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【漢紀三十三】起強圉大淵獻，盡屠維赤奮若，凡三年。
【Han Records 33】 From the first year of the Qiangqu cycle through the last year of the Tuyi cycle—three years in all.
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世祖光武皇帝上之下
The Founding Emperor Guangwu — Upper Part, Second Section.
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1春，正月，甲子，馮異為征西大將軍。 鄧禹慚於受任無功，數以饑卒徼赤眉戰，輒不利； 乃率車騎將軍鄧弘等自河北度至湖，要馮異共攻赤眉。 異曰：「異與賊相拒數十日，雖虜獲雄將，餘眾尚多，可稍以恩信傾誘，難卒用兵破也。 上今使諸將屯澠池，要其東，而異擊其西，一舉取之，此萬成計也！」 禹、弘不從，弘遂大戰移日。 赤眉陽敗，棄輜重走； 車皆載土，以豆覆其上，兵士饑，爭取之。 赤眉引還，擊弘，弘軍潰亂； 異與禹合兵救之，赤眉小卻。 異以士卒饑倦，可且休。 禹不聽，復戰，大為所敗，死傷者三千餘人，禹以二十四騎脫歸宜陽。 異棄馬〔步〕( 奔) 走奔) 走章校「十二行本『奔』作『步』； 乙十一行本同； 孔本同； 張校同； 退齋校同。」 《後漢書．馮異列傳》同，據改。，上回溪孤，與麾下數人歸營，收其散卒，復堅壁自守。
1. In spring, in the first month, on the day jiazi, Feng Yi was appointed Western Campaign Grand General. Deng Yu was ashamed that his commission had won him no victory; again and again he led starving troops against the Red Eyebrows, and always came off worse; so he led Chariots-and-Cavalry General Deng Hong and others from north of the river to Hu, planning to join Feng Yi in crushing the Red Eyebrows. Feng Yi said, "I have held the enemy at bay for many days. Though we have taken some of their best generals, the rest are still numerous. Win them over little by little with kindness and good faith—it is hard to shatter them in a single stroke. His Majesty is posting generals at Mianchi to block them in the east while I strike from the west—we take them in one blow. That is the sure plan!" Deng Yu and Deng Hong would not listen. Hong threw his army into battle, and the fighting lasted a full day. The Red Eyebrows feigned defeat, abandoned their wagons, and fled; every cart was loaded with earth and covered with beans. The hungry soldiers scrambled for the loot. The Red Eyebrows wheeled about, struck Deng Hong, and routed his army; Feng Yi and Deng Yu united to relieve him, and the Red Eyebrows fell back a little. Feng Yi urged that the men were starving and exhausted and ought to rest. Deng Yu refused to listen and fought again. He was routed; more than three thousand were killed or wounded. Deng Yu fled to Yiyang with only twenty-four riders. Feng Yi abandoned his horse and 〔walked〕( ran) ran)1 fled—Zhang's collation: "In the twelve-line edition 'ran' reads 'walked'; the Yi eleven-line edition agrees; the Kong edition agrees; Zhang's collation agrees; Tui Zhai's collation agrees." The "Biography of Feng Yi" in the Book of the Later Han agrees; amended accordingly. He climbed Huixi Gorge alone with a handful of men, returned to camp, rallied his scattered troops, and again shut himself behind stout walls.
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2辛巳，立四親廟於雒陽，祀父南頓君以上至春陵節候。
2. On xinsi day a temple to the four close ancestors was founded at Luoyang, with offerings from his father, Lord of Nandun, up to the Marquis of Chunling.
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3壬午，大赦。
3. On renwu day the emperor proclaimed a general amnesty.
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4閏月，乙巳，鄧禹上大司徒、梁侯印綬； 詔還梁侯印綬，以為右將軍。
On yisi day Deng Yu returned the seals and cords of Grand Minister of Education and Marquis of Liang;2 an edict restored the Marquis of Liang's insignia and appointed him Right General.
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5馮異與赤眉約期會戰，使壯士變服與赤眉同，伏於道側。 旦日，赤眉使萬人攻異前部，異少出兵以救之； 賊見勢弱，遂悉眾攻異，異乃縱兵大戰。 日昃，賊氣衰，伏兵卒起，衣服相亂，赤眉不復識別，眾遂驚潰； 追擊，大破之於崤底，降男女八萬人。 帝降璽書勞異曰：「始雖垂翅回溪，終能奮翼澠池，可謂失之東隅，收之桑榆。 方論功賞，以答大勳。」
5. Feng Yi set a day to give battle to the Red Eyebrows, dressed strong men in Red Eyebrow garb, and hid them along the road. At dawn the Red Eyebrows sent ten thousand men against Feng Yi's van; he sent out only a small force in relief; seeing weakness, the enemy threw in their whole force. Feng Yi then loosed his full strength and fought a great battle. As the sun declined the enemy's spirit failed. The ambush leapt up; garb was tangled and the Red Eyebrows could no longer tell friend from foe. The host broke in panic; he pursued and shattered them at the foot of Xiao Pass; eighty thousand men and women surrendered. The emperor sent a sealed letter praising Feng Yi: "At first you hung your wings in Huixi Gorge; in the end you spread them at Mianchi—what was lost at dawn was won at dusk. We are weighing rewards to answer your great service."
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赤眉餘眾東向宜陽。 甲辰，帝親勒六軍，嚴陣以待之。 赤眉忽遇大軍，驚震不知所謂，乃遣劉恭乞降曰：「盆子將百萬眾降陛下，何以待之？」 帝曰：「待汝以不死耳！」 丙午，盆子及丞相徐宣以下三十餘人肉袒降，上所得傳國璽綬。 積兵甲宜陽城西，與熊耳山齊。 赤眉眾尚十餘萬人，帝令縣廚皆賜食。 明旦，大陳兵馬臨雒水，令盆子君臣列而觀之。 帝謂樊崇等曰：「得無悔降乎？ 朕今遣卿歸營，勒兵鳴鼓相攻，決其勝負，不俗強相服也。」 徐宣等叩頭曰：「臣等出長安東都門，君臣計議，歸命聖德。 百姓可與樂成，難與圖始，故不告眾耳。 今日得降，猶去虎口歸慈母，誠歡誠喜，無所恨也！」 帝曰：「卿所謂鐵中錚錚，人庸中佼佼者也。」 戊申，還自宜陽。 帝令樊崇等各與妻子居雒陽，賜之田宅。 其後樊崇、逢安反，誅； 楊音、徐宣卒於鄉里。 帝憐盆子，以為趙王郎中； 後病失明，賜滎陽均輸官地，使食其稅終身。 劉恭為更始報仇，殺謝祿，自繫獄； 帝赦不誅。
The surviving Red Eyebrows marched east toward Yiyang. On jiachen day the emperor personally led the Six Armies and formed ranks to receive them. The Red Eyebrows suddenly met the imperial host, stunned and bewildered. They sent Liu Gong to beg terms: "Penzi is about to surrender a million men to Your Majesty—how will you treat us?" The emperor said, "I will treat you with your lives—that is all!" On bingwu day Penzi, Chancellor Xu Xuan, and more than thirty of their party stripped to the waist and surrendered, presenting the imperial seal and cord they had held. Arms and armor were heaped west of Yiyang until the pile matched Mount Xiong'er in height. More than a hundred thousand Red Eyebrows remained. The emperor ordered every county kitchen to feed them. Next morning he paraded his host along the Luo River and made Penzi and his court stand in ranks to watch. The emperor said to Fan Chong and the others, "Do you regret surrendering? I will send you back to camp. Muster your men, beat the drums, and let us fight it out—not bully you into submission by brute force." Xu Xuan and the others kowtowed and said, "When we left Chang'an by the East Capital Gate, lord and ministers agreed to submit to your sacred virtue. The people can share in success once it is won, but not in plotting its beginning—so we told no one. Today to surrender is like escaping a tiger's jaws to a mother's arms—we are truly glad and have no regrets!" The emperor said, "You are steel among iron—the finest of common men." On wushen day he returned from Yiyang. The emperor settled Fan Chong and the others with their families in Luoyang and granted them fields and houses. Later Fan Chong and Feng An rebelled and were put to death; Yang Yin and Xu Xuan died at home. The emperor pitied Penzi and made him a gentleman-attendant to the King of Zhao; later, when blindness overtook him, he granted him transport-office lands at Xingyang so he might live on their revenue for life. Liu Gong avenged the Gengshi Emperor by killing Xie Lu and turned himself in; the emperor pardoned him and did not punish.
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6二月，劉永立董憲為海西王。 永聞伏隆至劇，亦遣使立張步為齊王。 步貪王爵，猶豫未決。 隆曉譬曰：「高祖與天下約，非劉氏不王； 今可得為十萬戶侯耳！」 步欲留隆，與共守二州； 隆不聽，求得反命，步遂執隆而受永封。 隆遣間使上書曰：「臣隆奉使無狀，受執凶逆； 雖在困厄，授命不顧。 又，吏民知步反畔，心不附之，願以時進兵，無以臣隆為念！ 臣隆得生到闕廷，受誅有司，此其大願。 若令沒身寇手，以父母、昆弟長累陛下。 陛下與皇后、太子永享萬國，與天無極！」 帝得隆奏，召其父湛，流涕示之曰：「恨不且許而遽求還也！」 其後步遂殺之。 帝方北憂漁陽，南事梁、楚，故張步得專集齊地，據郡十二焉。
6. In the second month Liu Yong made Dong Xian Prince of Haixi. When Yong heard that Fu Long had reached Ju, he too sent envoys to make Zhang Bu King of Qi. Zhang Bu, coveting a royal title, wavered. Fu Long reasoned with him: "Gaozu covenanted with the empire that none but Liu may be king; now you may have at most a marquisate of a hundred thousand households!" Zhang Bu wished to detain Fu Long and hold the two provinces with him; Fu Long refused, begged leave to report back, and Zhang Bu seized him and accepted Liu Yong's investiture. Fu Long sent a secret messenger with a memorial: "Your servant Fu Long failed in his mission and was seized by rebels; though trapped, I hold to my charge and do not flinch. Moreover, officials and people know Zhang Bu has rebelled and will not stand by him. Advance when the time is ripe and do not spare a thought for me! If I may yet reach the court alive and die by the law, that is my greatest wish. If I perish in the enemy's hands, my parents and brothers will long trouble Your Majesty. May Your Majesty, the empress, and the crown prince enjoy the realm forever, boundless as heaven!" When the emperor received the memorial he summoned Fu Long's father Zhan, showed it with tears, and said, "I regret I did not keep him longer before he insisted on returning!" Zhang Bu then killed him. The emperor was occupied in the north with Yuyang and in the south with Liang and Chu, so Zhang Bu was left free to consolidate Qi and hold twelve commanderies.
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7帝幸懷。
7. The emperor visited Huai.
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8吳漢率耿弇、蓋延擊青犢於軹西，大破降之。
8. Wu Han led Geng Yan and Gai Yan against the Green Calves west of Zhi, routed them, and accepted their surrender.
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9三月，壬寅，以司直伏湛為大司徒。
9. In the third month, on renyin day, Director of Justice Fu Zhan was appointed Grand Minister of Education.
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10涿郡太守張豐反，自稱無上大將軍，與彭寵連兵。 朱浮以帝不自征彭寵，上疏求救。 詔報曰：「往年赤眉跋扈長安，吾策其無穀必東； 果來歸附。 今度此反虜，勢無久全，其中必有內相斬者。 今軍資未充，故須後麥耳！」 浮城中糧盡，人相食，會耿況遣騎來救，浮乃得脫身走，薊城遂降於彭寵。 寵自稱燕王，攻拔右北平、上谷數縣，賂遣匈奴，借兵為助； 又南結張步及富平、獲索諸賊，皆與交通。
10. Zhang Feng, administrator of Zhuo Commandery, rebelled, styled himself Supreme Grand General, and allied with Peng Chong. Zhu Fu, because the emperor would not march against Peng Chong himself, memorialized for aid. The reply ran: "When the Red Eyebrows overran Chang'an, I reckoned that without grain they must turn east; and so they came and submitted. I judge these rebels cannot long hold together; soon enough they will cut one another down. Our stores are not yet full—we must wait for the late wheat harvest!" Zhu Fu's city ran out of grain and men ate one another. Geng Kuang sent cavalry in relief; Zhu Fu escaped, and Jicheng surrendered to Peng Chong. Peng Chong styled himself King of Yan, seized several counties in Youbeiping and Shanggu, bribed the Xiongnu for aid, and southward allied with Zhang Bu and the Fuping and Huosuo bands and other rebels.
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11帝自將征鄧奉，至堵陽。 奉逃歸淯陽，董訢降。 夏，四月，帝追奉至小長安，與戰，大破之； 奉肉袒因朱祜降。 帝憐奉舊功臣，且釁起吳漢，欲全宥之。 岑彭、耿弇諫曰：「鄧奉背恩反逆，暴師經年，陛下既至，不知悔善，而親在行陳，兵敗乃降； 若不誅奉，無以懲惡！」 於是斬之。 復朱祜位。
11. The emperor led the campaign against Deng Feng in person and reached Duyang. Deng Feng fled to Nanyang; Dong Xin surrendered. In summer, in the fourth month, the emperor pursued Deng Feng to Xiao Chang'an, fought him, and routed him; Deng Feng stripped to the waist and surrendered through Zhu Hu. The emperor pitied Deng Feng as an old follower and, because the feud had begun with Wu Han, wished to spare him. Cen Peng and Geng Yan urged: "Deng Feng betrayed you and rebelled; he kept armies in the field for years. When Your Majesty came he did not repent, but fought in the front ranks himself and surrendered only after defeat; if you spare Deng Feng, you cannot punish treason!" He was beheaded. Zhu Hu was restored to office.
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12延岑既破赤眉，即拜置牧守，欲據關中。 時關中眾寇猶盛，岑據藍田，王歆據下邽，芳丹據新豐，蔣震據霸陵，張邯據長安，公孫守據長陵，楊周據谷口，呂鮪據陳倉，角閎據汧，駱延據盩厔，任良據雩阜，汝章據槐里，各稱將軍，擁兵多者萬餘人，少者數千人，轉相攻擊。 馮異且戰且行，屯軍上林苑中。 延岑引張邯、任良共攻異； 異擊，大破之，諸營保附岑者皆來降，岑遂自武關走南陽。 時百姓飢餓，黃金一斤易豆五升，道路斷隔，委輸不至，馮異軍士悉以果實為糧。 詔拜南陽趙匡為右扶風，將兵助異，並送縑、穀。 異兵穀漸盛，乃稍誅擊豪傑不從令者，褒賞降附有功勞者，悉遣諸營渠帥詣京師，散其眾歸本業，威行關中。 唯呂鮪、張邯、蔣震遣使降蜀，其餘悉平。
12. After defeating the Red Eyebrows, Yan Cen at once appointed governors and defenders and sought to hold Guanzhong. Bandits still swarmed Guanzhong. Yan Cen held Lantian; Wang Xin, Xiapi; Fang Dan, Xinfeng; Jiang Zhen, Baling; Zhang Han, Chang'an; Gongsun Shou, Changling; Yang Zhou, Gukou; Lü Yu, Chencang; Jiao Hong, Qian; Luo Yan, Zhouzhi; Ren Liang, Yufu; Ru Zhang, Huaili—each styled himself general. The largest hosts numbered more than ten thousand, the smallest a few thousand, and they fell upon one another in turn. Feng Yi fought as he advanced and encamped in the Shanglin Park. Yan Cen brought Zhang Han and Ren Liang against Feng Yi; Yi struck and routed them utterly; all camps that had been holding out for Cen came to surrender, and Cen fled south through Wu Pass into Nanyang. The common people were starving; a catty of gold bought only five sheng of beans; roads were cut off and supplies did not reach them, and Feng Yi's soldiers lived entirely on fruit. An edict appointed Zhao Kuang of Nanyang Right Commandant of Fufeng to lead troops to assist Yi and also sent silks and grain. As Yi's troops and grain grew plentiful, he gradually punished powerful men who defied orders, rewarded those who surrendered with merit, sent all camp chieftains to the capital, dispersed their followers to their original occupations, and his authority prevailed throughout Guanzhong. Only Lü Yu, Zhang Han, and Jiang Zhen sent envoys to surrender to Shu; the rest were all pacified.
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13吳漢率驃騎大將軍杜茂等七將軍，圍蘇茂於廣樂，周建招集得十餘萬人救之。 漢迎與之戰，不利，墮馬傷膝，還營； 建等遂連兵入城。 諸將謂漢曰：「大敵在前，而公傷臥，眾心懼矣！」 漢乃勃然裹創而起，椎牛饗士，慰勉之，士氣自倍。 旦日，蘇茂、周建出兵圍漢； 漢奮擊，大破之，茂走還湖陵。 睢陽人反城迎劉永，蓋延率諸將圍之； 吳漢留杜茂、陳俊守廣樂，自將兵助延圍睢陽。
Wu Han led Rapid Cavalry Grand General Du Mao and seven other generals to besiege Su Mao at Guangle; Zhou Jian gathered more than a hundred thousand men to rescue him. Han met them in battle but fared badly, fell from his horse and injured his knee, and returned to camp; Jian and the others then linked forces and entered the city. The generals said to Han: "A great enemy is before us, yet you lie wounded—the troops are afraid!" Han then suddenly rose, bound his wound, slaughtered an ox to feast the troops, and comforted and urged them; morale on its own doubled. The next day Su Mao and Zhou Jian led troops out to besiege Han; Han struck fiercely and routed them utterly; Mao fled back to Huling. The people of Suiyang turned the city to welcome Liu Yong; Gai Yan led the generals to besiege it; Wu Han left Du Mao and Chen Jun to garrison Guangle and himself led troops to help Yan besiege Suiyang.
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14車駕自小長安引還，令岑彭率傅俊、臧宮、劉宏等三萬餘人南擊秦豐。 五月，己酉，車駕還宮。
The imperial carriage withdrew from Little Chang'an and ordered Cen Peng to lead Fu Jun, Zang Gong, Liu Hong, and more than thirty thousand men south to attack Qin Feng. In the fifth month, on the day jiyou, the imperial carriage returned to the palace.
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15乙卯晦，日有食之。
On the last day of jimao there was a solar eclipse.
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16六月，壬戌，大赦。
In the sixth month, on the day renxu, a general amnesty was proclaimed.
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17延岑攻南陽，得數城； 建威大將軍耿弇與戰於穰，大破之。 岑與數騎走東陽，與秦豐合； 豐以女妻之。 建義大將軍朱祜率祭遵等與岑戰於東陽，破之； 岑走歸秦豐。 祜遂南與岑彭等軍合。
Yan Cen attacked Nanyang and took several cities; Establish Authority Grand General Geng Yan fought him at Xiang and routed him utterly. Cen fled with a few horsemen to Dongyang and joined Qin Feng; Feng gave him his daughter in marriage. Establish Righteousness Grand General Zhu You led Ji Zun and others to fight Cen at Dongyang and defeated him; Cen fled back to Qin Feng. You then marched south and united with Cen Peng's forces.
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延岑護軍鄧仲況擁兵據陰縣，而劉歆、孫龔為其謀主； 前侍中扶風蘇竟以書說之，仲況與龔降。 竟終不伐其功，隱身樂道，壽終於家。
Yan Cen's Protector of the Army Deng Zhongkuang held troops at Yin County, with Liu Xin and Sun Gong as his chief strategists; Former Palace Attendant Su Jing of Fufeng urged them by letter, and Zhongkuang and Gong surrendered. Jing never boasted of his merit, hid himself and delighted in the Way, and died at home in old age.
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秦豐拒岑彭於鄧，秋，七月，彭擊破之。 進圍豐於黎丘，別遣積弩將軍傅俊將兵徇江東，揚州悉定。
Qin Feng resisted Cen Peng at Deng; in autumn, the seventh month, Peng defeated and routed him. He advanced to besiege Feng at Liqiu and separately sent Strong Crossbow General Fu Jun to subdue the lands east of the Yangtze; Yang Province was entirely pacified.
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18蓋延圍睢陽百日，劉永、蘇茂、周建突出，將走酇； 延追擊之急，永將慶吾斬永首降。 蘇茂、周建奔垂惠，共立永子紆為梁王。 佼彊奔保西防。
Gai Yan besieged Suiyang for a hundred days; Liu Yong, Su Mao, and Zhou Jian broke out and were about to flee to Zan; Yan pressed the pursuit hard; Yong's general Qing Wu beheaded Yong and surrendered. Su Mao and Zhou Jian fled to Chuihui and together made Yong's son Xu King of Liang. Jiao Qiang fled to hold Xifang.
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19冬，十月，壬申，上幸春陵，祠園廟。
In winter, the tenth month, on the day renshen, the Emperor visited Chunling and sacrificed at the garden temple.
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20耿弇從容言於帝，自請北收上谷兵未發者，定彭寵於漁陽，取張豐於涿郡，還收富平、獲索，東攻張步，以平齊地。 帝壯其意，許之。
Geng Yan spoke calmly to the Emperor and volunteered to go north, gather the Upper Valley troops who had not yet marched, pacify Peng Chong at Yuyang, take Zhang Feng in Zhuo Commandery, then recover Fuping and Huosuo, attack Zhang Bu in the east, and thereby pacify Qi. The Emperor was impressed by his plan and assented.
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21十一月，乙未，帝還自春陵。
In the eleventh month, on the day yimao, the Emperor returned from Chunling.
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22是歲，李憲稱帝，置百官，擁九城，眾十餘萬。
That year Li Xian declared himself emperor, established the full bureaucracy, held nine cities, and mustered more than a hundred thousand men.
28
23帝謂太中大夫來歙曰：「今西州未附，子陽稱帝，道里阻遠，諸將方務關東，思西州方略，未知所在，〔奈何〕乙十一行本同； 孔本同； 張校同。」 據補。？ 歙曰：「臣嘗與隗囂相遇長安。 其人始起，以漢為名。 臣願得奉威命，開以丹青之信，囂必束手自歸。 則述自亡之勢，不足圖也！」 帝然之，始令歙使於囂。 囂既有功於漢，又受鄧禹爵署，其腹心議者多勸通使京師，囂乃奉奏詣闕。 帝報以殊禮，言稱字，用敵國之儀，所以慰藉之甚厚。
“the Yi eleven-line edition agrees;3 Kong's edition agrees; Zhang's collation agrees." Supplied on that authority.? Xi said: "I once met Wei Ao at Chang'an. When he first rose, he acted in Han's name. I wish to carry your authority, open negotiations with a sealed letter of good faith, and Ao will surely bind himself and surrender of his own accord. Then Shu will be in the posture of self-destruction and not worth plotting against!" The Emperor agreed and for the first time sent Xi as envoy to Ao. Ao had both served Han and received titles and appointments from Deng Yu; many of his close advisers urged opening communications with the capital, and Ao presented a memorial and came to court. The Emperor replied with exceptional courtesy, addressed him by his style-name, and employed the ceremonies due an equal power, comforting and reassuring him very generously.
29
1正月，甲申，大赦。
In the first month, on the day jiashen, a general amnesty was proclaimed.
30
2二月，壬子，上行幸懷； 壬申，還雒陽。
In the second month, on the day renzi, the Emperor visited Huai; on the day renshen he returned to Luoyang.
31
3延岑復寇順陽； 遣鄧禹將兵擊破之。 岑奔漢中。 公孫述以岑為大司馬，封汝寧王。
Yan Cen again raided Shunyang; the Emperor sent Deng Yu to lead troops and defeat him. Cen fled to Hanzhong. Gongsun Shu made Cen Grand Marshal and enfeoffed him as King of Runing.
32
4田戎聞秦豐破，恐懼，欲降。 其妻兄辛臣圖彭寵、張步、董憲、公孫述等所得郡國以示戎曰：「雒陽地如掌耳，不如且按甲以觀其變。」 戎曰：「以秦王之強，猶為征南所圍，吾降決矣！」 乃留辛臣使守夷陵，自將兵沿江溯沔止黎丘。 辛臣於後盜戎珍寶，從間道先降於岑彭，而以書招戎曰：「宜以時降，無拘前計！」 戎疑臣賣己，灼魚卜降，兆中坼，遂復反，與秦豐合。 岑彭擊破之，戎亡歸夷陵。
Tian Rong heard that Qin Feng had been defeated, was afraid, and wished to surrender. His wife's elder brother Xin Chen mapped the commanderies and kingdoms held by Peng Chong, Zhang Bu, Dong Xian, Gongsun Shu, and others and showed Rong, saying: "Luoyang's territory is no larger than the palm of a hand—you had better hold your troops and watch how things change." Rong said: "For all the King of Qin's strength, he was still besieged by the southern campaign—I have made up my mind to surrender!" He left Xin Chen to garrison Yiling and himself led troops upriver along the Han to halt at Liqiu. Afterward Xin Chen stole Rong's treasures, took a secret path to surrender first to Cen Peng, and wrote urging Rong: "You ought to surrender in good time—do not cling to your earlier plan!" Rong suspected Chen had betrayed him, burned a fish to divine surrender, and when the omen split in the middle he rebelled again and joined Qin Feng. Cen Peng defeated him; Rong fled back to Yiling.
33
5夏，四月，丁巳，上行幸鄴； 己巳，幸臨平，遣吳漢、陳俊、王梁擊破五校於臨平。 鬲縣五姓共逐守長，據城而反； 諸將爭欲攻之。 吳漢曰：「使鬲反者，守長罪也。 敢輕冒進兵者斬！」 乃移檄告郡使收守長，而使人謝； 城中五姓大喜，即相率降。 諸將乃服，曰：「不戰而下城，非眾所及也！」
In summer, the fourth month, on the day dingsi, the Emperor visited Ye; on the day jisi he visited Linping and sent Wu Han, Chen Jun, and Wang Liang to defeat the Five Camps at Linping. The five surname-groups of Ge County together drove out the magistrate, seized the city, and rebelled; the generals all clamored to attack it. Wu Han said: "Ge rebelled because of the magistrate's crimes. Whoever dares rashly advance troops will be beheaded!" He then sent a proclamation to the commandery to arrest the magistrate and sent envoys to apologize; the five surname-groups in the city were greatly pleased and at once surrendered together. The generals were convinced and said: "Taking a city without fighting—none of us could have done that!"
34
6五月，上幸元氏，辛巳，幸盧奴，將親征彭寵。 伏湛諫曰：「今兗、豫、青、冀，中國之都，而寇賊縱橫，未及從化。 漁陽邊外荒耗，豈足先圖！ 陛下捨近務遠，棄易求難，誠臣之所惑也！」 上乃還。
In the fifth month the Emperor visited Yuanshi; on the day xinsi he visited Lunu and was about to campaign in person against Peng Chong. Fu Zhan remonstrated: "Yan, Yu, Qing, and Ji are the heartland of China, yet bandits and rebels run rampant and have not yet submitted. Yuyang is a remote borderland, wasted and exhausted—how can it be worth attacking first! Your Majesty is abandoning what is near to pursue what is far, discarding the easy to seek the hard—that is what perplexes me!" The Emperor then turned back.
35
7帝遣建〔義〕( 議) 大將軍朱祜、建威大將軍耿弇、征虜將軍祭遵、驍騎將軍劉喜討張豐於涿郡。 祭遵先至，急攻豐； 禽之。 初，豐好方術，有道士言豐當為天子，以五彩囊裹石繫豐肘，云「石中有玉璽」。 豐信之，遂反。 既執，當斬，猶曰「肘石有玉璽。」 傍人為椎破之，豐乃知被詐，仰天歎曰：「當死無恨！」
The Emperor sent Establish-[Righteousness]( Purpose) Grand General Zhu You, Establish Authority Grand General Geng Yan, Campaigning against Barbarians General Ji Zun, and Valiant Cavalry General Liu Xi to attack Zhang Feng in Zhuo Commandery. Ji Zun arrived first and pressed the attack on Feng; and captured him. Earlier Feng was fond of occult arts; a Daoist said Feng was destined to become Son of Heaven and tied a stone wrapped in a five-colored pouch to his elbow, saying "There is an imperial seal inside the stone." Feng believed it and rebelled. Once seized and about to be beheaded, he still said "The elbow-stone has an imperial seal." Those beside him smashed it with a mallet; Feng then knew he had been deceived and sighed to heaven: "I deserve to die without regret!"
36
上詔耿弇進擊彭寵。 弇以父況與寵同功，又兄弟無在京師者，不敢獨進，求詣雒陽。 詔報曰：「將軍舉宗為國，功傚尤著，何嫌何疑，而欲求征！」 況聞之，更遣弇弟國入侍。 時祭遵屯良鄉，劉喜屯陽鄉，彭寵引匈奴兵欲擊之； 耿況使其子舒襲破匈奴兵，斬兩王，寵乃退走。
The Emperor ordered Geng Yan to advance and attack Peng Chong. Yan, because his father Kuang had shared merit with Chong and he had no brothers in the capital, did not dare advance alone and asked to go to Luoyang. The edict replied: "Your whole clan has served the state and your achievements are especially outstanding—what suspicion or doubt could make you request to come to court!" When Kuang heard this, he sent Yan's younger brother Guo to attend at court. Ji Zun was then garrisoned at Liangxiang and Liu Xi at Yangxiang; Peng Chong brought Xiongnu troops to attack them; Geng Kuang had his son Shu strike and rout the Xiongnu, behead two kings, and Chong withdrew.
37
8六月，辛亥，車駕還宮。
In the sixth month, on the day xinhai, the imperial carriage returned to the palace.
38
9秋，七月，丁亥，上幸譙，遣捕虜將軍馬武、騎都尉王霸圍劉紆、周建於垂惠。
In autumn, the seventh month, on the day dinghai, the Emperor visited Qiao and sent Captive-Taking General Ma Wu and Commandant of Cavalry Wang Ba to besiege Liu Xu and Zhou Jian at Chuihui.
39
10董憲將賁休以蘭陵降； 憲聞之，自郯圍之。 蓋延及平狄將軍山陽龐萌在楚，請往救之。 帝敕曰：「可直往搗郯，則蘭陵自解。」 延等以賁休城危，遂先赴之。 憲逆戰而陽敗退，延等因拔圍入城。 明日，憲大出兵合圍； 延等懼，遽出突走，因往攻郯。 帝讓之曰：「間欲先赴郯者，以其不意故耳。 今既奔走，賊計已立，圍豈可解乎！」 延等至郯，果不能克； 而董憲遂拔蘭陵，殺賁休。
Dong Xian's general Ben Xiu surrendered Lanling; When Xian heard of it, he came from Tan to besiege it. Gai Yan and Pacify-the-Di General Pang Meng of Shanyang were in Chu and asked to go rescue it. The Emperor issued an order: "You may go straight to strike Tan, and Langling will resolve itself." "Yan and the others, because Ben Xiu's city was in peril, thereupon hastened to it first. Xian met them in battle and feigned defeat and withdrew; Yan and the others thereby lifted the siege and entered the city. The next day, Xian brought out a great force and closed the encirclement; Yan and the others were afraid, hastily broke out and fled, and thereupon went to attack Tan. The Emperor reproached them, saying, "The reason for wishing to go to Tan first was that they would not expect it. Now that you have already fled, the bandits' plan is set—how can the siege be lifted?!" When Yan and the others reached Tan, they indeed could not take it; while Dong Xian thereupon took Langling and killed Ben Xiu.
40
11八月，戊午，上幸壽春，遣揚武將軍南陽馬成，率誅虜將軍南陽劉隆等三將軍發會稽、丹陽、九江、六安四郡兵擊李憲。 九月，圍憲於舒。
11. In the eighth month, on wuwu, the sovereign visited Shouchun and sent Yangwu General Ma Cheng of Nanyang, leading Demon-Slaying General Liu Long of Nanyang and two other generals with troops from the four commanderies Kuaiji, Danyang, Jiujiang, and Lu'an to attack Li Xian. In the ninth month, they besieged Xian at Shu.
41
王莽末，天下亂，臨淮大尹河南侯霸獨能保全其郡。 帝征霸會壽春，拜尚書令。 時朝廷無故典，又少舊臣，霸明習故事，收錄遺文，條奏前世善政法度，施行之。
At the end of Wang Mang's reign, when the realm was in disorder, Hou Ba of Henan, Grand Administrator of Linhuai, alone could preserve his commandery. The Emperor summoned Ba to meet at Shouchun and appointed him Director of the Masters of Writing. At that time the court lacked the old statutes, and there were few former ministers; Ba was well versed in precedents, collected lost documents, memorialized item by item the good laws and institutions of former ages, and put them into practice.
42
冬，十月，甲寅，車駕還宮。
In winter, the tenth month, on jiayin, the imperial carriage returned to the palace.
43
12隗囂使馬援往觀公孫述。 援素與述同里閈，相善，以為既至，當握手歡如平生； 而述盛陳陛衛以延援入，交拜禮畢，使出就館。 更為援制都布單衣、交讓冠，會百官於宗廟中，立舊交之位，述鸞旗、旄騎，警蹕就車，磬折而入，禮饗官屬甚盛，欲授援以封侯大將軍位。 賓客皆樂留，援曉之曰：「天下雄雌未定，公孫不吐哺走迎國士，與圖成敗，反修飾邊幅，如偶人形，此子何足久稽天下士乎！」 因辭歸，謂囂曰：「子陽，井底蛙耳，而妄自尊大； 不如專意東方。」
12. Wei Ao sent Ma Yuan to go observe Gongsun Shu. Yuan had long been from the same hamlet as Shu and on good terms; he thought that once he arrived they would clasp hands in joy as in former days; but Shu lavishly arrayed guards at the stairways to welcome Yuan in; when the exchange of bows was finished, he sent him out to lodge at the guest-house. He again had made for Yuan a single robe of duchang cloth and a jiaorang cap, gathered the hundred officials in the ancestral temple, and set up the seat of an old acquaintance; Shu, with imperial banners and feathered riders, cleared the streets for his carriage, entered with bow bent like a stone chime, entertained his officials with great ceremony, and wished to grant Yuan the rank of enfeoffed marquis and great general. The guests all delighted to stay; Yuan enlightened them, saying, "Under heaven the contest of bull and hen is not yet settled; Gongsun does not spit out his food and run to welcome a national scholar to plot success or failure, but instead trims his fringe like a puppet's form—how can this fellow long detain the realm's scholars?!" He thereupon took leave and returned, and told Ao, "Ziyang is a frog at the bottom of a well, yet presumptuously holds himself high; better to fix your mind on the east."
44
囂乃使援奉書雒陽。 援初到，良久，中黃門引入。 帝在宣德殿南廡下，但幘，坐，迎笑，謂援曰：「卿遨遊二帝間，今見卿，使人大慚。」 援頓首辭謝，因曰：「當今之世，非但君擇臣，臣亦擇君矣。 臣與公孫述同縣，少相善； 臣前至蜀，述陛戟而後進臣。 臣今遠來，陛下何知非刺客奸人，而簡易若是！」 帝復笑曰：「卿非刺客，顧說客耳。」 援曰：「天下反覆，盜名字者不可勝數； 今見陛下恢廓大度，同符高祖，乃知帝王自有真也。」
Ao thereupon sent Yuan to present a letter at Luoyang. When Yuan first arrived, after a long while a Palace Yellow Gate ushered him in. The Emperor was beneath the south gallery of Xuande Hall, wearing only a headcloth, seated; he welcomed him with a smile and said to Yuan, "You roamed between two emperors; now that I see you, it makes a man deeply ashamed." Yuan kowtowed and declined thanks, then said, "In the present age it is not only that the lord chooses his minister—the minister also chooses his lord. Your servant and Gongsun Shu are from the same county and were friendly in youth; when your servant went before to Shu, Shu had halberds at the stair before advancing your servant. Your servant has now come from afar—how does Your Majesty know I am not an assassin or villain, yet you are so informal as this!" The Emperor laughed again and said, "You are no assassin—only a persuader." Yuan said, "The realm turns back and forth; those who steal titles countless; now seeing Your Majesty broad and magnanimous, matching Gaozu, I know that a true Son of Heaven has his own authenticity."
45
13太傅卓茂薨。
13. Grand Tutor Zhuo Mao died.
46
14十一月，丙申，上行幸宛。 岑彭攻秦豐三歲，斬首九萬餘級； 豐餘兵裁千人，食且盡。 十二月，丙寅，帝幸黎丘，遣使招豐，豐不肯降； 乃使朱祜等代岑彭圍黎丘，使岑彭、傅俊南擊田戎。
14. In the eleventh month, on bingshen, the sovereign went in person to Wan. Cen Peng attacked Qin Feng for three years and took more than ninety thousand heads; Feng's remaining troops were barely a thousand, and provisions were nearly exhausted. In the twelfth month, on bingyin, the Emperor visited Liqiu, sent envoys to summon Feng, and Feng would not surrender; he thereupon had Zhu Hu and others replace Cen Peng in besieging Liqiu and sent Cen Peng and Fu Jun south to attack Tian Rong.
47
15公孫述聚兵數十萬人，積糧漢中； 又造十層樓船，多刻天下牧守印章。 遣將軍李育、程烏將數萬眾出屯陳倉，就呂鮪，將徇三輔； 馮異迎擊，大破之，育、烏俱奔漢中。 異還，擊破呂鮪，營堡降者甚眾。
15. Gongsun Shu gathered troops numbering several hundred thousand and stored grain in Hanzhong; he also built ten-deck tower ships and carved many seals of the realm's governors and prefects. He sent Generals Li Yu and Cheng Wu to lead tens of thousands out to camp at Chencang, join Lü Yu, and advance to take the Three Metropolises; Feng Yi met and struck them and routed them greatly; Yu and Wu both fled to Hanzhong. Yi returned, defeated Lü Yu, and very many fortified camps surrendered.
48
是時，隗囂遣兵佐異有功，遣使上狀，帝報以手書曰：「慕樂德義，思相結納。 昔文王三分，猶服事殷，但駑馬、鉛刀，不可強扶，數蒙伯樂一顧之價。 將軍南拒公孫之兵，北禦羌、胡之亂，是以馮異西征，得以數千百人躑躅三輔。 微將軍之助，則咸陽已為它人禽矣！ 如令子陽到漢中，三輔願因將軍兵馬，鼓旗相當。 儻肯如言，即智士計功割地之秋也！ 管仲曰：『生我者父母，成我者鮑子。』 自今以後，手書相聞，勿用傍人間構之言。」 其後公孫述數遣將間出，囂輒與馮異合勢，共摧挫之。 述遣使以大司空、扶安王印綬授囂； 囂斬其使，出兵擊之，以故蜀兵不復北出。
At this time Wei Ao sent troops to assist Yi with merit; he sent envoys with a memorial, and the Emperor replied in his own hand, "I admire and delight in virtue and righteousness and wish to join and bind with you. Formerly King Wen held two parts in three yet still served Yin; but a nag and a lead knife cannot be forced upright—yet they may several times receive the price of one glance from Bo Le. The general resists Gongsun's troops in the south and guards against Qiang and Hu disorder in the north; therefore Feng Yi on the western campaign was able with only several thousand men to struggle in the Three Metropolises. Were it not for the general's aid, Xianyang would already have been taken by another! If Ziyang should reach Hanzhong, the Three Metropolises would wish to rely on the general's troops and horses, with drums and banners to match. If you are willing as you say, it will be the season for the wise to reckon merit and divide territory! Guan Zhong said, 'He who gave me life is my parents; he who completed me is Baozi.' From now on let us communicate by personal letters; do not use words that outsiders sow between us." After this Gongsun Shu repeatedly sent generals out by secret routes; Ao always joined forces with Feng Yi and together crushed them. Shu sent envoys with the seal and cord of Grand Minister of Works and King Who Supports Peace to invest Ao; Ao beheaded his envoys, sent out troops to attack him, and for this reason Shu troops no longer came north.
49
16泰山豪傑多與張步連兵。 吳漢薦強駑大將軍陳俊為泰山太守，擊破步兵，遂定泰山。
16. The heroes of Taishan mostly joined arms with Zhang Bu. Wu Han recommended Strong-Nag Great General Chen Jun as Grand Administrator of Taishan; he defeated Bu's infantry and thereupon settled Taishan.
50
1春，正月，癸巳，車駕還宮。
1. In spring, the first month, on guisi, the imperial carriage returned to the palace.
51
2帝使來歙持節送馬援歸隴右。 隗囂與援共臥起，問以東方事，曰：「前到朝廷，上引見數十，每接燕語，自夕至旦，才明勇略，非人敵也。 且開心見誠，無所隱伏，闊達多大節，略與高帝同； 經學博覽，政事文辯，前世無比。」 囂曰：「卿謂何如高帝？」 援曰：「不如也。 高帝無可無不可； 今上好吏事，動如節度，又不喜飲酒。」 囂意不懌，曰：「如卿言，反覆勝邪！」
2. The Emperor sent Lai Xi bearing credentials to escort Ma Yuan back to Longyou. Wei Ao shared bed and rising with Yuan and asked about affairs in the east; Yuan said, "When I went before to the court, the sovereign summoned me to audience several tens of times; each time we conversed at ease from evening to dawn—talent, clarity, courage, and stratagem are not matched by any man. Moreover he opens his heart and shows sincerity without concealment; he is broad and magnanimous with great integrity, roughly like Gaozu; in classical learning he is broadly read, and in government affairs and literary debate he has no peer in former ages." Ao said, "You say how does he compare with Gaozu?" Yuan said, "He is not equal. Gaozu had no fixed yes or no; the present sovereign loves official business, acts like a regulation in motion, and again does not delight in drinking." Ao's mind was not pleased; he said, "As you say, can one turn back and forth and win?!"
52
3二月，丙午，大赦。
3. In the second month, on bingwu, a general amnesty was proclaimed.
53
4蘇茂將五校兵救周建於垂惠。 馬武為茂、建所敗，奔過王霸營，大呼求救。 霸曰：「賊兵盛，出必兩敗，弩力而已！」 乃閉營堅壁。 軍吏皆爭之，霸曰：「茂兵精銳，其眾又多，吾吏士心恐，而捕虜與吾相恃，兩軍不一，此敗道也。 今閉營固守，示不相援，賊必乘勝輕進； 捕虜無救，其戰自倍。 如此，茂眾疲勞，吾承其敝，乃可克也。」 茂、建果悉出攻武，合戰良久，霸軍中壯士數十人斷髮請戰，霸乃開營後，出精騎襲其背。 茂、建前後受敵，驚亂敗走，霸、武各歸營。 茂、建復聚兵挑戰，霸堅臥不出，方饗士作倡樂； 茂雨射營中，中霸前酒樽，霸安坐不動。 軍吏皆曰：「茂前日已破，今易擊也。」 霸曰：「不然。 蘇茂客兵遠來，糧食不足，故數挑戰，以徼一時之勝。 今閉營休士，所謂『不戰而屈人兵』者也。」 茂、建既不得戰，乃引還營。 其夜，周建兄子誦反，閉城拒之。 建於道死； 茂奔下邳，與董憲合； 劉紆奔佼彊。
4. Su Mao led the Five-School troops to rescue Zhou Jian at Chuihui. Ma Wu was defeated by Mao and Jian, ran past Wang Ba's camp, and shouted loudly for rescue. Ba said, "The bandit troops are strong; if we go out both sides will surely be defeated—only the crossbow's strength!" He thereupon closed the camp and held firm behind walls. The army officers all disputed it; Ba said, "Mao's troops are elite and sharp, and his host is also many; our officers and soldiers' hearts are afraid, and the Captive-Slayer relies on us—two armies not as one is the way of defeat. Now if we close the camp and hold firm, showing we do not aid one another, the bandits will surely ride victory and advance lightly; with no rescue for the Captive-Slayer, his fighting will of itself double. In this way Mao's host will grow weary; we take their exhaustion and then can overcome." Mao and Jian indeed all came out to attack Wu; they joined battle for a long while; several tens of stalwarts in Ba's army cut their hair and begged to fight; Ba thereupon opened the rear of the camp and sent out elite horsemen to strike their rear. Mao and Jian were attacked front and rear, startled and in disorder fled in defeat; Ba and Wu each returned to camp. Mao and Jian again gathered troops and challenged battle; Ba lay firm and would not come out, just then feasting his soldiers and making music; Mao rained arrows into the camp and hit the wine goblet before Ba; Ba sat calmly without moving. The army officers all said, "Mao was defeated the other day; now he is easy to strike." Ba said, "It is not so. Su Mao's guest troops came from afar and grain is insufficient; therefore he repeatedly challenges battle to seek a moment's victory. Now if we close the camp and rest the soldiers, it is what is called 'subduing the enemy's troops without fighting.'" Mao and Jian, unable to get battle, thereupon led their forces back to camp. That night Zhou Jian's elder brother's son Song rebelled and closed the city to shut him out. Jian died on the road; Mao fled to Xiapi and joined Dong Xian; Liu Xu fled to Jiao Qiang.
54
5乙丑，上行幸魏郡。
5. On yichou, the sovereign went in person to Weijun.
55
6彭寵妻數為惡夢，又多見怪變； 卜筮、望氣者皆言兵當從中起。 寵以子后蘭卿質漢歸，不信之，使將兵居外，無親於中。 寵齋在便室，蒼頭子密等三人因寵臥寐，共縛著床，告外吏云：「大王齋禁，皆使吏休。」 偽稱寵命，收縛奴婢，各置一處。 又以寵命呼其妻，妻入，驚曰：「奴反！」 奴乃捽其頭，擊其頰。 寵急呼曰：「趣為諸將軍辦裝！」 於是兩奴將妻入取寶物，留一奴守寵。 寵謂守奴曰：「若小兒，吾素所愛也。 今為子密所迫劫耳！ 解我縛，當以女珠妻汝，家中財物皆以與若。」 小奴意欲解之，視戶外，見子密聽其語，遂不敢解。 於是收金玉衣物，至寵所裝之，被馬六匹，使妻縫兩縑囊。 昏夜後，解寵手，令作記告城門將軍云：「今遣子密等至子后蘭卿所，〔速開門出〕乙十一行本同； 孔本同； 張校同； 退齋校同。」 《後漢書．彭寵傳》同，據補。，勿稽留之。 書成，斬寵及妻頭置囊中，使持記馳出城，因以詣闕。 明旦，閣門不開，官屬逾牆而入，見寵屍，驚怖。 其尚書韓立等共立寵子午為王，國師韓利斬午首詣祭遵降，夷其宗族。 帝封子密為不義侯。
6. Peng Chong's wife repeatedly had evil dreams and also often saw strange transformations; diviners by milfoil and shell and those who read the qi of the heavens all said troops would rise from within. Chong, because his son Hou Lanqing had been sent as hostage to Han and returned, did not believe it and had generals with troops dwell outside, with no intimates within. Chong was fasting in the privy chamber; the house slaves Zi Mi and two others, while Chong lay asleep, together bound him to the bed and told the outer clerks, "The great king is in fast and taboo—all clerks are to rest." They falsely spoke in Chong's name, seized and bound the male and female slaves, and placed each in a separate place. Again in Chong's name they summoned his wife; the wife entered and cried in alarm, "The slaves have rebelled!" The slaves thereupon seized her head and struck her cheeks. Chong cried urgently, "Hasten to prepare gear for the generals!" Thereupon two slaves led the wife in to take valuables and left one slave to guard Chong. Chong said to the guarding slave, "You are a little child whom I have always loved. Now you are only forced and coerced by Zi Mi! Release my bonds, and I shall give you my daughter Zhu as wife and give you all the goods in the house." The young slave wished to release him, but looking outside the door he saw Zi Mi listening to their words and dared not release him. Thereupon they gathered gold, jade, and clothing, went to Chong's quarters to pack them, saddled six horses, and had his wife sew two silk sacks. “the Yi eleven-line edition agrees;4 Kong's edition agrees; Zhang's collation agrees; Tuizhai's collation agrees." The Book of the Later Han, biography of Peng Chong, agrees; supplied on that authority. do not detain them." When the note was finished they beheaded Chong and his wife, put the heads in the sacks, had a man carry the note gallop out of the city, and thereby went to present themselves at court. At dawn the gate tower did not open; officials climbed over the wall and entered, saw Chong's corpse, and were terrified. His Masters of Writing Han Li and others together enthroned Chong's son Wu as king; State Preceptor Han Li beheaded Wu, took his head to Ji Zun to surrender, and exterminated the clan. The Emperor enfeoffed Zi Mi as Marquis of No Loyalty.
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權德輿議曰：伯通之叛命，子密之戕君，同歸於亂，罪不相蔽，宜各致於法，昭示王度，反乃爵於五等，又以「不義」為名。 且舉以不義，莫可侯也； 此而可侯，漢爵為不足勸矣。 春秋書齊豹盜、三人名之義，無乃異於乎！
Quan Deyu remarked: Peng Tong's rebellion against command and Zi Mi's regicide both end in disorder; the crimes do not cover for one another and each ought to be brought to law to display royal measure—yet instead he was ennobled in the five ranks and even given "No Loyalty" as a title. Moreover, to raise up one for disloyalty—none may be enfeoffed for that; if this may be enfeoffed, Han's ranks are not enough to encourage men. The Spring and Autumn Annals records Qi Bao the thief and the meaning of naming the three men—is this not altogether different!
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7帝以扶風郭伋為漁陽太守。 伋承離亂之後，養民訓兵，開示威信，盜賊銷散，匈奴遠迹； 在職五年，戶口增倍。
7. The Emperor made Guo Xian of Fufeng Administrator of Yuyang. Xian, inheriting the aftermath of separation and disorder, nourished the people and trained troops, displayed majesty and trust, and bandits melted away while the Xiongnu kept their distance; in five years in office the registered households doubled.
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8帝使光祿大夫樊宏持節迎耿況於上谷，曰：「邊郡寒苦，不足久居。」 況至京師，賜甲第，奉朝請，封牟平侯。
8. The Emperor sent Household Grandee Fan Hong bearing credentials to welcome Geng Kuang from Shanggu, saying, "Border commanderies are cold and bitter—not fit for long residence." When Kuang reached the capital he was granted a fine mansion, given attendance at court audiences, and enfeoffed as Marquis of Mouping.
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吳漢率耿弇、王常擊富平、獲索賊於平原，大破之； 追討餘黨，至勃海，降者上萬餘人。 上因詔弇進討張步。
Wu Han led Geng Yan and Wang Chang to strike the Fuping and Huosuo bandits in Pingyuan and routed them utterly; pursued the survivors to Bohai, and more than ten thousand surrendered. The Emperor thereupon ordered Yan to advance and campaign against Zhang Bu.
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9平狄將軍龐萌，為人遜順，帝信愛之，常稱曰：「可以託六尺之孤，寄百里之命者，龐萌是也。」 使與蓋延共擊董憲。 歸詔書獨下延而不及萌，萌以為延譖己，自疑，遂反，襲延軍，破之； 與董憲連和，自號東平王，屯桃鄉之北。 帝聞之，大怒，自將討萌，與諸將書曰：「吾嘗以龐萌為社稷之臣乙十一行本同； 孔本同。」 案「嘗」「常」二字皆可，今不改。，將軍得無笑其言乎！ 老賊當族，其各厲兵馬，會睢陽！
9. Pacify-the-Di General Pang Meng was mild and compliant in conduct; the Emperor trusted and loved him and often said, "One to whom the six-foot orphan may be entrusted and the charge of a hundred li committed—that is Pang Meng." He sent him with Gai Yan jointly to strike Dong Xian. On the return edict the document went down to Yan alone and did not reach Meng; Meng thought Yan had slandered him, grew suspicious, then rebelled, struck Yan's army, and routed it; he allied with Dong Xian, styled himself King of Dongping, and encamped north of Taoxiang. “the Yi eleven-line edition agrees;5 Kong's edition agrees." “will the generals not laugh at those words!”6 The old bandit ought to be exterminated clan and all—each of you sharpen troops and horses and assemble at Suiyang!"
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龐萌攻破彭城，將殺楚郡太守孫萌。 郡吏劉平伏太守身上，號泣請代其死，身被七創； 龐萌義而捨之。 太守已絕復甦，渴求飲，平傾創血以飲之。
Pang Meng broke Pengcheng and was about to kill Chu commandery Administrator Sun Meng. Commandery clerk Liu Ping lay atop the Administrator's body, wailing and begging to die in his stead; his body took seven wounds; Pang Meng, moved by righteousness, spared him. The Administrator had already ceased breathing but revived; desperately thirsty, Ping poured the blood from his wounds for him to drink.
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10岑彭攻拔夷陵，田戎亡入蜀，盡獲其妻子、士眾數萬人。 公孫述以戎為翼江王。
10. Cen Peng attacked and took Yiling; Tian Rong fled into Shu; he took all his wives and children and a host of several tens of thousands. Gongsun Shu made Rong King Who Assists the River.
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岑彭謀伐蜀，以夾川穀少，水險難漕，留威虜將軍馮駿軍江州，都尉田鴻軍夷陵，領軍李玄軍夷道； 自引兵還屯津鄉，當荊州要會，喻告諸蠻夷降者，奏封其君長。
Cen Peng planned to campaign against Shu; because the gorges between the rivers had little grain and the waters were perilous and hard to supply by water, he left Awesome Foe General Feng Jun's army at Jiangzhou, Commandant Tian Hong's at Yiling, and Army Leader Li Xuan's at Yidao; he himself led troops back to encamp at Jinxiang, holding the key junction of Jing province, announced to the various submitted tribes, and memorialized to enfeoff their chieftains.
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11夏，四月，旱，蝗。
11. In summer, the fourth month, there was drought and locusts.
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12隗囂問於班彪曰：「往者周亡，戰國並爭，數世然後定。 意者從橫之事復起於今乎？ 將承運迭興，在於一人也？」 彪曰：「周之廢興，與漢殊異。 昔周爵五等，諸侯從政，本根既微，枝葉強大，故其末流有從橫之事，勢數然也。 漢承秦制，改立郡縣，主有專己之威，臣無百年之柄。 至於成帝，假借外家，哀、平短祚，國嗣三絕，故王氏擅朝，因竊號位，危自上起，傷不及下，是以即真之後，天下莫不引領而歎。 十餘年間，中外騷擾，遠近俱發，假號雲合，咸稱劉氏，不謀同辭。 方今雄傑帶州域者，皆無七國世業之資，而百姓謳吟思漢。 漢必復興，已可知矣。」
12. Wei Xiao questioned Ban Biao, saying, "In the past when Zhou perished, the Warring States contended together, and only after several generations was there settlement. Do you suppose the affairs of the Horizontal and Vertical alliances will rise again today? Or will succession of mandate rise in turn, resting in a single man?" Biao said, "Zhou's fall and rise differ from Han's. Formerly Zhou enfeoffed five ranks and feudal lords shared in government; the root was already slight while branches and leaves were strong—therefore at the end there were Horizontal and Vertical affairs; the trend of the times made it so. Han inherited Qin's system, changed and established commanderies and counties—the lord had sole authority, and ministers had no power lasting a hundred years. Down to Chengdi, power was lent to the maternal kin; Ai and Ping had short reigns and the succession was cut off thrice—therefore the Wang clan monopolized the court and stole title and throne by degrees; peril rose from above and injury did not reach below—therefore after he took the throne all under Heaven craned their necks and sighed. Within more than ten years, inner and outer were disturbed and near and far all rose up; false titles gathered like clouds, all styled themselves Liu—without plotting, they spoke the same words. Now bold heroes who hold commandery territories all lack the hereditary resources of the Seven States, while the people chant in longing for Han. That Han will surely revive may already be known."
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囂曰：「生言周、漢之勢可也，至於但見愚人習識劉氏姓號之故，而謂漢復興，疏矣！ 昔秦失其鹿，劉季逐而掎之，時民復知漢乎？」 彪乃為之著《王命論》以風切之曰：「昔堯之禪舜曰：『天之歷數在爾躬。』 舜亦以命禹。 洎於稷、契，咸佐唐、虞，至湯、武而有天下。 劉氏承堯之祚，堯據火德而漢紹之，有赤帝子之符，故為鬼神所福饗，天下所歸往。 由是言之，未見運世無本，功德不紀，而得屈起在此位者也！ 俗見高祖興於布衣，不達其故，至比天下於逐鹿，幸捷而得之。 不知神器有命，不可以智力求也。 悲夫，此世所以多亂臣賊子者也！ 夫餓饉流隸，飢寒道路，所願不過一金，然終轉死溝壑，何則？ 貧窮亦有命也。 況乎天子之貴，四海之富，神明之祚，可得而妄處哉！ 故雖遭厄會，竊其權柄，勇如信、布，強如梁、籍，成如王莽，然卒潤鑊伏質，亨醢分裂； 又況ㄠ麼尚不及數子，而欲暗奸天位者呼！ 昔陳嬰之母以嬰家世貧賤，卒富貴不祥，止嬰勿王； 王陵之母知漢王必得天下，伏劍而死，以固勉陵。 夫以匹婦之明，猶能推事理之致，探禍福之機，而全宗祀於無窮，垂策書於春秋，而況大丈夫之事乎！ 是故窮達有命，吉凶由人，嬰母知廢，陵母知興，審此二者，帝王之分決矣。 加之高祖寬明而仁恕，知人善任使。 當食吐哺，納子房之策； 拔足揮洗，捐酈生之說； 舉韓信於行陳，收陳平於亡命； 英雄陳力，群策畢舉，此高祖之大略所以成帝業也。 若乃靈瑞符應，其事甚眾，故淮陰、留侯謂之天授，非人力也。 英雄誠知覺寤，超然遠覽，淵然深識，收陵、嬰之明分，絕信、布之覬覦，距逐鹿之瞽說，審神器之有授，毋貪不可冀，為二母之所笑，則福祚流于子孫，天祿其永終矣！」 囂不聽。 彪遂避地河西。 竇融以為從事甚禮重之。 彪遂為融畫策，使之專意事漢焉。
Xiao said, "Your words on Zhou and Han's trends may stand—but as for merely seeing fools accustomed to the Liu clan's surname and title and therefore saying Han will revive, that is shallow! In the past when Qin lost the deer, Liu Ji pursued and seized it—did the people then yet know Han?" Biao then composed for him the Discourse on the King's Mandate to admonish him, saying, "In the past when Yao yielded the throne to Shun he said, 'Heaven's cycle of years is upon your person. Shun also with it commanded Yu. Down to Ji and Qi, all assisted Tang and Yu; down to Tang and Wu there was possession of all under Heaven. The Liu house inherited Yao's fortune; Yao held the virtue of Fire and Han continued it—there was the tally of the Red Emperor's Son—therefore spirits blessed them and all under Heaven turned to them. From this it follows that one has not seen an age without root, merit and virtue unrecorded, yet one who could bend and rise to this throne! The vulgar see Gaozu rise from common cloth and do not grasp the cause, even comparing all under Heaven to chasing the deer and luckily seizing it by speed. They do not know the sacred vessel has mandate and cannot be sought by wit and strength. Alas—this is why the age has so many rebellious ministers and wicked sons! The starving in famine, refugees in bonds, hungry and cold on the roads—their wish is no more than one cash, yet in the end they turn and die in ditches and gullies—why? Poverty too has its mandate. How much more the Son of Heaven's exalted rank, the four seas' wealth, the spirits' blessing—can these be rashly occupied! Therefore though they met ill fortune and stole power and handles—brave as Xin and Bu, strong as Liang and Ji, accomplished as Wang Mang—yet in the end they were boiled in the cauldron and lay for execution, dismembered in the great pot; how much more insignificant fellows who do not even match those several men yet wish in darkness to usurp Heaven's throne! In the past Chen Ying's mother, because the Ying house was poor and low through generations and sudden wealth and rank were inauspicious, stopped Ying from becoming king; Wang Ling's mother knew the King of Han would surely gain all under Heaven, fell on her sword and died, to firmly exhort Ling. With the insight of a common woman, one may still push to the reach of principle, probe the pivot of fortune and calamity, preserve clan sacrifice without end, and leave policy writings in the Spring and Autumn—how much more the affairs of a great man! Therefore obscurity and success have mandate, fortune and calamity lie with men—Ying's mother knew what to abandon, Ling's mother knew what would rise; discerning these two, the partition of emperor and king is decided. Added to this, Gaozu was broad, clear, humane, and forgiving, knew men and was good at employing them. Mid-meal he spat out his food and accepted Zifang's stratagem; he pulled up his feet and waved away the washing and cast aside Li Sheng's persuasion; he raised Han Xin from the battle line and gathered Chen Ping from among fugitives; heroes displayed their strength, all stratagems were fully raised—this was Gaozu's great design by which he accomplished the imperial enterprise. As for numinous omens and tally responses, the matters are very many—therefore Huaiyin and the Marquis of Liu called it Heaven's gift, not human power. If heroes truly know and awaken, transcend and see far, profound and deeply perceiving, take Ling and Ying's clear partitions, cut off Xin and Bu's covetous glances, reject the blind talk of chasing the deer, discern that the sacred vessel has its grant, not grasp what cannot be hoped for and be laughed at by the two mothers—then fortune and blessing flow to sons and grandsons and Heaven's stipend will end in permanence!" Xiao would not listen. Biao then fled the troubled land to Hexi. Dou Rong made him an attendant and honored him with great ceremony. Biao then drew up plans for Rong, causing him to devote his mind solely to serving Han.
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13初，竇融等聞帝威德，心欲東向，以河西隔遠，未能自通，乃從隗囂受建武王朔； 囂皆假其將軍印綬。 囂外順人望，內懷異心，使辯士張玄說融等曰：「更始事已成，尋覆亡滅，此一姓不再興之效也！ 今即有所主，便相係屬，一旦拘制，自令失柄，後有危敗，雖悔無及。 方今豪傑競逐，雌雄未決，當各據土宇，與隴、蜀合從，高可為六國，下不失尉佗。」 融等召豪傑議之，其中識者皆曰：「今皇帝姓名見於圖書，自前世博物道術之士谷子雲、夏賀良等皆言漢有再受命之符，故劉子駿改易名字，冀應其占。 及莽末，西門君惠謀立子駿，事覺被殺，出謂觀者曰：『讖文不誤，劉秀真汝主也！』 此皆近事暴著，眾所共見者也。 況今稱帝者數人，而雒陽土地最廣，甲兵最強，號令最明，觀符命而察人事，它姓殆未能當也！」 眾議或同或異。
13. At first Dou Rong and others heard the Emperor's majesty and virtue and wished in heart to turn east; because Hexi was far and cut off they could not reach him on their own and therefore followed Wei Xiao in receiving the King of Jianwu's calendar; Xiao all lent them general's seals and cords. Outwardly complying with men's hopes, inwardly he harbored a different heart; he sent persuader Zhang Xuan to tell Rong and others, "Gengshi's enterprise was already accomplished, yet soon he was overthrown and perished—this is the effect of a surname not rising twice! Now if you at once have someone to follow, you will tie yourselves in subordination; once constrained and controlled you will of yourselves lose the handle—later when peril and defeat come, though you regret it there will be no reaching back. Now bold heroes compete in pursuit and the outcome is not yet decided—you ought each to hold your territory and ally with Long and Shu; at the high you may be the Six States, at the low you will not lose Zhao Tuo." Rong and others summoned the bold leaders to deliberate; among them the discerning all said, "Now the Emperor's name appears in charts and books; from former ages the broad-learning masters of the Way Gu Ziyun, Xia Heliang, and others all said Han had the tally of receiving mandate a second time—therefore Liu Zijun changed his name, hoping to match the prognostication. At Wang Mang's end, Ximen Junhui plotted to enthrone Zijun; the matter was discovered and he was killed; going out he said to those watching, 'The prophecy text is not wrong—Liu Xiu is truly your lord!' These are all recent matters glaringly manifest, what the multitude together has seen. How much more that now several men style themselves emperor, yet Luoyang's territory is broadest, armor and troops strongest, orders and commands clearest—viewing the tally of mandate and inspecting human affairs, other surnames can scarcely match!" The assembly's deliberation was partly in agreement, partly at odds.
68
融遂決策東向，遣長史劉鈞等奉書詣雒陽。 先是，帝亦發使遺融書以招之，遇鈞於道，即與俱還。 帝見鈞歡甚，禮饗畢，乃遣令還，賜融璽書曰：「今益州有公孫子陽，天水有隗將軍。 方蜀、漢相攻，權在將軍，舉足左右，便有輕重。 以此言之，欲相厚豈有量哉！ 欲遂立桓、文，輔微國，當勉卒功業； 欲三分鼎足，連衡合從，亦宜以時定。 天下未並，吾與爾絕域，非相吞之國。 今之議者，必有任囂教尉佗制七郡之計。 王者有分土，無分民，自適己事而已。」 因授融為涼州牧。 璽書至河西，河西皆驚，以為天子明見萬里之外。
Rong then decided on policy to turn east and sent Chief Clerk Liu Jun and others with a letter to present themselves at Luoyang. Earlier the Emperor had also sent an envoy with a letter to summon Rong; he met Jun on the road and at once returned together with him. The Emperor saw Jun and was very pleased; when the feast of ceremony was finished he sent him back and granted Rong an imperial letter saying, "Now Yizhou has Gongsun Ziyang and Tianshui has General Wei. Just as Shu and Han attack each other, the power lies with you, General—a step left or right and the balance shifts. Speaking from this, if we wish to treat each other generously, is there any limit! If you wish to establish yourself like Duke Huan and Duke Wen and aid a small state, you should strive to complete your enterprise; if you wish for a three-way division of the realm with horizontal and vertical alliances, that too should be settled in season. All under Heaven is not yet united; you and I are separated by distant borders—not states that devour one another. Those who debate today surely have Ren Xiao's plan of teaching Zhao Tuo to carve out seven commanderies in mind. A king apportions land, not people; he merely suits his own affairs." Thereupon he appointed Rong Governor of Liangzhou. When the imperial letter reached Hexi, all Hexi was startled, thinking the Son of Heaven saw clearly ten thousand li beyond.
69
14朱祜急攻黎丘，六月，秦豐窮困出降； 轞車送洛陽。 吳漢劾祜廢詔命，受豐降。 上誅豐，不罪祜。
14 Zhu You pressed the attack on Liqiu; in the sixth month Qin Feng, exhausted, came out and surrendered; and sent him to Luoyang in a caged cart. Wu Han impeached Zhu You for disregarding the edict and accepting Feng's surrender. The Emperor executed Feng and did not punish Zhu You.
70
15董憲與劉紆、蘇茂、佼彊去下邳還蘭陵，使茂，彊助龐萌圍桃城。 帝時幸蒙，聞之，乃留輜重，自將輕兵晨夜馳赴。 至亢父，或言百官疲倦，可且止宿； 上不聽，復行十里，宿任城，去桃城六十里。 旦日，諸將請進，龐萌等亦勒兵挑戰。 帝令諸將不得出，休士養銳以挫其鋒。 時吳漢等在東郡，馳使召之。 萌等驚曰：「數百里晨夜行，以為至當戰，而堅坐任城，致人城下，真不可往也！」 乃悉兵攻桃城。 城中聞車駕至，眾心益固； 萌等攻二十餘日，眾疲睏，不能下。 吳漢、王常、蓋延、王梁、馬武、王霸等皆至，帝乃率眾軍進救桃城，親自搏戰，大破之。 龐萌、蘇茂、佼彊夜走從董憲。
15 Dong Xian with Liu Zhu, Su Mao, and Jiao Qiang left Xiapi and returned to Lanling, sending Mao and Qiang to aid Pang Meng in besieging Taocheng. The Emperor was then visiting Meng; hearing of it, he left the baggage train and himself led light troops, galloping day and night to the rescue. Reaching Kangfu, some said the officials and troops were weary and could halt for the night; the Emperor would not listen, went another ten li, and lodged at Rencheng, sixty li from Taocheng. At dawn the generals asked to advance; Pang Meng and the others also drew up troops and offered battle. The Emperor ordered the generals not to go out, rested the troops and nurtured their edge to blunt the enemy's momentum. At that time Wu Han and others were in Dong commandery; he sent a fast messenger to summon them. Meng and the others were alarmed, saying, "He marched several hundred li day and night—we thought he would fight on arrival, yet he sits firm at Rencheng and brings men to our walls—truly we cannot go against him! They then threw all their troops against Taocheng. Within the city, hearing the imperial carriage had arrived, morale grew firmer; Meng and the others attacked for more than twenty days; their forces grew weary and exhausted and could not take the city. Wu Han, Wang Chang, Gai Yan, Wang Liang, Ma Wu, Wang Ba, and others all arrived; the Emperor then led the armies forward to relieve Taocheng, fought in person, and routed them completely. Pang Meng, Su Mao, and Jiao Qiang fled by night to join Dong Xian.
71
秋，七月，丁丑，帝幸沛，進幸湖陵。 董憲與劉紆悉其兵數萬人屯昌慮； 憲招誘五校餘賊，與之抿守建陽。 帝至蕃，去憲所百餘里，諸將請進，帝不聽，知五校乏食當退，敕各堅壁以待其敝。 頃之，五校果引去。 帝乃親臨，四面攻憲，三日，大破之。 佼彊將其眾降，蘇茂奔張步，憲及龐萌走保郯。 八月，己酉，帝幸郯，留吳漢攻之，車駕轉徇彭城、下邳。 吳漢拔郯，董憲、龐萌走保朐。 劉紆不知所歸，其軍士高扈斬之以降。 吳漢進圍朐。
In autumn, in the seventh month, on the day dingchou, the Emperor visited Pei and advanced to Huling. Dong Xian and Liu Zhu mustered their troops, several tens of thousands, and encamped at Changlv; Xian enticed the remnant bandits of the Five Camps and with them held Jianyang in a tight defense. The Emperor reached Fan, more than a hundred li from Xian's position; the generals asked to advance, but the Emperor would not listen, knowing the Five Camps lacked food and would withdraw, and ordered each to hold the walls firm and await their exhaustion. Before long the Five Camps indeed withdrew. The Emperor then came in person, attacked Xian on four sides, and in three days routed him completely. Jiao Qiang led his host to surrender; Su Mao fled to Zhang Bu; Xian and Pang Meng ran to hold Tan. In the eighth month, on the day jiyou, the Emperor visited Tan, left Wu Han to attack it, and the imperial carriage turned to tour Pengcheng and Xiapi. Wu Han took Tan; Dong Xian and Pang Meng fled to hold Qiu. Liu Zhu knew not where to turn; his soldier Gao Hu beheaded him and surrendered. Wu Han advanced to besiege Qiu.
72
16冬，十月，帝幸魯。
16 In winter, in the tenth month, the Emperor visited Lu.
73
17張步聞耿弇將至，使其大將軍費邑軍歷下，又令兵屯祝阿，別於泰山、鐘城列營數十以待之。 弇渡河，先擊祝阿，自旦攻城，日未中而拔之； 故開圍一角，令其眾得奔歸鐘城。 鍾城人聞祝阿已潰，大恐懼，遂空壁亡去。
17 Zhang Bu heard Geng Yan was about to arrive and sent his Grand General Fei Yi to encamp at Lixia, ordered troops to hold Zhu'e, and separately set out several tens of camps on Mount Tai and at Zhongcheng to await him. Yan crossed the river, first struck Zhu'e, assaulted from dawn, and before midday had taken it; he deliberately opened one corner of the encirclement so their forces could flee back to Zhongcheng. The people of Zhongcheng heard Zhu'e had already fallen, were greatly terrified, and emptied the walls and fled.
74
費邑分遣弟敢守巨里。 弇進兵先脅巨里，嚴令軍中趣修攻具，宣敕諸部，後三日當悉力攻巨里城； 陰緩生口，令得亡歸，以弇期告邑。 邑至日，果自將精兵三萬餘人來救之。 弇喜，謂諸將曰：「吾所以修攻具者，欲誘致之耳。 野兵不擊，何以城為！」 即分三千人守巨里，自引精兵上岡阪，乘高合戰，大破之，臨陳斬邑。 既而收首級以示城中，城中兇懼。 費敢悉眾亡歸張步。 弇復收其積聚，縱兵擊諸未下者，平四十餘營，遂定濟南。
Fei Yi sent his younger brother Gan to hold Juli. Yan advanced to threaten Juli, sternly ordered the army to hurry repairing siege gear, and proclaimed to the divisions that in three days they would attack Juli with full force; secretly relaxed the prisoners so they could flee back and tell Fei Yi of Yan's deadline. When the day came, Fei Yi indeed came in person leading more than thirty thousand elite troops to the rescue. Yan was pleased and said to the generals, "The reason I repaired siege gear was to lure him here. If one does not strike field armies, what use are walled cities!" He then left three thousand men to hold Juli, himself led elite troops up the hill slopes, fought from the heights, routed them completely, and beheaded Fei Yi before the array. Then he displayed the heads to the city; within the city terror was fierce. Fei Gan led all his host in flight back to Zhang Bu. Yan again gathered their stores, loosed troops against those not yet taken, pacified more than forty camps, and thereby settled Jinan.
75
時張步都劇，使其弟藍將精兵二萬守西安，諸郡太守合萬餘人守臨菑，相去四十里。 弇進軍畫中，居二城之間。 弇視西安城小而堅，且藍兵又精，臨菑名雖大而實易攻，乃敕諸校後五日會攻西安。 藍聞之，晨夜警守。 至期，夜半，弇敕諸將皆蓐食，會明，至臨菑城。 護軍荀梁等爭之，以為「攻臨菑，西安必救之，攻西安，臨菑不能救，不如攻西安。」 弇曰：「不然，西安聞吾欲攻之，日夜為備，方自憂，何暇救人！ 臨菑出不意而至，必驚攏，吾攻之一日，必拔。 拔臨菑，即西安孤，與劇隔絕，必覆亡去，所謂『擊一而得二』者也。 若先攻西安，不能卒下，頓兵堅城，死傷必多。 縱能拔之，藍引軍還奔臨菑，並兵合勢，觀人虛實。 吾深入敵地，後無轉輸，旬月之間，不戰而困矣。」 遂攻臨菑。 半日，拔之，入據其城。 張藍聞之，懼，遂將其眾亡歸劇。
At that time Zhang Bu made his capital at Ju, sent his younger brother Lan with twenty thousand elite troops to hold Xi'an, and the various commandery administrators with more than ten thousand men together to hold Linzi, forty li apart. Yan advanced the army to Huazhong and encamped between the two cities. Yan saw Xi'an's walls were small yet strong and Lan's troops were elite; Linzi was great in name but in fact easy to attack, and he charged the colonels to assemble in five days to attack Xi'an. Lan heard of it and guarded day and night with alarm. When the day came, at midnight Yan ordered the generals to eat in their bedding, and at dawn they reached Linzi. Protector of the Army Xun Liang and others disputed it, saying, "If we attack Linzi, Xi'an is sure to rescue it; if we attack Xi'an, Linzi cannot rescue it—better to attack Xi'an." Yan said, "Not so. Xi'an, hearing we mean to attack it, prepares day and night and worries for itself—what leisure to save others! Linzi, taken unawares, will surely be startled and in turmoil; we attack it one day and it is sure to fall. Once Linzi is taken, Xi'an is isolated, cut off from Ju, and is sure to collapse and flee—that is what is called 'strike one and gain two. If we first attack Xi'an and cannot take it quickly, with troops halted at a strong wall the dead and wounded will surely be many. Even if we could take it, Lan would lead troops back to Linzi, combine forces, and watch for our weaknesses. We have penetrated deep into enemy land with no relay transport behind; in a month or ten days, without fighting we would be exhausted." He then attacked Linzi. In half a day he took it and entered to hold the city. Zhang Lan heard of it, was afraid, and led his host in flight back to Ju.
76
弇乃令軍中無得虜掠、須張步至乃取之，以激怒步。 步聞，大笑曰：「以尤來、大彤十餘萬眾，吾皆即其營而破之。 今大耿兵少於彼，又皆疲勞，何足懼乎！」 乃與三弟藍、弘、壽及故大彤渠帥重異等兵號二十萬，至臨菑大城東，將攻弇。 弇上書曰：「臣據臨菑，深塹高壘； 張步從劇縣來攻，疲勞飢渴。 欲進，誘而攻之； 欲去，隨而擊之。 臣依營而戰，精銳百倍，以逸待勞，以實擊虛，旬日之間，步首可獲。」 於是弇先出菑水上，與重異遇； 突騎欲縱，弇恐挫其鋒，令步不敢進，故示弱以盛其氣，乃引歸小城，陳兵於內，使都尉劉歆、泰山太守陳俊分陳於城下。 步氣盛，直攻弇營，與劉歆等合戰。 弇升王宮壞臺望之，視歆等鋒交，乃自引精兵以橫突步陳於東城下，大破之。 飛矢中弇股，以佩刀截之，左右無知者。 至暮，罷。 弇明旦復勒兵出。
Yan then ordered that within the army there was to be no seizing plunder—they must wait until Zhang Bu arrived before taking booty—to enrage Zhang Bu. Zhang Bu heard and laughed loudly, saying, "With Youlai and Datong and more than a hundred thousand men, I all took their camps and broke them. Now Great Geng's troops are fewer than those and all weary besides—what is there to fear!" He then with his three younger brothers Lan, Hong, and Shou and the former Datong chieftain Chong Yi and others—troops claiming two hundred thousand—came to the east of Linzi's great wall to attack Yan. Yan submitted a memorial, saying, "Your servant holds Linzi with deep moats and high ramparts; Zhang Bu comes from Ju county to attack, weary, hungry, and thirsty. If he wishes to advance, lure him and strike; if he wishes to leave, follow and strike him. Your servant fights from the camp with elite troops a hundredfold stronger; awaiting the weary with the rested and striking the void with the solid, within ten days or a month Zhang Bu's head can be taken." Thereupon Yan first went out onto the Jushui and met Chong Yi; shock cavalry wished to charge forth; Yan feared blunting their momentum and making Zhang Bu dare not advance, and therefore showed weakness to swell their spirit; he then drew back to the small city, arrayed troops within, and had Commandant Liu Xin and Taishan Administrator Chen Jun divide their arrays below the wall. Zhang Bu's spirit was high; he struck straight at Yan's camp and joined battle with Liu Xin and the others. Yan ascended the ruined terrace of the royal palace to watch; seeing Xin and the others' fronts engaged, he then himself led elite troops to strike across Zhang Bu's array below the east wall and routed them completely. A flying arrow struck Yan's thigh; he cut off the shaft with his belt dagger, and those at his sides knew nothing. At dusk they ceased. At dawn the next day Yan again drew up troops and went out.
77
是時帝在魯，聞弇為步所攻，自往救之。 未至，陳俊謂弇曰：「劇虜兵盛，可且閉營休士，以須上來。」 弇曰：「乘輿且到，臣子當擊牛、釃酒以待百官，反欲以賊虜遺君父邪？」 乃出兵大戰。 自旦及昏，復大破之； 殺傷無數，溝塹皆滿。 弇知步困將退，豫置左右翼為伏以待之。 人定時，步果引去，伏兵起縱擊，追至鉅昧水上，八九十里，殭尸相屬，收得輜重二千餘兩。 步還劇，兄弟各分兵散去。
At that time the Emperor was at Lu; hearing Yan was attacked by Zhang Bu, he went in person to rescue him. Before he arrived Chen Jun said to Yan, "The Ju bandits' troops are numerous—you may close the camp and rest the soldiers to await the Emperor's arrival." Yan said, "The imperial carriage is about to arrive—a minister should slaughter oxen and strain wine to await the hundred officials; would you instead leave bandit foes for the sovereign?" He then sent out troops for a great battle. From dawn to dusk he again routed them completely; the dead and wounded beyond count, ditches and ramparts all filled. Yan knew Zhang Bu was distressed and about to withdraw, and beforehand set left and right wings in ambush to await him. At the hour when men settle Zhang Bu indeed withdrew; the ambush troops rose and pursued to the Jumo river for eighty or ninety li, corpses linking in succession, and gathered more than two thousand baggage carts. Zhang Bu returned to Ju; the brothers each divided troops and scattered.
78
後數日，車駕至臨菑，自勞軍，群臣大會。 帝謂弇曰：「昔韓信破歷下以開基，今將軍攻祝阿以發跡，此皆齊之西界，功足相方。 而韓信襲擊已降，將軍獨拔勍敵，其功又難於信也。 又，田橫亨酈生，及田橫降，高帝詔衛尉不聽為仇； 張步前亦殺伏隆，若步來歸命，吾當詔大司徒釋其怨，又事尤相類也。 將軍前在南陽，建此大策，常以為落落難合，有志者事竟成也！」 帝進幸劇。
Several days later the imperial carriage reached Linzi, personally comforted the army, and the ministers held a great assembly. The Emperor said to Yan, "In the past Han Xin broke Lixia to open the foundation; now you attacked Zhu'e to launch your rise—these are all Qi's western borders, merit enough to match. Yet Han Xin struck those already surrendered; you alone uprooted fierce foes—your merit is again greater than Xin's. Moreover Tian Heng boiled Li Sheng; when Tian Heng surrendered, Gaodi charged the Commandant of the Guard not to heed revenge; Zhang Bu before also killed Fu Long—if Zhang Bu comes to submit, I shall charge the Grand Minister of the Masses to release his grievance; again the affair is especially of a kind. You before at Nanyang framed this great plan—I always thought it solitary and hard to join; yet the determined complete their affairs!" The Emperor advanced to Ju.
79
耿弇復追張步，步奔平壽，蘇茂將萬餘人來救之。 茂讓步曰：「以南陽兵精，延岑善戰，而耿弇走之，大王奈何就攻其營？ 既呼茂，不能待邪？」 步曰：「負負，無可言者！」 帝遣使告步、茂，能相斬降者，封為列侯。 步遂斬茂，詣耿弇軍門肉袒降。 弇傳詣行在所，而勒兵入據其城，樹十二郡旗鼓，令步兵各以郡人詣旗下，眾尚十餘萬，輜重七千餘兩，皆罷遣歸鄉里。 張步三弟各自系所在獄，詔皆赦之，封步為安丘侯，與妻子居雒陽。
Geng Yan again pursued Zhang Bu; Bu fled to Pingshou; Su Mao led more than ten thousand men to rescue him. Su Mao reproached Zhang Bu, saying, "With Nanyang's troops elite and Yan Cen skilled in battle, yet Geng Yan routed them—great king, why go attack his camp? You summoned me—could you not wait?" Zhang Bu said, "Alas, alas—there is nothing to say!" The Emperor sent messengers telling Zhang Bu and Su Mao that whoever could behead the other and surrender would be enfeoffed as a ranked marquis. Zhang Bu thereupon beheaded Su Mao, came to Geng Yan's camp gate bare-chested, and surrendered. Geng Yan sent him on to the imperial camp, reined his troops and entered to hold the city, raised the banners and drums of twelve commanderies, and had the infantry of each commandery assemble under its banner—more than a hundred thousand men remained, with over seven thousand baggage carts—all were dismissed to return home. Zhang Bu's three younger brothers each bound themselves in their local prisons; an edict pardoned them all, enfeoffed Zhang Bu as Marquis of Anqiu, and had him dwell in Luoyang with his wife and children.
80
於是琅邪未平，上徙陳俊為琅邪太守； 始入境，盜賊皆散。
At this point Langye was not yet pacified; the Emperor transferred Chen Jun to be Administrator of Langye; as soon as he entered the border, the bandits all scattered.
81
耿弇復引兵至城陽，降五校餘黨，齊地悉平，振旅還京師。 弇為將，凡所平郡四十六，屠城三百，未嘗挫折焉。
Geng Yan again led troops to Chengyang, accepted the submission of the remnant Five Schools faction, Qi was entirely pacified, and he led his army back to the capital. As a general, Geng Yan in all pacified forty-six commanderies and stormed three hundred cities, never suffering a setback.
82
18初起太學。 車駕還宮，幸太學，稽式古典，修明禮樂，煥然文物可觀矣。
18. The Imperial Academy was established for the first time. The imperial carriage returned to the palace; the Emperor visited the Imperial Academy, examined classical models, and restored ritual and music—civil culture shone forth and was splendid to behold.
83
19十一月，大司徒伏湛免，以侯霸為大司徒。 霸聞太原閔仲叔之名而辟之，既至，霸不及政事，徒勞苦而已。 仲叔恨曰：「始蒙嘉命，且喜且懼。 今見明公，喜懼皆去。 以仲叔為不足問邪，不當辟也。 辟而不問，是失人也！」 遂辭出，投劾而去。
19. In the eleventh month, Grand Minister of Education Fu Zhan was dismissed and Hou Ba was made Grand Minister of Education. Hou Ba heard the name of Min Zhongshu of Taiyuan and recruited him; once Zhongshu arrived, Ba did not attend to government affairs and only put him to hard labor. Zhongshu said resentfully, "At first I received your fine appointment—I was both glad and afraid. Now that I have seen you, both gladness and fear have departed. If you take Zhongshu as unworthy to consult, you should not have recruited me. To recruit a man and not consult him—that is losing people!" He thereupon took his leave, submitted a memorial of self-impeachment, and departed.
84
20初，五原人李興、隨昱、朔方人田颯、代郡人石鮪、閔堪各起兵自稱將軍。 匈奴單于遣使與興等和親，欲令盧芳還漢地為帝。 興等引兵至單于庭迎芳。 十二月，與俱入塞，都九原縣； 掠有五原、朔方、雲中、定襄、雁門五郡，並置守、令，與胡〔通〕兵，侵苦北邊乙十一行本同； 孔本同； 張校同； 退齋校同。 《後漢書．盧芳傳》同，據補。。
20. At first Li Xing of Wuyuan, Sui Yu, Tian Sa of Shuofang, Shi Yu of Dai commandery, and Min Kan each raised troops and styled themselves generals. The Xiongnu Shanyu sent envoys to ally by marriage with Li Xing and the others, wishing to have Lu Fang return to Han territory as emperor. Li Xing and the others led troops to the Shanyu's court to welcome Lu Fang. In the twelfth month they entered the passes together and made their capital Jiuyuan county; the yi eleven-line edition agrees;7 Kong's edition agrees; Zhang's collation agrees; Tuizhai's collation agrees." .8
85
21馮異治關中，出入三歲，上林成都。 人有上章言：「異威權至重，百姓歸心，號為咸陽王。」 帝以章示異； 異惶懼，上書陳謝。 詔報曰：「將軍之於國家，義為君臣，恩猶父子，何嫌何疑，而有懼意！」
21. Feng Yi governed Guanzhong; within three years the Shanglin region flourished like a great metropolis. Someone submitted a memorial saying, "Feng Yi's power and authority are extremely heavy; the common people turn their hearts to him—he is styled King of Xianyang." The Emperor showed the memorial to Feng Yi; Feng Yi was fearful and submitted a memorial apologizing. An edict in reply said, "General, toward the state you are sovereign and subject in righteousness and father and son in kindness—what suspicion or doubt should make you afraid?"
86
22隗囂矜己飾智，每自比西伯，與諸將議欲稱王。 鄭興曰：「昔文王三分天下有其二，尚服事殷； 武王八百諸侯不謀同會，猶還兵待時； 高帝征伐累年，猶以沛公行師。 今令德雖明，世無宗周之祚； 威略雖振，未有高祖之功； 而欲舉未可之事，昭速禍患，無乃不可乎！」 囂乃止。 後又置廣職位以自尊高，鄭興曰：「夫中郎將、太中大夫、使持節官，皆王者之器，非人臣所當制也。 無益於實，有損於名，非尊上之意也。」 囂病之而止。
22. Wei Ao prided himself on his cleverness and constantly compared himself to King Wen of Zhou; he discussed with his generals declaring himself king. Zheng Xing said, "In the past King Wen held two-thirds of all under Heaven and still served the Shang; King Wu, though eight hundred feudal lords met without prior plotting, still returned his troops and awaited the proper time; Gaozu campaigned for years and still marched as Duke of Pei. Now though your virtue is bright, the age lacks the Zhou royal house's mandate; though your prestige is stirring, you lack Gaozu's achievement; yet you wish to undertake what is not yet possible and proclaim it, hastening disaster—is this not impossible?" Wei Ao thereupon stopped. Later he again created many offices to exalt himself; Zheng Xing said, "Palace Gentleman, Palace Counselor, and Credential-Bearer are a king's instruments—not what a subject should create. They benefit you in substance not at all and harm your reputation—this is not how one honors the sovereign." Wei Ao resented this and stopped.
87
時關中將帥數上書，言蜀可擊之狀，帝以書示囂，因使擊蜀以效其信。 囂上書，盛言三輔單弱，劉文伯在邊，未宜謀蜀。 帝知囂欲持要端，不願天下統一，於是稍黜其禮，正君臣之儀。 帝以囂與馬援、來歙相善，數使歙、援奉使往來，勸令入朝，許以重爵。 囂連遣使，深持謙辭，言無功德，須四方平定，退伏閭里。 帝復遣來歙說囂遣子入侍，囂聞劉永、彭寵皆已破滅，乃遣長子恂隨歙詣闕； 帝以為胡騎校尉，封鐫羌侯。
At the time Guanzhong generals repeatedly memorialized that Shu could be attacked; the Emperor showed the letters to Wei Ao and had him attack Shu to prove his loyalty. Wei Ao submitted a memorial strongly stating that the Three Adjuncts were weak, Liu Wenbo was on the border, and it was not yet appropriate to plan against Shu. The Emperor knew Wei Ao wished to hold leverage and did not wish the realm unified; he therefore gradually reduced his ceremonial honors and rectified the rites between sovereign and subject. Because Wei Ao was on good terms with Ma Yuan and Lai Xin, the Emperor repeatedly sent Lai Xin and Ma Yuan as envoys back and forth, urging him to come to court and promising high rank. Wei Ao repeatedly sent envoys with deep humility, saying he had no merit and must wait until the four quarters were pacified before retiring to his village. The Emperor again sent Lai Xin to persuade Wei Ao to send his son to court; Ao heard that Liu Yong and Peng Chong had both been destroyed and sent his eldest son Xun to follow Xin to the palace; the Emperor made him Colonel of Hu Cavalry and enfeoffed him as Marquis Who Chisels the Qiang.
88
鄭興因恂求歸葬父母，囂不聽，而徒興捨，益其秩禮。 興入見曰：「今為父母未葬，乞骸骨； 若以增秩徒捨，中更停留，是以親為餌也，無禮甚矣，將軍焉用之！ 願留妻子獨歸葬，將軍又何猜焉！」 囂乃令與妻子俱東。 馬援亦將家屬隨恂歸雒陽，以所將賓客猥多，求屯田上林苑中； 帝許之。
Zheng Xing, through Xun, asked to return and bury his parents; Wei Ao refused but moved Xing's residence and increased his rank and ceremonial treatment. Xing entered audience and said, "My parents are still unburied; I beg leave to return my bones; if you increase my rank and move my residence, detaining me midway, you take my kin as bait—this is utterly without propriety; of what use am I to you, General? Let me leave my wife and children and return alone to bury them—what has the general to suspect?" Wei Ao thereupon ordered him east together with his wife and children. Ma Yuan also brought his household following Xun back to Luoyang; because the guests and retainers he led were very numerous, he requested to farm colonies in the Shanglin park; the Emperor permitted it.
89
囂將王元以為天下成敗未可知，不願專心內事，說囂曰：「昔更始西都，四方響應，天下喁喁，謂之太平； 一旦壞敗，將軍幾無所厝。 今南有子陽，北有文伯，江湖海岱，王公十數，而欲牽儒生之說，棄千乘之基，羈旅危國以求萬全，此循覆車之軌者也。 今天水完富，士馬最強，元請以一丸泥為大王東封函谷關，此萬世一時也。 若計不及此，且畜養士馬，據隘自守，曠日持久，以待四方之變； 圖王不成，其敝猶足以霸。 要之，魚不可脫於淵，神龍失勢，與蚯蚓同！」 囂心然元計，雖遣子入質，猶負其險阨，欲專制方面。
Wei Ao's general Wang Yuan thought whether the realm would succeed or fail was still unknown and was unwilling to devote himself to internal submission; he urged Ao, "In the past Emperor Gengshi made Chang'an his western capital; the four quarters answered in echo; all under Heaven murmured and called it Great Peace; in a single day it collapsed, and you, General, had almost nowhere to turn. Now south there is Ziyang, north there is Wenbo; along the rivers, lakes, seas, and Mount Tai are a dozen kings and dukes—yet you wish to follow the Ru scholars' counsel, abandon a foundation of a thousand chariots, and lodge in a perilous state seeking perfect safety—this follows the track of an overturned cart. Now Tianshui is intact and rich and your soldiers and horses are strongest; Yuan asks to seal Hangu Pass for you in the east with a pellet of mud—this is a once-in-ten-thousand-generations moment. If your plan does not reach this, then for the present rear soldiers and horses, hold the passes and guard yourself, wait long, and await changes in the four quarters; if plotting kingship fails, your strength will still suffice to hegemonize. In sum, a fish cannot leave the deep; a divine dragon that loses its power is no different from an earthworm!" Wei Ao's heart assented to Wang Yuan's plan; though he sent his son as hostage, he still relied on his strategic passes and wished to hold autocratic power in his region.
90
申屠剛諫曰：「愚聞人所歸者天所與，人所畔者天所去也。 本朝誠天之所福，非人力也。 今璽書數到，委國歸信，欲與將軍共同吉凶。 布衣相與，尚有沒身不負然諾之信，況於萬乘者哉！ 今何畏何利，而久疑若是？ 卒有非常之變，上負忠孝、下愧當世。 夫未至豫言，固常為虛； 及其已至，又無所及。 是以忠言至諫，希得為用，誠願反覆愚老之言！」 囂不納，於是游士長者稍稍去之。
Shentu Gang remonstrated, "I have heard that whom men turn to Heaven bestows, and whom men abandon Heaven removes. This dynasty is truly Heaven's blessing—not human power. Now sealed imperial letters arrive repeatedly, entrusting the state and pledging good faith, wishing to share fortune and misfortune with you, General. Plain-clothed men who associate still keep faith unto death and do not betray a promise—how much more for one who commands ten thousand chariots! Now what fear or profit makes you doubt so long? If suddenly there is an extraordinary change, above you will fail loyalty and filial piety and below you will shame your age. Foretelling what has not yet arrived is commonly empty; when it has arrived, again there is nothing one can do. Therefore loyal words and utmost remonstrance are rarely heeded—I sincerely wish you would reconsider this foolish old man's words again and again!" Wei Ao did not accept it; thereupon roaming scholars and elders gradually left him.
91
23王莽末，交趾諸郡閉境自守。 岑彭素與交趾牧鄧讓厚善，與讓書，陳國家威德； 又遣偏將軍屈充移檄江南，班行詔命。 於是讓與江夏太守侯登、武陵太守王堂、長沙相韓福、桂陽太守張隆、零陵太守田翕、蒼梧太守杜穆、交趾太守錫光等相率遣使貢獻； 悉封為列侯。 錫光者，漢中人，在交趾，教民夷以禮義。 帝復以宛人任延為九真太守，延教民耕種嫁娶。 故嶺南華風始於二守焉。
23. At the end of Wang Mang's reign, the commanderies of Jiaozhi closed their borders and guarded themselves. Cen Peng had long been on close terms with Governor of Jiaozhi Deng Rang; he wrote Rang a letter setting forth the state's majesty and virtue; and again sent Lieutenant General Qu Chong to circulate a proclamation south of the Yangzi, distributing the imperial edicts. Thereupon Deng Rang together with Administrator of Jiangxia Hou Deng, Administrator of Wuling Wang Tang, Chancellor of Changsha Han Fu, Administrator of Guiyang Zhang Long, Administrator of Lingling Tian Xi, Administrator of Cangwu Du Mu, Administrator of Jiaozhi Xi Guang, and others led one another in sending envoys with tribute; all were enfeoffed as ranked marquises. Xi Guang was a man of Hanzhong; in Jiaozhi he taught the people and barbarians ritual and righteousness. The Emperor again made Ren Yan of Wan Administrator of Jiuzhen; Yan taught the people farming and marriage customs. Therefore the flowering culture of Lingnan began with these two administrators.
92
24是歲，詔征處士太原周黨、會稽嚴光等至京師。 黨入見，伏而不謁，自陳願守所志。 博士范升奏曰：「伏見太原周黨、東海王良、山陽王成等，蒙受厚恩，使者三聘，乃肯就車。 及陛見帝廷，黨不以禮屈，伏而不謁，偃蹇驕悍，同時俱逝。 黨等文不能演義，武不能死君，釣采華名，庶幾三公之位。 臣願與坐雲臺之下，考試圖國之道。 不如臣言，伏虛妄之罪； 而敢私竊虛名，誇上求高，皆大不敬！」 書奏，詔曰：「自古明王、聖主，必有不賓之士。 伯夷、叔齊不食周粟，太原周黨不受朕祿，亦各有志焉。 其賜帛四十匹，罷之。」
24. This year an edict summoned the recluses Zhou Dang of Taiyuan, Yan Guang of Kuaiji, and others to the capital. Zhou Dang entered audience, prostrated himself without performing the audience bow, and stated that he wished to keep his resolve. Erudite Fan Sheng memorialized, "I observe that Zhou Dang of Taiyuan, Wang Liang of Donghai, Wang Cheng of Shanyang, and others received thick favor and mounted the carriage only after the envoy's three invitations. When they reached audience in the imperial court, Zhou Dang would not bend by ritual—prostrating without the audience bow, arrogant and defiant—and they all departed at once. Dang and the others cannot unfold righteousness in letters or die for their lord in arms—they angle for flowery fame, hoping for posts among the Three Excellencies. Your servant wishes to sit with them below the Cloud Terrace and examine them on the Way of planning for the state. If they are not as I say, let me bear the crime of falsehood; yet they dare to steal empty fame, boast to the sovereign, and seek high position—all great irreverence!" When the memorial was submitted, an edict said, "From antiquity bright kings and sage lords have surely had scholars who would not submit. Bo Yi and Shu Qi did not eat Zhou grain; Taiyuan Zhou Dang does not accept Our salary—each likewise has his resolve. Grant him forty bolts of silk and dismiss him."
93
帝少與嚴光同遊學，及即位，以物色訪之。 得於齊國，累徵乃至； 拜諫議大夫，不肯受，去，耕釣於富春山中。 以壽終於家。
The Emperor in youth studied and travelled with Yan Guang; when he took the throne he sought him out. He was found in Qi; repeatedly summoned, he finally came; appointed Remonstrating Counselor—he would not accept, left, and plowed and fished in the Fuchun mountains. He died at home of old age.
94
王良後歷沛郡太守、大司徒司直，在位恭儉，布被瓦器，妻子不入官舍。 後以病歸，一歲復征； 至滎陽，疾篤，不任進道，過其友人。 友人不肯見，曰：「不有忠言奇謀而取大位，何其往來屑屑不憚煩也！」 遂拒之。 良慚，自後連征不應，卒於家。
Wang Liang later served as Administrator of Pei commandery and Rectifier under the Grand Minister of Education; in office he was respectful and frugal—cloth quilt, earthenware vessels, and his wife and children did not enter the official residence. Later he returned home because of illness; after one year he was summoned again; reaching Xingyang his illness was severe and he could not continue; he called on his friend. The friend would not see him and said, "Without loyal words or brilliant stratagems you took a great post—why do you come and go in such petty bustle without fearing the trouble!" He thereupon refused him. Wang Liang was ashamed; from then on, though repeatedly summoned, he did not respond, and died at home.
95
25元帝之世，莎車王延嘗為侍子京師，慕樂中國。 及王莽之亂，匈奴略有西域，唯延不肯附屬，常敕諸子：「當世奉漢家，不可負也。」 延卒，子康立。 康率傍國拒匈奴，擁衛故都護吏士、妻子千餘口。 檄書河西，問中國動靜。 竇融乃承製立康為漢莎車建功懷德王、西域大都尉，五十五國皆屬焉。
25. In the era of Emperor Yuan, King Yan of Shache had once been an attendant-son at the capital and admired and delighted in the Middle Kingdom. When Wang Mang's turmoil came, the Xiongnu broadly took the Western Regions; only Yan would not submit, constantly charging his sons, "In this age serve the House of Han—you must not betray it." Yan died; his son Kang succeeded. Kang led neighboring states to resist the Xiongnu and protected more than a thousand mouths among the former Protector-General's clerks, soldiers, and their families. He sent a proclamation to Hexi inquiring into conditions in the Middle Kingdom. Dou Rong thereupon received the imperial command and established Kang as Han-Shache King Who Establishes Merit and Cherishes Virtue and Grand Commandant of the Western Regions; fifty-five states all submitted to him.
Footnotes
- fled
- Intercalary month
- The Emperor said to Grand Master of the Palace Lai Xi: "The Western Province is not yet attached; Ziyang has declared himself emperor; the roads are obstructed and distant; the generals are all occupied with Guandong. I ponder strategy for the Western Province but do not know what to do, [what to do]
- After nightfall they released Chong's hands and had him write a note to the gate general: "I am now sending Zi Mi and others to Zi Hou Lanjun's place, [open the gate quickly and let them out]
- The Emperor heard of it, was greatly angered, and led the campaign in person against Meng; he wrote to the generals, "I once took Pang Meng for a minister of the altars of soil and grain
- both characters "once" and "always" are acceptable; not emended here
- they plundered the five commanderies of Wuyuan, Shuofang, Yunzhong, Dingxiang, and Yanmen, appointed defenders and magistrates in each, joined forces with the barbarians, and harried the northern frontier
- The "Biography of Lu Fang" in the Book of the Later Han agrees; supplemented accordingly