Shiji 48 - House of Chen She

陳 涉 世 家 第 十 八
Eighteenth lineage - Chen She　 　

陳 勝 者 ， 陽 城 人 也 ， 字 涉 。 吳 廣 者 ， 陽 夏人 也 ， 字 叔 。 陳 涉 少 時 ， 嘗 與 人 傭 耕 ， 輟 耕 之 壟 上 ， 悵 恨 久 之 ， 曰 ：「 苟 富 貴 ， 無 相 忘 。 」 庸 者 笑 而 應 曰 ： 「 若 為 庸 耕 ， 何富 貴 也 ？ 」 陳 涉 太 息 曰 ： 「 嗟 乎 ， 燕 雀 安 知 鴻 鵠 之 志 哉！ 」
Chen Sheng was a native of Yangcheng. His personal name was She. Wu Guang was a native of Yangjia. His personal name was Shu. When Chen She was young, he used to work as a farmhand. On day, as they were resting on a ridge at the end of a field, he kept for a while a grave and worried face, and told his companions: “When I am rich and noble, I will not forget you.” They laughed and answered: “You are but a farmhand, how would you become rich and noble?” Chen She sighed deeply and said: “Alas, can sparrows understand the designs of the crane?”　 　

二 世 元 年 七 月 ， 發 閭 左 適 戍 漁 陽 ， 九 百 人 屯 大 澤 鄉 。 陳 勝 、 吳 廣 皆 次 當 行 ， 為 屯 長。 會 天 大 雨 ， 道 不 通 ， 度 已 失 期 。 失 期 ， 法 皆 斬 。 陳 勝、 吳 廣 乃 謀 曰 ： 「 今 亡 亦 死 ， 舉 大 計 亦 死 ， 等 死 ， 死 國可 乎 ？ 」 陳 勝 曰 ： 「 天 下 苦 秦 久 矣 。 吾 聞 二 世 少子 也 ， 不 當 立 ， 當 立 者 乃 公 子 扶 蘇 。 扶 蘇 以 數 諫故 ， 上 使 外 將 兵 。 今 或 聞 無 罪 ， 二 世 殺 之 。 百 姓 多 聞 其賢 ， 未 知 其 死 也 。 項 燕 為 楚 將 ， 數 有 功 ， 愛 士 卒， 楚 人 憐 之 。 或 以 為 死 ， 或 以 為 亡 。 今 誠 以 吾 眾 詐 自 稱 公 子 扶 蘇 、 項 燕 ， 為 天 下 唱 ， 宜 多 應 者 。 」 吳 廣以 為 然 。 乃 行 卜 。 卜 者 知 其 指 意 ， 曰 ： 「 足 下 事 皆 成 ， 有 功 。 然 足 下 卜 之 鬼 乎 ！ 」 陳 勝 、 吳 廣 喜， 念 鬼 ， 曰 ： 「 此 教 我 先 威 眾 耳 。 」 乃 丹 書 帛 曰 「 陳 勝 王 」 ， 置 人 所 罾 魚 腹 中 。 卒 買 魚 烹 食 ， 得 魚 腹 中 書 ， 固 以 怪 之 矣 。 又 閒 令 吳 廣 之 次 所 旁 叢 祠 中 ， 夜 篝 火 ， 狐 鳴 呼 曰 「 大 楚 興 ， 陳 勝 王 」 。 卒 皆 夜 驚 恐 。 旦 日 ， 卒 中 往 往 語 ， 皆指 目 陳 勝 。
On the first year of the Second Emperor, on the seventh month, all the men living on the left side of villages were sent to guard the border in Yuyang. Nine hundred men were sent to garrison the district of Daze. Chen Sheng and Wu Guang left with them, acting as garrison leaders. On their way, there were great storms, the roads were cut, and it became clear that they would arrive late. The punishment for arriving late was death. Chen Sheng and Wu Guang therefore discussed together, saying: “If we desert, we will be killed. If we try to launch a revolution, we will be killed too. As we will die anyway, why not die for a great cause?” Chen Sheng said: “The Empire has been suffering under Qin for too long. I am told that the second emperor is a younger son, who should not have inherited the throne. The real heir was prince Fusu, but, because he criticised the previous emperor on several occasions, he was sent to garrison the borders. When some heard that he was not guilty, the second emperor had him assassinated. Among the people, many heard he was a sage, but few know that he has died. Samely, Xiang Yan was a general of Chu. He acted bravely on many occasions, was liked by his men, and the people of Chu had sympathy for him. Some say he has died, others that he fled. If our soldiers revolt, and if we pretend that we are sent by Prince Fusu and Xiang Yan to reclaim the Empire, many will follow us.” Wu Guang agreed. They consulted an augur, who, understanding their intention, said: “you will succeed, and you will become famous. But you should consult with the spirits!” Cheng Sheng and Wu Guang were quite happy with this. Thinking about the spirits, they said: “this tells us that we need to inspire respect!” Therefore, they wrote in red letters the words “Cheng Sheng will be king” on a pice of silk, which they hid in the belly of a fish caught into a net. A soldier bought the fish, cooked it for his dinner, and found the message in his stomach. Imagine his surprise! Besides, Chen Sheng sent Wu Guang hide in a sacred grove close to the camp. During the night, he set fire to a reed basket, and howled like a fox, shouting: “The Great Chu arises, Cheng Sheng will be king.” All their soldiers woke up in terror. The next morning, rumours spread quickly, and every one looked and pointed his finger at Chen Sheng.　 　

吳 廣 素 愛 人 ， 士 卒 多 為 用 者 。 將 尉 醉 ， 廣故 數 言 欲 亡 ， 忿 恚 尉 ， 令 辱 之 ， 以 激 怒 其 眾 。 尉 果 笞 廣。 尉 劍 挺 ， 廣 起 ， 奪 而 殺 尉 。 陳 勝 佐 之 ， 并 殺 兩尉 。 召 令 徒 屬 曰 ： 「 公 等 遇 雨 ， 皆 已 失 期 ， 失 期 當 斬 。藉 弟 令 毋 斬 ， 而 戍 死 者 固 十 六 七 。 且 壯 士 不 死 即 已 ， 死 即 舉 大 名 耳 ， 王 侯 將 相 寧 有 種 乎 ！ 」 徒 屬皆 曰 ： 「 敬 受 命 。 」 乃 詐 稱 公 子 扶 蘇 、 項 燕 ， 從 民 欲 也。 袒 右 ， 稱 大 楚 。 為 壇 而 盟 ， 祭 以 尉 首 。 陳 勝 自 立 為 將軍 ， 吳 廣 為 都 尉 。 攻 大 澤 鄉 ， 收 而 攻 蘄 。 蘄 下 ， 乃 令 符 離 人 葛 嬰 將 兵 徇 蘄 以 東 。 攻 銍 、 酇 、 苦 、 柘 、 譙 皆 下 之 。 行 收 兵 。 比 至 陳 ， 車 六 七 百 乘 ， 騎 千 餘 ， 卒 數 萬 人 。 攻 陳 ， 陳 守 令 皆 不 在 ， 獨 守 丞 與 戰 譙 門 中 。 弗 勝 ， 守 丞 死 ， 乃 入 據 陳 。 數 日 ， 號 令 召 三 老 、 豪 傑 與 皆 來 會 計 事 。 三 老 、 豪 傑 皆 曰 ： 「 將 軍 身 被 堅 執 銳， 伐 無 道 ， 誅 暴 秦 ， 復 立 楚 國 之 社 稷 ， 功 宜 為 王 。 」 陳涉 乃 立 為 王 ， 號 為 張 楚 。
Wu Guang was naturally nice to other people, and a lot of officers and soldiers were loyal to him. Once, when the commanding officer of the garrison was drunk, Wu Guang told him several times that he intended to desert, angering him. He then insulted him, and made him mad at his men. The officer ordered that he be flogged. As he drew his sword, Wu Guang stood up, snatched it and killed him. Chen Sheng came to his help, and both killed the two other officers. Then, they gathered all soldiers and officers and said: “We have met storms on our way, and will arrive late. The punishment for it is death. The younger brothers of officers might be pardoned, but of ten of them, six or seven will die defending the border. Braves do not die without leaving a trace, but die in glory. Have the kings, the princes, the generals and the ministers of yesteryear left no heirs?” The soldiers answered: “Give your orders!” They let themselves be called Prince Fusu and Xiang Yan, to cater for the desires of the people. They bared their right shoulders, and took the name of Great Chu. They had a mound of earth built, and took an oath, offering in sacrifice the heads of the commanding officers. Chen Sheng took the title of general, and Wu Guang became governor general. They attacked the district of Daze, raised troops there, and attacked Qi. After its fall, they sent Ge Ying, a native of Fuli, leading an army, invade the east of Qi. They attacked Zhi, Zan, Ku Zhe and Qiao, and took them. As they progressed, they recruited more soldiers. When they arrive in Chen, they had six or seven hundred chariots, more than one thousand horsemen, and tens of thousands of foot soldiers. When they attacked Chen all the officers in the garrison had deserted. Only on lieutenant of the guards battled them in the towers which defended the doors of the city. This did not succeed, the lieutenant was killed and the armies of Chen Sheng entered Chen and took the city. Several days later, he published an order, summoning all the elders and the braves to meet him and discuss the situation. They said: “General, you have dressed your armour and drawn your sword to fight against injustice. You put an end to the tyranny of Qin, and restored the altars of the kingdom of Chu. For these great deeds, you deserve to be king.” Chen She proclaimed himself king, and took the title of Greater Chu.

當 此 時 ， 諸 郡 縣 苦 秦 吏 者 ， 皆 刑 其 長 吏 ， 殺 之 以 應 陳 涉 。 乃 以 吳 叔 為 假 王 ， 監 諸 將 以 西 擊 滎 陽 。 令 陳 人 武 臣 、 張 耳 、 陳 餘 徇 趙 地 ， 令 汝 陰 人 鄧 宗 徇 九 江 郡 。 當 此 時 ， 楚 兵 數 千 人 為 聚 者 ， 不 可 勝 數 。
Meanwhile, the people in many prefectures and districts hated the rule of Qin. Many of them killed their governors, joining Chen She in their murders. He then named Wu Guang viceroy. Ruling in his place, he sent him, together with other generals, west to attack Yingyang. He ordered Wu Chen, Zhang Er and Chen Yu, all natives of Chen, to invade the territory of Zhao. He sent Deng Zhong, a native of Ruyin, conquer the prefecture of Jiujiang. At this time, Chu had so many thousands of soldiers that one could not count them.　 　

葛 嬰 至 東 城 ， 立 襄 彊 為 楚 王 。 嬰 後 聞 陳 王 已 立 ， 因 殺 襄 彊 ， 還 報 。 至 陳 ， 陳 王 誅 殺 葛 嬰 。 陳 王 令 魏 人 周 市 北 徇 魏 地 。 吳 廣 圍 滎 陽 。 李 由 為 三 川 守 ， 守 滎 陽 ， 吳 叔 弗 能 下 。 陳 王 徵 國 之 豪 傑 與 計 ， 以 上 蔡人 房 君 蔡 賜 為 上 柱 國 。
When Ge Ying had reached Dongcheng, he had put Xiangqiang on the throne of Chu. Later, as he heard that Chen She had become king of Chen, he had Xiangqiang killed, and came back to report. As he arrived in Chen, the king had him executed. He then ordered Zhou Shi, a native of Wei, to march north and invade the territory of Wei. Wu Guang besieged Yingyang. Li You, the prefect of Sanchuan, defended Yingyang, which Wu Guang could not submit. Chen Sheng summoned all the brave men in his kingdom to give him advice on strategy. He took for prime minister a native of Shangcai, lord Cai Si of Fang.　 　

周 文 ， 陳 之 賢 人 也 ， 嘗 為 項 燕 軍 視 日 ， 事 春 申 君 ， 自 言 習 兵 ， 陳 王 與 之 將 軍 印 ， 西 擊 秦 。行 收 兵 至 關 ， 車 千 乘 ， 卒 數 十 萬 ， 至 戲 ， 軍 焉 。 秦 令 少 府 章 邯 免 酈 山 徒 、 人 奴 產 子 生 ， 悉 發 以 擊 楚 大 軍 ， 盡 敗 之 。 周 文 敗 ， 走 出 關 ， 止 次 曹 陽 二 三 月 。 章 邯 追 敗 之 ， 復 走 次 澠 池 十 餘 日 。 章 邯 擊， 大 破 之 。 周 文 自 剄 ， 軍 遂 不 戰 。
Zhou Wen was a sage man of Chen. He had been an astrologer in the army of Xiang Yan and a client of the lord of Chunshen. As he said that he was familiar with strategy, the king of Chen gave him a seal which made him a general, and sent him west to attack Qin. On his way, he gathered new recruits, and when he finally reached the passes, he led more the a thousand chariots, and several hundreds of thousand men. He arrived in Xi and set his camp there. The emperor of Qin ordered a sub-prefect, Zhang Han, to free the convicts working on mount Li and the sons of slaves, and to send them against the host of Chu, which they thoroughly defeated. After his defeat, Zhou Wen retreated out of the passes, and stopped in Caoyang, where he set up his camp for a few months. Zhang Han followed and defeated him. He then stopped in Minchi, and set his camp there for more the ten days. Bu Zhang Han attacked again, and cut his army into pieces. Zhou Wen cut his throat, and his army stopped fighting.　 　

武 臣 到 邯 鄲 ， 自 立 為 趙 王 ， 陳 餘 為 大 將 軍 ， 張 耳、 召 騷 為 左 右 丞 相 。 陳 王 怒 ， 捕 繫 武 臣 等 家 室 ， 欲 誅 之。 柱 國 曰 ： 「 秦 未 亡 而 誅 趙 王 將 相 家 屬 ， 此 生 一 秦 也 。不 如 因 而 立 之 。 」 陳 王 乃 遣 使 者 賀 趙 ， 而 徙 繫 武 臣 等 家屬 宮 中 ， 而 封 耳 子 張 敖 為 成 都 君 ， 趣 趙 兵 亟 入 關 。 趙 王 將 相 相 與 謀 曰 ： 「 王 王 趙 ， 非 楚 意 也 。 楚 已 誅 秦 ， 必 加 兵 於 趙 。 計 莫 如 毋 西 兵 ， 使 使 北 徇 燕 地 以 自 廣 也 。 趙 南 據 大 河 ， 北 有 燕 、 代 ， 楚 雖 勝 秦 ，不 敢 制 趙 。 若 楚 不 勝 秦 ， 必 重 趙 。 趙 乘 秦 之 獘 ， 可 以 得志 於 天 下 。 」 趙 王 以 為 然 ， 因 不 西 兵 ， 而 遣 故 上 谷 卒 史 韓 廣 將 兵 北 徇 燕 地 。
When Wu Chen arrived in Han Dan, he proclaimed himself king of Zhao. He named Chen Yu general in chief, and Zheng Er and Zhao Sao first and second state ministers. This angered the King of Chen, who had the members of the family of Wu Chen arrested and jailed. He intended the have them executed, but his premier said: “If you kill the families of the king of Zhao, his general in chief and his ministers, while Qin is not defeated yet, you will create another Qin. You should better leave them on their throne.” Cheng Sheng therefore sent an ambassador to congratulate Zhao, housed the parents of Wu Chen and others, whom he had arrested, in his own palace, and gave a fief to Zhang Ao, the son of Zhang Er, making him lord of Chengdu. He then exhorted the armies of Zhao to enter the passes as soon as possible. The king of Zhao discussed the matter with his generals and ministers, who said: “Your majesty had become the king of Zhao against the will of Chu. When Chu is done with Qin, he will certainly assemble his armies to attack Zhao. In our opinion, you should not send the troops west, but rather send a messenger north, in order to claim the state of Yan, and allow us to expand. Once Zhao holds the main branch of the Yellow River in the south, and occupies Yan and Dai in the north, even if the king of Chu prevails over Qin, he will not dare take action against us. On the other hand, if the king of Chu cannot defeat Qin, he will have to respect Zhao. If you take advantage of the fall of Qin, you might even be able to rule the whole empire.” The king of Zhao agreed, and did not send his army west. Instead, he ordered Han Guang, an old undersecretary of Shanggu, to lead an army north to conquer the territory of Yan.　 　

燕 故 貴 人 豪 傑 謂 韓 廣 曰 ： 「 楚 已 立 王 ， 趙 又 已 立王 。 燕 雖 小 ， 亦 萬 乘 之 國 也 ， 願 將 軍 立 為 燕 王 。 」 韓 廣曰 ： 「 廣 母 在 趙 ， 不 可 。 」 燕 人 曰 ： 「 趙 方 西 憂 秦 ， 南 憂 楚 ， 其 力 不 能 禁 我 。 且 以 楚 之 彊 ， 不 敢 害 趙 王 將 相 之家 ， 趙 獨 安 敢 害 將 軍 之 家 ！ 」 韓 廣 以 為 然 ， 乃 自 立 為 燕王 。 居 數 月 ， 趙 奉 燕 王 母 及 家 屬 歸 之 燕 。
In Yan, the braves and the members of the former nobility told Han Guang: “Chu has become a kingdom, so has Zhao. Even though Yan is small, it was a state strong of ten thousand chariots. We wish that you, general, become King of Yan.” Han Guang answered: “My mother is still in Zhao, I cannot accept.” The people of Yan said: “On its western border, the King of Zhao need to worry about Qin. On his southern border, he has to care about Chu. He is not strong enough to prevent us from doing so. The king of Chu, for all his might, did not dare harm the parents of the king, the general and the ministers of Zhao. Could the king of Zhao, alone, harm your family?” Han Guang agreed, and proclaimed himself king of Yan. A few months later, the king of Zhao invited the mother and parents of the King of Yan to return to Yan.　 　

當 此 之 時 ， 諸 將 之 徇 地 者 ， 不 可 勝 數 。 周 市 北 徇 地 至 狄 ， 狄 人 田 儋 殺 狄 令 ， 自 立 為 齊 王 ， 以 齊 反 擊 周 市 。 市 軍 散 ， 還 至 魏 地 ， 欲 立 魏 後 故 甯 陵 君 咎 為 魏 王 。 時 咎 在 陳 王 所 ， 不 得 之 魏 。 魏 地 已 定， 欲 相 與 立 周 市 為 魏 王 ， 周 市 不 肯 。 使 者 五 反 ， 陳 王 乃立 甯 陵 君 咎 為 魏 王 ， 遣 之 國 。 周 市 卒 為 相 。
At that time, the generals had taken a very large number of territories. When Zhou Shi, invading north, reached Di, Tian Dan, a native of Qi, killed the governor of Di, named himself king of Qi, and, leading a rebel army attacked Zhou Shi. Zhou Shi was defeated and retreated towards Wei, where he intended to enthrone a descendent of the princes of Wei, lord Jiu of Ningling. But Jiu was in the palace of the king of Chen, and was not allowed to go to Wei. When the state of Wei was pacified, its people wanted Zhou Shi to become their king, but he refused. He turned away five ambassadors of the king of Chen, who finally had to name lord Jiu of Ningling king of Wei, and send him back to his kingdom. In the end, Zhou Shi became his minister.

將 軍 田 臧 等 相 與 謀 曰 ： 「 周 章 軍 已 破 矣 ， 秦 兵 旦 暮 至 ， 我 圍 滎 陽 城 弗 能 下 ， 秦 軍 至 ， 必 大 敗 。 不 如 少 遺 兵 ， 足 以 守 （ 熒 ） 〔 滎 〕 陽 ， 悉 精 兵 迎 秦 軍 。 今假 王 驕 ， 不 知 兵 權 ， 不 可 與 計 ， 非 誅 之 ， 事 恐 敗 。 」 因 相 與 矯 王 令 以 誅 吳 叔 ， 獻 其 首 於 陳 王 。 陳 王 使 使 賜 田 臧 楚 令 尹 印 ， 使 為 上 將 。 田 臧 乃 使 諸 將 李 歸 等 守 滎 陽 城 ，自 以 精 兵 西 迎 秦 軍 於 敖 倉 。 與 戰 ， 田 臧 死 ， 軍 破 。 章 邯進 兵 擊 李 歸 等 滎 陽 下 ， 破 之 ， 李 歸 等 死 。
General Tian Zang discussed with his advisers, and decided: « The army of Zhou Zhang was defeated and the soldiers of Qin will be here in a matter of days. If our siege of Yingyang is not successful, when the army of Qin arrives, it will cut us into pieces. We should better leave enough soldiers to contain the garrison of Yingyang, and march on the army of Qi with our best soldiers. But our viceroy is arrogant. He does not understand our military strength, and cannot be depended on to discuss strategy. Unless he is executed, our position is probably doomed.” Therefore, they wrote a fake order from the king of Chen, demanding that Wu Guang be executed, and sent his head back to the king. The king of Chen sent an ambassador gove Tian Zang the seal of first minister of Chu, and made him general in chief. Tian Zang ordered general Li Guideng to defend the city of Yinyang. Then, leading his best soldiers, he marched west towards de camp of Qin, which was in Aocang. There was a battle, Tian Zang was killed and his army defeated. Zhang Han then moved forward and attacked Li Guideng in front of Yingyang. He defeated Li Guideng, who was killed in the battle.

陽 城 人 鄧 說 將 兵 居 郯 ， 章 邯 別 將 擊 破 之 ， 鄧 說 軍 散 走 陳 。 銍 人 伍 徐 將 兵 居 許 ， 章 邯 擊 破 之 ， 伍 徐 軍 皆 散 走 陳 。 陳 王 誅 鄧 說 。
Deng Yue, a native of Yangcheng, camped with his troops in Tan. A general from Zhang Han’s army attacked an defeated him. The soldiers of Deng Yue were scattered and fled to Chen. Wu Xu, a native of Zhi, camped with his troops in Xu. Zhang Han attacked and beat him. He army was scattered and fled to Chen. The king of Chen had Deng Yue executed.　 　

陳 王 初 立 時 ， 陵 人 秦 嘉 、 銍 人 董  、 符 離 人 朱 雞 石 、 取 慮 人 鄭 布 、 徐 人 丁 疾 等 皆 特 起 ， 將兵 圍 東 海 守 慶 於 郯 。 陳 王 聞 ， 乃 使 武 平 君 畔 為 將軍 ， 監 郯 下 軍 。 秦 嘉 不 受 命 ， 嘉 自 立 為 大 司 馬 ，惡 屬 武 平 君 。 告 軍 吏 曰 ： 「 武 平 君 年 少 ， 不 知 兵 事 ， 勿聽 ！ 」 因 矯 以 王 命 殺 武 平 君 畔 。
When Chen Sheng became king, Qin Jia from Ling, Dong Ji from Zhi, Zhu Jishi from Fuli, Zheng Bu from Qulü and Ding Yi from Xu all had separately revolted. Leading their soldiers, they had besieged Qing, the governor of the province of Donghai, in the city of Tan. When the King of Chen heard of it, he sent Pan, the lord of Wuping, whom he named general, lead the armies in from of Tan. Qin Jia refused his order, proclaimed himself general in chief, and refused to obey the lord of Wuping. He sent an order to his officers, that said: “the lord of Wuping is young, he does not undertand military matters, do not listen to him!” Then, he counterfeited a royal order asking that Pan, lord of Wuping, be killed.　 　

章 邯 已 破 伍 徐 ， 擊 陳 ， 柱 國 房 君 死 。 章 邯 又 進 兵擊 陳 西 張 賀 軍 。 陳 王 出 監 戰 ， 軍 破 ， 張 賀 死 。
After Zhang Han had defeated Wu Xu, he attacked Chen, and killed his premier, the lord of Fang. Zhang Han advanced his troops again and attacked the army of Zhang He, on the west of Chen. The king of Chen left his capital to oversee the battle. His army was defeated and Zhang He was killed.　 　

臘 月 ， 陳 王 之 汝 陰 ， 還 至 下 城 父 ， 其 御 莊 賈 殺 以 降 秦 。 陳 勝 葬 碭 ， 謚 曰 隱 王 。
On the twelfth month, the king of Chen went to Ruyin. On his way back, in Xiachengfu, his driver, Zhuang Jia, assassinated him, and defected to Qin. Chen Sheng was buried in Tang, and given the posthumous title of king Yin.　 　

陳 王 故 涓 人 將 軍 呂 臣 為 倉 頭 軍 ， 起新 陽 ， 攻 陳 下 之 ， 殺 莊 賈 ， 復 以 陳 為 楚 。
A former servant, Lü Chen, who used to be in charge of cleaning the palace of the king of Chen, proclaimed himself general of an army of rebels, the Green Turbans, who started in Xinyang. He attacked Chen, submitted it, killed Zhuang Jia, and therefore turned Chen back to Chu.　 　

初 ， 陳 王 至 陳 ， 令 銍 人 宋 留 將 兵 定 南 陽 ， 入 武 關。 留 已 徇 南 陽 ， 聞 陳 王 死 ， 南 陽 復 為 秦 。 宋 留 不 能 入 武 關 ， 乃 東 至 新 蔡 ， 遇 秦 軍 ， 宋 留 以 軍 降 秦 。 秦 傳 留 至 咸 陽 ， 車 裂 留 以 徇 。
Before, when the king of Chen had reached Chen, he had dispatched an army, led by Song Liu, a native of Zhi, to pacify Nanyang and seize the pass of Wu. After he had conquered the region, he heard that the king of Chen had died, and that Nanyang had returned to Qin. Song Liu could not cross the pass of Wu. He therefore marched east to Xincai, where he met the armies of Qi, to which he surrendered his troops. The general of Qin had him sent to Xiangyang, where he was quartered to make an example.　 　

秦 嘉 等 聞 陳 王 軍 破 出 走 ， 乃 立 景 駒 為 楚 王 ， 引 兵 之 方 與 ， 欲 擊 秦 軍 定 陶 下 。 使 公 孫 慶 使 齊 王 ， 欲 與 并 力 俱 進 。 齊 王 曰 ： 「 聞 陳 王 戰 敗 ， 不知 其 死 生 ， 楚 安 得 不 請 而 立 王 ！ 」 公 孫 慶 曰 ： 「 齊 不 請 楚 而 立 王 ， 楚 何 故 請 齊 而 立 王 ！ 且 楚 首 事 ， 當 令 於 天 下。 」 田 儋 誅 殺 公 孫 慶 。
After Qin Jia and his associates heard that the army of the king of Chen had been defeated and sent fleeing, they put Jing Ju on the throne of Chu and led their troops to Fangyu. They intended to attack the armies of Qin outside of Dingtao. They sent Gongsun Qing on an embassy to the king of Qi, asking him to join his forces with theirs, and advance together. But the king of Qi said: “I have heard that king of Chen has been defeated in battle. I do not know whether he is alive of dead. How come Chu named a new king without asking me?” Gongsun Qing said: “The king of Qi did not ask Chu when he claimed his throne, why should Chu ask Qi when he chooses his king? Besides, Chu was the first to revolt, he should command to the empire.” Tian Dan then had Gongsun Qing executed.　 　

秦 左 右 校 復 攻 陳 ， 下 之 。 呂 將 軍 走 ， 收 兵 復 聚 。 鄱 盜 當 陽 君 黥 布 之 兵 相 收 ， 復 擊 秦 左 右 校， 破 之 青 波 ， 復 以 陳 為 楚 。 會 項 梁 立 懷 王 孫 心 為 楚 王 。
The emperor of Qin sent his left and right wing generals to attack Chen again, and took the city. The army of general Lü was sent fleeing, but he rallied his men and gathered them again. They were joined by the troops of a bandit of Po, Bu the tattoed, lord of Dangyang, and proceeded to attack the two wings of the army of Qin, which they defeated in Qingbo, thus returning Chen to Chu. Soon after, Xiang Liang put a grand son of King Huai, Xin on the throne of Chu.

陳 勝 王 凡 六 月 。 已 為 王 ， 王 陳 。 其 故 人 嘗 與 庸 耕者 聞 之 ， 之 陳 ， 扣 宮 門 曰 ： 「 吾 欲 見 涉 。 」 宮 門 令 欲 縛 之 。 自 辯 數 ， 乃 置 ， 不 肯 為 通 。 陳 王 出 ， 遮 道 而 呼 涉 。 陳 王 聞 之 ， 乃 召 見 ， 載 與 俱 歸 。 入 宮 ， 見 殿 屋 帷 帳 ， 客 曰 ： 「 夥 頤 ！ 涉 之 為 王 沈 沈 者 ！ 」 楚 人 謂 多 為 夥 ， 故 天 下 傳 之 ， 夥 涉 為 王 ， 由 陳 涉 始 。 客 出 入 愈 益 發 舒 ， 言 陳 王 故 情 。 或 說 陳 王 曰 ： 「 客 愚 無 知， 顓 妄 言 ， 輕 威 。 」 陳 王 斬 之 。 諸 陳 王 故 人 皆 自 引 去 ，由 是 無 親 陳 王 者 。 陳 王 以 朱 房 為 中 正 ， 胡 武 為 司 過 ， 主 司 群 臣 。 諸 將 徇 地 ， 至 ， 令 之 不 是 者 ， 繫 而 罪 之， 以 苛 察 為 忠 。 其 所 不 善 者 ， 弗 下 吏 ， 輒 自 治 之 。 陳 王 信 用 之 。 諸 將 以 其 故 不 親 附 ， 此 其 所 以 敗 也 。
Altogether, Chen Sheng reigned during six months. Once he assumed the title, he became King of Chen. One of the companions who had been working in the fields with him heard of it, went to Chen, and knocked on the door of his palace, saying: “I want to see She”. The officer of the palace guards intended to arrest him, but he gave him a number of explanations, and was therefore released, although he was not let in. When the king of Chen went out, he stood in the middle of the road and shouted his name. The king recognised him, called him, let him come on his chariot and took him back with him. As they entered the palace, gazing at the lofty halls and the rich curtains, the client exclaimed: “Now, that’s big! She has really become a great king. That is something!” The people of Chu say “big” for “great”, and this story soon spread in the world. People said that the big She had become king, and Chen She became all the more famous for this. The client, who now went in and out of the palace as he saw fit, began to act very carelessly. He would tell anyone about the origins of the king of Chen. Some reported it to the king, saying: “Your client is an idiot who does not understand things. He lets a lot of careless things out, and has little respect for you.” The king of Chen then had him executed. Other old friends of the king, who were staying with him, then left. Since this affair, they bore him little affection. The king then named Zhu Fang chancellor, and Hu Wu great censor, and entrusted them with giving orders to his vassals. They sent generals to conquer territories, but when they succeded, they named other persons as governors. When it came to judging them, or punishing them, on the other hand, they made big affairs of the tiniest problems. They did not treat them well, not because they did not respect wise men, but because they wanted to handle everything themselves. Yet, the king of Chen trusted them. For this reason, his generals were never endeared to him, and he was finally defeated.　 　

陳 勝 雖 已 死 ， 其 所 置 遣 侯 王 將 相 竟 亡 秦 ， 由 涉 首 事 也 。 高 祖 時 為 陳 涉 置 守 冢 三 十 家 碭 ， 至 今 血 食 。
After the king of Chen died, all the princes, the kings and the generals he had named joined their forces to defeat Qin, and finish the business that Chen She had began. In the time of Gaozu, thirty families of Tang were charged of keeping the tomb of Chen She. They still make sacrifices and offerings to his memory nowadays.

褚 先 生 曰 ： 地 形 險 阻 ， 所 以 為 固 也 ；兵 革 刑 法 ， 所 以 為 治 也 。 猶 未 足 恃 也 。 夫 先 王 以 仁 義 為 本 ， 而 以 固 塞 文 法 為 枝 葉 ， 豈 不 然 哉 ！ 吾 聞 賈 生 之 稱 曰：
Commentary by Master Chu
When a country is rugged and steep, it is easier to defend. When soldiers are subjected to strict discipline, they are easier to command. What was missing (in Qin) was trust. The kings of old ruled through humanity and justice, and made the classics and the law the foundation of their power. How can one not follow them? I read in Master Jia : 　 　 　 　

「 秦 孝 公 據 殽 函 之 固 ， 擁 雍 州 之 地 ，君 臣 固 守 ， 以 窺 周 室 。 有 席 卷 天 下 ， 包 舉 宇 內 ， 囊 括 四 海 之 意 ， 并 吞 八 荒 之 心 。 當 是 時 也 ， 商 君 佐 之 ， 內 立 法 度 ， 務 耕 織 ， 修 守 戰 之 備 ； 外 連 衡 而 鬥 諸 侯 。 於 是 秦 人 拱 手 而 取 西 河 之 外 。
« The Duke Xiao of Qin fortified Yan and Han. He seized the territory of Yongzhou, which his lords and vassals defended in order to spy on the House of Zhou. Then, Qin took all the lands under heaven, just as one rolls a mat. He embraced the whole world, from the lands inside the four seas, to the barbarian territories out of the borders. At that time, the Lord of Shang served Qin. In the kingdom, he established criminal law, organised agriculture and industry, and prepared the army to defend and to attack. Out of the borders, he pursued a policy of north-south alliances, and fought against the other feudal princes. Then, the regions west of the Yellow River fell into the hands of Qin.’　 　 　 　

「 孝 公 既 沒 ， 惠 文 王 、 武 王 、 昭 王 蒙 故 業 ，因 遺 策 ， 南 取 漢 中 ， 西 舉 巴 蜀 ， 東 割 膏 腴 之 地 ， 收 要 害 之 郡 。 諸 侯 恐 懼 ， 會 盟 而 謀 弱 秦 。 不 愛 珍 器 重 寶 肥 饒 之地 ， 以 致 天 下 之 士 。 合 從 締 交 ， 相 與 為 一 。 當 此 之 時 ，齊 有 孟 嘗 ， 趙 有 平 原 ， 楚 有 春 申 ， 魏 有 信 陵 ： 此 四 君 者， 皆 明 知 而 忠 信 ， 寬 厚 而 愛 人 ， 尊 賢 而 重 士 。 約 從 連 衡， 兼 韓 、 魏 、 燕 、 趙 、 宋 、 衛 、 中 山 之 眾 。 於 是 六 國 之士 有 甯 越 、 徐 尚 、 蘇 秦 、 杜 赫 之 屬 為 之 謀 ， 齊 明 、 周 聚、 陳 軫 、 邵 滑 、 樓 緩 、 翟 景 、 蘇 厲 、 樂 毅 之 徒 通 其 意 ， 吳 起 、 孫 臏 、 帶 他 、 兒 良 、 王 廖 、 田 忌 、廉 頗 、 趙 奢 之 倫 制 其 兵 。 嘗 以 什 倍 之 地 ， 百 萬 之 師 ， 仰 關 而 攻 秦 。 秦 人 開 關 而 延 敵 ， 九 國 之 師 遁 逃 而 不 敢 進 。 秦 無 亡 矢 遺 鏃 之 費 ， 而 天 下 固 已 困 矣 。 於是 從 散 約 敗 ， 爭 割 地 而 賂 秦 。 秦 有 餘 力 而 制 其 獘 ， 追 亡 逐 北 ， 伏 尸 百 萬 ， 流 血 漂 櫓 ， 因 利 乘 便 ， 宰 割 天下 ， 分 裂 山 河 ， 彊 國 請 服 ， 弱 國 入 朝 。
“After the death of duke Xiao, king Huiwen, Wu and Zhao received his legacy and, thanks to the policies he left, took Hanzhong in the south, seized Ba and Shu in the west, and in the east annexed the most fertile lands, and kept the best prefectures. The feudal princes were afraid. They made alliances, to try to weaken Qin. They gave their rarest artefacts, their most precious treasures, their most fertile lands to all the braves in the world. From the East to the West, they all joined a great alliance, which united them into one. At that time, Qi had the lord of Mengchang, Zhao the lord of Pingyuan, Chu the lord of Chunshen, and Wei the lord of Xinling. These four princes were clever and loyal, generous and benevolent. They respected the sages, and liked the braves. They built an alliance which went north south and east west, uniting the people of Han, Wei, Yan, Zhao, Song, Wei and Zhongshan. Then, the braves of the six kingdoms had such strategists as Ning Yue, Xu Shang, Su Qin and Du He. People like Qi Ming, Zhou Ju, Chen Zhen, Shao Hua, Lou Huan, Di Jing, Su Li, and Yue Yi, followed their advice, and such generals as Wu Qi, Sun Bin, Dai Ta, Er Liang, Wang Liao, Tian Ji, Lian Po and Zhao She led their armies. Strong of a territory ten times larger than Qin, leading hundreds of thousands of soldiers, they looked up to the passes, and contemplated attacking Qin. The people of Qin opened the passes and waited for the enemy, but the armies of the nine kingdoms backed away, and did not dare enter Qin. Without firing an arrow of a bolt, Qin had shattered the defences of all kingdoms under heaven. Then, treaties were undone, alliances were disbanded, and every kingdom would do his best to offer territories to Qin. Their weakening made Qin stronger. He would pursue the soldiers he sent fleeing, and chase them to the north. Hundred of thousands of dead bodies lied, shields floated on rivers of blood. Making the best of every occasion, he dismembered the empire, cutting through mountains and rivers. The great kingdoms submitted to him, the small princes went to his court audiences.”　 　 　 　

「 施 及 孝 文 王 、 莊 襄 王 ， 享 國 之 日 淺 ， 國 家無 事 。
« The kingdom then passed to kings Xiaowen and Zhuangxiang. Their reigns were short, and little happened in the country.”　 　 　 　

「 及 至 始 皇 ， 奮 六 世 之 餘 烈 ， 振 長 策 而 御 宇 內 ， 吞 二 周 而 亡 諸 侯 ， 履 至 尊 而 制 六 合 ， 執 敲 朴 以 鞭 笞 天 下 ， 威 振 四 海 。 南 取 百 越 之 地 ， 以 為 桂 林 、 象 郡 ， 百 越 之 君 俛 首 係 頸 ， 委 命 下 吏 。 乃 使 蒙 恬 北 築 長 城 而 守 藩 籬 ， 卻 匈 奴 七 百 餘 里 ， 胡 人 不 敢 南 下 而 牧 馬 ， 士 亦 不 敢 貫 弓 而 報 怨 。 於 是 廢 先 王 之 道 ， 燔 百 家 之言 ， 以 愚 黔 首 。 墮 名 城 ， 殺 豪 俊 ， 收 天 下 之 兵 聚 之 咸 陽， 銷 鋒 鍉 ， 鑄 以 為 金 人 十 二 ， 以 弱 天 下 之民 。 然 後 踐 華 為 城 ， 因 河 為 池 ， 據 億 丈 之 城 ， 臨 不 測 之 谿 以 為 固 。 良 將 勁 弩 ， 守 要 害 之 處 ， 信 臣 精 卒 ， 陳 利 兵 而 誰 何 。 天 下 已 定 ， 始 皇 之 心 ， 自 以 為 關 中 之 固， 金 城 千 里 ， 子 孫 帝 王 萬 世 之 業 也 。
« Then came the First Emperor, who shed a brighter light than the previous six generations. He devised long term strategies to rule the world. He absorbed the two Zhou and destroyed their feudal princes. He ascended the highest step and governed the whole world. Holding the whip and the cane, he punished everyone under the heavens, and inspired fear among all inside the four seas. In the South, he seized the territory of the Baiyue and turned it into the prefectures of Guilin and Xiang. The lord of Baiyue, his head bowed, a string around his neck, came to receive orders, juste like a lesser official. Then, he sent Meng Tian built the Great Wall, and defend the borderlands. He chased the Xiongnus seven hundred leagues away, and the barbarians dared not go south to herd their horses. The braves did not dare use their bows to avenge humiliations. Then, he abandoned the way of the kings of old. He burned the books of other schools of thought, to make the people stupid. He razed old and famous cities and killed great scholars. He had all the weapons in the empire gathered in Xianyang, and melted all swords and arrow heads to make twelve statues of bronze men, and therefore made the people weaker. Then, he made a rampart of Mount Hua, and a ditch of the Yellow River, held millions of feet of walls, and turned deep valleys into fortifications. Great generals holding powerful crossbows defended the strategic positions. Loyal vassals and elite soldiers, carrying weapons, were deployed everywhere, asking “who is here?” Once he had pacified the empire, he wanted to become the First Emperor. He considered the interior of the passes his fortress, and enclosed it in a metal wall one thousand leagues long, so that his sonds and grandsons could be kings and emperors for ten thousand generations.”　 　 　 　

「 始 皇 既 沒 ， 餘 威 振 於 殊 俗 。 然 而 陳 涉 甕 牖 繩 樞 之 子 ， 甿 隸 之 人 ， 而 遷 徙 之 徒 也 。 材 能 不 及 中 人 ， 非 有 仲 尼 、 墨 翟 之 賢 ， 陶 朱 、 猗 頓 之 富 也 。 躡 足行 伍 之 閒 ， 俛 仰 仟 佰 之 中 ， 率 罷 散 之 卒 ， 將 數 百 之 眾 ， 轉 而 攻 秦 。 斬 木 為 兵 ， 揭 竿 為 旗 ， 天 下 雲 會 響 應， 贏 糧 而 景 從 ， 山 東 豪 俊 遂 並 起 而 亡 秦 族 矣 。
« When the First Emperor died, he still was respected and feared by people of all traditions. Yet, Chen She came from house which had a broken jar for its window, and where the door was held by ropes. He was a servant of peasants, an exiled among exiles. He did not even have the qualities of an average person. He was not a sage, like Confucius or Modi. He was not rich, like duke Zhu of Tao (ie Fan Li) or Yi Dun. He walked among soldiers, and would bow and lift his head once he met colonels or captains. Heading a group of deserters, he commanded to several hundred men, whom he led to attack Qin. They cut trees to make their weapons, raised bamboo poles to make their flags. Everywhere, like clouds gathering or echoes answering each other, people took their food with them, and followed him like they were his shadow. East of the mountains, brave men rised after him and destroyed the Clan of Qin.”　 　 　 　

「 且 天 下 非 小 弱 也 ； 雍 州 之 地 ， 殽 函 之 固 自若 也 。 陳 涉 之 位 ， 非 尊 於 齊 、 楚 、 燕 、 趙 、 韓 、 魏 、 宋、 衛 、 中 山 之 君 也 ； 鉏 耰 棘 矜 ， 非 銛 於 句 戟 長 鎩 也 ； 適 戍 之 眾 ， 非 儔 於 九 國 之 師 也 ； 深 謀 遠 慮 ， 行 軍 用兵 之 道 ， 非 及 鄉 時 之 士 也 。 然 而 成 敗 異 變 ， 功 業 相 反 也 。 嘗 試 使 山 東 之 國 與 陳 涉 度 長 絜 大 ， 比 權 量 力 ， 則 不 可 同 年 而 語 矣 。 然 而 秦 以 區 區 之 地 。 致 萬 乘 之 權 ， 抑 八 州 而 朝 同 列 ， 百 有 餘 年 矣 。 然 後 以 六 合 為 家 ， 殽 函 為 宮 。 一 夫 作 難 而 七 廟 墮 ， 身 死 人 手 ， 為 天 下 笑 者 ， 何 也 ？ 仁 義 不 施 ， 而 攻 守 之 勢 異 也 。」
« But the empire was neither small nor weak. Over the territory of Yongzhou, the fortifications of Yao and Han were as strong as in the past. Chen She was not respected as had been the lords of Qi, Chu, Yan, Zhao, Han, Wei, Song, Wèi and Zhongshan. Hoes, rakes and lances made of brambles were not as sharp as the curved blades of halberds and the tips of long lances. The border guards of his army had little in common with the soldiers of the nine kingdoms. As for deep strategies and far reaching plans, or when it came to leading armies and using soldiers, he was not match for the sages of old. Yet, he succeeded where they had failed, and became famous in different ways as them. In fact, when comparing the kingdoms east of the mountains to Chen She, to see which is more important or last longer, or to judge their might and determine their strength, we cannot compare them as if they belonged to the same era. Just as Qin, a tiny territory at the beginning, became a kingdom which commanded ten thousand chariots, oppressed the rest of the world, summoning other princes to his court audiences, for hundred of years. Finally, he took the world as his domain and Yan and Han as his palace. Yet, one man, alone, revolted and destroyed the altars to the ancestors of Qin. But he died at the hand of another man, and became the laugh of the world. How come? When a prince has no kindness nor justice, he needs a lot of strength to defend his kingdom when he is attacked.”