賜甚多，以客禮禮之。 文成又勸上作甘泉宮，中為台室，畫天、地、太一諸鬼神而置祭具，以致天神。 居歲餘，其方益衰，神不至。 乃為帛書以飯牛，佯不知，言曰：「此牛腹中有奇。」 殺視，得書，書言甚怪，天子識其手書，問其人，果是偽書。 於是誅文成將軍而隱之。----
The emperor heard this and all considered him capable; therefore he was promoted to the two-thousand-bushel rank. ----6 Shao Weng of Qi, by arts of spirits and ghosts, was received in audience by the emperor. The emperor's favored Lady Wang died; Shao Weng by his art at night summoned a ghost resembling Lady Wang; the emperor gazed from within the curtain and saw it. Thereupon he was appointed Wencheng General, richly rewarded, and treated with guest ceremony. Wencheng again urged the emperor to build Sweet Spring Palace; within he made a terrace chamber, painted Heaven, Earth, Grand Unity, and the various spirits, and set out sacrificial implements to summon the celestial god. After more than a year his arts declined; the god did not come. He thereupon made a silk book to feed the ox, feigning ignorance, and said, "This ox's belly holds something marvelous." He killed it and looked; he obtained the book; its words were very strange; the emperor recognized his handwriting and questioned the man—it was indeed a forged book. Thereupon Wencheng General was executed and the matter concealed.