| | 荊燕世家: |
荊王劉賈者，諸劉，不知其何屬初起時。漢王元年，還定三秦，劉賈為將軍，定塞地，從東擊項籍。 |
| | Jing Wang Liu Jia was a member of the Liu clan, but it is unknown to which branch he belonged at first. In the first year of the Han Wang era, after returning to pacify the Three Qins, Liu Jia served as a general and secured Sai territory. He followed from the east to attack Xiang Ji.
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| | 荊燕世家: |
漢四年，漢王之敗成皋，北渡河，得張耳、韓信軍，軍修武，深溝高壘，使劉賈將二萬人，騎數百，渡白馬津入楚地，燒其積聚，以破其業，無以給項王軍食。已而楚兵擊劉賈，賈輒壁不肯與戰，而與彭越相保。 |
| | In the fourth year of the Han era, when King Han was defeated at Chenggao and crossed northward over the Yellow River, he joined with Zhang Er's and Han Xin's armies. They stationed in Xiuwu, digging deep ditches and building high fortifications. He sent Liu Jia to command 20,000 infantrymen and several hundred cavalrymen across Baima Jing into Chu territory, where they burned the stored supplies, thereby destroying their resources so that Xiang Wang's army could not be supplied with food. Later, when Chu forces attacked Liu Jia, he always remained in his defensive position and refused to engage them in battle, instead forming an alliance with Peng Yue.
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| | 荊燕世家: |
漢五年，漢王追項籍至固陵，使劉賈南渡淮圍壽春。還至，使人閒招楚大司馬周殷。周殷反楚，佐劉賈舉九江，迎武王黥布兵，皆會垓下，共擊項籍。漢王因使劉賈將九江兵，與太尉盧綰西南擊臨江王共尉。共尉已死，以臨江為南郡。 |
| | In the fifth year of the Han era, King Han pursued Xiang Ji to Guling and sent Liu Jia south across the Huai River to besiege Shouchun. After returning, he sent someone secretly to recruit Zhou Yin, the Grand Marshal of Chu. Zhou Yin rebelled against Chu and assisted Liu Jia in seizing control of Jiangxiu, where they welcomed the forces of King Wu Qing Bu. All their armies gathered at Gaixia to jointly attack Xiang Ji. King Han then ordered Liu Jia to lead the Jiangxiu forces and, together with Taiwei Lu Wan, attack Linjiang Wang Gong Wei in the southwest. After Gong Wei had died, the territory of Linjiang was reorganized as Nanjun.
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| | 荊燕世家: |
漢六年春，會諸侯於陳，廢楚王信，囚之，分其地為二國。當是時也，高祖子幼，昆弟少，又不賢，欲王同姓以鎮天下，乃詔曰：「將軍劉賈有功，及擇子弟可以為王者。」群臣皆曰：「立劉賈為荊王，王淮東五十二城；高祖弟交為楚王，王淮西三十六城。」因立子肥為齊王。始王昆弟劉氏也。 |
| | In spring of the sixth year of the Han era, the feudal lords gathered at Chen. King Chu Xin was deposed and imprisoned, and his territory was divided into two states. At that time, Emperor Gaozu's sons were young and his brothers few in number and lacking virtue. He wished to enfeoff kinsmen of the same surname to stabilize the empire, so he issued an edict saying: "General Liu Jia has rendered meritorious service; thus, we shall select among our descendants a suitable one who may be made king." The ministers all said: "Appoint Liu Jia as King of Jing, ruling over fifty-two cities in Huadong; Emperor Gaozu's younger brother Liu Jiao shall be made King of Chu, ruling over thirty-six cities in Huaxi." They then enfeoffed his son Pi as King of Qi. This was the beginning of enfeoffing Emperor Gaozu's brothers and other Liu clan relatives as kings.
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| | 荊燕世家: |
高祖十一年秋，淮南王黥布反，東擊荊。荊王賈與戰，不勝，走富陵，為布軍所殺。高祖自擊破布。十二年，立沛侯劉濞為吳王，王故荊地。 |
| | In autumn of the eleventh year of Emperor Gaozu, King Huainan Qing Bu rebelled and attacked Jing in the east. King Jing Jia engaged him in battle but was defeated, fled to Fuling, where he was killed by Qing Bu's forces. Emperor Gaozu personally led the campaign and defeated Qing Bu. In the twelfth year, Pei Hou Liu Bi was enfeoffed as King of Wu, ruling over the former territory of Jing.
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| | 荊燕世家: |
燕王劉澤者，諸劉遠屬也。高帝三年，澤為郎中。高帝十一年，澤以將軍擊陳豨，得王黃，為營陵侯。 |
| | Yan Wang Liu Ze was a distant relative among the Liu clan. In the third year of Emperor Gao's reign, Ze served as Langzhong. In the eleventh year of Emperor Giao's reign, Ze, as a general, attacked Chen Xi and captured Wang Huang, thereby being enfeoffed as Yingling Hou.
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| | 荊燕世家: |
高后時，齊人田生游乏資，以畫干營陵侯澤。澤大說之，用金二百斤為田生壽。田生已得金，即歸齊。二年，澤使人謂田生曰：「弗與矣。」田生如長安，不見澤，而假大宅，令其子求事呂后所幸大謁者張子卿。居數月，田生子請張卿臨，親修具。張卿許往。田生盛帷帳共具，譬如列侯。張卿驚。酒酣，乃屏人說張卿曰：「臣觀諸侯王邸弟百餘，皆高祖一切功臣。今呂氏雅故本推轂高帝就天下，功至大，又親戚太后之重。太后春秋長，諸呂弱，太后欲立呂產為［呂］王，王代。太后又重發之，恐大臣不聽。今卿最幸，大臣所敬，何不風大臣以聞太后，太后必喜。諸呂已王，萬戶侯亦卿之有。太后心欲之，而卿為內臣，不急發，恐禍及身矣。」張卿大然之，乃風大臣語太后。太后朝，因問大臣。大臣請立呂產為呂王。太后賜張卿千斤金，張卿以其半與田生。田生弗受，因說之曰：「呂產王也，諸大臣未大服。今營陵侯澤，諸劉，為大將軍，獨此尚觖望。今卿言太后，列十餘縣王之，彼得王，喜去，諸呂王益固矣。」張卿入言，太后然之。乃以營陵侯劉澤為瑯邪王。瑯邪王乃與田生之國。田生勸澤急行，毋留。出關，太后果使人追止之，已出，即還。 |
| | During the reign of Empress Dowager Gao, Tian Sheng, a native of Qi who was short on funds for his travels, presented strategies to Yingling Hou Ze in an attempt to gain support. Ze was greatly pleased with him and used 200 jin of gold to present a gift for Tian Sheng's longevity. After receiving the gold, Tian Sheng immediately returned to Qi. In the second year, Ze sent someone to tell Tian Sheng: "I will no longer support you." Tian Sheng went to Chang'an, did not visit Ze, but instead rented a large house and had his son seek employment with Zhang Ziqing, the favored eunuch of Empress Dowager Lü. After several months, Tian Sheng's son invited Zhang Qing to visit their home and personally prepared the banquet arrangements. Zhang Qing agreed to go. Tian Sheng arranged luxurious curtains and furnishings, making the banquet appear as if it were hosted by a marquis. Zhang Qing was astonished. When the wine had flowed freely, Tian Sheng dismissed the attendants and said to Zhang Qing: "I have observed over a hundred sons of feudal kings; they are all descendants of Emperor Gaozu's meritorious ministers. Now, the Lü family originally helped push Emperor Gao to gain control of the empire; their contribution was immense, and they are also closely related to the Empress Dowager's powerful position. The Empress Dowager is now old, and her Lü relatives are young; she wishes to appoint Lu Chan as King [of] Lü, ruling over Dai. She also fears that if the matter is raised again, the ministers may refuse to comply. Now you are her most favored eunuch, and respected by the ministers; why not suggest to the ministers that they report this matter to the Empress Dowager? She will surely be pleased. Once the Lü clan is enfeoffed as kings, and marquises of ten thousand households are created, it will also benefit you, my lord." "The Empress Dowager desires this in her heart, but as an inner court official, if you do not act quickly to promote it, disaster may befall you personally." Zhang Qing found the suggestion very reasonable and thus advised the ministers to speak with the Empress Dowager. When the Empress Dowager held court, she then inquired of the ministers. The ministers requested that Lu Chan be enfeoffed as King Lü. Empress Dowager granted Zhang Qing 1,000 jin of gold; Zhang Qing gave half of it to Tian Sheng. Tian Sheng refused, and advised him saying: "Now that Lu Chan is a king, the ministers have not yet fully submitted. At present, Yingling Hou Ze, a member of the Liu family, is a Grand General; he alone still feels discontented. If you advise the Empress Dowager to enfeoff him as king over more than ten counties, he will be pleased and leave his grievances behind; this would further consolidate the power of the Lü kings." Zhang Qing entered to report this suggestion, and Empress Dowager agreed. They then enfeoffed Yingling Hou Liu Ze as King Langya. King Langya thus granted Tian Sheng a fief within his kingdom. Tian Sheng advised Ze to act quickly and not delay. After leaving the pass, Empress Dowager indeed sent someone to chase after him and stop him; but since he had already exited, they returned without success.
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| | 荊燕世家: |
及太后崩，瑯邪王澤乃曰：「帝少，諸呂用事，劉氏孤弱。」乃引兵與齊王合謀西，欲誅諸呂。至梁，聞漢遣灌將軍屯滎陽，澤還兵備西界，遂跳驅至長安。代王亦從代至。諸將相與瑯邪王共立代王為天子。天子乃徙澤為燕王，乃復以瑯邪予齊，復故地。 |
| | After Empress Dowager died, King Langya Ze said: "The emperor is young and the Lü clan holds power; the Liu family is isolated and weak." He then led his troops to join forces with King Qi in a western campaign, intending to eliminate the Lü clan. When they reached Liang, they heard that Han had dispatched General Guan to station troops at Yingyang. Ze returned his forces to defend the western frontier and then hurriedly advanced toward Chang'an. King Dai also arrived from Dai. The generals and ministers, together with King Langya, jointly enthroned King Dai as emperor. The emperor then transferred Ze to be King of Yan and restored Langya back to Qi, returning it to its original territory.
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| | 荊燕世家: |
澤王燕二年，薨，謚為敬王。傳子嘉，為康王。 |
| | Ze ruled as king of Yan for two years before dying; he was posthumously honored with the title Jing Wang. The throne passed to his son Jia, who became King Kang.
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| | 荊燕世家: |
至孫定國，與父康王姬姦，生子男一人。奪弟妻為姬。與子女三人姦。定國有所欲誅殺臣肥如令郢人，郢人等告定國，定國使謁者以他法劾捕格殺郢人以滅口。至元朔元年，郢人昆弟復上書具言定國陰事，以此發覺。詔下公卿，皆議曰：「定國禽獸行，亂人倫，逆天，當誅。」上許之。定國自殺，國除為郡。 |
| | When it reached his grandson Dingguo, he committed adultery with his father King Kang's concubine and had one male child. He also took his brother's wife as his own concubine. He committed incest with three of his daughters. Dingguo wanted to execute Chen Feiru, the county magistrate of Feiru. When Yin Reng and others informed Dingguo about this, Dingguo sent an eunuch official to falsely accuse and arrest them, then had Yin Reng killed in order to cover up his crime. In the first year of Yuanshuo, Yin Reng's brothers again submitted a memorial detailing Dingguo's secret crimes, and thus his misconduct was exposed. The emperor issued an edict to the high officials, who all deliberated and said: "Dingguo has behaved like a beast, disrupting human relationships and defying Heaven; he should be executed." The emperor approved their recommendation. Dingguo committed suicide, and the state was abolished and converted into a commandery.
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| | 荊燕世家: |
太史公曰：荊王王也，由漢初定，天下未集，故劉賈雖屬疏，然以策為王，填江淮之閒。劉澤之王，權激呂氏，然劉澤卒南面稱孤者三世。事發相重，豈不為偉乎！ |
| | Grand Historian said: King Jing became a king because, at the beginning of Han's consolidation, the empire was not yet unified. Thus, although Liu Jia belonged to a distant branch of the family, he was enfeoffed as a king for his strategies and served to garrison the region between the Yangtze and Huai rivers. Liu Ze's enfeoffment as a king was driven by political maneuvering against the Lü clan; however, Liu Ze and his descendants ruled independently for three generations. Their affairs unfolded in succession with such intensity—was this not remarkable!
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