190 Surrounded by Chu Songs

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。

189 Honggou Covenant

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。

188 Han Xin

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。

187 Ji Xin

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。

186 Fan Zeng

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。

185 Hán (韩) and Hàn (汉)

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。

184 Rebel in Qi

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。

183 Hegemon-King of Western Chu

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。

182 Monkeys Wearing Hats

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。

181 The Sword Dance

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。