159 Horse or Deer

A6.57

In the third year (207 BC), Zhang Han and his men led their soldiers to surround Julu. Xiang Yu, the general of Chu, led his soldiers to rescue Julu. In winter, Zhao Gao served as prime minister and eventually interrogated Li Si and killed him. In summer, Zhang Han and his men had s few defeats in battles. The Second Emperor sent people to blame Zhang Han. Zhang Han was very scared and sent Sima Xin, the chief historian, to ask the court for instructions. Zhao Gao refused to meet him and did not trust him. Sima Xin was also very scared and ran away. Zhao Gao sent people to chase him but failed to catch him. Sima Xin met Zhang Han and said, "Zhao Gao has monopolized power in the court. The general will be executed no matter if the contributions made or not." Xiang Yu attacked the Qin army fiercely and captured Wang Li. Zhang Han and his men then led their troops to surrender to the princes. On the Jihai (Earth Overcomes Water ) day of the eighth month, Zhao Gao wanted to start a rebellion. He was afraid that his ministers would not support him, so he conducted an experiment in advance. He found a deer and presented it to the Second Emperor, saying, "This is a horse." The Second Emperor smiled and said, "The Prime Minister is wrong, right? You said the deer is a horse." Zhao Gao asked the ministers around him, some remained silent, some said it was a horse to please Zhao Gao, and some said it was a deer. Zhao Gao took the opportunity to secretly punish those who said it was a deer. Later, all the ministers were very afraid of Zhao Gao.

三年，章邯等将其卒围钜鹿，楚上将军项羽将楚卒往救钜鹿。冬，赵高为丞相，竟案李斯杀之。夏，章邯等战数卻，二世使人让邯，邯恐，使长史欣请事。赵高弗见，又弗信。欣恐，亡去，高使人捕追不及。欣见邯曰：“赵高用事于中，将军有功亦诛，无功亦诛。”项羽急击秦军，虏王离，邯等遂以兵降诸侯。八月己亥，赵高欲为乱，恐群臣不听，乃先设验，持鹿献于二世，曰：“马也。”二世笑曰：“丞相误邪？谓鹿为马。”问左右，左右或默，或言马以阿顺赵高。或言鹿，高因阴中诸言鹿者以法。后群臣皆畏高。