| | 蒙恬列傳: |
蒙恬者，其先齊人也。恬大父蒙驁，自齊事秦昭王，官至上卿。秦莊襄王元年，蒙驁為秦將，伐韓，取成皋、滎陽，作置三川郡。二年，蒙驁攻趙，取三十七城。始皇三年，蒙驁攻韓，取十三城。五年，蒙驁攻魏，取二十城，作置東郡。始皇七年，蒙驁卒。驁子曰武，武子曰恬。恬嘗書獄典文學。始皇二十三年，蒙武為秦裨將軍，與王翦攻楚，大破之，殺項燕。二十四年，蒙武攻楚，虜楚王。蒙恬弟毅。 |
| | Meng Tian was a native of Qi. Tian's great-grandfather Meng Ao served the state of Qin under King Zhaoxiangwang, and attained the position of Shangqing. In the first year of King Zhuangxiang of Qin, Meng Ao was a general of Qin. He attacked the state of Han and captured Chenggao and Yingyang, establishing the Sanchuan Commandery there. In the second year, Meng Ao attacked Zhao and captured thirty-seven cities. In the third year of Emperor Qin Shi Huang's reign, Meng Ao attacked Han and captured thirteen cities. In the fifth year, Meng Ao attacked Wei, capturing twenty cities and establishing the Dong Commandery. In the seventh year of Emperor Qin Shi Huang's reign, Meng Ao died. Ao's son was named Wu, and Wu's son was Tian. Tian once served as a clerk in the judicial office and studied literature. In the twenty-third year of Emperor Qin Shi Huang, Meng Wu served as a deputy general of Qin and joined Wang Jian in attacking Chu. They heavily defeated the enemy forces and killed Xiang Yan. In the twenty-fourth year, Meng Wu attacked Chu and captured its king. Meng Tian's younger brother was named Yi.
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| | 蒙恬列傳: |
始皇二十六年，蒙恬因家世得為秦將，攻齊，大破之，拜為內史。秦已并天下，乃使蒙恬將三十萬眾北逐戎狄，收河南。筑長城，因地形，用制險塞，起臨洮，至遼東，延袤萬餘里。於是渡河，據陽山，逶蛇而北。暴師於外十餘年，居上郡。是時蒙恬威振匈奴。始皇甚尊寵蒙氏，信任賢之。而親近蒙毅，位至上卿，出則參乘，入則御前。恬任外事而毅常為內謀，名為忠信，故雖諸將相莫敢與之爭焉。 |
| | In the twenty-sixth year of Emperor Qin Shi Huang, due to his family background, Meng Tian became a general of Qin and attacked Qi. He heavily defeated them and was appointed as Neishi (Minister of the Interior). After the state of Qin had unified all under heaven, they ordered Meng Tian to lead thirty thousand troops northward to drive out the Rong and Di tribes and to reclaim the area south of the Yellow River. They built a long wall, adapting it to the terrain and using natural barriers for defense. It began atlintao and extended to Liaodong, stretching over ten thousand li in length. At that time, they crossed the Yellow River, occupied Yangshan Mountain, and proceeded northward along a winding route. For more than ten years, Meng Tian's troops were stationed outside, and he resided in Shangjun Commandery. At that time, Meng Tian's authority was feared by the Xiongnu. Emperor Qin Shi Huang held the Meng family in great esteem and trusted Meng Xian highly. He was also close to Meng Yi, who attained the position of Shangqing (Minister). When going out, Meng Yi served as a chariot companion; when entering court, he stood before the emperor. Tian was responsible for external affairs while Yi often handled internal strategies; they were known as loyal and trustworthy. Thus, even among the generals and ministers, none dared to contend with them.
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| | 蒙恬列傳: |
趙高者，諸趙疏遠屬也。趙高昆弟數人，皆生隱宮，其母被刑僇，世世卑賤。秦王聞高彊力，通於獄法，舉以為中車府令。高既私事公子胡亥，喻之決獄。高有大罪，秦王令蒙毅法治之。毅不敢阿法，當高罪死，除其宦籍。帝以高之敦於事也，赦之，復其官爵。 |
| | Zhao Gao was a distant relative of the Zhao clan. Zhao Gao had several brothers, and they were all born in the palace after their mother had been subjected to corporal punishment. Their family was of low status for generations. King Qin heard that Zhao Gao was strong and capable, well-versed in legal procedures, and appointed him as the commander of Zhongchufu. Zhao Gao, having served privately under the crown prince Hu Hai, instructed him in handling judicial cases. When Zhao Gao committed a serious crime, Emperor Qin Shi Huang ordered Meng Yi to investigate and deal with the case according to law. Meng Yi did not dare to bend the law for Zhao Gao, sentencing him to death for his crimes and expelling him from the eunuch registry. The emperor, recognizing Zhao Gao's diligence in affairs, pardoned him and restored his official position and titles.
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| | 蒙恬列傳: |
始皇欲游天下，道九原，直抵甘泉，乃使蒙恬通道，自九原抵甘泉，塹山堙谷，千八百里。道未就。 |
| | Emperor Qin Shi Huang wished to tour the empire, traveling from Jiuyuan straight to Ganshan. He therefore ordered Meng Tian to clear a route, starting from Jiuyuan and extending to Ganshan, by cutting through mountains and filling in valleys over a distance of one thousand eight hundred li. The road was not yet completed.
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| | 蒙恬列傳: |
始皇三十七年冬，行出游會稽，并海上，北走瑯邪。道病，使蒙毅還禱山川，未反。 |
| | In the winter of the thirty-seventh year of Emperor Qin Shi Huang (), he embarked on a tour to Kuaiji, traveled along the coast, and went north as far as Langya. Along the way, the emperor fell ill and sent Meng Yi back to offer prayers at the mountains and rivers; he had not yet returned.
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| | 蒙恬列傳: |
始皇至沙丘崩，祕之，群臣莫知。是時丞相李斯、公子胡亥、中車府令趙高常從。高雅得幸於胡亥，欲立之，又怨蒙毅法治之而不為己也。因有賊心，乃與丞相李斯、公子胡亥陰謀，立胡亥為太子。太子已立，遣使者以罪賜公子扶蘇、蒙恬死。扶蘇已死，蒙恬疑而復請之。使者以蒙恬屬吏，更置。胡亥以李斯舍人為護軍。使者還報，胡亥已聞扶蘇死，即欲釋蒙恬。趙高恐蒙氏復貴而用事，怨之。 |
| | Emperor Qin Shi Huang died at Shachou, and his death was kept secret; none of the ministers knew about it. At that time, the prime minister Li Si, Crown Prince Hu Hai, and Zhongchufu commander Zhao Gao were always in attendance. Zhao Gao had long been favored by Hu Hai and wanted to install him as emperor, but he also resented Meng Yi for having dealt with his case according to the law rather than favoring Zhao. Because of this, he harbored treacherous intentions and conspired secretly with the prime minister Li Si and Crown Prince Hu Hai to install Hu Hai as crown prince. After Hu Hai was installed as emperor, he sent envoys with orders to execute Crown Prince Fu Su and Meng Tian on fabricated charges of guilt. Fu Su had already died, but Meng Tian was suspicious and requested a review of the matter. The envoys placed Meng Tian under arrest by handing him over to local officials for detention and replaced his position with another. Hu Hai appointed a retainer of Li Si as the commander responsible for guarding Meng Tian's forces. After the envoys returned with their report, Hu Hai had already learned of Fu Su's death and immediately wanted to release Meng Tian. Zhao Gao feared that the Meng family would regain power and influence, so he resented them.
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| | 蒙恬列傳: |
毅還至，趙高因為胡亥忠計，欲以滅蒙氏，乃言曰：「臣聞先帝欲舉賢立太子久矣，而毅諫曰『不可』。若知賢而俞弗立，則是不忠而惑主也。以臣愚意，不若誅之。」胡亥聽而系蒙毅於代。前已囚蒙恬於陽周。喪至咸陽，已葬，太子立為二世皇帝，而趙高親近，日夜毀惡蒙氏，求其罪過，舉劾之。 |
| | When Meng Yi returned, Zhao Gao took advantage of his position and devised a plan for Hu Hai to eliminate the Meng family. He said: "I have heard that the late emperor had long wished to appoint a virtuous crown prince, but Yi advised against it, saying 'It is not advisable.'" "If he knew of the virtue and yet refused to support the appointment, then this shows disloyalty and confusion in advising the emperor." "In my humble opinion, it would be better to execute him." Hu Hai listened and had Meng Yi imprisoned in Dai. Previously, Meng Tian had already been detained in Yangzhou. When the emperor's funeral arrived at Xianyang, he had already been buried. The crown prince was enthroned as Emperor Er Shi, and Zhao Gao, now in close favor, day and night slandered the Meng family, seeking out their faults to report against them.
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| | 蒙恬列傳: |
子嬰進諫曰：「臣聞故趙王遷殺其良臣李牧而用顏聚，燕王喜陰用荊軻之謀而倍秦之約，齊王建殺其故世忠臣而用后勝之議。此三君者，皆各以變古者失其國而殃及其身。今蒙氏，秦之大臣謀士也，而主欲一旦棄去之，臣竊以為不可。臣聞輕慮者不可以治國，獨智者不可以存君。誅殺忠臣而立無節行之人，是內使群臣不相信而外使鬬士之意離也，臣竊以為不可。」 |
| | Ziying advised, "I have heard that former King Zhao of Zhao killed his capable minister Li Mu and instead used Yan Ju; King Xi of Yan secretly adopted Jing Ke's plan and betrayed the agreement with Qin; and King Jian of Qi executed his long-standing loyal ministers and followed Hou Sheng's advice. These three kings all lost their states due to abandoning the old ways, and calamity befell themselves as a result." "Now the Meng family are Qin's senior ministers and strategists, yet Your Majesty wishes to discard them in a single day. I secretly believe this is not advisable." "I have heard that one who acts with careless consideration cannot govern the state, and one who relies solely on his own wisdom cannot preserve the ruler's position. "To execute loyal ministers and instead place men of no virtue or conduct in positions of power is to cause distrust among the officials within and alienate the hearts of brave soldiers without. I secretly believe this cannot be allowed."
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| | 蒙恬列傳: |
胡亥不聽。而遣御史曲宮乘傳之代，令蒙毅曰：「先主欲立太子而卿難之。今丞相以卿為不忠，罪及其宗。朕不忍，乃賜卿死，亦甚幸矣。卿其圖之！」毅對曰：「以臣不能得先主之意，則臣少宦，順幸沒世。可謂知意矣。以臣不知太子之能，則太子獨從，周旋天下，去諸公子絕遠，臣無所疑矣。夫先主之舉用太子，數年之積也，臣乃何言之敢諫，何慮之敢謀！非敢飾辭以避死也，為羞累先主之名，願大夫為慮焉，使臣得死情實。且夫順成全者，道之所貴也；刑殺者，道之所卒也。昔者秦穆公殺三良而死，罪百里奚而非其罪也，故立號曰『繆』。昭襄王殺武安君白起。楚平王殺伍奢。吳王夫差殺伍子胥。此四君者，皆為大失，而天下非之，以其君為不明，以是籍於諸侯。故曰『用道治者不殺無罪，而罰不加於無辜』。唯大夫留心！」使者知胡亥之意，不聽蒙毅之言，遂殺之。 |
| | Hu Hai did not listen. He then sent the imperial censor Qu Gong by special envoy to Dai and ordered Meng Yi: "The late emperor wished to appoint you as crown prince, but you opposed it. Now the prime minister considers you disloyal, and your crime has extended to your family." "I cannot bear it, so I am granting you death; this is actually a great favor for you. "Please consider this!" Yi replied, "If I failed to understand the late emperor's intentions, it is because as a lowly official for many years, I was fortunate enough to serve and die in peace. That could be called understanding his will." "If it is because I did not recognize the crown prince's abilities, then he has traveled alone across the empire and distanced himself far from all other princes; there was nothing for me to doubt. "The late emperor's decision to appoint the crown prince had been a matter of years of deliberation; how could I, as an official, dare to advise against it or plot anything?" "I do not dare to fabricate words merely to avoid death; I am ashamed to tarnish the late emperor's reputation. I hope you, sir, will consider this and allow me to die with a clear conscience." "Moreover, following what is right and complete is what the Way values; punishment and killing are what the Way ultimately rejects. In ancient times, King Mu of Qin killed three virtuous men before his death and wrongfully blamed Bailing Xi for crimes he did not commit; thus, the posthumous title given to him was "Mou." King Zhaoxiang of Qin executed General Wu'an Jun Bai Qi. King Ping of Chu killed Wu She. King Fuchai of Wu executed Wu Zixu. These four rulers all committed great mistakes, and the world criticized them for being unwise, thus leaving their names disgraced among the feudal lords. Therefore it is said: 'He who governs by the Way does not kill the innocent, nor does punishment fall upon those without guilt.' "I beg you, sir, to take this to heart!" The envoy knew the intent of Hu Hai and did not heed Meng Yi's words, so he executed him.
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| | 蒙恬列傳: |
二世又遣使者之陽周，令蒙恬曰：「君之過多矣，而卿弟毅有大罪，法及內史。」恬曰：「自吾先人，及至子孫，積功信於秦三世矣。今臣將兵三十餘萬，身雖囚系，其勢足以倍畔，然自知必死而守義者，不敢辱先人之教，以不忘先主也。昔周成王初立，未離襁緥周公旦負王以朝，卒定天下。及成王有病甚殆，公旦自揃其爪以沈於河，曰：『王未有識，是旦執事。有罪殃，旦受其不祥。』乃書而藏之記府，可謂信矣。及王能治國，有賊臣言：『周公旦欲為亂久矣，王若不備，必有大事。』王乃大怒，周公旦走而奔於楚。成王觀於記府，得周公旦沈書，乃流涕曰：『孰謂周公旦欲為亂乎！』殺言之者而反周公旦。故《》曰『』。今恬之宗，世無二心，而事卒如此，是必孽臣逆亂，內陵之道也。夫成王失而復振則卒昌；桀殺關龍逢，紂殺王子比干而不悔，身死則國亡。臣故曰過可振而諫可覺也。察於參伍，上聖之法也。凡臣之言，非以求免於咎也，將以諫而死，願陛下為萬民思從道也。」使者曰：「臣受詔行法於將軍，不敢以將軍言聞於上也。」蒙恬喟然太息曰：「我何罪於天，無過而死乎？」良久，徐曰：「恬罪固當死矣。起臨洮屬之遼東，城塹萬餘里，此其中不能無絕地脈哉？此乃恬之罪也。」乃吞藥自殺。 |
| | Emperor Er Shi then sent another envoy to Yangzhou and ordered Meng Tian: "You have committed many faults, and your younger brother Yi has a grave crime; the law must also apply to you as an official." Tian said, "From my ancestors down to my descendants, we have accumulated merit and trust in the service of Qin for three generations. "Now I command more than 300,000 troops. Though my body is bound in chains, the power I hold could be enough to rebel. Yet I know that death is certain and still choose to uphold righteousness because I dare not disgrace the teachings of my ancestors or forget the late emperor's grace." "In ancient times, when King Cheng of Zhou first ascended the throne and was still an infant wrapped in swaddling clothes, Duke Gong Dan carried the king to court and ultimately stabilized all under heaven. "When King Cheng fell seriously ill, Gong Dan cut off his own nails and immersed them in the river, saying: 'The king is still too young to understand affairs; it is I who must manage state matters." "If there are any misfortunes or calamities, let me bear the ill omen.'" He then recorded this and stored it in the archives; this can truly be called faithfulness. "When the king was able to govern, a treacherous minister claimed: 'Duke Gong Dan has long desired to rebel; if Your Majesty does not prepare, there will surely be great trouble.'" The king became furious and Duke Gong Dan fled to the state of Chu. The king then inspected the archives and found Duke Gong Dan's sealed document. He wept and said, "Who could say that Duke Gong Dan wished to rebel?" And so he welcomed Duke Gong Dan back. He executed the one who had made the false accusation and restored Duke Gong Dan to his position. Therefore, the "Zhou Shu" says: 'Matters must be verified through cross-checking.' "Now, my family has for generations remained loyal without a second thought, yet the matter ends like this. This must be due to treacherous ministers stirring rebellion and internal disorder." "When King Cheng lost trust but was later restored, his reign ultimately flourished; "Jie executed Guan Longfeng and Zhou killed Prince Bi Gan without regret, yet both perished and their states fell." "Therefore I say that mistakes can be corrected, and advice can awaken the ruler. "To examine matters through cross-verification is the method of a wise sovereign." "All I say is not to escape blame, but rather to offer advice and face death. I hope Your Majesty will consider the welfare of all the people by following the right path." The envoy said, "I have received orders to carry out the law upon you, General. I dare not report your words to the emperor." Meng Tian sighed deeply and said, "What crime have I committed against heaven? Why must I die without having done anything wrong?" After a long pause, he slowly said, "Indeed, my punishment is deserved. "Starting from Lintao and extending to Liaodong, we built walls and trenches for more than ten thousand li. Could there not have been places where the earth's veins were cut? "This is my crime." He then swallowed poison and committed suicide.
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| | 蒙恬列傳: |
太史公曰：吾適北邊，自直道歸，行觀蒙恬所為秦筑長城亭障，塹山堙谷，通直道，固輕百姓力矣。夫秦之初滅諸侯，天下之心未定，痍傷者未瘳，而恬為名將，不以此時彊諫，振百姓之急，養老存孤，務修眾庶之和，而阿意興功，此其兄弟遇誅，不亦宜乎！何乃罪地脈哉？ |
| | Grand Historian said: When I traveled to the northern frontier and returned via the straight road, I took the opportunity to observe what Meng Tian had done for Qin—building the Great Wall and beacon towers, cutting through mountains and filling valleys to construct the straight road. Indeed, this was a great burden on the people's strength. "When Qin first eliminated the feudal lords, the hearts of the people were unsettled and their wounds had not yet healed. Yet Meng Tian, as a famous general, did not use this time to strongly advise against such policies or relieve the urgent suffering of the common people by caring for the elderly and orphans and working to restore harmony among the populace. Instead, he flattered the emperor's desires and pursued grand projects. Is it not fitting that his brothers met their deaths?" "How could they be blamed for cutting through the earth's veins?"
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