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淮南厲王長者，高祖少子也，其母故趙王張敖美人。高祖八年，從東垣過趙，趙王獻之美人。厲王母得幸焉，有身。趙王敖弗敢內宮，為筑外宮而捨之。及貫高等謀反柏人事發覺，并逮治王，盡收捕王母兄弟美人，系之河內。厲王母亦系，告吏曰：「得幸上，有身。」吏以聞上，上方怒趙王，未理厲王母。厲王母弟趙兼因辟陽侯言呂后，呂后妒，弗肯白，辟陽侯不彊爭。及厲王母已生厲王，恚，即自殺。吏奉厲王詣上，上悔，令呂后母之，而葬厲王母真定。真定，厲王母之家在焉，父世縣也。 |
| | Prince Li of Huainan, whose name was Chang, was the youngest son of Emperor Gaozu; his mother had been a concubine of King Zhao Zhang Ao. In the eighth year of Emperor Gaozu's reign, while passing through Dongyuan on his way east, the King of Zhao presented him with this concubine. Prince Li's mother gained favor and became pregnant. King Zhao Ao dared not house her in the palace, so he built an external residence for her to stay in. When Guan Gao and others plotted rebellion at Bai, the matter was discovered, and King Zhao was arrested along with them. His mother's brothers and concubines were all captured and imprisoned in Hedong. Prince Li's mother was also detained, and she told the officials: "I gained favor with the emperor and became pregnant." The official reported this to the emperor. At that time, the emperor was furious at King Zhao and did not yet deal with Prince Li's mother. Prince Li's maternal uncle, Zhao Jian, therefore asked Peiyang Hou to speak on her behalf to Empress Lu. However, Empress Lu was jealous and refused to report this to the emperor; Peiyang Hou did not strongly argue for it. When Prince Li's mother had already given birth to Prince Li, she was filled with anger and immediately committed suicide. The officials took Prince Li to the emperor, who regretted his actions. He ordered Empress Lu to raise him and had Prince Li's mother buried in Zhen Ding. Zhen Ding was where Prince Li's mother came from; it belonged to the Shixian district of her family.
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高祖十一年（十）［七］月，淮南王黥布反，立子長為淮南王，王黥布故地，凡四郡。上自將兵擊滅布，厲王遂即位。厲王蚤失母，常附呂后，孝惠、呂后時以故得幸無患害，而常心怨辟陽侯，弗敢發。及孝文帝初即位，淮南王自以為最親，驕蹇，數不奉法。上以親故，常寬赦之。三年，入朝。甚橫。從上入苑囿獵，與上同車，常謂上「大兄」。厲王有材力，力能扛鼎，乃往請辟陽侯。辟陽侯出見之，即自袖鐵椎椎辟陽侯，令從者魏敬剄之。厲王乃馳走闕下，肉袒謝曰：「臣母不當坐趙事，其時辟陽侯力能得之呂后，弗爭，罪一也。趙王如意子母無罪，呂後殺之，辟陽侯弗爭，罪二也。呂后王諸呂，欲以危劉氏，辟陽侯弗爭，罪三也。臣謹為天下誅賊臣辟陽侯，報母之仇，謹伏闕下請罪。」孝文傷其志，為親故，弗治，赦厲王。當是時，薄太后及太子諸大臣皆憚厲王，厲王以此歸國益驕恣，不用漢法，出入稱警蹕，稱制，自為法令，擬於天子。 |
| | In the eleventh year of Emperor Gaozu's reign (tenth) [seventh] month, King Huainan Wu Rangbu rebelled. He appointed his son Chang as King of Huainan and granted him the former territory of Wu Rangbu, consisting of a total of four commanderies. The emperor personally led his troops to defeat and eliminate Wu Rangbu; thus Prince Li ascended the throne as king. Prince Li had lost his mother at an early age and often relied on Empress Lu. During the reigns of Emperor Xiaohui and Empress Lu, because of this he enjoyed favor without suffering any harm; however, he always harbored resentment toward Peiyang Hou and dared not act upon it. When Emperor Xiaowen first ascended the throne, King Huainan considered himself the closest in relation and became arrogant and disrespectful, repeatedly failing to abide by the law. The emperor, because of their close relationship, often pardoned him. In the third year, he came to court for an audience. He was extremely arrogant and overbearing. Accompanying the emperor into the hunting grounds, he rode in the same carriage as him and often addressed the emperor as "elder brother." Prince Li was strong and capable; he had the strength to lift a cauldron. He then went to request an audience with Peiyang Hou. Peiyang Hou came out to see him, and Prince Li immediately pulled a iron mace from his sleeve and struck Peiyang Hou, ordering his follower Wei Jing to kill him. Prince Li then rushed to the palace gates, bare-chested and apologized, saying: "My mother should not have been implicated in Zhao's affairs. At that time Peiyang Hou had the power to obtain her case from Empress Lu but did not contend for it; this is his first crime. King Zhao Youri and his mother were innocent, yet Empress Lu had them killed; Peiyang Hou failed to contend for their case as well—this is his second crime. Empress Lu elevated the various Lü clan members to positions of power and sought to endanger the Liu family; Peiyang Hou again failed to contend against this—this is his third crime. "I have, on behalf of the realm, executed the traitorous minister Peiyang Hou in retribution for my mother's death and to avenge her. I now humbly submit myself at the palace gates to accept punishment." Emperor Xiaowen was moved by his resolve, and because of their familial ties, did not punish him, pardoning Prince Li. At that time, Empress Dowager Bo and the crown prince as well as various ministers were all afraid of Prince Li. Because of this, upon returning to his kingdom he became even more arrogant and indulgent, disregarding Han laws; when entering or leaving, he used imperial-style processions with warnings sounded ahead, claimed authority akin to an emperor, made his own decrees and laws, and behaved as if he were a Son of Heaven.
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六年，令男子但等七十人與棘蒲侯柴武太子奇謀，以輂車四十乘反谷口，令人使閩越、匈奴。事覺，治之，使使召淮南王。淮南王至長安。 |
| | In the sixth year, he ordered a man named Dan and seventy others together with Ji Pu Hou Chai Wu's crown prince Qi to plot rebellion. They gathered forty chariots at Gu Kou and sent envoys to Minyue and Xiongnu. The matter was discovered, investigated, and officials were dispatched to summon King Huainan. King Huainan arrived in Chang'an.
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「丞相臣張倉、典客臣馮敬、行御史大夫事宗正臣逸、廷尉臣賀、備盜賊中尉臣福昧死言：淮南王長廢先帝法，不聽天子詔，居處無度，為黃屋蓋乘輿，出入擬於天子，擅為法令，不用漢法。及所置吏，以其郎中春為丞相，聚收漢諸侯人及有罪亡者，匿與居，為治家室，賜其財物爵祿田宅，爵或至關內侯，奉以二千石，所不當得，欲以有為。大夫但、士五開章等七十人與棘蒲侯太子奇謀反，欲以危宗廟社稷。使開章陰告長，與謀使閩越及匈奴發其兵。開章之淮南見長，長數與坐語飲食，為家室娶婦，以二千石俸奉之。開章使人告但，已言之王。春使使報但等。吏覺知，使長安尉奇等往捕開章。長匿不予，與故中尉蕑忌謀，殺以閉口。為棺槨衣衾，葬之肥陵邑，謾吏曰『不知安在』。又詳聚土，樹表其上，曰『開章死，埋此下』。及長身自賊殺無罪者一人；令吏論殺無罪者六人；為亡命棄市罪詐捕命者以除罪；擅罪人，罪人無告劾，系治城旦舂以上十四人；赦免罪人，死罪十八人，城旦舂以下五十八人；賜人爵關內侯以下九十四人。前日長病，陛下憂苦之，使使者賜書、棗脯。長不欲受賜，不肯見拜使者。南海民處廬江界中者反，淮南吏卒擊之。陛下以淮南民貧苦，遣使者賜長帛五千匹，以賜吏卒勞苦者。長不欲受賜，謾言曰『無勞苦者』。南海民王織上書獻璧皇帝，忌擅燔其書，不以聞。吏請召治忌，長不遣，謾言曰『忌病』。春又請長，願入見，長怒曰『女欲離我自附漢』。長當棄市，臣請論如法。」 |
| | "Minister of the Crown, Minister Zhang Cang; Minister of Guests, Minister Feng Jing; Acting Minister of Justice and Director of the Imperial Clan Office, Minister Yi; Minister of Punishments, Minister He; and Commander-in-Chief for Suppressing Bandits, Minister Fu, respectfully submit at risk of their lives: King Huainan Chang has violated the laws of the late emperor and refused to obey imperial edicts. His manner of living is without restraint; he uses yellow-roofed carriages befitting an emperor, entering and exiting in a fashion resembling that of the Son of Heaven, and 擅自 establishes his own decrees while disregarding Han law. Furthermore, the officials he has appointed include his chamberlain Chun as prime minister. He has gathered and collected Han vassal lords and those who have fled due to crimes, hiding them and providing for their residence; he builds homes for them and bestows wealth, titles, ranks, land, and houses upon them. Some are even granted the rank of Guannei Hou (Inner Pass 侯), with stipends equivalent to that of a two-thousand-dan official—privileges they should not possess—all in preparation for some future action. Minister Dan, scholar Wu Kai Zhang and others among the seventy people, together with Crown Prince Qi of Ji Pu Hou, plotted rebellion, intending to endanger the imperial ancestral temple and state. They sent Wu Kai Zhang secretly to inform Chang, plotting with him to send envoys to Minyue as well as Xiongnu to mobilize their troops. Wu Kai Zhang went to Huainan to meet Chang, who frequently sat with him in conversation and shared meals; he provided for his family, arranged a marriage for him, and gave him a stipend equivalent to that of an official of the two-thousand-dan rank. Wu Kai Zhang sent someone to inform Dan that he had already reported this matter to the king. Chun dispatched an envoy to report back to Dan and others. The officials discovered this, and sent Wei Qi of Chang'an and others to arrest Wu Kai Zhang. Chang concealed him and refused to hand him over; he conspired with the former Commander-in-Chief Jian Ji to kill Wu Kai Zhang in order to prevent him from speaking. They prepared a coffin, casket, clothing, and shroud for Wu Kai Zhang, buried him in Feiling Yi, and lied to the officials, saying "we do not know where he is." They also gathered earth as if for a mound and erected a marker on it, saying, "Wu Kai Zhang died and was buried beneath this." Moreover, Chang himself personally killed an innocent person. He ordered officials to execute six other innocent people; he falsely arrested those who had committed capital crimes in order to cover up his own offenses; He arbitrarily sentenced criminals, and without any official accusation or investigation, detained and punished fourteen people with sentences of labor in city walls or pounding grain; he pardoned criminals: eighteen who had been sentenced to death, and fifty-eight others whose punishments were less than labor in city walls or grain pounding; and he bestowed ranks upon ninety-four people, some as high as Guannei Hou. On a previous occasion when Chang was ill, the emperor worried and toiled over it, sending envoys with letters, dates, and dried meat as gifts. Chang did not wish to accept these gifts and refused to meet or bow before the imperial envoy. The people of Nanhai living within Lujiang territory rebelled, and Huainan officials and soldiers attacked them. The emperor, moved by the poverty and hardship of the people in Huainan, sent envoys to bestow five thousand bolts of silk upon Chang as a gift for his officials and soldiers who had labored hard. Chang did not want to accept the gifts, falsely claiming that "there are no laboring or weary officials and soldiers." A man named Wang Zhi from Nanhai submitted a letter to the emperor offering jade, but Jian Ji burned it without reporting it. The officials requested that Jian Ji be summoned for punishment, but Chang did not send him, falsely claiming "Jian is ill." Chun also requested an audience with Chang, expressing a wish to enter the court for inspection. Chang became angry and said, "You want to separate me from my loyalty and attach yourself to Han." King Huainan should be executed in public as a criminal; we humbly request that he be judged according to the law."
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制曰：「朕不忍致法於王，其與列侯二千石議。」 |
| | The imperial decree stated: "I cannot bear to subject King Huainan to legal punishment; let him be discussed by the marquises and officials of the two-thousand-dan ranks."
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「臣倉、臣敬、臣逸、臣福、臣賀昧死言：臣謹與列侯吏二千石臣嬰等四十三人議，皆曰『長不奉法度，不聽天子詔，乃陰聚徒黨及謀反者，厚養亡命，欲以有為』。臣等議論如法。」 |
| | "Minister Cang, Minister Jing, Minister Yi, Minister Fu, and Minister He respectfully submit at risk of our lives: We have carefully discussed this matter with Marquis Yin and forty-three other officials of the two-thousand-dank rank. All said that 'Chang has not abided by laws or decrees, refused to obey imperial edicts, and secretly gathered followers as well as those plotting rebellion; he lavishly supported fugitives in order to prepare for some action.'" We have deliberated on this matter according to the law."
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制曰：「朕不忍致法於王，其赦長死罪，廢勿王。」 |
| | The imperial decree stated: "I cannot bear to apply legal punishment upon King Huainan; let Chang be pardoned for his capital crime and deposed from the kingship."
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「臣倉等昧死言：長有大死罪，陛下不忍致法，幸赦，廢勿王。臣請處蜀郡嚴道邛郵，遣其子母從居，縣為筑蓋家室，皆廩食給薪菜鹽豉炊食器席蓐。臣等昧死請，請布告天下。」 |
| | "Minister Cang et al. respectfully submit at risk of our own lives: Chang has committed a grave capital crime, yet the emperor cannot bear to apply the law and has mercifully pardoned him, deposing him from kingship. We humbly request that Chang be exiled to Qiongyou, Yandao, Shu Jun. Let his son and mother accompany him in residence; the county should build a house for them, providing grain, firewood, vegetables, salt, fermented soybeans, cooking utensils, mats, and bedding. We submit this request at risk of our lives; we respectfully ask that the decree be proclaimed to all under heaven."
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制曰：「計食長給肉日五斤，酒二斗。令故美人才人得幸者十人從居。他可。」 |
| | The imperial decree stated: "Provide Chang with five catties of meat and two dou of wine per day. Order ten former concubines or attendants who once gained favor to accompany him in residence. All other matters may proceed as planned."
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盡誅所與謀者。於是乃遣淮南王，載以輜車，令縣以次傳。是時袁盎諫上曰：「上素驕淮南王，弗為置嚴傅相，以故至此。且淮南王為人剛，今暴摧折之。臣恐卒逢霧露病死。陛下為有殺弟之名，柰何！」上曰：「吾特苦之耳，今復之。」縣傳淮南王者皆不敢發車封。淮南王乃謂侍者曰：「誰謂乃公勇者？吾安能勇！吾以驕故不聞吾過至此。人生一世閒，安能邑邑如此！」乃不食死。至雍，雍令發封，以死聞。上哭甚悲，謂袁盎曰：「吾不聽公言，卒亡淮南王。」盎曰：「不可柰何，願陛下自寬。」上曰：「為之柰何？」盎曰：「獨斬丞相、御史以謝天下乃可。」上即令丞相、御史逮考諸縣傳送淮南王不發封餽侍者，皆棄市。乃以列侯葬淮南王於雍，守冢三十戶。 |
| | All those who had conspired with him were executed. Thus, King Huainan was sent away, transported in a covered wagon, and each county along the route was ordered to provide for his passage. At that time Yuan Ang advised the emperor, saying: "The emperor has always been indulgent toward King Huainan and did not appoint a strict tutor or prime minister for him; this is why he reached such a state. Moreover, King Huainan's nature is strong-willed; now suddenly crushing and humiliating him. I fear he may suddenly encounter mist or dew and fall ill or die. The emperor will then bear the name of having killed his own brother—how could this be!" The emperor said: "I merely wanted to make him suffer a little; now I will restore him." All the counties responsible for escorting King Huainan dared not open the seals on his transport wagon. King Huainan then said to his attendants: "Who would say that your lord is brave?" "How could I be brave!" "I became arrogant and thus did not hear of my faults until it reached this point." "Life is but a fleeting moment; how could I endure such distress!" He then refused to eat and died. When he arrived at Yong, the county official of Yong opened the seal and reported that King Huainan had died. The emperor wept bitterly and said to Yuan Ang: "I did not listen to your advice, and thus lost King Huainan." Yuan Ang replied: "It cannot be undone. I hope Your Majesty will console yourself." The emperor asked, "What should we do about it?" Yuan Ang said: "Only by beheading the prime minister and the Minister of Justice to apologize to all under heaven would suffice." The emperor immediately ordered the prime minister and Minister of Justice to arrest and investigate all county officials responsible for escorting King Huainhan who had failed to open the seal or provide food and attendants, and they were all executed in public. He was then buried at Yong with the rites for a marquis, with thirty households assigned to guard his tomb.
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孝文八年，上憐淮南王，淮南王有子四人，皆七八歲，乃封子安為阜陵侯，子勃為安陽侯，子賜為陽周侯，子良為東成侯。 |
| | In the eighth year of Emperor Xiaowen's reign, moved by sympathy for King Huainan, who had four sons all aged seven or eight years old, he granted his son An the title of Fuling Hou, his son Bo the title of Anyang Hou, his son Ci the title of Yangzhou Hou, and his son Liang the title of Dongcheng Hou.
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孝文十二年，民有作歌歌淮南厲王曰：「一尺布，尚可縫；一斗粟，尚可舂。兄弟二人不能相容。」上聞之，乃嘆曰：「堯舜放逐骨肉，周公殺管蔡，天下稱聖。何者？不以私害公。天下豈以我為貪淮南王地邪？」乃徙城陽王王淮南故地，而追尊謚淮南王為厲王，置園復如諸侯儀。 |
| | In the twelfth year of Emperor Xiaowen's reign, a song was composed by the people about Prince Li of Huainan: "One chi of cloth is still enough to sew; one dou of grain is still sufficient for pounding. Yet two brothers cannot live in harmony." The emperor heard of this and sighed, saying: "Yao and Shun exiled their own kin; Duke of Zhou killed Guan and Cai. The world praised them as sage rulers. "Why is that?" "Because they did not allow private feelings to harm the public good." "Do the people of the world really think I am greedy for Huainan Wang's territory?" He then transferred King Chengyang to rule the former territory of Huainan, and posthumously honored Prince Li with the title "King Li," establishing a mausoleum for him in accordance with the rituals befitting a vassal king.
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孝文十六年，徙淮南王喜復故城陽。上憐淮南厲王廢法不軌，自使失國蚤死，乃立其三子：阜陵侯安為淮南王，安陽侯勃為衡山王，陽周侯賜為廬江王，皆復得厲王時地，參分之。東城侯良前薨，無後也。 |
| | In the sixteenth year of Emperor Xiaowen's rule, King Huainan Xi was transferred back to his original fief at Chengyang. The emperor felt pity for King Li of Huainan whose disregard for law and rebellious conduct had led to his loss of the kingdom and early death. Thus, he established three of his sons: Fuling Hou An as King of Huainhan, Anyang Hou Bo as King of Hengshan, and Yangzhou Hou Ci as King of Lujiang; they all regained lands that had belonged to King Li, divided among them in thirds. Dongcheng Hou Liang had died earlier and left no descendants.
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孝景三年，吳楚七國反，吳使者至淮南，淮南王欲發兵應之。其相曰：「大王必欲發兵應吳，臣願為將。」王乃屬相兵。淮南相已將兵，因城守，不聽王而為漢；漢亦使曲城侯將兵救淮南：淮南以故得完。吳使者至廬江，廬江王弗應，而往來使越。吳使者至衡山，衡山王堅守無二心。孝景四年，吳楚已破，衡山王朝，上以為貞信，乃勞苦之曰：「南方卑溼。」徙衡山王王濟北，所以褒之。及薨，遂賜謚為貞王。廬江王邊越，數使使相交，故徙為衡山王，王江北。淮南王如故。 |
| | In the third year of Emperor Xiaojing's reign, Wu, Chu, and seven other states rebelled; envoys from Wu arrived at Huainan. King Huainan wanted to raise troops in response. His prime minister said: "If Your Majesty is determined to raise an army and respond to Wu, I am willing to serve as the general." The king then entrusted his prime minister with command of the troops. After taking command, the prime minister of Huainan led the army and defended the city, disobeying the king's orders and instead supporting Han. The Han court also sent Qucheng Hou to lead troops in aid of Huainan; thus, Huainan was able to remain intact. When Wu's envoys arrived at Lujiang, King Lujiang refused to respond and instead sent messengers back and forth with Yue. When Wu's envoys reached Hengshan, King Hengshan remained steadfast in his defense and had no second thoughts. In the fourth year of Emperor Xiaojing's reign, after Wu and Chu had been defeated, King Hengshan paid court homage. The emperor regarded him as loyal and trustworthy, and thus comforted him by saying: "The southern regions are low-lying and damp." King Hengshan was transferred to rule Jinbei; this was done as a mark of commendation. Upon his death, he was posthumously granted the title "Zhengwang," meaning King Zhendao. King Lujiang had close relations with Yue, frequently sending and receiving envoys; therefore, he was transferred to become King of Hengshan and ruled the area north of the Yangtze River. King Huainan remained in his original position.
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淮南王安為人好讀書鼓琴，不喜弋獵狗馬馳騁，亦欲以行陰德拊循百姓，流譽天下。時時怨望厲王死，時欲畔逆，未有因也。及建元二年，淮南王入朝。素善武安侯，武安侯時為太尉，乃逆王霸上，與王語曰：「方今上無太子，大王親高皇帝孫，行仁義，天下莫不聞。即宮車一日晏駕，非大王當誰立者！」淮南王大喜，厚遺武安侯金財物。陰結賓客，拊循百姓，為畔逆事。建元六年，彗星見，淮南王心怪之。或說王曰：「先吳軍起時，彗星出長數尺，然尚流血千里。今彗星長竟天，天下兵當大起。」王心以為上無太子，天下有變，諸侯并爭，愈益治器械攻戰具，積金錢賂遺郡國諸侯游士奇材。諸辨士為方略者，妄作妖言，諂諛王，王喜，多賜金錢，而謀反滋甚。 |
| | King Huainan An was a man who loved reading and playing the qin, disliking hunting with hawks and dogs or horseback riding for sport. He also wished to perform secret acts of virtue, pacify the common people, and earn a reputation throughout the land. At times he resented his father King Li's death, often harboring thoughts of rebellion, but lacked an opportunity to act on them. In the second year of Jianyuan, King Huainan paid a court visit. He had always been on good terms with Wu'an Hou, who at that time served as Taiwei. Wu'an Hou met King Huainan at Bashi and said to him: "Now the emperor has no crown prince; Your Majesty is a direct grandson of Emperor Gaozu, practicing benevolence and righteousness—this is known throughout the land." "If one day the emperor passes away without a successor, who else but Your Majesty should be enthroned?"!" King Huainan was greatly pleased and gave Wu'an Hou generous gifts of gold and valuables. He secretly gathered guests, pacified the common people, and made preparations for rebellion. In the sixth year of Jianyuan, a comet appeared; King Huainan was deeply unsettled by it. Someone advised the king: "When the Wu rebellion began, a comet appeared stretching several chi in length, yet blood still flowed for thousands of li." "Now this comet stretches across the entire sky—this indicates that great wars will erupt throughout the land." The king believed that since the emperor had no crown prince, if there were upheaval in the empire, the feudal lords would vie for power. He therefore intensified his preparations of weapons and war equipment, accumulating money to bribe and send gifts to wandering scholars, talented individuals, and influential figures among the commanderies, states, and vassal kings. Eloquent scholars who devised strategies fabricated superstitious prophecies and flattered the king; King Huainan, pleased by their words, gave them generous monetary rewards, and his plans for rebellion grew even more intense.
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淮南王有女陵，慧，有口辯。王愛陵，常多予金錢，為中诇長安，約結上左右。元朔三年，上賜淮南王几杖，不朝。淮南王王后荼，王愛幸之。王后生太子遷，遷取王皇太后外孫修成君女為妃。王謀為反具，畏太子妃知而內泄事，乃與太子謀，令詐弗愛，三月不同席。王乃詳為怒太子，閉太子使與妃同內三月，太子終不近妃。妃求去，王乃上書謝歸去之。王后荼、太子遷及女陵得愛幸王，擅國權，侵奪民田宅，妄致系人。 |
| | King Huainan had a daughter named Ling, who was intelligent and eloquent. The king loved Ling dearly and often gave her money to serve as an informant in Chang'an, where she formed secret connections with those close to the emperor. In the third year of Yuanshuo, the emperor bestowed a reading stand and walking stick upon King Huainan as a sign of respect, allowing him to refrain from attending court. Queen Tu, the queen consort of King Huainan, was favored and loved by the king. The queen gave birth to Crown Prince Qian; Qian married the daughter of Xiu Cheng Jun, who was the emperor's maternal grandmother. The king planned for rebellion and feared that his son-in-law might learn of it and leak the secret, so he conspired with the crown prince to feign indifference toward him, keeping them apart for three months. The king then pretended to be angry with the crown prince and confined him in a room together with his wife for three months, but the crown prince never approached her. When the princess requested to leave, the king wrote an imperial petition and sent her back in disgrace. Queen Tu, Crown Prince Qian, and daughter Ling were all favored by King Huainan; they monopolized state power, encroached upon the farmland and homes of commoners, and arbitrarily detained people.
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元朔五年，太子學用劍，自以為人莫及，聞郎中雷被巧，乃召與戲。被一再辭讓，誤中太子。太子怒，被恐。此時有欲從軍者輒詣京師，被即願奮擊匈奴。太子遷數惡被於王，王使郎中令斥免，欲以禁后，被遂亡至長安，上書自明。詔下其事廷尉、河南。河南治，逮淮南太子，王、王后計欲無遣太子，遂發兵反，計猶豫，十餘日未定。會有詔，即訊太子。當是時，淮南相怒壽春丞留太子逮不遣，劾不敬。王以請相，相弗聽。王使人上書告相，事下廷尉治。蹤跡連王，王使人候伺漢公卿，公卿請逮捕治王。王恐事發，太子遷謀曰：「漢使即逮王，王令人衣衛士衣，持戟居庭中，王旁有非是，則刺殺之，臣亦使人刺殺淮南中尉，乃舉兵，未晚。」是時上不許公卿請，而遣漢中尉宏即訊驗王。王聞漢使來，即如太子謀計。漢中尉至，王視其顏色和，訊王以斥雷被事耳，王自度無何，不發。中尉還，以聞。公卿治者曰：「淮南王安擁閼奮擊匈奴者雷被等，廢格明詔，當棄市。」詔弗許。公卿請廢勿王，詔弗許。公卿請削五縣，詔削二縣。使中尉宏赦淮南王罪，罰以削地。中尉入淮南界，宣言赦王。王初聞漢公卿請誅之，未知得削地，聞漢使來，恐其捕之，乃與太子謀刺之如前計。及中尉至，即賀王，王以故不發。其後自傷曰：「吾行仁義見削，甚恥之。」然淮南王削地之后，其為反謀益甚。諸使道從長安來，為妄妖言，言上無男，漢不治，即喜；即言漢廷治，有男，王怒，以為妄言，非也。 |
| | In the fifth year of Yuanshuo, Crown Prince Qian studied swordsmanship and believed no one could match his skill. Upon hearing that Langzhong Lei Bei was particularly skilled, he summoned him for a sparring match. Lei Bei repeatedly declined the challenge out of courtesy, but accidentally struck the crown prince during their exchange. The crown prince became angry, and Lei Bei was terrified. At this time, those who wished to join the army would go directly to the capital; Lei Bei immediately expressed his desire to fight against the Xiongnu. Crown Prince Qian repeatedly spoke ill of Lei Bei to the king, and King Huainan ordered Langzhong Ling to expel him in order to prevent further complaints. As a result, Lei Bei fled to Chang'an and submitted a petition to clear his name. The emperor issued an edict referring the matter to Tingwei (the Minister of Justice) and Henan Commandery for investigation. Henan investigated the case, leading to the arrest of Crown Prince Qian. King Huainhan and Queen Tu plotted not to send their son away, so they decided to raise an army in rebellion; however, they hesitated for over ten days without making a final decision. Just then, an imperial decree arrived ordering the immediate interrogation of the crown prince. At that time, the prime minister of Huainhan was angry with Shouchun Cheng for detaining the crown prince and failing to send him off as ordered, and he impeached Cheng for showing disrespect. The king pleaded with his prime minister on behalf of Shouchun Cheng, but the prime minister refused to listen. King Huainhan sent someone to submit a petition accusing his prime minister; the matter was referred to Tingwei for investigation. The investigation revealed evidence linking King Huainhan himself, so he sent men to spy on the Han officials in the imperial court. The high-ranking officials then requested that the king be arrested and investigated. Fearing that the plot would be uncovered, Crown Prince Qian advised: "If Han officials come to arrest Your Majesty, have men dressed as imperial guards hold halberds and stand in the courtyard. If anyone approaches improperly near the king, they should stab and kill them. I will also send people to assassinate the Commander of Huainhan Commandery; then we can raise our troops—it is not too late." At that time, however, the emperor did not approve the request of his officials but instead sent Han Zhongwei Hong to interrogate and investigate King Huainhan. When King Huainhan learned that a Han official had arrived, he immediately followed the plan devised by his son. When the Han Zhongwei arrived, King Huainhan observed that his expression was calm and realized that he had only come to question him about the matter of Lei Bei. Concluding that there was no immediate danger, the king did not take any action. The Zhongwei returned and reported this to the emperor. The high-ranking officials handling the case said: "King Huainhan An obstructed Lei Bei and others who wished to fight against the Xiongnu, defying clear imperial edicts; he should be executed in public." The emperor did not approve this. The high-ranking officials requested that King Huainhan be stripped of his title and no longer allowed to rule, but the emperor again refused their request. The high-ranking officials petitioned for the reduction of five counties from Huainhan's territory; the emperor decreed that two counties be taken away instead. The emperor sent Zhongwei Hong to pardon King Huainhan of his crimes, but punished him by reducing his territory. When the Zhongwei entered the borders of Huainhan, he publicly announced the emperor's pardon for King Huainhan. Initially, when the king heard that Han officials had requested his execution, he did not know about the emperor's decision to reduce his territory. Upon learning of the arrival of a Han envoy, fearing arrest, King Huainhan once again conspired with Crown Prince Qian to assassinate him as previously planned. When the Zhongwei arrived and instead congratulated King Huainhan, the king did not carry out his plan. Later, he lamented to himself: "I practiced benevolence and righteousness yet still lost territory—it is a great shame." Nevertheless, after the reduction of his territory, King Huainhan's plans for rebellion became even more intense. Whenever envoys or messengers came from Chang'an, they spread superstitious lies claiming that the emperor had no male heirs and that Han was in decline; King Huainhan would rejoice at such news. If they reported instead that the imperial court was well governed and had a male heir, he would become angry, dismissing their words as lies.
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王日夜與伍被、左吳等案輿地圖，部署兵所從入。王曰：「上無太子，宮車即晏駕，廷臣必徵膠東王，不即常山王，諸侯并爭，吾可以無備乎！且吾高祖孫，親行仁義，陛下遇我厚，吾能忍之；萬世之後，吾寧能北面臣事豎子乎！」 |
| | Day and night, King Huainhan plotted with Wu Bei, Zuo Wu, and others by studying maps of the empire's geography, arranging where his troops would enter. The king said: "Since the emperor has no crown prince, when he passes away, the court ministers will surely summon King Jiaodong or else King Changshan. With all the feudal lords vying for power, how can I afford to be unprepared!" "And yet I am a grandson of Emperor Gaozu and have personally practiced benevolence and righteousness. The Son of Heaven has treated me kindly, so I can endure this; "Yet after a thousand generations, how could I possibly bow my head and serve as a subject to some upstart!"
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王坐東宮，召伍被與謀，曰：「將軍上。」被悵然曰：「上寬赦大王，王復安得此亡國之語乎！臣聞子胥諫吳王，吳王不用，乃曰『臣今見麋鹿游姑蘇之臺也』。今臣亦見宮中生荊棘，露霑衣也。」王怒，系伍被父母，囚之三月。復召曰：「將軍許寡人乎？」被曰：「不，直來為大王畫耳。臣聞聰者聽於無聲，明者見於未形，故聖人萬舉萬全。昔文王一動而功顯于千世，列為三代，此所謂因天心以動作者也，故海內不期而隨。此千歲之可見者。夫百年之秦，近世之吳楚，亦足以喻國家之存亡矣。臣不敢避子胥之誅，願大王毋為吳王之聽。昔秦絕聖人之道，殺術士，燔詩書，棄禮義，尚詐力，任刑罰，轉負海之粟致之西河。當是之時，男子疾耕不足於糟糠，女子紡績不足於蓋形。遣蒙恬筑長城，東西數千里，暴兵露師常數十萬，死者不可勝數，僵尸千里，流血頃畝，百姓力竭，欲為亂者十家而五。又使徐福入海求神異物，還為偽辭曰：『臣見海中大神，言曰：「汝西皇之使邪？」臣答曰：「然。」「汝何求？」曰：「願請延年益壽藥。」神曰：「汝秦王之禮薄，得觀而不得取。」即從臣東南至蓬萊山，見芝成宮闕，有使者銅色而龍形，光上照天。於是臣再拜問曰：「宜何資以獻？」海神曰：「以令名男子若振女與百工之事，即得之矣。」』秦皇帝大說，遣振男女三千人，資之五穀種種百工而行。徐福得平原廣澤，止王不來。於是百姓悲痛相思，欲為亂者十家而六。又使尉佗踰五嶺攻百越。尉佗知中國勞極，止王不來，使人上書，求女無夫家者三萬人，以為士卒衣補。秦皇帝可其萬五千人。於是百姓離心瓦解，欲為亂者十家而七。客謂高皇帝曰：『時可矣。』高皇帝曰：『待之，聖人當起東南閒。』不一年，陳勝吳廣發矣。高皇始於豐沛，一倡天下不期而響應者不可勝數也。此所謂蹈瑕候閒，因秦之亡而動者也。百姓願之，若旱之望雨，故起於行陳之中而立為天子，功高三王，德傳無窮。今大王見高皇帝得天下之易也，獨不觀近世之吳楚乎？夫吳王賜號為劉氏祭酒，復不朝，王四郡之眾，地方數千里，內鑄消銅以為錢，東煑海水以為鹽，上取江陵木以為船，一船之載當中國數十兩車，國富民眾。行珠玉金帛賂諸侯宗室大臣，獨竇氏不與。計定謀成，舉兵而西。破於大梁，敗於狐父，奔走而東，至於丹徒，越人禽之，身死絕祀，為天下笑。夫以吳越之眾不能成功者何？誠逆天道而不知時也。方今大王之兵眾不能十分吳楚之一，天下安寧有萬倍於秦之時，願大王從臣之計。大王不從臣之計，今見大王事必不成而語先泄也。臣聞微子過故國而悲，於是作麥秀之歌，是痛紂之不用王子比干也。故孟子曰『紂貴為天子，死曾不若匹夫』。是紂先自絕於天下久矣，非死之日而天下去之。今臣亦竊悲大王棄千乘之君，必且賜絕命之書，為群臣先，死於東宮也。」於是［王］氣怨結而不揚，涕滿匡而橫流，即起，歷階而去。 |
| | The king sat in the eastern palace and summoned Wu Bei for consultation, saying: "General, please speak." Wu Bei looked dejected and said: "The emperor has shown great leniency toward Your Majesty. How can you still utter such words of national ruin?"! "I have heard that Wu Zixu advised King Goujian of Wu, but when the king refused to listen, he said: 'I foresee a time when deer will be seen roaming freely on the terrace of Gu Su.'" "Now I too see thorny brambles growing in the palace, and my clothes are soaked by dew." The king became angry and imprisoned Wu Bei's parents, holding them captive for three months. He summoned him again and asked: "Will General agree to assist me?" Wu Bei replied: "No, I only came to advise Your Majesty." "I have heard that the wise listen before sound is made and see clearly before things take shape, which is why sages achieve complete success in all their endeavors." "In the past, King Wen took one action and his achievements became renowned for a thousand generations; he was ranked among the Three Sage Dynasties. This is what is called acting in accordance with Heaven's will—thus, people throughout the realm followed him without being summoned." This is a matter clearly evident over a thousand years. The hundred-year-old Qin dynasty and the recent Wu-Chu rebellion are also sufficient to illustrate the rise and fall of a state. "I dare not avoid punishment like Zixu, but I beg Your Majesty not to be deaf as King Goujian was." "In the past, Qin cut off the path of sages, killed scholars, burned poetry and books, abandoned rites and righteousness, valued deceit and force, relied on punishments, and transported grain from across the sea to the western river." At that time, men worked hard in farming yet could barely obtain enough for coarse grain and poor food; women spun and wove but still lacked sufficient cloth to cover their bodies. They sent Meng Tian to build the Great Wall, stretching thousands of li from east to west. Troops were constantly exposed in the open, numbering tens of thousands; the dead could not be counted, corpses littered for a thousand li, and blood flowed across fields. The people's strength was exhausted, and among ten families, five wished to rebel. They also sent Xu Fu into the sea in search of divine beings and rare treasures. He returned with false words, saying: "I saw a great deity in the ocean who asked me, 'Are you an envoy from the Western Emperor?'" "I replied, 'Yes.'" "'What do you seek?'" "I said: 'I wish to request the elixir of longevity.'" "The deity replied, 'Your Qin king's offerings are insufficient; you may see it but not take it.'" He then followed me to the southeast, reaching Penglai Mountain, where I saw a palace of lingzhi mushrooms. There were envoys with copper-colored skin and dragon-like forms, their light shining up into the sky. At that moment, I bowed twice and asked: "What offerings should be presented?" The sea deity said: 'Offer a man of noble name or a woman with outstanding skills, along with the work of a hundred craftsmen, and you will obtain it.'"' The Emperor of Qin was greatly pleased, so he sent 3,000 men and women with exceptional talents, providing them with various types of five grains and the skills of a hundred artisans to accompany Xu Fu on his journey. Xu Fu found a vast plain and fertile land, settled there, and did not return to the king. At that time, the common people grieved and longed for him; out of every ten households, six were inclined toward rebellion. He also sent Wei Tuo to cross the Five Ridges and attack the Baiyue. Wei Tuo, knowing that China was exhausted from labor and hardship, chose to remain king there rather than return. He sent envoys to submit a petition requesting 30,000 women without husbands for the soldiers' clothing and provisions. The Emperor of Qin approved the request for 15,000 of them. At that time, the people's loyalty to the state disintegrated like broken tiles; out of every ten households, seven were inclined toward rebellion. A guest told Emperor Gao: "The time is ripe now." Emperor Gao said, "Wait a while; a sage will rise in the southeast region." No sooner had one year passed than Chen Sheng and Wu Guang rose up. Emperor Gao began his campaign in Feng and Pei, and at the first call, countless people from all over the world responded without prior arrangement. This is what is called taking advantage of a flaw and waiting for an opportunity, acting upon the collapse of Qin. The people desired him as a drought desires rain, so he rose from among the ranks of soldiers and was enthroned as emperor. His achievements surpassed those of the Three Kings, and his virtue is passed down endlessly. Now, Your Majesty sees how easily Emperor Gao gained the empire; yet do you not observe recent events with Wu and Chu? King Wu was granted the title of Liu Shi Jiaoshi, yet he refused to pay homage. He ruled over four commanderies with territory spanning thousands of li. Internally, he cast cinnabar copper into coins; in the east, he boiled seawater for salt; from above, he took wood from Jiangling to build ships, each ship's capacity equaling dozens of Chinese carts, making his state rich and its people numerous. He sent pearls, jade, gold, and silk to bribe the feudal lords, imperial relatives, and high-ranking ministers; only the Dou family refused. With plans finalized and strategies decided, he raised his army and marched westward. He was defeated at Daliang, routed at Hufu, fled eastward, and reached Dan Tu. The Yue people captured him; he died, his ancestral rites ended, becoming a laughingstock to the world. Why was it that with the large forces of Wu and Yue they could not achieve success? It is because they truly defied the will of Heaven and failed to recognize the right time. Now, Your Majesty's forces are not even one-tenth the size of Wu and Chu's at their peak; yet peace throughout the land is ten thousand times greater than it was during Qin. I hope Your Majesty will follow my strategy. If Your Majesty does not heed my advice, then now you see that your endeavor must surely fail and the plot has already been revealed. I have heard that Wei Zi passed by his former capital and felt sorrow, so he composed the song "Mai Xiu," expressing grief over King Zhou's failure to heed Prince Bi Gan's advice. Therefore, Mencius said: "Zhou was as noble as a Son of Heaven, yet in death he was not even comparable to an ordinary man." It is because Zhou had long since cut himself off from the people of the world; it was not on the day he died that Heaven and Earth abandoned him. Now, I too secretly grieve for Your Majesty's abandonment of a thousand chariots' worth of power; you will surely receive the decree of death, be the first to die among your ministers in the East Palace." At this, [the King] was filled with resentment and suppressed anger, tears overflowing his cheeks and streaming sideways. He immediately rose, ascended the steps one by one, and left.
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王有孽子不害，最長，王弗愛，王、王后、太子皆不以為子兄數。不害有子建，材高有氣，常怨望太子不省其父；又怨時諸侯皆得分子弟為侯，而淮南獨二子，一為太子，建父獨不得為侯。建陰結交，欲告敗太子，以其父代之。太子知之，數捕系而榜笞建。建具知太子之謀欲殺漢中尉，即使所善壽春莊芷以元朔六年上書於天子曰：「毒藥苦於口利於病，忠言逆於耳利於行。今淮南王孫建，材能高，淮南王王后荼、荼子太子遷常疾害建。建父不害無罪，擅數捕系，欲殺之。今建在，可徵問，具知淮南陰事。」書聞，上以其事下廷尉，廷尉下河南治。是時故辟陽侯孫審卿善丞相公孫弘，怨淮南厲王殺其大父，乃深購淮南事於弘，弘乃疑淮南有畔逆計謀，深窮治其獄。河南治建，辭引淮南太子及黨與。淮南王患之，欲發，問伍被曰：「漢廷治亂？」伍被曰：「天下治。」王意不說，謂伍被曰：「公何以言天下治也？」被曰：「被竊觀朝廷之政，君臣之義，父子之親，夫婦之別，長幼之序，皆得其理，上之舉錯遵古之道，風俗紀綱未有所缺也。重裝富賈，周流天下，道無不通，故交易之道行。南越賓服，羌僰入獻，東甌入降，廣長榆，開朔方，匈奴折翅傷翼，失援不振。雖未及古太平之時，然猶為治也。」王怒，被謝死罪。王又謂被曰：「山東即有兵，漢必使大將軍將而制山東，公以為大將軍何如人也？」被曰：「被所善者黃義，從大將軍擊匈奴，還，告被曰：『大將軍遇士大夫有禮，於士卒有恩，眾皆樂為之用。騎上下山若蜚，材干絕人。』被以為材能如此，數將習兵，未易當也。及謁者曹梁使長安來，言大將軍號令明，當敵勇敢，常為士卒先。休舍，穿井未通，須士卒盡得水，乃敢飲。軍罷，卒盡已度河，乃度。皇太后所賜金帛，盡以賜軍吏。雖古名將弗過也。」王默然。 |
| | The king had an illegitimate son named Bu Hai, the eldest of his sons, but the king did not love him. Neither the king, the queen, nor the crown prince regarded him as a brother or son. Bu Hai had a son named Jian, who was talented and spirited, often resentful that the crown prince did not visit his father; He also resented the fact that at this time, all the feudal lords were allowed to enfeoff their sons and brothers as marquises, yet only two sons of Huainan had been granted titles—one was the crown prince, while Jian's father alone had not received a title. Jian secretly formed alliances and plots to expose the crown prince's faults in order to replace him with his own father. The crown prince learned of this, and repeatedly arrested Jian, binding him up and beating him severely. Jian was fully aware of the crown prince's plot to kill the Han Zhongwei, so he instructed his trusted associate Shouchun Zhuang Zhi to submit a memorial to the Son of Heaven in Yuanshuo year six: "Poison is bitter on the tongue but beneficial for illness; loyal words are harsh to the ear but advantageous for conduct. "Now, Prince Jian of Huainan is highly talented and capable; King Huainan's queen dowager Tu and her son, the crown prince Qian, have long harbored resentment toward Jian. lø Jian's father Bu Hai is innocent yet has been repeatedly arrested without authority and they intend to kill him. Now Jian is still alive; he can be summoned for interrogation, as he knows all about the secret affairs of Huainan." The memorial was received by the Son of Heaven, who ordered the Grand Court of Justice to investigate this matter. The Grand Court then passed it down for investigation in Henan Commandery. At that time, Sun Shenqing, the grandson of the late Biyang Hou, was on good terms with Chancellor Gongsun Hong. Resenting Prince Li of Huainan for having killed his great-grandfather, he secretly provided information about Huainan's affairs to Hong. Thus, Hong suspected that Huainan had plans of rebellion and treason, and thoroughly investigated the case. Henan Commandery interrogated Jian, whose testimony implicated Prince Li's crown prince and his associates. King Huainan was troubled by this situation and considered taking action. He asked Wu Bei, "Does the Han court deal with chaos?" Wu Bei replied: "The world is at peace." King Huainan was displeased and said to Wu Bei, "On what basis do you say the world is peaceful?" Bei replied: "I have secretly observed the administration of the imperial court, the righteousness between ruler and subject, the affection between father and son, the distinctions between husband and wife, and the order among the young and old—all are in harmony. The emperor's actions follow ancient principles; customs and institutions remain intact without any deficiencies." Wealthy merchants, heavily laden with goods, travel throughout the world, where no road is impassable; thus, trade flourishes. The Nan Yue submitted in tribute; the Qiang and Bo peoples offered their tributes. The Dong'ou surrendered, extending Han territory to Guangchangyu and opening Shuofang. The Xiongnu had their wings clipped and were left without support or strength. Though it has not yet reached the level of peace in ancient times, it is still a time of order." The king was furious, and Wu Bei apologized for his capital offense. The king then asked Wu Bei: "If there is a military campaign in Shandong, the Han will surely send a great general to lead and control Shandong. What do you think of this great general as a person?" Bei replied: "The person I know well is Huang Yi, who followed the great general in attacking the Xiongnu. When he returned, he told me: 'The great general treats scholars and officials with courtesy, shows kindness to his soldiers, and all are willing to serve him.' "He rides up and down the mountains as if flying; his talent is unparalleled." Bei believed that with such abilities, having led troops repeatedly and gained experience in warfare, he would be hard to oppose. And when the imperial envoy Cao Liang returned from Chang'an, he said that the great general gave clear orders and was brave in facing the enemy, often leading his soldiers into battle. When resting at a campsite, if wells were being dug but not yet completed, he would wait until all the soldiers had water before drinking himself. After the campaign ended, when his troops had all crossed the river, only then did he cross. The gold and silk bestowed by the Empress Dowager were entirely given to the military officers. Even ancient famous generals could not surpass him." The king fell silent.
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| | 淮南衡山... : |
淮南王見建已徵治，恐國陰事且覺，欲發，被又以為難，乃復問被曰：「公以為吳興兵是邪非也？」被曰：「以為非也。吳王至富貴也，舉事不當，身死丹徒，頭足異處，子孫無遺類。臣聞吳王悔之甚。願王孰慮之，無為吳王之所悔。」王曰：「男子之所死者一言耳。且吳何知反，漢將一日過成皋者四十餘人。今我令樓緩先要成皋之口，周被下潁川兵塞轘轅、伊闕之道，陳定發南陽兵守武關。河南太守獨有雒陽耳，何足憂。然此北尚有臨晉關、河東、上黨與河內、趙國。人言曰『絕成皋之口，天下不通』。據三川之險，招山東之兵，舉事如此，公以為何如？」被曰：「臣見其禍，未見其福也。」王曰：「左吳、趙賢、朱驕如皆以為有福，什事九成，公獨以為有禍無福，何也？」被曰：「大王之群臣近幸素能使眾者，皆前系詔獄，餘無可用者。」王曰：「陳勝、吳廣無立錐之地，千人之聚，起於大澤，奮臂大呼而天下響應，西至於戲而兵百二十萬。今吾國雖小，然而勝兵者可得十餘萬，非直適戍之眾，釠鑿棘矜也，公何以言有禍無福？」被曰：「往者秦為無道，殘賊天下。興萬乘之駕，作阿房之宮，收太半之賦，發閭左之戍，父不寧子，兄不便弟，政苛刑峻，天下熬然若焦，民皆引領而望，傾耳而聽，悲號仰天，叩心而怨上，故陳勝大呼，天下響應。當今陛下臨制天下，一齊海內，汎愛蒸庶，布德施惠。口雖未言，聲疾雷霆，令雖未出，化馳如神，心有所懷，威動萬里，下之應上，猶影響也。而大將軍材能不特章邯、楊熊也。大王以陳勝、吳廣諭之，被以為過矣。」王曰：「茍如公言，不可徼幸邪？」被曰：「被有愚計。」王曰：「柰何？」被曰：「當今諸侯無異心，百姓無怨氣。朔方之郡田地廣，水草美，民徙者不足以實其地。臣之愚計，可偽為丞相御史請書，徙郡國豪桀任俠及有耐罪以上，赦令除其罪，產五十萬以上者，皆徙其家屬朔方之郡，益發甲卒，急其會日。又偽為左右都司空上林中都官詔獄（逮）書，［逮］諸侯太子幸臣。如此則民怨，諸侯懼，即使辯武隨而說之，儻可徼幸什得一乎？」王曰：「此可也。雖然，吾以為不至若此。」於是王乃令官奴入宮，作皇帝璽，丞相、御史、大將軍、軍吏、中二千石、都官令、丞印，及旁近郡太守、都尉印，漢使節法冠，欲如伍被計。使人偽得罪而西，事大將軍、丞相；一日發兵，使人即刺殺大將軍青，而說丞相下之，如發蒙耳。 |
| | King Huainan, seeing that Jian had already been summoned for investigation, feared that the hidden affairs of his state would soon be discovered. He considered taking action but Wu Bei again advised against it. So he asked Wu Bei once more: "Do you think the rebellion by Wu was right or wrong?" Wu Bei said, "I believe it was wrong." King Wu had reached great wealth and honor, yet his actions were inappropriate. He died in Dan Tu, head and feet separated, with no descendants left to carry on his lineage. I have heard that King Wu deeply regretted it. I hope Your Majesty carefully considers this and does not repeat the mistakes for which King Wu later repented." The king said, "For a man, death comes from but one word. Moreover, how could Wu have known to rebel? In a single day, more than forty Han generals passed through Chenggao. Now I have ordered Lou Huan to first block the entrance of Chenggao, Zhou Bei to lead troops from Yingchuan to block the roads at Huanyuan and Yique, and Chen Ding to mobilize forces from Nanyang to guard Wuguan. The governor of Henan has only Luoyang under his control; there is no need for concern. Yet to the north, there are still the Linjin Pass, Hedong, Shangdang, and Hedong Commandery in Zhao State. People say: 'Cut off the entrance to Chenggao, and no one can pass through the world.' If we control the perilous terrain of Sanchuan and raise troops from Shandong, launching a campaign in this way, what do you think, sir?" Wu Bei replied: "I see only disaster, not any benefit." The king said: "Zuo Wu, Zhao Xian, Zhu Jiao Ru and others all believe there will be blessings; ten matters nine are accomplished. You alone think it brings disaster without benefit—why is that?" Wu Bei replied: "Your Majesty's ministers and favored officials who have always been able to command the masses were all previously arrested by imperial decree. There are no others left who can be used." The king said: "Chen Sheng and Wu Guang had no land even to plant a cone, yet with an assembly of only one thousand men, they rose from the marshes. With a single cry, the whole world responded; their forces extended westward as far as Xi, numbering 120,000 troops." "Now, although my state is small, I can still raise more than 100,000 soldiers capable of battle. These are not merely conscripted 戍 troops wielding farm tools and sticks as Chen Sheng did—why then do you say there will be disaster without benefit?" Wu Bei replied: "In the past, Qin was lawless and cruel to all under heaven. It raised a vast imperial entourage, built the Afang Palace, levied heavy taxes taking more than half of people's produce, and conscripted commoners for military service. Fathers were not at peace with their sons, elder brothers did not get along well with younger ones. The government was harsh and punishments severe; the world suffered as if burned to a crisp. People looked up in sorrow, listened eagerly, wept toward heaven, and pounded their chests in resentment of the ruler. Hence, when Chen Sheng cried out, the whole land responded." Now, His Majesty rules over all under heaven, unifying the realm. He universally loves and cares for the people, spreading virtue and bestowing kindness. Though he has not yet spoken, his voice is as swift as thunder; though orders have not been issued, their influence spreads like magic. When the Son of Heaven harbors a thought in mind, his authority stirs across ten thousand li. The people below respond to him as shadow follows form or echo follows sound. And the great general's talent is no less than that of Zhang Han and Yang Xiong. Your Majesty compares yourself to Chen Sheng and Wu Guang; I believe this is a mistake," said Bei. The king asked: "If as you say, then there's no chance of success by luck?" Bei replied: "I have a foolish plan." The king asked, "What is it?" Bei said: "Now the feudal lords have no rebellious intentions and the people harbor no resentment. The Shuofang commandery has vast tracts of fertile land and abundant water and grass, yet the number of migrants is insufficient to populate it. My foolish plan is to forge a document as if issued by the Chancellor and the Imperial Censor, requesting that we relocate powerful local gentry, wandering knights-errant, and those with serious crimes or above. We should pardon them and clear their records of guilt; for those whose property exceeds 500,000 coins, we should also move their families to Shuofang Commandery. Additionally, we can urgently mobilize more soldiers and set strict deadlines for their assembly. We should also forge documents as if issued by the Left and Right Grand Works Commissioners of the Shanglin 苑 Central Officials' Imperial Prison (to arrest) [and] arrest the favored ministers of the feudal lords' crown princes. If we do this, the people will become resentful and the feudal lords fearful. Even if we then send Bianshu to persuade them, perhaps there is a one in ten chance of success by luck?" The king said: "This may work." "Nevertheless," the king added, "I believe it will not come to this extent." Thus, the king ordered his palace slaves to enter the palace and forge an imperial seal, as well as seals for the Chancellor, Imperial Censor, Grand General, military officers, officials of the rank of Zhong Erqianshi, commandery and office magistrates and their deputies, and even the seals of neighboring commandery governors and military commanders. He also prepared Han-style diplomatic staffs and ceremonial hats, intending to follow Wu Bei's plan. He sent men pretending to have committed a crime westward, to report the matter to the Grand General and Chancellor; On one day, we will raise our troops and send men to assassinate the Grand General Qing, while persuading the Chancellor to surrender. It would be as easy as peeling off a blindfold.
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| | 淮南衡山... : |
王欲發國中兵，恐其相、二千石不聽。王乃與伍被謀，先殺相、二千石；偽失火宮中，相、二千石救火，至即殺之。計未決，又欲令人衣求盜衣，持羽檄，從東方來，呼曰「南越兵入界」，欲因以發兵。乃使人至廬江、會稽為求盜，未發。王問伍被曰：「吾舉兵西鄉，諸侯必有應我者；即無應，柰何？」被曰：「南收衡山以擊廬江，有尋陽之船，守下雉之城，結九江之浦，絕豫章之口，彊弩臨江而守，以禁南郡之下，東收江都、會稽，南通勁越，屈彊江淮閒，猶可得延歲月之壽。」王曰：「善，無以易此。急則走越耳。」 |
| | The king wanted to mobilize troops within his state, but he feared that the Chancellor and officials of rank Erqianshi would not obey him. Therefore, the king plotted with Wu Bei to first kill the Chancellor and the Erqianshi officials; They would fake a fire breaking out in the palace, and when the Chancellor and Erqianshi officials rushed to put it out, they could kill them upon their arrival. The plan had not yet been finalized, and the king also wanted to send men dressed in clothes of common thieves, carrying feathered emergency proclamations, coming from the east, shouting, "Nanyue troops have crossed into our territory," so as to use this as a pretext to raise an army. He thus sent men to Lujiang and Kuaiji to act as common thieves, but the plan had not yet been carried out. The king asked Wu Bei: "If I raise my troops and march westward, there must be feudal lords who will respond to me; if none do, what then?" Bei said: "We can move south to capture Hengshan and attack Lujiang, seize the boats of Xunyang, defend the city of Xiachi, establish strongholds at the piers of Jiujiang, block the mouth of Yuzhang Commandery, station powerful crossbowmen along the river for defense, and prevent forces from Nanjun from advancing. Moving eastward to capture Jiangdu and Kuaiji, we can also connect with the powerful Yue people in the south. By dominating the Huaihe and Yangtze regions, we could still prolong our time by several years." The king said: "Good, there is nothing better than this plan. If things become urgent, we can just flee to Yue."
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| | 淮南衡山... : |
於是廷尉以王孫建辭連淮南王太子遷聞。上遣廷尉監因拜淮南中尉，逮捕太子。至淮南，淮南王聞，與太子謀召相、二千石，欲殺而發兵。召相，相至；內史以出為解。中尉曰：「臣受詔使，不得見王。」王念獨殺相而內史中尉不來，無益也，即罷相。王猶豫，計未決。太子念所坐者謀刺漢中尉，所與謀者已死，以為口絕，乃謂王曰：「群臣可用者皆前系，今無足與舉事者。王以非時發，恐無功，臣願會逮。」王亦偷欲休，即許太子。太子即自剄，不殊。伍被自詣吏，因告與淮南王謀反，反蹤跡具如此。 |
| | At this time, the Minister of Justice reported that Wang Sunjian's accusations implicated Crown Prince Qian of the Kingdom of Huainan. The emperor sent a supervisor from the Ministry of Justice, who was appointed as the Inspector of Huainan Commandery, to arrest the crown prince. When they arrived at Huainan, King Huainan learned of this and plotted with his son to summon the Chancellor and officials of Erqianshi rank, intending to kill them and raise an army. They summoned the Chancellor, who arrived; the Chief Administrator of Internal Affairs claimed to be out as an excuse. The Inspector said: "I have received imperial orders and cannot meet the king." Realizing that killing only the Chancellor while the Chief Administrator, Inspector, and others did not come would be of no benefit, King Huainan dismissed the Chancellor. The king hesitated; his plan was still undecided. The crown prince, thinking that the crime he was charged with was plotting to assassinate a Han Inspector of Justice and those who had conspired with him were already dead, believed there would be no further accusations. He then told the king: "All officials capable of being used have been previously detained; now there is no one left worthy of joining us in an uprising." The king thought that launching a rebellion at this time would likely be fruitless, so he said: "I wish to surrender and await arrest." The king also secretly wanted to cease hostilities and thus agreed with the crown prince. The crown prince then cut his own throat, but did not die immediately. Wu Bei turned himself in to the authorities and confessed that he had conspired with King Huainan to rebel, detailing all the evidence of their conspiracy as such.
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吏因捕太子、王后，圍王宮，盡求捕王所與謀反賓客在國中者，索得反具以聞。上下公卿治，所連引與淮南王謀反列侯二千石豪傑數千人，皆以罪輕重受誅。衡山王賜，淮南王弟也，當坐收，有司請逮捕衡山王。天子曰：「諸侯各以其國為本，不當相坐。與諸侯王列侯會肄丞相諸侯議。」趙王彭祖、列侯臣讓等四十三人議，皆曰：「淮南王安甚大逆無道，謀反明白，當伏誅。」膠西王臣端議曰：「淮南王安廢法行邪，懷詐偽心，以亂天下，熒惑百姓，倍畔宗廟，妄作妖言。春秋曰『臣無將，將而誅』。安罪重於將，謀反形已定。臣端所見其書節印圖及他逆無道事驗明白，甚大逆無道，當伏其法。而論國吏二百石以上及比者，宗室近幸臣不在法中者，不能相教，當皆免官削爵為士伍，毋得宦為吏。其非吏，他贖死金二斤八兩。以章臣安之罪，使天下明知臣子之道，毋敢復有邪僻倍畔之意。」丞相弘、廷尉湯等以聞，天子使宗正以符節治王。未至，淮南王安自剄殺。王后荼、太子遷諸所與謀反者皆族。天子以伍被雅辭多引漢之美，欲勿誅。廷尉湯曰：「被首為王畫反謀，被罪無赦。」遂誅被。國除為九江郡。 |
| | The officials then arrested the crown prince and the queen, surrounded the king's palace, and captured all of King Huainan's guests who had conspired in the rebellion within the kingdom. They searched for and seized all evidence of the conspiracy to report it upwards. The emperor and high-ranking officials investigated the case, and thousands of marquises, Erqianshi-level officials, and powerful local figures who were implicated in having conspired with King Huainan in rebellion were all punished to varying degrees according to the severity of their crimes. King Cai of Hengshan, who was the younger brother of King Huainan, should have been implicated and arrested. The officials requested that King Hengshan be taken into custody. The emperor said: "Each feudal lord governs his own state independently; they should not bear collective responsibility for each other's crimes. I will convene a meeting with the feudal kings, marquises, and Chancellor to discuss this matter among the feudal lords." King Pengzu of Zhao, Marquis Rang and forty-two others deliberated, all saying: "Prince An of Huainan committed a most heinous act of treason and was clearly plotting rebellion; he should be executed for his crimes." Chen Duan, a minister of King Jiaoxi, argued: "Prince An of Huainan abandoned the law and pursued evil deeds, harboring deceitful and false intentions to disturb the realm, misleading the people, betraying the ancestral temple, and recklessly spreading superstitious lies. The Spring and Autumn Annals says: 'Ministers must not take up arms; if they do, they should be punished.' An's crime is more serious than that of a general, and his plot to rebel has already been clearly established. Minister Duan personally examined the documents, seals, diagrams, and other evidence of his treasonous and inhumane acts, which were clearly verified. His crime is a most serious act of treachery and inhumanity; he should be subjected to due punishment under the law." Those state officials of rank 200 Shi and above, as well as those comparable to them, who failed in their duty to advise or restrain the king, should all be dismissed from office, stripped of their titles, reduced to commoners, and forbidden from holding any official position. Those who are not officials shall pay a fine of two jin and eight liang in gold as redemption for their death penalty. This will serve to highlight the crime of Prince An and make it clear throughout the realm what is expected of subjects, so that no one dares again entertain wicked or disloyal thoughts." The Chancellor Hong and the Minister of Justice Tang reported this to the emperor, who then dispatched an official from the Office of the Imperial Clan Keeper with a token and imperial decree to deal with King Huainan. Before they arrived, Prince An of Huainan cut his own throat and died. The queen dowager Tu, Crown Prince Qian, and all those who had conspired in rebellion with them were exterminated along with their entire clans. The emperor considered that Wu Bei's formal submission contained many references praising the Han dynasty and wished not to execute him. Minister of Justice Tang said: "Wu Bei was the first to devise a plan for rebellion on behalf of the king; his crime is unforgivable." Thus, Wu Bei was executed. The kingdom was abolished and reorganized as Jiujiang Commandery.
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| | 淮南衡山... : |
衡山王賜，王后乘舒生子三人，長男爽為太子，次男孝，次女無采。又姬徐來生子男女四人，美人厥姬生子二人。衡山王、淮南王兄弟相責望禮節，閒不相能。衡山王聞淮南王作為畔逆反具，亦心結賓客以應之，恐為所并。 |
| | King Cai of Hengshan had three sons by his queen dowager Chengshu: the eldest son, Shuang, was the crown prince; the second son, Xiao; and the third daughter, Wucai. He also had four sons and daughters by his concubine Xu Lai, and two sons by the beauty Jueji. King Hengshan and King Huainan were brothers who often blamed each other for breaches of etiquette, and they did not get along well. King Hengshan learned that King Huainan had prepared for rebellion, and he also secretly gathered guests to respond in kind, fearing that he might be swallowed up by him.
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| | 淮南衡山... : |
元光六年，衡山王入朝，其謁者衛慶有方術，欲上書事天子，王怒，故劾慶死罪，彊榜服之。衡山內史以為非是，卻其獄。王使人上書告內史，內史治，言王不直。王又數侵奪人田，壞人冢以為田。有司請逮治衡山王。天子不許，為置吏二百石以上。衡山王以此恚，與奚慈、張廣昌謀，求能為兵法候星氣者，日夜從容王密謀反事。 |
| | In the sixth year of Yuanguang, King Hengshan paid a court visit. His attendant Wei Qing had knowledge of esoteric arts and wished to submit a memorial to the emperor. The king was angry about this, so he falsely accused Qing of capital punishment and forced him to confess under torture. The Chief Administrator of Hengshan believed it unjust and rejected the case. King Hengshan sent men to submit a memorial accusing the Chief Administrator, but when the matter was investigated by the authorities, it was found that King Hengshan himself had acted unjustly. The king also repeatedly encroached upon and seized other people's farmland, destroying tombs to convert them into fields for his own use. The officials requested that King Hengshan Wang be arrested and investigated. The emperor did not approve, but instead appointed officials of rank 200shi or above for the kingdom. King Hengshan was thus enraged and plotted with Xi Ci, Zhang Guangchang, and others to seek out individuals skilled in military strategy and the observation of celestial omens. Day and night, they leisurely engaged in secret discussions about rebellion for the king.
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| | 淮南衡山... : |
王后乘舒死，立徐來為王后。厥姬俱幸。兩人相妒，厥姬乃惡王后徐來於太子曰：「徐來使婢蠱道殺太子母。」太子心怨徐來。徐來兄至衡山，太子與飲，以刃刺傷王后兄。王后怨怒，數毀惡太子於王。太子女弟無采，嫁棄歸，與奴姦，又與客姦。太子數讓無采，無采怒，不與太子通。王后聞之，即善遇無采。無采及中兄孝少失母，附王后，王后以計愛之，與共毀太子，王以故數擊笞太子。元朔四年中，人有賊傷王后假母者，王疑太子使人傷之，笞太子。後王病，太子時稱病不侍。孝王后、無采惡太子：「太子實不病，自言病，有喜色。」王大怒，欲廢太子，立其弟孝。王后知王決廢太子，又欲并廢孝。王后有侍者，善舞，王幸之，王后欲令侍者與孝亂以汙之，欲并廢兄弟而立其子廣代太子。太子爽知之，念后數惡己無已時，欲與亂以止其口。王后飲，太子前為壽，因據王后股，求與王后臥。王后怒，以告王。王乃召，欲縛而笞之。太子知王常欲廢己立其弟孝，乃謂王曰：「孝與王御者姦，無采與奴姦，王彊食，請上書。」即倍王去。王使人止之，莫能禁，乃自駕追捕太子。太子妄惡言，王械系太子宮中。孝日益親幸。王奇孝材能，乃佩之王印，號曰將軍，令居外宅，多給金錢，招致賓客。賓客來者，微知淮南、衡山有逆計，日夜從容勸之。王乃使孝客江都人救赫、陳喜作輣車鏃矢，刻天子璽，將相軍吏印。王日夜求壯士如周丘等，數稱引吳楚反時計畫，以約束。衡山王非敢效淮南王求即天子位，畏淮南起并其國，以為淮南已西，發兵定江淮之閒而有之，望如是。 |
| | After Queen Dowager Chengshu died, Xu Lai was installed as the new queen dowager. Jueji also enjoyed his favor. 𝑙 The two women became jealous of each other, and Jueji slandered Queen Dowager Xu Lai to the crown prince, saying: "Xu Lai has sent her maids to use witchcraft to kill your mother." The crown prince harbored resentment toward Xu Lai. Xu Lai's elder brother came to Hengshan, and the crown prince invited him for a drink, then stabbed and injured Queen Dowager Xu Lai's brother with a blade. Queen Dowager Xu Lai became resentful and angry, repeatedly speaking ill of the crown prince to the king. The princess's younger sister, Wucai, after being divorced and returning home, had an affair with a slave and also engaged in relationships with other men. The crown prince repeatedly reprimanded Wucai for this, which angered her, so she refused to have any contact with the crown prince. Queen Dowager Xu Lai heard about it and began treating Wucai kindly. Wucai, along with her elder brother Xiao, had lost their mother at a young age and thus attached themselves to the queen dowager. The queen dowager devised plans to show affection toward them, and together they spread malicious rumors about the crown prince. Because of this, the king repeatedly beat the crown prince with a stick. In the middle of Yuanshuo year four, someone secretly injured the queen dowager's foster mother. The king suspected that the crown prince had sent someone to do it and beat the prince with a stick as punishment. Later, when the king fell ill, the crown prince claimed illness and did not attend him. King Xiao, Queen Dowager Xu Lai, and Wucai slandered the crown prince: "The crown prince is actually not ill; he falsely claimed to be sick with a look of joy on his face." The king was furious and wanted to depose the crown prince, replacing him with his younger brother Xiao. Queen Dowager knew that the king had decided to deposed the crown prince, and she also wanted to have Xiao removed from consideration as heir. The queen dowager had a female attendant who was skilled in dancing, and the king favored her. The queen dowager wanted to have this servant engage in an affair with Xiao to disgrace him, hoping thereby to remove both brothers from consideration for heir and instead install her own son Guang as crown prince. The crown prince Shuang learned of this, and realizing that the queen dowager would not cease in her malicious accusations against him, he decided to engage with her servant in an affair in order to silence her. While the queen dowager was drinking, the crown prince approached to offer a toast and then grabbed her thigh, requesting to sleep with her. The queen dowager became angry and reported this incident to the king. The king summoned him, intending to bind him and beat him with a stick. The crown prince knew that the king often wanted to depose him and instead install his younger brother Xiao, so he told the king: "Xiao has engaged in an affair with your concubine, Wucai with a slave. You are forcing me to eat this injustice; I will submit a memorial." He immediately turned his back on the king and left. The king sent men to stop him, but none could prevent him from leaving; so he personally drove out to pursue and capture the crown prince. The crown prince made outrageous remarks, and as a result, the king put him in shackles and confined him within the palace. Xiao became increasingly favored and trusted by the king. The king was impressed by Xiao's talents and abilities, so he gave him the royal seal to wear, titled him "General," ordered him to reside in an outer residence, provided him with ample money, and instructed him to recruit guests. The guests who came gradually learned of the rebellious plans of Huainan and Hengshan, and day and night they leisurely advised Xiao. The king then ordered Xiao's guest Jiangdu native Jiu He and Chen Xi to make chariots, arrows with sharp tips, and carve imperial seals as well as the seals of generals, ministers, and military officials. The king day and night sought out strong men like Zhou Qiu, often citing the plans of Wu and Chu during their rebellion as a model to bind them together. King Hengshan did not dare to emulate King Huainan by seeking the imperial throne directly, but he feared that if Huainan rose in rebellion, it might swallow his own kingdom. He believed that once Huainan moved westward, it would raise an army and conquer the region between the Jiang and Huai rivers, and he aspired to do the same.
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| | 淮南衡山... : |
元朔五年秋，衡山王當朝，六年過淮南，淮南王乃昆弟語，除前卻，約束反具。衡山王即上書謝病，上賜書不朝。 |
| | In autumn of Yuanshuo Year Five, King Hengshan was scheduled to pay a court visit. In the sixth year, when he passed through Huainan on his way, King Huainan spoke with him as brothers and resolved past grievances, making plans for rebellion together. King Hengshan then submitted a memorial claiming illness to excuse himself from attending court, and the emperor sent him a letter granting permission not to attend.
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| | 淮南衡山... : |
元朔六年中，衡山王使人上書請廢太子爽，立孝為太子。爽聞，即使所善白嬴之長安上書，言孝作輣車鏃矢，與王御者姦，欲以敗孝。白嬴至長安，未及上書，吏捕嬴，以淮南事系。王聞爽使白嬴上書，恐言國陰事，即上書反告太子爽所為不道棄市罪事。事下沛郡治。元（朔七）［狩元］年冬，有司公卿下沛郡求捕所與淮南謀反者未得，得陳喜於衡山王子孝家。吏劾孝首匿喜。孝以為陳喜雅數與王計謀反，恐其發之，聞律先自告除其罪，又疑太子使白嬴上書發其事，即先自告，告所與謀反者救赫、陳喜等。廷尉治驗，公卿請逮捕衡山王治之。天子曰：「勿捕。」遣中尉安、大行息即問王，王具以情實對。吏皆圍王宮而守之。中尉大行還，以聞，公卿請遣宗正、大行與沛郡雜治王。王聞，即自剄殺。孝先自告反，除其罪；坐與王御婢姦，棄市。王后徐來亦坐蠱殺前王后乘舒，及太子爽坐王告不孝，皆棄市。諸與衡山王謀反者皆族。國除為衡山郡。 |
| | In the middle of Yuanshou Year Six, King Hengshan sent someone to submit a memorial requesting that Crown Prince Shuang be deposed and his younger brother Xiao be installed as crown prince instead. Shuang, upon hearing this, immediately sent Bai Ying, someone he trusted, to Chang'an to submit a memorial stating that Xiao had made chariots and arrows with sharp tips and committed adultery with the king's attendants, in an attempt to ruin Xiao. Bai Ying arrived at Chang'an but had not yet submitted his memorial when officials arrested him and detained him in connection with the Huainan affair. The king, upon learning that Shuang had sent Bai Ying to submit the memorial, feared that he would reveal secret matters of the kingdom and so submitted a counter-memorial accusing Crown Prince Shuang of committing crimes deserving public execution for his misconduct. The matter was referred to Pei Jun for investigation. In winter of the first year of Yuanshou, officials and ministers sent to Pei Jun in search of those who had conspired with Huainan in rebellion failed to find them, but they captured Chen Xi at the residence of Xiao, son of King Hengshan. The officials accused Xiao of harboring Chen Xi. Xiao believed that Chen Xi had often conspired with the king to rebel and feared that he might expose them. Hearing of a legal provision that allowed one who voluntarily confessed to have their crime pardoned, and suspecting that Crown Prince Shuang had sent Bai Ying's memorial to reveal this matter, Xiao decided to confess first, reporting those who had plotted rebellion with him—Jiu He, Chen Xi, and others. After the Ministry of Justice investigated and verified the case, the officials and ministers requested to arrest King Hengshan for interrogation. The emperor said: "Do not arrest him." He sent Zhongwei An and Daxing Xi to question the king immediately, and the king fully answered with the truth. The officials then surrounded the royal palace and stationed guards there. After Zhongwei Daxing returned and reported this, the officials and ministers requested that Zongzheng and Daxing be sent together with Pei Jun to jointly investigate King Hengshan. Upon hearing of this, the king immediately committed suicide by cutting his throat. Xiao had confessed to rebellion before being discovered and thus was pardoned; he was, however, found guilty of committing adultery with the king's concubine and was executed in public. The queen, Xu Lai, was also condemned for using witchcraft to kill the former queen, Chengshu; and Crown Prince Shuang was condemned by the king on charges of filial impiety. They were both executed in public. All those who had conspired against King Hengshan were exterminated, their entire clans wiped out. The kingdom was abolished and reorganized as Hengshan Commandery.
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| | 淮南衡山... : |
太史公曰：《》之所謂「戎狄是膺，荊舒是懲」，信哉是言也。淮南、衡山親為骨肉，疆土千里，列為諸侯，不務遵蕃臣職以承輔天子，而專挾邪僻之計，謀為畔逆，仍父子再亡國，各不終其身，為天下笑。此非獨王過也，亦其俗薄，臣下漸靡使然也。夫荊楚彊勇輕悍，好作亂，乃自古記之矣。 |
| | Grand Historian said: What the Book of Songs says, "We repel the Rong and Di, we punish Jing and Shu,"—this statement is indeed true. Huainan and Hengshan were closely related by blood, each ruling a territory of thousands of li, enfeoffed as feudal lords. Yet they did not strive to fulfill their duties as vassal ministers in supporting the Son of Heaven, but instead harbored wicked schemes, plotting rebellion. As a result, father and son both lost their kingdoms twice over; neither lived out his life, becoming objects of ridicule throughout the land. This was not merely the fault of the kings themselves, but also due to their shallow customs and the gradual corruption of their ministers and subjects that led to this outcome. The people of Jingchu are strong, brave, and reckless, prone to rebellion—this has been recorded since ancient times.
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