| | 陳勝項籍... : |
陳勝字涉，陽城人。吳廣，字叔，陽夏人也。勝少時，嘗與人傭耕。輟耕之壟上，悵然甚久，曰：「苟富貴，無相忘！」傭者笑而應曰：「若為傭耕，何富貴也？」勝太息曰：「嗟乎，燕雀安知鴻鵠之志哉！」 |
| | Chen Sheng, courtesy name She, was a native of Yangcheng. Wu Guang, courtesy name Shu, was also a native of Yangxia. Chen Sheng was young when he once worked as a hired farmer for others. He stopped plowing and went to the top of a field, gazing thoughtfully for a long time before saying, "If we become rich or powerful, let us not forget each other!" The hired workers laughed and replied, "You are merely a hired farmer; how could you become rich or powerful?" Chen Sheng sighed deeply and said, "Alas! How can sparrows know the aspirations of a swan!"
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秦二世元年秋七月，發閭左戍漁陽九百人，勝、廣皆為屯長。行至鄿大澤鄉，會天大雨，道不通，度已失期。失期法斬，勝、廣乃謀曰：「今亡亦死，舉大計亦死，等死，死國可乎？」勝曰：「天下苦秦久矣。吾聞二世，少子，不當立，當立者乃公子扶蘇。扶蘇以數諫故不得立，上使外將兵。今或聞無罪，二世殺之。百姓多聞其賢，未知其死。項燕為楚將，數有功，愛士卒，楚人憐之。或以為在。今誠以吾眾為天下倡，宜多應者。」廣以為然。乃行卜。卜者知其指意，曰：「足下事皆成，有功。然足下卜之鬼乎！」勝、廣喜，念鬼，曰：「此教我先威眾耳。」乃丹書帛曰「陳勝王」，置人所罾魚腹中。卒買魚亨食，得書，已怪之矣。又間令廣之次所旁叢祠中，夜構火，狐鳴呼曰：「大楚興，陳勝王。」卒皆夜驚恐。旦日，卒中往往指目勝、廣。 |
| | In the first year of Qin Ershi's reign, during the seventh month of autumn, 900 men from the common populace were conscripted to serve as border guards in Yuyang. Both Chen Sheng and Wu Guang served as company leaders. When they marched to Dazexiang of Xiang, heavy rain fell, making the roads impassable; they estimated that they had already missed their deadline. According to law, missing the deadline meant execution. Chen Sheng and Wu Guang then plotted together: "Now, if we run away, we will die; if we rise up in revolt, we will also die. Since death is inevitable either way, would it not be better to die for our country?" Chen Sheng said: "The people have long suffered under the Qin dynasty." I have heard that Ershi is a younger son and should not have been enthroned. The one who should have been emperor was the crown prince Fu Su. Fu Su had not become emperor because he repeatedly gave advice; the emperor assigned him to command troops outside the capital. Now, some say that Fu Su was innocent, yet Ershi had him killed. The common people have heard much about his virtue but do not know he is dead. Xiang Yan was a general of the State of Chu, who had achieved many victories and loved his soldiers; the people of Chu pitied him. Some believe he is still alive. Now, if we truly rally our people to lead a revolt against the empire, many should respond." Wu Guang thought this was correct. They then went to consult a diviner. The diviner understood their intent and said, "All your endeavors will succeed and bring you merit. But why do you consult the spirits?" Chen Sheng and Wu Guang were pleased. Thinking about omens, they said, "This is a sign instructing us to first establish authority among the people." They then wrote on red silk cloth: "Chen Sheng shall be king," and placed it inside a fish caught in a net. When the soldiers bought the fish, cooked it, and found the message, they were already surprised. They also secretly ordered Wu Guang to go to a thicket near the soldiers' camp and at night set up a fire, pretending it was a fox howling: "The great state of Chu shall rise again; Chen Sheng shall be king." All the soldiers were frightened during the night. The next day, among the soldiers, many pointed at and looked toward Chen Sheng and Wu Guang.
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勝、廣素愛人，士卒多為用。將尉醉，廣故數言欲亡，忿尉，令辱之，以激怒其眾。尉果笞廣。尉劍挺，廣起奪而殺尉。勝佐之，并殺兩尉。召令徒屬曰：「公等遇雨，皆已失期，當斬。藉弟令毋斬，而戍死者固什六七。且壯士不死則已，死則舉大名耳。侯王將相，寧有種乎！」徒屬皆曰：「敬受令。」乃詐稱公子扶蘇、項燕，從民望也。袒右，稱大楚。為壇而盟，祭以尉首。勝自立為將軍，廣為都尉。攻大澤鄉，拔之。收兵而攻鄿，蘄下。乃令符離人葛嬰將兵徇蘄以東，攻銍、酇、苦、柘、譙，皆下之。行收兵，比至陳，兵車六七百乘，騎千餘，卒數萬人。攻陳，陳守令皆不在，獨守丞與戰譙門中。不勝，守丞死。乃入據陳。數日，號召三老豪桀會計事。皆曰：「將軍身被堅執銳，伐無道，誅暴秦，復立楚之社稷，功宜為王。」勝乃立為王，號為張楚。 |
| | Chen Sheng and Wu Guang had always been kind to others; thus, many of the soldiers were willing to follow them. The captain was drunk. Wu Guang deliberately repeated several times that he wanted to escape, provoking the captain and having him humiliate him in order to anger the soldiers. As expected, the captain flogged Wu Guang. The captain drew his sword, but Wu Guang rose up and seized it to kill him. Chen Sheng assisted him and together they killed both captains. They summoned their fellow conscripts and said, "You have all missed your deadline due to the rain; you should be executed. Even if we were spared execution, those who die during service would still number six or seven out of ten. Moreover, a true man either does not die at all, or if he must die, let it be for a great cause. "Are kings, generals, and ministers born to their positions?"!" The conscripts all said, "We respectfully accept your orders." They then falsely claimed to be acting on behalf of Crown Prince Fu Su and Xiang Yan, in order to follow the people's expectations. They bared their right shoulders and declared themselves as "Great Chu." They built an altar, took oaths of allegiance, and sacrificed the captain's head in a ritual. Chen Sheng declared himself general, and Wu Guang became commander. They attacked Dazexiang and captured it. They gathered their forces to attack Xiang, Qi, and took them. They then ordered Ge Ying of Fuli to lead troops eastward from Qi, attacking Zhi, Zhuo, Ku, Zhe, and Qiao; all were captured. As they marched, they recruited more soldiers along the way. By the time they reached Chen, their forces included about six or seven hundred chariots, over a thousand cavalrymen, and tens of thousands of infantry. They attacked Chen; the governor and magistrates were not present, but only the deputy governor fought them at the gate of Qiao. The deputy governor was defeated and killed. They then entered Chen and occupied it. After several days, they summoned the elders and local leaders to hold a meeting and discuss affairs. They all said: "General, you have personally worn armor and wielded sharp weapons to attack the tyrant and punish the cruel Qin. You have restored the state of Chu; your achievements deserve a kingship." Chen Sheng then declared himself king, establishing the regime known as Zhangchu.
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於是諸郡縣苦秦吏暴，皆殺其長吏，將以應勝。乃以廣為假王，監諸將以西擊滎陽。令陳人武臣、張耳、陳餘徇趙，汝陰人鄧宗徇九江郡。當此時，楚兵數千人為聚者不可勝數。 |
| | At this time, all the commanderies and counties suffering from the cruelty of Qin officials killed their local magistrates to support Chen Sheng. They then appointed Wu Guang as provisional king, commanding all generals to march westward and attack Yingyang. They ordered Chen's native Wu Chen, Zhang Er, and Chen Yu to campaign in Zhao, while Deng Zong of Ruyin was sent to subdue the commandery of Jianghuai. At this time, there were countless groups of Chu rebels numbering in the thousands.
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葛嬰至東城，立襄彊為楚王。後聞勝已立，因殺襄彊，還報。至陳，勝殺嬰，令魏人周市北徇魏地。廣圍滎陽。李由為三川守守滎陽，廣不能下。勝徵國之豪桀與計，以上蔡人房君蔡賜為上柱國。 |
| | Ge Ying arrived at Dongcheng and enthroned Xiang Qiang as king of Chu. Later, upon learning that Chen Sheng had already declared himself king, Ge Ying killed Xiang Qiang and returned to report. When he arrived at Chen, Chen Sheng executed Ge Ying and ordered Zhou Shi of Wei to march northward and campaign in the lands of Wei. Wu Guang laid siege to Yingyang. Li You, the governor of Sanchuan Commandery, defended Yingyang; Wu Guang could not capture it. Chen Sheng summoned the local leaders of the country to deliberate and appointed Cai Ci, a native of Shangcai, as Grand General.
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周文，陳賢人也，嘗為項燕軍視日，事春申君，自言習兵。勝與之將軍印，西擊秦。行收兵至關，車千乘，卒十萬，至戲，軍焉。秦令少府章邯免驪山徒、人奴產子，悉發以擊楚軍，大敗之。周文走出關，止屯曹陽。二月餘，章邯追敗之，復走黽池。十餘日，章邯擊，大破之。周文自剄，軍遂不戰。 |
| | Zhou Wen was an outstanding man from Chen; he had once served as a timekeeper in Xiang Yan's army and worked for Chunshen Jun, claiming to be experienced in military affairs. Chen Sheng gave him the seal of general and ordered him westward to attack Qin. As he marched, recruiting soldiers along the way, Zhou Wen reached Guan with a thousand chariots and 100,000 infantrymen. He arrived at Xi and stationed his army there. The Qin dynasty ordered Zhang Han, the Minister of Works, to release convicts from Lishan and conscript all male slaves and sons of slave women, mustering them all to attack the Chu army. They decisively defeated Zhou Wen's forces. Zhou Wen fled out of Guan and took up a defensive position at Caoyang. After more than two months, Zhang Han pursued and defeated him again, forcing Zhou Wen to retreat once more to Mingshi. After 十多 days, Zhang Han attacked and completely crushed his forces. Zhou Wen committed suicide, and the army ceased to fight.
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武臣至邯鄲，自立為趙王，陳餘為大將軍，張耳、召騷為左右丞相。勝怒，捕繫武臣等家室，欲誅之。柱國曰：「秦未亡而誅趙王將相家屬，此生一秦，不如因立之。」勝乃遣使者賀趙，而徙繫武臣等家屬宮中。而封張耳子敖為成都君，趣趙兵亟入關。趙王將相相與謀曰：「王王趙，非楚意也。楚已誅秦，必加兵於趙。計莫如毋西兵，使使北徇燕地以自廣。趙南據大河，北有燕代，楚雖勝秦，不敢制趙，若不勝秦，必重趙。趙承秦楚之敝，可以得志於天下。」趙王以為然，因不西兵，而遣故上谷卒史韓廣將兵北徇燕。 |
| | Wu Chen arrived at Handan and declared himself King of Zhao, appointing Chen Yu as Grand General and Zhang Er and Shao Sao as Left and Right Chancellors. Chen Sheng became angry and arrested the families of Wu Chen and others, intending to execute them. The Grand General said: "Before the Qin dynasty is destroyed, punishing the families of Zhao's king and his generals will only create another tyrant. It would be better to simply recognize their rule." Chen Sheng then sent envoys to congratulate Zhao, and moved the families of Wu Chen et al. into a palace for detention. He also bestowed the title "Chengdu Jun" on Zhang Er's son Ao and urged Zhao's army to quickly enter Guan. The King of Zhao and his generals discussed together, saying: "Your Majesty becoming king of Zhao was not in accordance with Chu's wishes. Once Chu has destroyed Qin, it will certainly send troops to attack Zhao. The best course of action is not to send forces westward but instead dispatch envoys northward to campaign in Yan territory and expand our own strength. Zhao controls the southern reaches of the Dahe River, and to the north has Yan and Dai. Even if Chu defeats Qin, it will not be able to control Zhao; if Chu fails to defeat Qin, then Zhao's position will become even more significant. Zhao can take advantage of the exhaustion of both Qin and Chu to achieve its ambitions in the world." The King of Zhao agreed with this reasoning, so he did not send troops westward but dispatched Han Guang, the former military officer from Shanggu, to lead an army northward and campaign in Yan.
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燕地貴人豪桀謂韓廣曰：「楚趙皆已立王。燕雖小，亦萬乘之國也，願將軍立為王。」韓廣曰：「廣母在趙，不可。」燕人曰：「趙方西憂秦，南憂楚，其力不能禁我。且以楚之強，不敢害趙王將相之家，今趙又安敢害將軍之家乎？」韓廣以為然，乃自立為燕王。居數月，趙奉燕王母家屬歸之。 |
| | The aristocrats and local leaders of Yan told Han Guang: "Both Chu and Zhao have already declared kings. Although Yan is small, it is still a state with ten thousand chariots; we hope you will declare yourself king." Han Guang said: "My mother is in Zhao. I cannot do this." The people of Yan replied, "Zhao is currently preoccupied with threats from Qin to the west and Chu to the south; its strength cannot stop us. Moreover, even with its great power, Chu dared not harm the families of Zhao's king or his generals. Now, how could Zhao dare to harm your family?" Han Guang agreed and declared himself King of Yan. After several months, Zhao returned Han Guang's mother and family to him.
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是時，諸將徇地者不可勝數。周市北至狄，狄人田儋殺狄令，自立為齊王，反擊周市。市軍散，還至魏地，立魏後故甯陵君咎為魏王。咎在勝所，不得之魏。魏地已定，欲立周市為王，市不肯。使者五反，勝乃立甯陵君為魏王，遣之國。周市為相。 |
| | At this time, the number of generals who were subduing territories was too great to count. Zhou Shi marched northward as far as Di, where the native Tian Dan killed the local magistrate of Di and declared himself King of Qi, then turned around to attack Zhou Shi. Zhou Shi's forces scattered; he returned to the lands of Wei and enthroned Jiu, a descendant of the former Ningling Jun, as King of Wei. Jiu was in Chen Sheng's territory and could not reach Wei. After the lands of Wei were pacified, they wanted to make Zhou Shi king, but he refused. After five rounds of envoys, Chen Sheng finally enthroned Ningling Jun as King of Wei and sent him to his state. Zhou Shi was appointed chancellor.
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將軍田臧等相與謀曰：「周章軍已破，秦兵且至，我守滎陽城不能下，秦軍至，必大敗。不如少遺兵，足以守滎陽，悉精兵迎秦軍。今假王驕，不知兵權，不可與計，非誅之，事恐敗。」因相與矯陳王令以誅吳廣，獻其首於勝。勝使賜田臧楚令尹印，使為上將。田臧乃使諸將李歸等守滎陽城，自以精兵西迎秦軍於敖倉。與戰，田臧死，軍破。章邯進擊李歸等滎陽下，破之，李歸死。 |
| | General Tian Zang and others plotted together, saying: "Zhou Zhang's army has already been defeated. Qin forces are about to arrive, yet we cannot capture Yingyang city. If the Qin troops come, we will certainly suffer a great defeat. It would be better to leave behind only a small contingent of soldiers sufficient to defend Yingyang and deploy all our elite troops to meet the Qin army. Now, this provisional king is arrogant and ignorant of military strategy; we cannot consult with him. If we do not eliminate him, the matter may fail." They then forged an order from King Chen to execute Wu Guang and presented his head to Chen Sheng. Chen Sheng sent a reward, bestowing Tian Zang with the seal of Liang Yin (Minister of Justice) and appointed him as supreme general. Tian Zang then ordered his generals, such as Li Gui, to defend Yingyang city while he himself led the elite troops westward to meet the Qin forces at Aocang. They engaged in battle, where Tian Zang was killed and his army defeated. Zhang Han advanced to attack Li Gui and others at the foot of Yingyang, defeating them; Li Gui was killed.
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陽城人鄧說將兵居郯，章邯別將擊破之，鄧說走陳。銍人五逢將兵居許，章邯擊破之。五逢亦走陳。勝誅鄧說。 |
| | Deng Yue, a native of Yangcheng who commanded troops stationed in Tan, was defeated by Zhang Han's subordinate general; Deng Yue fled to Chen. Wu Peng, a native of Zhi who commanded troops stationed at Xu, was defeated by Zhang Han. Wu Peng also fled to Chen. Chen Sheng executed Deng Yue.
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勝初立時，淩人秦嘉、銍人董惞、符離人朱雞石、取慮人鄭布、徐人丁疾等皆特起，將兵圍東海守於郯。勝聞，乃使武平君畔為將軍，監郯下軍。秦嘉自立為大司馬，惡屬人，告軍吏曰：「武平君年少，不知兵事，勿聽。」因矯以王命殺武平君畔。 |
| | When Chen Sheng first established his rule, Qin Jia of Ling, Dong Zhen of Zhi, Zhu Jishi of Fuli, Zheng Bu of Qulu, and Ding Ji of Xu all rose independently, leading their troops to besiege the governor of Donghai at Tan. Upon hearing this, Chen Sheng dispatched Wu Ping Jun Pan as general to oversee the troops stationed under Tan. Qin Jia declared himself Grand Marshal, disliking subordination to others. He informed his military officers: "General Wu Ping Jun is young and inexperienced in military affairs; do not listen to him." He then forged a royal decree to execute General Wu Ping Jun Pan.
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章邯已破五逢，擊陳，柱國房君死。章邯又進擊陳西張賀軍。勝出臨戰，軍破，張賀死。 |
| | After defeating Wu Peng, Zhang Han attacked Chen, where Zhugu Gujun died. Zhang Han then advanced to attack the army of Zhang He west of Chen. Chen Sheng personally went out to meet them in battle, but his forces were defeated and Zhang He was killed.
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臘月，勝之汝陰，還至下城父，其御莊賈殺勝以降秦。葬碭，諡曰隱王。 |
| | In the twelfth month, Chen Sheng went to Ruyin, and on his return journey reached Xiachengfu. His charioteer Zhuang Jia killed him and surrendered to Qin. He was buried in Dang and posthumously honored with the title Yin Wang (the Hidden King).
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勝故涓人將軍呂臣為蒼頭軍，起新陽，攻陳下之，殺莊賈，復以陳為楚。 |
| | Lü Chen, a former eunuch general of Chen Sheng, led the Cangtou Army. Rising from Xinyang, he attacked and captured Chen, killing Zhuang Jia, and once again established Chen as the capital for Chu.
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初，勝令銍人宋留將兵定南陽，入武關。留已徇南陽，聞勝死，南陽復為秦。宋留不能入武關，乃東至新蔡，遇秦軍，宋留以軍降秦。秦傳留至咸陽，車裂留以徇。 |
| | Initially, Chen Sheng ordered Song Liu of Zhi to lead troops in pacifying Nanyang and enter Wuguan Pass. After Song Liu had already captured Nanyang, he heard of Chen Sheng's death, and Nanyang reverted to Qin control. Song Liu could not enter Wuguan Pass, so he turned eastward and reached Xincai, where he encountered Qin forces. Song Liu surrendered his entire army to Qin. The Qin authorities sent Song Liu to Xianyang, where they executed him by splitting him apart with chariots as a warning example.
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秦嘉等聞勝軍敗，乃立景駒為楚王，引兵之方與，欲擊秦軍濟陰下。使公孫慶使齊王，欲與并力俱進。齊王曰：「陳王戰敗，未知其死生，楚安得不請而立王？」公孫慶曰：「齊不請楚而立王，楚何故請齊而立王？且楚首事，當令於天下。」田儋殺公孫慶。 |
| | Upon hearing of the defeat of Chen Sheng's forces, Qin Jia and others enthroned Jing Ju as King of Chu. They led their troops to Fangyu, intending to attack the Qin army stationed under Ji Yin. They sent Gongsun Qing as an envoy to King Qi, hoping to unite forces and advance together. King Qi said: "Chen Sheng's army has been defeated; we do not yet know whether he is dead or alive. How can Chu crown a king without seeking permission?" Gongsun Qing replied: "If Qi crowned its own king without consulting Chu, why should Chu seek permission from Qi to crown a king? Moreover, since Chu was the first to rise in rebellion, it is entitled to issue commands throughout the land." Tian Dan killed Gongsun Qing.
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秦左右校復攻陳，下之。呂將軍走，徼兵復聚，與番盜英布相遇，攻擊秦左右校，破之青波，復以陳為楚。會項梁立懷王孫心為楚王。 |
| | The left and right divisions of the Qin army once again attacked Chen and captured it. General Lü fled, but later gathered his forces again. He encountered the bandit Ying Bu of Pan and together they attacked the left and right divisions of Qin troops, defeating them at Qingbo and once more establishing Chen as the capital of Chu. At this time, Xiang Liang enthroned Sun Xin, a descendant of King Huaiwang, as King of Chu.
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陳勝王凡六月。初為王，其故人嘗與傭耕者聞之，乃之陳，叩宮門曰：「吾欲見涉。」宮門令欲縛之。自辯數，乃置，不肯為通。勝出，遮道而呼涉。乃召見，載與歸。入宮，見殿屋帷帳，客曰：「夥，涉之為王沈沈者！」楚人謂多為夥，故天下傳之，「夥涉為王」，由陳涉始。客出入愈益發舒，言勝故情。或言「 |
| | King Chen Sheng reigned for only six months. When he first became king, some of his former acquaintances who had once worked as hired laborers with him heard the news and went to Chen. They knocked on the palace gate and said: "We wish to see She." The palace gate official wanted to arrest them. After they repeatedly pleaded their case, the officials finally allowed them to stay but refused to arrange an audience with him. Chen Sheng went out and encountered them on the road who called out his name, "She!" He then summoned them for an audience and took them back in a carriage. Upon entering the palace, seeing the halls, pavilions, and draperies, one of his guests remarked: "Wow! How grand it is for She to be a king!" The people of Chu used the word "huo" (meaning many or numerous) to describe abundance, so this saying was passed down throughout the land: "Huo She as King," which originated from Chen She. The guest became increasingly unrestrained in his behavior and spoke openly about Chen Sheng's past circumstances. Someone said, "
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客愚無知，專妄言，輕威。」勝斬之。諸故人皆自引去，由是無親勝者。以朱防為中正，胡武為司過，主司群臣。諸將徇地，至，令之不是者，繫而罪之。以苛察為忠。其所不善者，不下吏，輒自治。勝信用之，諸將以故不親附。此其所以敗也。 |
| | This guest is foolish and ignorant, speaking recklessly and undermining the king's authority." Chen Sheng had him executed. All his former acquaintances withdrew on their own, and from then on, no one remained close to Chen Sheng. He appointed Zhu Fang as Zhongzheng (Central Upright Official) and Hu Wu as Sigu (Officer of Oversight), to oversee the officials. Whenever generals captured territory, if they failed to meet his expectations upon arrival, they were detained and punished. He regarded strict scrutiny as a sign of loyalty. For those he disliked, he did not refer them to the officials for trial but instead dealt with them directly himself. Chen Sheng trusted and relied on these officials, so the generals consequently did not feel close or loyal to him. This was why he ultimately failed.
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勝雖已死，其所置遣侯王將相竟亡秦。高祖時為勝置守冢于碭，至今血食。王莽敗，乃絕。 |
| | Although Chen Sheng had already died, the kings, marquises, generals, and ministers he had appointed eventually led to the downfall of Qin. During Emperor Gaozu's reign, a guardian was assigned for Chen Sheng's tomb in Dang, and sacrifices have continued there to this day. The sacrifices ceased only after Wang Mang's downfall.
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項籍字羽，下相人也。初起，年二十四。其季父梁，梁父即楚名將項燕者也。家世楚將，封於項，故姓項氏。 |
| | Xiang Ji, courtesy name Yu, was a native of Xiagxiang. When he first rose in rebellion, he was twenty-four years old. His uncle by the father's side was Xiang Liang; Xiang Liang's father was none other than Xiang Yan, a famous general of Chu. His family had long been generals in the service of Chu and were granted fiefdoms at Xiang; hence their surname was Xiang.
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籍少時，學書不成，去；學劍又不成，去。梁怒之。籍曰：「書足記姓名而已。劍一人敵，不足學，學萬人敵耳。」於是梁奇其意，乃教以兵法。籍大喜，略知其意，又不肯竟。梁嘗有櫟陽逮，請蘄獄掾曹咎書抵櫟陽獄史司馬欣，以故事皆已。梁嘗殺人，與籍避仇吳中。吳中賢士大夫皆出梁下。每有大繇役及喪，梁常主辦，陰以兵法部勒賓客子弟，以知其能。秦始皇帝東遊會稽，渡浙江，梁與籍觀。籍曰：「彼可取而代也。」梁掩其口，曰：「無妄言，族矣！」梁以此奇籍。籍長八尺二寸，力扛鼎，才氣過人。吳中弟子皆憚籍。 |
| | When he was young, Xie failed to complete his studies on writing and abandoned it; he then studied swordsmanship but did not succeed in mastering it either, so he gave that up as well. Xiang Liang was angry with him. Xie said: "Writing is only useful for recording one's name." Swordsmanship can only contend with one person at a time; it is not worth learning. I want to learn how to defeat ten thousand men." Impressed by his words, Xiang Liang found him remarkable and began teaching him military tactics. Xie was greatly pleased; he gained a general understanding of the principles but still did not complete his study. Xiang Liang once had a legal case in Linyang and requested Qixian's prison clerk Cao Jiu to write letters of recommendation to the warden Si Ma Xin at Linyang Prison. Because of this, all matters were resolved. Xiang Liang had once killed a man and fled with Xie to Wu Zhong to avoid revenge. lodash All the virtuous scholars and gentry of Wu Zhong ranked beneath Xiang Liang. Whenever there were major conscriptions for labor or funerals, Xiang Liang often took charge of organizing them. Secretly, he used military tactics to train the young men among his guests and retainers in order to assess their abilities. When Emperor Qin Shi Huang toured eastward to Kuaiji, crossing the Zhejiang River, Xiang Liang and Xie observed from a distance. Xie said: "That man can be taken down and replaced." Xiang Liang covered his mouth, saying: "Do not speak so recklessly; we would all be exterminated!" From this incident, Xiang Liang regarded Xie as extraordinary. Xie was eight chi and two cun tall (approximately 192 cm), strong enough to lift a tripod, with talent and spirit surpassing ordinary men. The disciples of Wu Zhong all feared Xie.
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秦二世元年，陳勝起。九月，會稽假守通素賢梁，乃召與計事。梁曰：「方今江西皆反秦，此亦天亡秦時也。先發制人，後發制於人。」守歎曰：「聞夫子楚將世家，唯足下耳！」梁曰：「吳有奇士桓楚，亡在澤中，人莫知其處，獨籍知之。」梁乃戒籍持劍居外待。梁復入，與守語曰：「請召籍，使受令召桓楚。」籍入，梁眴籍曰：「可行矣！」籍遂拔劍擊斬守。梁持守頭，佩其印綬。門下驚擾，籍所擊殺數十百人。府中皆讋伏，莫敢復起。梁乃召故人所知豪吏，諭以所為，遂舉吳中兵。使人收下縣，得精兵八千人，部署豪桀為校尉、候、司馬。有一人不得官，自言。梁曰：「某時某喪，使公主某事，不能辦，以故不任公。」眾乃皆服。梁為會稽將，籍為裨將，徇下縣。 |
| | In the first year of Emperor Qin Er Shi's reign, Chen Sheng rose in rebellion. In September, Cao Tong, the acting governor of Kuaiji who had long respected Xiang Liang, summoned him to discuss affairs. Xiang Liang said: "Nowadays, all across the Jiangnan region people are rising against Qin; this is indeed the time when Heaven has decreed the fall of Qin. Whoever strikes first will control the enemy, while whoever waits will be controlled by others." The governor sighed and said: "I have heard of your family's distinguished lineage as generals in the service of Chu, but only you are truly worthy!" Xiang Liang said: "There is a remarkable man in Wu named Huan Chu, who has fled into the marshes; no one knows his whereabouts except Xie." Xiang Liang then instructed Xie to hold a sword and wait outside. Xiang Liang returned inside and told the governor: "Please summon Xie, who will be given orders to locate Huan Chu." When Xie entered, Xiang Liang gave him a signal and said: "You may proceed now!" Xie immediately drew his sword and beheaded the governor. Xiang Liang took the governor's head, fastened on his seals and sash, and wore them. The attendants were startled into chaos, and Xie killed dozens or even hundreds of them with his sword. Everyone in the government office was terrified and submitted; no one dared to rise again. Xiang Liang then summoned the prominent officials he knew from among his old acquaintances, explained what had been done, and thus raised an army in Wu Zhong. He sent men to capture the surrounding counties, gathering eight thousand elite troops and appointing outstanding local leaders as chieftains, lieutenants, and military officers. One man who did not receive an official post petitioned for it himself. Xiang Liang said: "At a certain time, there was a funeral and I entrusted you with a specific task. You failed to carry it out properly; that is why I did not appoint you." The crowd then all submitted in awe. Xiang Liang became the general of Kuaiji, and Xie served as his deputy general, marching to subdue the surrounding counties.
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秦二年，廣陵人召平為陳勝徇廣陵，未下。聞陳勝敗走，秦將章邯且至，乃渡江矯陳王令，拜梁為楚上柱國，曰：「江東已定，急引兵西擊秦。」梁乃以八千人渡江而西。聞陳嬰已下東陽，使使欲與連和俱西。陳嬰者，故東陽令史，居縣，素信，為長者。東陽少年殺其令，相聚數千人，欲立長，無適用，乃請陳嬰。嬰謝不能，遂強立之，縣中從之者得二萬人。欲立嬰為王，異軍蒼頭特起。嬰母謂嬰曰：「自吾為乃家婦，聞先故未曾貴。今暴得大名，不祥。不如有所屬，事成猶得封侯，事敗易以亡，非世所指名也。」嬰乃不敢為王，謂其軍曰：「項氏世世將家，有名於楚，今欲舉大事，將非其人，不可。我倚名族，亡秦必矣。」其眾從之，乃以其兵屬梁。梁渡淮，英布、蒲將軍亦以其兵屬焉。凡六七萬人，軍下邳。 |
| | In the second year of Emperor Qin's reign (Qin Er Nian), Zhao Ping of Guangling, acting on behalf of Chen Sheng, marched to subdue Guangling but failed to capture it. Hearing that Chen Sheng had been defeated and was fleeing, and that the Qin general Zhang Han was about to arrive, Zhao Ping crossed the river and counterfeited an order from King Chen, bestowing Xiang Liang with the title of Shangzhugu of Chu. He said: "The Jiangdong region has already been secured; hurry up and lead your troops westward to attack the Qin." Xiang Liang thus led his eight thousand men across the river toward the west. Learning that Chen Ying had already captured Dongyang, Xiang Liang sent envoys to seek an alliance with him and march together toward the west. Chen Ying was a former clerk of Dongyang County, who lived in the county and had always been trustworthy; he was considered an upright elder. The young men of Dongyang killed their county magistrate, gathered together in thousands, and wished to appoint a leader. Since they found no one suitable, they invited Chen Ying. Chen Ying declined the offer, but they insisted on making him their leader; those in the county who followed him numbered twenty thousand. They wanted to make Chen Ying king, and a separate army of black-hatted soldiers suddenly rose up. Chen Ying's mother said to him: "Since I became your family's wife, I have heard of no previous generations who ever attained high status. Now you suddenly gain great fame; this is an ill omen." "It would be better for you to align yourself with someone else. If the matter succeeds, you may still become a marquis; if it fails, it will be easier to escape and disappear, rather than becoming a name known by the world." Chen Ying thus dared not become king, and told his troops: "The Xiang family has been a long line of generals, well known in Chu. Now that we wish to undertake great affairs, the general must be the right person; otherwise it will not work." "I shall rely on a noble family, and only then can we certainly destroy Qin." His troops followed his decision, so he transferred his forces to Xiang Liang. Xiang Liang crossed the Huai River, and Ying Bu and Pu General also submitted their troops to him. Altogether they had about six or seven thousand men, and established a military encampment at Xiapi.
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是時，秦嘉已立景駒為楚王，軍彭城東，欲以距梁。梁謂軍吏曰：「陳王首事，戰不利，未聞所在。今秦嘉背陳王立景駒，大逆亡道。」乃引兵擊秦嘉。軍敗走，追至胡陵。嘉還戰一日，嘉死，軍降。景駒走死梁地。梁已并秦嘉軍，胡陵，將引而西。章邯至栗，梁使別將朱雞石、餘樊君與戰。餘樊君死。朱雞石敗，亡走胡陵。梁乃引兵入薛，誅朱雞石。梁前使羽別攻襄城，襄城堅守不下。已拔，皆阬之，還報梁。聞陳王定死，召諸別將會薛計事。時沛公亦從沛往。 |
| | At that time, Qin Jia had already proclaimed Jing Ju as King of Chu and stationed his army east of Pengcheng, intending to resist Xiang Liang. Xiang Liang told the military officers: "King Chen was the first to initiate rebellion; his battles were not successful, and we have yet to hear where he is." "Now Qin Jia has betrayed King Chen by establishing Jing Ju as king; this is a great act of treachery and goes against the way." He thus led his troops to attack Qin Jia. lou The army was defeated and fled, and Xiang Liang pursued them as far as Huling. Qin Jia fought back for a day, but died in the battle; his troops surrendered. Jing Ju fled and was killed in Xiang Liang's territory. After merging Qin Jia's forces, and having captured Huling, Xiang Liang intended to lead his troops westward. Zhang Han arrived at Li, and Xiang Liang dispatched a separate general, Zhu Jishi and Yu Fanjun, to fight against him. Yu Fanjun was killed. Zhu Jishi was defeated and fled to Huling. Xiang Liang then led his troops into Xue, where he executed Zhu Jishi. Before this, Xiang Liang had sent Xiang Yu to attack Xiangcheng separately; the city of Xiangcheng held out strongly and could not be captured. After capturing it, he buried all its defenders alive and returned to report to Xiang Liang. Hearing that King Chen was definitely dead, Xiang Liang summoned the various separate generals to a meeting in Xue to discuss affairs. At this time, Pei Gong was also coming from Pei.
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居鄛人范增年七十，素好奇計，往說梁曰：「陳勝敗固當。夫秦滅六國，楚最亡罪，自懷王入秦不反，楚人憐之至今，故南公稱曰『楚雖三戶，亡秦必楚』。今陳勝首事，不立楚後，其勢不長。今君起江東，楚蠭起之將皆爭附君者，以君世世楚將，為能復立楚之後也。」於是梁乃求楚懷王孫心，在民間為人牧羊，立以為楚懷王，從民望也。陳嬰為上柱國，封五縣。與懷王都盱台。梁自號武信君，引兵攻亢父。 |
| | Fan Zeng of Juchao, who was seventy years old and had long been known for his love of bold strategies, went to advise Xiang Liang, saying: "Chen Sheng's defeat was bound to happen. The Qin destroyed the six states, but Chu was the least at fault. Since King Huai of Chu entered Qin and never returned, the people of Chu have pitied him until today; hence Nan Gong said: 'Though Chu may only have three households left, it is still Chu that will destroy Qin.'" "Now Chen Sheng was the first to rise in rebellion but did not restore a descendant of the House of Chu; his power cannot last long." "Now you have risen in Jiangdong, and the many generals who rose up in Chu all wish to join you because you are a descendant of generations of Chu generals, and it is believed that you can restore the House of Chu." Thus Xiang Liang sought out King Huai's grandson, Sun Xin, who was living among the common people as a shepherd. He declared him to be King Huai of Chu in order to follow the will of the people. Chen Ying became Shangzhugu and was granted fiefdom over five counties. They established their capital at Xuyi with King Huai. Xiang Liang styled himself as Wuxin Jun and led his troops to attack Kangfu.
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初，章邯既殺齊王田儋於臨菑，田假復自立為齊王。儋弟榮走保東阿，章邯追圍之。梁引兵救東阿，大破秦軍東阿，田榮即引兵歸，逐王假。假亡走楚，相田角亡走趙。角弟閒，故將，居趙不敢歸。田榮立儋子市為齊王。梁已破東阿下軍，遂追秦軍。數使使趣齊兵俱西。榮曰：「楚殺田假，趙殺田角、田閒，乃發兵。」梁曰：「田假與國之王，窮來歸我，不忍殺。」趙亦不殺角、閒以市於齊。齊遂不肯發兵助楚。梁使羽與沛公別攻城陽，屠之。西破秦軍濮陽東，秦兵收入濮陽。沛公、羽攻定陶。定陶未下，去，西略地至雍丘，大破秦軍，斬李由。還攻外黃，外黃未下。 |
| | Initially, after Zhang Han had killed King Tian Dan of Qi at Linzi, Tian Jia declared himself King of Qi again. Tian Dan's younger brother, Tian Rong, fled to Dong'e for refuge, where Zhang Han pursued and besieged him. Xiang Liang led his troops to rescue Dong'e, and decisively defeated the Qin army there; Tian Rong immediately led his forces back, drove out King Jia. Tian Jia fled toward Chu, while Prime Minister Tian Jiao fled to Zhao. Tian Jian, Tian Jiao's younger brother and a former general, was staying in Zhao but dared not return home. Tian Rong declared Tian Shi, the son of Tian Dan, as King of Qi. After defeating the Qin forces at Dong'e and breaking their encampment, Xiang Liang proceeded to pursue the retreating Qin army. He repeatedly sent envoys urging the Qi troops to march westward together with him. Tian Rong said: "Chu must kill Tian Jia, Zhao must kill Tian Jiao and Tian Jian, then I will send out my troops." Xiang Liang said: "Tian Jia is a king of the state; he has come to me in desperation, and I cannot bear to kill him." Zhao also refused to kill Tian Jiao and Tian Jian in order to gain favor with Qi. Qi thus refused to send troops to assist Chu. lou Xiang Liang sent Xiang Yu and Pei Gong separately to attack Chengyang, which they then sacked. To the west, they defeated the Qin army east of Puyang; the Qin forces retreated into Puyang. Pei Gong and Xiang Yu attacked Dingtao and captured it. Before Dingtao could be fully subdued, they withdrew and moved westward to seize territory as far as Yongqiu, where they decisively defeated the Qin forces and killed Li You. They then returned to attack Waihuang, which had not yet been captured.
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梁起東阿，比至定陶，再破秦軍，羽等又斬李由，益輕秦，有驕色。宋義諫曰：「戰勝而將驕卒惰者敗。今少惰矣，秦兵日益，臣為君畏之。」梁不聽。乃使宋義於齊。道遇齊使者高陵君顯，曰：「公將見武信君乎？」曰：「然。」義曰：「臣論武信君軍必敗。公徐行則免，疾行則及禍。」秦果悉起兵益章邯，夜銜枚擊楚，大破之定陶，梁死。沛公與羽去外黃，攻陳留，陳留堅守不下。沛公、羽相與謀曰：「今梁軍敗，士卒恐。」乃與呂臣俱引兵而東。呂臣軍彭城東，羽軍彭城西，沛公軍碭。 |
| | Xiang Liang rose from Dong'e, and by the time he reached Dingtao, had defeated the Qin army twice. Xiang Yu and others also killed Li You, growing increasingly contemptuous of the Qin and showing signs of arrogance. Song Yi advised: "Victory breeds a proud general and lazy troops; such an army is bound to fail." "Now the soldiers are already somewhat complacent, while the Qin forces grow stronger day by day. I fear for you, my lord." Xiang Liang did not listen. He then sent Song Yi to Qi. On the way, he met a Qi envoy named Gao Lingjun Xian, who said: "Are you going to see Wuxin Jun?" He replied: "Yes." Song Yi said: "I believe Wuxin Jun's army will surely be defeated. If you proceed slowly, you may avoid disaster; if you hurry, you will meet misfortune." The Qin indeed mobilized all their forces to reinforce Zhang Han, who attacked Chu at night in silence. The Qin decisively defeated the Chu army at Dingtao, and Xiang Liang was killed. Pei Gong and Xiang Yu left Waihuang and attacked Chenliu, which held out strongly and could not be taken. Pei Gong and Xiang Yu discussed together: "Now that General Liang's army has been defeated, the soldiers are frightened." They thus led their troops eastward along with Lu Chen. Lu Chen's forces were stationed to the east of Pengcheng, Xiang Yu's to the west of Pengcheng, and Pei Gong's in Dang.
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章邯已破梁軍，則以為楚地兵不足憂，乃渡河北擊趙，大破之。當此之時，趙歇為王，陳餘為將，張耳為相，走入鉅鹿城。秦將王離、涉閒圍鉅鹿，章邯軍其南，築甬道而輸之粟。陳餘將卒數萬人軍鉅鹿北，所謂河北軍也。 |
| | After Zhang Han had crushed Xiang Liang's army, he considered the Chu forces no longer a threat and thus crossed the Yellow River to attack Zhao in the north, where he decisively defeated them. At this time, Zhao Xie was king, Chen Yu was general, and Zhang Er was prime minister; they fled into Julu City. The Qin generals Wang Li and She Jian besieged Julu, while Zhang Han's forces were stationed to their south, building a supply corridor to deliver provisions. Chen Yu commanded several ten thousand troops stationed north of Julu; this was known as the Hebei Army.
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宋義所遇齊使者高陵君顯見楚懷王曰：「宋義論武信君必敗，數日果敗。軍未戰先見敗徵，可謂知兵矣。」王召宋義與計事而說之，因以為上將軍；羽為魯公，為次將，范增為末將。諸別將皆屬，號卿子冠軍。北救趙，至安陽，留不進。秦三年，羽謂宋義曰：「今秦軍圍鉅鹿，疾引兵渡河，楚擊其外，趙應其內，破秦軍必矣。」宋義曰：「不然。夫搏牛之虻不可以破蝨。今秦攻趙，戰勝則兵罷，我承其敝；不勝，則我引兵鼓行而西，必舉秦矣。故不如先鬥秦、趙。夫擊輕銳，我不如公；坐運籌策，公不如我。」因下令軍中曰：「猛如虎，佷如羊，貪如狼，強不可令者，皆斬。」遣其子襄相齊，身送之無鹽，飲酒高會。天寒大雨，士卒凍飢。羽曰：「將戮力而攻秦，久留不行。今歲飢民貧，卒食半菽，軍無見糧，乃飲酒高會，不引兵渡河因趙食，與并力擊秦，乃曰『承其敝』。夫以秦之強，攻新造之趙，其勢必舉趙。趙舉秦強，何敝之承！且國兵新破，王坐不安席，掃境內而屬將軍，國家安危，在此一舉。今不卹士卒而徇私宴，非社稷之臣也。」羽晨朝上將軍宋義，即其帳中斬義頭。出令軍中曰：「宋義與齊謀反楚，楚王陰令籍誅之。」諸將讋服，莫敢枝梧。皆曰：「首立楚者，將軍家也。今將軍誅亂。」乃相與共立羽為假上將軍。使人追宋義子，及之齊，殺之。使桓楚報命於王。王因使使立羽為上將軍。 |
| | The Qi envoy Gao Lingjun Xian who had met Song Yi on the road reported to King Huai of Chu: "Song Yi predicted that Wuxin Jun would be defeated, and indeed he was defeated within a few days. His army had not even fought yet but already showed signs of defeat; this can truly be called military insight." The king summoned Song Yi to discuss affairs and was impressed by him, thus appointing him as the supreme general; Xiang Yu became Duke Lu, serving as deputy general, while Fan Zeng served as a lower-ranking general. All the other generals were placed under his command and he was given the title Qingzi Guanjun (the noble son's champion). They marched north to rescue Zhao, reaching Anyang but stopping there without advancing further. In the third year of Emperor Qin's reign, Xiang Yu said to Song Yi: "Now the Qin army is besieging Julu. We should quickly lead our troops across the river; Chu attacks from outside while Zhao responds from within, and we will certainly defeat the Qin forces." Song Yi said: "Not so. A gadfly that stings an ox cannot destroy a louse." Now the Qin is attacking Zhao. If they win, their troops will be exhausted and we can take advantage of their weakness; If they fail to conquer Zhao, then I shall lead our forces westward in triumph, and surely overthrow the Qin." Therefore, it is better not to intervene yet and let Qin and Zhao fight each other first. Striking at a light and sharp force, I am no match for you; But when it comes to sitting and devising strategies, you are no match for me." He then issued an order to the troops: "Anyone who is fierce as a tiger, stubborn as a sheep, greedy as a wolf, and too strong to be controlled shall all be executed." He sent his son Xiang to serve as chancellor of Qi, personally accompanying him to Wuyan and holding a grand banquet with heavy drinking. The weather was cold and rainy, and the soldiers were freezing and starving. Xiang Yu said: "We generals should work together to attack Qin, yet we have been staying here for a long time without moving forward. Now the people are suffering from famine and poverty, the soldiers eat only half a bean per meal, and there is no visible supply of food in the army. Yet you hold grand banquets with heavy drinking, without leading troops across the river to rely on Zhao's provisions and unite forces to attack Qin; instead, you say 'we will take advantage of their exhaustion.'" With the strength of Qin attacking a newly established Zhao, it is inevitable that Zhao will be captured. If Zhao falls and Qin grows stronger, what weakness can we possibly take advantage of! Moreover, the national army has just been defeated; the king cannot sit in peace. He has swept all within the borders and entrusted them to you, General. The safety or peril of our country depends on this single action. Now you neglect your soldiers for private banquets; you are not a minister who cares about the state." Xiang Yu, at dawn, went to see General Song Yi and beheaded him in his tent. He then issued an order within the army: "Song Yi conspired with Qi to rebel against Chu; King of Chu secretly ordered me to execute him." The generals were terrified and submitted, none daring to resist. They all said: "It was General's family who first established the state of Chu. Now, General is punishing the rebels." They then jointly appointed Xiang Yu as acting supreme general. He sent men to pursue Song Yi's son, catching up with him in Qi and killing him. He dispatched Huan Chu to report the matter to the king. The king then sent an envoy to appoint Xiang Yu as supreme general.
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羽已殺卿子冠軍，威震楚國，名聞諸侯。乃遣當陽君、蒲將軍將卒二萬人渡河救鉅鹿。戰少利，陳餘復請兵。羽乃悉引兵渡河。已渡，皆湛舡，破釜甑，燒廬舍，持三日糧，視士必死，無還心。於是至則圍王離，與秦軍遇，九戰，絕甬道，大破之，殺蘇角，虜王離。涉閒不降，自燒殺。當是時，楚兵冠諸侯。諸侯軍救鉅鹿者十餘壁，莫敢縱兵。及楚擊秦，諸侯皆從壁上觀。楚戰士無不一當十，呼聲動天地。諸侯軍人人惴恐。於是楚已破秦軍，羽見諸侯將，入轅門，膝行而前，莫敢仰視。羽繇是始為諸侯上將軍，兵皆屬焉。 |
| | Xiang Yu had already killed the noble son's champion, and his authority shook the state of Chu; his name became known among all the feudal lords. He then dispatched Dangyang Jun and Pu Jiangjun to lead 20,000 soldiers across the river to rescue Julu. The battle yielded little success, so Chen Yu once again requested reinforcements. Xiang Yu then led all his troops across the river. After crossing, he sank the boats, smashed cooking pots and cauldrons, burned down shelters, carried only three days' worth of provisions, showing the soldiers that they must die or win, with no thought of retreat. Thus, when they arrived, they surrounded Wang Li and encountered the Qin army. After nine battles, they cut off the supply route, heavily defeated them, killed Su Jiao, and captured Wang Li. She Jian did not surrender but burned himself to death. At that time, the Chu army was superior among all the feudal states. There were more than ten allied armies from various feudal lords encamped to rescue Julu, but none dared to deploy their troops. When the Chu forces attacked Qin, all the other feudal lords merely watched from behind their walls. The Chu warriors were such that none could be matched by ten; their shouts shook heaven and earth. The allied armies of the feudal lords were filled with fear and anxiety. After breaking through the Qin army, Xiang Yu met with the feudal lords' generals. When they entered the 辕门 (Yuanmen), they crawled forward on their knees and dared not look up. From this moment, Xiang Yu became the supreme general among all feudal lords, with all troops under his command.
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章邯軍棘原，羽軍漳南，相持未戰。秦軍數卻，二世使人讓章邯。章邯恐，使長史欣請事。至咸陽，留司馬門三日，趙高不見，有不信之心。長史欣恐，還走，不敢出故道。趙高果使人追之，不及。欣至軍，報曰：「事亡可為者。相國趙高顓國主斷。今戰而勝，高嫉吾功；不勝，不免於死。願將軍熟計之。」陳餘亦遺章邯書曰：「白起為秦將，南并鄢郢，北阬馬服，攻城略地，不可勝計，而卒賜死。蒙恬為秦將，北逐戎人，開榆中地數十里，竟斬陽周。何者？功多，秦不能封，因以法誅之。今將軍為秦將三歲矣，所亡失已十萬數，而諸侯並起茲益多。彼趙高素諛日久，今事急，亦恐二世誅之，故欲以法誅將軍以塞責，使人更代以脫其禍。將軍居外久，多內隙，有功亦誅，亡功亦誅。且天之亡秦，無愚智皆知之。今將軍內不能直諫，外為亡國將，孤立而欲長存，豈不哀哉！將軍何不還兵與諸侯為從，南面稱孤，孰與身伏斧質，妻子為戮乎？」章邯狐疑，陰使候始成使羽，欲約。約未成，羽使蒲將軍引兵渡三戶，軍漳南，與秦戰，再破之。羽悉引兵擊秦軍汙水上，大破之。 |
| | Zhang Han's army was stationed at Jiyuan, while Xiang Yu's forces were in Zhangnan; the two sides faced each other but did not yet engage in battle. The Qin army repeatedly retreated, so Emperor Er Shi sent someone to reprimand Zhang Han. Zhang Han was afraid and sent his chief clerk Xin to consult on matters. Upon arriving in Xianyang, he stayed at the Sima Gate for three days, but Zhao Gao did not receive him, which made him feel untrusted. Changshi Xin was frightened and fled back without taking the original route. Zhao Gao indeed sent men to pursue him, but failed to catch up. Xin returned to the army and reported: "There is no longer anything that can be done about this matter. The prime minister Zhao Gao monopolizes state affairs and makes all decisions alone." If we win the battle, Zhao Gao will envy my achievements; If we lose, we cannot escape death. I hope you will carefully consider this." Chen Yu also sent a letter to Zhang Han, saying: "Bai Qi served as general for Qin, conquering Yanying in the south and encircling Ma Fu in the north; he captured cities and seized territory beyond count, yet was ultimately executed. Meng Tian served as a general for Qin; he drove the Rong people northward and opened up dozens of miles of land in Yuzhong, yet was eventually executed by Yang Zhou. Why? Because they achieved too much, Qin could not reward them sufficiently and thus had to execute them by law. Now you have served as a Qin general for three years, and the number of your losses has reached tens of thousands. Meanwhile, feudal lords are rising up in greater numbers than ever. Zhao Gao has long been a habitual flatterer. Now that the situation is dire, he also fears Emperor Er Shi will punish him, so he wants to use legal means to execute you and shift blame onto someone else by sending others to replace you in order to escape his own misfortune. If you remain outside for too long, there will be many internal conflicts; if you have achievements, you will still be executed. If you fail to achieve anything, you will also be executed. Moreover, the heavens are determined to destroy Qin; this is known by all, whether wise or foolish. Now you cannot give honest advice from within and are an out-of-power general of a doomed state on the outside. To remain isolated yet wish for long-term survival—how pitiful! Why does the general not return his troops, join forces with the feudal lords to form an alliance, and declare himself a sovereign facing south? Which is better: that or personally falling under the executioner's axe, with wife and children being slaughtered?" Zhang Han was indecisive and secretly sent Hou Shicheng to Xiang Yu as an envoy in hopes of making a pact. Before the agreement was finalized, Xiang Yu dispatched General Pu to lead troops across Sanhu and station them in Zhangnan, where they fought against Qin forces and defeated them twice. Xiang Yu led all his troops to attack the Qin army on Wushui River, heavily defeating them.
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邯使使見羽，欲約。羽召軍吏謀曰：「糧少，欲聽其約。」軍吏皆曰：「善。」羽乃與盟洹水南殷虛上。已盟，章邯見羽流涕，為言趙高。羽乃立章邯為雍王，置軍中。使長史欣為上將，將秦軍行前。 |
| | Zhang Han sent an envoy to meet Xiang Yu again, hoping to negotiate a pact. Xiang Yu summoned his military officers and discussed with them: "Our provisions are scarce; I am considering accepting their agreement." The military officers all said, "That is good." Xiang Yu then made an oath with them on the Yin Xu site south of Hunhe River. After swearing the oath, Zhang Han wept before Xiang Yu and spoke about Zhao Gao's treachery. Xiang Yu then appointed Zhang Han as King of Yong and stationed him within his army. He assigned Changshi Xin as supreme general, commanding the former Qin forces to lead the vanguard.
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漢元年，羽將諸侯兵三十餘萬，行略地至河南，遂西到新安。異時諸侯吏卒徭役屯戍過秦中，秦中遇之多亡狀，及秦軍降諸侯，諸侯吏卒乘勝奴虜使之，輕重折辱秦吏卒。吏卒多竊言：「章將軍詐吾屬降諸侯，今能入關破秦，大善；即不能，諸侯虜吾屬而東，秦又盡誅吾父毌妻子。」諸將微聞其計，以告羽。羽乃召英布、蒲將軍計曰：「秦吏卒尚眾，其心不服，至關不聽，事必危，不如擊之，獨與章邯、長史欣、都尉翳入秦。」於是夜擊阬秦軍二十餘萬人。 |
| | In the first year of Emperor Gaozu's reign in Han, Xiang Yu led over 300,000 allied forces from various feudal states and advanced westward to Henan, eventually reaching Xin'an. In the past, when officials and soldiers from various feudal states were conscripted for labor or stationed in Qinzhong, they were often treated harshly by the local authorities. Now that the Qin forces had surrendered to these feudal lords, their former Qin officers and soldiers were subjected to humiliation and mistreatment at the hands of the victorious troops, who enslaved them and inflicted various forms of degradation. Many Qin officers and soldiers secretly muttered: "General Zhang has deceived us into surrendering to the feudal lords. If we can now enter Guan Pass and defeat Qin, that would be excellent; If not, the feudal lords will enslave us and take us eastward, while Qin will execute our fathers, mothers, and wives." The generals overheard this plan in secret and reported it to Xiang Yu. Xiang Yu then summoned Ying Bu and General Pu to discuss, saying: "There are still many Qin officers and soldiers; their hearts remain 不服 (unsubmissive). If they reach the pass and refuse to obey orders, it will certainly be dangerous. It is better to attack them now, leaving only Zhang Han, Changshi Xin, and Duwei Yi to enter Qin." Thus, at night he attacked and buried more than 200,000 Qin soldiers in a trench.
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至函谷關，有兵守，不得入。聞沛公已屠咸陽，羽大怒，使當陽君擊關。羽遂入，至戲西鴻門，聞沛公欲王關中，獨有秦府庫珍寶。亞父范增亦大怒，勸羽擊沛公。饗士，旦日合戰。羽季父項伯素善張良。良時從沛公，項伯夜以語良。良與俱見沛公，因伯自解於羽。明日，沛公從百餘騎至鴻門謝羽，自陳「封秦府庫，還軍霸上以待大王，閉關以備他盜，不敢背德。」羽意既解，范增欲害沛公，賴張良、樊噲得免。語在高紀。 |
| | When they arrived at Hangu Pass, there were troops guarding it, so they could not enter. He heard that Pei Gong had already sacked Xianyang and was furious; he sent Dangyang Jun to attack the pass. Xiang Yu thus entered and advanced as far as Hongmen west of Xi, where he learned that Pei Gong wanted to be king of Guanzhong and had taken possession of the Qin palace's treasures. Yafu Fan Zeng was also furious and advised Xiang Yu to attack Pei Gong. They held a banquet for the soldiers, planning to engage in battle the next day. Xiang Yu's uncle, Xiang Bo, had always been on good terms with Zhang Liang. Zhang Liang was then following Pei Gong; at night, Xiang Bo informed him of the situation. Zhang Liang went with him to see Pei Gong and through Xiang Bo explained the matter to Xiang Yu himself. The next day, Pei Gong arrived at Hongmen with over a hundred mounted attendants to apologize to Xiang Yu and declared: "I have sealed the Qin palace treasuries, returned my troops to Bashang to await Your Majesty's arrival, closed the pass to guard against other bandits, and dared not betray your kindness." Xiang Yu was somewhat appeased, but Fan Zeng still wanted to harm Pei Gong; it was only due to Zhang Liang and Fan Kui that he escaped unharmed. The details are recorded in the biography of Emperor Gaozu.
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後數日，羽乃屠咸陽，殺秦降王子嬰，燒其宮室，火三月不滅；收其寶貨，略婦女而東。秦民失望。於是韓生說羽曰：「關中阻山帶河，四塞之地，肥饒，可都以伯。」羽見秦宮室皆已燒殘，又懷思東歸，曰：「富貴不歸故鄉，如衣錦夜行。」韓生曰：「人謂楚人沐猴而冠，果然。」羽聞之，斬韓生。 |
| | A few days later, Xiang Yu sacked Xianyang, killed the surrendered Qin prince Ziying, and burned its palaces; the fires raged for three months without extinguishing. He seized all the treasures and took women as captives before heading eastward. The people of Qin were deeply disappointed. At this time, Han Sheng advised Xiang Yu: "Guanzhong is a land surrounded by mountains and rivers, naturally fortified on all sides. It is fertile and abundant; it can serve as the capital for a hegemon." Xiang Yu saw that all of Qin's palaces had been burned and reduced to ruins, and he longed for his homeland in the east. He said: "Wealth and honor without returning to one's hometown is like wearing brocade while walking at night." Han Sheng said: "People say the Chu people are like monkeys wearing hats, and indeed they are right." Xiang Yu heard this and beheaded Han Sheng.
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初，懷王與諸將約，先入關者王其地。羽既背約。使人致命於懷王。懷王曰：「如約。」羽乃曰：「懷王者，吾家武信君所立耳，非有功伐，何以得顓主約？天下初發難，假立諸侯後以伐秦。然身被堅執銳首事，暴露於野三年，滅秦定天下者，皆將相諸君與籍力也。懷王亡功，固當分其地王之。」諸將皆曰：「善。」羽乃陽尊懷王為義帝，曰：「古之王者，地方千里，必居上游。」徙之長沙，都郴。乃分天下以王諸侯。 |
| | Initially, King Huaiwang had made an agreement with the generals: whoever entered Guan first would become king of that region. Xiang Yu had already violated this agreement. He sent envoys to deliver a message to King Huaiwang. King Huaiwang said: "As agreed." Xiang Yu then said, "King Huaiwang is merely the one appointed by my family's Wuxin Jun. He has no merit or achievements; how can he alone hold authority over this agreement? When the rebellion first began, various lords were temporarily installed as heirs to their states in order to attack Qin. Yet those who personally bore armor and wielded sharp weapons, led the cause, endured hardships in the field for three years, and ultimately destroyed Qin to stabilize the world were all due to the efforts of you generals, ministers, and myself. King Huaiwang has no merit; thus, it is only right that his territory be divided among others as kings." The generals all said: "Well said." Xiang Yu then pretended to honor King Huaiwang as Yidi, saying: "In ancient times, a king's territory would span a thousand li and he must reside upstream." He moved him to Changsha, establishing his capital in Chen. Then he divided the empire and enfeoffed the lords as kings.
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羽與范增疑沛公，業已講解，又惡背約，恐諸侯叛之，陰謀曰：「巴、蜀道險，秦之遷民皆居之。」乃曰：「巴、蜀亦關中地。」故立沛公為漢王，王巴、蜀、漢中。而參分關中，王秦降將以距塞漢道。乃立章邯為雍王，王咸陽以西。長史司馬欣，故櫟陽獄吏，嘗有德於梁；都尉董翳，本勸章邯降。故立欣為塞王，王咸陽以東至河；立翳為翟王，王上郡。徙魏王豹為西魏王，王河東。瑕丘公申陽者，張耳嬖臣也，先下河南，迎楚河上。立陽為河南王。趙將司馬卬定河內，數有功。立卬為殷王，王河內。徙趙王歇王代。趙相張耳素賢，又從入關，立為常山王，王趙地。當陽君英布為楚將，常冠軍。立布為九江王。番君吳芮帥百粵佐諸侯從入關。立芮為衡山王。義帝柱國共敖將兵擊南郡，功多，因立為臨江王。徙燕王韓廣為遼東王。燕將臧荼從楚救趙，因從入關。立荼為燕王。徙齊王田市為膠東王。齊將田都從共救趙，入關。立都為齊王。故秦所滅齊王建孫田安，羽方渡河救趙，安下濟北數城，引兵降羽。立安為濟北王。田榮者，背梁不肯助楚擊秦，以故不得封。陳餘棄將印去，不從入關，然素聞其賢，有功於趙，聞其在南皮，故因環封之三縣。番君將梅鋗功多，故封十萬戶侯。羽自立為西楚伯王，王梁楚地九郡，都彭城。 |
| | Xiang Yu and Fan Zeng were suspicious of Pei Gong. Although the matter had already been resolved, they still resented his violation of the agreement and feared that the lords might rebel against them. Secretly plotting, Xiang Yu said: "The roads to Ba and Shu are perilous; all the Qin people who were exiled live there." He then declared: "Ba and Shu are also part of Guanzhong territory." Therefore, he enfeoffed Pei Gong as King of Han, ruling over Ba, Shu, and Hanzhong. He divided Guanzhong into three parts and enfeoffed surrendered Qin generals as kings to block the Han forces' path. Thus, he enfeoffed Zhang Han as King of Yong, ruling west of Xianyang. Changshi Sima Xin was formerly a jail official in Linyang and had once shown kindness to Liang; Duwei Dong Yi had originally advised Zhang Han to surrender. Therefore, he enfeoffed Sima Xin as King of Sai, ruling from east of Xianyang to the Yellow River; and enfeoffed Dong Yi as King of Zhai, ruling Shangjun. lineno Hui Wang Bao was moved to become King of Xiwei, ruling Hedong. Xiaqiu Gong Shenyang was a favorite retainer of Zhang Er; he had first captured the region south of the Yellow River and welcomed the Chu forces at the river. Shenyang was enfeoffed as King of Henan. Zhao general Sima Ang pacified Heinei and had repeatedly rendered meritorious service. Sima Ang was enfeoffed as the King of Yin, ruling over Heinei. King Xie of Zhao was moved to rule Dai. Zhang Er, the prime minister of Zhao who had long been known for his virtue and had followed into Guan, was enfeoffed as Duke Changshanwang, ruling over Zhao territory. Dangyang Jun Ying Bu served as a general of Chu and often led the vanguard in battles. Ying Bu was enfeoffed as King Jianghuai. Pan Jun Wu Rui led the Baiyue people to assist the lords in entering Guan. Wu Rui was enfeoffed as King Hengshan. Gong Ao, Yidi's Zhugu, led troops to attack Nanjun and rendered many meritorious services; thus he was enfeoffed as King Linjiang. Yan Wang Han Guang was moved and enfeoffed as King Liaodong. Yan general Zang Tu followed Chu to rescue Zhao, and thus joined the campaign into Guan. Zang Tu was enfeoffed as Yan Wang. Qi King Tian Shi was moved and enfeoffed to become King of Jiaodong. Qi general Tian Du joined the campaign to rescue Zhao together with others, and entered Guan. Tian Du was enfeoffed as Qi Wang. The grandson of the former King of Qi, Tian An, who was a descendant of the Qin-overthrown King Jian, submitted to Xiang Yu with several cities in Jibei when Xiang Yu crossed the river to rescue Zhao. Tian An was enfeoffed as Ji Bei Wang. Tian Rong, who had defied Liang and refused to assist Chu in attacking Qin, was therefore not enfeoffed. Chen Yu had abandoned his general's seal and did not follow into Guan, but since he was long known for his virtue and rendered service to Zhao, upon hearing that he was in Nanpi, Xiang Yu therefore enfeoffed him with three counties. Pan Jun general Mei Xu had rendered many meritorious services, so he was enfeoffed a marquis of ten thousand households. Xiang Yu declared himself King Xichu Bo Wang, ruling nine commanderies in Liang and Chu territories with his capital at Pengcheng.
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| | 陳勝項籍... : |
諸侯各就國。田榮聞羽徙齊王市膠東，而立田都為齊王，大怒，不肯遣市之膠東，因以齊反，迎擊都。都走楚。市畏羽，乃亡之膠東就國。榮怒，追殺之即墨，自立為齊王。予彭越將軍印，今反梁地。越乃擊殺濟北王田安。田榮遂并王三齊之地。時漢王還定三秦。羽聞漢并關中，且東，齊、梁畔之，大怒，乃以故吳令鄭昌為韓王以距漢，令蕭公角等擊彭越。越敗蕭公角等。時，張良徇韓，遺項王書曰：「漢王失職，欲得關中，如約即止，不敢東。」又以齊、梁反書遺羽，羽以此故無西意，而北擊齊。徵兵九江王布。布稱疾不行，使將將數千人往。二年，羽陰使九江王布殺義帝。陳餘使張同、夏說說齊王榮，曰：「項王為天下宰不平，今盡王故王於醜地，而王群臣諸將善地，逐其故主趙王，乃北居代，餘以為不可。聞大王起兵，且不聽不義，願大王資餘兵，使擊常山，以復趙王，請以國為扞蔽。」齊王許之，因遣兵往。陳餘悉三縣兵，與齊併力擊常山，大破之。張耳走歸漢。陳餘迎故趙王歇反之趙。趙王因立餘為代王。羽至城陽，田榮亦將兵會戰。榮不勝，走至平原，平原民殺之。羽遂北燒夷齊城郭室屋，皆阬降卒，係虜老弱婦女。徇齊至北海，所過殘滅。齊人相聚而畔之。於是田榮弟橫收得亡卒數萬人，反城陽。羽因留，連戰未能下。 |
| | The lords each went to their respective fiefdoms. Tian Rong learned that Xiang Yu had moved Qi King Shi to Jiaodong and instead enfeoffed Tian Du as the new Qi king. He was furious, refused to send Shi to Jiaodong, and thus rebelled in Qi, marching out to attack Tian Du. Tian Du fled to Chu. Shi, fearing Xiang Yu, fled to Jiaodong to take up his fiefdom. Tian Rong was enraged and pursued him, killing Shi at Jiimo, then declared himself Qi king. He gave Peng Yue a general's seal, ordering him to rebel in Liang territory. Peng Yue then attacked and killed Ji Bei King Tian An. Tian Rong thus came to rule all three parts of Qi territory as a single kingdom. At this time, King Han was returning to pacify the Three Qins. Xiang Yu learned that Han had united Guanzhong and was advancing eastward, while Qi and Liang had defected. He became furious and appointed Zheng Chang, the former governor of Wu, as King of Yan to resist Han, ordering Xiao Gong Jiao and others to attack Peng Yue. Peng Yue defeated Xiao Gong Jiao et al. At this time, Zhang Liang was subduing Yan and sent a letter to Xiang Wang saying: "King Han has lost his post; he desires Guanzhong only. If the agreement is honored, he will stop there and dare not advance eastward." He also sent a letter to Xiang Yu detailing the rebellions in Qi and Liang. Because of this, Xiang Yu no longer had any intention of moving westward but instead marched north to attack Qi. He summoned troops from King Jianghuai Bu. Bu claimed illness and did not go in person, instead sending a general with several thousand men to comply. In the second year, Xiang Yu secretly ordered King Jianghuai Bu to kill Yidi. Chen Yu sent Zhang Tong and Xia Yue to advise Qi King Rong, saying: "Xiang Wang is not impartial in his role as the ruler of the world. Now he has enfeoffed former kings on despicable lands while giving fine territories to his ministers and generals, driving out Zhao's original king and relocating him northward to Dai. I believe this cannot be allowed." "I have heard that Your Majesty has raised an army and will not tolerate injustice. I wish for Your Majesty to provide me with troops, so that I may attack Changshan and restore King Zhao. Please allow me to use my state as a shield in defense." King Qi agreed and thus sent troops accordingly. Chen Yu mobilized all the forces from his three counties, joined with Qi's army to attack Changshan, and heavily defeated them. Zhang Er fled back to Han. Chen Yu welcomed the former Zhao King Xie and restored him as ruler of Zhao. King Zhao then enfeoffed Chen Yu as King of Dai. Xiang Yu arrived at Chengyang, where Tian Rong also led troops to meet him in battle. Tian Rong was defeated and fled to Pingyuan, where the local people killed him. Xiang Yu then marched northward, burning and destroying all cities, walls, houses, and dwellings in Qi. He buried alive the surrendered soldiers and captured the elderly, weak men, women, and children as prisoners. He ravaged through Qi all the way to Beihai, leaving devastation in every place he passed. The people of Qi gathered together and rebelled against him. At this time, Tian Rong's younger brother Heng rallied several ten thousand fugitive soldiers and rebelled in Chengyang. Xiang Yu thus remained there, engaging in continuous battles but failing to capture the city.
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漢王劫五諸侯兵，凡五十六萬人，東伐楚。羽聞之，即令諸將擊齊，而自以精兵三萬人南從魯出胡陵。漢王皆已破彭城，收其貨賂美人，日置酒高會。羽乃從蕭晨擊漢軍而東，至彭城，日中，大破漢軍。漢軍皆走，迫之穀、泗水。漢軍皆南走山，楚又追擊至靈辟東睢水上。漢軍卻，為楚所擠，多殺。漢卒十餘萬皆入睢水，睢水為不流。漢王乃與數十騎遁去。語在高紀。太公、呂后間求漢王，反遇楚軍。楚軍與歸，羽常置軍中。 |
| | King Han rallied the armies of five feudal lords, totaling 560,000 men, and marched eastward to attack Chu. Xiang Yu heard of this and immediately ordered his generals to continue attacking Qi, while he personally led 30,000 elite troops south from Lu through Huling. King Han had already captured Pengcheng, seizing its treasures and beautiful women, holding daily banquets with grand feasts. Xiang Yu then set out from Xiao in the morning to attack Han's army and advanced eastward, reaching Pengcheng by midday, where he heavily defeated King Han's forces. The Han troops fled, being driven toward the Gu and Si rivers. The Han army all retreated southward into the mountains, where Chu forces pursued them again to the east of Lingbi at the Sui River. The Han troops were forced back and crushed by the Chu army, suffering heavy casualties. Over 100,000 Han soldiers drowned in the Sui River, which was so clogged with bodies that it seemed to stop flowing. King Han then fled with only dozens of mounted attendants. The details are recorded in the annals of Emperor Gaozu. Taigong and Empress Lu searched for King Han, but instead encountered a Chu army. The Chu troops took them back to their camp, where Xiang Yu often kept them in his military encampment.
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漢王稍收散卒，蕭何亦發關中卒悉詣滎陽，戰京、索間，敗楚。楚以故不能過滎陽而西。漢軍滎陽，築甬道，取敖倉食。三年，羽數擊絕漢甬道，漢王食乏，請和，割滎陽以西為漢。羽欲聽之。歷陽侯范增曰：「漢易與耳，今不取，後必悔之。」羽乃急圍滎陽。漢王患之，乃與陳平金四萬斤以間楚君臣。語在陳平傳。項羽以故疑范增，稍奪之權。范增怒曰：「天下事大定矣，君王自為之！願賜骸骨歸。」行未至彭城，疽發背死。於是漢將紀信詐為漢王出降，以誑楚軍，故漢王得與數十騎從西門出。令周苛、樅公、魏豹守滎陽。漢王西入關收兵，還出宛、葉間，與九江王黥布行收兵。羽聞之，即引兵南。漢王堅壁不與戰。 |
| | King Han gradually gathered scattered troops, and Xiao He also mobilized all the soldiers from Guanzhong to rendezvous at Yingyang. They fought between Jing and Suo and defeated Chu forces. Because of this, Chu could not advance westward beyond Yingyang. The Han forces at Yingyang constructed a causeway to transport supplies from the Ao Granary for food. In the third year, Xiang Yu repeatedly attacked and cut off Han's supply causeway; with food supplies running low, King Han requested a truce, offering to cede all territory west of Yingyang to Han. Xiang Yu was about to agree. Li Yang Hou Fan Zeng said, "Han is easy to deal with; if we do not take it now, we will surely regret it later." Xiang Yu then hurriedly laid a tight siege on Yingyang. King Han was worried and so gave Chen Ping four thousand jin of gold to sow discord between the Chu ruler and his ministers. The details are recorded in Chen Ping's biography. Xiang Yu therefore became suspicious of Fan Zeng and gradually stripped him of power. Fan Zeng was furious and said, "The affairs of the empire are now largely settled; it is up to Your Majesty to decide!" "I respectfully request permission to retire from office and return home." Before he could reach Pengcheng, he died of a boil on his back. At this time, Han general Ji Xin pretended to be King Han and surrendered in order to deceive the Chu forces; thus, King Han was able to escape with dozens of mounted attendants through the western gate. He ordered Zhou Ke, Zong Gong, and Wei Bao to defend Yingyang. King Han retreated westward into Guanzhong to gather troops, then emerged between Wan and Ye, where he joined with King Jianghuai Jing Bu in recruiting soldiers along the way. Xiang Yu heard of this and immediately led his army southward. King Han held a strong defensive position and refused to engage in battle.
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是時，彭越渡睢，與項聲、薛公戰下邳，殺薛公。羽乃東擊彭越。漢王亦引兵北軍成皋。羽已破走彭越，引兵西下滎陽城，亨周苛，殺樅公，虜韓王信，進圍成皋。漢王跳，獨與滕公得出。北渡河，至修武，從張耳、韓信。楚遂拔成皋。漢王得韓信軍，留止，使盧綰、劉賈渡白馬津入楚地，佐彭越共擊破楚軍燕郭西，燒其積聚，攻下梁地十餘城。羽聞之，謂海春侯大司馬曹咎曰：「 |
| | At this time, Peng Yue crossed the Sui River and fought against Xiang Sheng and Xue Gong at Xiapi, killing Xue Gong. Xiang Yu then marched east to attack Peng Yue. King Han also led his troops northward and stationed them at Chenggao. After defeating and driving away Peng Yue, Xiang Yu led his troops westward to Yingyang City. He boiled Zhou Ke alive, killed Zong Gong, captured King Han of the Han Kingdom, and advanced to lay siege on Chenggao. King Han fled in haste, managing to escape only with Teng Gong. He crossed the Yellow River northward and arrived at Xiuwu, where he joined Zhang Er and Han Xin. Chu then captured Chenggao. King Han joined forces with Han Xin's troops and halted there, sending Lu Wan and Liu Jia across the Baima Ferry to enter Chu territory. They assisted Peng Yue in defeating a Chu army west of Yange, burned their accumulated supplies, and captured more than ten cities in Liang region. Xiang Yu heard about this and said to Haispring Hou Dusima Cao Jiu, "
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謹守成皋。即漢欲挑戰，慎毋與戰，勿令得東而已。我十五日必定梁地，復從將軍。」於是引兵東。 |
| | "Be vigilant in defending Chenggao. If the Han forces wish to challenge you, be careful not to engage them; just make sure they cannot advance eastward." "I will definitely secure Liang region within fifteen days and then return to join you again." With that, he led his troops eastward.
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四年，羽擊陳留、外黃，外黃不下。數日降，羽悉令男子年十五以上詣城東，欲阬之。外黃令舍人兒年十三，往說羽曰：「彭越強劫外黃，外黃恐，故且降，待大王。大王至，又皆阬之，百姓豈有所歸心哉！從此以東，梁地十餘城皆恐，莫肯下矣。」羽然其言，乃赦外黃當阬者。而東至睢陽，聞之皆爭下。 |
| | In the fourth year, Xiang Yu attacked Chenliu and Waihuang; Waihuang did not surrender. After several days of resistance, it surrendered, whereupon Xiang Yu ordered all men aged fifteen and above to gather at the eastern part of the city, intending to massacre them. A thirteen-year-old attendant of the magistrate of Waihuang went to persuade Xiang Yu, saying, "Peng Yue has forcefully seized Waihuang. The people are frightened and so have temporarily surrendered, waiting for Your Majesty's arrival. If Your Majesty arrives and then has them all massacred, the common people will surely have no place to put their loyalty! From this point eastward, more than ten cities in Liang territory will be terrified and refuse to surrender." Xiang Yu found his words reasonable and thus pardoned the people of Waihuang who had been slated for massacre. As he advanced eastward to Suyang, the people there heard about it and all vied to surrender.
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漢果數挑楚軍戰，楚軍不出。使人辱之，五六日，大司馬怒，渡兵氾水。卒半渡，漢擊，大破之，盡得楚國金玉貨賂。大司馬咎、長史欣皆自剄氾水上。咎故蘄獄掾，欣故塞王，羽信任之。羽至睢陽，聞咎等破，則引兵還，漢軍方圍鍾離昧於滎陽東，羽軍至，漢軍畏楚，盡走險阻。羽亦軍廣武相守，乃為高俎，置太公其上，告漢王曰：「今不急下，吾亨太公。」漢王曰：「吾與若俱北面受命懷王，約為兄弟，吾翁即汝翁。必欲亨乃翁，幸分我一盃羹。」羽怒，欲殺之。項伯曰：「天下事未可知。且為天下者不顧家，雖殺之無益，但益怨耳。」羽從之。乃使人謂漢王曰：「天下匈匈，徒以吾兩人願與王挑戰，決雌雄，毋徒罷天下父子為也。」漢王笑謝曰：「吾寧鬥智，不能鬥力。」羽令壯士出挑戰。漢有善騎射曰樓煩，楚挑戰，三合，樓煩輒射殺之。羽大怒，自被甲持戟挑戰。樓煩欲射，羽瞋目叱之。樓煩目不能視，手不能發，走還入壁，不敢復出。漢王使間問之，乃羽也。漢王大驚。於是羽與漢王相與臨廣武間而語。漢王數羽十罪。語在高紀。羽怒，伏弩射傷漢王。漢王入成皋。 |
| | Han indeed repeatedly challenged the Chu army into battle, but the Chu forces did not emerge from their defenses. They sent people to insult them, and after five or six days, the Dusima became angry and crossed his troops over the Fan River. When half of the soldiers had crossed, Han forces attacked and thoroughly defeated them, seizing all the gold, jade, and bribes belonging to Chu. Dusima Cao Jiu and Changshi Xin both committed suicide in the Fan River. Cao Jiu was originally a clerk at Qi prison, and Xin had previously been King Sai; Xiang Yu trusted them both. When Xiang Yu arrived at Suyang and heard that Cao Jiu had been defeated, he led his army back. At the time, Han forces were besieging Zhongli Mi east of Yingyang; when Xiang Yu's troops arrived, the Han soldiers feared Chu and all retreated to dangerous and difficult terrain. Xiang Yu also stationed his army at Guangwu to face off, and set up a high sacrificial table with Taigong placed on it. He told King Han, "If you do not surrender quickly now, I will boil your father." King Han replied, "I and you both knelt before King Huaiwang to receive our commands. We made an oath as brothers; my father is your father." "If you insist on boiling your father, kindly share a cup of soup with me." Xiang Yu became furious and wanted to kill him. Xiang Bo said, "The outcome of the empire's affairs is still uncertain. Those who contend for the empire do not concern themselves with family; killing him would be of no benefit, but only increase resentment." Xiang Yu heeded his advice. He then sent someone to tell King Han, "The world is in turmoil merely because of the two of us. I wish to challenge you personally for a duel to decide who is superior; we should not exhaust the sons and fathers of the entire empire over this." King Han laughed and replied, "I would rather contend in wisdom than in strength." Xiang Yu ordered his valiant warriors to come out and challenge. Han had a skilled cavalry archer named Lou Fan; whenever Chu warriors came to challenge, after three rounds of combat, Lou Fan would shoot and kill them. Xiang Yu became greatly enraged and personally donned armor, took up a halberd, and went out to challenge. Lou Fan wanted to shoot, but Xiang Yu glared at him fiercely and shouted in anger, scaring him off. Lou Fan was so frightened that he could not see with his eyes or draw the bow with his hands; he ran back into the fortress and dared not come out again. King Han sent someone secretly to inquire, and it turned out to be Xiang Yu himself. King Han was greatly startled. At this time, Xiang Yu and King Han met at the banks of Guangwu River to speak with each other. King Han listed ten crimes committed by Xiang Yu. The details are recorded in the Annals of Emperor Gaozu (Gaozu Ji). Xiang Yu became angry, and from ambush shot a crossbow that wounded King Han. King Han retreated into Chenggao.
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時彭越數反梁地，絕楚糧食，又韓信破齊，且欲擊楚。羽使從兄子項它為大將，龍且為裨將，救齊。韓信破殺龍且，追至成陽，虜齊王廣。信遂自立為齊王。羽聞之，恐，使武涉往說信。語在信傳。 |
| | At this time, Peng Yue repeatedly rebelled in Liang territory and cut off the supply of food for Chu. In addition, Han Xin had defeated Qi and was about to attack Chu. Xiang Yu sent his cousin Xiang Ta as the main general and Long Ju as an assistant general to rescue Qi. Han Xin defeated and killed Long Ju, pursued them to Chengyang, and captured King Qi Guang. Han Xin then declared himself King of Qi on his own authority. Xiang Yu heard this and became fearful, sending Wu She to persuade Han Xin. The details are recorded in Han Xin's biography.
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時，漢關中兵益出，食多，羽兵食少。漢王使侯公說羽，羽乃與漢王約，中分天下，割鴻溝而西者為漢，東者為楚，歸漢王父母妻子。已約，羽解而東。五年，漢王進兵追羽，至故陵，復為羽所敗。漢王用張良計，致齊王信、建成侯、彭越兵，乃劉賈入楚地，圍壽春。大司馬周殷叛楚，舉九江兵隨劉賈，迎黥布，與齊梁諸侯皆大會。 |
| | At this time, more troops from Guanzhong under Han were deployed and had ample food supplies, while Xiang Yu's forces suffered from shortages. King Han sent Hou Gong to persuade Xiang Yu. As a result, Xiang Yu made an agreement with King Han: the empire would be divided in half along Honggou; west of it belonged to Han and east to Chu, and he agreed to return King Han's parents, wife, and children. After the agreement was made, Xiang Yu lifted the siege and withdrew eastward. In the fifth year, King Han advanced his troops to pursue Xiang Yu, reaching Guling, where he was again defeated by Xiang Yu. King Han followed Zhang Liang's strategy, summoning the forces of King Qi Xin, Jiancheng Hou, and Peng Yue. Liu Jia led troops into Chu territory to encircle Shouchun. Dusima Zhou Yin defected from Chu, mustering the forces of Jianghuai to follow Liu Jia and meet Jing Bu. The kings of Qi and Liang and other feudal lords all gathered together in a major assembly.
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羽壁垓下，軍少食盡。漢帥諸侯兵圍之數重。羽夜聞漢軍四面皆楚歌，乃驚曰：「漢皆已得楚乎？是何楚人多也！」起飲帳中。有美人姓虞氏，常幸從；駿馬名騅，常騎。乃悲歌忼慨，自為歌詩曰：「力拔山兮氣蓋世，時不利兮騅不逝。騅不逝兮可柰何！虞兮虞兮柰若何！」歌數曲，美人和之。羽泣下數行，左右皆泣，莫能仰視。 |
| | Xiang Yu's army was encamped at Gaixia, where their numbers were few and food supplies had run out. Han led the allied forces of the feudal lords to surround Xiang Yu in multiple layers. At night, Xiang Yu heard that Han's troops were singing songs from the Chu region on all sides and was startled, saying, "Has Han already captured all of Chu?" "Why are there so many Chu people here!" He got up and drank in his tent. There was a beautiful woman named Yu, who had often been favored by him and followed him around; there was also a swift horse named Ulu, which he often rode. He then sang a sorrowful and heroic song, composing his own poem: "With strength to uproot mountains and spirit surpassing the world, my time is against me, so Ulu will not advance. Ulu will not advance—what can I do about it! Yu, Yu, what shall I do with you!" He sang several verses and the beautiful woman harmonized with him. Xiang Yu wept in streams of tears, and those around him also wept, none daring to look up.
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於是羽遂上馬，戲下騎從者八百餘人，夜直潰圍南出馳。平明，漢軍乃覺之，令騎將灌嬰以五千騎追羽。羽渡淮，騎能屬者百餘人。羽至陰陵，迷失道，問一田父，田父紿曰「左」。左，乃陷大澤中，以故漢追及之。羽復引而東，至東城，乃有二十八騎。追者數千，羽自度不得脫，謂其騎曰：「吾起兵至今八歲矣，身七十餘戰，所當者破，所擊者服，未嘗敗北，遂伯有天下。然今卒困於此，此天亡我，非戰之罪也。今日固決死，願為諸軍快戰，必三勝，斬將，艾旗，乃後死，使諸君知我非用兵罪，天亡我也。」於是引其騎因四隤山而為圜陳外嚮。漢騎圍之數重。羽謂其騎曰：「吾為公取彼一將。」令四面騎馳下，期山東為三處。於是羽大呼馳下，漢軍皆披靡。遂殺漢一將。是時，楊喜為郎騎，追羽，羽還叱之，喜人馬俱驚，辟易數里。與其騎會三處。漢軍不知羽所居，分軍為三，復圍之。羽乃馳，復斬漢一都尉，殺數十百人。復聚其騎，亡兩騎。乃謂騎曰：「何如？」騎皆服曰：「如大王言。」 |
| | At this point, Xiang Yu mounted his horse and led more than 800 cavalrymen from Xixia. Under cover of night, they broke through the encirclement to the south and galloped away. At dawn, the Han army realized it, and ordered the cavalry general Guan Ying to pursue Xiang Yu with 5000 horsemen. Xiang Yu crossed the Huai River, and only more than a hundred of his cavalry could keep up with him. When Xiang Yu arrived at Yinling, he lost his way and asked a farmer for directions; the farmer deceived him by saying, "Go left." Going left led them into a large marsh, and because of this, the Han forces caught up with them. Xiang Yu then turned eastward again and arrived at Dongcheng, where he had only twenty-eight horsemen left. Thousands of pursuers were in hot pursuit. Xiang Yu, realizing he could not escape, said to his horsemen: "Since I raised my troops until now, it has been eight years. My person has fought more than seventy battles; wherever we have advanced, the enemy was broken, and wherever we struck, they submitted. I have never suffered a defeat or retreated, thus becoming the overlord of all under heaven. Yet now I am finally trapped here; this is Heaven's will to destroy me, not a fault in warfare. Today, I am determined to die. I wish to fight a glorious battle for you all and must achieve three victories: slay the general, cut down his banner, and then die, so that you may know it is not my fault in using troops but Heaven's will to destroy me." With this, he led his horsemen and took advantage of the four surrounding hills to form a circular formation facing outward. The Han cavalry surrounded them in multiple layers. Xiang Yu said to his horsemen, "I will get one of their generals for you." He ordered the cavalry on all sides to charge down and rendezvous at three places east of the mountain. At this, Xiang Yu let out a loud shout as he charged downward, and the Han army scattered in disarray before him. He then killed one general of the Han forces. At this time, Yang Xi was a cavalry officer who pursued Xiang Yu; when Xiang Yu turned and scolded him, both Yang's man and horse were startled and retreated several li. He then regrouped with his horsemen at the three designated places. The Han army did not know where Xiang Yu was, so they divided their forces into three parts and once again surrounded him. Xiang Yu then charged forward again, beheading one Han commandant and killing dozens or even hundreds of men. He regrouped his horsemen once more, but had lost two riders. Then he said to his remaining horsemen: "How was that?" The riders all expressed admiration, saying, "As Your Majesty said."
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於是羽遂引東，欲渡烏江。烏江亭長檥船待，謂羽曰：「江東雖小，地方千里，眾數十萬，亦足王也。願大王急渡。今獨臣有船，漢軍至，亡以渡。」羽笑曰：「乃天亡我，何渡為！且籍與江東子弟八千人渡而西，今亡一人還，縱江東父兄憐而王我，我何面目見之哉？縱彼不言，籍獨不愧於心乎！」謂亭長曰：「吾知公長者也，吾騎此馬五歲，所當亡敵，嘗一日千里，吾不忍殺，以賜公。」乃令騎皆去馬，步持短兵接戰。羽獨所殺漢軍數百人。羽亦被十餘創。顧見漢騎司馬呂馬童曰：「若非吾故人乎？」馬童面之，指王翳曰：「此項王也。」羽乃曰：「吾聞漢購我頭千金，邑萬戶，吾為公得。」乃自剄。王翳取其頭，亂相輮蹈爭羽相殺者數十人。最後楊喜、呂馬童、郎中呂勝、楊武各得其一體。故分其地以封五人，皆為列侯。 |
| | At this point, Xiang Yu led his remaining forces eastward and wished to cross the Wujiang River. The captain of the ferry at Wujiang moored his boat and said to Xiang Yu: "Though Jiangdong is small, it spans a thousand li in territory with tens of thousands of people; it would be enough for you to become king. I hope Your Majesty will cross quickly." Now only I have the boat; if the Han army arrives, there will be no way to cross." Xiang Yu laughed and said: "It is Heaven that has doomed me—why should I even attempt to cross! Moreover, when I led eight thousand young men from Jiangdong across the river to the west, not a single one has returned. Even if my fellow townspeople in Jiangdong pity me and make me their king, how could I face them with any dignity? Even if they do not speak of it, would I not feel ashamed in my own heart?"! He said to the ferry captain: "I know you are a man of virtue. I have ridden this horse for five years; wherever we went, there was no enemy that could withstand us, and it once ran a thousand li in a single day. I cannot bear to kill it, so I will give it to you." He then ordered his horsemen to dismount and abandon their horses, taking up short weapons for close combat on foot. Xiang Yu alone killed hundreds of Han soldiers. Xiang Yu was also wounded in more than ten places. Looking back, he saw Han cavalry commander Lü Matong and said: "Are you not my old acquaintance?" Lü Matong recognized him, pointed to Wang Yi, and said: "This is King Xiang." Xiang Yu then said: "I have heard that the Han offered a thousand gold for my head and ten thousand households as reward. I will grant it to you." With these words, he committed suicide by cutting his throat. Wang Yi took Xiang Yu's head, and in the chaos that followed, dozens of men trampled over one another, fighting among themselves for parts of his body. Finally, Yang Xi, Lü Matong, the imperial physician Lü Sheng, and Yang Wu each obtained a part of his body. Therefore, they divided Xiang Yu's territory to bestow fiefs upon these five men, all of whom were made marquises.
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漢王乃以魯公號葬羽於穀城。諸項支屬皆不誅。封項伯等四人為列侯，賜姓劉氏。 |
| | The King of Han then buried Xiang Yu in Gucheng with the title of Duke Lu. None of Xiang Yu's relatives were executed. Four people, including Xiang Bo, were made marquises and granted the surname Liu as a reward.
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贊曰：昔賈生之過秦曰： |
| | Commentary: In the past, Jia Sheng criticized the Qin dynasty by saying:
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秦孝公據殽函之固，擁雍州之地，君臣固守而闚周室，有席卷天下，包舉宇內，囊括四海，并吞八荒之心。當是時也，商君佐之，內立法度，務耕織，修守戰之備，外連衡而鬥諸侯。於是秦人拱手而取西河之外。 |
| | The King of Qin Huiwen occupied the strong position of Xiaohan, held the territory of Yongzhou, and his ministers and subjects firmly guarded it while watching over the Zhou royal house. He had the ambition to sweep across the world, encompass all within its borders, enclose the four seas in a bag, and swallow up the eight directions. At that time, Shang Jun assisted him by establishing laws and regulations internally, encouraging farming and weaving, and preparing for defense and war; externally, he formed lateral alliances to contend with the feudal lords. Thus, the Qin people easily took control of the area beyond the Xihe River.
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孝公既沒，惠文、武、昭襄蒙故業，因遺策，南取漢中，西舉巴蜀，東割膏腴之地，收要害之郡。諸侯恐懼，會盟而謀弱秦，不愛珍器重寶肥饒之地，以致天下之士。合從締交，相與為一。當此之時，齊有孟嘗，趙有平原，楚有春申，魏有信陵。此四賢者，皆明智而忠信，寬厚而愛人，尊賢重士，約從離橫，兼韓、魏、燕、趙、宋、衛、中山之眾。於是六國之士有甯越、徐尚、蘇秦、杜赫之屬為之謀，齊明、周最、陳軫、召滑、樓緩、翟景、蘇厲、樂毅之徒通其意，吳起、孫臏、帶他、兒良、王廖、田忌、廉頗、趙奢之朋制其兵。常以十倍之地，百萬之軍，仰關而攻秦。秦人開關延敵，九國之師遁巡而不敢進。秦無亡矢遺鏃之費，而天下已困矣。於是從散約敗，爭割地而賂秦。秦有餘力而制其弊，追亡逐北，伏尸百萬，流血漂鹵，因利乘便，宰割天下，分裂山河；強國請服，弱國入朝。 |
| | After King Huiwen's death, King Huawen, King Wu, and King Zhaoxiang inherited the old achievements and followed the previous strategies. They took Hanzhong to the south, captured Bashu to the west, carved out fertile lands to the east, and seized key commanderies. The feudal lords were frightened and formed alliances to plot the weakening of Qin, offering no sparing their precious treasures or fertile lands in order to attract scholars from all under heaven. They united vertically through treaties, forming a single alliance. lords At this time, Qi had Mengchang, Zhao had Pingyuan, Chu had Chunshen, and Wei had Xinling. These four virtuous men were all wise, intelligent, loyal and trustworthy, broad-minded and kind-hearted. They respected the worthy and valued scholars, forming vertical alliances to break lateral ones, uniting the forces of Han, Wei, Yan, Zhao, Song, Wei, and Zhongshan. At this time, the scholars of the six states had figures such as Ning Yue, Xu Shang, Su Qin, and Du He to devise strategies for them; Qi Ming, Zhou Zui, Chen Zhen, Zhao Hua, Lou Huan, Di Jing, Su Li, and Yue Yi to communicate their intentions; Wu Qi, Sun Bin, Dai Ta, Er Liang, Wang Liao, Tian Ji,廉颇, Zhao She, and others to command their armies. They often attacked Qin with ten times the territory and a million-strong army, advancing from above the passes. The Qin people opened their gates to receive the enemy, yet the armies of the nine states hesitated and dared not advance. Qin suffered no loss of arrows or bolts, yet all under heaven were already exhausted. Thus the vertical alliance collapsed and treaties failed; the feudal lords competed to cede territory as tribute to Qin. Qin, with remaining strength, took advantage of their weakness, pursuing the defeated and routing them. Millions lay dead on the battlefield; blood flowed so much it could float shields. Seizing the opportunity, Qin carved up the world and divided mountains and rivers. Powerful states requested submission, while weak ones came to court in homage.
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施及孝文、莊襄王，享國之日淺，國家亡事。 |
| | When it came to King Xiaowen and King Zhuangxiang, their reigns were short-lived and the state experienced no major events.
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及至始皇，奮六世之餘烈，振長策而馭宇內，吞二周而亡諸侯，履至尊而制六合，執敲扑以鞭笞天下，威震四海。南取百粵之地，以為桂林、象郡。百粵之君頫首係頸，委命下吏。乃使蒙恬北築長城而守藩籬，卻匈奴七百餘里，胡人不敢南下而牧馬，士不敢彎弓而報怨。於是廢先王之道，焚百家之言，以愚黔首。墮名城，殺豪俊，收天下之兵聚之咸陽，銷鋒鍉鑄以為金人十二，以弱天下之民。然後踐華為城，因河為池，據億丈之城，臨不測之川，以為固。良將勁弩，守要害之處，信臣精卒，陳利兵而誰何。天下已定，始皇之心，自以為關中之固，金城千里，子孫帝王萬世之業也。 |
| | It was not until the First Emperor that he carried forward the accumulated achievements of six generations, wielded his long whip to rule all under heaven, swallowed up the two Zhou dynasties and eliminated the feudal lords, ascended to the supreme throne and controlled the 六合 (universe), wielding punishment and discipline to subdue the world. His authority shook the four seas. He took the southern lands of Baiyue, establishing them as Guilin and Xiang commanderies. The chieftains of Baiyue bowed their heads with necks bound in ropes, surrendering themselves to the lowest officials. He then sent Meng Tian to build the Great Wall in the north as a defensive barrier, driving back the Xiongnu more than seven hundred li. The Hu people dared not descend southward to pasture their horses, and soldiers no longer dared bend their bows to take revenge. At this time, he abolished the ways of previous kings, burned the writings of a hundred schools of thought in order to confuse and subdue the common people. He destroyed famous walled cities, killed the heroic and capable men, collected all weapons from across the land to gather in Xianyang, melted sharp blades into twelve golden statues, thus weakening the people of the world. Then he took Mount Hua as a wall and used the Yellow River as a moat, occupying a city of ten thousand zhang in height and facing an unfathomable river to serve as a strong defense. Valiant generals with powerful crossbows guarded key locations, while loyal ministers and elite soldiers stood ready with sharp weapons to challenge anyone. With the world pacified, the First Emperor believed that the strength of Guanzhong, with its golden walls stretching for a thousand li, would ensure his descendants' imperial rule for ten thousand generations.
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始皇既沒，餘威震于殊俗。然而陳涉，甕牖繩樞之子，甿隸之人，遷徙之徒也，材能不及中庸，非有仲尼、墨翟之知，陶朱、猗頓之富。躡足行伍之間，而免起阡陌之中，帥罷散之卒，將數百之眾，轉而攻秦。斬木為兵，揭竿為旗，天下雲合嚮應，贏糧而景從，山東豪俊遂並起而亡秦族矣。 |
| | After the First Emperor's death, his lingering authority still shook even distant and exotic regions. However, Chen She was the son of a poor family with clay windows and rope hinges, a common laborer, a migrant worker. His talents did not reach even an average level; he lacked the wisdom of Confucius or Mozi, nor the wealth of Tao Zhu or Yidun. He was just a foot soldier among the ranks, who rose from the fields and farmlands. Leading a group of exhausted and scattered soldiers, commanding only hundreds of men, he turned around to attack Qin. Cutting down trees for weapons and raising poles as banners, he attracted crowds from all over the land who gathered like clouds in response, carrying their own provisions and following him like shadows. Thus, the heroic men of Shandong rose up together to destroy the Qin clan.
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且天下非小弱也；雍州之地，殽函之固，自若也。陳涉之位，不齒於齊、楚、燕、趙、韓、魏、宋、衛、中山之君；鉏耰棘矜，不敵於鉤戟長鎩；適戍之眾，不亢於九國之師；深謀遠慮，行軍用兵之道，非及曩時之士也。然而成敗異變，功業相反，何也？試使山東之國與陳涉度長絜大，比權量力，不可同年而語矣。然秦以區區之地，致萬乘之權，招八州而朝同列，百有餘年，然后以六合為家，殽函為宮。一夫作難而七廟墮，身死人手，為天下笑者，何也？仁誼不施，而攻守之勢異也。 |
| | Moreover, the world was not small or weak; the territory of Yongzhou and the strong position of Xiaohan remained as before. Chen She's status was not comparable to the rulers of Qi, Chu, Yan, Zhao, Han, Wei, Song, Wei, or Zhongshan; his crude farming tools and thorny poles were no match for the curved halberds and long spears; the conscripted soldiers he led could not rival the armies of the nine feudal states; his strategies for military campaigns and tactics were far inferior to those of former times. Yet their successes and failures differed greatly, and their achievements turned out completely opposite—why was this so? If one were to compare the states of Shandong with Chen She in terms of length and breadth, or weigh their power and strength against each other, they could not even be mentioned in the same breath. Yet Qin, with only a small territory, was able to attain the power of ten thousand chariots, summon eight provinces and make their peers come to court. For more than one hundred years, it then regarded the 六合 as its home and Xiaohan as its palace. When a single man rose in rebellion, the seven ancestral temples were destroyed; he died at the hands of others and became an object of ridicule for all under heaven—why was this? It is because benevolence and righteousness were not practiced, and thus the strategies for attack and defense changed.
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周生亦有言，「舜蓋重童子」，項羽又重童子，豈其苗裔邪？何其興之暴也！夫秦失其政，陳涉首難，豪桀蜂起，相與並爭，不可勝數。然羽非有尺寸，乘勢拔起隴畝之中，三年，遂將五諸侯兵滅秦，分裂天下而威海內，封立王侯，政繇羽出，號為「伯王」，位雖不終，近古以來未嘗有也。及羽背關懷楚，放逐義帝，而怨王侯畔己，難矣。自矜功伐，奮其私智而不師古，始霸王之國，欲以力征經營天下，五年卒亡其國，身死東城，尚不覺寤，不自責過失，乃引「天亡我，非用兵之罪」，豈不謬哉！ |
| | Zhou Sheng also said: "Shun was a boy of great importance," and Xiang Yu too was an important young man—could he be his descendant? How suddenly did his rise to power come! When the Qin lost their governance, Chen She first rose in rebellion; heroes and outstanding men arose like swarming bees, vying with one another—too numerous to count. Yet Xiang Yu had no territory of even an inch, but rose suddenly from the fields. Within three years, he led the armies of five feudal lords to destroy Qin, divided up the world, and established his authority within the seas. He enfeoffed kings and marquises, with all policies emanating from him. Known as "the Hegemon-King," though his position did not last, it was unprecedented since ancient times. When Xiang Yu abandoned Guanzhong and returned to Chu, exiled the Righteous Emperor, and resented the feudal lords who defected from him, it became extremely difficult for him. He was proud of his achievements, relied on his own intelligence without learning from the past. Having first established himself as the 霸王 (Supreme King), he wished to conquer and manage the world by force alone. After five years, he lost his country, died in Dongcheng, yet still failed to awaken or take responsibility for his mistakes. Instead, he claimed "It is Heaven that destroyed me, not my fault in warfare"—how mistaken was this!
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