卷八·高祖本纪第八

卷八·高祖本纪第八

司马迁

高祖，沛丰邑中阳里人，姓刘氏，字季。父曰太公，母曰刘媪。其先刘媪尝息大泽之陂，梦与神遇。是时雷电晦冥，太公往视，则见蛟龙于其上。已而有身，遂产高祖。

高祖为人，隆准而龙颜，美须髯，左股有七十二黑子。仁而爱人，喜施，意豁如也。常有大度，不事家人生产作业。及壮，试为吏，为泗水亭长，廷中吏无所不狎侮。好酒及色。常从王媪、武负贳酒，醉卧，武负、王媪见其上常有龙，怪之。高祖每酤留饮，酒雠数倍。及见怪，岁竟，此两家常折券弃责。

高祖常繇咸阳，纵观，观秦皇帝，喟然太息曰：“嗟乎，大丈夫当如此也！”

单父人吕公善沛令，避仇从之客，因家沛焉。沛中豪桀吏闻令有重客，皆往贺。萧何为主吏，主进，令诸大夫曰：“进不满千钱，坐之堂下。”高祖为亭长，素易诸吏，乃绐为谒曰“贺钱万”，实不持一钱。谒入，吕公大惊，起，迎之门。吕公者，好相人，见高祖状貌，因重敬之，引入坐。萧何曰：“刘季固多大言，少成事。”高祖因狎侮诸客，遂坐上坐，无所诎。酒阑，吕公因目固留高祖。高祖竟酒，后。吕公曰：“臣少好相人，相人多矣，无如季相，原季自爱。臣有息女，原为季箕帚妾。”酒罢，吕媪怒吕公曰：“公始常欲奇此女，与贵人。沛令善公，求之不与，何自妄许与刘季？”吕公曰：“此非儿女子所知也。”卒与刘季。吕公女乃吕后也，生孝惠帝、鲁元公主。

高祖为亭长时，常告归之田。吕后与两子居田中耨，有一老父过请饮，吕后因餔之。老父相吕后曰：“夫人天下贵人。”令相两子，见孝惠，曰：“夫人所以贵者，乃此男也。”相鲁元，亦皆贵。老父已去，高祖適从旁舍来，吕后具言客有过，相我子母皆大贵。高祖问，曰：“未远。”乃追及，问老父。老父曰：“乡者夫人婴儿皆似君，君相贵不可言。”高祖乃谢曰：“诚如父言，不敢忘德。”及高祖贵，遂不知老父处。

高祖为亭长，乃以竹皮为冠，令求盗之薛治之，时时冠之，及贵常冠，所谓“刘氏冠”乃是也。

高祖以亭长为县送徒郦山，徒多道亡。自度比至皆亡之，到丰西泽中，止饮，夜乃解纵所送徒。曰：“公等皆去，吾亦从此逝矣！”徒中壮士愿从者十余人。高祖被酒，夜径泽中，令一人行前。行前者还报曰：“前有大蛇当径，愿还。”高祖醉，曰：“壮士行，何畏！”乃前，拔剑击斩蛇。蛇遂分为两，径开。行数里，醉，因卧。后人来至蛇所，有一老妪夜哭。人问何哭，妪曰：“人杀吾子，故哭之。”人曰：“妪子何为见杀？”妪曰：“吾子，白帝子也，化为蛇，当道，今为赤帝子斩之，故哭。”人乃以妪为不诚，欲告之，妪因忽不见。后人至，高祖觉。后人告高祖，高祖乃心独喜，自负。诸从者日益畏之。

秦始皇帝常曰“东南有天子气”，于是因东游以厌之。高祖即自疑，亡匿，隐于芒、砀山泽岩石之间。吕后与人俱求，常得之。高祖怪问之。吕后曰：“季所居上常有云气，故从往常得季。”高祖心喜。沛中子弟或闻之，多欲附者矣。

秦二世元年秋，陈胜等起蕲，至陈而王，号为“张楚”。诸郡县皆多杀其长吏以应陈涉。沛令恐，欲以沛应涉。掾、主吏萧何、曹参乃曰：“君为秦吏，今欲背之，率沛子弟，恐不听。愿君召诸亡在外者，可得数百人，因劫众，众不敢不听。”乃令樊哙召刘季。刘季之众已数十百人矣。

于是樊哙从刘季来。沛令后悔，恐其有变，乃闭城城守，欲诛萧、曹。萧、曹恐，逾城保刘季。刘季乃书帛射城上，谓沛父老曰：“天下苦秦久矣。今父老虽为沛令守，诸侯并起，今屠沛。沛今共诛令，择子弟可立者立之，以应诸侯，则家室完。不然，父子俱屠，无为也。”父老乃率子弟共杀沛令，开城门迎刘季，欲以为沛令。刘季曰：“天下方扰，诸侯并起，今置将不善，壹败涂地。吾非敢自爱，恐能薄，不能完父兄子弟。此大事，愿更相推择可者。”萧、曹等皆文吏，自爱，恐事不就，后秦种族其家，尽让刘季。诸父老皆曰：“平生所闻刘季诸珍怪，当贵，且卜筮之，莫如刘季最吉。”于是刘季数让。众莫敢为，乃立季为沛公。祠黄帝，祭蚩尤于沛庭，而衅鼓旗，帜皆赤。由所杀蛇白帝子，杀者赤帝子，故上赤。于是少年豪吏如萧、曹、樊哙等皆为收沛子弟二三千人，攻胡陵、方与，还守丰。

秦二世二年，陈涉之将周章军西至戏而还。燕、赵、齐、魏皆自立为王。项氏起吴。秦泗川监平将兵围丰，二日，出与战，破之。命雍齿守丰，引兵之薛。泗州守壮败于薛，走至戚，沛公左司马得泗川守壮，杀之。沛公还军亢父，至方与，未战。陈王使魏人周巿略地。周巿使人谓雍齿曰：“丰，故梁徙也。今魏地已定者数十城。齿今下魏，魏以齿为侯守丰。不下，且屠丰。”雍齿雅不欲属沛公，及魏招之，即反为魏守丰。沛公引兵攻丰，不能取。沛公病，还之沛。沛公怨雍齿与丰子弟叛之，闻东阳宁君、秦嘉立景驹为假王，在留，乃往从之，欲请兵以攻丰。是时秦将章邯从陈，别将司马将兵北定楚地，屠相，至砀。东阳宁君、沛公引兵西，与战萧西，不利。还收兵聚留，引兵攻砀，三日乃取砀。因收砀兵，得五六千人。攻下邑，拔之。还军丰。闻项梁在薛，从骑百余往见之。项梁益沛公卒五千人，五大夫将十人。沛公还，引兵攻丰。

从项梁月余，项羽已拔襄城还。项梁尽召别将居薛。闻陈王定死，因立楚后怀王孙心为楚王，治盱台。项梁号武信君。居数月，北攻亢父，救东阿，破秦军。齐军归，楚独追北，使沛公、项羽别攻城阳，屠之。军濮阳之东，与秦军战，破之。

秦军复振，守濮阳，环水。楚军去而攻定陶，定陶未下。沛公与项羽西略地至雍丘之下，与秦军战，大破之，斩李由。还攻外黄，外黄未下。

项梁再破秦军，有骄色。宋义谏，不听。秦益章邯兵，夜衔枚击项梁，大破之定陶，项梁死。沛公与项羽方攻陈留，闻项梁死，引兵与吕将军俱东。吕臣军彭城东，项羽军彭城西，沛公军砀。

章邯已破项梁军，则以为楚地兵不足忧，乃渡河，北击赵，大破之。当是之时，赵歇为王，秦将王离围之钜鹿城，此所谓河北之军也。

秦二世三年，楚怀王见项梁军破，恐，徙盱台都彭城，并吕臣、项羽军自将之。以沛公为砀郡长，封为武安侯，将砀郡兵。封项羽为长安侯，号为鲁公。吕臣为司徒，其父吕青为令尹。

赵数请救，怀王乃以宋义为上将军，项羽为次将，范增为末将，北救赵。令沛公西略地入关。与诸将约，先入定关中者王之。

当是时，秦兵强，常乘胜逐北，诸将莫利先入关。独项羽怨秦破项梁军，奋，愿与沛公西入关。怀王诸老将皆曰：“项羽为人僄悍猾贼。项羽尝攻襄城，襄城无遗类，皆阬之，诸所过无不残灭。且楚数进取，前陈王、项梁皆败。不如更遣长者扶义而西，告谕秦父兄。秦父兄苦其主久矣，今诚得长者往，毋侵暴，宜可下。今项羽僄悍，今不可遣。独沛公素宽大长者，可遣。”卒不许项羽，而遣沛公西略地，收陈王、项梁散卒。乃道砀至成阳，与杠里秦军夹壁，破秦二军。楚军出兵击王离，大破之。

沛公引兵西，遇彭越昌邑，因与俱攻秦军，战不利。还至栗，遇刚武侯，夺其军，可四千余人，并之。与魏将皇欣、魏申徒武蒲之军并攻昌邑，昌邑未拔。西过高阳。郦食其为监门，曰：“诸将过此者多，吾视沛公大人长者。”乃求见说沛公。沛公方踞床，使两女子洗足。郦生不拜，长揖，曰：“足下必欲诛无道秦，不宜踞见长者。”于是沛公起，摄衣谢之，延上坐。食其说沛公袭陈留，得秦积粟。乃以郦食其为广野君，郦商为将，将陈留兵，与偕攻开封，开封未拔。西与秦将杨熊战白马，又战曲遇东，大破之。杨熊走之荥阳，二世使使者斩以徇。南攻颍阳，屠之。因张良遂略韩地轘辕。

当是时，赵别将司马卬方欲渡河入关，沛公乃北攻平阴，绝河津。南，战雒阳东，军不利，还至阳城，收军中马骑，与南阳守齮战犨东，破之。略南阳郡，南阳守齮走，保城守宛。沛公引兵过而西。张良谏曰：“沛公虽欲急入关，秦兵尚众，距险。今不下宛，宛从后击，强秦在前，此危道也。”于是沛公乃夜引兵从他道还，更旗帜，黎明，围宛城三匝。南阳守欲自刭。其舍人陈恢曰：“死未晚也。”乃逾城见沛公，曰：“臣闻足下约，先入咸阳者王之。今足下留守宛。宛，大郡之都也，连城数十，人民众，积蓄多，吏人自以为降必死，故皆坚守乘城。今足下尽日止攻，士死伤者必多；引兵去宛，宛必随足下后：足下前则失咸阳之约，后又有强宛之患。为足下计，莫若约降，封其守，因使止守，引其甲卒与之西。诸城未下者，闻声争开门而待，足下通行无所累。”沛公曰：“善。”乃以宛守为殷侯，封陈恢千户。引兵西，无不下者。至丹水，高武侯鳃、襄侯王陵降西陵。还攻胡阳，遇番君别将梅鋗，与皆，降析、郦。遣魏人宁昌使秦，使者未来。是时章邯已以军降项羽于赵矣。

初，项羽与宋义北救赵，及项羽杀宋义，代为上将军，诸将黥布皆属，破秦将王离军，降章邯，诸侯皆附。及赵高已杀二世，使人来，欲约分王关中。沛公以为诈，乃用张良计，使郦生、陆贾往说秦将，啗以利，因袭攻武关，破之。又与秦军战于蓝田南，益张疑兵旗帜，诸所过毋得掠卤，秦人憙，秦军解，因大破之。又战其北，大破之。乘胜，遂破之。

汉元年十月，沛公兵遂先诸侯至霸上。秦王子婴素车白马，系颈以组，封皇帝玺符节，降轵道旁。诸将或言诛秦王。沛公曰：“始怀王遣我，固以能宽容；且人已服降，又杀之，不祥。”乃以秦王属吏，遂西入咸阳。欲止宫休舍，樊哙、张良谏，乃封秦重宝财物府库，还军霸上。召诸县父老豪桀曰：“父老苦秦苛法久矣，诽谤者族，偶语者弃巿。吾与诸侯约，先入关者王之，吾当王关中。与父老约，法三章耳：杀人者死，伤人及盗抵罪。余悉除去秦法。诸吏人皆案堵如故。凡吾所以来，为父老除害，非有所侵暴，无恐！且吾所以还军霸上，待诸侯至而定约束耳。”乃使人与秦吏行县乡邑，告谕之。秦人大喜，争持牛羊酒食献飨军士。沛公又让不受，曰：“仓粟多，非乏，不欲费人。”人又益喜，唯恐沛公不为秦王。

或说沛公曰：“秦富十倍天下，地形强。今闻章邯降项羽，项羽乃号为雍王，王关中。今则来，沛公恐不得有此。可急使兵守函谷关，无内诸侯军，稍徵关中兵以自益，距之。”沛公然其计，从之。十一月中，项羽果率诸侯兵西，欲入关，关门闭。闻沛公已定关中，大怒，使黥布等攻破函谷关。十二月中，遂至戏。沛公左司马曹无伤闻项王怒，欲攻沛公，使人言项羽曰：“沛公欲王关中，令子婴为相，珍宝尽有之。”欲以求封。亚父劝项羽击沛公。方飨士，旦日合战。是时项羽兵四十万，号百万。沛公兵十万，号二十万，力不敌。会项伯欲活张良，夜往见良，因以文谕项羽，项羽乃止。沛公从百余骑，驱之鸿门，见谢项羽。项羽曰：“此沛公左司马曹无伤言之。不然，籍何以生此！”沛公以樊哙、张良故，得解归。归，立诛曹无伤。

项羽遂西，屠烧咸阳秦宫室，所过无不残破。秦人大失望，然恐，不敢不服耳。

项羽使人还报怀王。怀王曰：“如约。”项羽怨怀王不肯令与沛公俱西入关，而北救赵，后天下约。乃曰：“怀王者，吾家项梁所立耳，非有功伐，何以得主约！本定天下，诸将及籍也。”乃详尊怀王为义帝，实不用其命。

正月，项羽自立为西楚霸王，王梁、楚地九郡，都彭城。负约，更立沛公为汉王，王巴、蜀、汉中，都南郑。三分关中，立秦三将：章邯为雍王，都废丘；司马欣为塞王，都栎阳；董翳为翟王，都高奴。楚将瑕丘申阳为河南王，都洛阳。赵将司马卬为殷王，都朝歌。赵王歇徙王代。赵相张耳为常山王，都襄国。当阳君黥布为九江王，都六。怀王柱国共敖为临江王，都江陵。番君吴芮为衡山王，都邾。燕将臧荼为燕王，都蓟。故燕王韩广徙王辽东。广不听，臧荼攻杀之无终。封成安君陈余河间三县，居南皮。封梅鋗十万户。

四月，兵罢戏下，诸侯各就国。汉王之国，项王使卒三万人从，楚与诸侯之慕从者数万人，从杜南入蚀中。去辄烧绝栈道，以备诸侯盗兵袭之，亦示项羽无东意。至南郑，诸将及士卒多道亡归，士卒皆歌思东归。韩信说汉王曰：“项羽王诸将之有功者，而王独居南郑，是迁也。军吏士卒皆山东之人也，日夜跂而望归，及其锋而用之，可以有大功。天下已定，人皆自宁，不可复用。不如决策东乡，争权天下。”

项羽出关，使人徙义帝。曰：“古之帝者地方千里，必居上游。”乃使使徙义帝长沙郴县，趣义帝行，群臣稍倍叛之，乃阴令衡山王、临江王击之，杀义帝江南。项羽怨田荣，立齐将田都为齐王。田荣怒，因自立为齐王，杀田都而反楚；予彭越将军印，令反梁地。楚令萧公角击彭越，彭越大破之。陈余怨项羽之弗王己也，令夏说说田荣，请兵击张耳。齐予陈余兵，击破常山王张耳，张耳亡归汉。迎赵王歇于代，复立为赵王。赵王因立陈余为代王。项羽大怒，北击齐。

八月，汉王用韩信之计，从故道还，袭雍王章邯。邯迎击汉陈仓，雍兵败，还走；止战好畤，又复败，走废丘。汉王遂定雍地。东至咸阳，引兵围雍王废丘，而遣诸将略定陇西、北地、上郡。令将军薛欧、王吸出武关，因王陵兵南阳，以迎太公、吕后于沛。楚闻之，发兵距之阳夏，不得前。令故吴令郑昌为韩王，距汉兵。

二年，汉王东略地，塞王欣、翟王翳、河南王申阳皆降。韩王昌不听，使韩信击破之。于是置陇西、北地、上郡、渭南、河上、中地郡；关外置河南郡。更立韩太尉信为韩王。诸将以万人若以一郡降者，封万户。缮治河上塞。诸故秦苑囿园池，皆令人得田之，正月，虏雍王弟章平。大赦罪人。

汉王之出关至陕，抚关外父老，还，张耳来见，汉王厚遇之。

二月，令除秦社稷，更立汉社稷。

三月，汉王从临晋渡，魏王豹将兵从。下河内，虏殷王，置河内郡。南渡平阴津，至雒阳。新城三老董公遮说汉王以义帝死故。汉王闻之，袒而大哭。遂为义帝发丧，临三日。发使者告诸侯曰：“天下共立义帝，北面事之。今项羽放杀义帝于江南，大逆无道。寡人亲为发丧，诸侯皆缟素。悉发关内兵，收三河士，南浮江汉以下，愿从诸侯王击楚之杀义帝者。”

是时项王北击齐，田荣与战城阳。田荣败，走平原，平原民杀之。齐皆降楚。楚因焚烧其城郭，系虏其子女。齐人叛之。田荣弟横立荣子广为齐王，齐王反楚城阳。项羽虽闻汉东，既已连齐兵，欲遂破之而击汉。汉王以故得劫五诸侯兵，遂入彭城。项羽闻之，乃引兵去齐，从鲁出胡陵，至萧，与汉大战彭城灵壁东睢水上，大破汉军，多杀士卒，睢水为之不流。乃取汉王父母妻子于沛，置之军中以为质。当是时，诸侯见楚强汉败，还皆去汉复为楚。塞王欣亡入楚。

吕后兄周吕侯为汉将兵，居下邑。汉王从之，稍收士卒，军砀。汉王乃西过梁地，至虞。使谒者随何之九江王布所，曰：“公能令布举兵叛楚，项羽必留击之。得留数月，吾取天下必矣。”随何往说九江王布，布果背楚。楚使龙且往击之。

汉王之败彭城而西，行使人求家室，家室亦亡，不相得。败后乃独得孝惠，六月，立为太子，大赦罪人。令太子守栎阳，诸侯子在关中者皆集栎阳为卫。引水灌废丘，废丘降，章邯自杀。更名废丘为槐里。于是令祠官祀天地四方上帝山川，以时祀之。兴关内卒乘塞。

是时九江王布与龙且战，不胜，与随何间行归汉。汉王稍收士卒，与诸将及关中卒益出，是以兵大振荥阳，破楚京、索间。

三年，魏王豹谒归视亲疾，至即绝河津，反为楚。汉王使郦生说豹，豹不听。汉王遣将军韩信击，大破之，虏豹。遂定魏地，置三郡，曰河东、太原、上党。汉王乃令张耳与韩信遂东下井陉击赵，斩陈余、赵王歇。其明年，立张耳为赵王。

汉王军荥阳南，筑甬道属之河，以取敖仓。与项羽相距岁余。项羽数侵夺汉甬道，汉军乏食，遂围汉王。汉王请和，割荥阳以西者为汉。项王不听。汉王患之，乃用陈平之计，予陈平金四万斤，以间疏楚君臣。于是项羽乃疑亚父。亚父是时劝项羽遂下荥阳，及其见疑，乃怒，辞老，愿赐骸骨归卒伍，未至彭城而死。

汉军绝食，乃夜出女子东门二千余人，被甲，楚因四面击之。将军纪信乃乘王驾，诈为汉王，诳楚，楚皆呼万岁，之城东观，以故汉王得与数十骑出西门遁。令御史大夫周苛、魏豹、枞公守荥阳。诸将卒不能从者，尽在城中。周苛、枞公相谓曰：“反国之王，难与守城。”因杀魏豹。

汉王之出荥阳入关，收兵欲复东。袁生说汉王曰：“汉与楚相距荥阳数岁，汉常困。愿君王出武关，项羽必引兵南走，王深壁，令荥阳成皋间且得休。使韩信等辑河北赵地，连燕齐，君王乃复走荥阳，未晚也。如此，则楚所备者多，力分，汉得休，复与之战，破楚必矣。”汉王从其计，出军宛叶间，与黥布行收兵。

项羽闻汉王在宛，果引兵南。汉王坚壁不与战。是时彭越渡睢水，与项声、薛公战下邳，彭越大破楚军。项羽乃引兵东击彭越。汉王亦引兵北军成皋。项羽已破走彭越，闻汉王复军成皋，乃复引兵西，拔荥阳，诛周苛、枞公，而虏韩王信，遂围成皋。

汉王跳，独与滕公共车出成皋玉门，北渡河，驰宿脩武。自称使者，晨驰入张耳、韩信壁，而夺之军。乃使张耳北益收兵赵地，使韩信东击齐。汉王得韩信军，则复振。引兵临河，南飨军小脩武南，欲复战。郎中郑忠乃说止汉王，使高垒深堑，勿与战。汉王听其计，使卢绾、刘贾将卒二万人，骑数百，渡白马津，入楚地，与彭越复击破楚军燕郭西，遂复下梁地十余城。

淮阴已受命东，未渡平原。汉王使郦生往说齐王田广，广叛楚，与汉和，共击项羽。韩信用蒯通计，遂袭破齐。齐王烹郦生，东走高密。项羽闻韩信已举河北兵破齐、赵，且欲击楚，则使龙且、周兰往击之。韩信与战，骑将灌婴击，大破楚军，杀龙且。齐王广奔彭越。当此时，彭越将兵居梁地，往来苦楚兵，绝其粮食。

四年，项羽乃谓海春侯大司马曹咎曰：“谨守成皋。若汉挑战，慎勿与战，无令得东而已。我十五日必定梁地，复从将军。”乃行击陈留、外黄、睢阳，下之。汉果数挑楚军，楚军不出，使人辱之五六日，大司马怒，度兵汜水。士卒半渡，汉击之，大破楚军，尽得楚国金玉货赂。大司马咎、长史欣皆自刭汜水上。项羽至睢阳，闻海春侯破，乃引兵还。汉军方围钟离眛于荥阳东，项羽至，尽走险阻。

韩信已破齐，使人言曰：“齐边楚，权轻，不为假王，恐不能安齐。”汉王欲攻之。留侯曰：“不如因而立之，使自为守。”乃遣张良操印绶立韩信为齐王。

项羽闻龙且军破，则恐，使盱台人武涉往说韩信。韩信不听。

楚汉久相持未决，丁壮苦军旅，老弱罢转饟。汉王项羽相与临广武之间而语。项羽欲与汉王独身挑战。汉王数项羽曰：“始与项羽俱受命怀王，曰先入定关中者王之，项羽负约，王我于蜀汉，罪一。项羽矫杀卿子冠军而自尊，罪二。项羽已救赵，当还报，而擅劫诸侯兵入关，罪三。怀王约入秦无暴掠，项羽烧秦宫室，掘始皇帝冢，私收其财物，罪四。又强杀秦降王子婴，罪五。诈阬秦子弟新安二十万，王其将，罪六。项羽皆王诸将善地，而徙逐故主，令臣下争叛逆，罪七。项羽出逐义帝彭城，自都之，夺韩王地，并王梁楚，多自予，罪八。项羽使人阴弑义帝江南，罪九。夫为人臣而弑其主，杀已降，为政不平，主约不信，天下所不容，大逆无道，罪十也。吾以义兵从诸侯诛残贼，使刑余罪人击杀项羽，何苦乃与公挑战！”项羽大怒，伏弩射中汉王。汉王伤匈，乃扪足曰：“虏中吾指！”汉王病创卧，张良强请汉王起行劳军，以安士卒，毋令楚乘胜于汉。汉王出行军，病甚，因驰入成皋。

病愈，西入关，至栎阳，存问父老，置酒，枭故塞王欣头栎阳市。留四日，复如军，军广武。关中兵益出。

当此时，彭越将兵居梁地，往来苦楚兵，绝其粮食。田横往从之。项羽数击彭越等，齐王信又进击楚。项羽恐，乃与汉王约，中分天下，割鸿沟而西者为汉，鸿沟而东者为楚。项王归汉王父母妻子，军中皆呼万岁，乃归而别去。

项羽解而东归。汉王欲引而西归，用留侯、陈平计，乃进兵追项羽，至阳夏南止军，与齐王信、建成侯彭越期会而击楚军。至固陵，不会。楚击汉军，大破之。汉王复入壁，深堑而守之。用张良计，于是韩信、彭越皆往。及刘贾入楚地，围寿春，汉王败固陵，乃使使者召大司马周殷举九江兵而迎武王，行屠城父，随刘贾、齐梁诸侯皆大会垓下。立武王布为淮南王。

五年，高祖与诸侯兵共击楚军，与项羽决胜垓下。淮阴侯将三十万自当之，孔将军居左，费将军居右，皇帝在后，绛侯、柴将军在皇帝后。项羽之卒可十万。淮阴先合，不利，卻。孔将军、费将军纵，楚兵不利，淮阴侯复乘之，大败垓下。项羽卒闻汉军之楚歌，以为汉尽得楚地，项羽乃败而走，是以兵大败。使骑将灌婴追杀项羽东城，斩首八万，遂略定楚地。鲁为楚坚守不下。汉王引诸侯兵北，示鲁父老项羽头，鲁乃降。遂以鲁公号葬项羽谷城。还至定陶，驰入齐王壁，夺其军。

正月，诸侯及将相相与共请尊汉王为皇帝。汉王曰：“吾闻帝贤者有也，空言虚语，非所守也，吾不敢当帝位。”群臣皆曰：“大王起微细，诛暴逆，平定四海，有功者辄裂地而封为王侯。大王不尊号，皆疑不信。臣等以死守之。”汉王三让，不得已，曰：“诸君必以为便，便国家。”甲午，乃即皇帝位氾水之阳。

皇帝曰义帝无后。齐王韩信习楚风俗，徙为楚王，都下邳。立建成侯彭越为梁王，都定陶。故韩王信为韩王，都阳翟。徙衡山王吴芮为长沙王，都临湘。番君之将梅鋗有功，从入武关，故德番君。淮南王布、燕王臧荼、赵王敖皆如故。

天下大定。高祖都雒阳，诸侯皆臣属。故临江王驩为项羽叛汉，令卢绾、刘贾围之，不下。数月而降，杀之雒阳。

五月，兵皆罢归家。诸侯子在关中者复之十二岁，其归者复之六岁，食之一岁。

高祖置酒雒阳南宫。高祖曰：“列侯诸将无敢隐朕，皆言其情。吾所以有天下者何？项氏之所以失天下者何？”高起、王陵对曰：“陛下慢而侮人，项羽仁而爱人。然陛下使人攻城略地，所降下者因以予之，与天下同利也。项羽妒贤嫉能，有功者害之，贤者疑之，战胜而不予人功，得地而不予人利，此所以失天下也。”高祖曰：“公知其一，未知其二。夫运筹策帷帐之中，决胜于千里之外，吾不如子房。镇国家，抚百姓，给饣鬼饟，不绝粮道，吾不如萧何。连百万之军，战必胜，攻必取，吾不如韩信。此三者，皆人杰也，吾能用之，此吾所以取天下也。项羽有一范增而不能用，此其所以为我擒也。”

高祖欲长都雒阳，齐人刘敬说，乃留侯劝上入都关中，高祖是日驾，入都关中。六月，大赦天下。

十月，燕王臧荼反，攻下代地。高祖自将击之，得燕王臧荼。即立太尉卢绾为燕王。使丞相哙将兵攻代。

其秋，利几反，高祖自将兵击之，利几走。利几者，项氏之将。项氏败，利几为陈公，不随项羽，亡降高祖，高祖侯之颍川。高祖至雒阳，举通侯籍召之，而利几恐，故反。

六年，高祖五日一朝太公，如家人父子礼。太公家令说太公曰：“天无二日，土无二王。今高祖虽子，人主也；太公虽父，人臣也。柰何令人主拜人臣！如此，则威重不行。”后高祖朝，太公拥篲，迎门卻行。高祖大惊，下扶太公。太公曰：“帝，人主也，柰何以我乱天下法！”于是高祖乃尊太公为太上皇。心善家令言，赐金五百斤。

十二月，人有上变事告楚王信谋反，上问左右，左右争欲击之。用陈平计，乃伪游云梦，会诸侯于陈，楚王信迎，即因执之。是日，大赦天下。田肯贺，因说高祖曰：“陛下得韩信，又治秦中。秦，形胜之国，带河山之险，县隔千里，持戟百万，秦得百二焉。地埶便利，其以下兵于诸侯，譬犹居高屋之上建瓴水也。夫齐，东有琅邪、即墨之饶，南有泰山之固，西有浊河之限，北有勃海之利。地方二千里，持戟百万，县隔千里之外，齐得十二焉。故此东西秦也。非亲子弟，莫可使王齐矣。”高祖曰：“善。”赐黄金五百斤。

后十余日，封韩信为淮阴侯，分其地为二国。高祖曰将军刘贾数有功，以为荆王，王淮东。弟交为楚王，王淮西。子肥为齐王，王七十余城，民能齐言者皆属齐。乃论功，与诸列侯剖符行封。徙韩王信太原。

七年，匈奴攻韩王信马邑，信因与谋反太原。白土曼丘臣、王黄立故赵将赵利为王以反，高祖自往击之。会天寒，士卒堕指者什二三，遂至平城。匈奴围我平城，七日而后罢去。令樊哙止定代地。立兄刘仲为代王。

二月，高祖自平城过赵、雒阳，至长安。长乐宫成，丞相已下徙治长安。

八年，高祖东击韩王信余反寇于东垣。

萧丞相营作未央宫，立东阙、北阙、前殿、武库、太仓。高祖还，见宫阙壮甚，怒，谓萧何曰：“天下匈匈苦战数岁，成败未可知，是何治宫室过度也？”萧何曰：“天下方未定，故可因遂就宫室。且夫天子四海为家，非壮丽无以重威，且无令后世有以加也。”高祖乃说。

高祖之东垣，过柏人，赵相贯高等谋弑高祖，高祖心动，因不留。代王刘仲弃国亡，自归雒阳，废以为合阳侯。

九年，赵相贯高等事发觉，夷三族。废赵王敖为宣平侯。是岁，徙贵族楚昭、屈、景、怀、齐田氏关中。

未央宫成。高祖大朝诸侯群臣，置酒未央前殿。高祖奉玉卮，起为太上皇寿，曰：“始大人常以臣无赖，不能治产业，不如仲力。今某之业所就孰与仲多？”殿上群臣皆呼万岁，大笑为乐。

十年十月，淮南王黥布、梁王彭越、燕王卢绾、荆王刘贾、楚王刘交、齐王刘肥、长沙王吴芮皆来朝长乐宫。春夏无事。

七月，太上皇崩栎阳宫。楚王、梁王皆来送葬。赦栎阳囚。更命郦邑曰新丰。

八月，赵相国陈狶反代地。上曰：“狶尝为吾使，甚有信。代地吾所急也，故封狶为列侯，以相国守代，今乃与王黄等劫掠代地！代地吏民非有罪也。其赦代吏民。”九月，上自东往击之。至邯郸，上喜曰：“狶不南据邯郸而阻漳水，吾知其无能为也。”闻狶将皆故贾人也，上曰：“吾知所以与之。”乃多以金啗狶将，狶将多降者。

十一年，高祖在邯郸诛狶等未毕，狶将侯敞将万余人游行，王黄军曲逆，张春渡河击聊城。汉使将军郭蒙与齐将击，大破之。太尉周勃道太原入，定代地。至马邑，马邑不下，即攻残之。

狶将赵利守东垣，高祖攻之，不下。月余，卒骂高祖，高祖怒。城降，令出骂者斩之，不骂者原之。于是乃分赵山北，立子恒以为代王，都晋阳。

春，淮阴侯韩信谋反关中，夷三族。

夏，梁王彭越谋反，废迁蜀；复欲反，遂夷三族。立子恢为梁王，子友为淮阳王。

秋七月，淮南王黥布反，东并荆王刘贾地，北渡淮，楚王交走入薛。高祖自往击之。立子长为淮南王。

十二年，十月，高祖已击布军会甀，布走，令别将追之。

高祖还归，过沛，留。置酒沛宫，悉召故人父老子弟纵酒，发沛中儿得百二十人，教之歌。酒酣，高祖击筑，自为歌诗曰：“大风起兮云飞扬，威加海内兮归故乡，安得猛士兮守四方！”令儿皆和习之。高祖乃起舞，慷慨伤怀，泣数行下。谓沛父兄曰：“游子悲故乡。吾虽都关中，万岁后吾魂魄犹乐思沛。且朕自沛公以诛暴逆，遂有天下，其以沛为朕汤沐邑，复其民，世世无有所与。”沛父兄诸母故人日乐饮极驩，道旧故为笑乐。十余日，高祖欲去，沛父兄固请留高祖。高祖曰：“吾人众多，父兄不能给。”乃去。沛中空县皆之邑西献。高祖复留止，张饮三日。沛父兄皆顿首曰：“沛幸得复，丰未复，唯陛下哀怜之。”高祖曰：“丰吾所生长，极不忘耳，吾特为其以雍齿故反我为魏。”沛父兄固请，乃并复丰，比沛。于是拜沛侯刘濞为吴王。

汉将别击布军洮水南北，皆大破之，追得斩布鄱阳。

樊哙别将兵定代，斩陈狶当城。

十一月，高祖自布军至长安。十二月，高祖曰：“秦始皇帝、楚隐王陈涉、魏安釐王、齐缗王、赵悼襄王皆绝无后，予守冢各十家，秦皇帝二十家，魏公子无忌五家。”赦代地吏民为陈狶、赵利所劫掠者，皆赦之。陈狶降将言狶反时，燕王卢绾使人之狶所，与阴谋。上使辟阳侯迎绾，绾称病。辟阳侯归，具言绾反有端矣。二月，使樊哙、周勃将兵击燕王绾，赦燕吏民与反者。立皇子建为燕王。

高祖击布时，为流矢所中，行道病。病甚，吕后迎良医，医入见，高祖问医，医曰：“病可治。”于是高祖嫚骂之曰：“吾以布衣提三尺剑取天下，此非天命乎？命乃在天，虽扁鹊何益！”遂不使治病，赐金五十斤罢之。已而吕后问：“陛下百岁后，萧相国即死，令谁代之？”上曰：“曹参可。”问其次，上曰：“王陵可。然陵少戆，陈平可以助之。陈平智有余，然难以独任。周勃重厚少文，然安刘氏者必勃也，可令为太尉。”吕后复问其次，上曰：“此后亦非而所知也。”

卢绾与数千骑居塞下候伺，幸上病愈自入谢。

四月甲辰，高祖崩长乐宫。四日不发丧。吕后与审食其谋曰：“诸将与帝为编户民，今北面为臣，此常怏怏，今乃事少主，非尽族是，天下不安。”人或闻之，语郦将军。郦将军往见审食其，曰：“吾闻帝已崩，四日不发丧，欲诛诸将。诚如此，天下危矣。陈平、灌婴将十万守荥阳，樊哙、周勃将二十万定燕、代，此闻帝崩，诸将皆诛，必连兵还乡以攻关中。大臣内叛，诸侯外反，亡可翘足而待也。”审食其入言之，乃以丁未发丧，大赦天下。

卢绾闻高祖崩，遂亡入匈奴。

丙寅，葬。己巳，立太子，至太上皇庙。群臣皆曰：“高祖起微细，拨乱世反之正，平定天下，为汉太祖，功最高。”上尊号为高皇帝。太子袭号为皇帝，孝惠帝也。令郡国诸侯各立高祖庙，以岁时祠。

及孝惠五年，思高祖之悲乐沛，以沛宫为高祖原庙。高祖所教歌儿百二十人，皆令为吹乐，后有缺，辄补之。

高帝八男：长庶齐悼惠王肥；次孝惠，吕后子；次戚夫人子赵隐王如意；次代王恒，已立为孝文帝，薄太后子；次梁王恢，吕太后时徙为赵共王；次淮阳王友，吕太后时徙为赵幽王；次淮南厉王长；次燕王建。

太史公曰：夏之政忠。忠之敝，小人以野，故殷人承之以敬。敬之敝，小人以鬼，故周人承之以文。文之敝，小人以僿，故救僿莫若以忠。三王之道若循环，终而复始。周秦之间，可谓文敝矣。秦政不改，反酷刑法，岂不缪乎？故汉兴，承敝易变，使人不倦，得天统矣。朝以十月。车服黄屋左纛。葬长陵。

Fascicle Eight · Basic Annals of the High Ancestor, Eighth

司马迁

The High Ancestor was a man of Zhongyang hamlet in the town of Feng in Pei, of the Liu surname, styled Ji. His father was called the Grand Duke and his mother Dame Liu. Before this, Dame Liu had once rested on the bank of a great marsh and dreamed that she met with a god. At that time there was thunder and lightning and it grew dark; the Grand Duke went to look and saw a scaly dragon above her. After this she was with child and so bore the High Ancestor.

The High Ancestor as a man had a high nose and a dragon's brow, a fine beard and whiskers, and seventy-two black moles on his left thigh. He was humane and loved men, was fond of giving, and his mind was open and free. He always had large views and would not take up the household's business of making a living. When he was grown he tried for office and became village head of Sishui, and there was none among the officers of the court whom he did not treat with familiar mockery. He was fond of wine and of women. He often took wine on credit from Dame Wang and Dame Wu; and when he lay drunk, Dame Wu and Dame Wang would see a dragon above him and thought it strange. Whenever the High Ancestor bought wine and stayed drinking, the sales were several times as much. Seeing this marvel, at the year's end the two households would always break the tallies and cancel the debt.

The High Ancestor was once on corvée at Xianyang, and among the crowd looking on he saw the August Emperor of Qin, and sighed deeply, saying, "Ah, a great man should be like that!"

Lord Lü of Shanfu was on good terms with the prefect of Pei, and avoiding a feud he came to him as a guest and so made his home at Pei. When the bold men and officers of Pei heard that the prefect had an important guest, they all went to offer congratulations. Xiao He was chief clerk and had charge of the gifts, and he told the several gentlemen: "Those whose gift does not reach a thousand cash, seat below the hall." The High Ancestor, being a village head, had always made light of the officers, and so falsely wrote on his card "a gift of ten thousand cash," though in fact he did not have a single one. The card being sent in, Lord Lü was greatly startled, rose and met him at the door. Lord Lü was fond of reading men's faces; seeing the High Ancestor's appearance he therefore treated him with great respect and led him in to sit down. Xiao He said, "Liu Ji has always been full of big talk and accomplishes little." The High Ancestor thereupon mocked the other guests and took the seat of honour without any diffidence. When the drinking was nearly over, Lord Lü gave him a look and insisted that the High Ancestor stay. The High Ancestor finished the drinking and remained behind. Lord Lü said: "From my youth I have been fond of reading men's faces, and I have read many, but none like yours; I hope you will take care of yourself. I have a daughter, and I wish her to be your wife with dustpan and broom." The drinking over, Dame Lü was angry with Lord Lü, saying: "You always meant to make something of this girl and give her to a man of rank. The prefect of Pei is your friend and asked for her and you would not give her; why have you rashly promised her to Liu Ji?" Lord Lü said, "This is not a thing girls and boys understand." In the end he gave her to Liu Ji. Lord Lü's daughter is the Empress Lü, and she bore Emperor Xiaohui and Princess Luyuan.

When the High Ancestor was village head he once took leave and went home to the fields. The Empress Lü with her two children was in the fields weeding, when an old man passed by and asked for a drink, and the Empress Lü accordingly fed him. The old man read the Empress Lü's face and said, "Madam is one of the noble ones of the world." She had him read the two children's faces; seeing Xiaohui he said, "What makes madam noble is this boy." He read Luyuan's, and hers too was noble. The old man having gone, the High Ancestor happened to come from a house nearby, and the Empress Lü told him fully that a guest who had passed had read her and the children as all greatly noble. The High Ancestor asked, and she said, "He is not far off." So he caught up with him and asked the old man. The old man said, "The lady and children I read just now all resemble you; your own face is noble beyond words." The High Ancestor then thanked him, saying, "If it is truly as you say, I shall not dare forget your kindness." And when the High Ancestor became noble, no one knew where the old man was.

When the High Ancestor was village head he made a cap of bamboo bark and had a bandit-catcher go to Xue to make it, and wore it from time to time; and when he became noble he always wore it. What is called the "Liu cap" is this.

The High Ancestor, as village head, was escorting convicts for the county to Mount Li, and many of the convicts ran away on the road. He reckoned that by the time they arrived all would have fled, so on reaching the marshes west of Feng he halted and drank, and at night unbound and released the convicts he was escorting. He said, "You may all go; I too shall be off from here." Of the convicts there were more than ten stout fellows willing to follow him. The High Ancestor, being in his cups, went by night through the marsh and sent a man ahead. The man in front came back and reported, "There is a great snake ahead blocking the path; let us go back." The High Ancestor was drunk and said, "Where a stout fellow goes, what is there to fear!" So he went forward, drew his sword and struck and cut the snake in two, and the path opened. Going on some li, being drunk he lay down. When men came up later to the place of the snake, there was an old woman weeping in the night. They asked why she wept, and the woman said, "A man has killed my son, and so I weep." They said, "Why was your son killed?" The woman said: "My son is the son of the White Emperor; he changed into a snake and lay across the road, and now the son of the Red Emperor has cut him down, and so I weep." The men thought the woman not honest and meant to accuse her, when she suddenly vanished. When the men came up, the High Ancestor woke. They told him, and the High Ancestor was secretly pleased in his heart and thought well of himself. His followers daily feared him the more.

The First August Emperor of Qin used to say, "In the southeast there is the vapour of a Son of Heaven," and so he travelled east to press it down. The High Ancestor at once suspected himself, and fled and hid among the rocks of the marshes of Mang and Dang. The Empress Lü and others sought him together and always found him. The High Ancestor asked in surprise about it. The Empress Lü said, "Above the place where you are there is always a cloud vapour, and so by following it we always find you." The High Ancestor was pleased in his heart. Some of the young men of Pei heard of it, and many wished to attach themselves to him.

In the autumn of the first year of the Second Emperor of Qin, Chen Sheng and the others rose at Qi, and reaching Chen he became king, styling it "Zhang Chu." In the commanderies and counties many killed their chief officers in answer to Chen She. The prefect of Pei was afraid and wished to make Pei answer She. The clerk and chief officer Xiao He and Cao Shen then said: "You are an officer of Qin; now if you wish to turn against it and lead the young men of Pei, they may not obey. We beg you to summon those who have fled and are outside; you may get several hundred men, and with them overawe the multitude, and the multitude will not dare disobey." So he ordered Fan Kuai to summon Liu Ji. Liu Ji's followers already numbered some scores, up to a hundred.

Thereupon Fan Kuai came with Liu Ji. The prefect of Pei afterwards regretted it, and fearing a change he shut the city and held it, meaning to put Xiao and Cao to death. Xiao and Cao were afraid and climbed the wall and took refuge with Liu Ji. Liu Ji then wrote on silk and shot it over the wall, addressing the elders of Pei: "The world has long suffered under Qin. Now though you elders hold the city for the prefect of Pei, the lords are rising together and will soon massacre Pei. If Pei now joins in putting the prefect to death, choosing one of its young men fit to be set up and setting him up, so as to answer the lords, then your households will be kept whole. Otherwise fathers and sons will be massacred together, and there is no sense in that." The elders then led the young men and together killed the prefect of Pei, opened the city gate and welcomed Liu Ji, wishing to make him prefect of Pei. Liu Ji said: "The world is now in turmoil and the lords are rising together; if a general is now appointed who is not the right man, one defeat will smear us on the ground. It is not that I dare spare myself; I fear my ability is thin and I could not keep whole our fathers and brothers and sons. This is a great matter; I beg you to consult again and choose one who is fit." Xiao, Cao and the rest were all civil officers and cared for themselves; fearing the affair might not succeed and that Qin would afterwards exterminate their families, they all yielded to Liu Ji. The elders all said: "All our lives we have heard the marvels told of Liu Ji, that he should be noble; and moreover in divination there is none so auspicious as Liu Ji." Thereupon Liu Ji declined several times, and as none dared take it, they set up Ji as the Lord of Pei. He sacrificed to the Yellow Emperor and to Chiyou in the courtyard of Pei, and smeared the drums and standards with blood, and the flags were all red — because the snake he had killed was the son of the White Emperor and the killer the son of the Red Emperor, and so he honoured red. Thereupon the young men and bold officers such as Xiao, Cao and Fan Kuai all gathered for him two or three thousand of the young men of Pei; they attacked Huling and Fangyu and went back to hold Feng.

In the second year of the Second Emperor of Qin, Zhou Zhang, a general of Chen She, marched west as far as Xi and turned back. Yan, Zhao, Qi and Wei all set themselves up as kings. The Xiang rose at Wu. Ping, the Qin inspector of Sichuan, led troops and besieged Feng, and on the second day they came out and fought and broke him. He ordered Yong Chi to hold Feng and led his troops to Xue. Zhuang, the governor of Sizhou, was defeated at Xue and fled to Qi, and the Lord of Pei's Major of the Left took Zhuang, governor of Sichuan, and killed him. The Lord of Pei went back and camped at Kangfu, and coming to Fangyu did not fight. The king of Chen sent Zhou Fu, a man of Wei, to overrun the land. Zhou Fu sent a man to say to Yong Chi: "Feng was a place to which Liang once moved. Now several tens of cities of the lands of Wei are already settled. If Chi now submits to Wei, Wei will make Chi a marquis and let him hold Feng. If he does not submit, Feng will be massacred." Yong Chi had never wished to be attached to the Lord of Pei, and when Wei called him he at once turned and held Feng for Wei. The Lord of Pei led troops to attack Feng and could not take it. The Lord of Pei fell ill and went back to Pei. The Lord of Pei resented Yong Chi and the young men of Feng for turning against him, and hearing that Lord Ning of Dongyang and Qin Jia had set up Jing Ju as provisional king at Liu, he went to follow him, meaning to ask for troops to attack Feng. At this time the Qin general Zhang Han was following Chen, and a detached general, Sima, was leading troops north to settle the lands of Chu; he massacred Xiang and came to Dang. Lord Ning of Dongyang and the Lord of Pei led troops west and fought with him west of Xiao without advantage. They went back and gathered troops at Liu, led troops to attack Dang, and in three days took Dang. Thereupon they gathered the troops of Dang and got five or six thousand men. They attacked Xiayi and took it. They went back and camped at Feng. Hearing that Xiang Liang was at Xue, with more than a hundred horsemen he went to see him. Xiang Liang added five thousand soldiers to the Lord of Pei's force and ten Grandees of the Fifth Rank as officers. The Lord of Pei went back and led troops to attack Feng.

Having followed Xiang Liang a month and more, Xiang Yu had already taken Xiangcheng and returned. Xiang Liang summoned all the detached generals to Xue. Hearing that the king of Chen was certainly dead, he therefore set up Xin, the grandson of King Huai, a descendant of Chu, as king of Chu, with his seat at Xutai. Xiang Liang styled himself the Lord of Wuxin. After some months they attacked Kangfu in the north, relieved Dong'e and broke the Qin army. The Qi army went home, and Chu alone pursued the routed; he sent the Lord of Pei and Xiang Yu to attack Chengyang separately, and they massacred it. They camped east of Puyang, fought the Qin army and broke it.

The Qin army revived and held Puyang, ringed with water. The Chu army left and attacked Dingtao, and Dingtao did not fall. The Lord of Pei and Xiang Yu overran the land westward as far as below Yongqiu, fought the Qin army and utterly broke it, and beheaded Li You. They went back and attacked Waihuang, and Waihuang did not fall.

Xiang Liang having broken the Qin army twice, he had a proud look. Song Yi remonstrated and was not heeded. Qin reinforced Zhang Han's troops; with bits in their mouths they struck Xiang Liang by night and utterly broke him at Dingtao, and Xiang Liang died. The Lord of Pei and Xiang Yu were then attacking Chenliu; hearing that Xiang Liang was dead, they led their troops east together with General Lü. Lü Chen camped east of Pengcheng, Xiang Yu west of Pengcheng, and the Lord of Pei at Dang.

Zhang Han, having broken Xiang Liang's army, thought the troops in the lands of Chu were not worth worrying about, and so crossed the He and struck Zhao in the north and utterly broke them. At this time Zhao Xie was king, and the Qin general Wang Li besieged him in the city of Julu; this is what was called the army north of the He.

In the third year of the Second Emperor of Qin, King Huai of Chu, seeing that Xiang Liang's army was broken, was afraid, moved from Xutai and made his capital at Pengcheng, joined the armies of Lü Chen and Xiang Yu and took command of them himself. He made the Lord of Pei chief of the commandery of Dang, enfeoffed him as Marquis of Wu'an, and gave him command of the troops of Dang. He enfeoffed Xiang Yu as Marquis of Chang'an, styled Duke of Lu. Lü Chen was Minister over the Masses and his father Lü Qing Prime Minister.

Zhao repeatedly asked for relief, and King Huai then made Song Yi supreme general, Xiang Yu second in command and Fan Zeng junior general, to relieve Zhao in the north. He ordered the Lord of Pei to overrun the land westward and enter the Pass. And he made an agreement with his generals that whoever first entered and settled the region within the Pass should be king there.

At this time the Qin troops were strong and constantly took advantage of victory to pursue the routed, and none of the generals thought it to their advantage to enter the Pass first. Only Xiang Yu, resenting Qin for breaking Xiang Liang's army, was roused and wished to go west into the Pass with the Lord of Pei. King Huai's old generals all said: "Xiang Yu as a man is hasty, fierce, crafty and harmful. When Xiang Yu attacked Xiangcheng, Xiangcheng was left without survivors, for he buried them all alive, and wherever he passed there was nothing not destroyed. Moreover Chu has repeatedly pressed forward, and before this the king of Chen and Xiang Liang were both defeated. It would be better to send instead an elder to go west upholding righteousness and proclaiming to the fathers and elders of Qin. The fathers and elders of Qin have long suffered under their ruler; now if we can truly get an elder to go, doing no violence, it should be possible to take the place. Now Xiang Yu is hasty and fierce, and cannot be sent. Only the Lord of Pei has always been generous and an elder, and may be sent." In the end they would not allow Xiang Yu, but sent the Lord of Pei to overrun the land westward and gather the scattered soldiers of the king of Chen and Xiang Liang. So by way of Dang he came to Chengyang, and facing the Qin army at Gangli from opposed ramparts, he broke two Qin armies. The Chu army sent out troops and struck Wang Li and utterly broke him.

The Lord of Pei led his troops west and met Peng Yue at Changyi, and so attacked the Qin army together with him, and the fighting went against them. He went back to Li and met the Marquis of Gangwu, took his army of some four thousand and joined it to his own. Together with the armies of the Wei general Huang Xin and the Wei Minister of Works Wu Pu he attacked Changyi, and Changyi was not taken. He went west past Gaoyang. Li Yiji was a gatekeeper and said, "Many generals have passed this way, and I see that the Lord of Pei is a great man and an elder." So he sought an audience and urged the Lord of Pei. The Lord of Pei was sitting sprawled on a couch having two women wash his feet. Master Li did not bow but made a long bow and said, "If you certainly wish to put to death the Qin who are without principle, you should not receive an elder sprawling." Thereupon the Lord of Pei rose, gathered his robe, apologised to him and led him to the seat of honour. Yiji urged the Lord of Pei to take Chenliu by surprise and get the stored grain of Qin. So he made Li Yiji the Lord of Guangye and made Li Shang a general, commanding the troops of Chenliu, and with him attacked Kaifeng, and Kaifeng was not taken. Going west he fought the Qin general Yang Xiong at Baima, and fought again east of Quyu, and utterly broke him. Yang Xiong fled to Xingyang, and the Second Emperor sent an envoy to behead him and parade the head. In the south he attacked Yingyang and massacred it. Through Zhang Liang he then overran the lands of Han at Huanyuan.

At this time the Zhao detached general Sima Ang was about to cross the He and enter the Pass, so the Lord of Pei attacked Pingyin in the north and cut the ford of the He. Going south he fought east of Luoyang; the fighting went against him, and he went back to Chengyang, gathered the horse and cavalry of his army, fought Yi, the governor of Nanyang, east of Chou and broke him. He overran the commandery of Nanyang; Yi, the governor of Nanyang, fled and held the walls of Wan. The Lord of Pei led his troops past it and went west. Zhang Liang remonstrated: "Though you wish to enter the Pass quickly, the Qin troops are still numerous and hold the difficult ground. If you do not now take Wan, Wan will strike from behind while the strong Qin is in front; this is a dangerous course." Thereupon the Lord of Pei led his troops back by another road in the night, changed his flags, and at daybreak surrounded the city of Wan three deep. The governor of Nanyang was about to cut his own throat. His retainer Chen Hui said, "It is not too late to die," and climbed the wall and saw the Lord of Pei, saying: "I have heard of your agreement that he who first enters Xianyang shall be king there. Now you are staying to besiege Wan. Wan is the chief city of a great commandery, with several tens of cities in a chain, its people numerous and its stores many; its officers and people think that surrender must mean death, and so they all hold firm and man the walls. Now if you stay all day attacking, the dead and wounded among your men must be many; and if you lead your troops away from Wan, Wan will certainly follow behind you. Going forward you would lose the agreement about Xianyang, and behind you would have the trouble of a strong Wan. In my counsel for you, nothing would be better than to agree on a surrender, enfeoff its governor and have him stay and hold it, and take his armoured soldiers west with you. Of the cities not yet taken, hearing this they will vie to open their gates and wait for you, and you will pass through without hindrance." The Lord of Pei said, "Good." So he made the governor of Wan Marquis of Yin and enfeoffed Chen Hui with a thousand households. He led his troops west, and there was none that did not submit. Reaching Danshui, Sai, Marquis of Gaowu, and Wang Ling, Marquis of Xiang, surrendered at Xiling. He turned back and attacked Huyang, met Mei Xuan, a detached general of Lord Po, and with him took the surrender of Xi and Li. He sent Ning Chang, a man of Wei, as envoy to Qin, and the envoy had not returned. At this time Zhang Han had already surrendered with his army to Xiang Yu in Zhao.

At first, when Xiang Yu and Song Yi went north to relieve Zhao, and Xiang Yu killed Song Yi and took his place as supreme general, the generals and Ying Bu were all attached to him; he broke the army of the Qin general Wang Li and took the surrender of Zhang Han, and the lords were all attached to him. When Zhao Gao had killed the Second Emperor he sent a man to come and propose dividing the region within the Pass and being kings there. The Lord of Pei took it for a trick, and so used Zhang Liang's plan and sent Master Li and Lu Jia to persuade the Qin generals, tempting them with advantage, and so attacked the Wu Pass by surprise and broke it. He also fought the Qin army south of Lantian; he greatly increased his flags as a feint, and wherever he passed allowed no plundering, and the men of Qin were glad and the Qin army fell apart, and so he utterly broke them. He fought again to the north and utterly broke them. Following up his victory, he broke them at last.

In the tenth month of the first year of Han the Lord of Pei's troops reached Bashang before the other lords. Ziying, king of Qin, with a plain carriage and white horses, a cord about his neck, sealed up the imperial seals, tallies and credentials and surrendered beside the Zhi road. Some of the generals said the king of Qin should be put to death. The Lord of Pei said: "When King Huai first sent me, it was precisely because I could be tolerant; besides, the man has already submitted and surrendered, and to kill him would be unlucky." So he handed the king of Qin over to his officers and then went west into Xianyang. He wished to stay and rest in the palaces, but Fan Kuai and Zhang Liang remonstrated, and so he sealed up Qin's precious treasures, goods and storehouses and went back to camp at Bashang. He summoned the elders and bold men of the counties and said: "You elders have long suffered under Qin's harsh laws: those who criticised had their clans put to death, and those who talked together were executed in the market. I made an agreement with the lords that he who first entered the Pass should be king there, and I am to be king within the Pass. I make an agreement with you elders in three articles only: he who kills a man dies; he who wounds a man or steals is punished according to the offence. For the rest, all the Qin laws are abolished. All officers and people shall remain settled as before. In general, the reason I have come is to remove harm for you elders, not to do violence; have no fear! And the reason I go back to camp at Bashang is only to wait for the lords to arrive and settle the terms." So he sent men with the Qin officers through the counties, districts and towns to proclaim it. The men of Qin were greatly pleased and vied in bringing oxen, sheep, wine and food to present to the soldiers. The Lord of Pei again declined and would not accept, saying, "The granaries have much grain and there is no lack; I do not wish to put people to expense." The people were still more pleased, and feared only that the Lord of Pei might not be king of Qin.

Someone urged the Lord of Pei: "Qin is ten times richer than the rest of the world and its terrain is strong. Now we hear that Zhang Han has surrendered to Xiang Yu and Xiang Yu has styled him king of Yong, king within the Pass. If he comes now, you may not be able to hold this. You may quickly send troops to hold the Hangu Pass and not admit the lords' armies, and gradually levy troops within the Pass to strengthen yourself and resist them." The Lord of Pei thought the plan right and followed it. In the eleventh month Xiang Yu did indeed lead the lords' troops west, meaning to enter the Pass, and the gate of the Pass was shut. Hearing that the Lord of Pei had already settled the region within the Pass, he was greatly angered and sent Ying Bu and the others to attack and break the Hangu Pass. In the twelfth month he reached Xi. The Lord of Pei's Major of the Left, Cao Wushang, hearing that King Xiang was angry and meant to attack the Lord of Pei, sent a man to say to Xiang Yu, "The Lord of Pei means to be king within the Pass, to make Ziying his chief minister, and to have all the treasures himself," wishing thereby to gain a fief. The Second Father urged Xiang Yu to strike the Lord of Pei. They were then feasting the soldiers and were to join battle the next day. At this time Xiang Yu's troops were four hundred thousand, called a million; the Lord of Pei's were a hundred thousand, called two hundred thousand, and no match in strength. It happened that Xiang Bo wished to save Zhang Liang's life and went by night to see Liang, and so by his words persuaded Xiang Yu, and Xiang Yu stopped. The Lord of Pei with a hundred and more horsemen galloped to Hongmen and saw Xiang Yu and apologised. Xiang Yu said, "This was said by the Lord of Pei's Major of the Left, Cao Wushang; otherwise how should I have conceived this?" Through Fan Kuai and Zhang Liang the Lord of Pei got away and went home. On returning he at once put Cao Wushang to death.

Xiang Yu then went west, massacred and burned Xianyang and the Qin palaces, and wherever he passed there was nothing not ruined. The men of Qin were greatly disappointed, but being afraid they dared not fail to submit.

Xiang Yu sent a man back to report to King Huai. King Huai said, "As agreed." Xiang Yu resented King Huai for not letting him go west into the Pass with the Lord of Pei, but sending him north to relieve Zhao and so come after the world's agreement. So he said: "King Huai was only set up by our house, by Xiang Liang; he has no merit in arms, how should he be master of the agreement? It was in truth the generals and myself who settled the world." So he made a show of honouring King Huai as the Righteous Emperor, but in fact did not follow his commands.

In the first month Xiang Yu set himself up as Hegemon King of Western Chu, king over the nine commanderies of the lands of Liang and Chu, with his capital at Pengcheng. Going back on the agreement, he made the Lord of Pei king of Han instead, king over Ba, Shu and Hanzhong, with his capital at Nanzheng. He divided the region within the Pass in three and set up the three Qin generals: Zhang Han as king of Yong, with his capital at Feiqiu; Sima Xin as king of Sai, with his capital at Yueyang; Dong Yi as king of Di, with his capital at Gaonu. The Chu general Shen Yang of Xiaqiu became king of Henan, with his capital at Luoyang. The Zhao general Sima Ang became king of Yin, with his capital at Zhaoge. Xie, king of Zhao, was moved to be king of Dai. The Zhao chief minister Zhang Er became king of Changshan, with his capital at Xiangguo. The Lord of Dangyang, Ying Bu, became king of Jiujiang, with his capital at Liu. King Huai's Pillar of State, Gong Ao, became king of Linjiang, with his capital at Jiangling. Lord Po, Wu Rui, became king of Hengshan, with his capital at Zhu. The Yan general Zang Tu became king of Yan, with his capital at Ji. The former king of Yan, Han Guang, was moved to be king of Liaodong. Guang would not obey, and Zang Tu attacked and killed him at Wuzhong. He enfeoffed Chen Yu, Lord of Cheng'an, with three counties of Hejian, dwelling at Nanpi. He enfeoffed Mei Xuan with a hundred thousand households.

In the fourth month the troops broke camp below Xi and the lords each went to his state. The king of Han went to his state, and King Xiang sent thirty thousand soldiers to follow him, while those of Chu and of the lords who admired him and followed numbered several tens of thousands; they went in through Shizhong from south of Du. As they went they burned and cut the plank roads behind them, to guard against the lords' raiding troops attacking them, and also to show Xiang Yu that they had no mind to go east. Reaching Nanzheng, many of the generals and soldiers deserted on the road and went home, and the soldiers all sang of longing to go home east. Han Xin urged the king of Han: "Xiang Yu made kings of those generals who had merit, and you alone dwell at Nanzheng; this is banishment. The officers and soldiers of your army are all men from east of the mountains; day and night they stand on tiptoe longing to go home. If you use them at the height of their keenness, great merit may be had. Once the world is settled and men are each at peace, they can be used no more. It would be better to decide on a plan and go east, to contend for power in the world."

Xiang Yu went out of the Pass and sent men to move the Righteous Emperor, saying, "The emperors of antiquity had a thousand li square of territory and always dwelt upstream." So he sent envoys to move the Righteous Emperor to Chen county in Changsha, and urged the Righteous Emperor to go; his ministers gradually turned against him, and Xiang then secretly ordered the king of Hengshan and the king of Linjiang to strike him, and they killed the Righteous Emperor south of the Jiang. Xiang Yu resented Tian Rong and set up the Qi general Tian Du as king of Qi. Tian Rong was angry and so set himself up as king of Qi, killed Tian Du and turned against Chu; he gave Peng Yue a general's seal and ordered him to revolt in the lands of Liang. Chu ordered Lord Xiao Jiao to strike Peng Yue, and Peng Yue utterly broke him. Chen Yu resented Xiang Yu for not making him a king, and ordered Xia Shuo to persuade Tian Rong, asking for troops to strike Zhang Er. Qi gave Chen Yu troops, and he struck and broke Zhang Er, king of Changshan, and Zhang Er fled and went over to Han. He welcomed Xie, king of Zhao, from Dai and set him up again as king of Zhao. The king of Zhao thereupon set up Chen Yu as king of Dai. Xiang Yu was greatly angered and struck Qi in the north.

In the eighth month the king of Han used Han Xin's plan, returned by the old road and attacked Zhang Han, king of Yong, by surprise. Han met and struck the Han army at Chencang; the Yong troops were defeated and fled back; they halted and fought at Haozhi and were defeated again, and fled to Feiqiu. The king of Han then settled the lands of Yong. Going east as far as Xianyang, he led troops to besiege the king of Yong at Feiqiu, and sent his generals to overrun and settle Longxi, Beidi and Shangjun. He ordered the generals Xue Ou and Wang Xi to go out by the Wu Pass and, by way of Wang Ling's troops in Nanyang, to welcome the Grand Duke and the Empress Lü from Pei. Chu heard of it and sent troops to block them at Yangxia, so that they could not go forward. He made Zheng Chang, formerly prefect of Wu, king of Han to resist the Han troops.

In the second year the king of Han overran the land eastward, and Xin, king of Sai, Yi, king of Di, and Shen Yang, king of Henan, all surrendered. Chang, king of Han, would not obey, and he sent Han Xin to strike and break him. Thereupon he set up the commanderies of Longxi, Beidi, Shangjun, Weinan, Heshang and Zhongdi; and beyond the Pass he set up the commandery of Henan. He made Xin, the Han Commandant, king of Han instead. Of the generals, those who surrendered with ten thousand men or with a whole commandery were enfeoffed with ten thousand households. He repaired the barriers along the He. All the former parks, gardens and ponds of Qin he ordered that men be allowed to farm them. In the first month he took Zhang Ping, younger brother of the king of Yong. There was a great pardon of criminals.

When the king of Han went out of the Pass and reached Shan, he comforted the elders beyond the Pass; on his return Zhang Er came to see him, and the king of Han treated him generously.

In the second month he ordered that the altars of soil and grain of Qin be abolished and the altars of soil and grain of Han set up instead.

In the third month the king of Han crossed at Linjin, and Bao, king of Wei, led troops and followed. He took Henei, captured the king of Yin and set up the commandery of Henei. Crossing south at the ford of Pingyin he reached Luoyang. Dong Gong, an elder of Xincheng, stopped him on the road and urged the king of Han on account of the Righteous Emperor's death. The king of Han heard it, bared his arm and wept aloud. So he held mourning for the Righteous Emperor and lamented three days. He sent envoys to tell the lords: "The world together set up the Righteous Emperor and faced north to serve him. Now Xiang Yu has banished and murdered the Righteous Emperor south of the Jiang: this is great treason without principle. I have held mourning for him in person; let all the lords put on plain white. I shall call out all the troops within the Pass and gather the men of the Three He, and go south by the Jiang and the Han downstream, and I wish to follow the lords and kings in striking the one who killed the Righteous Emperor."

At this time King Xiang was striking Qi in the north, and Tian Rong fought him at Chengyang. Tian Rong was defeated and fled to Pingyuan, and the people of Pingyuan killed him. Qi all surrendered to Chu. Chu thereupon burned their walls and bound and carried off their sons and daughters. The men of Qi revolted from him. Tian Rong's younger brother Heng set up Rong's son Guang as king of Qi, and the king of Qi turned against Chu at Chengyang. Though King Xiang heard that Han had gone east, being already engaged with the Qi troops he wished to break them first and then strike Han. For this reason the king of Han was able to marshal the troops of five of the lords and so enter Pengcheng. King Xiang heard of it and led his troops away from Qi, went from Lu out by Huling to Xiao, and fought a great battle with Han east of Lingbi at Pengcheng on the Sui River; he utterly broke the Han army, killing many soldiers, and the Sui did not flow for them. Then he took the king of Han's parents, wife and children at Pei and put them in his camp as hostages. At this time the lords, seeing that Chu was strong and Han defeated, all went back and left Han and became Chu's again. Xin, king of Sai, fled into Chu.

The Empress Lü's elder brother, the Marquis of Zhoulü, was commanding troops for Han and was at Xiayi. The king of Han went to him and gradually gathered soldiers and camped at Dang. The king of Han then went west through the lands of Liang and reached Yu. He sent the usher Sui He to Ying Bu, king of Jiujiang, saying, "If you can make Bu raise troops and turn against Chu, Xiang Yu will certainly stay and strike him. If he can be kept a few months, my taking of the world is certain." Sui He went and persuaded Ying Bu, king of Jiujiang, and Bu did indeed turn his back on Chu. Chu sent Long Ju to strike him.

When the king of Han was defeated at Pengcheng and went west, he sent men along the way to seek his household, and the household too had fled and they did not meet. After the defeat he got only Xiaohui; in the sixth month he set him up as heir apparent and made a great pardon of criminals. He ordered the heir apparent to hold Yueyang, and the lords' sons who were within the Pass all gathered at Yueyang as guards. He led water to flood Feiqiu, and Feiqiu surrendered and Zhang Han killed himself. Feiqiu was renamed Huaili. Thereupon he ordered the sacrificial officers to sacrifice to Heaven and Earth, the four quarters, the Lord on High and the hills and rivers, and to sacrifice to them in season. He raised the troops within the Pass to man the barriers.

At this time Ying Bu, king of Jiujiang, fought Long Ju and did not win, and with Sui He went by by-roads back to Han. The king of Han gradually gathered soldiers, and with his generals and the troops from within the Pass coming out in greater numbers, his forces were greatly strengthened at Xingyang, and he broke Chu between Jing and Suo.

In the third year Bao, king of Wei, asked leave to go home and visit a sick relative; on arriving he at once cut the ford of the He and turned to Chu. The king of Han sent Master Li to persuade Bao, and Bao would not listen. The king of Han sent the general Han Xin to strike him and utterly broke him and captured Bao. So he settled the lands of Wei and set up three commanderies, called Hedong, Taiyuan and Shangdang. The king of Han then ordered Zhang Er and Han Xin to go east down Jingxing and strike Zhao, and they beheaded Chen Yu and Xie, king of Zhao. The next year he set up Zhang Er as king of Zhao.

The king of Han camped south of Xingyang and built a walled road joining it to the He, in order to take the Ao granary. For more than a year he and Xiang Yu faced each other. Xiang Yu repeatedly raided and cut the Han walled road, the Han army lacked food, and he then besieged the king of Han. The king of Han asked for peace, ceding the lands west of Xingyang to Han. King Xiang would not listen. The king of Han was troubled by it, and so used Chen Ping's plan and gave Chen Ping forty thousand catties of gold to estrange the ruler and ministers of Chu. Thereupon Xiang Yu suspected the Second Father. The Second Father at this time was urging Xiang Yu to take Xingyang at once; and when he found himself suspected he was angry, pleaded old age and asked that his bones be granted him to go back to the ranks, and died before reaching Pengcheng.

The Han army's food being cut off, they sent out by night more than two thousand women by the east gate wearing armour, and Chu struck at them on all four sides. The general Ji Xin then rode in the king's carriage and, pretending to be the king of Han, deceived Chu; Chu all shouted "Long live the king!" and went to the east of the city to look on, and for this reason the king of Han was able to slip out of the west gate with a few dozen horsemen. He ordered the Grandee Secretary Zhou Ke, Wei Bao and Lord Cong to hold Xingyang. Of the generals and soldiers, those who could not follow were all in the city. Zhou Ke and Lord Cong said to each other, "A king of a state that has rebelled is hard to hold a city with," and so they killed Wei Bao.

When the king of Han came out of Xingyang and entered the Pass, he gathered troops and wished to go east again. Master Yuan urged the king of Han: "Han and Chu have faced each other at Xingyang for several years, and Han has constantly been hard pressed. I wish Your Majesty would go out by the Wu Pass; Xiang Yu will certainly lead his troops south, and if Your Majesty entrenches deeply, the region between Xingyang and Chenggao may get a rest. Let Han Xin and the others gather in the lands of Zhao north of the He and join with Yan and Qi; then Your Majesty may go back to Xingyang, and it will not be too late. In this way what Chu must guard will be much and its strength divided, while Han gets a rest; and when we fight them again, the breaking of Chu is certain." The king of Han followed his plan and sent his army out between Wan and Ye, and with Ying Bu gathered troops as he went.

Xiang Yu heard that the king of Han was at Wan and did indeed lead his troops south. The king of Han held his ramparts firmly and would not fight. At this time Peng Yue crossed the Sui River and fought Xiang Sheng and Lord Xue at Xiapi, and Peng Yue utterly broke the Chu army. Xiang Yu then led his troops east to strike Peng Yue. The king of Han also led his troops north and camped at Chenggao. Xiang Yu, having broken and driven off Peng Yue, heard that the king of Han had camped again at Chenggao, and so led his troops west again, took Xingyang, put Zhou Ke and Lord Cong to death, captured Xin, king of Han, and then besieged Chenggao.

The king of Han slipped away, going out of the Yu Gate of Chenggao in a single carriage with Lord Teng alone, crossed the He northward and galloped to lodge at Xiuwu. Calling himself an envoy, at dawn he galloped into the ramparts of Zhang Er and Han Xin and took their army from them. He then sent Zhang Er north to gather more troops in the lands of Zhao, and sent Han Xin east to strike Qi. The king of Han, having got Han Xin's army, revived. He led his troops to the He and feasted the army south of Lesser Xiuwu, wishing to fight again. The Palace Gentleman Zheng Zhong urged him to stop, and had him raise high ramparts and dig deep moats and not fight. The king of Han listened to his plan and sent Lu Wan and Liu Jia with twenty thousand soldiers and several hundred horse across the ford of Baima into the lands of Chu; with Peng Yue they struck and broke the Chu army again west of the outer wall of Yan, and so took more than ten cities in the lands of Liang again.

The Marquis of Huaiyin, having received his command, went east and had not yet crossed at Pingyuan. The king of Han sent Master Li to persuade Tian Guang, king of Qi, and Guang turned against Chu, made peace with Han and joined in striking Xiang Yu. Han Xin used Kuai Tong's plan and so attacked and broke Qi by surprise. The king of Qi boiled Master Li and fled east to Gaomi. Xiang Yu heard that Han Xin had raised the troops north of the He and broken Qi and Zhao and moreover meant to strike Chu, and so sent Long Ju and Zhou Lan to strike him. Han Xin fought them, and the cavalry general Guan Ying struck and utterly broke the Chu army and killed Long Ju. Guang, king of Qi, fled to Peng Yue. At this time Peng Yue was commanding troops in the lands of Liang, coming and going and harrying the Chu troops and cutting off their food.

In the fourth year Xiang Yu said to the Marquis of Haichun, the Grand Marshal Cao Jiu: "Hold Chenggao carefully. If Han challenges you to battle, take care not to fight, but only keep them from getting east. In fifteen days I shall certainly have settled the lands of Liang and shall rejoin you, general." So he marched and struck Chenliu, Waihuang and Suiyang and took them. Han did indeed repeatedly challenge the Chu army, and the Chu army would not come out; they sent men to insult them for five or six days, and the Grand Marshal was angry and sent his troops across the Si River. When the soldiers were halfway across, Han struck them and utterly broke the Chu army, and got all the gold, jade, goods and valuables of the state of Chu. The Grand Marshal Jiu and the Chief Clerk Xin both cut their own throats on the Si River. Xiang Yu reached Suiyang, and hearing that the Marquis of Haichun was broken, he led his troops back. The Han army was then besieging Zhongli Mo east of Xingyang, and when Xiang Yu arrived they all fled to the difficult ground.

Han Xin having broken Qi, he sent a man to say, "Qi borders on Chu and my authority is slight; unless I am made provisional king, I fear I cannot settle Qi." The king of Han wished to attack him. The Marquis of Liu said, "Better to set him up on this occasion and let him hold it for himself." So he sent Zhang Liang with the seal and ribbon to set up Han Xin as king of Qi.

Xiang Yu, hearing that Long Ju's army was broken, was afraid, and sent Wu She, a man of Xutai, to go and persuade Han Xin. Han Xin would not listen.

Chu and Han held each other off a long while without decision; the able-bodied suffered from campaigning and the old and weak were worn out with transport. The king of Han and Xiang Yu talked together across the ravine at Guangwu. Xiang Yu wished to challenge the king of Han to single combat. The king of Han enumerated Xiang Yu's faults: "At first I and Xiang Yu both received our commission from King Huai, who said that he who first entered and settled the region within the Pass should be king there; Xiang Yu went back on the agreement and made me king in Shu and Han: crime one. Xiang Yu falsely claimed an order and killed the Noble Chief Commander and exalted himself: crime two. Xiang Yu, having relieved Zhao, should have gone back and reported, but he arbitrarily forced the lords' troops into the Pass: crime three. King Huai agreed that on entering Qin there should be no violence or plunder; Xiang Yu burned the Qin palaces, dug up the First Emperor's tomb and privately took its goods: crime four. Moreover he forcibly killed Ziying, the surrendered king of Qin: crime five. He treacherously buried alive two hundred thousand sons of Qin at Xin'an and made their general a king: crime six. Xiang Yu made all his generals kings in good lands and moved and drove out their former masters, causing their subjects to vie in revolt: crime seven. Xiang Yu drove the Righteous Emperor out of Pengcheng and made it his own capital, seized the lands of the king of Han and made himself king of Liang and Chu together, taking much for himself: crime eight. Xiang Yu sent men secretly to murder the Righteous Emperor south of the Jiang: crime nine. To be another's subject and murder one's lord, to kill those who have already surrendered, to govern unfairly and to be untrustworthy as master of an agreement — what the world will not tolerate, great treason without principle: crime ten. I follow the lords with a righteous army to punish the ruffian, and I shall have convicts and mutilated men strike and kill Xiang Yu — why should I trouble to fight a challenge with you?" Xiang Yu was greatly angered and shot the king of Han with a hidden crossbow and hit him. The king of Han was wounded in the breast, and he clutched his foot and said, "The scoundrel has hit my toe!" The king of Han lay ill of his wound, and Zhang Liang urgently begged the king of Han to get up and go about and comfort the army, so as to settle the soldiers and not let Chu take advantage over Han. The king of Han went out and went about the army; being gravely ill, he galloped into Chenggao.

When he was well he went west into the Pass, reached Yueyang, comforted the elders, set out wine, and exposed the head of Xin, the former king of Sai, in the market at Yueyang. He stayed four days and then went back to the army, camping at Guangwu. The troops from within the Pass came out in greater numbers.

At this time Peng Yue was commanding troops in the lands of Liang, coming and going and harrying the Chu troops and cutting off their food. Tian Heng went and joined him. Xiang Yu repeatedly struck Peng Yue and the others, and Xin, king of Qi, struck Chu besides. Xiang Yu was afraid and so made an agreement with the king of Han to divide the world in the middle, the lands west of the Hong Canal to be Han and those east of the Hong Canal to be Chu. King Xiang returned the king of Han's parents, wife and children, and in the camp all shouted "Long live the king!" and so they went back and parted.

Xiang Yu broke off and went home east. The king of Han wished to lead his troops west and go home, but he used the plans of the Marquis of Liu and Chen Ping and so advanced his troops in pursuit of Xiang Yu; reaching south of Yangxia he halted his army, and appointed a meeting with Xin, king of Qi, and Peng Yue, Marquis of Jiancheng, to strike the Chu army. Reaching Guling they did not come. Chu struck the Han army and utterly broke it. The king of Han went back into his rampart, dug his moat deep and held it. He used Zhang Liang's plan, and thereupon Han Xin and Peng Yue both came. And when Liu Jia entered the lands of Chu and besieged Shouchun, the king of Han was defeated at Guling, and so he sent an envoy to summon the Grand Marshal Zhou Yin to raise the troops of Jiujiang and welcome the Martial King, and marching he massacred Chengfu; and following Liu Jia, the lords of Qi and Liang all met in a great assembly at Gaixia. He set up the Martial King, Bu, as king of Huainan.

In the fifth year the High Ancestor with the lords' troops together struck the Chu army and fought it out with Xiang Yu at Gaixia. The Marquis of Huaiyin commanded three hundred thousand and himself faced him; General Kong was on the left, General Fei on the right, the Emperor behind, and the Marquis of Jiang and General Chai behind the Emperor. Xiang Yu's soldiers were about a hundred thousand. Huaiyin engaged first, without advantage, and fell back. General Kong and General Fei let loose, the Chu troops had the worse of it, and the Marquis of Huaiyin pressed them again and utterly defeated them at Gaixia. When Xiang Yu's soldiers heard the Han army singing the songs of Chu, they thought Han had got the whole of the lands of Chu, and Xiang Yu was then defeated and fled, and so his army was utterly broken. He sent the cavalry general Guan Ying to pursue and kill Xiang Yu at Dongcheng, beheading eighty thousand, and so overran and settled the lands of Chu. Lu held firm for Chu and did not submit. The king of Han led the lords' troops north and showed the elders of Lu Xiang Yu's head, and Lu then surrendered. So he buried Xiang Yu at Gucheng with the title of Duke of Lu. Returning to Dingtao, he galloped into the ramparts of the king of Qi and took his army from him.

In the first month the lords and the generals and ministers together asked to honour the king of Han as Emperor. The king of Han said, "I have heard that the title of Emperor belongs to the worthy; empty words and vain talk are not what I hold to. I dare not take the imperial seat." His ministers all said: "Your Majesty rose from the lowly, put down the violent and rebellious and settled all within the four seas, and whoever had merit you at once cut off land and enfeoffed as king or marquis. If Your Majesty does not take the honoured title, all will doubt and not believe. We your servants will hold to this to the death." The king of Han declined three times, and being unable to refuse said, "If you gentlemen think it right and convenient for the state." On the jiawu day he took the imperial seat north of the Si River.

The Emperor said that the Righteous Emperor had no heir. Han Xin, king of Qi, was familiar with the customs of Chu, and was moved to be king of Chu, with his capital at Xiapi. He set up Peng Yue, Marquis of Jiancheng, as king of Liang, with his capital at Dingtao. The former king of Han, Xin, remained king of Han, with his capital at Yangdi. He moved Wu Rui, king of Hengshan, to be king of Changsha, with his capital at Linxiang. Mei Xuan, a general of Lord Po, had merit and had followed him into the Wu Pass, and so he was grateful to Lord Po. Bu, king of Huainan, Zang Tu, king of Yan, and Ao, king of Zhao, all remained as before.

The world was greatly settled. The High Ancestor made his capital at Luoyang, and the lords were all his subjects. The former king of Linjiang, Huan, had rebelled against Han for Xiang Yu, and he ordered Lu Wan and Liu Jia to besiege him, and he did not submit. After some months he surrendered, and was killed at Luoyang.

In the fifth month the troops were all disbanded and went home. Of the lords' sons within the Pass, service was remitted for twelve years, and for those who went home, six years, with a year's provisions.

The High Ancestor set out wine in the Southern Palace at Luoyang. The High Ancestor said: "You full marquises and generals must not hide anything from me, but all speak your minds. Why is it that I have the world? Why is it that the Xiang lost the world?" Gao Qi and Wang Ling answered: "Your Majesty is offhand and insults men, while Xiang Yu was humane and loved men. But when Your Majesty sent men to attack cities and overrun lands, whatever they took and reduced you gave them, sharing the profit with the world. Xiang Yu was jealous of the worthy and envious of the able; those who had merit he harmed and those who were worthy he suspected; when he won a battle he gave men no credit for merit, and when he took land he gave men no share of the profit. That is why he lost the world." The High Ancestor said: "You know the one but not the other. In devising strategies within the tent and deciding victory a thousand li away, I am not the equal of Zifang. In steadying the state, comforting the people, supplying provisions and keeping the food roads unbroken, I am not the equal of Xiao He. In leading an army of a million, winning every battle and taking whatever he attacks, I am not the equal of Han Xin. These three are all men of outstanding talent, and I was able to use them: that is why I took the world. Xiang Yu had his one Fan Zeng and could not use him: that is why he was taken by me."

The High Ancestor wished to make Luoyang his lasting capital, but Liu Jing, a man of Qi, urged him, and the Marquis of Liu too urged the Emperor to make his capital within the Pass; and that very day the High Ancestor drove off and made his capital within the Pass. In the sixth month there was a great pardon throughout the land.

In the tenth month Zang Tu, king of Yan, revolted and took the lands of Dai. The High Ancestor led troops against him in person and captured Zang Tu, king of Yan. He then set up the Commandant-in-Chief Lu Wan as king of Yan. He sent the chancellor Kuai with troops to attack Dai.

In the autumn of that year Li Ji revolted, and the High Ancestor led troops against him in person, and Li Ji fled. Li Ji had been a general of the Xiang. When the Xiang were defeated, Li Ji was Lord of Chen; he did not follow Xiang Yu but fled and surrendered to the High Ancestor, and the High Ancestor made him a marquis in Yingchuan. When the High Ancestor came to Luoyang and summoned him by the register of full marquises, Li Ji was afraid, and therefore revolted.

In the sixth year the High Ancestor paid court to the Grand Duke once in five days, with the ceremony of a son to his father in a family. The Grand Duke's steward urged the Grand Duke: "Heaven has not two suns, and earth has not two kings. Now though the High Ancestor is your son, he is the lord of men; and though you are his father, you are a subject. How can you make the lord of men bow to a subject? If so, his awe and weight will not prevail." Afterwards, when the High Ancestor came to court, the Grand Duke took a broom and met him at the door and walked backward. The High Ancestor was greatly startled and got down and supported the Grand Duke. The Grand Duke said, "The Emperor is the lord of men; how should I throw the laws of the world into disorder on my account?" Thereupon the High Ancestor honoured the Grand Duke as the Grand Supreme August. In his heart he approved the steward's words and gave him five hundred catties of gold.

In the twelfth month a man submitted a report of a plot, accusing Xin, king of Chu, of plotting rebellion. The Emperor asked those about him, and they all vied in wishing to strike him. He used Chen Ping's plan, and so made a feigned progress to Yunmeng and assembled the lords at Chen; Xin, king of Chu, came to meet him, and he at once seized him. On that day there was a great pardon throughout the land. Tian Ken offered congratulations and so urged the High Ancestor: "Your Majesty has got Han Xin and moreover governs the Qin heartland. Qin is a state of commanding terrain, girt with the He and the strongholds of the mountains, cut off a thousand li away; with a hundred thousand halberds Qin has the advantage of a hundred to two. With such advantage of terrain, when it sends troops down against the lords it is like pouring water from the roof of a high house. As for Qi: in the east it has the riches of Langye and Jimo, in the south the stronghold of Mount Tai, in the west the barrier of the muddy He, in the north the profit of the Bohai. Its territory is two thousand li square, with a hundred thousand halberds, cut off a thousand li away; Qi has the advantage of ten to two. So these are the eastern and western Qin. None but your own son or younger brother should be made king of Qi." The High Ancestor said, "Good," and gave him five hundred catties of gold.

More than ten days later he enfeoffed Han Xin as Marquis of Huaiyin and divided his lands into two states. The High Ancestor said that the general Liu Jia had repeatedly had merit, and made him king of Jing, king over the lands east of the Huai. His younger brother Jiao became king of Chu, king over the lands west of the Huai. His son Fei became king of Qi, king over seventy and more cities, and all the people who could speak the Qi tongue were attached to Qi. Then he assessed merits and, splitting tallies with the full marquises, carried out the enfeoffments. He moved Xin, king of Han, to Taiyuan.

In the seventh year the Xiongnu attacked Xin, king of Han, at Mayi, and Xin thereupon plotted rebellion with them at Taiyuan. Man Qiuchen and Wang Huang of Baitu set up Zhao Li, a former general of Zhao, as king and rebelled, and the High Ancestor went in person to strike them. It happened that the weather was cold, and two or three in ten of the soldiers lost fingers; and so he reached Pingcheng. The Xiongnu besieged us at Pingcheng, and after seven days withdrew. He ordered Fan Kuai to stay and settle the lands of Dai. He set up his elder brother Liu Zhong as king of Dai.

In the second month the High Ancestor went from Pingcheng by way of Zhao and Luoyang and reached Chang'an. The Changle Palace being finished, the chancellor and those below him moved their offices to Chang'an.

In the eighth year the High Ancestor struck eastward at the remaining rebel bands of Xin, king of Han, at Dongyuan.

The chancellor Xiao built the Weiyang Palace, setting up the eastern gate-tower, the northern gate-tower, the front hall, the armoury and the great granary. When the High Ancestor returned and saw how grand the palace and towers were, he was angry and said to Xiao He: "The world has been in turmoil and has suffered years of war, and success or failure is not yet known; why have you built palaces so far beyond measure?" Xiao He said: "The world is not yet settled, and that is just why one can take the occasion to complete the palaces. Moreover the Son of Heaven takes the four seas as his home; without grandeur and splendour there is no way to add weight to his majesty, and no way to leave nothing for later ages to add." The High Ancestor was then pleased.

When the High Ancestor went to Dongyuan he passed Boren, and Guan Gao, the chancellor of Zhao, and others plotted to murder the High Ancestor; the High Ancestor's heart stirred and so he did not stay. Liu Zhong, king of Dai, abandoned his state and fled, and went back of himself to Luoyang, and was degraded to Marquis of Heyang.

In the ninth year the affair of Guan Gao, chancellor of Zhao, and the others came to light, and their three degrees of kin were exterminated. Ao, king of Zhao, was degraded to Marquis of Xuanping. In this year the noble houses of Chu — the Zhao, Qu, Jing and Huai — and the Tian of Qi were moved into the region within the Pass.

The Weiyang Palace was finished. The High Ancestor held a great court of the lords and ministers and set out wine in the front hall of Weiyang. The High Ancestor took up a jade cup, rose and drank the health of the Grand Supreme August, saying: "In the beginning you always thought me a good-for-nothing who could not manage a livelihood and was not so able as Zhong. Now which is greater, what I have achieved or what Zhong has?" The ministers in the hall all shouted "Long live the Emperor!" and there was great laughter and merriment.

In the tenth month of the tenth year, Ying Bu, king of Huainan, Peng Yue, king of Liang, Lu Wan, king of Yan, Liu Jia, king of Jing, Liu Jiao, king of Chu, Liu Fei, king of Qi, and Wu Rui, king of Changsha, all came to court at the Changle Palace. In spring and summer there was nothing to record.

In the seventh month the Grand Supreme August died at the Yueyang Palace. The kings of Chu and Liang both came to attend the burial. He pardoned the prisoners of Yueyang. He renamed the town of Li as Xinfeng.

In the eighth month Chen Xi, chancellor of Zhao, revolted in the lands of Dai. The Emperor said: "Xi was once my envoy and was very trustworthy. The lands of Dai are urgent to me, and so I enfeoffed Xi as a full marquis and made him hold Dai as chancellor; and now he plunders the lands of Dai with Wang Huang and the rest! The officers and people of the lands of Dai are not guilty. Let the officers and people of Dai be pardoned." In the ninth month the Emperor went east in person to strike him. Reaching Handan the Emperor was glad and said, "That Xi does not hold Handan in the south and make a barrier of the Zhang shows me that he can do nothing." Hearing that Xi's generals had all formerly been merchants, the Emperor said, "I know how to deal with them." So he tempted Xi's generals with much gold, and many of Xi's generals surrendered.

In the eleventh year, while the High Ancestor was at Handan and had not finished putting Xi and the rest to death, Xi's general Hou Chang was moving about with more than ten thousand men, Wang Huang was camped at Quni, and Zhang Chun crossed the He and struck Liaocheng. Han sent the general Guo Meng with the Qi generals to strike them and utterly broke them. The Commandant-in-Chief Zhou Bo came in by way of Taiyuan and settled the lands of Dai. Reaching Mayi, Mayi did not submit, and he attacked and destroyed it.

Xi's general Zhao Li held Dongyuan, and the High Ancestor attacked it and did not take it. After a month and more the soldiers cursed the High Ancestor, and the High Ancestor was angry. When the city surrendered he ordered those who had cursed to be beheaded and those who had not to be spared. Thereupon he divided off the land north of the Zhao hills and set up his son Heng as king of Dai, with his capital at Jinyang.

In spring Han Xin, Marquis of Huaiyin, plotted rebellion within the Pass, and his three degrees of kin were exterminated.

In summer Peng Yue, king of Liang, plotted rebellion; he was degraded and moved to Shu, and as he wished to rebel again his three degrees of kin were exterminated. He set up his son Hui as king of Liang and his son You as king of Huaiyang.

In the autumn, the seventh month, Ying Bu, king of Huainan, revolted, annexed the lands of Liu Jia, king of Jing, in the east, crossed the Huai northward, and Jiao, king of Chu, fled into Xue. The High Ancestor went in person to strike him. He set up his son Chang as king of Huainan.

In the twelfth year, the tenth month, the High Ancestor having struck Bu's army at Kuizhui, Bu fled, and he ordered a detached general to pursue him.

The High Ancestor turned back and went home, passing Pei, and stayed. He set out wine in the palace at Pei, summoned all his old friends, elders and young men and drank freely with them, and got a hundred and twenty boys of Pei and taught them to sing. When the drinking was at its height, the High Ancestor struck the zhu and made a song himself: "A great wind rises and the clouds fly scudding; my might is laid on all within the seas and I come home to my native place; where shall I get brave men to guard the four quarters!" He had the boys all join in and learn it. The High Ancestor then rose and danced, and in the passion of his grief his tears fell in streams. He said to the fathers and elders of Pei: "The wanderer grieves for his native place. Though I have made my capital within the Pass, after my ten thousand years my soul will still take joy in thinking of Pei. And since I as Lord of Pei put down the violent and rebellious and so came to have the world, I make Pei my bathing town; its people are exempted, and for generation after generation they shall have nothing to render." The fathers and elders of Pei, the ladies and his old friends drank merrily day after day in the greatest gladness, telling old tales for laughter and pleasure. After ten days and more the High Ancestor wished to go, and the fathers and elders of Pei firmly begged him to stay. The High Ancestor said, "My followers are many, and you fathers and elders cannot supply them." So he left. The whole county of Pei emptied and went west of the town to make offerings. The High Ancestor stayed again and set up an awning and drank for three days. The fathers and elders of Pei all bowed their heads to the ground and said: "Pei has had the good fortune to be exempted, but Feng has not; we beg Your Majesty to take pity on it." The High Ancestor said: "Feng is where I was born and grew up, and I do not forget it at all; it is only on account of Yong Chi that it turned against me for Wei." The fathers and elders of Pei pressed him, and so he exempted Feng as well, on the same footing as Pei. Thereupon he appointed Liu Bi, Marquis of Pei, as king of Wu.

The Han generals separately struck Bu's army north and south of the Tao River and utterly broke them all, and pursued and beheaded Bu at Poyang.

Fan Kuai with a detached force settled Dai and beheaded Chen Xi at Dangcheng.

In the eleventh month the High Ancestor came from Bu's army to Chang'an. In the twelfth month the High Ancestor said: "The First August Emperor of Qin, King Yin of Chu Chen She, King Anxi of Wei, King Min of Qi and King Daoxiang of Zhao have all been cut off without heirs; I grant ten households each to guard their graves, twenty for the August Emperor of Qin and five for Wuji, the prince of Wei." Of the officers and people of the lands of Dai who had been plundered by Chen Xi and Zhao Li, all were pardoned. A surrendered general of Chen Xi said that when Xi rebelled, Lu Wan, king of Yan, sent a man to Xi's place and plotted secretly with him. The Emperor sent the Marquis of Piyang to welcome Wan, and Wan pleaded illness. The Marquis of Piyang returned and reported fully that there were signs of Wan's rebellion. In the second month he sent Fan Kuai and Zhou Bo with troops to strike Lu Wan, king of Yan, and pardoned the officers and people of Yan who had joined the rebellion. He set up the imperial son Jian as king of Yan.

When the High Ancestor struck Bu he was hit by a stray arrow, and on the road he fell ill. Being gravely ill, the Empress Lü fetched a good physician; the physician came in to see him, and the High Ancestor asked the physician, and the physician said, "The illness can be cured." Thereupon the High Ancestor reviled him, saying: "With a commoner's dress and a three-foot sword I took the world — was this not Heaven's mandate? My life is with Heaven; though you were Bian Que, what good would it do!" So he would not let him treat the illness, and gave him fifty catties of gold and dismissed him. Presently the Empress Lü asked, "After Your Majesty's hundred years, if the chancellor Xiao should die, who is to take his place?" The Emperor said, "Cao Shen will do." She asked who after him, and the Emperor said: "Wang Ling will do. But Ling is somewhat blunt, and Chen Ping can assist him. Chen Ping has wisdom to spare, but it is hard for him to bear it alone. Zhou Bo is grave and solid and has little polish, but the one who will make the house of Liu safe will surely be Bo; he may be made Commandant-in-Chief." The Empress Lü asked again who after him, and the Emperor said, "Beyond this is not for you to know either."

Lu Wan with several thousand horsemen stayed below the barrier watching, hoping the Emperor might recover and go in himself to apologise.

In the fourth month, on the jiachen day, the High Ancestor died at the Changle Palace. For four days the death was not announced. The Empress Lü plotted with Shen Yiji, saying: "The generals and the Emperor were once registered commoners together, and now they face north as subjects, and they have always been discontented; now to serve a young lord — unless we exterminate them all, the world will not be at peace." Someone heard of it and told General Li. General Li went to see Shen Yiji and said: "I hear that the Emperor is dead and that for four days the death has not been announced, and that you mean to put the generals to death. If this is really so, the world is in danger. Chen Ping and Guan Ying command a hundred thousand and hold Xingyang; Fan Kuai and Zhou Bo command two hundred thousand and are settling Yan and Dai. If these hear that the Emperor is dead and that the generals are all to be put to death, they will certainly join their troops and turn back to attack the region within the Pass. With the great ministers rebelling within and the lords revolting without, ruin may be awaited on tiptoe." Shen Yiji went in and told her, and so on the dingwei day the death was announced and there was a great pardon throughout the land.

Lu Wan, hearing that the High Ancestor was dead, then fled into the Xiongnu.

On the bingyin day he was buried. On the jisi day the heir apparent was set up, and went to the temple of the Grand Supreme August. The ministers all said: "The High Ancestor rose from the lowly, put down a disordered age and brought it back to rightness, settled the world, and was the Grand Progenitor of Han, of the highest merit." They gave him the honoured title of August Emperor Gao. The heir apparent succeeded to the title of Emperor: he is Emperor Xiaohui. He ordered the commanderies, states and lords each to set up a temple of the High Ancestor and sacrifice there at the seasons of the year.

In the fifth year of Xiaohui, thinking of how the High Ancestor had been sorrowful and glad at Pei, he made the palace at Pei the High Ancestor's original temple. The hundred and twenty boys whom the High Ancestor had taught to sing were all made to play the wind music, and when there were vacancies afterwards they were at once filled.

The August Emperor Gao had eight sons: the eldest, by a concubine, was Fei, King Daohui of Qi; next Xiaohui, the Empress Lü's son; next Ruyi, King Yin of Zhao, son of the lady Qi; next Heng, king of Dai, who was set up as Emperor Xiaowen, son of the Dowager Bo; next Hui, king of Liang, who in the time of the Dowager Empress Lü was moved to be King Gong of Zhao; next You, king of Huaiyang, who in the time of the Dowager Empress Lü was moved to be King You of Zhao; next Chang, King Li of Huainan; next Jian, king of Yan.

The Lord Grand Astrologer says: The government of the Xia was loyalty. The failing of loyalty is that small men become rustic, and therefore the men of Yin carried it on with reverence. The failing of reverence is that small men become given to spirits, and therefore the men of Zhou carried it on with culture. The failing of culture is that small men become shallow, and therefore nothing saves shallowness so well as loyalty. The way of the Three Kings is like a circle: ending, it begins again. Between the Zhou and the Qin it may be said that culture had failed. That the government of Qin did not change but on the contrary made punishments cruel — was this not an error? So when Han arose, it took over a failing and changed it, so that men did not weary, and it obtained the succession of Heaven. Court was held in the tenth month. Carriages and robes: a yellow canopy and a plume on the left. He was buried at Changling.