171 A7. Xiang Yu

A7

Sima Qian: Historical Records 7 Xiang Yu

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Xiang Ji was from Xiaxiang, with the courtesy name Yu. He was only 24 years old when he first started his army. His uncle was Xiang Liang, whose father was Xiang Yan, a general of Chu, who was killed by Wang Jian, a general of Qin. The Xiang family had served as generals of Chu for generations and was granted the title of Xiang, hence the surname Xiang. 

When Xiang Ji was young, he failed to learn to write, and then he tried to learn sword, but failed. Xiang Liang was very angry with him. Xiang Ji said, "Writing is enough to remember names. Sword can only fight against one person, these are not worth learning, but I want to learn to fight against ten thousand people." So Xiang Liang taught Xiang Ji the art of war, and Xiang Ji was very happy. After he roughly understood the main points of the art of war, he was unwilling to finish learning. Xiang Liang was once wanted in Liyang, so he asked Cao Jiu, a prison official in Qi County, to write a letter to Sima Xin, a prison official in Liyang, so the matter was settled . Xiang Liang killed someone, and went to Wuzhong with Xiang Ji to avoid his enemies. The wise and capable scholars in Wuzhong were not as good as Xiang Liang. Whenever there were large-scale corvée or funerals in Wuzhong, Xiang Liang was often in charge of the event. He secretly used military tactics to deploy guests and young men, so he was able to understand their talents. When the First Emperor of Qin toured Kuaiji and crossed Zhejiang, Xiang Liang and Xiang Ji went with the crowd to watch. Xiang Ji said, "I can replace him." Xiang Liang covered his mouth and said, "Don't talk nonsense, or your clan will be exterminated!" Xiang Liang felt that Xiang Ji was extraordinary. Xiang Ji was more than eight feet tall and very strong. He could lift a large tripod. His talent and courage were beyond ordinary people, and even the young men in Wuzhong were afraid of him.。

卷七·项羽本纪第七

项籍者，下相人也，字羽。初起时，年二十四。其季父项梁，梁父即楚将项燕，为秦将王翦所戮者也。项氏世世为楚将，封于项，故姓项氏。

项籍少时，学书不成，去学剑，又不成。项梁怒之。籍曰：“书足以记名姓而已。剑一人敌，不足学，学万人敌。”于是项梁乃教籍兵法，籍大喜，略知其意，又不肯竟学。项梁尝有栎阳逮，乃请蕲狱掾曹咎书抵栎阳狱掾司马欣，以故事得已。项梁杀人，与籍避仇于吴中。吴中贤士大夫皆出项梁下。每吴中有大繇役及丧，项梁常为主办，阴以兵法部勒宾客及子弟，以是知其能。秦始皇帝游会稽，渡浙江，梁与籍俱观。籍曰：“彼可取而代也。”梁掩其口，曰：“毋妄言，族矣！”梁以此奇籍。籍长八尺余，力能扛鼎，才气过人，虽吴中子弟皆已惮籍矣。

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In July of the first year of the reign of the Emperor Qin II (209 BC), Chen She and others started an uprising in Daze Township. In September of that year, Yin Tong, the governor of Kuaiji County, said to Xiang Liang: "The areas west of the Yangtze River have all rebelled. This is also the time when the Heaven wants to destroy the Qin Dynasty. I heard that those who act first will be in control, while those who act late will be controlled. I want to send troops, you and Huan Chu will be leading them as generals." At that time, Huan Chu fled to the marshlands. Xiang Liang said: "Huan Chu is on the run, and no one knows his whereabouts, only Xiang Ji knows." Xiang Liang walked out and told Xiang Ji to wait outside with a sword. Xiang Liang walked in again, sat with the governor, and said: "Please summon Xiang Ji and let him accept the order to recall Huan Chu." The governor said: "Okay." Xiang Liang summoned Xiang Ji in. Moments later, Xiang Liang winked at Xiang Ji and said: "It's time to act!" So Xiang Ji drew his sword and cut off the governor's head. Xiang Liang held the governor's head and wore his official seal. The attendants were shocked and fell into chaos. Xiang Ji killed dozens or hundreds of people. Everyone in the government was intimidated by Xiang Ji, and no one dared to resist. Xiang Liang then summoned other powerful officials he knew and told them about the great deeds he was going to do, and then he mobilized the soldiers in Wuzhong. He sent people to recruit soldiers from the counties under the jurisdiction of Kuaiji County, and got 8,000 elite soldiers. Xiang Liang arranged the warriors in Wuzhong to serve as military officers, colonels, captains and lieutenants. There was one person who was not appointed, so he went to Xiang Liang in person to tell him. Xiang Liang said, "Not long ago, I asked you to host a funeral, but you were not capable of handling it well, so I did not appoint you." Everyone admired Xiang Liang very much. At this time, Xiang Liang served as the governor of Kuaiji County, and Xiang Ji was a deputy general, and they captured the counties under its jurisdiction.

Zhao Ping, a native of Guangling, was attacking Guangling for King Chen at that time, but he failed to capture it. He heard that King Chen was defeated and fled, and the Qin army was about to arrive, so he crossed the Yangtze River and falsely conveyed King Chen's order to appoint Xiang Liang as the Upper Pillar of the State (same position as the Prime Minister) of the King of Chu. Zhao Ping said: "Jiangdong, the East of the Yangtze River, has been pacified, quickly lead the troops west to attack the Qin army." Xiang Liang then sent 8,000 people across the Yangtze River to the west. When he heard that Chen Ying had captured Dongyang, he sent an envoy to join Chen Ying in the west. Chen Ying was originally the magistrate of Dongyang. He lived in the county and was always honest and cautious. He was known as a loyal and honest person. The young men of Dongyang killed their county magistrate and gathered thousands of people to choose a leader. But they couldn't find a suitable person, so they asked Chen Ying to be the leader. Chen Ying declined but couldn't refuse, so he was forced to become the leader. There were 20 thousand people following him in the county. The young people wanted to put him up to be king, for he was unique in wrapping his head with a green scarf. Chen Ying's mother said to Chen Ying: "Since I came to this family of yours as a daughter-in-law, I have never heard of any of your ancestors being prominent. Now you suddenly get a prominent name, which is not a good sign. It is better to join others. If you succeed, you can be made a marquis. If you fail, you can easily escape and will not be named by the world." Chen Ying did not dare to claim the throne. He said to the military officers: "The Xiang family has been generals for generations and is very prestigious in Chu. If we want to do great things now, we cannot do it without competent generals. We can definitely bring down the Qin Dynasty by relying on the famous and powerful families." So everyone listened to him and led their troops to join Xiang Liang. After Xiang Liang crossed the Huai River, Ying Bu and General Pu also led their troops to join him. Xiang Liang's army had a total of 60 to 70 thousand people and was stationed in Xia Pi.

秦二世元年七月，陈涉等起大泽中。其九月，会稽守通谓梁曰：“江西皆反，此亦天亡秦之时也。吾闻先即制人，后则为人所制。吾欲发兵，使公及桓楚将。”是时桓楚亡在泽中。梁曰：“桓楚亡，人莫知其处，独籍知之耳。”梁乃出，诫籍持剑居外待。梁复入，与守坐，曰：“请召籍，使受命召桓楚。”守曰：“诺。”梁召籍入。须臾，梁眴籍曰：“可行矣！”于是籍遂拔剑斩守头。项梁持守头，佩其印绶。门下大惊，扰乱，籍所击杀数十百人。一府中皆慴伏，莫敢起。梁乃召故所知豪吏，谕以所为起大事，遂举吴中兵。使人收下县，得精兵八千人。梁部署吴中豪杰为校尉、候、司马。有一人不得用，自言于梁。梁曰：“前时某丧使公主某事，不能办，以此不任用公。”众乃皆伏。于是梁为会稽守，籍为裨将，徇下县。

广陵人召平于是为陈王徇广陵，未能下。闻陈王败走，秦兵又且至，乃渡江矫陈王命，拜梁为楚王上柱国。曰：“江东已定，急引兵西击秦。”项梁乃以八千人渡江而西。闻陈婴已下东阳，使使欲与连和俱西。陈婴者，故东阳令史，居县中，素信谨，称为长者。东阳少年杀其令，相聚数千人，欲置长，无適用，乃请陈婴。婴谢不能，遂强立婴为长，县中从者得二万人。少年欲立婴便为王，异军苍头特起。陈婴母谓婴曰：“自我为汝家妇，未尝闻汝先古之有贵者。今暴得大名，不祥。不如有所属，事成犹得封侯，事败易以亡，非世所指名也。”婴乃不敢为王。谓其军吏曰：“项氏世世将家，有名于楚。今欲举大事，将非其人，不可。我倚名族，亡秦必矣。”于是众从其言，以兵属项梁。项梁渡淮，黥布、蒲将军亦以兵属焉。凡六七万人，军下邳。

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At that time, Qin Jia had already made Jing Ju as the King of Chu and stationed at the east of Pengcheng, intending to fight Xiang Liang. Xiang Liang said to the military officers, "King Chen was the first to start the rebellion, but he was defeated in the battle and his whereabouts are unknown. Now Qin Jia has betrayed King Chen and made Jing Ju the king. This is a rebellious act." Xiang Liang then led his troops to attack Qin Jia. Qin Jia's army was defeated and fled, and Xiang Liang pursued them to Huling. Qin Jia fought back for a day. Qin Jia was killed in the battle and his soldiers surrendered. Jing Ju fled to Liangdi and died. Xiang Liang had annexed Qin Jia's army and stationed troops in Huling, and was about to lead his army westward. Zhang Han's army arrived in Li County, and Xiang Liang sent Zhu Jishi and Yu Fanjun to fight him. Yu Fanjun died in the battle. Zhu Jishi's army was defeated and fled to Huling. Xiang Liang then led his troops into Xue County and executed Zhu Jishi. Xiang Liang had previously sent Xiang Yu to lead another army to attack Xiangcheng, but Xiangcheng held out and could not be captured. When Xiangcheng finally fell, all the soldiers and civilians in the city were killed, and Xiang Yu returned to report to Xiang Liang. Xiang Liang heard that King Chen was indeed dead, and summoned all the generals to Xue County to discuss the matter. At this time, Pei Gong also raised troops in Pei County and headed for the meeting in Xue County.

Fan Zeng, a native of Juchao, was already seventy years old at the time. He was a home person and fond of tactics and strategy. He went to persuade Xiang Liang and said, "Chen Sheng's defeat was destined. When Qin destroyed the six states, Chu was the most innocent. Since King Huai of Chu went to Qin and never returned, the people of Chu still sympathized with him. Therefore, Duke Nan of Chu said, 'Even if there were only three families left in Chu, it must be the people of Chu who destroyed Qin.' Now Chen Sheng started the rebellion first, and he did not establish a descendant of Chu but established himself as king. His momentum will definitely not last long. Now you are raising troops in Jiangdong, and the generals of Chu have risen up and are vying to submit to you. It is precisely because the Xiang family has served as generals of Chu for generations that they think you can establish a descendant of Chu as king again." At this time, Xiang Liang thought Fan Zeng's words made sense, so he found Xiong Xin, a descendant of King Huai of Chu, among the people. He was herding sheep for someone, and Xiang Liang established him as King Huai of Chu (later known as Emperor Yi of Chu) to comply with the wishes of the people. Chen Ying served as the State Upper Pillar of Chu, with five counties as his fief, and built his capital in Xuyi with King Huai. Xiang Liang called himself the lord of Wuxin.

当是时，秦嘉已立景驹为楚王，军彭城东，欲距项梁。项梁谓军吏曰：“陈王先首事，战不利，未闻所在。今秦嘉倍陈王而立景驹，逆无道。”乃进兵击秦嘉。秦嘉军败走，追之至胡陵。嘉还战一日，嘉死，军降。景驹走死梁地。项梁已并秦嘉军，军胡陵，将引军而西。章邯军至栗，项梁使别将朱鸡石、余樊君与战。余樊君死。朱鸡石军败，亡走胡陵。项梁乃引兵入薛，诛鸡石。项梁前使项羽别攻襄城，襄城坚守不下。已拔，皆阬之。还报项梁。项梁闻陈王定死，召诸别将会薛计事。此时沛公亦起沛，往焉。

居鄛人范增，年七十，素居家，好奇计，往说项梁曰：“陈胜败固当。夫秦灭六国，楚最无罪。自怀王入秦不反，楚人怜之至今，故楚南公曰‘楚虽三户，亡秦必楚’也。今陈胜首事，不立楚后而自立，其势不长。今君起江东，楚蜂午之将皆争附君者，以君世世楚将，为能复立楚之后也。”于是项梁然其言，乃求楚怀王孙心民间，为人牧羊，立以为楚怀王，从民所望也。陈婴为楚上柱国，封五县，与怀王都盱台。项梁自号为武信君。

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A few months later, Xiang Liang led his troops to attack Kangfu, and together with the troops of Qi general Tian Rong and Sima Longqi, they rescued Dong'a and defeated the Qin army in Dong'a. Tian Rong led his troops back at that time and expelled the Qi King Tian Jia. Tian Jia fled to Chu. Tian Jia's prime minister Tian Jiao fled to Zhao. Tian Jiao's brother Tian Jian was originally a Qi general, but he stayed in Zhao and did not dare to go back. Tian Shi, the son of Tian Dan, was made the king of Qi by Tian Rong. Xiang Liang had defeated the Qin army in Dong'e, so he went on the pursue of the Qin army. He sent envoys to Qi many times, trying to get the Qi army to march west with him. Tian Rong said: "If Chu kills Tian Jia, and Zhao kills Tian Jiao and Tian Jian, then I will send troops." Xiang Liang said: "Tian Jia is the king of an allied country. He came to our country in distress. I can't bear to kill him." Zhao also did not kill Tian Jiao and Tian Jian, trying to make a deal with Qi. Qi never sent troops to help Chu. Xiang Liang sent Pei Gong and Xiang Yu to lead another army to attack Chengyang and slaughtered the city there. The Chu army went west and defeated the Qin army east of Puyang. Then the Qin army retreated to Puyang city. Pei Gong and Xiang Yu then attacked Dingtao. Before Dingtao was captured, the Chu army went west and captured more land, until they reached Yongqiu, defeated the Qin army, and defeated Li You. They returned to attack Waihuang, but failed to capture it.

Xiang Liang dispatched troops in Dong'a and marched westwards. When he was near Dingtao, he defeated the Qin army again. Xiang Yu and others defeated Li You again, which made Xiang Liang underestimate the enemy and getting arrogant. Song Yi then advised Xiang Liang, "An army that wins a battle but whose generals and soldiers are proud and lazy will surely fail. Now the soldiers are a little lazy, and the Qin army is increasing day by day. I am worried about you." Xiang Liang did not listen. He sent Song Yi to the State of Qi. On the way, Song Yi met the Qi envoy Lord Gaoling Tian Xian and said, "Are you going to see Lord Wuxin?" Lord Gaoling said, "Yes." Song Yi said, "I think Lord Wuxin’s army will surely fail. If you go slowly, you can avoid death. If you go too fast, you will face a disaster." As expected, Qin mobilized all its troops to reinforce Zhang Han and attack the Chu army. The Chu army was defeated in Dingtao, and Xiang Liang died in the battle. Pei Gong and Xiang Yu left Waihuang to attack Chenliu, but Chenliu held out and could not be captured. Pei Gong and Xiang Yu discussed with each other and said: "Now Xiang Liang's army has been defeated, and the soldiers are panicking." So they led their troops eastward with Lu Chen's army. Lu Chen was stationed east of Pengcheng, Xiang Yu was stationed west of Pengcheng, and Pei Gong was stationed in Dang County.

居数月，引兵攻亢父，与齐田荣、司马龙且军救东阿，大破秦军于东阿。田荣即引兵归，逐其王假。假亡走楚。假相田角亡走赵。角弟田间故齐将，居赵不敢归。田荣立田儋子市为齐王。项梁已破东阿下军，遂追秦军。数使使趣齐兵，欲与俱西。田荣曰：“楚杀田假，赵杀田角、田间，乃发兵。”项梁曰：“田假为与国之王，穷来从我，不忍杀之。”赵亦不杀田角、田间以市于齐。齐遂不肯发兵助楚。项梁使沛公及项羽别攻城阳，屠之。西破秦军濮阳东，秦兵收入濮阳。沛公、项羽乃攻定陶。定陶未下，去，西略地至雝丘，大破秦军，斩李由。还攻外黄，外黄未下。

项梁起东阿，西，比至定陶，再破秦军，项羽等又斩李由，益轻秦，有骄色。宋义乃谏项梁曰：“战胜而将骄卒惰者败。今卒少惰矣，秦兵日益，臣为君畏之。”项梁弗听。乃使宋义使于齐。道遇齐使者高陵君显，曰：“公将见武信君乎？”曰：“然。”曰：“臣论武信君军必败。公徐行即免死，疾行则及祸。”秦果悉起兵益章邯，击楚军，大破之定陶，项梁死。沛公、项羽去外黄攻陈留，陈留坚守不能下。沛公、项羽相与谋曰：“今项梁军破，士卒恐。”乃与吕臣军俱引兵而东。吕臣军彭城东，项羽军彭城西，沛公军砀。

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After Zhang Han defeated Xiang Liang's army, he thought that the soldiers in Chu were not worth worrying about, so he crossed the Yellow River to attack Zhao and defeated the Zhao army. At this time, Zhao Xie was the king of Zhao, Chen Yu was the general, and Zhang Er was the prime minister. They all fled to Julu City. Zhang Han ordered Wang Li and She Jian to besiege Julu. Zhang Han stationed in the south of Julu and built a tunnel to transport food. Chen Yu served as a general and led tens of thousands of people and stationed in the north of Julu. This is what people call the Hebei Army.

After the Chu army was defeated in Dingtao, King Huai of Chu was panicked and came to Pengcheng from Xuyi, merging the armies of Xiang Yu and Lu Chen and leading them personally. He appointed Lu Chen as Situ the chief minister and Lu Chen's father Lu Qing as Lingyin the prime minister. He also appointed Pei Gong as the governor of Dang County, named him Marquis of Wu'an, and led the soldiers of Dang County.

章邯已破项梁军，则以为楚地兵不足忧，乃渡河击赵，大破之。当此时，赵歇为王，陈余为将，张耳为相，皆走入钜鹿城。章邯令王离、涉间围钜鹿，章邯军其南，筑甬道而输之粟。陈余为将，将卒数万人而军钜鹿之北，此所谓河北之军也。

楚兵已破于定陶，怀王恐，从盱台之彭城，并项羽、吕臣军自将之。以吕臣为司徒，以其父吕青为令尹。以沛公为砀郡长，封为武安侯，将砀郡兵。

A7.11

At the beginning, the Qi envoy Tian Xian the Lord Gaoling, whom Song Yi met, was in the Chu army. When he met King Huai of Chu, he said, "Song Yi believed that Lord Wuxin's army would definitely fail. After a few days, the army failed. The army has not yet fought, but he has seen the signs of failure in advance. This can be said to be proficient in the art of war." King Huai of Chu summoned Song Yi to discuss matters with him, and appreciated him very much. The King appointed Song Yi as the general, Xiang Yu as the Duke of Lu, the second general, and Fan Zeng as the last general, and sent them to rescue Zhao. All the generals were subordinate to Song Yi, and Song Yi was known as the champion of the nobles. The army marched to Anyang and stayed there for forty-six days without moving forward. Xiang Yu said, "I heard that the Qin army has besieged the King of Zhao in Julu. We should cross the river quickly. The Chu army will attack from the outside, and the Zhao army will respond from the inside. Then we will definitely be able to defeat the Qin army." Song Yi said, "That's not the case. The horseflies that can bite cattle cannot deal with lice. Now the Qin army is attacking the Zhao army. If they win, the whole army will be exhausted. We can take advantage of the opponent's weakness. If the Qin army cannot win, we will lead the troops to beat the drums and march westward, and we will definitely be able to destroy the Qin State. Therefore, it is better to let the Qin and Zhao armies fight each other first. I am not as good as you in wearing armor, holding sharp weapons, charging and killing the enemy; you are not as good as me in observing the situation and planning strategies." Song Yi then ordered the army, "Those who are as fierce as tigers, as stubborn as sheep, as greedy as wolves, and stubborn and disobey orders will all be beheaded!" Song Yi then sent his son Song Xiang to assist the State of Qi, personally escorted him to Wuyan, and held a banquet for the guests. At that time, the weather was cold and it rained heavily, and the soldiers were cold and hungry. Xiang Yu said, "We are about to join forces to attack the Qin army, but you are staying here for a long time without moving forward. Now we are facing famine. The people are poor, the soldiers can only eat taro and beans, and there is no food in the army. However, General Song held a banquet to entertain his guests. He did not lead his troops across the river to find food in Zhao and join forces with the Zhao army to attack the Qin army, but said "take advantage of the opponent's weakness". Judging from the strength of Qin, its attack on the newly established Zhao will surely destroy Zhao. Zhao will be destroyed and Qin becoming stronger, what weaknesses can be exploited! Besides, our army has just been defeated, and King Huai is uneasy and has handed over all the domestic troops to General Song. The safety of the country depends on this battle. Now he does not have any sympathy for the our soldiers, but seeks his own personal gains instead. He is not a loyal minister of the country." Xiang Yu came to see General Song Yi in the early morning, and cut off his head in the his tent. Xiang Yu walked out the tent and ordered the army, "Song Yi and Qi conspired to rebel against Chu, and King Huai of Chu secretly ordered me to kill him." At this time, all the generals were shocked and no one dared to resist. Everyone said, "It was the general's family who founded the State of Chu. Now the general has killed the rebels." The generals and soldiers jointly recommended Xiang Yu as the acting general. Xiang Yu sent people to chase Song Yi's son, and chased him to Qi, then killed him. Xiang Yu sent Huan Chu to report to King Huai. King Huai appointed Xiang Yu as the general, and Lord Dangyang and General Pu were both subordinates to Xiang Yu.

初，宋义所遇齐使者高陵君显在楚军，见楚王曰：“宋义论武信君之军必败，居数日，军果败。兵未战而先见败徵，此可谓知兵矣。”王召宋义与计事而大说之，因置以为上将军，项羽为鲁公，为次将，范增为末将，救赵。诸别将皆属宋义，号为卿子冠军。行至安阳，留四十六日不进。项羽曰：“吾闻秦军围赵王钜鹿，疾引兵渡河，楚击其外，赵应其内，破秦军必矣。”宋义曰：“不然。夫搏牛之虻不可以破虮虱。今秦攻赵，战胜则兵罢，我承其敝；不胜，则我引兵鼓行而西，必举秦矣。故不如先斗秦赵。夫被坚执锐，义不如公；坐而运策，公不如义。”因下令军中曰：“猛如虎，很如羊，贪如狼，强不可使者，皆斩之。”乃遣其子宋襄相齐，身送之至无盐，饮酒高会。天寒大雨，士卒冻饥。项羽曰：“将戮力而攻秦，久留不行。今岁饥民贫，士卒食芋菽，军无见粮，乃饮酒高会，不引兵渡河因赵食，与赵并力攻秦，乃曰‘承其敝’。夫以秦之强，攻新造之赵，其势必举赵。赵举而秦强，何敝之承！且国兵新破，王坐不安席，埽境内而专属于将军，国家安危，在此一举。今不恤士卒而徇其私，非社稷之臣。”项羽晨朝上将军宋义，即其帐中斩宋义头，出令军中曰：“宋义与齐谋反楚，楚王阴令羽诛之。”当是时，诸将皆慴服，莫敢枝梧。皆曰：“首立楚者，将军家也。今将军诛乱。”乃相与共立羽为假上将军。使人追宋义子，及之齐，杀之。使桓楚报命于怀王。怀王因使项羽为上将军，当阳君、蒲将军皆属项羽。

A7.12|13

After Xiang Yu killed the champion of the nobles, his prestige shocked the State of Chu and his reputation spread to all the princes. He sent Lord Dangyang and General Pu to lead 20 thousand soldiers to cross the Yellow River to rescue Julu. After some victories, Chen Yu asked Xiang Yu for reinforcements. Xiang Yu led the entire army across the river. They sank the boats, smashed the cooking utensils, burned the camps, and only carried three days of rations to show that they were determined to fight to the death and had no intention of returning alive. So the army surrounded Wang Li as soon as they arrived, met the Qin army, fought nine times, cut off the opponent's corridor, defeated the enemy army, killed Su Jiao, and captured Wang Li. She Jian refused to surrender to the Chu army and burned himself to death. At this time, the Chu army was the bravest among the princes. There were more than a dozen camps where the princes sent troops to rescue Julu, but no one dared to fight easily. When the Chu army attacked the Qin army, the generals stood on the camp and watched. The soldiers of the Chu army fought ten to one, and the shouts of the Chu soldiers shook the sky. No one in the princes' army was not terrified. So after the Chu army defeated the Qin army, Xiang Yu summoned the princes' generals. When they entered the gate, they all knelt and crawled on the ground. No one dared to look up at Xiang Yu. From then on, Xiang Yu became the general of the princes' coalition army, and the princes obeyed him.

Zhang Han's army was stationed in Jiyuan, and Xiang Yu's army was stationed south of Zhangshui. The two armies confronted each other, but had not yet fought. The Qin army retreated many times, and the Second Emperor sent people to blame Zhang Han. Zhang Han was very scared and sent the chief historian Sima Xin to ask the court for instructions. When he arrived in Xianyang, Sima Xin stayed at Sima Gate for three days, Zhao Gao did not receive him, which meant that he did not trust him. The chief historian Sima Xin was very scared and fled back to the army, not daring to take the same route. And Zhao Gao really sent people to chase him, but he did not catch up. Sima Xin returned to the army and reported to Zhang Han: "Zhao Gao is in power, and no one dares to act on their own. If we can win the battle now, Zhao Gao will definitely be jealous of our merits; if we cannot win the battle, we will definitely die. I hope the general will consider it carefully." Chen Yu also wrote to Zhang Han: "Bai Qi served as a general of Qin. He conquered Yan and Ying in the south, and killed Lord Mafu in the north. He conquered cities and territories, and his military exploits were countless, but he was sentenced to death in the end. Meng Tian served as a general of Qin. He drove out Rong in the north and opened up thousands of miles of territory in Yuzhong. But he ended up  being beheaded in Yangzhou. Why is this? Because they had too many merits, Qin could not reward them, so they were executed for their crimes. Now the respectable General, you has been a general of Qin for three years, and the losses of soldiers are hundreds of thousands, while the princes have risen up at the same time, and the number is increasing. That Zhao Gao usually relies on flattery to stay in power, it has been a long time. Now the situation is critical. He is also worried that the Second Emperor will kill him, so he wants to shirk responsibility by killing the general and send someone else to replace you the general to get rid of the disaster. Now you as the general has been fighting outside for too long and has many grudges with people in the court. You will be killed if you has made contributions, and you will be killed if you has not made any contributions. Moreover, Heaven is going to destroy the Qin State, dumb or wise, we both all clearly know about that. Now there is no way for you to speak out and advise directly in the court, and out in the battlefield, you are a losing general who will destroy the country. He wants to survive for a long time without any help. Isn't that sad! Why doesn't you return to the army and unite with the princes, agree to attack the Qin State together, divide the land of Qin and become the king, and face the south and call yourself the Majesty? Compared this with bending down and being executed and having your wife and children slaughtered, which one is better? " Zhang Han hesitated and secretly sent the military officer Shicheng to Xiang Yu's army to make an alliance to fight against Qin. But before that could happen, Xiang Yu sent General Pu to lead his troops to cross Ferry Sanhu day and night, then stationed south of Zhangshui, fought with the Qin army, and defeated the Qin army again. Xiang Yu led his entire army to attack the Qin army in Wushui and defeated them severely.

项羽已杀卿子冠军，威震楚国，名闻诸侯。乃遣当阳君、蒲将军将卒二万渡河，救钜鹿。战少利，陈余复请兵。项羽乃悉引兵渡河，皆沈船，破釜甑，烧庐舍，持三日粮，以示士卒必死，无一还心。于是至则围王离，与秦军遇，九战，绝其甬道，大破之，杀苏角，虏王离。涉间不降楚，自烧杀。当是时，楚兵冠诸侯。诸侯军救钜鹿下者十余壁，莫敢纵兵。及楚击秦，诸将皆从壁上观。楚战士无不一以当十，楚兵呼声动天，诸侯军无不人人惴恐。于是已破秦军，项羽召见诸侯将，入辕门，无不膝行而前，莫敢仰视。项羽由是始为诸侯上将军，诸侯皆属焉。

章邯军棘原，项羽军漳南，相持未战。秦军数卻，二世使人让章邯。章邯恐，使长史欣请事。至咸阳，留司马门三日，赵高不见，有不信之心。长史欣恐，还走其军，不敢出故道，赵高果使人追之，不及。欣至军，报曰：“赵高用事于中，下无可为者。今战能胜，高必疾妒吾功；战不能胜，不免于死。愿将军孰计之。”陈余亦遗章邯书曰：“白起为秦将，南征鄢郢，北阬马服，攻城略地，不可胜计，而竟赐死。蒙恬为秦将，北逐戎人，开榆中地数千里，竟斩阳周。何者？功多，秦不能尽封，因以法诛之。今将军为秦将三岁矣，所亡失以十万数，而诸侯并起滋益多。彼赵高素谀日久，今事急，亦恐二世诛之，故欲以法诛将军以塞责，使人更代将军以脱其祸。夫将军居外久，多内卻，有功亦诛，无功亦诛。且天之亡秦，无愚智皆知之。今将军内不能直谏，外为亡国将，孤特独立而欲常存，岂不哀哉！将军何不还兵与诸侯为从，约共攻秦，分王其地，南面称孤；此孰与身伏鈇质，妻子为僇乎？”章邯狐疑，阴使候始成使项羽，欲约。约未成，项羽使蒲将军日夜引兵度三户，军漳南，与秦战，再破之。项羽悉引兵击秦军汙水上，大破之。

A7.14|15|16

Zhang Han sent someone to see Xiang Yu, wanting to form an alliance. Xiang Yu summoned the military officers to discuss and said, "The army is short of food, I want to approve the alliance with them." The military officers all said, "Okay." Xiang Yu and Zhang Han agreed on a date to meet in Yinxu, south of the Huan River. After the conclusion of the alliance, Zhang Han saw Xiang Yu, shed tears, and said bad things about Zhao Gao. Xiang Yu made Zhang Han the King of Yong and placed him in the army of Chu. Xiang Yu appointed the chief historian Sima Xin as the general and led the Qin army to march in front. 

Sometimes before, the princes' soldiers had passed through Qin land while serving labor or garrisoning the border, most of the Qin soldiers were very rude to them. Now the Qin army surrendered to the princes, when they arrived in Xin'an, most of the princes' soldiers took the opportunity of victory to treat them like slaves and captives and humiliated the Qin officers and soldiers at will. Most of the Qin army officers and soldiers said privately: "General Zhang and others deceived us into surrendering to the princes. Now we can enter the pass and defeat Qin, it is great; if not, the princes will take us to the east, and Qin will definitely kill all our parents, wives and children." The generals heard these discussions vaguely and reported it to Xiang Yu. Xiang Yu then summoned General Ying Bu and General Pu to plan and said: "The number of Qin army officers and soldiers are large. They are not convinced. When they arrive in Guanzhong, if they still do not obey orders. The situation is dangerous. It is better to attack and kill them, and only go into Qin with Zhang Han, Chief Historian Sima Xin, and Commander Dong Yi." So the Chu army killed more than 200 thousand Qin soldiers in the south of Xin'an City at night.

The princes marched to canquer Qin. Hangu Pass was heavily guarded and the army could not enter. Xiang Yu heard that Pei Gong had already conquered Xianyang, and he got very angry. He sent Lord Dangyang and others to attack Hangu Pass. Xiang Yu then entered Guanzhong and came to the west of Xishui. Pei Gong was stationed in Bashang and they had not had the chance to meet yet. Cao Wushang, the left Sima of Pei Gong, sent someone to tell Xiang Yu: "Pei Gong wants to be the king in Guanzhong, appoint Ziying as the prime minister, and keep all the rare treasures for himself." Xiang Yu was very angry and said: "Reward all the soldiers with a banquet, tomorrow we shall defeat Pei Gong's army!" At this time, Xiang Yu had 400 thousand soldiers stationed at Hongmen in Xinfeng, and Pei Gong had only 100 thousand soldiers stationed in Bashang. Fan Zeng advised Xiang Yu: "When Pei Gong was in Shandong, he coveted wealth and loved beautiful women. Now that he has entered Guanzhong, he does not accept money or get close to women. From this, it can be seen that his ambitions must be great. I ordered people to observe the clouds above his head, which are all in the shape of dragons and tigers, showing five colors. This is the cloud of the emperor. Attack quickly and don't lose the opportunity."

章邯使人见项羽，欲约。项羽召军吏谋曰：“粮少，欲听其约。”军吏皆曰：“善。”项羽乃与期洹水南殷虚上。已盟，章邯见项羽而流涕，为言赵高。项羽乃立章邯为雍王，置楚军中。使长史欣为上将军，将秦军为前行。

到新安。诸侯吏卒异时故繇使屯戍过秦中，秦中吏卒遇之多无状，及秦军降诸侯，诸侯吏卒乘胜多奴虏使之，轻折辱秦吏卒。秦吏卒多窃言曰：“章将军等诈吾属降诸侯，今能入关破秦，大善；即不能，诸侯虏吾属而东，秦必尽诛吾父母妻子。”诸将微闻其计，以告项羽。项羽乃召黥布、蒲将军计曰：“秦吏卒尚众，其心不服，至关中不听，事必危，不如击杀之，而独与章邯、长史欣、都尉翳入秦。”于是楚军夜击阬秦卒二十余万人新安城南。

行略定秦地。函谷关有兵守关，不得入。又闻沛公已破咸阳，项羽大怒，使当阳君等击关。项羽遂入，至于戏西。沛公军霸上，未得与项羽相见。沛公左司马曹无伤使人言于项羽曰：“沛公欲王关中，使子婴为相，珍宝尽有之。”项羽大怒，曰：“旦日飨士卒，为击破沛公军！”当是时，项羽兵四十万，在新丰鸿门，沛公兵十万，在霸上。范增说项羽曰：“沛公居山东时，贪于财货，好美姬。今入关，财物无所取，妇女无所幸，此其志不在小。吾令人望其气，皆为龙虎，成五采，此天子气也。急击勿失。”

A7.17

Xiang Bo, the left minister of Chu, was Xiang Yu's uncle. He had always had a good relationship with Zhang Liang, the Marquis of Liu. Zhang Liang followed Pei Gong at that time. Xiang Bo rode to Pei Gong's army at night, met Zhang Liang privately, told him everything, and wanted Zhang Liang to leave with him. Xiang Bo said, "Don't die with them." Zhang Liang said, "I am escorting Pei Gong for the King of Han. Pei Gong is in trouble now. It would be unkind for me to escape. I must tell him." Zhang Liang then went in and told Pei Gong everything. Pei Gong was shocked and asked, "What should I do?" Zhang Liang asked, "Who gave the king this idea?" Pei Gong said, "A humble man advised me, 'Defend the Hangu Pass and don't let the princes in, so that you can completely occupy Qin and become king.' So I listened to him." Zhang Liang said, "Does your king think your soldiers can resist King Xiang?" Pei Gong was silent for a moment and said, "Of course not, so what can I do?" Zhang Liang said, "Please let me tell Xiang Bo that Pei Gong dare not betray King Xiang." Pei Gong said, "How can you have a friendship with Xiang Bo?" Zhang Liang said, "During the Qin Dynasty, Xiang Bo and I had a relationship. He killed someone and I saved his life. Now the situation is critical, so it's fortunate that he came to tell me." Pei Gong said, "Who is older, Xiang Bo or you?" Zhang Liang said, "He is older than me." Pei Gong said, "Please call him in for me. I will treat him as an elder brother." Zhang Liang went out and invited Xiang Bo. Xiang Bo went in to see Pei Gong. Pei Gong held up a wine glass to wish Xiang Bo a long life, and promised the marriage between the children of the two families, Pei Gong said: "When I entered Guanzhong, I dared not accept any money or property. I registered the officials and civilians, sealed the treasury, and waited for the general Xiang's arrival. The reason I sent my army to guard the pass was to prevent other thieves from entering and exiting and to avoid any accidents. I have been looking forward to the general's arrival from morning to night, so how dare I rebel! Brother Xiang Bo, please explain to the general in detail why I dare not betray your kindness." Xiang Bo agreed and said to Pei Gong, "You must come early tomorrow to apologize to King Xiang in person." Pei Gong said, "Okay." So Xiang Bo left again at night and returned to the army. He reported all what Pei Gong said, and then said to him, "How could you come in so easily without Pei Gong breaking through Guanzhong first? It is not moral to attack him now that he has made great contributions. It is better to take this opportunity to treat him well." King Xiang agreed. 

楚左尹项伯者，项羽季父也，素善留侯张良。张良是时从沛公，项伯乃夜驰之沛公军，私见张良，具告以事，欲呼张良与俱去。曰：“毋从俱死也。”张良曰：“臣为韩王送沛公，沛公今事有急，亡去不义，不可不语。”良乃入，具告沛公。沛公大惊，曰：“为之柰何？”张良曰：“谁为大王为此计者？”曰：“鲰生说我曰‘距关，毋内诸侯，秦地可尽王也’。故听之。”良曰：“料大王士卒足以当项王乎？”沛公默然，曰：“固不如也，且为之柰何？”张良曰：“请往谓项伯，言沛公不敢背项王也。”沛公曰：“君安与项伯有故？”张良曰：“秦时与臣游，项伯杀人，臣活之。今事有急，故幸来告良。”沛公曰“孰与君少长？”良曰：“长于臣。”沛公曰“君为我呼入，吾得兄事之。”张良出，要项伯。项伯即入见沛公。沛公奉卮酒为寿，约为婚姻，曰：“吾入关，秋毫不敢有所近，籍吏民，封府库，而待将军。所以遣将守关者，备他盗之出入与非常也。日夜望将军至，岂敢反乎！愿伯具言臣之不敢倍德也。”项伯许诺。谓沛公曰：“旦日不可不蚤自来谢项王。”沛公曰：“诺。”于是项伯复夜去，至军中，具以沛公言报项王。因言曰：“沛公不先破关中，公岂敢入乎？今人有大功而击之，不义也，不如因善遇之。”项王许诺。

A7.18

The next day, Pei Gong led a cavalry of over 100 men to come to meet King Xiang. When arriving at Hongmen, he apologized first and said, "The general and I joined forces to attack the State of Qin. The general fought in Hebei the north side of the Yellow River and I fought in Henan the south side. However, I did not expect to be able to enter the Pass first defeat the Qin army, and get to meet the general here again. Now some villains have made false accusations, causing conflicts between the general and me." King Xiang said, "This was said by Cao Wushang, the left Sima of Pei Gong. If it were not so, why would I come here?" King Xiang kept Pei Gong to have a banquet with him that day. King Xiang and Xiang Bo sat facing east. Yafu sat facing south. Yafu was Fan Zeng. Pei Gong sat facing north, and Zhang Liang sat with him facing west. Fan Zeng gave King Xiang the look many times and raised the jade ring he was wearing to signal King Xiang many times, but King Xiang remained silent and did not respond. Fan Zeng stood up, went out to find Xiang Zhuang, and said to him: "The Majesty Himself is not cruel enough. You go in and toast. After the toast, ask to dance with a sword, and take the opportunity to attack Pei Gong who is sitting, and kill him. Otherwise, you will all be captured by him." Xiang Zhuang went in and made a toast. After the toast, he said: "Your Majesty and Pei Gong are drinking. There is no entertainment in the army. Please allow me to do a sword dance." King Xiang said: "Okay." Xiang Zhuang drew his sword and danced, and Xiang Bo also drew his sword and danced, always using his body to protect Pei Gong, so Xiang Zhuang had no chance to attack Pei Gong. At this time, Zhang Liang came to the military gate and saw Fan Kuai. Fan Kuai said: "What is the situation today?" Zhang Liang said: "It is very critical. Now Xiang Zhuang draws his sword and dances to assassinate Pei Gong." Fan Kuai said: "This is too urgent. Please let me go in and fight with them!" Fan Kuai immediately entered the military gate with a sword and a shield. The guards holding their halberds tried to stop him from entering, but Fan Kuai used his shield to knock him over, and the guards fell to the ground. Fan Kuai then entered the tent, opened the curtain, and stood facing west, staring at King Xiang, his hair standing up, his eye sockets about to burst. King Xiang immediately reached out to grab the sword, straightened his upper body, and said, "What is the guest doing?" Zhang Liang said, "This is Fan Kuai, the attendant of Pei Gong." King Xiang said, "Brave man, give him a cup of wine." The guards gave him a large cup filled with a bucket of wine. After Fan Kuai thanked him, he stood up and drank it all while standing. King Xiang said, "Give him a pig's leg." The guards gave him a raw pig's leg. Fan Kuai put his shield on the ground, put the pig's leg on the shield, drew his sword, and cut the meat to eat. King Xiang said, "Brave man, can you drink more?" Fan Kuai said, "I am not afraid of death, so how can I refuse a glass of wine? The King of Qin has a heart of a tiger and a wolf. He kills people as if he is worried that he can't kill them all, and punishes them as if he is worried that he is not severe enough. The people of the world have betrayed him. King Huai and his generals agreed that ‘whoever defeats the Qin army and enters Xianyang first can be the king of Guanzhong.’Now Pei Gong was the first to defeat the Qin army and enter Xianyang, but he dared not accept any money or property. He also closed the palace and returned to Bashang to camp, waiting for the king to come. The reason for sending soldiers to guard the pass is to prevent other thieves from entering and exiting and accidents. Such hard work and great achievements, not only did not reward him with a title of nobility, but he also listened to gossip and wanted to kill the meritorious people. This is just walking the old path of the fallen Qin Dynasty. I humbly think that the king's approach is not advisable." King Xiang could not respond, but just said, "Please sit down." Fan Kuai sat down next to Zhang Liang. After sitting for a while, Pei Gong got up to go to the toilet and called Fan Kuai out.

沛公旦日从百余骑来见项王，至鸿门，谢曰：“臣与将军戮力而攻秦，将军战河北，臣战河南，然不自意能先入关破秦，得复见将军于此。今者有小人之言，令将军与臣有卻。”项王曰：“此沛公左司马曹无伤言之；不然，籍何以至此。”项王即日因留沛公与饮。项王、项伯东向坐。亚父南向坐。亚父者，范增也。沛公北向坐，张良西向侍。范增数目项王，举所佩玉玦以示之者三，项王默然不应。范增起，出召项庄，谓曰：“君王为人不忍，若入前为寿。寿毕，请以剑舞，因击沛公于坐，杀之。不者，若属皆且为所虏。”庄则入为寿，寿毕，曰：“君王与沛公饮，军中无以为乐，请以剑舞。”项王曰：“诺。”项庄拔剑起舞，项伯亦拔剑起舞，常以身翼蔽沛公，庄不得击。于是张良至军门，见樊哙。樊哙曰：“今日之事何如？”良曰：“甚急。今者项庄拔剑舞，其意常在沛公也。”哙曰：“此迫矣，臣请入，与之同命。”哙即带剑拥盾入军门。交戟之卫士欲止不内，樊哙侧其盾以撞，卫士仆地，哙遂入，披帷西向立，瞋目视项王，头发上指，目眦尽裂。项王按剑而跽曰：“客何为者？”张良曰：“沛公之参乘樊哙者也。”项王曰：“壮士，赐之卮酒。”则与斗卮酒。哙拜谢，起，立而饮之。项王曰：“赐之彘肩。”则与一生彘肩。樊哙覆其盾于地，加彘肩上，拔剑切而啗之。项王曰：“壮士，能复饮乎？”樊哙曰：“臣死且不避，卮酒安足辞！夫秦王有虎狼之心，杀人如不能举，刑人如恐不胜，天下皆叛之。怀王与诸将约曰‘先破秦入咸阳者王之’。今沛公先破秦入咸阳，毫毛不敢有所近，封闭宫室，还军霸上，以待大王来。故遣将守关者，备他盗出入与非常也。劳苦而功高如此，未有封侯之赏，而听细说，欲诛有功之人。此亡秦之续耳，窃为大王不取也。”项王未有以应，曰：“坐。”樊哙从良坐。坐须臾，沛公起如厕，因招樊哙出。

A7.19|20

After Pei Gong left, King Xiang sent the lieutenant Chen Ping to call him back. Pei Gong said, "We are leaving now without saying goodbye. What should we do?" Fan Kuai said, "When doing great things, one should not care about trivial etiquette. When upholding great principles, one cannot avoid small blame. Now others are knives and chopping boards, and we are fish and meat to be slaughtered. Why do we still say goodbye?" Then they left. Before leaving, Pei Gong ordered Zhang Liang to stay and apologize. Zhang Liang asked, "What did the king bring when he came?" Pei Gong said, "I brought a pair of white jades to present to King Xiang and a pair of jade cups to present to Yafu. They were angry at the time, so I didn't dare to present them. You present them to them on my behalf." Zhang Liang said, "Yes, sir." At this time, King Xiang's army was at Hongmen, and Pei Gong's army was at Bashang, 40 miles away. Pei Gong abandoned his chariot and escaped on horseback alone. Fan Kuai, Xiahou Ying, Jin Qiang and Ji Xin ran with swords and shields, from the foot of Li Mountain, and took a small road through Zhiyang. Pei Gong said to Zhang Liang, "It's only about 20 miles from this road to my camp. Wait until you think I'm back to my army camp, then you go in." Pei Gong took a small road back to the army. After that, Zhang Liang went in to apologize and said, "Pei Gong had too much to drink and was unable to say goodbye. He asked me to present a pair of white jades to the king and a pair of jade cups to the general." King Xiang asked, "Where is Pei Gong?" Zhang Liang said, "He heard that the king wanted to blame him, so he left alone and has now returned to his camp." King Xiang took the jade and placed it on the seat. Yafu took the jade cup, left it on the ground, drew his sword, and chopped it into pieces, saying, "Alas! The damn kid is not worth working together! It must be Pei Gong who will seize the world from King Xiang. We will all be captured by him." Pei Gong returned to the army and immediately killed Cao Wushang.

A few days later, Xiang Yu led his troops westward to slaughter Xianyang, killed the surrendered Qin King Ziying, and burned the Qin palace to the ground, and the fire did not go out for three months. He also confiscated treasures and looted women and went east. Someone dissuaded Xiang Yu, saying: "Guanzhong is surrounded by mountains and the Yellow River, surrounded by passes, and the land is fertile and rich. You can make it your capital to create hegemony." Xiang Yu saw that the Qin palace was all scorched to pieces, and he missed his hometown and wanted to return to the east. He said: "Getting rich and noble but not returning to my hometown is like wearing embroidered clothes and walking at night. Who will know!" The person who dissuaded Xiang Yu said: "People say that the Chu people are just monkeys wearing hats. It's true." When Xiang Yu heard this, he boiled the man to death.

沛公已出，项王使都尉陈平召沛公。沛公曰：“今者出，未辞也，为之柰何？”樊哙曰：“大行不顾细谨，大礼不辞小让。如今人方为刀俎，我为鱼肉，何辞为。”于是遂去。乃令张良留谢。良问曰：“大王来何操？”曰：“我持白璧一双，欲献项王，玉斗一双，欲与亚父，会其怒，不敢献。公为我献之”张良曰：“谨诺。”当是时，项王军在鸿门下，沛公军在霸上，相去四十里。沛公则置车骑，脱身独骑，与樊哙、夏侯婴、靳强、纪信等四人持剑盾步走，从郦山下，道芷阳间行。沛公谓张良曰：“从此道至吾军，不过二十里耳。度我至军中，公乃入。”沛公已去，间至军中，张良入谢，曰：“沛公不胜桮杓，不能辞。谨使臣良奉白璧一双，再拜献大王足下；玉斗一双，再拜奉大将军足下。”项王曰：“沛公安在？”良曰：“闻大王有意督过之，脱身独去，已至军矣。”项王则受璧，置之坐上。亚父受玉斗，置之地，拔剑撞而破之，曰：“唉！竖子不足与谋。夺项王天下者，必沛公也，吾属今为之虏矣。”沛公至军，立诛杀曹无伤。

居数日，项羽引兵西屠咸阳，杀秦降王子婴，烧秦宫室，火三月不灭；收其货宝妇女而东。人或说项王曰：“关中阻山河四塞，地肥饶，可都以霸。”项王见秦宫皆以烧残破，又心怀思欲东归，曰：“富贵不归故乡，如衣绣夜行，谁知之者！”说者曰：“人言楚人沐猴而冠耳，果然。”项王闻之，烹说者。

A7.21

King Xiang sent someone to ask King Huai for instructions. King Huai said, "Do as agreed." Xiang Yu then honored King Huai as Yidi the Righteous Emperor, or Emperor Yi. King Xiang wanted to be king himself, so he first enfeoffed the generals and ministers as kings first. He said to everyone, "When the people of the world first started the uprising, they temporarily supported the descendants of the princes as kings to attack the Qin Dynasty. However, I personally wore armor and held a sharp weapon, took the lead in the uprising, and lived in the wind and rain for three years. The destruction of the Qin Dynasty and pacification of the world totally relied on the strength of the generals and ministers and me. It's just that the Righteous Emperor has no merit, so his land should be divided and enfeoffed to you as kings." All the generals said, "Okay." King Xiang then enfeoffed the world and made the generals kings and princes. King Xiang and Fan Zeng had the suspension that Pei Gong had the idea of ​​seizing the world, but they had already reconciled with him. They didn't want to break the agreement and were worried that the princes would betray him, so they secretly discussed and said, "The roads in Ba and Shu are difficult, and the criminals exiled by the Qin Dynasty all live in Shu." So they said, "Ba and Shu are also in Guanzhong." So Xiang Yu enfeoffed Pei Gong as the King of Han, ruling the three counties of Ba, Shu and Hanzhong, and establishing his capital in Nanzheng. He divided Guanzhong into three parts and gave them to the surrendered generals of the Qin Dynasty to stop the King of Han. King Xiang then made Zhang Han the King of Yong, ruling the area west of Xianyang and making Feiqiu his capital. The Chief Clerk Sima Xin, who had previously served as a prison official in Liyang, had been kind to Xiang Liang. The Commandant Dong Yi was the one who first persuaded Zhang Han to surrender to Chu. Therefore, King Xiang made Sima Xin the King of Sai, ruling the area east of Xianyang to the Yellow River, with Liyang as his capital. He made Dong Yi the King of Di, ruling Shangjun, with Gaonu as his capital. King Wei Bao was renamed the King of Western Wei, ruling the Hedong area, with Pingyang as his capital. Shen Yang from Xiaqiu was Zhang Er's favorite minister. He first conquered Henan and welcomed the Chu army at the Yellow River. Therefore, King Xiang made Shen Yang the King of Henan, with Luoyang as his capital. King Han Cheng established a country in the old capital, with Yangdi as his capital. Sima Ang, a general of Zhao, pacified Henei and repeatedly created military exploits, so he was made the King of Yin, ruling the Henei area, with Chaoge as his capital. The title of King Xie of Zhao was changed to King of Dai. Zhang Er, the prime minister of Zhao, had always been virtuous and followed King Xiang into Guanzhong, so Zhang Er was made King of Changshan and ruled Zhao, with Xiangguo as his capital. Ying Bu, the Lord of Dangyang, served as a general of Chu and was often the bravest among the troops, so Ying Bu was made King of Jiujiang and his capital was at Liuxian. Wu Rui, the Lord of Po, led the Baiyue to assist the princes and followed King Xiang into Guanzhong, so Wu Rui was made King of Hengshan and his capital was Zhuxian. Gong Ao, the pillar of the Yi Emperor, led his soldiers to attack Nanjun and created many military exploits, so Gong Ao was made King of Linjiang and his capital was Jiangling. Han Guang, the King of Yan, was changed to King of Liaodong. Zang Tu, the general of Yan, had followed the Chu army to rescue the Zhao army, so he followed King Xiang into Guanzhong, so Zang Tu was made King of Yan and his capital was Jixian. Tian Fu, the King of Qi, was changed to King of Jiaodong. Qi general Tian Du had followed the Chu army to rescue Zhao, so he followed King Xiang into Guanzhong, so he was named King of Qi, with Linzi as his capital. Tian An, grandson of King Jian of Qi who was destroyed by Qin, captured several cities north of the Jishui River when Xiang Yu crossed the river to rescue Zhao, and led his army to surrender to Xiang Yu, so he was named King of Jibei, with Boyang as his capital. Tian Rong had failed Xiang Liang many times, and was unwilling to lead his army to follow the Chu army to attack the Qin army, so he was not named. Chen Yu, Lord of Cheng'an, left his general seal and did not follow King Xiang into Guanzhong. However, King Xiang had always heard that Chen Yu was very capable and had made contributions to Zhao, and when he heard that Chen Yu was in Nanpi, he also named him three counties around Nanpi. Mei Xuan, a general of Lord Fan, had many military exploits, so he was named Marquis of 100 thousand households. King Xiang established himself as the Hegemon-King of Western Chu, ruling nine counties with Pengcheng as his capital.

项王使人致命怀王。怀王曰：“如约。”乃尊怀王为义帝。项王欲自王，先王诸将相。谓曰：“天下初发难时，假立诸侯后以伐秦。然身被坚执锐首事，暴露于野三年，灭秦定天下者，皆将相诸君与籍之力也。义帝虽无功，故当分其地而王之。”诸将皆曰：“善。”乃分天下，立诸将为侯王。项王、范增疑沛公之有天下，业已讲解，又恶负约，恐诸侯叛之，乃阴谋曰：“巴、蜀道险，秦之迁人皆居蜀。”乃曰：“巴、蜀亦关中地也。”故立沛公为汉王，王巴、蜀、汉中，都南郑。而三分关中，王秦降将以距塞汉王。项王乃立章邯为雍王，王咸阳以西，都废丘。长史欣者，故为栎阳狱掾，尝有德于项梁；都尉董翳者，本劝章邯降楚。故立司马欣为塞王，王咸阳以东至河，都栎阳；立董翳为翟王，王上郡，都高奴。徙魏王豹为西魏王，王河东，都平阳。瑕丘申阳者，张耳嬖臣也，先下河南，迎楚河上，故立申阳为河南王，都雒阳。韩王成因故都，都阳翟。赵将司马卬定河内，数有功，故立卬为殷王，王河内，都朝歌。徙赵王歇为代王。赵相张耳素贤，又从入关，故立耳为常山王，王赵地，都襄国。当阳君黥布为楚将，常冠军，故立布为九江王，都六。鄱君吴芮率百越佐诸侯，又从入关，故立芮为衡山王，都邾。义帝柱国共敖将兵击南郡，功多，因立敖为临江王，都江陵。徙燕王韩广为辽东王。燕将臧荼从楚救赵，因从入关，故立荼为燕王，都蓟。徙齐王田市为胶东王。齐将田都从共救赵，因从入关，故立都为齐王，都临菑。故秦所灭齐王建孙田安，项羽方渡河救赵，田安下济北数城，引其兵降项羽，故立安为济北王，都博阳。田荣者，数负项梁，又不肯将兵从楚击秦，以故不封。成安君陈余弃将印去，不从入关，然素闻其贤，有功于赵，闻其在南皮，故因环封三县。番君将梅鋗功多，故封十万户侯。项王自立为西楚霸王，王九郡，都彭城。

A7.22|23

In April of the first year of the Han Dynasty (206 BC), the princes withdrew from Xixia and returned to their respective fiefdoms. King Xiang also returned to his fiefdom and sent people to relocate Emperor Yi, saying: "In ancient times, the emperors owned a thousand miles of land and must live in the upper reaches." So he sent deputies to escort Emperor Yi to Chen in Changsha County. King Xiang urged Emperor Yi to leave early, and the ministers gradually developed a rebellious heart, so King Xiang secretly ordered the King of Hengshan and the King of Linjiang to kill Emperor Yi on the Yangtze River. King Han Cheng had no military merits, so King Xiang did not allow him to return to his fiefdom and took him to Pengcheng, deposed him as a marquis, and soon had him killed. Zang Tu returned to his fiefdom and took the opportunity to expel Han Guang to Liaodong. Han Guang refused to obey, so Zang Tu killed Han Guang in Wuzhong and annexed his fiefdom. 

Tian Rong heard that Xiang Yu changed the title of King of Qi Tian Fu to King of Jiaodong and made Qi General Tian Du the King of Qi, so he was very angry and did not want the King of Qi to go to Jiaodong. He took the opportunity to rebel in Qi and fight Tian Du. Tian Du fled to Chu. The King of Qi Tian Fu was afraid of Xiang Yu, so he fled to his fiefdom in Jiaodong. Tian Rong was very angry and sent troops to pursue him, killing him in Jimo. Tian Rong therefore proclaimed himself the King of Qi, attacked westward to kill Jibei King Tian An, and annexed the three Qi regions. Tian Rong gave Peng Yue the seal of the general and asked him to rebel in Liangdi. Chen Yu secretly sent Zhang Tong and Xia Shuo to persuade the King of Qi Tian Rong, saying: "Xiang Yu as the master of the world has been unfair in dividing the princes. Now the kings of the original six countries are all enfeoffed in bad places, and his ministers and generals are all enfeoffed in good places, and his original monarch is expelled. The King of Zhao is living in Dai County in the north. I think this is not right. I have heard that the King Your Majesty has raised an army and refused to obey the crooked orders. I hope the king will support my army and let me attack Changshan to restore the status of the King of Zhao and that way Zhao could be used as a barrier for Qi." The King of Qi agreed and sent troops to Zhao. Chen Yu mobilized all the soldiers from the three counties and joined the Qi army to attack Changshan, defeating the Changshan army. Zhang Er fled and joined the King of Han. Chen Yu went to Dai County to welcome Xie, the former King of Zhao and made him return to Zhao. The King of Zhao took the opportunity to make Chen Yu the King of Dai.

之元年四月，诸侯罢戏下，各就国。项王出之国，使人徙义帝，曰：“古之帝者地方千里，必居上游。”乃使使徙义帝长沙郴县。趣义帝行，其群臣稍稍背叛之，乃阴令衡山、临江王击杀之江中。韩王成无军功，项王不使之国，与俱至彭城，废以为侯，已又杀之。臧荼之国，因逐韩广之辽东，广弗听，荼击杀广无终，并王其地。

田荣闻项羽徙齐王巿胶东，而立齐将田都为齐王，乃大怒，不肯遣齐王之胶东，因以齐反，迎击田都。田都走楚。齐王市畏项王，乃亡之胶东就国。田荣怒，追击杀之即墨。荣因自立为齐王，而西杀击济北王田安，并王三齐。荣与彭越将军印，令反梁地。陈余阴使张同、夏说说齐王田荣曰：“项羽为天下宰，不平。今尽王故王于丑地，而王其群臣诸将善地，逐其故主，赵王乃北居代，余以为不可。闻大王起兵，且不听不义，愿大王资余兵，请以击常山，以复赵王，请以国为扞蔽。”齐王许之，因遣兵之赵。陈余悉发三县兵，与齐并力击常山，大破之。张耳走归汉。陈余迎故赵王歇于代，反之赵。赵王因立陈余为代王。

A7.24|25

At this time, the King of Hàn returned and pacified the Three Qins. Xiang Yu heard that the King of Hàn had annexed the entire Guanzhong area and began to march eastward, and Qi and Zhao also betrayed him, he was very angry. So Xiang Yu appointed Zheng Chang, the former magistrate of Wu County, as the King of Hán (韩) to stop the Hàn (汉) army, and ordered Xiao Gongjiao and others to attack Peng Yue. Peng Yue defeated Xiao Gongjiao and others, and the King of Hàn (汉) sent Zhang Liang to attack Hán (韩). Zhang Liang wrote to the King of Xiang, saying: "The King of Hàn has lost the official title he deserves, and wants to get Guanzhong. If the agreement is fulfilled, he will stop marching and dare not march eastward." Zhang Liang also sent the rebellious documents of Qi and Liang to the King of Xiang, saying: "Qi wants to join forces with Zhao to destroy Chu." For this reason, the Chu army had no intention of marching westward, but instead attacked Qi in the north. The King Xiang recruited soldiers from Ying Bu, the King of Jiujiang. Ying Bu claimed to be sick and did not go, and only sent a general to lead a few thousand people. From then on, the King Xiang began to resent Ying Bu.

In the winter of the second year of the Hàn Dynasty (205 BC), Xiang Yu marched north to Chengyang, and Tian Rong also led his army to Chengyang to fight him. Tian Rong could not win, so he fled to Pingyuan, where the people killed him. Xiang Yu then marched north and burned the city walls and houses of Qi, buried all of Tian Rong's surrendered soldiers alive, and captured the old, weak, and women of Qi. The Chu army attacked cities and territories from Qi to Beihai County, destroying most of the places they went to. The people of Qi gathered together to rebel against Xiang Yu. So Tian Rong's brother Tian Heng gathered the fleeing soldiers of the Qi army and got tens of thousands of people, and rebelled in Chengyang. King Xiang therefore stayed to fight, but he failed to capture Chengyang after several consecutive battles.

(Translator’s notes. Hán (韩), as South Korea. Hàn (汉), as Chinese national.) 

In the spring, the King of Han (汉) dispatched the armies of the five vassal states, totaling 560 thousand men, to attack the State of Chu in the east. When King Xiang heard about this, he immediately ordered his generals to attack the State of Qi, while he led 30 thousand elite soldiers to the south from Lu County across Huling. In April, the Han army had already entered Pengcheng, confiscated and looted Xiang Yu's treasures and beauties, and held banquets every day. King Xiang went west through Xiao County, attacked the Han army in the early morning, and marched eastward to Pengcheng. At noon, he defeated the Han army. The Han army soldiers all fled, and fled into Gushui and Sishui one after another. The Chu army killed more than 100 thousand Han soldiers. The Han soldiers all fled to the mountains in the south, and the Chu army chased them to the Suishui River east of Lingbi. The Han army retreated, and was forced by the Chu army, and most of them were killed. More than 100 thousand Han soldiers fell into the Suishui River, blocking it. The Chu army surrounded the King of Han in three layers. At this time, a strong wind blew from the northwest, breaking trees, overturning houses, and raising sand and stones. The day was as dark as dusk, and the strong wind blew towards the Chu army. The Chu army was in chaos and the formation was scattered, so the King of Han was able to escape with dozens of cavalrymen. The King of Han wanted to take his family and retreat westward through Pei County. The Chu army also sent people to Pei County to rob the King of Han's family. The King of Han's family all fled and did not see the King of Han. The King of Han met Prince Xiaohui (who later became the Emperor the Second of Han) and Princess Luyuan on the road, and took them with him. The cavalry of the Chu army chased the King of Han. The King of Han was very anxious, so he pushed Emperor Xiaohui and Princess Luyuan off the car. Duke Teng always got off the car and picked them up again, and this happened many times. Duke Teng said: "Although the situation is critical, we can't make the car go faster, but how can we abandon them?" The King of Han finally escaped. The King of Han looked for Taigong and Empress Lu but couldn't find them. Shen Yiji, Taigong and Empress Lu took a small road to look for the King of Han, but encountered the Chu army instead. The Chu army took them back and reported to King Xiang, who kept them in the army.

是时，汉还定三秦。项羽闻汉王皆已并关中，且东，齐、赵叛之：大怒。乃以故吴令郑昌为韩王，以距汉。令萧公角等击彭越。彭越败萧公角等。汉使张良徇韩，乃遗项王书曰：“汉王失职，欲得关中，如约即止，不敢东。”又以齐、梁反书遗项王曰：“齐欲与赵并灭楚。”楚以此故无西意，而北击齐。徵兵九江王布。布称疾不往，使将将数千人行。项王由此怨布也。汉之二年冬，项羽遂北至城阳，田荣亦将兵会战。田荣不胜，走至平原，平原民杀之。遂北烧夷齐城郭室屋，皆阬田荣降卒，系虏其老弱妇女。徇齐至北海，多所残灭。齐人相聚而叛之。于是田荣弟田横收齐亡卒得数万人，反城阳。项王因留，连战未能下。

春，汉王部五诸侯兵，凡五十六万人，东伐楚。项王闻之，即令诸将击齐，而自以精兵三万人南从鲁出胡陵。四月，汉皆已入彭城，收其货宝美人，日置酒高会。项王乃西从萧，晨击汉军而东，至彭城，日中，大破汉军。汉军皆走，相随入谷、泗水，杀汉卒十余万人。汉卒皆南走山，楚又追击至灵壁东睢水上。汉军卻，为楚所挤，多杀，汉卒十余万人皆入睢水，睢水为之不流。围汉王三匝。于是大风从西北而起，折木发屋，扬沙石，窈冥昼晦，逢迎楚军。楚军大乱，坏散，而汉王乃得与数十骑遁去，欲过沛，收家室而西；楚亦使人追之沛，取汉王家：家皆亡，不与汉王相见。汉王道逢得孝惠、鲁元，乃载行。楚骑追汉王，汉王急，推堕孝惠、鲁元车下，滕公常下收载之。如是者三。曰：“虽急不可以驱，柰何弃之？”于是遂得脱。求太公、吕后不相遇。审食其从太公、吕后间行，求汉王，反遇楚军。楚军遂与归，报项王，项王常置军中。

A7.26…28

At that time, Empress Lü's brother, Marquis of Zhou Lü, was stationed as a general in Xiayi with troops for the Han State. The King of Han took a small path to his military camp and gradually gathered the fleeing soldiers. When they arrived in Xingyang, the defeated armies gathered together. Xiao He also conscripted all the old and the weak in Guanzhong and sent them to Xingyang, then the spirit of Han army was greatly lifted and boosted again. The Chu army set out from Pengcheng and took advantage of the victory to pursue the defeated army. They fought with the Han army between Jing and Suo south of Xingyang. The Han army defeated the Chu army, and the Chu army could not cross Xingyang and continue westward.

When King Xiang came to rescue Pengcheng, he pursued King Han to Xingyang. Tian Heng also took the opportunity to recapture Qi and made Tian Rong's son Tian Guang the King of Qi. When King Han was defeated in Pengcheng, the princes defected to Chu and betrayed Han. The Han army was stationed in Xingyang and built a corridor to connect to the Yellow River to transport grain from Ao Cang. In the third year of Han (204 BC), King Xiang repeatedly invaded the corridors of the Han army and seized food. The King of Han was short of food and felt afraid, so he asked for reconciliation and demanded that the land west of Xingyang be ceded to the Han State. 

King Xiang wanted to agree to this condition. Fan Zeng, the Marquis of Liyang, said, "The Han army is easy to deal with. If we give up now and don't take it, we will regret it later." So King Xiang and Fan Zeng surrounded Xingyang in a hurry. King Han was worried, he adopted Chen Ping's strategy to alienate King Xiang and his ministers. King Xiang's envoy arrived and they prepared a rich meal and was ready to offer it. The person delivered the meal saw the envoy and pretended to be surprised and said, "I thought it was the envoy of Yafu, but it turned out to be the envoy of King Xiang!" He took away the meal and replaced it with a coarse meal for King Xiang's envoy. The envoy came back to report it to King Xiang, who then suspected that Fan Zeng had colluded with the Han army in private and gradually deprived him of his power. Fan Zeng was very angry and said, "The situation in the world has been determined. Please take care of yourself. Please allow me to retire and return home." King Xiang agreed. Fan Zeng died of a poisonous sore on his back before he reached Pengcheng.

是时吕后兄周吕侯为汉将兵居下邑，汉王间往从之，稍稍收其士卒。至荥阳，诸败军皆会，萧何亦发关中老弱未傅悉诣荥阳，复大振。楚起于彭城，常乘胜逐北，与汉战荥阳南京、索间，汉败楚，楚以故不能过荥阳而西。

项王之救彭城，追汉王至荥阳，田横亦得收齐，立田荣子广为齐王。汉王之败彭城，诸侯皆复与楚而背汉。汉军荥阳，筑甬道属之河，以取敖仓粟。汉之三年，项王数侵夺汉甬道，汉王食乏，恐，请和，割荥阳以西为汉。

项王欲听之。历阳侯范增曰：“汉易与耳，今释弗取，后必悔之。”项王乃与范增急围荥阳。汉王患之，乃用陈平计间项王。项王使者来，为太牢具，举欲进之。见使者，详惊愕曰：“吾以为亚父使者，乃反项王使者。”更持去，以恶食食项王使者。使者归报项王，项王乃疑范增与汉有私，稍夺之权。范增大怒，曰：“天下事大定矣，君王自为之。愿赐骸骨归卒伍。”项王许之。行未至彭城，疽发背而死。

A7.29…32

Ji Xin, a general of Han, advised the King of Han: "The situation is very critical. Please let me pretend to be the king and deceive the Chu army, so that the king can take the opportunity to escape." So the King of Han released two thousand women in armor from the east gate of Xingyang at night, and the Chu army surrounded them from all sides. Ji Xin rode in a carriage with yellow umbrella and left banner (signs of royalty). He said: "The food in the city has been eaten up, and the King of Han will surrender." The soldiers of the Chu army shouted hooray. At this time, the King of Han and dozens of cavalrymen left the city from the west gate and fled to Chenggao. King Xiang saw Ji Xin and asked him: "Where is the King of Han?" Ji Xin said: "The King of Han has left the city." King Xiang burned Ji Xin alive.

The King of Han sent the imperial censor Zhou Ke, Cong Gong, and Wei Bao to garrison Xingyang. Zhou Ke and Cong Gong discussed and said: "Wei Bao is the king of a rebellious country. It is difficult to defend the city with him." So the two killed Wei Bao together. The Chu army captured Xingyang City and captured Zhou Ke alive. King Xiang said to Zhou Ke: "Be my general, I will make you the general and the chief of 30 thousand households." Zhou Ke cursed: "If you don't surrender to the King of Han quickly, the King of Han will capture you. You are no match for the King of Han!" King Xiang was very angry and cooked Zhou Ke and killed Cong Gong.

After the King of Han escaped from Xingyang, he passed through Wan County and Ye County in the south, recruited Ying Bu the King of Jiujiang to surrender, gathered the scattered soldiers along the way, and entered Chenggao, and made stronger defense. In the fourth year of the Han Dynasty (203 BC), King Xiang marched to besiege Chenggao. The King of Han fled, and he went out of the north gate of Chenggao alone with Teng Gong, crossed the Yellow River and fled to Xiuwu, and came to the military camp of Zhang Er and Han Xin. The generals fled Chenggao one after another and followed the King of Han. The Chu army finally captured Chenggao and wanted to march westward. The King of Han sent troops to resist in Gong, preventing it from advancing westward.

At this time, Peng Yue crossed the Yellow River and attacked the Chu army in Dong'e, killing the Chu general Xue Gong. King Xiang then personally went east to attack Peng Yue. The King of Han obtained the army of Marquis Huaiyin and wanted to cross the Yellow River to the south. Zheng Zhong dissuaded the King of Han, and the King of Han stayed in Henei to build a camp. The King of Han sent Liu Jia to lead the army to assist Peng Yue and burn the supplies gathered by the Chu army. King Xiang went east to defeat the Han army, and Peng Yue fled. The King of Han led his army across the Yellow River, recaptured Chenggao, and stationed in Guangwu, obtaining the food supplies in Ao Cang. King Xiang headed west after pacifying Donghai, and stationed against the Han army in Guangwu. The two armies fought for several months.

汉将纪信说汉王曰：“事已急矣，请为王诳楚为王，王可以间出。”于是汉王夜出女子荥阳东门被甲二千人，楚兵四面击之。纪信乘黄屋车，傅左纛，曰：“城中食尽，汉王降。”楚军皆呼万岁。汉王亦与数十骑从城西门出，走成皋。项王见纪信，问：“汉王安在？”曰：“汉王已出矣。”项王烧杀纪信。

汉王使御史大夫周苛、枞公、魏豹守荥阳。周苛、枞公谋曰：“反国之王，难与守城。”乃共杀魏豹。楚下荥阳城，生得周苛。项王谓周苛曰：“为我将，我以公为上将军，封三万户。”周苛骂曰：“若不趣降汉，汉今虏若，若非汉敌也。”项王怒，烹周苛，并杀枞公。

汉王之出荥阳，南走宛、叶，得九江王布，行收兵，复入保成皋。汉之四年，项王进兵围成皋。汉王逃，独与滕公出成皋北门，渡河走脩武，从张耳、韩信军。诸将稍稍得出成皋，从汉王。楚遂拔成皋，欲西。汉使兵距之巩，令其不得西。

是时，彭越渡河击楚东阿，杀楚将军薛公。项王乃自东击彭越。汉王得淮阴侯兵，欲渡河南。郑忠说汉王，乃止壁河内。使刘贾将兵佐彭越，烧楚积聚。项王东击破之，走彭越。汉王则引兵渡河，复取成皋，军广武，就敖仓食。项王已定东海来，西，与汉俱临广武而军，相守数月。

A7.33|34|35

At this time, Peng Yue repeatedly counterattacked the Chu army in Liangdi, cutting off the route for the Chu army to transport food, and King Xiang was very worried about this. He prepared a high table, put Taigong on it, and warned the King of Han: "If you don't surrender quickly, I will cook and kill Taigong." The King of Han said: "You and I both face north and obey King Huai. We have said that we are brothers. My father is your father. If you must cook and kill your own father, please give me a cup of meat soup." King Xiang was very angry and wanted to cook and kill Taigong. Xiang Bo said: "The situation in the world is still unclear, and those who fight for the world will not take care of their families. Even if he is killed, it will not be good, but will only add to the disaster." King Xiang listened to Xiang Bo's advice.

The Chu and Han armies were in a stalemate for a long time, and the young and strong were exhausted from marching and fighting, and the old and weak were exhausted from transporting supplies. King Xiang said to the King of Han: "The world has been in chaos for many years, just because of the two of us. I would like to challenge the King of Han to a duel, so as not to let the people of the world suffer in vain." The King of Han smiled and declined, saying: "I would rather compete in wisdom than strength." King Xiang ordered his warriors to go out and challenge. The Han army had a man named Lou Fan who was good at riding and archery. The Chu army challenged him three times in a row, and Lou Fan shot the warriors who came to challenge him to death. King Xiang was very angry, so he personally put on armor and took up a long halberd to challenge. Lou Fan wanted to shoot, but King Xiang stared at him and scolded him. Lou Fan dared not look directly at him, dared not shoot an arrow, and ran into the camp and never dared to come out again. The King of Han sent someone to secretly inquire, and only then did he know that it was King Xiang. The King of Han was shocked. So King Xiang approached the King of Han's camp and talked to him across the Guangwu Stream. The King of Han listed King Xiang's crimes, and King Xiang was very angry and wanted to fight. The King of Han disagreed, and the archers in the ambushed in King Xiang's army shot King Han. The King of Han was injured and fled back to Chenggao. 

When King Xiang heard that the Marquis of Huaiyin had conquered Hebei, defeated the armies of Qi and Zhao, and wanted to attack the Chu army, he sent Long Qie to fight. Han Xin the Marquis of Huaiyin fought with Long Qie, and the cavalry general Guan Ying attacked Long Qie, defeated the Chu army, and killed Long Qie. Han Xin took the opportunity to establish himself as the King of Qi. When King Xiang heard that Long Qie's army was defeated, he was afraid and sent Wu She, a native of Xutai, to persuade the Marquis of Huaiyin. The Marquis of Huaiyin did not listen. At this time, Peng Yue rebelled against the Chu army again, conquered Liangdi, and cut off the food supply of the Chu army. King Xiang said to Cao Jiu, Marquis Haichun the Grand Marshal, and others: "Be careful to defend Chenggao. Even if the Han army wants to challenge, don't fight with them. Just don't let them go east. I will kill Peng Yue within fifteen days, pacify Liangdi, and then come back to meet the general." So King Xiang marched eastward, attacking Chenliu and Waihuang along the way.

当此时，彭越数反梁地，绝楚粮食，项王患之。为高俎，置太公其上，告汉王曰：“今不急下，吾烹太公。”汉王曰：“吾与项羽俱北面受命怀王，曰‘约为兄弟’，吾翁即若翁，必欲烹而翁，则幸分我一桮羹。”项王怒，欲杀之。项伯曰：“天下事未可知，且为天下者不顾家，虽杀之无益，祇益祸耳。”项王从之。

楚汉久相持未决，丁壮苦军旅，老弱罢转漕。项王谓汉王曰：“天下匈匈数岁者，徒以吾两人耳，愿与汉王挑战决雌雄，毋徒苦天下之民父子为也。”汉王笑谢曰：“吾宁斗智，不能斗力。”项王令壮士出挑战。汉有善骑射者楼烦，楚挑战三合，楼烦辄射杀之。项王大怒，乃自被甲持戟挑战。楼烦欲射之，项王瞋目叱之，楼烦目不敢视，手不敢发，遂走还入壁，不敢复出。汉王使人间问之，乃项王也。汉王大惊。于是项王乃即汉王相与临广武间而语。汉王数之，项王怒，欲一战。汉王不听，项王伏弩射中汉王。汉王伤，走入成皋。

项王闻淮阴侯已举河北，破齐、赵，且欲击楚，乃使龙且往击之。淮阴侯与战，骑将灌婴击之，大破楚军，杀龙且。韩信因自立为齐王。项王闻龙且军破，则恐，使盱台人武濊涉往说淮阴侯。淮阴侯弗听。是时，彭越复反，下梁地，绝楚粮。项王乃谓海春侯大司马曹咎等曰：“谨守成皋，则汉欲挑战，慎勿与战，毋令得东而已。我十五日必诛彭越，定梁地，复从将军。”乃东，行击陈留、外黄。

A7.36|37|38

Waihuang could not be conquered. After a few days, Waihuang finally surrendered. King Xiang was very angry and ordered all men over 15 years old to be sent to the east of the city, intending to kill them. The son of the retainer of the Waihuang County Magistrate was only 13 years old. He went to persuade King Xiang and said: "Peng Yue forced Waihuang to rebel with him by force. The people of Waihuang were very scared, so they temporarily surrendered to Peng Yue and waited for the king to come. Now the king has come and wants to kill them all. How can the people still want to submit to him? From here to the east, more than a dozen cities in Liangdi will be afraid and no one will surrender anymore." King Xiang thought his words made sense and pardoned those in Waihuang who were to be killed. The Chu army marched eastward to Suiyang. When the people heard about it, they all rushed to surrender to King Xiang.

As expected, the Han army repeatedly challenged the Chu army, but the Chu army did not go out to fight. The Han army sent people to insult for five or six consecutive days. The Grand Marshal was very angry and ordered the soldiers to cross the Sishui River. Just when half of the soldiers had crossed the river, the Han army launched an attack, defeated the Chu army, and seized all the Chu army's supplies. Grand Marshal Cao Jiu, Chief Clerk Dong Yi, and King of Sai Sima Xin all committed suicide on the bank of Sishui River. Grand Marshal Cao Jiu was originally a prison official in Qi County, and Chief Clerk Sima Xin was also a prison official in Liyang. They had been kind to Xiang Liang, so King Xiang trusted them. At this time, King Xiang was in Suiyang. When he heard that the army of Marquis Haichun was defeated, he led his troops back. The Han army was besieging Zhongli Mei in Xingyang. King Xiang arrived. The Han army was afraid of the Chu army, so they all withdrew to a place with steep terrain.

At this time, the Han army had many soldiers and sufficient food, while King Xiang's soldiers were tired and out of food. King Han sent Lu Jia to persuade King Xiang to release Taigong, but King Xiang refused. King Han sent Hou Gong to persuade King Xiang, and King Xiang agreed with King Han to divide the world equally, with the land west of the Honggou belonging to the Han State and the land east of the Honggou belonging to the Chu State. King Xiang agreed and immediately sent back the King of Han's parents, wife and children. The Han army all shouted "Long live the king". The King of Han then named Hou Gong the Lord of Pingguo, but Hou Gong hid himself and refused to see the King of Han again. The King of Han said, "This man is the best debater in the world. The country he goes to will be overthrown because of him, so he is named the Lord of Pingguo." King Xiang had reached a covenant, so he led his troops to retreat back to the East.

黄不下。数日，已降，项王怒，悉令男子年十五已上诣城东，欲阬之。外黄令舍人儿年十三，往说项王曰：“彭越强劫外黄，外黄恐，故且降，待大王。大王至，又皆阬之，百姓岂有归心？从此以东，梁地十余城皆恐，莫肯下矣。”项王然其言，乃赦外黄当阬者。东至睢阳，闻之皆争下项王。

汉果数挑楚军战，楚军不出。使人辱之，五六日，大司马怒，渡兵汜水。士卒半渡，汉击之，大破楚军，尽得楚国货赂。大司马咎、长史翳、塞王欣皆自刭汜水上。大司马咎者，故蕲狱掾，长史欣亦故栎阳狱吏，两人尝有德于项梁，是以项王信任之。当是时，项王在睢阳，闻海春侯军败，则引兵还。汉军方围钟离眛于荥阳东，项王至，汉军畏楚，尽走险阻。

是时，汉兵盛食多，项王兵罢食绝。汉遣陆贾说项王，请太公，项王弗听。汉王复使侯公往说项王，项王乃与汉约，中分天下，割鸿沟以西者为汉，鸿沟而东者为楚。项王许之，即归汉王父母妻子。军皆呼万岁。汉王乃封侯公为平国君。匿弗肯复见。曰：“此天下辩士，所居倾国，故号为平国君。”项王已约，乃引兵解而东归。

A7.39|40

The King of Han was ready to withdraw to the West, but Zhang Liang and Chen Ping advised him: "Han occupies most of the world, and all the princes have submitted to us. The soldiers of Chu are exhausted and have run out of food. This is the time for Heaven to destroy Chu. It is better to seize this opportunity and destroy Chu. Letting the enemy go now without attacking is what people call "raising a tiger to cause trouble." The King of Han followed their advice. In the fifth year of the Han Dynasty (202 BCE), the King of Han pursued the King of Xiang to the south of Yangxia, stopped his advance, and agreed on a date with Han Xin, Marquis of Huaiyin, and Peng Yue, Marquis of Jiancheng, to attack the Chu army together. But when they arrived at Guling, the armies of Han Xin and Peng Yue did not join them. The Chu army attacked the Han army and the Han army was defeated. The King of Han fled back to the camp and dug deep trenches to defend himself. The King of Han said to Zhang Liang, "What should we do if the princes do not abide by the covenant?" Zhang Liang replied, "The Chu army is about to be defeated, and Han Xin and Peng Yue have not yet been granted land. It is normal for them not to arrive. If you could share the world with them, you could have them over right now. If not, the situation is difficult to know. If you can grant Han Xin all the territory from Chen County to the east to the sea, and grant Peng Yue all the territory from Suiyang to Gucheng in the north, and let them lead their respective armies to fight, then you can easily defeat the Chu army. " The King of Han said, "Okay." So he sent messengers to inform Han Xin and Peng Yue, "Join forces to attack the Chu army. After the Chu army is defeated, the land from Chen County east to the sea will be granted to the King of Qi and the land from Suiyang north to Gucheng will be granted to Prime Minister Peng." When the envoy arrived, Han Xin and Peng Yue reported: "Please let us advance immediately." Han Xin then set out from Qi, and Liu Jia's army set out from Shouchun and marched with him, slaughtering Chengfu and marching to Gaixia. Grand Marshal Zhou Yin rebelled against the State of Chu, led the soldiers of Shu to slaughter Liuxian, mobilized the soldiers of Jiujiang, joined Liu Jia and Peng Yue at Gaixia, and came to the front of King Xiang.

King Xiang's army built a camp at Gaixia, with few soldiers and no food, and was surrounded by layers and layers of the Han army and the armies of the princes. At night, King Xiang heard the Han army around him singing songs of Chu, and he was very surprised and said: "Has the Han army occupied the entire State of Chu? Why are there so many Chu people?" King Xiang got up at night and went to the tent to drink. King Xiang had a favorite beauty named Yu Ji, who often by his side, and he had a fine horse named Zhui he often rode. So King Xiang sang a sad song in anger, and composed a poem himself: "I am a hero who can pull up mountains, but it’s an unfortunate time even my Zhui can't reach. If Zhui can't reach, what should I do? Yu Ji, Yu Ji, what should I do!" After singing a few paragraphs, Yu Ji responded. King Xiang shed several tears, and all the attendants around him shed tears. No one could raise their heads.

汉欲西归，张良、陈平说曰：“汉有天下太半，而诸侯皆附之。楚兵罢食尽，此天亡楚之时也，不如因其机而遂取之。今释弗击，此所谓‘养虎自遗患’也。”汉王听之。汉五年，汉王乃追项王至阳夏南，止军，与淮阴侯韩信、建成侯彭越期会而击楚军。至固陵，而信、越之兵不会。楚击汉军，大破之。汉王复入壁，深堑而自守。谓张子房曰：“诸侯不从约，为之柰何？”对曰：“楚兵且破，信、越未有分地，其不至固宜。君王能与共分天下，今可立致也。即不能，事未可知也。君王能自陈以东傅海，尽与韩信；睢阳以北至谷城，以与彭越：使各自为战，则楚易败也。”汉王曰：“善。”于是乃发使者告韩信、彭越曰：“并力击楚。楚破，自陈以东傅海与齐王，睢阳以北至谷城与彭相国。”使者至，韩信、彭越皆报曰：“请今进兵。”韩信乃从齐往，刘贾军从寿春并行，屠城父，至垓下。大司马周殷叛楚，以舒屠六，举九江兵，随刘贾、彭越皆会垓下，诣项王。

项王军壁垓下，兵少食尽，汉军及诸侯兵围之数重。夜闻汉军四面皆楚歌，项王乃大惊曰：“汉皆已得楚乎？是何楚人之多也！”项王则夜起，饮帐中。有美人名虞，常幸从；骏马名骓，常骑之。于是项王乃悲歌慷慨，自为诗曰：“力拔山兮气盖世，时不利兮骓不逝。骓不逝兮可柰何，虞兮虞兮柰若何！”歌数阕，美人和之。项王泣数行下，左右皆泣，莫能仰视。

A7.41|42

So King Xiang got on his horse, and with more than 800 strong cavalrymen following him, they broke through the encirclement and galloped southwards under the cover of night. After daybreak, the Han army discovered it and ordered the cavalry general Guan Ying to lead 5,000 cavalrymen to pursue. King Xiang crossed the Huai River, and only more than 100 cavalrymen could keep up with him. King Xiang arrived at Yinling and lost his way. He asked a farmer, who lied to him and said, "Go left." King Xiang fled to the left, but fell into a large swamp. Because of this, the Han army caught up with them. King Xiang led his troops to flee eastward again, and when arrived at Dongcheng, he was left with only 28 cavalrymen. The cavalrymen of the Han army who came to pursue numbered several thousand. King Xiang realized that he could not escape, so he said to his cavalry: "It has been eight years since I started my army. I have personally fought more than seventy battles. All those who resisted me were defeated, and all those I attacked surrendered. I have never been defeated, so I can dominate the world. However, I am trapped here now. It is Heaven who wants me to die, not because I made a mistake in the battle. Today is supposed to be a life-and-death battle. I hope to fight for you and win three consecutive battles. I will break through the encirclement for you, kill the enemy generals, and cut down the enemy flags. Let you know that it is Heaven who wants me to die, not because I made a mistake in the battle." King Xiang then divided his cavalry into four teams, facing the four directions. The Han army surrounded them heavily. King Xiang said to his cavalry: "I will take the life of an enemy general for you." King Xiang ordered the cavalry to charge in four directions and agreed to meet in three places east of the mountain. So King Xiang rushed forward with a loud shout, and all the Han soldiers fell down wherever he went, and finally killed a Han general. At this time, Chiquan Hou served as the cavalry commander and pursued King Xiang. King Xiang glared at him and shouted at him. Chiquan Hou and his horse were shocked and retreated several miles. King Xiang and his cavalry met at the three agreed places. The Han army did not know where King Xiang was, so they divided the army into three and surrounded King Xiang again. King Xiang then rode away on horseback, killed another Han army captain, killed dozens or hundreds of people, and then gathered his cavalry together, only two cavalrymen died. King Xiang said to his cavalry: "How is it?" The cavalrymen all fell to the ground and said: "It's just as the king said." 

So King Xiang wanted to cross the Wujiang River to the east. The head of Wujiang River moored his boat to the shore and waited. He said to King Xiang: "Although Jiangdong is small, the land is a thousand miles in radius and the people are hundreds of thousands. It is enough to be king there. I hope the king will cross the river quickly. Now there is only this one boat of mine. When the Han army comes here, there is no way to cross the river." King Xiang smiled and said: "Heaven wants me to perish, so what can I do if I cross the river? Besides, I and 8,000 Jiangdong men crossed the river and marched westward. Now no one has returned. Even if the fathers and brothers of Jiangdong pity me and let me be king there, how can I face them? Even if they don't say anything, don't I feel guilty?" So he said to the head of the pavilion: "I know you are a loyal person. I have ridden this horse for five years. It is invincible. It once traveled a thousand miles a day. I couldn't bear to kill it, so I gave it to you." He ordered the cavalry to dismount and walk, holding short weapons to fight. Xiang Ji killed hundreds of Han soldiers alone. King Xiang himself was also injured more than ten times. He turned around and saw Lü Matong, the cavalry commander of the Han army, and said, "Aren't you my old friend?" Lü Matong turned around and pointed to Wang Yi, saying, "This is King Xiang." King Xiang then said, "I heard that the King of Han offered a reward of 1,000 gold and 10,000 households for my head, so I'll help you." So he committed suicide. Wang Yi cut off his head, and the other cavalrymen trampled on each other to fight for King Xiang's body, killing dozens of people. In the end, the cavalry chamberlain for attendants Yang Xi, the cavalry commander Lü Matong, the chamberlain for attendants Lü Sheng and Yang Wu each got a part of King Xiang's limbs. When the five people put the limbs together, they all belonged to King Xiang. So the King of Han divided the rewarded fief into five: Lü Matong was made Marquis of Zhongshui, Wang Yi was made Marquis of Duyan, Yang Xi was made Marquis of Chiquan, Yang Wu was made Marquis of Wufang, and Lü Sheng was made Marquis of Nieyang.

于是项王乃上马骑，麾下壮士骑从者八百余人，直夜溃围南出，驰走。平明，汉军乃觉之，令骑将灌婴以五千骑追之。项王渡淮，骑能属者百余人耳。项王至阴陵，迷失道，问一田父，田父绐曰“左”。左，乃陷大泽中。以故汉追及之。项王乃复引兵而东，至东城，乃有二十八骑。汉骑追者数千人。项王自度不得脱。谓其骑曰：“吾起兵至今八岁矣，身七十余战，所当者破，所击者服，未尝败北，遂霸有天下。然今卒困于此，此天之亡我，非战之罪也。今日固决死，愿为诸君快战，必三胜之，为诸君溃围，斩将，刈旗，令诸君知天亡我，非战之罪也。”乃分其骑以为四队，四向。汉军围之数重。项王谓其骑曰：“吾为公取彼一将。”令四面骑驰下，期山东为三处。于是项王大呼驰下，汉军皆披靡，遂斩汉一将。是时，赤泉侯为骑将，追项王，项王瞋目而叱之，赤泉侯人马俱惊，辟易数里与其骑会为三处。汉军不知项王所在，乃分军为三，复围之。项王乃驰，复斩汉一都尉，杀数十百人，复聚其骑，亡其两骑耳。乃谓其骑曰：“何如？”骑皆伏曰：“如大王言。” 

于是项王乃欲东渡乌江。乌江亭长檥船待，谓项王曰：“江东虽小，地方千里，众数十万人，亦足王也。愿大王急渡。今独臣有船，汉军至，无以渡。”项王笑曰：“天之亡我，我何渡为！且籍与江东子弟八千人渡江而西，今无一人还，纵江东父兄怜而王我，我何面目见之？纵彼不言，籍独不愧于心乎？”乃谓亭长曰：“吾知公长者。吾骑此马五岁，所当无敌，尝一日行千里，不忍杀之，以赐公。”乃令骑皆下马步行，持短兵接战。独籍所杀汉军数百人。项王身亦被十余创。顾见汉骑司马吕马童，曰：“若非吾故人乎？”马童面之，指王翳曰：“此项王也。”项王乃曰：“吾闻汉购我头千金，邑万户，吾为若德。”乃自刎而死。王翳取其头，余骑相蹂践争项王，相杀者数十人。最其后，郎中骑杨喜，骑司马吕马童，郎中吕胜、杨武各得其一体。五人共会其体，皆是。故分其地为五：封吕马童为中水侯，封王翳为杜衍侯，封杨喜为赤泉侯，封杨武为吴防侯，封吕胜为涅阳侯。

A7.43|44|45

After King Xiang died, all the lands of Chu surrendered to Han, except Lu. Han led the army of the whole country to slaughter Lu, but Lu kept the rites and righteousness and was ready to die for their master. Then King Xiang's head was held up facing Lu, then the fathers and brothers of Lu surrendered. At first, King Huai of Chu appointed Xiang Ji as Duke of Lu. When he died, Lu was the last to surrender, so Xiang Ji was buried in Gucheng with the rites of Duke of Lu. The King of Han mourned for him and left in tears.

The King of Han did not kill any of the non-direct relatives of the Xiang family. He appointed Xiang Bo as Marquis of Sheyang. Marquis of Tao, Marquis of Pinggao, and Marquis of Xuanwu were all from the Xiang family and were given the surname Liu.

Taishigong the Grand Historian said: I heard from Zhou Sheng that "Shun had double pupils in his eyes", and I also heard that Xiang Yu also had double pupils. Is Yu a descendant of his family? Why is he so violent! When Qin lost its power, Chen She led the rebellion, and heroes rose up and fought against each other, countless in number. However, Yu was not a man of any size. He took advantage of the situation and rose from the fields. In three years, he led five princes to destroy Qin, split the world, and was made a prince. The governance was from Yu, and he was called "Hegemon". Although he did not hold the position for a long time, it was unprecedented in recent history. When Yu abandoned Guanzhong and chose Chu, exiled Emperor Yi and established himself, he blamed the princes for betraying him. It was difficult. He was arrogant about his achievements, exerted his own smarts and did not learn from the ancients. He claimed that he was a hegemon and wanted to conquer the world. In five years, his country was destroyed and he died in Dongcheng. He still did not wake up and did not blame himself. That was wrong! He quoted "It was Heaven who destroyed me, not my fault of using troops". Isn't it absurd?

项王已死，楚地皆降汉，独鲁不下。汉乃引天下兵欲屠之，为其守礼义，为主死节，乃持项王头视鲁，鲁父兄乃降。始，楚怀王初封项籍为鲁公，及其死，鲁最后下，故以鲁公礼葬项王谷城。汉王为发哀，泣之而去。

诸项氏枝属，汉王皆不诛。乃封项伯为射阳侯。桃侯、平皋侯、玄武侯皆项氏，赐姓刘。

太史公曰：吾闻之周生曰“舜目盖重瞳子”，又闻项羽亦重瞳子。羽岂其苗裔邪？何兴之暴也！夫秦失其政，陈涉首难，豪杰蜂起，相与并争，不可胜数。然羽非有尺寸，乘埶起陇亩之中，三年，遂将五诸侯灭秦，分裂天下，而封王侯，政由羽出，号为“霸王”，位虽不终，近古以来未尝有也。及羽背关怀楚，放逐义帝而自立，怨王侯叛己，难矣。自矜功伐，奋其私智而不师古，谓霸王之业，欲以力征经营天下，五年卒亡其国，身死东城，尚不觉寤而不自责，过矣。乃引“天亡我，非用兵之罪也”，岂不谬哉！

End of A7